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Your Observer

Sara Green, 6, Claire Maag, 6, and Aston Harris, 7, hold one of Winter's tails, Friday, Jan. 20, at Out-of-Door Academy.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • January 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Dan Strzempka talks at ODA

Dan Strzempka, the man behind the prosthetic tail for Winter the dolphin, talked to the students at Out-of-Door Academy, Friday, Jan. 20.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Emil Halloy
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Big Ten Alumni Luncheon

Alumnus from Big Ten schools gathered to show their school spirit while enjoying food and cocktails. Ron Mason, former head hockey coach and athletic director at Michigan State University, was the speaker. Mason is also the winningest hockey coach in college hockey history.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
John Pyle and Bill Robinson
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: New Balance Ringling Bridge Run

Nearly 3,000 men, women and children attended the ninth annual New Balance Ringling Bridge Run Saturday, Jan. 21. The four-mile course took runners and walkers over the scenic John Ringling Bridge twice and benefited the Sarasota YMCA's healthy families programs. 38-year-old Andrew Letherby was the male overall winner with a time of 20 minutes and 50 seconds. 16-year old Olivia Ortiz, of Bradenton, was the female overall winner with a time of 22 minutes and 40 seconds.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Fifth-graders Dylan Simmons and Anthony Jedrzejewski couldn’t wait to wash the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office vehicle that came through.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Tara Elementary Student Council Car Wash

Twenty fourth-and fifth-graders at Tara Elementary School spent the afternoon making cars sparkle during the school's Student Council Car Wash Jan. 21. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Humane Society.

  • East County
  • Schools
Barbara Banstra and Doris Van Nostrand of Bahia Oaks Lodge.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • January 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Civic Beautification Awards

The Sarasota Garden Club honored a variety of business, organizations and associations for their landscaping, Friday, Jan, 20.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sydney Deal, Matthew Robertson and Treyvon Thomas perform "Words, Words, Words", Thursday, Jan. 19, during Booker High Magnet Night for Visual and Performing Arts.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • January 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Booker High Magnet VPA Night

Students and teachers of Booker High's Visual Performing Arts program held an informational evening for prospective students, Thursday, Jan. 19, at Booker High School.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Police were on scene late this morning of a vehicle crash in the 2600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 22, 2012
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Key car crash

Police were on scene late this morning of a vehicle crash in the 2600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Aimee Cogan
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 21, 2012
Starry Night Dinner, highlighting 'Yentl'

Starry Night Dinner, highlighting 'Yentl'

  • Black Tie
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 21, 2012
Red Hot Event

Red Hot Event

  • Black Tie
Aimee Cogan
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 20, 2012
Women and Medicine Luncheon

Women and Medicine Luncheon

  • Black Tie
Natasha Antoniuk, 3, gets ready to eat a bite of fish.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • January 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Fish Fry Friday at St. Boniface

People enjoyed St. Boniface's Fish Fry from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20, at the Boniface Community Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
File photo.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 20, 2012
AirTran pulls out of SRQ

Effective in August, AirTran, a Southwest-owned company will cease operations in SRQ.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 20, 2012
JAN. 20: 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
John and Sonja Ellis
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Sea Place Welcome Back Party

Sea Place hosted a welcome back party for its owners on Wednesday, Jan. 18. They enjoyed dinner, dancing and each other's company. The Sisters Act performed live music for the event.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
According to Sarasota Police Capt. Paul Sutton, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a construction worker discovered the suspect ransacking a home in the 300 block of North Washington Drive.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 20, 2012
Wet-suit burglar on St. Armands eludes police

Police searched the area this morning for a burglar who possibly swum away from authorities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Joan Bergemann, Christine Blyden and Susie Seashore
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Save Our Seabirds at Harry's Continental Kitchens

It was a balancing act among plates of Harry's Continental Kitchens food, wine glasses and umbrellas for patrons attending the wine tasting fundraiser for Save Our Seabirds on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Though it might have rained on their parade, there was still a great turnout; $500 was raised for the bird rescue center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bob and Ellie Webber
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Historical Society speaker Bill Shaver

The Historical Society of Longboat Key kicked off their speaker series on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design. Bill Shaver, President of the Fossil Club of Lee County gave the lecture. He spoke about fossils of Florida, specifically bones and teeth, which are his specialty. He believes there is an alignment between paleontologists and historical societies, 'Both find are relics of the past to preserve, record and pass on to future generations,' he says.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bill Shaver holds a mammoth tooth
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Historical Society speaker Bill Shaver

The Historical Society of Longboat Key kicked off their speaker series on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design. Bill Shaver, President of the Fossil Club of Lee County gave the lecture. He spoke about fossils of Florida, specifically bones and teeth, which are his specialty. He believes there is an alignment between paleontologists and historical societies, 'Both find are relics of the past to preserve, record and pass on to future generations,' he says.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Residents in about 100 homes were to have been notified by the end of the day Friday, Jan. 20. Those residents are on Goodwater Street, Blue Water Avenue, Bowline Drive, Prairie Lane and Markridge Road.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 20, 2012
Gulf Gate Estates residents advised about water project

A Sarasota County map shows the streets in Gulf Gate Estates where a boil-water advisory will go into effect Jan. 24

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 20, 2012
Man arrested for child pornography

Detectives have arrested 50-year-old Richard Chaikin, of Sarasota, on charges of child pornography.

  • East County
  • News
For more information, check www.yourobserver.com and pick up a copy of Thursday's Jan. 26
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 20, 2012
BREAKING NEWS: Lewis accepts contract as interim city manager

The Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved hiring Terry Lewis as its interim city manager at a special commission meeting this morning. Lewis' last day as the Interim Sarasota County Sarasota Administrator is today.

  • Sarasota
  • News
David Bullock is Longboat Key town manager.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 20, 2012
Commission to take two-step approach to code issues

The Longboat Key Town Commission reached consensus to move forward with a review of planned-use development issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Louisville Metro Police say the brothers are suspects in the stabbing death of a 23-year-old man in a McDonald’s parking lot Jan. 15.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 20, 2012
Deputies arrest fugitives wanted for murder

U.S. Marshals Service and the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office worked together to arrest two men wanted for murder in Louisville Kentucky.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 20, 2012
Woman robbed at East County Walgreens

The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 20, 2012
Bradenton Gladiators set to kick off 2012 season

The Bradenton Gladiators will kick of their 2012 season in the Florida Football Alliance Jan. 21 versus the Orlando Phantoms.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 20, 2012
Pirates shoot past Seminoles

The Braden River High boys basketball team defeated Southeast 66-56 Jan. 17

  • East County
  • Sports
Terri Baker and Barbara Harrison discuss a painting of a seashore.
    By
  • Katie Hendrick
  • January 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Highway Men Gallery Opening

The Longboat Key Center for the Arts' Highway Men exhibit opened Friday, Jan. 18. The exhibit, which runs through March 1, features 50 paintings from the collection of Larry Helmuth.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Terri Baker and Barbara Harrison discuss a painting of a seashore.
    By
  • Katie Hendrick
  • January 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Highway Men Gallery Opening

The Longboat Key Center for the Arts opened an exhibit of Highway Men paintings Friday, Jan. 18. The exhibit features 50 paintings from the collection of Larry Helmuth and will be on display through March 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Members of the U.S. Soccer Under-23 Women's National Team work on defensive drills during a training camp practice Jan. 19 at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 19, 2012
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Training Camp

The U.S. Soccer Under-23 Women's National Team has spent the week training at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch. The team will continue training through Jan. 21.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River's Jessica Ogline goes up for a shot during the Lady Pirates victory over Lakewood Ranch Jan. 19.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 19, 2012
Lady Pirates notch first-ever win over Lady Mustangs

The Braden River High girls basketball team defeated Lakewood Ranch 48-32 Jan. 19, marking the first time in school history the team had beaten its East County rivals.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 19, 2012
County introduces new budget tool

A new county budget tool will allow county staff to manipulate the general fund numbers during budget workshops that begin next month.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 19, 2012
JAN. 19: 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
William Hall holds up his second fish
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 19, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Yacht Club Minnows

It's ten in the morning on a Sunday, and instead of sitting inside watching cartoons on T.V., the Sarasota Yacht Club Minnows hit the docks. The new club met for its first time on Sunday, Jan. 13, but will meet on a monthly basis because it seems most of the kids are hooked. Yacht Club employees Amanda Holm and Camille Bienvenue led the children's fishing group. They fished off of the dock, catching their fish using live shrimp as bait and releasing it shortly after.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Matt Gower and Heather Kasten, of the Sarasota Chamber, with Troy Larkin, of Tri County Air Conditioning & Heating
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 19, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Prime Time

Business professionals gathered Jan. 18, at the Cancer Support Community in Lakewood Ranch, for The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's Sarasota Prime Time event.

  • East County
  • News
Architect Lisa Wannemacher presented a prospectus plan for Bayfront Park Recreation Center.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 19, 2012
Residents talk Bayfront Park community center plans

Key voters could have their say on a community center as early as November.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Some neighbors and downtown residents have urged for the removal of the mural and Gerber agreed to do so last month, but the mural still sits on his Tube Dudes plant building at the corner of 10th Street and Central Street.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 19, 2012
Mural controversy continues

The 'Fast Life' mural that many believe imitates gang signs will not be removed anytime soon.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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