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Your Observer

Wanda Reed-Burke and John Vita attended the event to support a good cause.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 18, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Beertopia

Attendees sampled from more than 80 craft beers at the sixth annual Beertopia at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, Jan. 18, in an event to benefit the Eye Center, Inc. Vision Foundation and the Hernando De Soto Historical Society.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
John Kortecamp with Frederick Prescott’s “Moose on the Loose”.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 18, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival

The Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival returns to Sarasota Saturday, Jan. 18 through Sunday, Jan. 19. Gulfstream Avenue has been transformed into an outdoor art gallery for the weekend. Festival-goers are encouraged to meet the artists and take home a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rose, David and Charlotte Goldstein
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 18, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Temple Emanu-El Tu B'Shevat

Families of Temple Emanu-El celebrated Tu B'Shevat Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Sarasota Children's Garden. To celebrate the trees, families sang songs, planted parsley seeds and enjoyed birthday cake. Tu B'Shevat is the Jewish holiday marking the birthday of the trees.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 18, 2014
American Idol contestant set to perform locally this weekend

American Idol contestant Sam Woolf, a Senior at Braden River High, will perform at two venues in his hometown this weekend.

  • East County
  • News
Nick Aeschliman, Ed Dwyer and Ray Ellis
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • January 17, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Cedars Tennis Association Welcome Back Dinner

Cedars Tennis Association held a Welcome Back Dinner for returning members on Friday, Jan. 17, to kick off the start of the season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High freshman Sophia Falco, left, scored a pair of goals for the Lady Mustangs.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 17, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Girl Soccer Class 4A-District 11 Championship

The Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team captured its fifth straight district title with a 3-0 victory over rival Braden River in the Class 4A-District 11 championship tonight. Freshman forward scored a pair of goals and junior forward Julia Ortiz added a goal. Lakewood goalkeeper Alex Latham had two saves. With the win, the Lady Mustangs will host a regional quarterfinal match Jan. 23 while the Lady Pirates will be on the road.

  • East County
  • Sports
Ron and Sue Green with Nancy and Bob Koran
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • January 17, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Beachplace Welcome Back Party

On Friday, Jan. 17, Beachplace welcomed back its residents for the season with a party. Attendees enjoyed cocktails and appetizers as they reunited with old friends and met new ones.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A crowd looks over six pianos, decorated by local artists, before a concert event Friday. The pianos, part of the Sarasota Keys project, will be located in various downtown locations through May.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 17, 2014
Sarasota Keys pianos make downtown debut

The interactive downtown piano project officially kicked off this evening with a brief concert event at Five Points Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 17, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Keys

Music and art fans filled Five Points Park Friday, Jan. 17, for the unveiling of the six pianos decorated for the Sarasota Keys public art project. Guests admired the pianos before enjoying a live performance.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Janine Aylward, Lauren Wailand and Makra Brannon attended last year's Beertopia event.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 17, 2014
Weekend Best Bet: Beertopia

Gold Coast Eagle Distributing will host a beer festival for a good cause Saturday night.

  • East County
  • News
American Airlines recently announced it would continue its nonstop flights from Sarasota-Bradenton to Washington's Reagan International Airport.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 17, 2014
SRQ reports drop in air traffic, passengers

Data indicates general aviation traffic, total aircraft operations and the number of passengers all dropped at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in 2013 compared with the year prior.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Heritage Harbour South District Manager Greg Cox and District Counsel Andy Cohen discuss l lawsuit options with supervisor Lee Bettes and Vice Chairwoman Michelle Patterson at the eritage Harbour South CDD meeting Jan. 16.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 17, 2014
Supervisors of Heritage Harbour South CDD explore lawsuit options

Heritage Harbour South CDD supervisors may choose to press forward in a lawsuit for "shotty workmanship" that cost the development district about $16,800.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 17, 2014
City Commission to review lift station recommendations

Five months after the city hired a new engineering firm to oversee the construction of Lift Station 87, commissioners will hear the group's proposal for finishing the project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Town Clerk’s office is located at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 17, 2014
Town seeks volunteers for police pension board

The Town Clerk's office is located at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Pablo Rodriguez, pictured with his family of aerial artists, was inducted into the St. Armands Circle Circus Ring of Fame last year.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 17, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: 27th Annual Circus Ring of Fame

Four new members will be inducted to the Circus Ring of Fame Sunday, at St. Armands Circle Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Residents believe the lack of  lighting in the Broadway area poses a safety threat to pedestrians crossing Gulf of Mexico Drive to head to the Broadway beach access.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 17, 2014
Village intersection receiving more light

The west portion of the intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway will receive a lighted sign and a light on top of the sign.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 17, 2014
City, county announce Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures

Most city and county administrative offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of the holiday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
In addition, from Friday, Jan. 17 to Jan. 20, most county online services will be unavailable because of maintenance.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 17, 2014
County government offices closed Monday

Manatee County Government offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 20 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

  • East County
  • News
The Cardinal Mooney High girls soccer team captured the Class 2A-District 11 title with a 4-1 victory over DeSoto County Jan. 16.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 17, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Girls Soccer Class 2A-District 11 Championship

The Cardinal Mooney High girls soccer team captured its fourth district title in five years with a 4-1 victory over DeSoto County in the Class 2A-District 11 championship Jan. 16. Junior forward Rose Amato scored a pair of goals in the first 10 minutes to lead the way for the Lady Cougars. Freshman forward Skylar Jungers and junior midfielder Alex Byers each added a goal in the second half. With the win, Cardinal Mooney will play host to Cape Coral Oasis in a regional quarterfinal Jan. 23.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cindi and Nick Bollettieri with their sons, Giacomo, 5, and Giovanni, 8 at last year's Sarasota Open.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • January 17, 2014
Volunteers needed for the 2014 Sarasota Open

The 2014 Sarasota Open comes to the Longboat Key Club's Tennis Gardens Saturday, April 12 through Monday, April 21. In previous years, this tournament has drawn crowds of 30,000 spectators and more, so they're in need of your help!

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Renderings of the Villages of Lakewood Ranch South, a proposed development under Sarasota 2050.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 17, 2014
Planning Commission vets 2050 changes

Sarasota County staff presented the second phase of proposed tweaks to Sarasota 2050 Thursday. The new changes make environmental aspects of the long-term growth regulations more flexible for developers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Gulfstream Avenue will act as an outdoor gallery showcasing original work including painting, jewelry, sculpting, photography, woodwork more. (Courtesy Photo)
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 17, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival

The show has been rated one of the top 100 fine art festivals nationwide and hosts hundreds of artists from around the country.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
H. Terrell Griffin entertains attendees with his stories of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • January 16, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Key Historical Society Lecture Series

Local novelist H. Terrell Griffin spoke about his many lively and Longboat-inspired characters with the Longboat Key Historical Society at Christ Church Presbyterian on Thursday, Jan. 16.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sheriff Knight announces in an Aug. 1, 2013 press conference the success of a collaborative effort with area businesses to crack down on retail theft called Operation Booster Buster.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 16, 2014
Sheriff: Crime down again in 2013

Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight credits manpower flexibility, strong community relationships and an innovative crime-fighting strategy for another year of falling crime rates countywide.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team huddles together before the start of its Class 4A-District 11 semifinal match versus North Port Jan. 15.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 16, 2014
Lady Mustangs cruise to regional berth

The No. 1 seed Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team defeated No. 4 seed North Port 5-1 in a Class 4A-District 11 semifinal match Jan. 15.

  • East County
  • Sports
The 8,000-square-foot facility includes a covered bay area.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 16, 2014
Lakewood Ranch supervisors approve new revenue source

Lakewood Ranch Community Development District Supervisors authorized the signing of a lease for its landscaping contractor to rent space in Town Hall's new maintenance facility.

  • East County
  • News
The installation titled “What I Can be with a College Degree” includes work by 85 fifth grade students.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 16, 2014
Booker Elementary students to display artwork at USF

The collaboration between USFSM and Emma E. Booker Elementary is part of the College of Education's Center for Partnerships in Arts Integrated Teaching (PAInT).

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lewis Hall, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Jim Turner
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 16, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Argus Foundation annual meeting

Members of the Argus Foundation met for the foundation's 31st annual meeting Thursday, Jan. 16 at The Francis Ball Room. The meeting included the election of new board members and guest speaker Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Putnam discussed 'The Opportunities and Challenges Facing Florida' while attendees enjoyed lunch.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson speaks at a September 2013 joint County Commission-Longboat Key Commission meeting.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 16, 2014
Convocation of governments set for Friday

Area lawmakers prepare to discuss school facilities projects and other education initiatives at a joint meeting Friday.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
A pump-out boat removes sewage from boats moored in the mooring field, the expansion of which was just completed.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 16, 2014
Phase two of bayfront mooring field complete

The second phase of work at the Sarasota Bay Mooring Field has been completed, with an additional 35 moorings added for anchoring boats.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 16, 2014
Real estate: Top local Realtors listed by sales volume

The Sarasota-Manatee Multiple Listing Service reveals the top 25 ranked Realtors in both counties in 2013.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 16, 2014
Heritage Harbour South CDD supervisors hope to fill in the cracks

Supervisors of the Heritage Harbour South CDD will meet to discuss issues such as deep sidewalk cracks.

  • East County
  • News
Mike Moschella, Dr. Henry Fishkind, Sharon Hillstrom and John Rice chat before the economic forecast presentation.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 16, 2014
Economist predicts a 'break-out year' for Manatee County

Economist Dr. Henry Fishkind assures Manatee County professionals the economy will flourish this year.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 16, 2014
And the winner is ...

Daniel Hammon won the holiday edition of the Observer's 2013 'It's Read Everywhere' contest for his photo of himself and his dog, Maggie, pictured above at Lucylocks Pet Studio.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Image courtesy VANDYK USA One88's future location on Golden Gate Point.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 16, 2014
New luxury condo announced

A Toronto-based developer plans to build a mid-rise waterfront condominium on Golden Gate Point - and is eyeing future projects in the Sarasota market.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nolan Peterson A tidal pool that collected at the north end of Siesta Beach in the fall, seen here, became a feeding area for both migrating and local shorebirds during the winter.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 16, 2014
Beach modifications rake in controversy

Siesta Key residents say a local beach rake operator continues to illegally modify Siesta beaches under the direction of beachfront property owners seeking to skirt state and county rules.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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