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Your Observer

    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 1, 2012
Violin vacation on the Key

Stephanie Bork, 23, from Ann Arbor, Mich., performed Saturday, July 28, on St. Armands Circle, while on vacation in Sarasota.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The School Board of Sarasota County opened and closed the floor for public comment today at a hearing to adopt the district’s 2012 tentative budget in 10 of the 45 minutes allotted — because nobody from the public showed up.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • August 1, 2012
School Board approves rate increase

With the public absent for a public hearing to approve the 2012 fiscal year budget for the Sarasota County School District, the School Board of Sarasota County unanimously approved a millage rate increase of 1.27%

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
Hitting a high note

Charles Chocallo is a 2007 graduate of Pineview and his parents, Chris and Bill Chocallo are Longboat Key residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Seventeen-year-old Brittany Wenger, winner of the Google Science Fair, now hopes to test her technology in hospitals. Photo by Andrew Federman.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 1, 2012
Brittany Wenger wins Google Science Fair

East County resident Brittany Wenger, 17, plans to change the world with her application that detects breast-cancer malignancies.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 1, 2012
IDA OKs funding proposal

The Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority voted 3-1 in favor of a 12-year funding proposal for its new maintenance facility.

  • East County
  • News
"I look at our clientele and truly believe they are the voices that no one hears," said Marla Doss, president and CEO for Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities. "It's up to us to be the voice of the disabled in the community."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 1, 2012
Familiar face takes top CHAC position

Marla Doss is named the president and CEO of Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
Our View: We recommend

"Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried." - Winston Churchill. About this time every two years that famous Churchill quote comes to mind.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 1, 2012
Association seeks extension

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association is petitioning the Town Commission to seek an 18-month extension of a Dec. 31 deadline for re-opening the resort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Clumps of seaweed lined the beach access near North Shore Road Monday evening.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 1, 2012
Seaweed surfaces on beaches

The town doesn't rake the beaches when seaweed like the current clumps on the beach wash ashore.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteer Melissa Herron took this photo that shows hatchling tracks headed toward the water. Photo courtesy of Melissa Herron.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 1, 2012
First nests of the season hatch

The public will have to wait longer than usual to get their first glimpses of popular turtle-nest excavations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The island is getting closer to a new CVS, with work on the drug store’s interior currently under way.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 1, 2012
CVS moves forward with new store

CVS appears to be getting a move on.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Barbara Michel is survived by her daughter, Treanne; sons, Bill and Geoffrey; sister, Jean Garrison; and five grandchildren.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 1, 2012
To Michel, everyone was guest of honor

The Longboat Key Club and Resort's longtime chef concierge, Barbara Michel, died last week after a battle with cancer. To her, guests were like family.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
News Briefs

Federal agencies issue FONSI for Port Dolphin; Sidewalk repairs under way on the Key; Mom and baby manatee saved

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Rod Thomson
  • August 1, 2012
Primary Election: Charter Review Board District 2

Editor's note: In this race, Marie Nisco did not return requests for information.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
  • By Rod Thomson
  • August 1, 2012
Primary Election: Charter Review Board District 4

Editor's note: In this race, Tom Trevor did not return requests for information.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Betsy Benac
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 1, 2012
Primary Election: Manatee County School Board, District 7

Battling for the Board of Manatee County Commissioners District 7 at-large seat are two Republicans: political hopeful Betsy Benac and incumbent Joe McClash.

  • East County
  • News
William S. Chaltis
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 1, 2012
Primary Election: Manatee County School Board, District 2

Four candidates are competing for the Manatee County School Board District 2 seat, including William Chaltis, Robert Moates, Dave Miner and Paul Sharff.

  • East County
  • News
Paul A. Cajka Sr.
  • By Rod Thomson
  • August 1, 2012
Election Q&A: Charter Review Board District 1

Sarasota County is one of only 21 charter counties in Florida - counties that are governed in the operational structure by a charter, similar to a constitution. But Sarasota is the only county with a board elected by voters, not appointed by commissions.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • August 1, 2012
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
Our View: Retribution

Numerous Sarasotans began an email and telephone campaign last week, intended to persuade their friends and associates to discontinue supporting Observer advertisers and persuade the advertisers to discontinue advertising in the Observer newspapers and websites.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Vibrant press needed; Last chance to save U.S.; Look in the mirror; I hope you lose ads; You are 100% correct

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By Bradford Saivetz
  • August 1, 2012
My View: Anatomy of getting on the Town Commission

What follows is a recapitulation of those posted messages leading up to the surprising appointment - over many of applicants - two weeks ago of Terry Gans to the Town Commission after the resignation of Hal Lenobel.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
About 100 cyclists will travel a roughly 100-mile stretch of Highway 101 along the coastline of Oregon, from Seaside south to Pacific City, while Tammy Kovar will complete a 585-mile ride.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 1, 2012
Ranch arborist will cycle to raise urban forest funds

While raising funds for tree research, Tammy Kovar will fulfill a dream to cycle along a section of Highway 101 in Oregon.

  • East County
  • News
Maria and Sarah Soscia have been playing volleyball together since they were in third and fifth grade, respectively. The two Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School defensive specialists are now about to embark on their final season together on the court.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 1, 2012
Sisters help Lady Cougars to district title

Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School defensive specialists Sarah and Maria Soscia helped lead the Lady Cougars to their first district title since 2004 last season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch HIgh boys golf coach Dave Frantz, who coached the Mustangs to their first state championship this past November, will become the first golf-only coach in Manatee County to be inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 1, 2012
Mustangs coach gallops into coaches hall of fame

Early next year Lakewood Ranch High boys golf coach Dave Frantz will be inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame in Daytona Beach.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 1, 2012
Comment: Going for the gold

Three months ago, the names Missy Franklin, Gabby Douglas and Ashton Eaton were merely that - just names. And yet, they've quickly become some of this summer's most recognizable faces.

  • East County
  • Sports
This home at 635 N. Owl Drive has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,180 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,175,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 1, 2012
Three-bedroom Bird Key home sells for $2,175,000

A home on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week's real estate. George and Cheryl Pintea, of Sarasota, sold their home at 635 N. Owl Drive to S. Merrell Stearns, of Sarasota, for $2,175,000.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • August 1, 2012
BUSINESS OBSERVER

Plymouth Harbor establishes new foundation; East Meets West Expo networking event

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
Obituary: Lloyd Singer

Lloyd Singer, of Longboat Key and formerly of Toronto, Canada, died July 13. He was 86 years old.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
George Rauch, Longboat Key, is chief executive officer of Bradenton-based General Propeller and a former Wall Street investment banker.
  • By George Rauch
  • August 1, 2012
Market Watch: Debt, debt and more government debt

In 2008, the sum of all U.S. government, private and corporate debt was $31.7 trillion.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By Brian Gunnell
  • August 1, 2012
Bridge Bites: The crocodile coup

Bridge has a number of exotic "coups," and for the next few weeks we'll look at some of them, starting with the aptly named Crocodile Coup.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Helen Herkes took this sunrise photo from the Longbeach Village, on the north end of the Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Helen Herkes took this sunrise photo from the Longbeach Village, on the north end of the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
News Briefs

Florida tax holiday this weekend; Free screening

  • East County
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2012
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 1, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Carie Ziebell

On Oct. 28, 12-year-old Carie Ziebell was named the Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Association Futures Tour Player of the Year for the Futures Girls division.

  • East County
  • Sports
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