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Your Observer

"Catching Hell" cast mates Jamie Kerns, Danyar Khaiboulin, Lisa Rollins and James Butler
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • June 1, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: 'Catching Hell' Premiere Party

Daiquiri Deck held a red carpet premiere party for the Weather Channel's "Catching Hell" Sunday, June 1. The series follows the crew of three commercial vessels fishing for a profit. One of the crew members, Lisa Rollins, is a Siesta Key resident. Cast members, along with friends and fans, watched the premiere in the Raw Bar. "We're very excited for her," says Rollins' neighbor Mary Tucker. The premiere raised money for Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS), a nonprofit that trains disabled veterans how to scuba dive to promote mobility.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Jamie Albert and Daniel Yohann met in second grade at Pine View and are excited to graduate.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • June 1, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Pine View Graduation

Pine View School for the Gifted held its 2014 Graduation Sunday, June 1, at the Van Wezel. The seniors celebrated their achievement with a senior breakfast before the ceremony. "It's bittersweet," says Daniel Yohann.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarah Hunter and Marianna Ehmke
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 31, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Siesta Key Kiwanis Club Gala

The Siesta Key Kiwanis Club held its 13th annual Gala Saturday, May 31, at the Sarasota Yacht Club. This year's gala was themed "Tropical Nights in Paradise." Members dressed in Hawaiian shirts and tropical clothes as they listened to Jimmy Buffet songs. The gala raises money for the Kiwanis Club Foundation, which supports local children.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Brandy Copeland and Raynesha Sanders
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 31, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Booker High School Graduation

Booker High School seniors graduated Saturday, May 31, at Robarts Arena. The auditorium was filled with friends and family as well as the school's band.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alli Armengol and Sarah Araboghli
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 31, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Riverview High School Graduation

Riverview High School seniors graduated Saturday, May 31. The students and their families started the day with a ceremony held at Robarts Arena.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Victoria Najmy and Kayla McNulty jointly give a speech.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 31, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River High Graduation

Braden River High School celebrated the Class of 2014 May 31, during a commencement ceremony.

  • East County
  • News
Jordan Brown stands as a legacy student.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 31, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: ODA Graduation

The Out-of-Door Academy celebrated the Class of 2014 during a graduation ceremony today.

  • East County
  • News
Alex Lathan and Lauren McDaniel share a laugh during the ceremony.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 30, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Lakewood Ranch High School Graduation

Students of the Lakewood Ranch High School Class of 2014 adjusted their tassels and took as many pictures as possible to remember their graduation ceremony, held May 30, at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

  • East County
  • News
Luis Camarillo and Blake Taylor
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 30, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota High School Graduation

Sarasota High School seniors graduated Friday, May 30, on the high school's football field. Despite the weather, families gathered to celebrate the class' achievement. Senior Mirriam Barrera's family brought orange and white balloons to show their support. 'We wish her the best of luck,' says brother Omar Barrera.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 30, 2014
City Commission to discuss noise ordinance

On Monday, the city will once again consider revising its sound regulations in an attempt to clarify rules and address complaints from residents.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mark Sultana is the architect for Park Residences of Lido Key. (Courtesy Realtor.com)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 30, 2014
New 18-unit condo planned for Lido Key

Patrick DiPinto has plans to develop Park Residences of Lido Key on a Taft Drive parcel.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The students protested throughout the school grounds.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 30, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Alta Vista Peace Walk

Alta Vista Elementary School's fifth graders dressed up for Flashback to the 1970s Friday, May 30. The day-long event invited students to relive the '70s with tie-dyed shirts, bead necklaces and a peace protest through the cafeteria. The students have been learning about the decade by reading the 1977 fiction 'Bridge to Terabithia' by Katherine Paterson. After the peace walk, students winded down by watching the film adaptation of the book.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Art Deco concept was one of two options presented at Thursday's meeting.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 30, 2014
VIDEO: Engineers present new lift station renderings

At a public meeting last night, city staff and the engineering team in charge of completing the Lift Station 87 project discussed the design of the structure.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Benjamin Cristogoli and Jacob Todd make bead necklaces.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 30, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Southside Elementary Beach Bash

Southside Elementary School first grade students celebrated summer with a Beach Bash Thursday, May 29. The nine classes spent their morning in Hawaiian attire as they participated in fun activities such as learning the luau, the Japanese art of Gyotaku and making seashell necklaces.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The 8,600 square foot home was built in 2008, and includes six bedrooms and six bathrooms, a patio, swimming pool and dock.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 30, 2014
Siesta Key home sells for $10.25 million

The gulf front estate at 4300 Higel Ave. becomes the highest-selling residential property on the barrier island since February 2013.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The meeting will be held at the commission chambers.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 30, 2014
Administrator to share budget plan

Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker will share his budget plan for the next fiscal year Tuesday.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 30, 2014
Parrish woman dies in car crash

A traffic accident on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard Thursday ended the life of 74-year-old Vivian Rawls, of Parrish.

  • East County
  • News
The majority of the commission made it known last week they want to keep the town tax rate flat at 2.0760 mills.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 30, 2014
Preliminary budget keeps tax rate flat

Town Manager Dave Bullock and his staff must cut services and expenses to make up an estimated $900,000 shortfall in the 2014-15 town budget.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
John Wojtyna, Aqua Plumbing and Air, Gail Loefgren, Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, and Lissy LaFlamme, Wagner Realty
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • May 29, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Card Swap

Wagner Realty hosted a Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce card swap May 29, at its location in the Centre Shops. The event gave professionals a chance to network with local businesses in a casual environment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Selah Freedom’s Pamela Sennott, Elizabeth Fisher and Connie Rose
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • May 29, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Selah Freedom's Party with a Purpose

Selah Freedom hosted Party with a Purpose, an event to educate the public on the non-profit's mission, May 29, at Longboat Key Club's Tennis Gardens. Attendees heard from Elizabeth Fisher, co-founder of Selah Freedom, and Connie Rose, a sex-trafficking survivor who shared her story.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The new Tervis store is located at 319 John Ringling Boulevard in St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • May 29, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Tervis Store Opening

Tervis celebrated the grand opening of its 31st store May 29, on St. Armands Circle. Located at 319 John Ringling Boulevard, the new store will sell popular Tervis tumblers and other products.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Preliminary taxable values within the city of Sarasota grew 5.5% to $7.2 billion this year.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 29, 2014
Sarasota taxable values continue to climb

Preliminary taxable values for Sarasota County indicate a 6.4% increase to $43.4 billion in the current fiscal year over 2013. April employment figures show more positive economic news for the region.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Town Manager Dave Bullock said there's an array of public safety laws designed to protect the community from old Colony buildings before a storm approaches.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 29, 2014
Commission passes on nuisance hearings

Commissioners unanimously approved a proposed option by Town Manager Dave Bullock to correct a long list of issues that constitute a public safety issue for Key residents through the town code.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key taxable values are rising for the second year in a row and are 2.4% higher than town staff expected the values to rise.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 29, 2014
Key property values are on the rise

Preliminary taxable values show that Longboat Key taxable values are rising an average of 5.4% more than the previous year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lisa Rollins started spearfishing for the competition. “The competitive nature in me put the spear gun in my hand,” she says.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 29, 2014
Siesta Key diver to star on Weather Channel show

Lisa Rollins will be featured on the 'Catching Hell,' which debuts at 9 p.m Sunday, June 1, on the Weather Channel.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Michele Kissen, Cat Hickmon, Alan Gravley and Stan Writesel. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 29, 2014
Sew wonderful

Siesta Key resident Lynn Johns will travel Friday to Haiti to work with orphaned children.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 29, 2014
Season of Sculpture comes to a close

Last call for Season of Sculpture viewers! The 2014 exhibitions will come down Friday.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtesy rendering Lisa Morreale says her ownership group's new concept for Tequila Cantina would transform it into a high-end restaurant with fine dining.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 29, 2014
VIDEO: Tequila Cantina plans major overhaul

New owners of Tequila Cantina seek to rebrand the establishment, but downtown residents, worried about noise, hesitate to support the plan.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 29, 2014
Merchants want action on vagrants

Fed up with issues from the homeless downtown, merchants push the city to more aggressively find solutions for vagrancy problems.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City Parking Manager Tom Lyons hopes to have a comprehensive parking management plan completed within two months. Photo by David Conway
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 29, 2014
DID continues paid parking debate

Following a presentation from the city's parking manager, Downtown Improvement District members softened their opposition to the reintroduction of paid parking.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Caragiulo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 29, 2014
News Briefs

Minder enters County Commission race; City commissioner announces resignation; Selby Gardens CEO announces retirement; Bayfront Children's Fountain reopens after renovations

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino and city of Saraosta Emergency Manager Todd Kerkering discuss preparedness practices at Tuesday's meeting. Photo by David Conway
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 29, 2014
Sarasota fights to stay vigilant in hurricane season

As hurricane season approaches, local governments and law enforcement agencies work to prepare themselves - and citizens - for potential emergencies.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy Sarasota County staff modeled a potential new SCAT transfer station after a similar Collier County structure.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 29, 2014
SCAT move progresses

Sarasota County staff may have overcome one obstacle in the potential relocation of the SCAT transfer station downtown, but other questions remain unanswered.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 29, 2014
Our View

Sign the mayor petition

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 29, 2014
Letters to the Editor

Facts on proposed charter; Plaudits for 'the moment'; Honor their memory; Politicians instigate wars

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 29, 2014
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
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Sarasota Art Museum Senior Curator Rangsook Yoon poses in front of an unnamed piece in Judy Pfaff's exhibition, "Picking Up the Pieces."
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