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Your Observer

Alison and Maurene Cozzi spend the day together.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Siesta Key Crafts Festival

The 20th annual Siesta Key Craft Festival took over Siesta Key Village Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9. Ocean Boulevard was the home of creative vendors from across the country for the weekend. The festival includes homemade jewelry, fresh food and unique artwork.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Jenna Belch with Tara
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Cause for Paws

Families spent the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 8 supporting the Humane Society of Sarasota County at Cause for Paws. The puppy-themed party was held at the Sarasota Children's Garden and invited families to take part in arts and crafts, games and a scavenger hunt. Children read stories and received wet kisses from the Reading Fur Fun Dogs.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sandy Russell with her 2-year-old son, Everett
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Gene Witt Elementary Winter Carnival

Gene Witt Elementary School students experienced a day of fun and games at the school's annual Winter Carnival Feb. 8.

  • East County
  • Schools
Nita Sebens and Pat Dennis, the High Priestess of the Ladies of the Oriental Shrine
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Ladies Oriental Shrine 100th Anniversary Fashion Show

The Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America held its 100th Anniversary Fashion Show at Tara Golf and Country Club Feb. 8. Almost 100 guests came to support eight models who participated in the show.

  • East County
  • News
Brooke Price, Aly Wilson and Samantha Dautorio
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Bashaw Father/Daughter Dance

Fathers and daughters enjoyed a dance Feb. 7 at Bashaw Elementary School.

  • East County
  • Schools
Madison Hartwig and Christian Mark join a conga line.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Fairy Tale Ball

Fathers and daughters at Braden River Elementary School danced the night away at a Fairy Tale Ball Feb. 7.

  • East County
  • News
Kevin Berkenbusch, Alec Puhalovich, Ashlyn Falahee and Bryan Dexter found a seat on the back of a pickup truck.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 8, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: LRHS Sadie Hawkins

Lakewood Ranch High School's Student Government Association hosted its first Sadie Hawkins dance Feb. 7.

  • East County
  • News
Scott Anderson with Edie and David Chaifetz
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 7, 2014
2014 Van Wezel Foundation Gala featuring Jay Leno

2014 Van Wezel Foundation Gala featuring Jay Leno

  • Black Tie
Lakewood Ranch freshman forward Sophia Falco is knocked off the ball by a Melbourne defender in the second half.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 7, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Lakewood Ranch Girls Soccer vs. Melbourne Class 4A Final Four

The Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team saw its season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to Melbourne in the Class 4A state semifinals Feb. 7. The Lady Mustangs finished the season 24-1-1 and set new program records for most wins and shutouts in a season.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team is heading to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 7, 2014
Mustangs bound for Final Four

The Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team defeated Seminole 5-3 in the Class 4A-Region 3 finals Feb. 7.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sandra Holley with Dr. Jack Barnes
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • February 7, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Island Chapel Human Rights Celebration

On Friday, Feb. 7, Church Women United held its Human Rights Celebration at the Longboat Island Chapel in honor of Dr. Jack Barnes. This year's theme, 'We are in God's hands and we are God's hands,' embodied Barnes' six months spent in Zimbabwe.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The first proposed downtown circulator vehicle, provided by Cruise Car Inc., sits outside of the Palm Avenue parking garage before the initial trial run to test its battery life.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 7, 2014
Downtown circulator test drive sees improved results

After an underwhelming first attempt, a second trial run of a potential downtown circulator vehicle earlier this week saw the cart's battery life nearly double.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Al Hixon plays the drums at last year's service.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • February 7, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: Jazz Worship Service

Enjoy rich rhythms and sensational sounds at the Jazz Worship Service this Sunday, Feb. 9. Entering its twenty-first year, this popular program features Al Hixon, a well-known drummer and jazz director in the Sarasota area, and several other talented musicians, all of whom were part of nationally acclaimed jazz bands at one time.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A proposed roundabout at the intersection of Beach Road and Midnight Pass Road was one of the hot topics at Thursday's SKA meeting.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 7, 2014
Beach construction takes center stage at SKA meeting

County staff briefed the Siesta Key Association Thursday on the status of the multiple ongoing construction projects at Siesta Key Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
EcoFest is an all-day free festival that includes fitness demonstrations and live music.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 7, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: World Wellness EcoFest

The festival's mission is to create awareness for living healthy and to teach the community the importance of a healthy planet.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gulf of Mexico Drive will receive future crosswalks in places where there are high numbers of pedestrians crossing the Key’s busiest road.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 7, 2014
FDOT will perform pedestrian count

The town of Longboat Key has requested a new pedestrian count be performed next month to verify where crosswalks are needed on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Demolition of the smaller home on the property took place this week. (Albert Balk)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 7, 2014
Benedict guest house demolished for Aria project

A small structure on the Villa Am Meer property was demolished in preparation for the luxury 16-unit condo project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Cowboys from Schroeder-Manatee Ranch this morning drove 100 head of cattle across University Parkway.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 7, 2014
Cowboys 'round up' annual SMR Cup

Cowboys and polo players will saddle up this weekend for the annual SMR Cup at the Sarasota Polo Club.

  • East County
  • News
Tube Dude owner Scott Gerber has agreed to repay $56,000 to Sarasota County to reimburse part of an economic incentive agreement.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • February 7, 2014
Tube Dude to refund county grant money

If approved by Sarasota County commissioners, an agreement gives Tube Dude LLC two years to reimburse part of a county grant originally intended to help create 44 jobs.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Eric Sinift and Riley Hudson ride neck-to-neck.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 7, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Early Care Center's Trike-a-Thon

The Early Care Center of the First United Methodist Church held its annual trike-a-thon Friday, Feb. 7. Students as young as 2 rode their tricycles around the school's playground to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Margo Bohary, Joe Barieri and Jolande Keller
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 6, 2014
Rajola Cocktail Reception and Runway Show

Rajola Cocktail Reception and Runway Show

  • Black Tie
Kate Kirby, Michelle Stencik, Margaret Barnes and Rob Kirby
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 6, 2014
La Bella Intimates & Boutique Grand Opening

La Bella Intimates & Boutique Grand Opening

  • Black Tie
Former New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly will speak Monday Feb. 10, during the Ringling Town Hall Lecture Series.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • February 6, 2014
Logan cancels Town Hall lecture

Former New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly will replace journalist Lara Logan at the Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series Monday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A public lot on Adams Drive could be the site of a parking garage on St. Armands, but nearby residents have concerns about the construction of any structure.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 6, 2014
St. Armands residents offer input on parking study

Residents say a report about mitigating parking woes around St. Armands Circle - including the possible construction of a garage - didn't properly account for their interests.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Gina Barresi is the district's High School Teacher of the Year.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 6, 2014
Gina Barresi wins High School Teacher of the Year

The announcement came as a surprise to Barresi who teaches English and Reading at SHS.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
East County resident, Sam Woolf, 17, competes weekly on "American Idol."
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 6, 2014
Local student advances to next round of 'American Idol'

Braden River High student Sam Woolf, advanced to the next level on "American Idol."

  • East County
  • News
Thirteen-year-old Alec Moor, Nash Young and Kyle Richards.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 6, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Nolan Middle Students' Walk-a-thon

Sixth- through eighth- grade students at Nolan Middle walked for a cause Feb. 6, as they raised money for a new library-based program, the Accelerated Reader Program.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Karen Slomba and volunteers from Nate's Honor Animal Rescue's Ranch Adoption Center brought in more than 60 dogs and cats, collectively, which they have bathed, vaccinated and will tend to until further notice.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 6, 2014
UPDATE: Nate's Honor Animal Rescue helps animals recover

Nate's Honor Animal Rescue is seeking donations to help animals confiscated from Napier's Family Farm and Animal Rescue recover.

  • East County
  • News
Reduced energy costs are a top priority for the four new fire stations.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 6, 2014
Area contractor tapped to build new fire stations

Sarasota County awarded Willis A. Smith Construction a contract to build four new fire stations throughout the county by 2016.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Seaplace has 461 units and is located in the 1900 and 2000 blocks of Gulf of Mexico Drive. (File photo)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 6, 2014
UPDATE: Fire, four EMS calls caused traffic jam

Traffic snarled yesterday on the south end of Longboat Key as officials responded to five emergency calls at the same time.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ina Jaffe will deliver the Keynote Dinner Speech at the Conference for Positive Aging Tuesday, Feb. 11.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 6, 2014
Ina Jaffe to speak at Conference for Positive Aging

Jaffe will present Continuous Inspiration at Dinner with Ina Jaffe Tuesday, Feb. 11.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Employment in the local construction sector increased 4% in December over the previous month.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • February 6, 2014
Local unemployment rate continues its decline

The North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area added about 2,800 jobs in November.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Building Official Wayne Thorne has reported there are 177 serious issues on the Colony property that need to be addressed.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 6, 2014
Town posts Colony hearing web link

The Longboat Key Town Commission will review the state of Colony Beach & Tennis Resort buildings at a public hearing March 4.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Students of USF's College of Hospitality and Technology Leadership, hosted an event to celebrate the school's newest addition — a culinary lab on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 6, 2014
USF culinary lab officially opens to the public

Faculty and students of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, and the Lakewood Ranch community, officially cut the ribbon on the school's new Culinary Innovation Lab Feb. 5.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sarasota resident Ron Fandrick says legalizing medical marijuana will make it too easy for children to obtain the drug illegally.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • February 6, 2014
VIDEO: Residents weigh in on medical marijuana

The Observer video team asks Sarasota residents what they think about the medical marijuana amendment on the November ballot.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Wellesley Club President Nancy Wettlaufer, with New College President Dr. Donal O'Shea and Wellesley Club Vice President Charlotte Isaacs
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 6, 2014
Doctors visit

Dr. Donal O'Shea, president of New College of Florida, spoke to members of the Sarasota Wellesley Club Jan. 10, at Plymouth Harbor.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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