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Your Observer

Canadians Delayne Corbett and Craig Mutch won the 2012 Crystal Classic with "Fossil Fuel." Courtesy of Peter Acker.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 3, 2013
Siesta Chamber announces 2013 Crystal Classic

Ten teams of master sand sculptors will compete in Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition beginning Nov. 15.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Initial plans call for 400 parking spaces in the mixed-use project on State Street.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • June 3, 2013
Commissioners to review State Street mixed-use concepts

The City Commission will also discuss a public-private development on city-owned land in the Rosemary District.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 3, 2013
Sarasota County Commission to consider tourism plan

Visit Sarasota County anticipates five new hotels and one million annual visitors by 2020.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Connor Grooms receives his boutonniere.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • June 2, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Pineview Graduation

Pineview School seniors celebrated high school graduation Sunday, June 2, at the Van Wezel. Students mingled backstage before receiving their diplomas in front of family and friends.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sergen Altas and Amy Galloza help Camila Alvarado with her cap.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • June 1, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Booker High Graduation

Booker High School seniors joined family and friends for a graduation ceremony Saturday, June 1, at Robarts Arena. Students and their guests filled the arena to bid farewell to the class of 2013.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Vice President of the Class of 2013 Alyssa Antony walks at the head of her class to accept her diploma.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • June 1, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : Riverview High School Class of 2013 Commencement

Riverview High School seniors attended their graduation Saturday, June 1, at Robarts Arena. Friends and family occupied every single seat in the arena, while others stood as 650 graduating seniors walked across the stage to accept their high-school diplomas. This was Riverview's 54th commencement.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alumni Director Virgene Linse photographs Carly Hunter, Alexis Gentle and Summer Dunn.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • June 1, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : Out-of-Door Academy Class of 2013 Commencement

Fifty-two seniors walked across the stage Saturday, June 1, at the 15th Out-of-Door Academy commencement. The class of 2013 passed one of life's milestones as friends and family took photographs and clapped.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Community members met at Village Café Saturday morning before the pickup. Village Café offered free breakfast for people participating in the clean up.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • June 1, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : Siesta Key Adopt-a-Road Pickup

The Siesta Key Association and the Siesta Key Village Association and residents got together Saturday, June 1 at Village Cafe for the Adopt-a-Road Pickup. Approximately 20 community members picked up trash in Siesta Key Village, Ocean Boulevard, Higel Avenue and on Siesta Drive up the North bridge.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
YPG Chairman Sam Davidson reminds golfers to bid on silent auction items before it closes.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • June 1, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : YPG Golf Tournament

The Young Professional Group got together Friday, May 31 at TPC Prestancia for their third annual YPG Golf Tournament. Eighty members spent the day playing golf to raise funds for the YPG so they could give back to the community. 'It provides a great platform for members and non members to network outside of the office,' said Manager of Public Policy and YPG Program Coordinator at the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Amy Mosshart.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
ODA fifth graders prepare to graduate.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: ODA Lower School Graduation

The Out of Door Academy Lower School celebrated its graduation Friday, May 31, at Siesta Key Chapel. Students and families filled the chapel to watch as the fifth graders said goodbye to the Siesta-Key campus and prepare to head to middle school.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
A graduating senior receives a congratulatory hug.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Suncoast Polytechnical High School Graduation

Suncoast Polytechnical High School graduated its first ever class Friday, May 31, at the Sarasota Opera House. The class of 127 seniors was the first class to graduate from the school, and the majority of the students have been at the school since freshman year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Graduates enter the Sarasota High School football field.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota High Graduation

Sarasota High School seniors and their families filled the school's football field, Friday, May 31, for a graduation ceremony. Students from the class of 2013 filed into the football field to receive their diplomas.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Megan Ianero and Maggie McDonedal mimicked each other’s dance moves.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • May 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Haile Eighth-Grade Dance

Haile Middle School eighth-graders danced off into high school at its annual end-of-year dance. Almost 300 students came out to the masquerade-themed dance.

  • East County
  • News
Children leave Southside Elementary for the bus stop on the last day of school.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Southside Elementary students celebrate start of summer

Students at Southside Elementary Friday, May 31, celebrated the last day of school as they boarded the bus or hopped in parents' cars. Children grinned and giggled as they set out on the start of summer break.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Merchants hope streetscape improvements, less panhandling and the strengthening economy bode well for the downtown's future.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • May 31, 2013
May 31: Daily Headlines Video

Today's Stories: Downtown merchants welcome changes; License cameras will start snapping soon on Longboat Key; Creative Healing: Paula Kozak;Popcorn Bob's Movie Magic

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Topics at the conference could range from downtown density to ways to make Fruitville Road easier for pedestrians to cross.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • May 31, 2013
SemCon 2013 planned for Sarasota

An ad hoc committee made up of Sarasota downtown leaders met Thursday to go over the preliminary details of the conference.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 31, 2013
Nolan Middle wins championship

The Nolan Middle School girls basketball team defeated Haile Middle 35-25 to win the Manatee County Championship May 9, at Lakewood Ranch High.

  • East County
  • Sports
Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming holds one of the cameras, which have a color camera, infrared camera and four illuminators.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 31, 2013
License cameras will start snapping soon on Longboat Key

Contractors did a test run yesterday for the cameras that will capture license plate data from vehicles entering and leaving the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Alta Vista residents fill their plates.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 30, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Alta Vista Neighborhood Association Potluck

Members of the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association met Thursday, May 30, for a potluck dinner. In lieu of the organization's regular meeting, members relaxed for a social hour over homemade dishes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ernicca Vaughn, of Braden River High, gets help with her cap from friend Kenyata Waiters.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 30, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River High Graduation

Braden River High School bid farewell to its senior class during a graduation ceremony Wednesday, May 29, at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

  • East County
  • News
Rising pensions costs make up large part of the Sarasota City deficit
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • May 30, 2013
May 30: Daily Headlines Video

Today's Stories: Rising pensions costs contribute to Sarasota City deficit; Willowbrook residents sued for defamation; Colony Beach & Tennis Resort featured in 'The Lucky 6'; Iwo Jima veteran envisions a new monument; Pine View students unofficially break Guinness World Record

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 30, 2013
Generous Property Realtors donates portion of profit to Meals on Wheels

Realtors at Generous Property recently donated a portion of profits from a property sale to the charity.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2013
Patron Saints: Peter Salefsky

The end is near for our online video series, "Patron Saints." It spotlights supporters of the arts and the venue to which they donate.

  • Arts + Culture
Eight graders Bart Hillerich, Eric Mc Kinnon, senior and table captain Jenny Mooney and eight grader Phillip Tran make sandwiches to break the Guinness World Record.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • May 30, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : Pine View breaks sandwich-making record

Pine View School students dipped their knives into creamy WOWBUTTER or soy butter and grape jelly Thursday, May 30 in a frantic race to beat the world record for amount of sandwiches made in an hour. Approximately 600 students participated in the event put on by the Interact Club. Students exceeded their goal of 5,000 sandwiches by making 5, 721.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Approximately 600 students participated in the event put on by the Interact Club.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • May 30, 2013
Pine View unofficially breaks Guinness World Record

Students spread soy butter and jelly on 5,721 sandwiches to break the Guinness World Record of amount of sandwiches made in an hour.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 30, 2013
Lady Mustangs best in Class 6A

The Lakewood Ranch High girls finished first in Class 6A in the 2012-13 FHSAA Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup All-Sports Awards point standings.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 30, 2013
Pirates to hold baseball and softball summer camp

Braden River High will hold its first Pirate Baseball and Softball Summer Camp from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. July 8-12 and 15-19.

  • East County
  • Sports
New College President Dr. Donal O’Shea
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 30, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Key Kiwanis Club Meeting

New College of Florida President Dr. Donal O'Shea joined the Longboat Key Kiwanis Club Thursday, May 30, at the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Grille, to discuss the future of New College. As he approaches his one-year anniversary as president of the liberal-arts college, O'Shea reflected on the institution's accomplishments, as well as its future opportunities and biggest challenges. Among its accomplishments, O'Shea highlighted the disproportionately large percentage of Fulbright scholars the college produces, as well as the relatively low level of debt with which its students graduate. Also noted was the high percentage of students who go on to pursue advanced degrees.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • May 30, 2013
Manatee County administrator to unveil 2014 budget today

Ed Hunzeker's $517 million budget, set to be presented to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners at a workshop this afternoon, features lower property tax rates.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 5881 Gulf of Mexico Drive is built entirely out of cypress. Courtesy Michael Saunders & Co.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 30, 2013
GMD home sells sight unseen for $2.9 million

The home was originally built as the identical twin of the home on an iconic Longboat poster.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Renée Sheade and Jeannette D'Angelo. Molly Schechter.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2013
So who's counting?

Sarasota resident Renee Sheade celebrated her birthday May 16, a few days early, at Michael's On East. Long-time friend Jeannette D'Angelo organized the birthday luncheon.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Evan and Zachary Rubin. Photo Courtesy of Dana Rubin.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2013
Lil' philanthropists

Twin brothers Zachary and Evan Rubin, 8, sold art creations they made May 15, at Urfer Park. The brothers were raising money for the Kids to Kids Backpack Program.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key resident Harold Ronson and Thomas Savage, founder of the Sarasota Public Art Fund. Photo by Yara Klimchak
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 30, 2013
Iwo Jima veteran envisions statue next to Unconditional Surrender

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

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • May 30, 2013
Projected budget deficit: $6 million

Rising pension costs make up a large part of the city deficit. The city manager and finance director seek ways to trim costs.

  • Sarasota
  • News
For several downtown merchants, business has picked up this tourist season. Photo by Yara Klimchak.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • May 30, 2013
Downtown merchants welcome changes

Merchants hope streetscape improvements, less panhandling and the strengthening economy bode well for the downtown's future.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Florence Katz has volunteered at the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Sarasota-Manatee for the last 17 years. Photo by Nick Friedman
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 30, 2013
Florence Katz shows giving knows no age limit

Home Instead Senior Care honored the 97-year-old Sarasota Bay Club resident with the Florida Salute to Senior Service award.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
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Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
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Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
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