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Your Observer

Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) will be on a normal bus schedule Monday.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 17, 2014
County offices close for the holiday

Most Sarasota County government offices will be closed today in observance of Presidents Day; basic services, however, will continue to run.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The vacant lot at 162 Beach Road is covered in shoreline-stabilizing vegetation, and has never been developed.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • February 17, 2014
County Commission to consider shoreline construction

Sarasota County commissioners during a public hearing Wednesday, will review plans to build a three-story single-family home at 162 Beach Road.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Longboat Key Town Hall is located at 501 Bay Isles Road. (File photo)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 17, 2014
Town Hall closes for Presidents Day

Longboat Key Town Hall will re-open at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. Trash collection will take place on Tuesday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch sophomore midfielder Felipe Dangond attempts to maintain possession for the Mustangs in the first half of the Class 4A Final Four Feb. 14.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 17, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Lakewood Ranch Boys Soccer vs. Melbourne in Class 4A Final Four

The Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team saw its season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to Melbourne in the Class 4A Final Four Feb. 14, at Eastern Florida State College. It was the Mustangs first state semifinal appearance in the program's history.

  • East County
  • Sports
Manatee County parks and beaches will remain open to the public today.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 17, 2014
County offices closed on Presidents Day

Manatee County Government offices are closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day.

  • East County
  • News
  • By Otus
  • February 16, 2014
Ask Otus: Name that Bird! Answers to Pop Quiz

Otus Rufous, an Eastern Screech-owl, was born on Siesta Key and is a full-time resident there. An avid hunter, accomplished vocalist and genuine night owl, Otus is a keen observer of our local wildlife and knows many of nature's secrets. Otus will answer your questions about our amazing wildlife, but only if you Ask Otusâ„¢.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Helen Martin, Rose Marie Aichhorn and Meg Garafalo
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 16, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Palm-Aire Women's Club

Ladies of the Palm-Aire Women's Club celebrated their monthly meeting and Valentine's Day with a special Queen of Hearts-themed event Feb. 14, at the Palm-Aire Country Club.

  • East County
  • News
Alden Wright, 11, Isaac Wright, 8, and Jack Muller, 8, enjoy the festival after their baseball game.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 16, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Our Lady of the Angels' Parish Festival

Pizza slices, cotton candy and carnival rides entertained patrons Feb. 15, as they filled the lot in front of Premiere Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch for Our Lady of the Angels' Parish Festival.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sharon and Pete Meyer enjoy snacks with friends.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 16, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Brides Against Breast Cancer's Run and Renew 5K

Women walked together during the Brides Against Breast Cancer's 5K Feb. 15, before the group participated in ceremonies to renew their vows, offered on site at the Center for Building Hope.

  • East County
  • News
Lori Bassano and Bruce Lesser
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 15, 2014
ARC Best in Show Gala 'Unconditional Love'

ARC Best in Show Gala 'Unconditional Love'

  • Black Tie
Dominic Mattera, 4, runs to first base.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 15, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Little League Opening Day

The Sarasota Little League celebrated its 75th annual Opening Day Saturday, Feb. 15. Families cheered on their favorite players as they hit home runs and played their first games of the season at Twin Lakes Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County Assistant Fire Chief Bill Hoag explains the county's traffic light pre-emption network Friday, Feb. 14.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 15, 2014
VIDEO: GPS gives green light

Emergency vehicle response times are down, thanks to a technology in place at 200 stoplights throughout Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Guests gathered at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota for the 5th annual Compassion in Caring luncheon featuring J.R. Martinez.
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 14, 2014
5th Annual Compassion in Caring Luncheon

5th Annual Compassion in Caring Luncheon

  • Black Tie
Sandra Ceshker smiles after a particularly good hand in Black Jack.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • February 14, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Key Kiwanis Foundation's Valentines in Vegas

The Longboat Key Kiwanis Foundation hosted Valentines in Las Vegas at the Longboat Key Club's Harbourside Dining Room on Friday. The 42nd Street Las Vegas Express Band entertained over 200 guests as they played Black Jack, Roulette, 3-Card Poker and Craps.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Joyce Celniker, Elaine Gelezigian and Lynne Baker
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • February 14, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Club Longboat Saint Valentine's Gala

On Friday, residents of Club Longboat gathered at their clubhouse for an evening of cocktails, dinner and live entertainment at the Saint Valentine's Gala.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Daisy Franko says her favorite thing about husband, John, is that he’s intelligent.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 14, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Say I Do Again

Couples took to Siesta Beach to affirm their love at the 2014 Say I Do Again Friday, Feb. 14. The ceremony took place at sunset and was led by Magistrate Ed Wilson. Before the ceremony, couples strolled through the village.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Janet Ginn, Bunny Skirboll, Roxie Jerde and Betty Schoenbaum
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • February 14, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Lion of Judah and Pomegranate Luncheon

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee hosted the Lion of Judah & Pomegranate Luncheon on Friday at the Longboat Key Club's Harbourside Dining Room.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Shelia Marie Martin and Townsend Morey
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • February 14, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Republican Club of Longboat Key Luncheon

On Friday, the Republican Club of Longboat Key hosted a their monthly luncheon at the Islandside Dining Room. Armando Linde, former Deputy Secretary of the International Monetary Fund, spoke of his career in Washington to attendees.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota Police Department provided this image of the Selby Library following a stabbing that took place on the building's second floor today.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 14, 2014
UPDATE: Stabbing occurs at Selby Library

According to the Sarasota Police Department, a man stabbed another man after getting into an argument about the library's computers this morning.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Spencer Dunford, general manager of Hidden Harbor Marina.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 14, 2014
Hidden Harbor Marina reopens

After being shut down for more than six years, the south U.S. 41 marina is once again officially open for business.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The fun runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 and Sunday, Feb. 16, along the Sarasota Bay shoreline in the historic fishing village of Cortez.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • February 14, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: 32nd Annual Cortez Fishing Festival

Come celebrate Florida's commercial fishing and maritime history at the 32nd Annual Cortez Fishing Festival! Drawing crowds for over 30 years, this event has grown into a two-day festival filled with live music, marine life talks, artist vendors, and a wide variety of seafood choices.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Festival-goers are invited to interact with the artists at this free event. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 14, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: Downtown Sarasota Festival of the Arts

This weekend, Main Street will become home to hundreds of artists from around the country. The event also showcases the best local and regional artists of the area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 14, 2014
Longboat Library to hold open house

The Longboat Library invites residents and visitors to stop by the library from 2 to 4 p.m. today.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Haile Middle VEX Robotic Team: Lincoln Benedicto, Brantley Deines, Michael Kisada and Patrick Downing.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 14, 2014
Haile robotics team earns admission to state competition

Haile Middle School's VEX Robotic Team won the 'Tampa Prep Throwdown' this month, qualifying the squad for the Florida VEX Robotics State Championship.

  • East County
  • News
The severity of the north end’s erosion problem will not be fixed for more than a year.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 14, 2014
Groin permit approval has one more hurdle

A representative from Congressman Vern Buchanan's office informed a town official yesterday that a federal permit for groins needs one more bureaucratic stamp of approval.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The site plan calls for 77 single-family homes south of Whitfield Avenue.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 14, 2014
Planning commission supports Woodbrook II community

The Manatee County Planning Commission recommended approval of a site plan for a East County subdivision proposed by Pat Neal.

  • East County
  • News
Terri Antonelli and Debbie Amato
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 13, 2014
SPARCCle on the Runway Fashion Show and Luncheon

SPARCCle on the Runway Fashion Show and Luncheon

  • Black Tie
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 13, 2014
Sarasota County property sales match pre-recession levels

Total property sales in Sarasota County in 2013 were the second highest ever recorded.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Pierre is located at 455 Longboat Club Road. (Town of Longboat Key)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 13, 2014
ZBA approves Pierre tennis court expansion

The Longboat Key condominium plans to expand two courts by five feet in May.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Samantha Bisceglia submitted this sunrise photo, taken on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 13, 2014
Submit your weather photos!

We want your best weather photos - sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, etc!

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Heather Kasten and Kevin Cooper from the Chamber
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 13, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Greater Sarasota County Chamber of Commerce Kick-Off Breakfast

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce held its annual kick-off breakfast Thursday, Feb. 13 at the Polo Grill and Bar. Members enjoyed breakfast while learning about the chamber's upcoming projects and events such as the 2050 plan. Keynote Speaker Michael Burcham, president and CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center talked about the importance of creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The lot at 20 N. Washington Blvd., currently used as a parking lot for the county services across the street, is the planned site of a 9-to-10 story hotel.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 13, 2014
Commissioners approve Main Street hotel proposal

The Sarasota County Commission approved a land-swap deal that will allow for the development of a 150-room Kimpton Hotel at Main Street and U.S. 301.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 13, 2014
ODA tennis teams top Tampa Catholic

The Out-of-Door Academy boys and girls tennis teams both beat Tampa Catholic Feb. 12.

  • East County
  • Sports
Seventeen-year-old Sam Woolf, a senior at Braden River High, made it to the live showings of "American Idol."
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 13, 2014
UPDATE: Sam Woolf moves to top 30 on 'American Idol'

Braden River High senior Sam Woolf, 17, will progress to the top 30 on "American Idol."

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Officer Linda Senior, with the Crime Prevention Unit, and Tom Berry, founder of the Blue Alert Foundation
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 13, 2014
Cops of joe

Sarasota police officers spent the morning catching up with Sarasota residents over coffee Wednesday, Feb. 5 during 'Coffee with a Cop.'

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Members of the Bay Island-Siesta Neighborhood Association with the new sign
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 13, 2014
Sign me up

If you went over the north bridge to Siesta Key Saturday morning, chances are you saw the Bay Island Siesta Neighborhood Association put up its new sign.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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