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Your Observer

The first set of conceptual designs for the new Gulf Gate Public Library includes a drive-thru book-return lane. Courtesy of Harvard Jolly Inc.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 31, 2012
FULL STORY: Architects reveal design for new library

Harvard Jolly Inc. unveiled conceptual renderings of the new Gulf Gate Library Thursday, May 24.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
  • By John Gudritz
  • May 31, 2012
My View: Civility and compromise bring fairer solutions

I thought the editorial opinion contained in the "Our View" column last week provided a commonsense approach to solving not only the sound issues currently being debated in the Siesta Key Village but most problems that come along in life.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 31, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Anna Phillips

Anna Phillips, 15, has been involved in Sarasota Aquatic Synchronized Swimming at the YMCA (SASSY) since she was in the sixth grade.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Observer Team Spotlight

Enjoy this week's Observer Team Spotlight, featuring Donald Seelley.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Freedom Principal Jim Mennes and fourth-grade teacher Amanda Hirst got drenched with slime.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 31, 2012
VIDEO & PHOTOGALLERY: Freedom students slime faculty

In a show of support for U.S. troops serving overseas, administrators, teachers and soldiers were slimed May 30, at Freedom Elementary School.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • May 31, 2012
Sarasota County sees increase in parking tickets issued

According to Sarasota County records of weekly parking violations, by location, from Feb. 1 to May 1, there has been a rise in ticket distribution.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 31, 2012
Neighbors: Bev Marsh

Bev Marsh has lived on Siesta Key for 31 years and has been tearing up the ballroom dance floors for 20 years.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This home at 560 Commonwealth Place in Siesta’s Bayside Waterside East has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,096 square feet of living area. It sold for $640,000. Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 31, 2012
Royal Palm Harbor home sells for $935,000

A home in Royal Palm Harbor tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Edith Mehiel, Sarasota, sold her home at 1240 Northport Drive to Jill Taffet and Janine Gevas, Sarasota, for $935,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Jennie Fazioli Smith took this sunset photo on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Jennie Fazioli Smith took this sunset photo on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Gil Waters
  • May 31, 2012
My View: Let's demand the best for city manager

The first thing to be said is we need a system balancing local desires with experienced and skilled management.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Eric Piazza
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 31, 2012
Neighbors: Eric Piazza

Software developer Eric Piazza's new app allows sporty - and competitive - friends to connect from anywhere in a virtual running club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Unit 402 at La Bellasara, 464 Golden Gate Point, has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,135 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.82 million. File photo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 31, 2012
Four-bedroom Casey Key home sells for $3.1 million

A home on Casey Key tops all transactions in this week's real estate. William and Sherry Frost, trustees, sold the home at 955 Casey Key Road to Gregory Kuelbs, Nokomis, for $3.1 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Jared Serfozo submitted this photo, taken behind the Sarasota Courthouse looking east.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Jared Serfozo submitted this photo, taken behind the Sarasota Courthouse looking east.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Join Emily Walsh as she reports today's headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • May 30, 2012
May 30: Daily Headlines Video

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

  • Siesta Key
  • News
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • May 30, 2012
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The base portion of a typical 1,000-kWh residential customer FPL bill is expected to increase by 23 cents a day, or $7.09 per month in 2013.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 30, 2012
FPL to hold rate increase hearing Thursday

Residential and business customers of FPL are invited to share their views of FPL's service quality and discuss a proposed rate increase at City Hall Thursday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Each Sarasota County agency has a particular sector in the current emergency operations center on Ringling Boulevard.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 30, 2012
Grant extended for EOC funding

The $1 million grant to Sarasota County for the new emergency operations center has been extended.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota County met nationally recognized guidelines that assess how well a budget serves as a policy, financial and operations document, as well as a source for public information.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 30, 2012
Sarasota County receives distinguished budget award

The county has received a budget award for its accounting practices for 22 consecutive years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Hannah Bergan Kates graduated May 5 from Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor's of science in environmental engineering.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • May 30, 2012
Class of 2012

These Longboat Key, Lido and Bird Key high school seniors have aced countless exams, read stacks of literary classics, won football games and tennis matches, danced at prom, learned to drive, learned foreign languages, mastered the FCAT and took their high schools by storm.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2012
Vets knighted for service

Recently at a ceremony held in Pinellas Park, six World War II veterans received France's highest honor for their service liberating France.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2012
Couple celebrates engagement

On June 8, 2011, BJ Webb was at a bookstore looking for a book a grief counselor told her to read.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2012
Centennial plus two

For Jack Goldsmith's 102nd birthday, he appeared on Willard Scott's segment on the "Today" show.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longtime News Editor Pam Eubanks will succeed Eng as managing editor of the East County Observer.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2012
The Observer promotes staffers

Rex Jensen may be called "Mr. East County," and Don O'Leary may be known as East County's titular mayor, but if there is anyone to rival them in their knowledge of and roots in East County, it would be East County Observer Managing Editor Michael "Mike" Eng.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The town spends an amount equivalent to 60% of firefighter payroll on its required contributions to the firefighter pension.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 30, 2012
Proposal defines pension meeting

Discussion shifted to a plan transitioning firefighters to 401(a) accounts throughout the May 23 Firefighter Pension Board meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Police Chief Albert Hogle's casket is lifted out of the hearse Thursday at the Sarasota National Cemetery. Photos by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 30, 2012
End of watch

Longboat Key Police Chief Albert 'Al' Hogle was remembered at a public funeral as a private man, public servant and mentor to other law-enforcement officers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2012
News Briefs

St. Armands access point temporarily closes; Longboat Key makes groin modifications; Town Commission approves alcohol sales

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2012
Our View: Don't fall for steelworker's sob

You have to be dreading the next five months. We are.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 30, 2012
Circle officials bemoan lack of service

St. Armands Circle officials warn city staff that the lack of basic services is starting to affect the Circle's overall appearance as a major tourism destination.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • May 30, 2012
Caragiulo's new restaurant comes to St. Armands

If you are a fan of Owen's Fish Camp, Nancy's Bar-B-Q and Caragiulos Italian Restaurant, then you will most likely be excited about the Carigiulo brothers' latest venture - Shore Diner on St. Armands Circle

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Grayson Tullio, 8, is excited to have his own service dog, Hooch, at home with him.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 30, 2012
Golden Returns

Eight-year-old Grayson Tullio, who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, brought home his new service dog, Hooch, Friday, May 18.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 30, 2012
Manatee fertilizer ban takes effect June 1

A University of Florida grant has two community groups educating their neighbors about new fertilizer restrictions and other water quality issues.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • May 30, 2012
Observed: My work here is done

Even if they let me have every page of this week's newspaper, I don't think I'd have enough room to write everything I want to say.

  • East County
  • Opinion
John Pyle celebrated the completion of his 3,144-mile run to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project at Fit2Run.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • May 30, 2012
Ultramarathon runner John Pyle returns to Sarasota

After an 83-day, 3,144-mile run to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project, John Pyle returns to Sarasota.

  • East County
  • News
The new flagpole was installed April 30 and dedicated Sunday, May 27.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 30, 2012
Cascades dedicates flagpole

EAST COUNTY -- As residents of the Cascades community gathered for their annual Memorial Day celebration last weekend, they also paid tribute to the nation's fallen heroes with a special flagpole dedication and flag-raising ceremony.

  • East County
  • News
Tom Finnegan spent three years as a paratrooper instructor at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He remembers his fellow fallen soldiers throughout the year.
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • May 30, 2012
Finnegan helps honor fallen soldiers

Tom Finnegan's Memorial Day was especially poignant this year; he shared it locally with one grandson and from a distance with another.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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