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Your Observer

    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 1, 2013
Commission sets millage rate

Manatee County commissioners today set an unchanged millage rate and agreed to give money to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office to increase staff there.

  • East County
  • News
The Vitale family has donated a total of $80,000 for scholarships in the last 16 years to the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • August 1, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : Dick Vitale gives scholarships

Hundreds of children shouted 'awesome baby' as ESPN Television sports analyst, writer and philanthropist, Dick Vitale walked into the gymnasium Thursday, Aug 1, at the Lee Wetherington Boys and Girls Club to present five $1,000 scholarships to Sarasota County students. All five scholarship recipients have been with the Boys and Girls Club since childhood.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Ritz-Carlton Beach Residences is located on Lido Key. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 1, 2013
Ritz-Carlton Beach unit sells for $3.35 million

The transaction is the building's highest-priced sale in 18 months.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office conducts monthly saturation patrols to keep the roadways safe.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • August 1, 2013
Sheriff's Office announces results of saturation patrols

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested 15 drivers for driving under the influence during July saturation patrols.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 1, 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
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • August 1, 2013
Chalk Festival redraws its boundaries

The 2013 Sarasota Chalk Festival will be more spread out and span fewer days than last year. Some downtown businesses are looking forward to the expected influx of patrons.

  • Sarasota
  • 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
  • August 1, 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
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • August 1, 2013
American icon could still call Sarasota home

Plans to bring the Iwo Jima monument to Southwest Florida have new life thanks to a pair of area businesses.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS

Orchestra moves forward with facility improvements; School board adopts tentative budget and millage rate; Water quality project requires tree removal

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • August 1, 2013
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2013
Our View: Disservice to taxpayers

Most everything legislators do is well intentioned. They get gold stars for that.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The future site of the State Street garage is slated to house at least 14,000 square feet of retail space. Photo by David Conway
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 1, 2013
Food fight commences at State Street garage

Though the State Street garage is still in the planning stage, a struggle has already begun over the usage of retail space and its implications for the future of downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • August 1, 2013
American icon could still call Sarasota home

Plans to bring the Iwo Jima monument to Southwest Florida have new life thanks to a pair of area businesses.

  • Sarasota
  • 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
  • August 1, 2013
Inspirational Influence

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
John Goreham, an eight-year veteran of Sarasota County Mosquito Management, uses a variety of techniques to control the mosquito threat, including pesticides, a local species of fish that eats mosquito larvae and sentinel chickens.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • August 1, 2013
Mosquito Management battles increased threat

With mosquito populations on the rise this summer, the department works to keep the disease-carrying insects at bay and educate the public.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2013
Our View: Disservice to taxpayers

Most everything legislators do is well intentioned.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2013
Letters to the Editor

Although the "spin doctor" term is sometimes used by individuals less familiar with the profession, I would not expect our public officials to use it and certainly not in such a public way

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2013
COPS CORNER: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of COPS CORNER

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Seventeen-year-old Travis Taaffe will row in the Men’s Varsity 8+ boat at the 2013 World Rowing Junior Championships, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Alex, who rowed in the same event four years ago. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 1, 2013
Nations Elite

Senior Travis Taaffe will travel to Trakai, Lithuania, for the 2013 World Rowing Junior Championships Aug. 7.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Retired Army Col. Jack Gerber has used adaptive rowing for two years to increase his strength and mobility after experiencing a stroke in 2008.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • August 1, 2013
Smooth waters

Joe Dobson founded the Sarasota Adaptive Rowing Program in 2011 to share his love of the sport with people of all physical abilities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • August 1, 2013
Moments in time

Preserving and protecting the public beaches has been at the forefront of public discussions for years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sophie Bolduc gets her face painted to look like a dog.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • August 1, 2013
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, here I am at: Fur Fun CAMP

Animal-lovers enjoyed interacting with dogs and other animals July 26, as part of the Humane Society of Sarasota County's Fur Fun Camp. Enrolled campers made frozen dog treats to feed the dogs, ate ice cream, played games and had their faces painted.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dyana Jean submitted this photo of a rainbow-colored cloud over Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2013
Weather Photo: Sarasota 08/01/13

Dyana Jean submitted this photo of a rainbow-colored cloud over Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This home at 1249 N. Lake Shore Drive has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,815 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.2 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 1, 2013
Oyster Bay Estates home sells for $2.2 million

A home in Oyster Bay Estates tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Area health officials urge young adults to check with their health-care providers to determine what vaccines they need.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • July 31, 2013
Young adults reminded to get vaccines

August is immunization awareness month, and area health officials urge young adults age 19 to 26 to catch up on their vaccinations

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ryan Rome and Michael Pannarale
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • July 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Lakewood Ranch YMCA Day Camp

Participants at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA Day Camp splashed in the pool July 30. The 10-week Day Camp, for children in kindergarten through fifth-grade, also features archery, sports, drama, arts and crafts and special events such as bowling, movies, roller skating and cook outs.

  • East County
  • News
Lauren Potts, Wofford Duncan, Dylan Williams, Becky Cowsert, Cyle Pigott and Dani Horowitz
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • July 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Foundation for Dreams Camp

Foundation for Dreams held the last session of its Dream Oaks Camp July 29 to Aug. 2. The session, for children ages 7-17, featured activities such as swimming, adaptive golf, obstacle courses, drama, arts and crafts, canoeing and scavenger hunts.

  • East County
  • News
Guest speaker and Director of Contemporary Jewish Life and of the Koppelman Institute on American Jewish-Israeli Relations Steven Bayme
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • July 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : AJC's 2013 Summer Lunch and Learn

Community members chattered and socialized Wednesday, July 31, at Michael's On East during the last lecture of AJC's 2013 Summer Lunch and Learn Series. Guest speaker and Director of the Contemporary Jewish Department of AJC Steve Bayme, discussed American Jewry Post WWII: Is the Golden Age Past. More than 150 people attended the lunch that was followed by a question and answer session.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The newly built home sits on more than an acre of Gulf-front land. (Courtesy Lynne Koy)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • July 31, 2013
Longboat home sells for $6.8 million

The sale is the highest-priced single-family home sale on the island in more than two years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 31, 2013
UPDATE: Man dies while painting Sarasota Military Academy

Witnesses found 55-year-old Mitch Phelps pinned between a building and a machine before 10 a.m. this morning.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota Sting 11U travel baseball team went 6-1 to win the Youth Baseball National Championship.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 31, 2013
Sarasota Sting wins national title

The Sarasota Sting 11U travel baseball team captured the national title at the Youth Baseball Nationals June 29 through July 3, in Elizabethtown, Ky.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A crowd of more than 400 spectators gathered Friday night behind Sun 'n' Sea to witness a sea turtle-nest excavation.
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • July 31, 2013
Excavation Extravaganza

A crowd of more than 400 spectators gathered Friday night behind Sun 'n' Sea to witness a sea turtle-nest excavation.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 31, 2013
Wave Runners qualify for nationals

Four Lakewood Ranch YMCA Wave Runners swimmers recently qualified for YMCA Nationals.

  • East County
  • Sports
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 31, 2013
Our Town: Mom named 'Rookie of the Year'

Paula Lohnes, of GreyHawk Landing, recently earned the coveted "Rookie of the Year" award with national health-benefits company AmeriPlan.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Carol Baker smiles as she accepts her new kitten, Crybaby, from adoption coordinator Rick Sailors.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 31, 2013
Finding a forever home

The East County's largest animal-rescue organization, Nate's Honor Animal Rescue, offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to the public to help.

  • East County
  • News
Kameryn Nancy Clark
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 31, 2013
East County Births

The East County Observer will publish birth announcements the last issue of each month.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Cindy Ritchell, Ann Quackenbush, Brenda Korthauer, Beverly Sutton and Kit Torchia all lend a helping hand in packing seeds to send internationally to farmers who need them. Quackenbush is a driving force behind Hope Seeds, a charitable ministry through Christ Church of Longboat Key.
  • December 22, 2025
Longboat's Hope Seeds nears 10 years of giving back
2
Andrew Carrillo poses for a photo on Dec. 16 at Out-of-Door Academy. He's been the go-to guy on attack for the Thunder throughout their 2025-26 season.
  • December 22, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Andrew Carrillo
3
Manatee County commissioners approve reducing speed limits throughout the county.
  • December 22, 2025
Speed limits reduced on nine roads in Manatee County
4
The library will be constructed on the light green area depicted on this map within Longboat Key's Town Center Green. The entire library would be around 11,230 square feet with the possible enhancements.
  • December 22, 2025
Buchanan's $1 million donation formally accepted for library
5
Sarasota students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa
  • December 22, 2025
Sarasota students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa

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