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Your Observer

Dawn Burns has been involved with the theater for most of her life. Now, she exposes her students to the fine arts through acting and musicals. Her class is preparing for a production of "Willy Wonka."
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • March 26, 2014
The Good News: Dawn Burns

For Gocio Elementary teacher Dawn Burns, teaching her students about theater and the fine arts sets the stage for success.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Amanda Sebastiano This Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch home, which has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 3,543 square feet of living area, sold for $725,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 26, 2014
Country Club Village home sells for $725,000

A home in Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch and a Langley Park home top all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Philip Stone submitted this photo, taken overlooking the seventh tee at the Palm-Aire golf course.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 26, 2014
Weather: East County

Philip Stone submitted this photo, taken overlooking the seventh tee at the Palm-Aire golf course.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Nancy Mazzarese. Photo by Kelsey Grau
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • March 26, 2014
YOUR NEIGHBOR | Nancy Mazzarese

A recent transplant to Longboat Key, Nancy Mazzarese is making fast work of giving back to her new community.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Roslyn Lurie and Gail Cardi (Photo by Molly Schechter)
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • March 26, 2014
Aerobic Grandma

Friends in fitness see the social benefits of exercise

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
...
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 26, 2014
You Observed

Here's a roundup of reader-submitted photos from events around the Key. To submit photos for this weekly feature, email Kelsey Grau at [email protected].

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Courtesy of Trulia.com This home at 3314 Bayou Road sold for $1,675,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 26, 2014
Four-bedroom Bay Isles home sells for $1,675,000

A home in Bay Isles tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Clayton Piantedosi submitted this sunrise photo, taken on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 26, 2014
Weather: Longboat Key

Clayton Piantedosi submitted this sunrise photo, taken on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Three Things: Starting Out Downtown
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • March 26, 2014
Three Things: Starting Out Downtown

Downtown Sarasota has become a magnet for young professionals who want to start their careers in an increasingly sophisticated environment.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Irwin Pastor and Terry Gans are the winners in the town's general municipal election.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 25, 2014
Pastor, Gans win commission seats

Irwin Pastor and Terry Gans defeated challengers Armando Linde and Ray Rajewski in the town's general municipal election.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sue Gordon and Reeva Sagal
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • March 25, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Key of Sea Chorus Performance

The Key of Sea Chorus held its final performance of the season on March 25 at The Player's Club. The crowd was treated to many Broadway hits as well as popular golden oldies.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Work is currently ongoing inside of Dolphin Tower, vacant since 2010 due to severe structural issues within the building.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 25, 2014
Dolphin Tower work causes concern on Palm

At today's Downtown Improvement District meeting, Palm Avenue merchants voiced worries about ongoing work at the vacant Dolphin Tower.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City Commissioner Suzanne Atwell reads the proclamation to Mary Ann Robinson. "This is one of my favorite parts of my job," says Atwell.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 25, 2014
Sarasota proclaims March 25 Mary Ann Robinson Day

The city of Sarasota honored Sarasota resident and philanthropist Mary Ann Robinson for her years of giving back to the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A vacant home at 12th Street Court East set fire late Monday.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • March 25, 2014
Arson suspected in East County house fire

A person of interest in the case was also a person of interest in previous arson cases.

  • East County
  • News
An example of the type of organization of development that Sarasota County aims to implement as part of the Fruitville Initiative.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • March 25, 2014
Fruitville Initiative gets back on track

Sarasota County's plans to rezone 360 acres of land east of I-75, gains momentum with a neighborhood workshop scheduled for Thursday, March 27.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Irwin Pastor and Diane Gans
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • March 25, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Election Day on Longboat Key

On March 25, Longboat Key residents voted in the town's general municipal election as candidates continued to campaign outside the polls.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
FDOT will try to find $60 million to fund a diverging-diamond-style interchange to ease traffic at Interstate 75 and University Parkway.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • March 25, 2014
Counties commit to interchange improvements

The Manatee and Sarasota County commissions passed resolutions today supporting accelerated construction of a diverging-diamond-style interchange to ease traffic at Interstate 75 and University Parkway.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bridge Street Bistro is located on Bradenton Beach with a view of the beach and gulf.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 25, 2014
IN THE KITCHEN WITH: Bridge Street Bistro

This week we went in the kitchen at Bridge Street Bistro with co-owners Bill Herlihy and chef Keith Daum as Daum prepares oysters Bienville with shrimp and bacon stuffing.

  • Arts + Culture
Dr. Taunya Fogleman and Dr. McKenna Flaherty discuss adjectives.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 25, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Ms. Fogleman's Grammar OR

Southside Elementary School's fourth grade teacher, Taunya Fogleman, transformed her classroom into an operating room Tuesday, March 25. Fogleman's students dressed up as doctors for an unconventional grammar test where the test papers were pretend patients. With scapals (red pens) and scrubs, donated by Sarasota Memorial Hospital, students used their knowledge of grammar and punctuation to help patients. "I feel pretty confident he'll make it," said Grace Hutchinson after finishing her test.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • March 25, 2014
Sailors set track records

Several Sarasota High runners set new school records at the FSU Relays March 21 and March 22.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota County residents vote at Town Hall, and Manatee County residents vote at Longboat Island Chapel.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 25, 2014
UPDATE: Election Day vote counts are weak

Polls are open until 7 p.m. at Town Hall for Sarasota County residents and Longboat Island Chapel for Manatee County residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The number of those looking for work in the local metro area outpaced the number of new jobs locally December to January, which nudged the jobless rate from 5.7% to 6.1%.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • March 25, 2014
Local unemployment rate increases in January

But, data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the economic recovery in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area is still on track.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Share your announcements in our new section.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 25, 2014
The Observer seeks submissions for its Occasions section

Send us your announcements of births, engagements, weddings and anniversaries. We want to share your celebrations.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Sally Altrochhi, Haley Stoddard, Hannah Ford-Traenkle and Fatima Demlack
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • March 24, 2014
Women In A Changing World

Women In A Changing World

  • Black Tie
The suggested route would connect with other planned routes by Sarasota County Area Transit and Manatee County Area Transit.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • March 24, 2014
Consultant picks Lakewood Ranch bus service route

Tindale-Oliver & Associates concluded a more than seven-month study that showed Lakewood Ranch demands bus service.

  • East County
  • News
Michaele McKenna, the Rev. Edward Pick and Joan Webster
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • March 24, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: St. Mary Women's Guild Fashion Show and Luncheon

On March 24, the Women's Guild of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church hosted a fashion show and luncheon at the Sarasota Yacht Club. Over 240 women attended the show, 'Cruising Into Spring,' which featured fashions from Dillard's. All proceeds benefitted local charities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Runners run through yellow dye.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 24, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Run or Dye

Thousands of runners participated in the Run or Dye 5K March 22 at Nathan Benderson Park.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 24, 2014
Police release Click It or Ticket data

As part of a statewide enforcement campaign, the Sarasota Police Department issued 448 citations for seat belt violations from March 1-15

  • Sarasota
  • News
The ATMS system includes the installation of 112 miles of fiber optic cables along regional roads.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • March 24, 2014
County looks to reboot U.S. 41 signal timing

County traffic engineers have taken to the streets to find out how to better coordinate traffic signals to prevent motorists from having to stop multiple times for red lights.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the town's March 25 general municipal election.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 24, 2014
Longboat Key early voting draws 1,121

Early voting took place from March 10 through March 22, at Longboat Key Town Hall.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Tampa-based U.S. Bankruptcy Judge K. Rodney May dismissed a proposed Colony bankruptcy reorganization plan and, in doing so, also rejected a Colony settlement that was in the works for months.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 24, 2014
Colony judge amends ruling

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge. K. Rodney May written ruling revealed that Colony Lender LLC is a secured creditor in the bankruptcy case and will collect the first $3.7 million of any judgment offer.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
During a Sarasota County Commission budget workshop, staff will present updates on major capital projects, such as the new Gulf Gate Library.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • March 24, 2014
Commissioners to continue budget talks

Sarasota County commissioners during a budget workshop tomorrow will consider proposed capital improvement projects, such as a request for funding from the town of Longboat Key, and hear updates on major public works projects.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Man of the Year Howard Tevlowitz with wife Bryna.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 23, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Temple Beth Sholom Man of the Year

Temple Beth Sholom's Mens Club celebrated its Man of the Year Sunday, March 23. Executive Director of the Sarasota Manatee Jewish Federation Howard Tevlowitz was honored by the synagogue's Mens Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tom Hall, Carol Hayes, Marilyn Hall and Joan Sacco dressed in green.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 23, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's BBQ

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church held its annual St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Barbecue Sunday, March 23. Parishioners enjoyed a home cooked dishes and hot food from the barbecue with Irish music and a raffle.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jon and Jackson Anderson with a ukulele and mandolin.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 23, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Folk Festival

Folk fanatics spent the weekend at the Sarasota Folk Festival Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23. More than thirty folk artists performed on three stages at Oscar Sherer State Park in Osprey.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sasha and Chloe Drapkin
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 23, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Temple Emanu-El Purim

Members of Temple Emanu-El celebrated Purim Sunday, March 23. The synagogue's sanctuary was transformed into a carnival with blow up castles, face painting, cotton candy and a dunk tanks.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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