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Your Observer

Six-year-old Sophia D’Orazio had fun celebrating her older sister Olivia’s eighth birthday.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 8, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Polo

East County residents celebrated Easter with a special end-of-the-season polo match April 8.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A large crowd came out for the Church of the Redeemer’s 16th Annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross walk, Friday, April 6, down Main Street.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 8, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: The 16th Annual Stations of the Cross walk

The Men's Ministry of Church of the Redeemer in conjunction with the Sarasota Ministerial Association sponsored the 16th Annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross walk, Friday, April 6.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alyssa Call, 15 months, had a blast gathering eggs at Harvest United Methodist Church.
  • By Michael Eng and Jen Blanco
  • April 8, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Easter

East County children enjoyed a plethora of Easter activities April 7 throughout the community. Harvest United Methodist Church, University Park Country Club and Lakewood Ranch Main Street all hosted Easter egg hunts Saturday, and pint-sized hunters responded in droves to fill their baskets in celebration.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Best friends Ella Bonner and Sophia Paterson, both 4, strategized before the start of the Easter Egg Hunt.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 7, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: University Park Country Club Easter Egg Hunt

Sixty-six children and their families celebrated Easter with an egg hunt, a visit from the Easter Bunny and a luncheon during University Park Country Club's Easter Egg Hunt April 7.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A rendering showed at Wednesday's meeting depicted the two-story building that was proposed for the site.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 6, 2012
Arts Center withdraws site-plan request

The Ringling College division withdrew its request after hearing concerns from the Longbeach Village Association.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 6, 2012
Pedestrian's husband seeks damages against town, other agencies

The notice sent to the town and other agencies describes the area on Gulf of Mexico Drive as poorly lit with no crosswalk available.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Join Jessica Luck for the Observer Daily Headlines. Image shown will not play video.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 6, 2012
April 6: 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
Lauren Boyle and Sue Abbott both work for Community Bank, which will become C1 Bank May 1.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 6, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Corporate Sponsor Showcase

Nearly 200 business professionals enjoyed an evening of networking during the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's Corporate Sponsor Showcase April 4 at the Polo Grill and Bar. Guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and drinks while mingling and perusing the booths of 32 Lakewood Ranch businesses.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota Police Department first achieved recognition as an accredited agency in 2002 and has maintained that status continually.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 6, 2012
Sarasota Police Department receives accreditation honors

The Sarasota Police Department was found to be in compliance on 149 of the 149 applicable mandatory standards measured by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Selby Public Library and the other eight Sarasota County libraries received top honors Thursday.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 6, 2012
Sarasota County libraries receive top honor

The Sarasota County Library System's nine libraries received the 2012 Library of the Year Award.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 6, 2012
Lido Shores home sells for $7.1 million

The transaction is the highest-priced Sarasota County sale recorded in 2012.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Faith Christian owes about $1 million on its property at 5215 Lorraine Road, Lakewood Ranch. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • April 6, 2012
Foreclosure closes Faith Christian Church

The Lakewood Ranch-based church will not be able to hold its Easter services this weekend.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Suzanne MacMichael, 5, Brennan Carmichael, 3, and Meghan MacMichael, 3
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 6, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Siesta Dunes egg hunt

Siesta Dunes held their second annual egg hunt, Thursday, April 5, out on the lawn by the pool and in the clubhouse. There were over 100 kids and 1,020 eggs.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • April 6, 2012
Thieves steal copper from Braden River Park

Manatee County Sheriff's Office investigators are searching for suspect(s) who stole copper wiring from Braden River Park.

  • East County
  • News
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines. Image shown will not play video.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • April 5, 2012
April 5: 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
Uriah Long, 17 months, enjoyed showing off his orange Easter egg.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 5, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Kiddie Academy Easter Egg Hunt

Preschool students enjoyed a special Easter celebration during Kiddie Academy's Easter Egg Hunt April 5. Students collected Easter eggs and enjoyed a special visit from the Easter Bunny.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
Obituary: William Varnell

William Varnell, of Longboat Key and Dade City, died March 22.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
Obituary: Lucia Ellis Uihlein

Lucia Ellis Uihlein, of Longboat Key and formerly of Lake Bluff, Ill.. died Feb. 29. She was 94.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
Obituary: Cornelia Van Hook Futor

Cornelia Van Hook Futor, of Sarasota, died March 28. She was 82.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT: Vince Vizzaccaro

Lakewood Ranch resident Vince Vizzaccaro recently released his first novel. Read more about him in this week's candid Q&A.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ringling Assistant Vice President/Director of Facilities Jeff Poleshek discusses plans with Village residents
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 5, 2012
Arts Center to submit application tomorrow

The Ringling College division seeks to amend its site plan to allow for a four-phase plan that would eventually result in a new, two-story building.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Professor of Anthropology Uzi Baram with students Evan Giomi and Rozalyn Crews
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
New College students win prize

New College students Rozalyn Crews and Evan Giomi won the top prizes in the 2012 Student Archaeology Grant contest, sponsored by the Time Sifters Archaeology Society.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
Neal brings tech to St. Martha School

Neal Communities recently contributed funds to purchase an ActivBoard, commonly referred to as a smart board, for Sister Marianne Baehr's fourth-grade class.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
ODA student wins contest

Out-of-Door Academy sixth-grader Hayley Wahl was an inspirational quotation winner of the Embracing Our Differences Contest exhibit on the bayfront in Sarasota.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
Mini donuts offer big treat

Hungry for a little sweet treat?

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
A real-estate parcel that sits between the Hyatt Regency, Sarasota and the G.WIZ Science Museum is considered the most expensive parcel the city owns.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 5, 2012
City mulls relocation of G.WIZ

The city is preparing to sell six of its 10 most prized vacant lots, which include a vacant lot on the Sarasota bayfront.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The benches were pulled out of the park last summer after residents and business owners complained they attracted transients and panhandlers who intimidated them and didn't allow them to stroll into nearby shops
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 5, 2012
Five Points benches will remain removed

Sarasota city commissioners agreed Monday that putting benches back in Selby Five Points Park will only recreate a problem that has disappeared.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Culverhouse Nature Park community garden organizer Catherine Dente took this picture just outside the park's fence. T Photo courtesy of Catherine Dente
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 5, 2012
Culverhouse park fence questioned

Stonebridge residents are upset with a chain-link fence that was placed around a community garden at the Culverhouse Nature Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 5, 2012
Downtown walking beat praised

The Police Department's Downtown Walking Beat Program encourages officers to work closely with downtown merchants and residents.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
News Briefs

Jebco plans apartments on Ringling Boulevard

  • Sarasota
  • News
A free valet service could use the garage that sits under the 100 Central condominium tower on First Street or other parking lots or garages downtown.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 5, 2012
Free downtown valet service proposed

A proposed free valet service for downtown residents and visitors that would run for three nights a week could cost DID taxpayers $10,000.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
April Fools' stories elicit community responses

The Sarasota Observer's April Fools' edition seemed to have resonated with many readers this year, based on the feedback we have received.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
My View: Sell every last parcel

At first, we thought it was another one of our April Fools' spoofs. The news report last week said Sarasota city commissioners instructed city staff to compile a list of the city's top 10 properties that could be sold to the private sector to raise cash.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Sue Jacobson is a Sarasota lawyer and regional president of the American Jewish Committee.
  • By Sue Jacobson
  • April 5, 2012
My View: It's not really about school prayer

The recent law approved by the Legislature and governor is frightening and, perhaps even more offensive, cynical. Either way, we cannot afford to let it stand.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Mogensen's response does not stand scrutiny; Laurel Park residents want to voice opinions

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 5, 2012
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
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