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Your Observer

Tony Barrett and Rob Riganati, both Sarasota County firemen, serve on the Heroes Welcome Home board of directors, which brainstorms new fundraising ideas during monthly meetings.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 7, 2013
Veteran starts charity to help fellow soldiers

Tony Barrett started Heroes Welcome Home, a charity that aims to help veterans fulfill their dreams of home ownership.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 7, 2013
Lakewood Ranch promotes new technology

Water utilities and Town Hall officials hope a new rebate program will help curb unnecessary lawn watering.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Impromptu food drive reaps big returns

When Lakewood Ranch resident Don O'Leary heard the Food Bank of Manatee was in dire need of food donations, he scheduled an Aug. 3 emergency pickup within the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club and Edgewater communities.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County middle- and high-school students participated in the 2013 Future Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference last month.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
FCCLA students earn top honors at conference

Manatee County middle- and high-school students participated in the 2013 Future Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference last month, in Nashville, competed against 3,600 students nationwide and brought home nine medals.

  • East County
  • News
Ted Hamm is eager to start work as a chaplain for the U.S. Army. He will participate in chaplain training in South Carolina.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 7, 2013
Cornerstone pastor takes new post

Cornerstone's assistant pastor, Ted Hamm, will leave this month for Columbia, S.C., to become an Army chaplain.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon (2011)
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 7, 2013
Sheckler family visits all 50 states

Over four summers, Ken, Kala, Kendal and Karley Sheckler visited every state in the U.S., a freewheeling journey in which many moments were left to chance.

  • East County
  • News
James Smith submitted this sunset photo, taken near Jiggs Landing.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Weather 8.8.13

James Smith submitted this sunset photo, taken near Jiggs Landing.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS

Potable water service meters will be replaced throughout the town starting this month at no cost to water customers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The interior of Crab & Fin will receive a total transformation during two-and-a-half weeks of renovations in September. Robin Hartill
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
Crab & Fin seeks to raise the bar with renovations

The St. Armands Circle restaurant will close for two-and-a-half weeks in September for major renovations, including a reconfigured bar area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarah Olivero with a female black skimmer that recently lost part of its beak when a beachgoer struck it with a chair. Robin Hartill
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
SOS hospital administrator hears the call of wildlife

Sarah Olivero was recently promoted to the position of avian hospital administrator of Save Our Seabirds.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The building at 571 St. Judes Drive has two units listed on Zillow.com for less than $1,000. Robin Hartill
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
Low-cost annual home rentals grow rare on the Key

More property owners are opting to rent their properties seasonally, which makes yearly rentals tougher to find than ever.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Submerged vegetation in lakes at Braden River Nature Park have reached the surface of the water, after water levels receded. Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 7, 2013
Contractors battle heavy rainfall impact

Contractors are working to eliminate unsightly algae and submerged vegetation in Lakewood Ranch, after heavy rainfalls last month.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS

It's not yet official, but Sarasota's Nathan Benderson Park very well may be the future venue for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

  • East County
  • News
Chase Jones took the Sunrise Cube to ArtCenter Manatee July 27 and will bring it to the Longboat Key Center for the Arts in August.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • August 7, 2013
Artist enlightens the community on project

Chase Jones, from Lakewood Ranch, is a multimedia artist going on tour with his project, called the Sunrise Cube. He hopes to shed light on the project and in the community.

  • East County
  • News
Florida's men’s 50+ volleyball team. Photo courtesy Craig Wolfe
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
SIDELINES

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

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
COPS CORNER: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of COPS CORNER

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Community Golf

Tom Skoda used his 6-iron to record an ace July 10 on the 176-yard No. 13 of Cypress Links.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Letters to the Editor

Boats should stay off front yards

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
COPS CORNER: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of COPS CORNER

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Venice surged ahead of Longboat in safety

Longboat Key had long held the distinction of being the safest city in Sarasota and Manatee counties. But, in 1999, Venice became the safest city.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
REAL ESTATE REPORTS

A three-bedroom unit at the luxury Ritz-Carlton Beach Residences sold this week for $3.35 million - the highest amount paid for a unit in the building since February 2012.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This home at 642 Ranger Lane has six bedrooms, seven-and-a-half baths, a pool and 7,091 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.5 million. Heather Merriman
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 7, 2013
Six-bedroom home sells for $4.5 million

A home in Country Club Shores tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Designed in the storybook style, this Indian Beach home looks like the setting for a fairy tale come to life. Photos courtesy of Michael Saunders and Co.
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • August 7, 2013
Home of the Month: Enchanted Cottage

A mysterious past adds romance to a famous Sarasota home.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
S'macks is open for business at 2407 Bee Ridge Road (courtesy photo).
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • August 6, 2013
S'macks Burgers & Shakes now open

If you lived in Sarasota during the 1940s and '50s, you might remember The Smack, a beloved burger drive-in. S'macks is intended to have the reincarnated feel of that place, albeit with a new name and legacy all of its own -- starting with opening day, Wednesday, Aug. 7.

  • Arts + Culture
Ethan Knize and his brother, Liam, browse the booths of the Sarasota Police Department. Ethan tried on a SWAT team tactical vest and ballistic helmet.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • August 6, 2013
Neighbors meet police during National Night Out

Law enforcement and the community got to know each other at the 30th anniversary of National Night Out.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County recently awarded the Historical Society of Sarasota County a $3,770 grant for a security-camera system.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2013
Aug. 6: Daily Headlines

Today's Stories: PHOTO GALLERY: First Monday; Landmarks fight vandalism with security cameras; PHOTO GALLERY: PLATO fundraising event; Sarasota's Nathan Benderson recommended for championships

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Siesta Key Crystal Classic brings 30,000 to 50,000 visitors to Siesta Key each year.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • August 6, 2013
Outdoor displays, Crystal Classic top SKVA agenda

The Siesta Key Village Association met Tuesday to discuss issues affecting Siesta Key businesses and residents.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 6, 2013
District opens parent hotline

Starting Aug. 7, parents of Manatee County School District students can call an information line to ask questions about the coming school year.

  • East County
  • News
Randabi’s Deli is located 6550 Gateway Ave.  Temple Sinai members and New York natives Jerry Thomas and Michael Lauber own the deli.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • August 6, 2013
Randabi's Deli celebrates grand opening

Sarasotans can enjoy a complimentary sampler platter with a purchase of any meal through Sunday for the grand opening week of Randabi's Deli, 6550 Gateway Ave.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Designing Women Boutique's art exhibition and summer sale runs through Aug. 17.
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • August 6, 2013
DWB summer art sale extended

Designing Women Boutique's art exhibition and summer sale runs through Aug. 17.

  • Arts + Culture
Sarasota Police sought the identity of a man for a suspicious incident at Bayfront Island Park.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • August 6, 2013
UPDATE: Man sought for taking pictures of children

The Sarasota Police Department has identified a man wanted for questioning for suspicious activity near the Children's Fountain at Bayfront Island Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ed Nuget of Cornerstone Sign and Graphics, Ruth Anderson of Digital Image Business Solutions and Troy Larkin of WSRQ
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • August 5, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : First Monday

Business people chattered and mingled Monday, Aug 5, at BB&T on Fruitville for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's First Monday. The chamber donated the proceeds from the cash bar to a local non-profit that was in attendance from a business card drawing. Seventy-five people attended the event.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Children participating in Harvest United Methodist Church's Music and Drama Camp shared the biblical story of Jonah, a prophet swallowed by whale, with friends and family, during a performance of "Go, Go Jonah" Aug. 2.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2013
Aug. 5: Daily Headlines

Walmart burglary thwarted; PHOTO GALLERY: Bird Key Yacht Club 'Everything Must Go'; PHOTO GALLERY: Scallopalooza; PHOTO GALLERY: Siesta Beach Olympic and Sprint Triathlon; PHOTO GALLERY: Harvest Music and Drama Camp

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Florida Men's 50+ volleyball team finished as the national runner-up to California at this year's National Senior Games.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 5, 2013
Volleyball coach wins silver medal

The Out-of-Door Academy volleyball coach Craig Wolfe won a silver medal at the 2013 National Senior Games, which ran July 19 through Aug. 1 in Cleveland, Ohio.

  • East County
  • Sports
The International Federation of Rowing Association's congress is slated to make an official decision on the venue in September.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 5, 2013
Sarasota's Nathan Benderson recommended for championships

The International Federation of Rowing Associations will recommend Nathan Benderson Park to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
Scott Dolan has owned Big Water Fish Market for nearly two years. In response to customer demand, he recently added a full lunch menu.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • August 5, 2013
Big Water Fish Market casts new services

The fish market, opened in 2011, recently added a full lunch menu.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
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