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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT: Gary Glass

Gary Glass is the new director of community associations and services for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall. Read more about him in our candid "five things."

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Jane Pauley interviews Gid Pool on 'Today'

After getting bumped multiple times, Jane Pauley's interview with retired real-estate agent Gid Pool at McCurdy's Comedy Theatre aired today.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Terry Lewis confirmed that city Utilities Director Javier Vargas resigned yesterday afternoon.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 31, 2012
City of Sarasota utilities director resigns

Interim city of Sarasota City Manager Terry Lewis said Utilities Director Javier Vargas resigned Wednesday over a difference of opinion on how the utilities department should be run.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Ringling Picnic packs its bags

Foodies who want to enjoy some curbside cuisine at Sarasota's Ringling Picnic Food Court only have one day left before the food trucks pack up and roll out for the summer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Congressman Vern Buchanan spoke candidly with Lakewood Ranch Medical Center CEO Jim Wilson and other hospital administrators during a meeting May 30.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 31, 2012
Buchanan makes inaugural visit to Lakewood Ranch hospital

On Wednesday, Congressman Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, met with administrators at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

  • East County
  • News
Richard Dorfman's top four priorities last time were pensions; job creation and North Trail redevelopment; police services and public safety; and creating more of a can-do environment
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 31, 2012
Dorfman files for commission seat

Sarasota city resident Richard Dorfman will run for one of the two at-large city commission seats that are up for grabs come March.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 31, 2012
City manager list down to eight

The eight city manager candidates presented to city commissioners Wednesday, May 30, include three Florida city managers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Marc Grimaud will have to find a balance between new and old as the new owner of Café Gabbiano, in Siesta Key Village.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 31, 2012
Cafe Gabbiano under new ownership

Marc Grimaud is done with the paperwork for his purchase of Cafe Gabbiano. Now, he's ready to immerse himself in the iconic Siesta Key restaurant.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Sheila and Mike Lewis stand under the towering wall of bicycles the couple rents out as owners of Siesta Sports Rentals.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 31, 2012
Key home to British transplants

Monetary volatility in Europe has businesses turning to American lenders for capital. If small business owners come next, Siesta Key could see an economic surge.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Craig Merrill is the pyrotechnician behind the explosions that will fill the Fourth of July night sky over Siesta Beach. He poses with Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce member Aimee Holmes. Courtesy of Craig Merrill.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 31, 2012
Craig Merrill: Demolition Dude

Craig Merrill works for Westlake Produce Co., in Winter Haven, during most of the year. But when the Fourth of July rolls around, he trades apples for ammunition as the pyrotechnician behind the Siesta Key Beach fireworks show.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Jon Thaxton will vacate his position in the Sarasota County Commission at the end of this term. He'll be working 60 hours a week and pondering his future until then. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 31, 2012
Jon Thaxton at bay for now

After 12 years representing District 5 on the Sarasota County Commission, Jon Thaxton carefully contemplates his next step.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
News Briefs

Prominent Siesta lot again for sale; County seeks vendors for crosswalk lighting; Crunch time for school storm prep

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Architect Gary Hoyt and developer Tom Mannausa plan to build an 18-story condominium tower on Main Street between Gulfstream and Palm avenues.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 31, 2012
Mannausa forms 'The Jewel' of Sarasota

Tom Mannausa plans to build an 18-story condominium tower that boasts views unlike any other building in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 31, 2012
Homes, town center coming to Palmer Ranch

Approximately 350 homes are coming to Palmer Ranch along with a new town center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Sarasota County Animal Services completed big task

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Denise Kowal is a New Urbanist, downtown stakeholder of one of Sarasota’s most visible historic buildings and graduate of the SmartCode.
  • By Denise Kowal
  • May 31, 2012
My View: We shall not abandon the plan

In adopting the Downtown Sarasota Master Plan in January 2001, the city of Sarasota embraced the responsibility for civic parking, after hosting over the course of several years an inclusive, informative and transparent process that gained consensus among our entire community for the plan.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
News Briefs

Three parking meters receive new home; County offers energy upgrade workshops

  • Sarasota
  • News
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
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