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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 19, 2012
Obituary: William Battle Wall Jr.

William Battle Wall Jr., 89, of Pinehurst, N.C., and formerly of Longboat Key, died Nov. 8.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 19, 2012
Obituary: Terry Petesch

The community is invited to attend "A Tribute to Terry: Celebrating the Life and Friendship of Terry Petesch" from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design, 6860 Longboat Drive S.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Roughly 80,000 white lights make the Saputo home on Lighthouse Point Drive a sight to behold for anyone driving north over New Pass Bridge and the Publisher's Choice winner. Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara and Katie Hendrick
    By
  • Katie Hendrick
  • December 19, 2012
Light Up the Keys: Bright Spirits

Longboat Key decks its palms, guard houses, high rises and fences with creative displays.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Frederick Beyerlein submitted this sunset photo, taken at Spanish Main Yacht Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 19, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Frederick Beyerlein submitted this sunset photo, taken at Spanish Main Yacht Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath home at 7008 Portmarnock Place in Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch sold for $880,000. Photo by Pam Eubanks.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 19, 2012
Three Country Club Village sales top transactions

The top three transactions in this week's real estate were located in Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch. Richard Hoff, trustee, sold the home at 7008 Portmarnock Place to Bradley and Rene Moyer, of Lakewood Ranch, for $880,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Barry Marder submitted this rainbow photo, taken over Lake Uihlein in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 19, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Barry Marder submitted this rainbow photo, taken over Lake Uihlein in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This home at 600 Putter Lane has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,650 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.1 million. Photo by Katie Hendrick.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 19, 2012
Home in Country Club Shores sells for $2.1 million

A home in Country Club Shores tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Cantoys International Ltd. sold the home at 600 Putter Lane to Ian and Sheila Aitken, of Longboat Key, for $2.1 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 19, 2012
BUSINESS OBSERVER

Jack Elka calendar features keys; Key restaurants receive awards; Marina's adds hair services; Northern Trust closes Key branch

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Of the 176 teams represented at the tournament, now it is second year at Premier, all but 10 were from out of state.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 18, 2012
Soccer tournament nets $11.3 million impact

Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch today released results from the 2012 Nike International Friendlies Tournament, held Nov. 28 through Dec. 2. at SMR's Premier Sports Campus.

  • East County
  • News
The concrete walkway at Bayfront Park was damaged during tropical storm Debbie
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 18, 2012
Bayfront Park sidewalk to undergo repairs

FEMA will cover the cost of repairs to the concrete damaged during tropical storm Debbie.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A protest of the Ringling Walmart is planned for Dec. 29.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 18, 2012
Group plans tar-and-feather Walmart protest

According to Anti-SRQ Walmart's facebook page, the protest is planned for Dec. 29.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Join Emily Walsh for the Daily Headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • December 18, 2012
Dec. 18: Daily Headlines Video

Today's Stories: Rats discovered at Town Hall; Board to consider RESTORE projects; and Three Key restaurants receive Golden Spoon awards

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The proposed entertainment district would stretch more than six downtown blocks from Central Avenue east to U.S. 301, and from Fruitville Road south to State Street.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 18, 2012
Workshop to be held on entertainment district

The debate over the entrainment district has intensified over the past week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Arlene McKitrick is a Longboat Key resident.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 18, 2012
McKitrick wins 180th victory

Arlene McKitrick won her 180th golf championship last week in Palm Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Commissioner Pat Zunz wants power outages to stop on longboat Key before she will support a FPL rate increase.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 18, 2012
Longboat Key commissioner upset with power increase

A Florida Power and Light rate increase has a Longboat Key commissioner upset.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jerry and Karel Beck with Betty and Bob Goree
    By
  • Katie Hendrick
  • December 18, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Bird Key Yacht Club White Christmas Party

The Bird Key Yacht Club held a holiday party, themed 'White Christmas,' Saturday, Dec. 16. Co-organizer Barbara Gardner delighted at the turnout of nearly 150 members. 'This is the first time the club has had a black tie dinner dance for the holidays,' she said.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 18, 2012
Homeless Coalition to get $10,000

Bright House Networks today will make a donation to the Community Coalition on Homelessness.

  • East County
  • News
George and Sandra Ceshker with Sandy and Mike McAdaragh
    By
  • Katie Hendrick
  • December 18, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Yacht Club Holly Ball

Sarasota Yacht Club members donned their swankiest threads for the annual Holly Ball Saturday, Dec. 15.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mac Evans, Danny Mangone
    By
  • Katie Hendrick
  • December 18, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Moore's Holiday Party and Boat Parade

Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant hosted a holiday party Saturday, Dec. 15, complete with two appearances by Santa Clause, a face painter, cookies and lots of holiday cheer. Following refreshments, guests moved to the dock to watch a lighted boat parade.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Conservation easements protect snowy plover habitat on Siesta Key beach.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 18, 2012
Ants threaten plover habitat

Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson reported a growing number of ant piles in protected dunes on Siesta Key beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Edward Hamburger, Horia Tecau, Joyce Welch, Jackie Bohannon, Max Mirnyi
    By
  • Katie Hendrick
  • December 18, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Bryan Brothers at Longboat Key Club Tennis Gardens

Tennis enthusiasts at the Longboat Key Club and Resort got some elite advice and a whole lot of excitement when a quartet of the world's best players - Horia Tecau Max Mirnyi, and Bob and Mike Bryan - participated in clinics Saturday, Dec. 15, at the club's tennis gardens.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Join Emily Walsh for the Daily Headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • December 17, 2012
Dec. 17: Daily Headlines Video

Today's Stories: Rats discovered at Town Hall; Board to consider RESTORE projects; and Three Key restaurants receive Golden Spoon awards

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Susan Keeton, Gina Iovine and Sue Waxman
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 17, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Santa Paws Fur a Cause

The Humane Society of Southwest Florida, in collaboration with Sarasota in Defense of Animals, hosted a fundraiser Saturday. Dec. 15 at Evie's on Bee Ridge. The fundraiser, titled, 'Santa Paws Fur a Cause,' raised money for people who are experiencing financial difficulty in supporting their pets.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Town Clerk Trish Granger said staff is unsure how the rats got into the building.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 17, 2012
Rats discovered at Town Hall

Four rats were discovered hanging out at Town Hall last week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County commissioners will consider a $150,000 habitat restoration project for Turtle Beach during a Dec. 17 workshop to prioritize BP settlement funding.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 17, 2012
Board to consider RESTORE projects

Sarasota County commissioners Dec. 17, will consider the priority of 28 projects, four of which affect Siesta Key, that could get funding from the BP settlement.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Talajah Platt
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 17, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Big Brothers Big Sisters Holiday Party

Volunteers for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program brought their siblings to Sun N Fun Saturday, Dec. 15 for the program's annual holiday party. Children visited with other volunteers and siblings, enjoyed holiday snack and visited with Santa before opening presents.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Norah Meyer, 3, smiles at Santa as he talks to her about what she might like for Christmas Sunday, Dec. 16, during the Breakfast with Santa event at the Ritz Carlton.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 17, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Breakfast with Santa

More than 60 people attended people attended Breakfast with Santa Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Ritz Carlton.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Julia Perkins visits Santa
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 17, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Southside Stroll

Families took a leisurely holiday stroll through the Southside Village Friday, Dec. 14, as part of the annual Southside Village Holiday Stroll. In true holiday fashion, there were carolers, visits with Santa and even face painting and a snow slide for the children.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Barbara Banks with Jessica and Nathan Hays and their daughter, Addison.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 17, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: First United Methodist Church Christmas Pageant

First United Methodist Church in downtown Sarasota hosted its annual children's Christmas pageant Friday, Dec. 14. Families gathered to watch the children's performance before socializing and enjoying snacks in the fellowship hall after the pageant.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A Manatee County Sheriff's Office report states 42-year-old Francis Overholt was at his home int he 14300 block of MJ Road, in Myakka, when one of the fireworks exploded and injured his hands.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 17, 2012
Myakka man injured by explosives

Francis Overholt was taken to the hospital for injuries to his hands.

  • East County
  • News
Euphemia Haye's prime ribeye steak.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 17, 2012
Three Key restaurants receive Golden Spoon awards

Three Longboat Key restaurants are included in this month's issue of Florida Trend Magazine.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
People wrote their wishes on different colored ribbons and tied their wishes for the holiday season and the new-year to the “Wishing Tree”, also known as the Bo tree, Saturday, Dec. 15, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 17, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Lights in Bloom

Hundreds of people attended the opening night of Lights in Bloom Saturday, Dec.15, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Annually, the gardens transform at night into beautiful garden light displays featuring larger than-life-sized butterflies, tree frogs, dragonflies and flowers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jeaneen Wirries and Maria Wirries
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 16, 2012
JFCS Annual Gala - Magical Moments

JFCS Annual Gala - Magical Moments

  • Black Tie
Ron Bognar sells elk antlers for dogs to chew. The antlers are rich in minerals, don’t splinter like cooked bones, and are great for dogteeth and gums.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • December 16, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY : Siesta Key Farmers Market

The Siesta Key Farmers Market is held every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Siesta Key Village. Vendors sell anything from vegetables to chocolates to jellies and organic soaps. Many products are locally grown and made while some are imported from abroad. The market is expected to grow after the holidays.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Volunteers laid wreaths at the Sarasota National Cemetery.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • December 16, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY : Volunteers honor veterans with holiday wreaths at Sarasota National Cemetery

Volunteers and the Sarasota Military Academy laid holiday wreaths on all 5,170 graves Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Sarasota National Cemetery. Sarasota Military Academy students sold wreaths during the school year to raise money to buy enough wreaths for each grave. 'We all get to see our families for Christmas and these fallen heroes did more than we know,' said Sarasota Military Academy Sergeant Major Christopher Conlon. 'No fallen hero should go without a wreath on their headstone.' About 60 bikes from the Patriot Guard and other motorcycles escorted a semi truck with the wreaths into the cemetery.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jensen Dieckman, 2, gives his sister Esmée, 6, a kiss at the ice skating rink.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • December 16, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY : Snow Fest Sarasota spreads cheer and snow

Snow Fest Sarasota welcomed parents and children opening night Friday, Dec. 14 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. Children can make snowballs, sled down snow slides, see Santa, and play games through Sunday, Dec. 23. Esmee Dieckman, 6, ice-skated and Johanna Post made her first snowman at the Sarasota Snow Fest.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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