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Your Observer

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
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Just the stats

The week in sports by the numbers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Michelle Mendon's first-grade class, Southside Elementary
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Dear Santa

Before Christmas break, the Sarasota Observer asked the students of three classes to write Santa and let him know what they hope to see under the tree Christmas morning.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Glenda Van Horne submitted this photo of a sunrise, taken from Siesta Key Beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2013
Weather: Longboat Key

Glenda Van Horne submitted this photo of a sunrise, taken from Siesta Key Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Terry Gans struck former commission candidate Ray Rajewski with his SUV last week.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • December 26, 2013
Video Year in Review: May 2013, May 20: Daily Headlines Video

Top Stories: Gans hits Rajewski with SUV; City Commission talks funding cuts; bayfront and parking; Manatee School Board holds budget workshop; PHOTO GALLERY: Downtown Sarasota Craft Show

  • Sarasota
  • News
During the next two years, Florida will transition to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and mathematics.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • December 26, 2013
Web Year in Review: May 2013, 2013 FCAT scores released

The Florida Department of Education has released some results of the 2013 FCAT 2.0 Writing and third grade FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics assessments.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key resident Harold Ronson and Thomas Savage, founder of the Sarasota Public Art Fund
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 26, 2013
Year in Review: May 2013, Iwo Jima

Iwo Jima Navy veteran Harold Ronson envisions the famous 1945 monument sitting next to Unconditional Surrender.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Island Chapel congregation held a special members-only meeting Sunday, April 14, to vote on whether to approve an extension of a three-year lease agreement for a 150-foot cell tower to be built on the church property or to let the lease expire.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 25, 2013
Year in Review: April 2013, Chapel votes no on cell tower lease

Although a lease to place a cell tower on Island Chapel property will not be renewed, Alpha Omega says it's the only viable option.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
3410 Flamingo Ave.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 25, 2013
2013: Top 10 real estate transactions

The Observer counts down the top 10 sales of the year, recorded Jan. 1 through Dec. 17, for Sarasota. Of the top 10 sales, three were in Harbor Acres and two were in South Cocoanut Bayou.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Manatee Schools Superintendent Rick Mills posted a detailed, data-driven and aggressive action plan to fix the broken budget process to the district's website in April.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 25, 2013
Year in Review: April 2013, Mills creates plan to fix budget

The plan Manatee Schools Superintendent Rick Mills created establishes clear timelines and deadlines and holds specific administrators accountable to lead each task to completion.

  • East County
  • News
Lucy Tight and Wayne Waxing with their daughter, Diver.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 25, 2013
Video Year in Review: April 2013, Hymn for Her turn up the heat with new album

After two years of touring and living out of their Airstream trailer, roots-rock duo Hymn for Her has found a home in Sarasota - but they're not getting too comfortable.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
raveler's Choice Beaches Awards are based on quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings for beaches gathered over a twelve month period.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • December 25, 2013
Web Year in Review: May 2013, Siesta Key beach listed No. 2 on TripAdvisor for 2013

Siesta Key public beach was listed as No. 2 on the top 25 beaches in the United States on TripAdvisor's 2013 'Travelers' Choice' list.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
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