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Your Observer

Photo courtesy of Brant Gomez.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
Funnel cloud spotted near cattlemen and I-75

A stormy funnel cloud was spotted around 4:00 p.m. near cattlemen and I-75. Be on alert for stormy weather activity in the area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Join Emily Walsh as she reports today's headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • July 12, 2012
July 12: 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
Publix Vice President of Lakeland Operations Tom McLaughlin, pictured with Publix agent Michael Leeds and Mayor Jim Brown speaks about the new store.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • July 12, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Publix topping-off celebration

Publix Supermarkets Inc. held a topping-off party to celebrate construction of its new Longboat Key store scheduled to open in December.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Family members of 70-year-old Herbert Boughn report that he drove away from his house in a 2006 silver Chevy Silverado with Florida license tag 914MVU.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • July 12, 2012
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office searches for missing adult

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is looking for 70-year-old Herbert Boughn who left his home early this morning.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Paul Dezzi was one of 17 candidates the town considered before hiring him in July 2009.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • July 12, 2012
IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi

Paul Dezzi became chief of Longboat Key Fire Rescue in September 2010.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight, right, said Thursday he's committed to improving the quality of life for residents in North Sarasota.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 12, 2012
Second joint operation to reduce crime deemed successful

Five of the subjects arrested in a North Sarasota January operation were arrested again for similar drug-related crimes during the second operation last month.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Annie Rinsema, front, and Amelia Jerome, behind, found a shady spot on the playground.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 12, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Bayside Little Dig Camp

Children dug up adventure this week during Bayside Community Church's Little Dig Camp. Children enjoy music, crafts, games, snacks, Bible study and more as part of the festivities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson has been alerted via email again that when the Siesta Key main public beach parking lot is full, Siesta residents offer up their residential properties as parking lots for money. File photo.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 12, 2012
Residential pay-for-parking irks Siesta residents

The Sarasota County Commission gave approval for a task force to sniff out residential lots offering up places to park for cash.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
What a hoot!

In April, Annette Broy moved to Sabal Drive on Siesta Key, and within a few days of moving in, she found that a family of owls had taken up residence in a tree in her yard.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Cara Sheyner poses with a shark jaw. Photo courtesy of Laura Freedman.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
Temple kids splash into summer

Children at Temple Sinai's Gan school kicked off their summer camp with a splash thanks to a special visit from a scuba diver, a boat captain and Gilly the Shark, from Mote Marine Laboratory.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ann Anderson, Nancy Curtis and Bev Meadows host an informational and educational booth for Save Our Seabirds at the event. Photo by Mallory Gnaegy.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
Bird-rescue group lends a wing

Root Cellar Entertainment and the Quad Squad roller-derby team hosted a fundraiser for Save Our Seabirds Sunday, July 8, at Pastimes Pub and Grill.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 12, 2012
Braden River High attains 'model' status

Braden River High School has become the second high school in Florida to attain model status for all its learning academies.

  • East County
  • News
Representatives of TechHouse held a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 3. Photo courtesy of Maureen Flaherty.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 12, 2012
TechHouse celebrates expansion

The information technology company recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its expanded office location.

  • East County
  • News
Chiropractor Abe Kozma with Sheila Anthony, of PNC Bank, and Brian Best, of PNC Investment
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 12, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Alliance Business Social

Members of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance gathered July 11, at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing for the Alliance's monthly networking social.

  • East County
  • News
Usually, volunteers set up the explosive canvas 600 feet from the surf, but they only had 400 feet to navigate for this year’s show.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 12, 2012
Siesta fireworks amaze despite restrictions

The beach was smaller for the Fourth of July celebration this year, but worries about illegal fireworks - and some dark clouds - didn't wash out the explosive fireworks show.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Tropical Storm Debby further damaged the asphalt on the private road near Beach Access 3 on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 12, 2012
Siesta Key road sinks further

The private street skirting Beach Access 3 on Siesta Key gained more craters from recent flooding. But there's little anyone can do to slow it from slumping into the surf.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 12, 2012
Commission debates inlet money

The West Coast Inland Navigation District needs $400,000 more from Sarasota County for the 2013 fiscal year. Mote Marine Laboratory could potentially lose out on two projects, and law enforcement faces cuts.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
City attorney Robert Fournier informed the Sarasota City Commission at a special meeting Tuesday, July 10 that the project, dubbed Lift Station 87, is at a standstill and is off schedule.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 12, 2012
Lift station project in limbo

Commissioners plan to hire an attorney and a micro-tunneling expert, each at a cost of $400 per hour, to look into legal ramifications involved with the stalled project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
At the Sarasota City Commission’s Monday, July 2 regular meeting, Lakewood Ranch-based Commodore Realty offered Sarasota city commissioners $3 million for the land — the price for which the parcel was last appraised.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 12, 2012
City land attracts two developers

Sarasota city commissioners have already directed staff to finalize a $1.4 million purchase contract. for 11.1 acres. But another developer wants the land for a mixed-use development and is willing to pay $3 million.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
Sarasota Observer named No. 1 weekly

For the second consecutive year, a newspaper published by The Observer Media Group has been named Florida's top weekly newspaper in the highest circulation division in the Florida Press Association's Better Weekly Newspaper Contest.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 12, 2012
City budget deficit now stands at $3.3 million

The city of Sarasota's budget deficit for fiscal year 2012-13 has been reduced from $5.9 million to $3.3 million, in part, because of an unexpected increase in property values.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Critics of the feral hog hunt wait anxiously for the Sarasota County Commission vote on the Southwest Florida Water District proposal.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 12, 2012
County Commission: The hunt is on for feral hogs

Thirty hunters will descend into Deer Creek Prairie Preserve two times over the next year to root out invasive feral hogs.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 12, 2012
Dent, Thaxton spar at Tiger Bay

The two candidates for Sarasota Supervisor of Elections traded barbs about transparency at the Tiger Bay-hosted luncheon.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Check your facts; Shame on Sarasota

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Dean Kalahar
  • July 12, 2012
My View: Pine View School: gifted or gilded?

The enrollment statistics for Sarasota gifted school are out of the norm. Are that many children really gifted?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
Cop Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Kristina Castner
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • July 12, 2012
Brides Across America outfits military brides with free wedding gowns

For couples with one or both members in the military, tying the knot can be an even more complicated and stressful process than usual.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This home at 701 Treasure Boat Way sold for $1.39 million. Photo by Alex Mahadevan.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 12, 2012
Three-bedroom home in Siesta's Bayside sells for $1.39 million

Two homes in Siesta's Bayside tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Felipa Anacta submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key Beach after Tropical Storm Debby.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Felipa Anacta submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key Beach after Tropical Storm Debby.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Gene Jaleski, pictured in 2009, previously held the District Five seat.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • July 12, 2012
Town seeks resumes for commission seat; Jaleski has interest

The town seeks resumes from citizens interested in the seat. Former Commissioner Gene Jaleski is the latest to express interest.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
Our View: 3 ideas for a city manager

And what would you say if the mayor of Sarasota called you and said, "I know we told you two weeks ago you weren't good enough for me and my four City Commission colleagues, but now we have changed our minds. We'd like to offer you the city manager job."?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Rod Thomson
  • July 12, 2012
My View: City sadly fiddles with registry

Talk about fiddling while Rome burns. The city of Sarasota is facing a series of crises threatening to escalate further.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 12, 2012
News Briefs

Downtown parking times disputed

  • Sarasota
  • News
Unit 1800 at Beau Ciel, 990 Blvd. of the Arts, sold for $5.6 million. File photo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 12, 2012
Four-bedroom Beau Ciel condo sells for $5.6 million

A condominium in Beau Ciel tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • July 12, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Colleen O'Bryant

Colleen O'Bryant, a Sarasota native, is relatively new to BMX, but she is already skilled on her bike.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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