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Your Observer

Steve Blumenthal and Barabara Benjamin
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 12, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Jewish Food Festival

Temple Sinai held the sixth annual Sarasota Jewish Food Festival Sunday, Jan. 12. Attendees enjoyed traditional Jewish comfort food like knishes and brisket. This year, Temple Sinai partnered with All Faith Food Bank and filled five large bins full of canned food for the non-profit.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Isabel and Milton Rauch
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 12, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Mable Ringling Memorial Fountain dedication ceremony

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation held a dedication ceremony for the Mable Ringling Memorial Fountain and Reflecting Pool Sunday, January 12. Attendees enjoyed high tea while celebrating the historic fountain at the Friendship Centers in downtown Sarasota. 'It feels fantastic,' said Pearson Kelly, the fountain's mosaic artist, on its completion.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Todd Davison and Deidre Reigel
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • January 12, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Island Chapel Welcome Back Brunch

Longboat Island Chapel celebrated the new season with a Welcome Back Brunch for its congregation on Sunday, Jan. 12.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Bird Key Yacht Club Foundation donated the new flagpole and American flag.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • January 11, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Bird Key Yacht Club Flagpole Dedication

It was a banner day for Old Glory at the Bird Key Yacht Club as members gathered for a flagpole dedication on Saturday, Jan. 11. The club's foundation donated the sturdy post, which is equipped with a light to shine on the American flag.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Karen McClure, Marlene Lancaster and Courtney Goodman
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • January 11, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Yacht Club Commodores' Ball

On Saturday, Jan. 11, the Sarasota Yacht Club held a ball to honor and celebrate their current and past commodores.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lori Hanson, a teacher from Charlotte County, and Harriet Bare enjoy the setting of Thunder by the Bay.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 11, 2014
VIDEO: Thunder by the Bay rocks downtown Sarasota

The 16th annual Thunder By the Bay festival packs the city of Sarasota with thousands of motorcycles.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Golden Clifton and Roy Truby
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 11, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Democratic Club luncheon

The Sarasota Democratic Club held its monthly luncheon Saturday, Jan. 11. Club members enjoyed lunch at the Laurel Oaks Country Club while guest speaker Dr. Lisa Merritt presented 'Healthcare is a Right, Not a Privilege'.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Face painting artist Akiko Campbell shows Abigail Pfeiffer, 6, the rainbow on her face.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 11, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Rock Your Robot Science Fair

East County families learned about math and science today at the Rock Your Robot Science Fair.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jake and Mark Bokorney with Stacey Monroe
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 11, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: 1st annual Andrew Monroe Memorial 5K

Runners and walkers took to Siesta Beach for the inaugural Andrew Monroe Memorial Scholarship 5K Walk/Run Saturday, Jan. 11. Proceeds benefit the Riverview High School soccer scholarship that was created in Andrew's name after he was killed in a tragic car accident.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips, Vice Mayor David Brenner, Commissioner Jack Duncan and Steve Branham
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • January 10, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Republican Club of Longboat Key's "Come Meet the Candidates"

On Friday, Jan. 10, the Republican Club of Longboat Key hosted a 'Come Meet the Candidates' luncheon and debate at the Harbourside Dining Room.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Gal pals Elizabeth Alee and Alyce Shaw browse their hand bag options.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 10, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Palm-Aire Women's Club 'Old Bag' luncheon

Purses in hand, members of the Palm-Aire Women's Club gathered for the auctioning of their gently-used handbags at the Old Bag luncheon Jan. 10.

  • East County
  • News
The new farmers market will kick off with 10 vendors but is already expanding weekly.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 10, 2014
New farmers market opens Saturday

The Central Sarasota Farmers Market opens tomorrow and will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, year round.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Congressman Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, lobbied unsuccessfully before the holidays to encourage Congress to approve a glitch bill to stave off insurance costs that have more than tripled for some policyholders.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 10, 2014
Town supports insurance legislation

Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown sent a letter to Senator Jeff Brandes this week, thanking him for addressing a flood insurance crisis through a bill he's attempting to pass in the Legislature

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A Sarasota couple bribed a procurement program manager for the Foreign Materials Acquisition Support Office at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, in exchange for government contracts.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 10, 2014
Sarasota couple sentenced in bribery scandal

Sylvester and Maria Zugrav admitted to using bribes to secure Air Force contracts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 10, 2014
Lakewood Ranch named top-selling community

Two companies have ranked Lakewood Ranch as the No. 9 master-planned community in the nation.

  • East County
  • News
The Kolter Group may have to wait a little longer to break ground on a planned hotel/condominium project, as the city plans to revise the development's traffic study.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 10, 2014
City likely to revise traffic study for bayfront development

Following residents' complaints that the city was underestimating the impact of a development along U.S. 41, the city attorney said the project's traffic study will be revisited.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Diane Silverstein and Shirley Rose make cabbage rolls for the Sarasota Jewish Food Festival at Temple Sinai
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 10, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: Sarasota Jewish Food Festival

The festival boasts a wide selection of traditional comfort Jewish food including corned beef sandwiches and matzoh ball soup.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Diane Silverstein and Shirley Rose make cabbage rolls for the Sarasota Jewish Food Festival at Temple Sinai
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 10, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET:Sarasota Jewish Food Festival

Guests are invited to start their day with a bagel and schmear before they move on to the main dishes including brisket, stuffed cabbage and knishes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Aging in Paradise Resource Center is located on the second floor of Longboat Island Chapel. (File photo)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 10, 2014
Institute for the Ages CEO to speak at chapel

Tom Esselman, president and CEO of the Institute for the Ages, will speak Monday at Longboat Island Chapel.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota's Big Pass, seen here in an aerial photo, has never been dredged.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 10, 2014
SKA says no to Big Pass dredge

The Siesta Key Association ratcheted up the Big Pass dredging debate Thursday by making an official statement in opposition to the project.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 10, 2014
Road closures planned for Thunder by the Bay

Downtown road closures will be ongoing throughout the weekend during the 16th annual Thunder by the Bay motorcycle festival.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioners approved an amendment to the site plan for the project that appeases concerns from a neighboring community, Country Meadows, about traffic.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 10, 2014
Commissioners approve 610-home community

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a 610-home community at its meeting Thursday.

  • East County
  • News
Brayan Dasilva played a math game with Jana Espy of the Calvary Chapel School in Sarasota at last year's event.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 10, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: Rock Your Robot Science Fair

A robot costume contest, science and math exhibits will take over Greenbrook Adventure Park this weekend for the Rock your Robot Science Fair.

  • East County
  • News
Sam Alfstad, Tim Jaeger and Gary Galati
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 9, 2014
'All in the Family' Special Preview

'All in the Family' Special Preview

  • Black Tie
The 5,041-square-foot home sold for $4.75 million in May. (Courtesy Premier Sotheby's International Realty)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 9, 2014
Key home is finalist for WSJ 'House of the Year'

The Bay Isles home is one of 50 finalists for the Wall Street Journal's online poll.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Sarasota Christian’s Lane Chupp looks to maintain possession away from Eagles forward Brendon Durmody.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 9, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Military Academy Soccer vs. Sarasota Christian

The Sarasota Military Academy boys and girls soccer teams played host to Sarasota Christian School in non-district action Jan. 7. Junior Gunnar Kral scored a pair of goals to lead Sarasota Christian to a 2-1 victory. Jacob Kroll and Brady Weaver both were credited with an assist. The Sarasota Christian girls team won 3-1.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A proposed project to dredge Big Pass, seen here in an aerial photo, will be one of the items up for discussion at Thursday's SKA meeting.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 9, 2014
Siesta real estate trends top SKA agenda

A real estate expert and Siesta business leader will brief the Siesta Key Association Thursday on trends in the island's property market and demographics.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch Town Hall maintenance facility will serve a variety of functions after its open house Jan. 9.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 9, 2014
Lakewood Ranch maintenance facility opens to the public

The more than $2 million Lakewood Ranch maintenance facility officially opens its doors Jan. 9.

  • East County
  • News
On Wednesday, Jan. 8, the mesmerizing jellyfish swim around their tank at Mote Aquarium.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • January 9, 2014
PHOTO OF THE DAY: At the Aquarium

Brighten up a cloudy day by visiting one of the nonprofit organizations near the Key. Located on City Island, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium aims to entertain and educate with exhibits featuring sea turtles, manatees and over 100 other species of marine life.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Alaina Ray was instrumental in guiding the town’s Urban Land Institute process, as well as reviewing applications such as the Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 9, 2014
Alaina Ray named PZ&B director

After three months as the town's interim Planning, Zoning and Building Director, the town manager officially gave Alaina Ray the position on Wednesday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The store’s close proximity to Interstate 75 makes it an easy target for burglars, according to the Manatee Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 9, 2014
Photography store burglarized for second time this week

Johnson PhotoImaging has been burglarized four times since May.

  • East County
  • News
Jim and Evelyn Gregory enjoy drinks and a good time together.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 9, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: LWRBA January Networking Social

Members of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance converged Jan. 8, at Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, for drinks, sandwiches and a chance to win cash at the January Networking Social.

  • East County
  • News
Harriet Sokmensuer. Beachaven came in first in its category.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 9, 2014
Winter wonderland

The Siesta Key Condominium Council announced the winners of the Siesta Key Condo Lighting contest.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Heather Merriman. Linda Gross, Pam Day, board President Ida Zito, Jean Weidner Goldstein and Tim Self
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 9, 2014
Appreciation luncheon

Designing Women Boutique held a special media appreciation luncheon Monday in the store's second-floor gallery space.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 9, 2014
Our view

Before you vote for that tax

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 9, 2014
Top issues to watch in 2014: Homelessness

A proposal to build a downtown homeless shelter has set the stage for a contentious debate about where the facility should be built.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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