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Your Observer

    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 4, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Chad Rex

Lakewood Ranch freshman Chad Rex threw three touchdowns and rushed for another to help lead the East Manatee Bulldogs Red Panther team to a 32-0 victory over the Seminoles in its season opener March 24.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 4, 2012
Bowden to speak at annual Gulf Coast FCA banquet

Former Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden will be the featured guest speaker at the Gulf Coast Florida Fellowship of Christian Athletes Annual Spring Banquet April 16.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 4, 2012
Neighbors: Vince Vizzaccaro

After six years of writing, the Lakewood Ranch resident has released his first novel.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Neal Communities' Starlight at Woodbrook won six awards.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 4, 2012
BUSINESS OBSERVER

The Home Builders Association Manatee-Sarasota announced recently winners of the 2012 Parade of Homes, which ran Feb. 16 through March 4.

  • East County
  • News
This Country Club of Lakewood Ranch home, which has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,515 square feet of living area, sold for $619,000. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 4, 2012
Lakewood Ranch home tops weekly sales

A home in the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Vito Bavaro, Bradenton, sold his home at 6810 Dominion Lane to Thomas and Laura Stavola, Bradenton, for $619,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Barbara Birkenberger took this sunset photo in River Landings Bluff.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 4, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Barbara Birkenberger took this sunset photo in River Landings Bluff.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Old school Coca-Cola glasses outfitted with flowers and straws posed as centerpieces.
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • April 3, 2012
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe April Fools Luncheon

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe April Fools Luncheon

  • Black Tie
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines. Image shown will not play video.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 3, 2012
April 3: 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
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested Sarasota resident Jason Flores, 20, in connection with a string of vehicle burglaries that occurred Monday morning.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 3, 2012
Sheriff's Office charges Sarasota resident with burglary

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office charged a man with burglary after four cars within 200 feet of each other were broken into.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 3, 2012
Sarasota County health ranking reaches No. 3

Sarasota County ranked third out of 67 Florida counties in an annual health ranking.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 3, 2012
Wireless surveys due tomorrow

Wednesday, April 4 is the deadline to complete a wireless-communications survey that seeks input about Key-wide experiences.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dancers perform “Ideological Supervision”, choreographed by Melissa Lodhi.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 3, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: VPA Spring Dance Performance

Booker High School's VPA Dance program put on their Spring Dance Performance, Thursday, March 29, inside Booker High School Auditorium. The show ran Thursday, Friday and Saturday and included nine pieces, two of which were choreographed by VPA students.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
In his free time, Jim Wilson enjoys biking, cooking, cruising and watching the Philadelphia Eagles play.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 3, 2012
In the Public Eye: Jim Wilson

Jim Wilson has been the CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center since 2008.

  • East County
  • News
Patrick Neal and Lourdes Ramirez
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • April 3, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Control Growth Now Luncheon

Control Growth Now held its annual meeting and luncheon Saturday, March 31, during which, it honored Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations president Lourdes Ramirez as the Citizen of the Year. The meeting marked the 23rd anniversary of Control Growth Now, a civic organization dedicated to protecting and advancing Sarasota neighborhoods.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Howard Armbrust, Ruth Kreindler, Diana Armbrust and Richard O’Reilly
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • April 2, 2012
Starry Night Dinner Celebration

Starry Night Dinner Celebration

  • Black Tie
The building formerly occupied by Mattison's Steakhouse at the Plaza is located at 545 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 2, 2012
Commission approves Rooks property site plan

The commission approved a request from W. Howard Rooks to allow him to maintain the existing building formerly occupied by Mattison's.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Benches in Selby Five Points Park were removed last year.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2012
Benches not coming back to Selby Five Points Park

Sarasota city commissioners voted unanimously not to bring benches back to Selby Five Points Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Former Lakewood Ranch High pitcher Brett Hanewich has thrown a no-hitter this season and is committed to Stanford.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 2, 2012
IMG players win All-American honors

Seven IMG Academy students recently received Perfect Game Underclass All-American Honors, including three East County residents.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Sarasota Crew will compete in upcoming championships April 14 and April 15.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 2, 2012
Sarasota Crew rows to victory

The Sarasota Crew walked away with seven first-place finishes at the Sarasota Crew, Winter Park High and Lake Brantley High Tri-Meet March 31.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sylvia Babineau, Judy Reed and Muriel Boyle
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • April 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Bird Key Yacht Club Style Show ft. The Met

On Thursday, March 29 Bird Key Yacht Club's parking lot and dining room was full of around 170 people for the style show featuring fashions from The Met Fashion House Day Spa and Salon on St. Armands Circle. It was their largest turnout ever. The fashions featured in these photos can be purchased from The Met, 35 South Blvd of the Presidents.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • April 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Studio 20 Teas and Tutus

Sarasota Ballet's Studio 20 held a Teas and Tutu tea party for mothers and daughters Sunday April 1.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Pam Dupont and Jean Schexnaydre enjoyed listening to the Cajun Boogie Band
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • April 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: St. Martha's Crawfish Festival

A day filled with activities, games, rides, music and crawfish; St. Martha Catholic School's Cajun Crawfish Festival did not disappoint. With plenty to do kids got to have fun in the sign while the parents enjoyed their piles of crawfish.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Aundria Castleberry, Director of Development at All Faiths Food Bank, and Paul Mattison, Co-chair
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Jazz Brunch in the Park

All Faiths Food Bank Jazz Brunch in the Park was a big success, Sunday, April 1, out at Phillippi Estate Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Randi Donahue with Emma and Bri Oliva
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • April 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Walk for Wishes at Southgate Mall

Westfield Southgate Mall became a scavenger hunt course on Thursday March 29 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation's Walk For Wishes. Families started at Dillards and made their way to Saks Fifth Avenue stopping at a dozen activities along the way. In 2011, the Central and Northern Florida Chapter granted 17 wishes in the Sarasota region.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Denise Ring and Jenny Baker
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • April 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Firefighter Cook-Off

The 9th Annual Firefighter Rib Cook-Off took place over the weekend and even the rain couldn't put out the heat. Local celebrities judged the 12 Sarasota-Manatee county teams who used homemade BBQ sauce to make their ribs unique. All proceeds benefit the Sarasota Fire Fighters Benevolent Fund.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Siesta Key's No. 1 Beach sign was installed in January.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • April 2, 2012
Siesta Key's No. 1 Beach sign restored after vandalism

Some Siesta Key residents were worried the No. 1 beach sign was stolen, however, the sign had been vandalized a few weeks ago and sent for repairs.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • April 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Garden Club 75th Flower Show

Sarasota Garden Club has a lot to celebrate about. Not only is this year is their 85th birthday but this weekend they held their 75th annual flower show. Unlike their first show in 1931, which had no theme, this year's theme was Diamond Jubilee. The show was a combination of mid-century and modern floral designs. Neighboring garden club members entered as well, bringing the Sarasota-Manatee community closer. The Sarasota Garden Club supports community projects such as scholarships. The club promotes gardening, horticulture, teaching environmental and ecological conversation and the beautification of the community.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City commissioners meet at 2:30 p.m. today to discuss park benches and city owned-real estate parcels at City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2012
Commission to review park bench issue today

Sarasota city commissioners will decide at today's regular meeting whether to keep benches out of Selby Five Points Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The building formerly occupied by Mattison's Steakhouse at the Plaza is located at 545 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 2, 2012
Commission to discuss site plan for Rooks property

W. Howard Rooks is seeking approval of a site plan that would allow him to maintain the existing building formerly occupied by Mattison's.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Polo Grill and Bar’s Julia Schroeder presented the colors atop a Clydesdale.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • April 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Robert A. Uihlein Jr. Memorial Cup

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch presented the Robert A. Uihlein Jr. 14-goal Memorial Finals April 1, at the Sarasota Polo Club. Attendees enjoyed an afternoon of polo action and the "Underwater Adventure" tailgating contest, sponsored by the American Red Cross.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Harry and Helga Williamson with Val and Angela Dolorico and Sandy Lenhart and Faith Griffin
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 1, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: The Mighty Masquerade

The Siesta Key Kiwanis Club held their annual Tropical Nights fundraiser incognito this past Saturday, March 31, at Michael's on East.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
JJ Weatherbie, 3 ½, makes bubbles while his father, Jonas, mother, Brittany, and brother, Braxton, 2 ½, look on, Saturday, March 31, at the Face Autism Egg Hunt at Ashton Elementary.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 1, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Face Autism Egg Hunt

Face Autism sponsored an Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 31, at Ashton Elementary.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Felicity Lui, 4, reaches for an egg on the bookshelf.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 1, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Treasure Hunt at GGL

Gulf Gate Library held their 2nd annual Treasure Hunt for kids ages 2 - 13, Saturday, March 31.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Danny Perrone, 17, counts by fives as the cast runs to find a hiding spot during “Ready Or Not, Here I Come”.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 1, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: CMHS presents Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Cardinal Mooney High School had a lot of fun performing 'Schoolhouse Rock Live!' this past weekend. Some of the most memorable songs include 'Three is a Magic Number', 'Just a Bill', 'Conjunction Junction' and 'Elbow Room'.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Brenda Maraman, Jane Imperiale, Joey and Kathy Cinque and David Maraman thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 1, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Hounds and Gowns Gala

East County residents showed their support for local rescue dogs during the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch's Hounds and Gowns Gala March 31 at the Lake Club Guests enjoyed dinner and drinks, a live auction, raffle drawings, aerial artist performances and more. Proceeds from the event will go towards the purchase of a new shelter.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Michelle Adams, Randi Donahue, Meredith Piazza and Co-Chairwoman Kristiana Serbin
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • March 31, 2012
Orchid Ball

Orchid Ball

  • Black Tie
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