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Your Observer

Rich Kaplan throws out the ceremonial first pitch of the Chicago Cubs game Sunday, at Wrigley Field. Courtesy photos.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • June 21, 2012
Neighbors: Rich Kaplan

Siesta resident Rich Kaplan uses his love of sports on the job as president of sales and marketing at Tervis Tumbler.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Kyle Beiner stands in front of the St. Matthew's House of Sarasota campus on Altoona Street. After completing the program, Beiner lends his experience to help others through the recovery process.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • June 21, 2012
St. Matthew's House offers homeless and addicted men a second chance

With the help of local churches, such as Siesta Key Chapel, St. Matthew's House hopes to become self-sustaining.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 21, 2012
News Briefs

Downtown McDonald's is demolished; A third appraisal sought for hotel site

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 21, 2012
News Briefs

School Board gets new name

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Illustration by Nicole Thompson.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • June 21, 2012
Technology improves quality of life for hearing-impaired

As more venues become equipped with hearing loop systems, the 110,000 area residents who suffer from hearing loss can once again enjoy their favorite sound-related activities.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
This Banyan Club home, which has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and 2,480 square feet of living area, sold for $1.6 million. Photo by Alex Mahadevan.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 21, 2012
Banyan Club home tops week's sales at $1.6 million

Charles McGovern and Kristina McGovern, trustees, of Sarasota sold the home at 140 Sand Dollar Lane to Robert and Barbara Risbridger, of Madison, Conn., for $1.6 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Mardee Faust submitted this sunset photo, taken on the southern end of Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 21, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Mardee Faust submitted this sunset photo, taken on the southern end of Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • June 21, 2012
BUSINESS OBSERVER

Aimee Cogan named among top women financial advisers; Phillippi farmhouse project wins historic preservation grant; Oliver named program director of Phoenix Academy; SouthTech recognized for performance

  • Sarasota
  • News
Unit 34 at Sarabande, 340 S. Palm Ave., sold for $725,000. Photo by Nick Friedman.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 21, 2012
Four-bedroom Silver Oak home sells for $790,000

Susanna Stock, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 5315 Hunt Club Way to Ying Wong and Mei Kuan, of Irvine, Calif., for $790,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • June 21, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Alex Walters

Alex Walters, 17, got into skateboarding when he was 9 years old and has been addicted ever since.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Helena Sutherland submitted this sunset photo, taken overlooking Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 21, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Helena Sutherland submitted this sunset photo, taken overlooking Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 20, 2012
South Shade Avenue closed June 25 thru July 16

South Shade avenue between South Pelican Drive and Novus street will be closed for railroad and sidewalk improvements.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Join Emily Walsh as she reports today's headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • June 20, 2012
June 20: Daily Headlines Video

Join us as we observe and report today's stories from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Carissa Garrettson and Joan Sirgant
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • June 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Bird Key Yacht Club spa day

The women at Bird Key Yacht Club took a day trip to The Met Day Spa & Salon at St. Armands Circle, 35 S Blvd. of Presidents, where they were royally pampered on June 18. They received mini massages, paraffin treatments for hands, a skin analysis consultation, a hair consultation and a makeup consultation. It was a relaxing and fun afternoon get together.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
— Longboat Key Town Hall is located at 501 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 20, 2012
Town Hall experiences phone outages

Police, Fire Rescue and Public Works lines aren't affected by this morning's outage.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Nick Rich, 8, Aidan O’Horan, 8, and Andreas Zeitler, 8
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • June 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Kids' Summer Beach Run

Now in its second of ten weeks, the Kids' Summer Beach Run had a big turn out, Tuesday, June 19, out on Siesta Key Public Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 20, 2012
Apartments sought for North Trail

A developer with ties to Sarasota wants to build affordable apartments for downtown professionals on the North Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lynn Larson holds the District 1 seat on the Longboat Key Town Commission. File photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 20, 2012
IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Commissioner Lynn Larson

Lynn Larson was elected in March 2010 to the District 1 Longboat Key Town Commission seat.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 20, 2012
Residents receive their city manager forum invite

The public can meet the city manager candidate finalists in a formal setting 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 29.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 20, 2012
Sarasota County Procurement head resigns

Sarasota County Procurement Official Mark Thiele resigned yesterday after nearly 10 months at the position. Deputy County Administrator Bill Little will serve as interim procurement official for the third time.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 20, 2012
Harry's welcomes summer solstice

Where will you be 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 21? Harry's Continental Kitchens is hosting a Summer Solstice Soiree to benefit the Surfrider Foundation.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Courtesy
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 20, 2012
Super stupendous beach read

Longboat Key resident and author Jane K. Webb has recently released a new children's book, "My Super Stupendous Day at the Beach."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 20, 2012
Ranch thespian lands new role

Thunderous applause goes out to Lakewood Ranch High School student Katie Ciemniecki, who recently was inducted into the International Thespian Society, Troupe 6020.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
M'Balia and Cheryl Bangoura stand with the Bangouras' new convertible with Lorraine and Dick Vitale. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 20, 2012
Couple wins new ride

East County residents Sekou and Cheryl Bangoura are revved up about a recent win.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A poster designed for "A Short History of Decay" shows Longboat Key's shoreline. Designed by Kerry Durkin.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 20, 2012
Film could put spotlight on Key

Writer/director Michael Maren hopes to begin filming 'A Short History of Decay,' an independent film that features a fictional Longboat couple and their son, this fall.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 20, 2012
Hilton renovation in the works

The Longboat Key resort hopes to start construction in May, resulting in a new look and the addition of 80 to 85 rooms.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 20, 2012
Proposed overlay: End of discussion?

The commission will discuss a proposed Whitney Beach overlay one more time before the state's review process for Comprehensive Plan changes expires June 28.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The second CVS sign was proposed for the left wall, which faces Bay Isles Parkway. See a rendering of the proposed sign on page 8A.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 20, 2012
ZBA refuses to 'sign off' on CVS request

The Zoning Board of Adjustment denied a variance request from the drug-store chain for a second wall sign at its new store.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 20, 2012
Town, FDOT to talk crosswalks

The liability of the town and other agencies in a recent fatality is unclear, but they'll talk about ways to improve GMD safety at an upcoming workshop.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 20, 2012
Board weeds through hedge issues

The Planning & Zoning Board found that issues involving hedge-height regulations were too complicated to resolve during Tuesday's meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Campers practice climbing the web.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • June 20, 2012
CAMP SPOTLIGHT: CIRCUS SARASOTA SUMMER CAMP (+ VIDEO)

For our latest Camp Spotlight, The Observer dropped in on campers at Circus Sarasota and documented their rehearsal for the end-of-camp performance.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 20, 2012
IDA moves forward with new maintenance facility

Supervisors are ready to approve construction of a facility that meets the state requirement that a building withstand 140-mph winds.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's irrigation water provider, Braden River Utilities, is raising its rates by 50% to improve infrastructure and pay for other necessary projects.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 20, 2012
LWR CDD budgets see increases

Rate increases for irrigation water is one reason for 2013 assessment increases.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 20, 2012
School Board ends short Wednesday schedule

After a unanimous vote by the Manatee County School Board, schools will be on a daily uniform schedule for the first time since 2007.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 20, 2012
School Board budget projects surplus

Superintendent Tim McGonegal hopes to use the extra dollars to give district employees a 1% bonus.

  • East County
  • News
A certified athletic trainer, Braden River High School’s news principal, Jenni Gilray, said she decided to go into administration so she could affect more students.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 20, 2012
East County welcomes new leadership

Tara Elementary School and Braden River High School will open to students this August with new principals.

  • East County
  • News
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