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Your Observer

Courtesy photo. Pre-kindergarten student Asylyn Collins and her teacher, Sonya Matson, have a great time creating T-shirts.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2013
T-shirt time

Students in Sonya Matson's and Sharon Pantuso's pre-kindergarten classes at Braden River Elementary became creative, busy little elves Dec. 12, as they decorated T-shirts for the holidays.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2013
Present party

Legendary ESPN Commentator Dick Vitale and his wife, Lorraine, and their family hosted their annual Boys & Girls Club Holiday Party Dec. 16, at the Vitale home, in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2013
Santa's helpers

Realtor Shari Norwick wasted no time, after hearing about efforts to enlist community memberes as 'Santa's Helpers' and fulfilling wish lists for children at Everyday Blessings Inc. Foster Care.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 24, 2013
CDD discusses security plan

Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 6 supervisors adopted a program to improve security at the gate at Balmoral Woods and Lakewood Ranch boulevards.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 24, 2013
New company assumes maintenance

Heritage Harbour residents will see new faces around the community in two weeks as CDD supervisors bring a new company in to maintain aquatic systems.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2013
Holiday wish lists

East County leaders and residents unwrap their wishes for 2014.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2013
News Briefs

East County high schools receive 'A' grades; School district fails to win money for STEM grant

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2013
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
The Manatee Cal Ripken Scrappers
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 24, 2013
Sidelines

Mustangs top Pirates in district win; SCF homecoming weekend approaches; IMG will host NCAA track championships

  • East County
  • Sports
Jen Blanco. Jared Bieber serves as a co-captain for both Braden River and the Lakewood Ranch Chargers U18/19 team.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 24, 2013
Dominant defender

Braden River High senior Jared Bieber has been the leader of the Pirates' defense for the past four years.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2013
Just the stats

The week in sports by the numbers.

  • East County
  • Sports
7320 Barclay Court
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2013
2013: Top 10 real estate transactions

The Observer counts down the top 10 sales of the year, recorded Jan. 1 through Dec. 6, for the East County area.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
  • By East County students
  • December 24, 2013
Dear Santa

Students at East County schools have been busy the last few weeks as they prepare their Christmas wish lists for Santa Claus. Here is a sampling of letters students shared with the East County Observer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Riley Huennerkopf submitted this sunset photo, taken in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2013
Weather: East County

Riley Huennerkopf submitted this sunset photo, taken in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mayor Jim Brown and Commissioners Phill Younger and Terry Gans celebrate with supporters Tuesday night at the Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort after being re-elected.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 24, 2013
Year in Review: March 2013, 'We Won 'Em All!'

Gans narrowly beats Pastor by 27 votes. Brown and Younger retain seats.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Texas Roadhouse restaurant will occupy one of the five stand-alone buildings at River Club Plaza on State Road 70.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 24, 2013
Year in Review: March 2013, River Club Plaza takes shape

Texas Roadhouse is the latest business to sign on to the project off State Road 70.

  • East County
  • News
Sheri and Gerry Lublin
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 24, 2013
The Good News: Sheri and Gerry Lublin

One of Gerry and Sheri's favorite things to do is to use Gulf Coast Gives to find projects to which they can donate on behalf of friends and acquaintances who have helped them in some way.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
600 Birdie Lane. Photos courtesy of Premier Sotheby's
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • December 24, 2013
Three Things: Home for the Holidays

The holiday season in Sarasota may well be the best in the nation. Here are three Sarasota homes currently on the market that really capture the nostalgia of this time of year. And if Scrooge should show up - push him in the pool.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • December 24, 2013
Video Year in Review: March 2013, Student Spotlight: Pamela Kurpiewski

Pamela Kurpiewski walks through the halls of the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, waving hello to passing classmates.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Flames engulfed the home in the 700 block of Lands End Drive this morning. (Longboat Key Fire Rescue)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 24, 2013
Web Year in Review: March 2013, Lands End home destroyed in fire

A fire destroyed a 1950s home in the 700 block of Lands End Drive that belonged to Joan Bergstrom, sister of real-estate magnate Michael Saunders.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A preliminary rendering shows the proposed development at the corner of Gulfstream Avenue and U.S. 41. The 144-unit condo tower is on the left, and the 275-room hotel is on the right. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 24, 2013
Year in Review: March 2013, Developer plans condo and hotel

Preliminary plans outline 144 luxury condos and a 275-room hotel on a 2.9-acre vacant parcel.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming informed Town Manager Dave Bullock that more arrests are likely as a result of a drug bust operation.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 23, 2013
Police make drug arrest on the Key

A man was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia on Dec. 20.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 23, 2013
Year in Review: February 2013, The Man with the 'Mote-est'

In the 1970s, many Sarasotans had never heard of Mote Marine Laboratory. Dr. Kumar Mahadevan's vision put it on the map.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Brooke Graeff, Joe Abraham and Brittany Graeff have played together since high school.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 23, 2013
Video Year in Review: February 2013, Sister Act: Good Graeff

After traveling the world, the Graeff sisters are ready to tackle Sarasota's music scene.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The six-bedroom property is called Snook Inn for its Old Florida resort-like feel.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 23, 2013
Web Year in Review: February 2013, Siesta Key $10 million home sale largest in two years

A waterfront home on the northern tip of Siesta Key sold for $10 million, the second highest sale price for a residential property in Sarasota County in two years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Villages at Lakewood Ranch South, south of University Parkway, depicts a walkable community clustered around seven lakes.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 23, 2013
Year in Review: February 2013, Sarasota considers changes to its 2050 growth plan

In 11 years, only one project has been completed under Sarasota's 2050 Plan. Developers are seeking modifications make development more viable.

  • East County
  • News
This peacock perched atop a home Tuesday, Feb. 26, near 40th Street and Sarasota Avenue, in the Indian Beach neighborhood.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 23, 2013
Year in Review: February 2013, Peafowl family takes residence in Indian Beach

Residents say the fowl are interesting to watch and aren't causing too many problems - for now.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dora Walters turns her lens on a Halloween party in 2006.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 22, 2013
Year in Review: January 2013, Dora the Explorer

Longboat Observer Senior Editor Dora Walters retired after a career that spans more than six decades as an inquisitive journalist.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A piece of a pallet before being transformed into a planter.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 22, 2013
Video Year in Review: January 2013, Crafty Genes: Pallet Planter

This week Crafty Genes builds a planter from a pallet. Learn how to do-it-yourself with our step-by-step guide!

  • Arts + Culture
The Walmart Supercenter, approved by the Sarasota Planning Board, would replace an empty Publix and mostly-shuttered storefronts at the Ringling Shopping Center.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 22, 2013
Web Year in Review: January 2013, Walmart appeal scheduled for Feb. 19

The store's classification is at the forefront of the debate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Joyce Sandy and Michelle Patterson, both Heritage Harbour residents, were elected to the Heritage Harbor CDD Board of Supervisors in November.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 22, 2013
Year in Review: January 2013, Newly elected board seeks unity

Passions flared during the first meeting of 2013, as the Heritage Harbor CDD board discussed dumpsites and a lake and wetland maintenance project.

  • East County
  • News
J.P. Knaggs, owner of Bijou Café, and Rebecca Hopkins, managing director of Florida Studio Theatre, lobbied the city for First Street improvements, such as wider sidewalks and new decorative lampposts.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 22, 2013
Year in Review: January 2013, First Street to undergo facelift

The street will get wider sidewalks, underground utilities, brick crosswalks and lush landscaping.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Travis Belsito, Logan Reiber, Peyton Thomas and Philip Knowles
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 21, 2013
Debutante Ball

Debutante Ball

  • Black Tie
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 21, 2013
DANCE REVIEW:

DANCE REVIEW:

  • Sarasota
  • News
Carly and Rob Toomey with Charlotte and Jackson
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • December 20, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: NewGate School Winter Festival

Students of NewGate School performed in its annual Winter Festival Friday, Dec. 20. The performance was held outside underneath Christmas lights and included holiday songs as well as some Broadway classics. Afterwards families mingled while munching on cookies and sipping hot chocolate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
High-density apartments could come to this Rosemary District parcel.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 20, 2013
Overlay district could provide boon for Rosemary

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

  • Sarasota
  • News
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