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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2012
JUST THE STATS

6,7,10 - Sally Jaret picked up a 6,7,10 split Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the Bird Key Yacht Club bowling league.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Brian Gunnell
  • January 11, 2012
Bridge Bites: Too Easy

This week's Declarer got to a great slam, but he forgot to make his contract. It was just too easy.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Fred Beyerlein submitted this sunset photo, taken near Spanish Main Yacht Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Fred Beyerlein submitted this sunset photo, taken near Spanish Main Yacht Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Fred Beyerlein submitted this sunset photo, taken near Spanish Main Yacht Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Fred Beyerlein submitted this sunset photo, taken near Spanish Main Yacht Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
"Damn the torpedoes — I’m reading The Observer," says Barb Smith.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2012
Enthusiastic reader takes Observer on tour of Europe

Ordinarily, we are thrilled whenever we receive an It's Read Everywhere submission from one of our readers. We're always amazed where you take our little paper -- and your creativity in composing the photograph.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
"When (opera is) done right, it touches a part of your soul you didn’t know was there — just like animals do, actually," said opera singer Randy Locke, right, pictured with his wife, Carol Sparrow, and their cat, Boca.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 11, 2012
OASIS celebrates 10 years of saving animals

Mote Ranch residents and opera singers Randy Locke and Carol Sparrow will host TENors, Tabbies and Terriers Sunday at Sarasota Yacht Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This Cypress Creek Estates home, which has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths, a pool and 5,108 square feet of living area, sold for $875,000. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 11, 2012
Cypress Creek home sells for $875,000

A home in Cypress Creek Estates tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2012
BUSINESS OBSERVER

Ranch's Neal receives BUILDER magazine honors; West Florida Taylor Morrison adds to staff; Manatee Chamber, EDC reorganize as new entity

  • East County
  • News
East County resident Robert Francisco shot this sunset photo last September on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

East County resident Robert Francisco shot this sunset photo last September on Siesta Key.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Gisele and Isaac Azerad
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 10, 2012
AFMDA event featuring Frida Ghitis

AFMDA event featuring Frida Ghitis

  • Black Tie
Andrea Bailey and Christa Folkers
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 10, 2012
On Pointe Luncheon

On Pointe Luncheon

  • Black Tie
The event will be held from 5-7:30 p.m., at the Polo Grill and Bar's Fete Ballroom, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 10, 2012
Private School Fair tonight

The Private School Fair will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. tonight, in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Ina Gross' cause of death has not yet been released. Warren said no suspect is being named, as friends, family and neighbors continue to be interviewed.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 10, 2012
Sheriff's Office rules death a homicide

After an autopsy, the death of 78-year-old Ina Gross, of Lakewood Ranch, has been ruled a murder.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • January 10, 2012
Obituary: Leo L. Tonner

Leo L. Tonner of Longboat Key, formerly of New Jersey died Jan. 7. He was 84.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Gov. Rick Scott at 11 a.m. today will give his State of the State address.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 10, 2012
Florida Legislature starts session

The Florida House of Representatives began its first 60-day session of 2012 today.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 10, 2012
Scores: Mustangs tie Tigers

The Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team tied Palmetto 0-0 Jan. 9.

  • East County
  • Sports
Of homes sold in the community in 2011, 56% were new homes and 44% were resales.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 10, 2012
Lakewood Ranch doubles home sales

LWR Communities reported it saw a 70% increase in new home sales in 2011 compared to the prior year.

  • East County
  • News
Mexican Egg Torta
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 10, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Christ Church Men's Club

It's no wonder the Men's Club of Christ Church was diving into seconds (and even thirds) of Italian frittata, Spanish Floating Eggs, Mexican Egg Torte and Quebec Blueberry Crepes. The first part of their meeting on Monday, Jan. 9 was a cooking lesson from Wiley Osborn. A breakfast of the foods they made followed, along with a lecture on the early geologic reconnaissance in Libya by Geologist Weldon Frost.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Regular hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 10, 2012
New annual, daily and seasonal rates have been announced for the Lido Pool

The heated Lido Pool is owned and operated by the city of Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Images taken from the scene of the crime.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 10, 2012
White male robs 7-11 on Beneva Road

On Monday, at about 10:37 p.m., a white male, 30-40 years old, approximately 6 feet tall and 170 pounds, entered the 7-11 store on 2745 Beneva Road. The suspect demanded money from the register, implying that he had a weapon.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Blake C. Talman has been in the Sarasota County Jail since just before 7 p.m. Jan. 7, approximately six hours after the incident was reported on Midnight Pass Road.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 9, 2012
Arraignment set Feb. 3 for driver in fatal accident

A 22-year-old Bradenton man will be arraigned Feb. 3 in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Sarasota in connection with the Jan. 7 death of a Siesta Key runner.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Voter registration forms are available at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, as well as locations throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 9, 2012
Deadline Feb. 21 to register to vote for town election

The deadline to register to vote in the town's March 20 general election is Feb. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Combs has been charged with two counts of Crimes Against Persons for Committing Specific Felony Acts that Cause Death, and is being held without bond.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 9, 2012
Deputies make arrest in bizarre arson case

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested William Combs, 45, in connection with an arson case on Dec. 24.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mike McAdaragh and Phyllis Werber
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 9, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Mixed Doubles Sarasota Yacht Club

The Kick-off event for Sarasota Yacht Club's mixed doubles round-robin tennis club meets every second Sunday at Longboat Key Public Tennis Center. This Sunday, Jan. 8, they met for tennis and celebrated the upcoming season with appetizers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Road construction and maintenance occurs this week on U.S. 41, State, Interstate 75, and State Roads 72, 789, 758, 681.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 9, 2012
New road construction on U.S. 41, State Road 72

Four new construction and maintenance projects begin this week, while 10 projects continue in Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Event coordinators Jean and Bernie Boutet, Jan McCracken and Karen Gallagher
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 9, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: O Canada

The real Canadians at Bird Key Yacht Club's O' Canada event wore Canadian flag stickers on Saturday, Jan. 7 - everyone else did their best to fake it in red, white and winter sweaters. Dinner was served, and live music was provided.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Cooks prepare oysters for the Half Shell Oyster House's opening party on Friday, Jan. 6.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 9, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Half Shell Oyster House opening

The Half Shell Oyster House served as the venue for two events - its own opening and the inauguration of the Mark Wandall Foundation's 'Safety Saves Lives' program, which aims to educate motorists on safe driving habits. The restaurant officially opens Jan. 10, but the night served as a preview of the cuisine and atmosphere to come. All proceeds from the event went to the Mark Wandall Foundation.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A corrections sergeant discovered Bodner had agreed to supply an inmate with Oxycodone and Lorazepam during prearranged visits to the jail.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 9, 2012
Psychologist arrested for illegally providing pills to inmate

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested a Holli Bodner, 51, for providing controlled substances to an inmate at the Sarasota County Jail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mark Gunnerson and Nick Vonknorring of UnEven LaNes perform at the Selby Public Library.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 9, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Selby Public Library Band Bash

Selby Public Library hosts Band Bash to break in its new Teen Center. Five local bands broke the silence in the Selby Public Library Jan. 7 to usher in the opening of its new Teen Center - a place where local teens are encouraged to read, play and make a little noise. Local bands including The Garbage Men, UnEven LaNes, Let's Rock Sarasota and Siege of Malakand performed original and familiar tunes.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Judy Alexander
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 9, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: High Tea and Doll Houses

The Historical Society of Sarasota hosted a High Tea and Doll Houses event on Sunday, Jan. 8. The Bidwell House and Crocker Memorial Church in Pioneer Park are some of the oldest buildings in Sarasota, and they served as the venues for the event. Sal Garcia provided live music, and both miniature houses and fancy hats were on display.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The death is being considered "suspicious."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 9, 2012
UPDATE: Manatee County Sheriff's office investigates death

Manatee County Sheriff's Office detectives are investigating the death of a 77-year-old woman found dead in her home in the 11000 block of Hyacinth Place in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Meet GreyHawk Landing resident Sandra Marks, and try her Grapefruit Delight recipe.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 9, 2012
IN THE KITCHEN WITH: Sandra Marks

GreyHawk Landing resident Sandra Marks got this recipe, which has become a family favorite, during one of her Recipe Club meetings.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Schools Superintendent Tim McGonegal said the driver, Charles Robert Orr, was a substitute bus driver with five years of prior bus driving experience.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 9, 2012
Video shows moments before bus crash

Manatee County School District officials on Jan. 6 released video from inside the bus that crashed at 66th Street East and State Road 64 on Jan. 5.

  • East County
  • News
Ken Cro-Ken painted live to oboist Matt Sullivan and live-streamed video footage  for attendees at Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design on Friday, Jan. 6.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 9, 2012
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Multiple Oneness

Ken Cro-Ken painted live to oboist Matt Sullivan and live-streamed video footage for attendees at Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design on Friday, Jan. 6.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tyler Mims, Mike Herron, and John Hartmann work on one roof while Ryan Chapdelain pursues another
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 9, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Save Our Seabirds Clean Up

It was all the birds could squawk about when 26 volunteers showed up for a long day of labor at Save Our Seabirds on Saturday, Jan. 7. 'It is surprising to see the amount of people come to give us a face lift we so badly needed,' Lee Fox, Executive Director, says. Some volunteers scraped paint, others painted; some cleaned, and others cleared brush, but everyone was hard at work.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Danielle Berg with Cindi, Giacomo, Giovanni and Nick Bollettieri
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 8, 2012
Sarasota Polo 'Saint Stephen's Episcopal School Cup'

Sarasota Polo 'Saint Stephen's Episcopal School Cup'

  • Black Tie
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