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Your Observer

Ocean Properties Ltd. submitted a site-plan application and request for 85 additional tourism units in September at Town Hall
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 30, 2013
Year in Review: September 2013, Hilton: $24 million project

Delray Beach-based Ocean Properties Ltd. seeks to close the resort for 16 to 18 months for a project that would add 85 tourism units.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Competitors race toward the finish line in August as USRowing hosted its 2013 Masters National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 30, 2013
Year in Review: September 2013, Benderson Park to host rowers

Rowing's governing body chose Nathan Benderson Park to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships, which would be the largest international event in East County's history.

  • East County
  • News
Learn how to turn a pallet into a bed frame in this week's Crafty Genes.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 30, 2013
Video Year in Review: September 2013, Crafty Genes: Pallet Bed Frame

Learn how to turn a pallet into a bed frame in this week's Crafty Genes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Delray Beach-based Ocean Properties Ltd. will acquire the Chart House property at 201 Gulf of Mexico Drive in October.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 30, 2013
Web Year in Review: September 2013, Key Club to purchase Chart House

Ocean Properties Ltd., owner of the Resort at Longboat Key Club, announced plans Monday to expand its club footprint on the southern tip of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Big Pass, between Siesta Key and Lido Key, has never been dredged.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • December 30, 2013
Year in Review: September 2013, Big Pass dredging plans unveiled

A controversial plan to mine Big Pass for Lido Beach sand was presented to the public for the first time at a Wednesday meeting.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key property owners who don't live here full time and don't use their island home as their primary residence are seeing 25% increases in their flood insurance policies this year.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 29, 2013
Year in Review: August 2013, Insurance rates continue to rise

Mayor Jim Brown and others are worried that if insurance costs keep going up for Key properties, it will scare off potential buyers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jim Purdy has been the director of operations for Manatee County YMCA's four branches, including Lakewood Ranch, for only eight months, but you wouldn’t know it by his lively interactions with customers.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 29, 2013
Year in Review: August 2013, YMCA celebrates 10 years

With expansions and ever-growing product offerings, the Lakewood Ranch YMCA has shown an intense focus on customers who have made it a community staple.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 29, 2013
Video Year in Review: August 2013, The Ringling Bridge: History of a Sarasota Landmark

Watch a documentary video featuring the Ringling Bridge, including interviews with community members who share their thoughts about the Sarasota icon.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
"You know what you said, but you don't know what they heard," newest member of Sarasota Ballet, Ian Tanzer, says of what it's like to see himself on episodes of CW's "Breaking Pointe."
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 29, 2013
Web Year in Review: August 2013, Reality TV star joins Sarasota Ballet

Unless you're familiar with the Monday night CW reality television show 'Breaking Pointe,' which follows members of Salt Lake City's Ballet West and Ballet West 2, chances are you don't know Ian Tanzer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 29, 2013
Year in Review: August 2013, Caragiulo announces bid for Barbetta's seat

Citing a desire for an economically sustainable county and frustration with the city, Paul Caragiulo will seek to succeed Joe Barbetta on the County Commission in 2014.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The commission voted 4-2 to continue the July 1 public hearing to allow Town Manager Dave Bullock to return with language that adds a five-year DROP option to the ordinance.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 28, 2013
Year in Review: July 2013, Employees seek DROP benefit

The Longboat Key Town Commission's decision Aug. 14 will affect the financial futures of town employees and taxpayers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Preliminary certification of taxable values, released July 1 by the Manatee County Property Appraiser's Office, showed values have increased an average of 4% compared to last year.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 28, 2013
Year in Review: July 2013, Manatee property values on the rise

East County communities, such as Lakewood Ranch, are exceeding county averages.

  • East County
  • News
Dick Morgan has worked for Goodwill Manasota for more than 30 years. He says the company’s mission to help others has kept him inspired.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 28, 2013
Video Year in Review: July 2013, Inspirational Influence: Dick Morgan

As image consultant for Goodwill Manasota, 90-year-old Dick Morgan travels to more than 40 stores and donation centers each month to promote Goodwill's mission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Joshua Riley admitted to detectives during a polygraph test, that he performed sexual acts with the victim from the time she was an infant.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 28, 2013
Web Year in Review: July 2013, Police arrest man charged with incest

The Sarasota Police Department has charged a 22-year old man with capital sexual battery and incest for acts committed on a 14-year-old victim

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Laurel Park Overlay District allows for more neighborhood input.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 28, 2013
Year in Review: July 2013, Neighbors gain oversight

After a year of discussion, the City Commission approves the Laurel Park Overlay District. The district requires public hearings before the approval of nearby large developments.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub owner Ed Chiles announced during the Longboat Key Town Commission's regular meeting June 3 he will not pursue a plan to use the historic Rufus P. Jordan House for receptions and meeting space.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 27, 2013
Year in Review: June 2013, Chiles nixes plan, annual events

Owner Ed Chiles won't restore the Jordan House or hold events at Mar Vista because of residents' concerns.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 27, 2013
Year in Review: June 2013, Bridge plan moves closer to approval

Manatee County will hold a meeting on the Fort Hamer Bridge project Aug. 7.

  • East County
  • News
We asked Pedro Reis of Circus Sarasota what's next for Nik Wallenda.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 27, 2013
Video Year in Review: June 2013, Sarasotans answer what's next for Wallenda

Residents gathered to watch Nik Wallenda make history by crossing the Grand Canyon on a high wire. We asked some watch partygoers what's next for Nik Wallenda.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nik Wallenda made history Sunday, June 23, when he walked a 2-inch-wide cable suspended 1,400 feet above the Grand Canyon’s Little Colorado River Gorge. 
(photo courtesy of Cliff Roles)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 27, 2013
Web Year in Review: June 2013, City to welcome Wallenda home with parade

The parade will begin at U.S. 301 and Main Street and precede the Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix's Festival Parade of Boats. The parade will end at Gulfstream Avenue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Peoria has recently adopted a form-based code.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 27, 2013
Year in Review: June 2013, New code will bring new vision

A form-based code would specify the density, height, scale and design of projects in a certain area providing what Commissioner Susan Chapman calls a 'more objective' development map.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy from Temple Emanu-El. Allison Kramer and Rachel Towe knead their challah dough.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Happy Challah-Days!

Temple Emanu-El teenagers baked challah together, Sunday, Dec. 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Submissions

Send in your favorite holiday moments to be included in our Jan. 9 issue.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Todd Craven conducted the singalong.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Do-Re-Mi

The Church of the Redeemer held its annual Messiah Singalong Sunday, Dec. 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Out of this world

Erica Aultman and her third-grade Ashton Elementary class won first place in their category at Community Youth Development's fifth annual Gingerbread Festival Dec. 13 through Dec. 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
'All I want ... '

Sen. Nancy Detert sat on Santa's lap Dec. 19 during the Chairman's Circle Lights in Bloom preview at Selby.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Community commitment

Laurel Oak Country Club received the Isignia Award for December.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Pack mentality

The Boy Scout Pack 50 of Sarasota showcased its holiday cheer Dec. 16 when its members sang Christmas carols and handed out homemade ornaments to the residents of Bay Village.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The beach project will place sand at the Broadway beach access to Gulfside Road and from the Islander Club condominiums to the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 26, 2013
Year in Review: May 2013, Beach project bid: $13.3 million

A beach project bid last week came in much higher than what town staff expected to pay for this summer's project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
David Conway. High-density apartments could come to this Rosemary District parcel.
  • By David Conway
  • December 26, 2013
Rosemary explores higher density

The proposed Rosemary Residential Overlay District would allow for higher-density housing developments in the area, which the city believes will spur much-anticipated growth.

  • Sarasota
  • News
David Conway. Project Manager Robert Garland discusses the Lift Station 87 project with residents.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 26, 2013
Lift station update highlights design details

The new engineering team for the troubled project said it has developed plans that will avoid problems the prior engineers could not surmount.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Heritage Harbour South Community Development District Chairwoman Joyce Sandy signs a settlement agreement with Stoneybrook Investors May 16.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 26, 2013
Year in Review: May 2013, Stoneybrook, CDD settle lawsuit

Stoneybrook Investors and the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District ended a longstanding legal battle last week.

  • East County
  • News
Suzanne Atwell, city commissioner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Holiday wish lists

Sarasota leaders and residents unwrap their wishes for 2014.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jen Blanco. Sarasota Military Academy wrestling coach Ron Jones had a new wrestling room built for his team this season — one he hopes will inspire tradition and excellence.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 26, 2013
Building champions

After spending 29 years at Sarasota High, National Wrestling Hall of Fame coach Ron Jones is now seeking to bring a winning culture to Sarasota Military Academy.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ryan McMahon
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
High five moments of the week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Cardinal Mooney High girls soccer team blanked DeSoto 8-0 in district action Dec. 12.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 26, 2013
Sidelines

Lady Cougars notch shutout; SMA cruises to win against Booker High; Lady Sailors suffer their first district loss; Havener powers Rams to victory; Booker running back chosen for All-Star game

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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