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Your Observer

John Velasquez, 58, is charged with bank robbery and is currently being held in jail without bond.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • June 27, 2012
Bank robber stopped within two hours of crime

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office caught John Velasquez, 58, within two hours after he committed a bank robbery.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 27, 2012
Upper Manatee River Road reopened

Upper Manatee River Road west of Rye Road was reopened this morning.

  • East County
  • News
Commissioner Joe Barbetta cracks a smile after Commissioner Jon Thaxton identifies non-native plants in renderings of the new Gulf Gate Library.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 27, 2012
Gulf Gate gets go ahead

Sarasota County commissioners yesterday voted unanimously to support the continuation of the Gulf Gate Library project after seeing initial renderings.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2012
Welfonder secures book contract

Longboat Key resident and USA Today bestselling author Sue-Ellen Welfonder signed a new four-book contract with Grand Central Publishing/GCP (former Time Warner Books).

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Charlie, the Weimaraner, Photo courtesy of Mary Lou Johnson.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2012
Dog finds a nice home

On Memorial Day weekend, Bill and Mary Lou Johnson's daughter and son-in-law fell in love - with a dog.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2012
Eagle Scout thanks former troop

John Miles Getker has a message for his friends "back home."

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2012
Appointee heads to military academy

East County youth Richard Wheeler, 19, is fulfilling his dream of attending a U.S. military academy.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Longbeach Village neighborhood saw flooding in the streets beginning Sunday. Photos by Mallory Gnaegy.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 27, 2012
Debby Downer: Tropical Storm Debby strikes Longboat Key

Tropical Storm Debby was an unwelcome guest but appears to have spared the Key major damages.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Town Manager David Bullock said that the current pension plan is unsustainable when presenting his proposal to firefighters last month.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 27, 2012
Firefighters contribute pension proposal

Firefighters say they're willing to accept changes that could reduce their pension benefits but will reject any 401(a) plan.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2012
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Although the Town Commission voted 6-0 to adopt an overlay district in the Whitney Beach area, developers can choose not to use the overlay. File photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 27, 2012
Overlay passes; discussion not finished

The commission must pass an ordinance to the town's zoning code to implement the change. Developers will have to go through the outline-development plan and site-plan processes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 27, 2012
Cellular discussion eats up minutes

The commission was hesitant to devote 20 minutes to a wireless discussion but got that and more - 43 minutes' worth.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 27, 2012
Bullock to enter into three-year contract

Changes to the town manager's current contract not only extend its length but increase the severance provision. from 30 days' to 20 weeks' salary if terminated without cause.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ashley Abrams, Sammy Zelitt and Sadie Gomez
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • June 27, 2012
Camp Spotlight: Florida Studio Theatre Summer Camp (+ VIDEO)

Today is Tuesday, June 26, and it's Meatball Day at Florida Studio Theatre. Every camper in sight is wearing a sticker that reads, "Happy Meatball Day," along with a photograph of an adorable white-haired woman who just happens to be related to FST's director of education, Beth Duda.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Photos by Robin Hartill
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2012
News Briefs

Ron Thornton named team member of the year; Police respond to three-vehicle crash

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Tropical Storm Debby prevented construction work on the new Publix, Monday.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 27, 2012
Key store tops other Publix locations

Publix has never held a topping-off party; Longboaters seldom meet a milestone that isn't topped off with a party.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 27, 2012
Cumming likely choice for long-term police chief

For now, the town isn't looking anywhere beyond Acting Police Chief Pete Cumming for the permanent top-cop position.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2012
Our View: 'Education is a shambles'

It doesn't matter how much Florida Gov. Rick Scott sticks to his election campaign promises - making Florida the top state for business in America; accountability at every level of state government; lower taxes; lower cost of government; fewer regulations that irrationally inhibit economic growth.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lisa McLeod captured this early-morning sunrise in Myakka City.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Lisa McLeod captured this early-morning sunrise in Myakka City.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Roger Byron provides assistance to amateur radio operators who had never participated in a field day.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 27, 2012
Radio operators 'ham' it up for disaster preparedness

In disaster recovery efforts, ham radio operators can provide a vital link between local governments, emergency agencies and others.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 27, 2012
County closes Tara Bridge land dispute

Commissioners say the property they were required to purchase as part of the deal for the bridge property could become a park.

  • East County
  • News
"It's better late than never," said veteran opera performer Frank Maggese, left, with Kelsey Yantzer, of participating in the program. "I want to get it right — get the nuances down and add the acting to the singing. It is a total art form."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 27, 2012
OASIS launches program for young performers

Opera for Animals: Singing is Saving founders Randolph Locke and Carol Sparrow hosted the premiere of the OASIS Young Artist Program.

  • East County
  • News
LECOM student and Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Morgan Pyne, left, used a cheerleading hold to lift Valerie Edgren, center, with Savannah Crull, as LECOM’s Dr. Anthony Ferretti explained how variations affected its use.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 27, 2012
Program offers glimpse of med school

High School students from throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties 'scrubbed in' during Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton's Medical Science Camp.

  • East County
  • News
Katelyn Glover, Liberty Hobbs and Amanda Robbins, as well as Kelsey Hallbeck and Savanna Wright, not pictured, hope to perform the comedy they wrote for a larger audience.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 27, 2012
Ranch teens seek center stage

A team of students from Lakewood Ranch High School hopes to perform a play they wrote at venues throughout the East County this summer.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 27, 2012
Tidewell opens inpatient hospice

The Tidewell Care Center at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is the area's first inpatient hospice unit located within a hospital.

  • East County
  • News
Tammy Halsted takes a break at the Touch Corporation office on St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • June 27, 2012
Neighbors: Tammy Halsted

Tammy Halsted has moved 34 times but says this area feels like home.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Founder of Elite Family Care, Debra Fortosis, takes a break from arranging nanny and sitter services.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • June 27, 2012
2012 Small Business Awards Rookie Winner: Elite Family Care

Elite Family Care, founded by Debra Fortosis, provides nanny and babysitter services to local and visiting families.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mike and Sheila Lewis, of Siesta Sports Rentals, will rent what you need to have fun on the beach.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • June 27, 2012
2012 Small Business Awards 10 employees or fewer nominee: Siesta Sports Rentals

Mike and Sheila Lewis, owners of Siesta Sports Rentals, bought the equipment rental store in '95 from the British couple who started it.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mallory Gnaegy Owner of Sunglass Express, Yvonne Schloss, has been “seeing” customers for 19 years.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • June 27, 2012
2012 Small Business Awards 10 employees or fewer nominee: Sunglass Express Optical

Sunglass Express Optical has been in the same location on St. Armands Circle since owner Yvonne Schloss opened it in 1993.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Aidan Dowdy plays lacrosse for The Out-of-Door Academy.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 27, 2012
Lacrosse Camp: Fun with Fundamentals

Seventy East County youth participated in the LB3 Lacrosse Camp June 18 to 21, at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
Julie Fazio, pictured with her 12-year-old twin daughters, Sarah and Emma, will run in the New York City Marathon for Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy in honor of her son, Frankie.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 27, 2012
Mom races in son's memory

Julie Fazio will run the New York City Marathon for Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy in honor of her son, Frankie, who died from the disease when he was 9 days old.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 27, 2012
Comment: Who is the legitimate 6A champ?

The news began circulating for the first time seven months ago.

  • East County
  • Sports
Teachers, instructional leaders and administrators from Willis and Gene Witt elementary schools took time off from their summer vacation earlier this month for a voluntary weeklong Quantum Learning workshop.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 27, 2012
News Briefs

IDA approves plans for maintenance facility; Workshop educates about impaired driving; Manatee Schools earn recycling honors; SCF doles out summer-camp offerings

  • East County
  • News
My sister, Liz McTeer, 18 in this photo, and I loved going to the Clawson parade each year with our family. Detroit Free Press.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 27, 2012
Observed: Happy birthday, America!

My mom still has the newspaper clipping.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Julie Aranibar
  • June 27, 2012
My view: Preparing for a new school year

The students left for summer and classrooms were cleaned and prepared for the incoming class of 2012-2013. Â

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • June 27, 2012
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
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Pianist Michael Stephen Brown will replace Robert Levin as a faculty member at the Sarasota Music Festival and will perform on June 6 at Holley Hall.
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