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Your Observer

    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
Pine View School eighth-grader Hadleigh Schwartz runs anywhere between three and eight miles, five days a week. Photo by Jen Blanco
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 29, 2014
Mile Split

Pine View School eighth-grader Hadleigh Schwartz went undefeated in the 1,600-meter run in her second season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Karan Higdon
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 29, 2014
High five moments of the week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Photo by Harriet Sokmensuer This home at 3830 Tangier Terrace has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,061 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,225,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 29, 2014
A home in Sorrento South sells for $1.9 million

A home in Sorrento South tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Bauman
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 29, 2014
Business Observer

International Martial Arts Academy comes to Sarasota; Laura Bauman elected to Child Protection board; Linda Apple joins Premier Sotheby's International Realty

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota resident Ray Collins submitted this sunset photo taken from The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 29, 2014
Weather: Sarasota

Sarasota resident Ray Collins submitted this sunset photo taken from The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 29, 2014
Très bien

Consul General de France M. Philippe Letrilliart visited Selby Library May 15, to speak about the long-standing relationship between France and Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Nancy Taussing, Barefoot Weddings, Greg Hayes, Higher Standards, Denny Floden, Zen Nails & Spa, Penelope Mabrey, ServPro of Bradenton, and Jim Adkins, Adkins Florida Group
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • May 28, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce Card Swap

Casa Del Mar hosted a card swap for business professionals of the Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce May 28.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Doug McDuffie, Gabriele Vest and Marc Simms enjoy meeting new friends.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 28, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Lakewood Ranch Young Leaders Alliance social

Members of the Lakewood Ranch Young Leaders Alliance met for dinner, drinks and socializing at the group's monthly social, May 28, at Truman's Tap and Grill. Members of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance also stopped by the event to mingle with the future business leaders.

  • East County
  • News
Engineering firm McKim and Creed provided this preliminary rendering of a potential building at Lift Station 87 earlier this month, though design elements are still subject to change.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 28, 2014
City to hold lift station outreach meeting

Representatives from the city and the engineering team in charge of the Lift Station 87 project will discuss the design of an above-ground structure in Luke Wood Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Wayne McCammon retired as Longboat Key police chief in 1996, after 23 years. (File photo)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 28, 2014
Former Police Chief McCammon dies at 83

Wayne McCammon retired as Longboat Key police chief in 1996, after 23 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee High School Assistant Principal Tony Losada has spent 20 years in the school system for 20 years.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 28, 2014
Principal candidates introduce themselves at community forum

The three contenders for the principal position at Lakewood Ranch High School fielded questions from students, parents and faculty members, May 27, in the school's auditorium and cafeteria.

  • East County
  • Schools
Top row: Tia Nicholas, Anabela Burns, Irieyunna Thompson. Bottom row: Sam Brode, Madison Underwood.
  • By Ashley Munroe
  • May 28, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Oak Park School shadow puppet performance

Oak Park School presented a Balinese shadow puppet show Tuesday. The fifth- and sixth-grade students, all with varying disabilities, were introduced to shadow puppetry by Surapsari, a local performing artist who specializes in theater and dance. The goal of this project was for the students to learn to sustain focus, as well as have a fun time working with each other.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
With an ever-changing menu, executive chef and owner Derek Barnes focuses on rustic, coastal cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 28, 2014
IN THE KITCHEN WITH: Derek's Rustic Coastal Cuisine

This week we went in the kitchen at Derek's Rustic Coastal Cuisine with executive chef and owner Derek Barnes and chef de cuisine Adam Straatman while he prepares the restaurant's Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop, which is served with a hash of sauteed pulled pork, sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts, and finished with a mole sauce.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta, a downtown resident, was the first to endorse City Commissioner Paul Caragiulo as his replacement.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 28, 2014
Caragiulo announces resignation

Sarasota City Commissioner Paul Caragiulo in a May 25 letter, announced his resignation effective Nov. 18, to seek a seat on the Sarasota County Commission.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 28, 2014
Around the world in running shoes

Former Longboat Key resident John Wallace is finally retiring his running shoes after 372 marathons in 121 countries.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Phyona and Paisley Smelt
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 28, 2014
Turtle Watch grants scholarships

The Longboat Key Turtle Watch granted two scholarships to sisters Paisley and Phyona Smelt, students at Anna Maria Elementary School, to attend Mote Marine Laboratory's Summer Children's Camp.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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