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Your Observer

File photo. Standing water from heavy September rains stalled progress on the Beach Road Drainage Improvements project.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 9, 2014
Top issues to watch in 2014: Siesta Beach construction

Extensive renovations to Siesta Beach are set to break ground in January.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Rendering courtesy Jim Bridges. Plans call for the construction of an Embassy Suites along U.S. 41.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 9, 2014
Top issues to watch in 2014: Downtown hotels

Four downtown hotels could all begin construction this year, but some hurdles remain.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 9, 2014
Top issues to watch in 2014: Sarasota County Commission 2014 elections

Two longtime Sarasota County commissioners retire in November, opening the door for a pair of newcomers to join the board.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 9, 2014
Top issues to watch in 2014: County budget

Sarasota County commissioners ditched the austerity measures that carried the county through the recession, approving a $1.1 billion county spending plan for Fiscal Year 2014.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 9, 2014
Top issues to watch in 2014: City budget

After narrowly approving a budget and millage rate increase in 2013, the Sarasota City Commission has shown a divide when it comes to managing the city's finances.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 9, 2014
Top issues to watch in 2014: Traffic signals

The continued push for roundabouts in Sarasota and the implementation of a multiyear mobility study has traffic management at the forefront of the city's 2014 plans.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 9, 2014
Top issues to watch in 2014: Real Estate

Sarasota County's real estate markets and construction industry are expected to continue their resurgence despite a skilled-labor shortfall, which threatens to dampen the pace of growth.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy rendering. Planned renovations of the pavilion at Siesta Beach will expand the facility while respecting architect Tim Seibert's original design.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 9, 2014
Siesta Beach renovations have SKVA on edge

The Siesta Key Village Association met for the first time in 2014 on Tuesday, opening the new year with fresh concerns about how the two-year renovation project at Siesta Beach might impact the island's tourism industry.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 9, 2014
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Works from the Chalk Festival, such as this drawing near Dolphin Street, have not yet been cleaned from the road.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 9, 2014
Chalk Festival art lingers on Burns Square streets

Sarasota Chalk Festival artwork is still visible on Pineapple Avenue, but city staff says an agreement required the street to be cleaned more than three weeks ago.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 9, 2014
DID grapples with present, future budget considerations

Between Five Points Park lighting and potential expansion, the Downtown Improvement District is dealing with fiscal concerns.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Shirley
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • January 9, 2014
Alta Vista principal named one of the best in Florida

The Sarasota School Board's first meeting of 2014 recognized the recent achievements of Alta Vista Elementary School and its principal.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lisa Hoffman
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 9, 2014
High five moments of the week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
In his second varsity season, junior guard Ryan McMahon has become one of Cardinal Mooney's leading scorers.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 9, 2014
Holding court

Cardinal Mooney High junior guard Ryan McMahon is averaging 15.9 points per game so far this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 9, 2014
Just the stats

The week in sports by the numbers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Davonee Podolsky
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 9, 2014
New year, new me!

Second-graders from Ashton Elementary and Gulf Gate shared their goals and resolutions with the Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Harriet Sokmensuer. Pam Donehew has worked on bringing the IB program to SMA for nearly two years.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 9, 2014
Teacher spotlight: Pam Donehew

Pam Donehew has worked on bringing the IB program to SMA for nearly two years.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 9, 2014
School board

Please send your school and classroom news, events and extraordinary efforts to Community Editor Harriet Sokmensuer, [email protected].

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Harriet Sokmensuer. This home at 1456 Point Crisp Road has four bedrooms, five baths, one half-bath, a pool and 4,867 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.7 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 9, 2014
Home in Point Crisp sells for $3.7 million

John and Lynn Noble, of Northampton, Pa., sold their home at 1456 Point Crisp Road to Michael Mitchell, of Sarasota, for $3.7 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Andrea McDaniel submitted this sunset photo, taken in December.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 9, 2014
Weather: Sarasota

Andrea McDaniel submitted this sunset photo, taken in December.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The current intersection at Beach and Midnight Pass roads is a heavlily-trafficked thouroghfare due to offsite beach parking areas at nearby properties.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 9, 2014
UPDATE: FDOT proposes Beach Road-Midnight Pass roundabout

A Florida Department of Transportation study found that a roundabout at the Beach Road-Midnight Pass Road intersection could help improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Gov. Rick Scott followed along to the Mixon’s presentation.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 9, 2014
Gov. Scott helps Mixon Farm celebrate 75th year

Florida Gov. Rick Scott came to East County Thursday, Jan. 9 to help Mixon Fruit Farm celebrate its 75th anniversary. Scott spoke at a luncheon at the farm.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 9, 2014
Sarasota: top issues to watch in 2014

The Sarasota Observer profiles some of the year's most pressing issues.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The meeting will be held at Cardinal Mooney, Buchanan's alma mater.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 9, 2014
Mooney alumnus hosting cystic fibrosis fundraiser meeting

Buchanan is looking for help with organizing a golf tournament and coming up with ideas for smaller fundraising events. People can donate money, time or services says the Sarasota native.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tim Jaeger, one of six local artists selected to participate in the Sarasota Keys project, works on painting a piano that will be placed downtown Jan. 17.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 9, 2014
Sarasota Keys announces kickoff event

On Friday, Jan. 17, the project that will place six pianos on public property downtown will officially begin with a brief concert at Five Points Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The night was filled with performances including Marguerite Barnett who danced to drums.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY:Friends of the Selby Library Crystal Ball

The Friends of Selby Library held its fourth annual Crystal Ball Wednesday, Jan. 8. The night was full of food, dancing, magic and psychic readings. Guests enjoyed the downtown library after hours with live entertainment and spiritual fun while benefitting the Friends of the Selby Library.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city provided this image as an example of what Bird Key parking areas will look like after brick pavers are installed over the next month.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 8, 2014
Bird Key parking upgrades begin

For the next month, the drivable grass parking areas in Bird Key Park will be under construction as the city installs brick pavers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dan DeLeo and Pam Truitt
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Tiger Bay Club meeting and luncheon

Members of the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club met for lunch Wednesday, Jan. 8. Director of Community Investment at Gulf Coast Community Foundation Jon Thaxton mediated the luncheon discussion that included the topics of the School Tax Referendum and Common Core.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2014
East County: top issues to watch in 2014

The East County Observer profiles some of the year's most pressing issues.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2014
Longboat: top issues to watch in 2014

We compiled a look at some of Longboat Key's most pressing issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota and Manatee counties added roughly 1,000 jobs in November, with an unemployment rate of 6.1%.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 8, 2014
Unemployment rate falls in November

The North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area added about 1,000 jobs in November.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota city and county commissioners approved studies of three sites as potential locations for a homeless shelter.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 8, 2014
Local homeless plan moves ahead

Engineering firm Cardno TBE is preparing an estimate for environmental studies of three city of Sarasota sites picked to potentially house a 35-000-square-foot homeless facility.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will hear about the Del Tierra project at its meeting at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 9.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 8, 2014
Commissioners to review proposed 610-home community

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will review a plan for Del Tierra Thursday.

  • East County
  • News
Neal Communities Owner Pat Neal hopes to sell the company's 10,000th home in 2014.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 8, 2014
Local builder 'shatters' company record

Neal Communities recorded its most profitable year yet in 2013.

  • East County
  • News
For the month of January, admission to Florida state parks will be half-price for FSU and UCF fans. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • January 8, 2014
Half-price entry to Florida state parks for FSU and UCF fans

Admission to state parks will be half off Monday through Thursday during the month of January for anyone wearing FSU or UCF hats or shirts and students with current ID cards.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mi Pueblo offers an authentic Mexican menu and atmosphere at their locations in Sarasota and Venice.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2014
IN THE KITCHEN WITH: Mi Pueblo

This week we went in the kitchen at Mi Pueblo, with owner Bonifacio Caro, while chef Julio prepares carne asada tacos with fresh salsa verde. Get the recipe and watch an instructional video in this week's 'In the Kitchen.'

  • Siesta Key
  • News
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