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Your Observer

Sally Reeder, Wendy Fitton, Nancy Levine and Tony Vasile
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 26, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Fourth Annual Just Desserts Benefits

Family Promise of Sarasota held a delicious event on Friday March 23 at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The organization's fourth annual "Just Desserts" was a hit. Guests enjoyed desserts such as cupcakes, brownies and cakes while being entertained by local performers Sam Garvin and Bonnie Gray. A panel of judges awarded a honey-bell orange cake from Florribbean Flo's as the winner. The peanut butter brownies from Jim's Small Batch Bakery took home second place while third place was a tie. A key lime pie from MacAllisters, a bête noir flourless chocolate cake from Madfish Grill and a carrot cake from Jim's Small Batch Bakery shared the honors of third place.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Publix will rebuild its existing Longboat Key store and replace it with a new, 49,533-square-foot store.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 26, 2012
Publix buys properties for $2.35 million

Sales of two parcels adjacent to the existing Avenue of the Flowers store closed last week for a combined $2.35 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sharon and Frank Santo pose with their grandchildren Sami, 17 mos., and Evan, 4, Friday, March 23, at St. Michael the Archangel's Lent dinner.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • March 26, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Lent dinner at St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel was a busy place, Friday, March 23, during their weekly Lent dinner.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The commission meets at 9 a.m. both Tuesday, March 27 and Wednesday, March 28 for regular meetings in the Sarasota County Administration Center, Commission Chamber, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 26, 2012
County holds three meetings this week

Commissioners will also hold a workshop 9 a.m. Thursday, March 29 on the third floor Think Tank room in the administration center to discuss the regulation of alcoholic beverages at county beaches and parks.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jim Brown was sworn in as mayor at last year's statutory meeting by outgoing Mayor George Spoll.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 26, 2012
Commission to pick mayor tonight

The Longboat Key Town Commission will select its mayor and vice mayor for the following year at tonight's statutory meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
One of Moore's keys to success in the kitchen includes his cooking utensils that he bought online from a local company called Cappojim's.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • March 26, 2012
IN THE KITCHEN WITH: James Moore

James Moore was born and raised in Sarasota and now lives on Siesta Key. Moore works as the internet marketing director at Webtivity, but in his spare time he enjoys getting creative in the kitchen.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Chris Powers held up a sign, Friday, March 23, from a rally that happened earlier in the day by the Kissing Statue on 41.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • March 26, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Religious Freedom Rally

Conservatives from Sarasota and Manatee counties held a Religious Freedom Rally with over 1,000 people in attendance out along 41 by the Kissing Statue, Friday, March 23. The people in attendance were protesting the government and the recent controversy going on between religious groups and health care reform.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jeanne Auten, Martin Martel and Bonny Heet
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • March 25, 2012
Maestro Victor DeRenzi's 30th Anniversary Gala

Maestro Victor DeRenzi's 30th Anniversary Gala

  • Black Tie
This year's cast features 18 students.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • March 25, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Lakewood Ranch 'Anything Goes'

Lakewood Ranch High School drama students will present "Anything Goes" this weekend at the high school auditorium. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m., March 29 to 31, with a matinee at 2 p.m. March 31. Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per student or child. For more information, call the box office, 727-6100, Ext. 2189.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Manatee County Independent performed a variety of music at the car wash.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • March 25, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Manatee County Independent Car Wash

Musicians in the Manatee County Independent percussion group used their hands not only to perform on their instruments to but also to clean East County cars during the group's car wash fundraiser March 24, at Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Attendees enjoyed plenty of fast action.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • March 25, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Polo Under the Palms

Supporters of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center enjoyed a day of fun and fundraising during the annual Polo Under the Palms event March 24. The day began with the Making Cancer History Seminar, at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Attendees then headed to the Sarasota Polo Club for an afternoon of action followed by an evening of dinner, music and dancing under the stars.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Joseph Patrick Arnegger, Ashley Hilton, Wayne and Mindy Rollins and George Cappello
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • March 24, 2012
The Firefly Gala

The Firefly Gala

  • Black Tie
Chris and Nancy Adamo
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • March 24, 2012
Cat'sino Catsablanca Gala

Cat'sino Catsablanca Gala

  • Black Tie
Steve Rizzo and David Dudley
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • March 24, 2012
'An Evening at the Avant-Garde'

'An Evening at the Avant-Garde'

  • Black Tie
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines. Image shown will not play video.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • March 23, 2012
March 22: 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
  • By Kurt Schultheis
  • March 23, 2012
Drunken driver injures Siesta Key pedestrian

A Sarasota woman was arrested after she was driving under the influence and struck a car and a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk along Beach Road.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Karin Billings "Provence"
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 23, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Manatee Arts Center visits Sarasota Arts Center

Art Center Sarasota welcomed the Sarasota community Thursday, March 22, to its Annual Members show. There were more than 300 works of art on display made by local artists. The pieces ranged in style from oil paintings to photography and sculpture and mixed media work. First-place winner was watercolor "Double Stuff" by Esther Garfinkel. Second place was awarded to "Twinkle Toes Train Cheetah and Tootsie," followed by "Always Smiling" by Sharon Guy in third. The exhibit was coordinated by Ringling College of Art and Design alumni Emma Thurgood and was received well by guests.

  • Arts + Culture
America’s 50 Best Hospitals rank among the top 1% of the nation’s 5,000-plus hospitals for consistent clinical excellence in HealthGrades annual studies.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 23, 2012
Sarasota memorial receives top marks again

A HealthGrades ranking system has put Sarasota Memorial at the top of its list of hospitals that have consistent clinical excellence in its annual studies.

  • Sarasota
  • News
CodeRED issues an automated phone call to alert registered property owners and occupants in the event of an incident that could impact their daily activities
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 23, 2012
Sarasota County encourages CodeRED program

CodeRED issues an automated phone call to alert registered property owners and occupants in the event of an incident that could impact their daily activities.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Twin brothers Heinz and Sepp Diepolder set the mood with traditional German songs.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • March 23, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Horizons West Bavarian Night

Nearly 80 guests broke out their beer steins and lederhosen at the fourth annual Horizons West Bavarian Night. Host Doug Barnett fell in love with the traditional food and music during his military service in Austria and was inspired to start the popular annual event. Guests enjoyed sausage and sauerkraut and traditional music by Heinz and Zepp Diepolder.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Willy Wonka, played by Joseph Robert "Robbie" Polidoro, tells his oompaloompas about his vision for the future.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 23, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: ODA presents 'Willy Wonka'

Students at The Out-of-Door Academy brought the story of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory to life with performances of "Willy Wonka an the Chocolate Factory" March 22, at the school's Black Box Theatre. Shows continue nightly at 7 p.m., through March 24.

  • Arts + Culture
Jamie Phillips, Christy Cardillo, Kim Dalglish and Tim Gruters, of Shinn & Co., dished out food for guests.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 23, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: MEDC Hob Nob

Inclement weather didn't keep local business professionals from gathering March 22, at the Sarasota Polo Club, for the Manatee Economic Development Corp.'s 24th annual Hob Nob Bar-B-Que.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
John and Suzanne Anderson with John and Denise Saputo
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • March 22, 2012
YMCA Foundation of Sarasota VIP Dinner 'Fete New Orleans'

YMCA Foundation of Sarasota VIP Dinner 'Fete New Orleans'

  • Black Tie
Elaine Appel, Betty Weinstein and Loi Stuhlberg
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • March 22, 2012
Women's Passover Celebration

Women's Passover Celebration

  • Black Tie
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines. Image shown will not play video.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • March 22, 2012
March 22: 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
A water main break has interrupted service for about 700 residential units in the area of Seaside Drive off Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • March 22, 2012
Water main break interrupts service for 700 residents

Sarasota County Utilities have issued a boil water advisory for some Siesta Key residents.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 22, 2012
FHP to target aggressive driving

A targeted enforcement campaign against aggressive driving will be held from March 30 through April 4.

  • East County
  • News
Photo by Norman Schimmel
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 22, 2012
More than 150 readers recognized

More than 150 Sarasota County youngsters won tickets to see the Baltimore Orioles take on the Pittsburgh Pirates March 14, at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Patricia Riley, Louise Werbelow, Lucy Black, Barbara Schaal, Marie Borsellino, Sharon Chambers and Alex Quarles. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 22, 2012
The Meadows raises funds

The women of The Meadows Country Club's golf, tennis and fitness communities recently raised nearly $11,000 to assist uninsured and underinsured patients at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System's Breast Health Center.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 22, 2012
Bikers raise funds for guide dogs

The Knights of the Eagle chapter of the International Widows Sons Masonic Riders motorcycle group recently raised $7,500 for the Southeastern Guide Dogs' Paws for Patriots program by selling raffle tickets for a customized golf cart.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Robert Peterson died March 15. He was 88.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • March 22, 2012
Robert Peterson changed shape of local organizations

Sarasota philanthropist, visionary and renaissance man J. Robert Peterson died March 15, due to complications from vascular surgery. He was 88.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 22, 2012
Group receives city manager input

A Citizens Advisory Panel met last week to help formulate a job advertisement brochure to find the next city manager.

  • Sarasota
  • News
To provide a better look at drunken driving incidents in the county, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department has provided an overview of all DUI-related charges in Sarasota County and in Siesta Key from September to March 11.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • March 22, 2012
County DUI incidents revealed

Between September and March, Sarasota County averaged 10 DUI incidents per month.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Although overall crime increased by a little more than 5% between 2010 and 2011, the report notes that crime remains relatively low in Sarasota, and that even a modest increase in the number of crimes can raise the percentage in a disproportionate way.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • March 22, 2012
Sheriff's Office releases 2011 crime report

Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight reflects on the accomplishments of the last year and looks for focus areas in the months to come.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Last week, the planning board chose not to recommend plans to designate The Sarasota Kennel Club as the only potential site for a future casino.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 22, 2012
Casino gambling change not recommended

The city's Planning Board doesn't feel it's appropriate to roll the dice and bet that a future casino could be earmarked for Sarasota until the Legislature approves casinos statewide.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Large portions of the north end of Beach Road are eroding and falling onto the beach. Approximately half of the original road remains. Nick Friedman
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • March 22, 2012
Road deterioration threatens access

Eroded asphalt along the northern portion of Beach Road concerns residents.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
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