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Your Observer

Photo by Norman Schimmel
  • By Loren Mayo and Rachel S. OHara
  • January 5, 2012
Sarasota locals vow new year resolutions

Their 2012 vows include eating at every restaurant downtown, learning to tango, remaining a city 'cheerleader' and maximizing opportunities in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 5, 2012
BUSINESS OBSERVER

Waste Pro garbage truck drivers awarded for safety; Local businessman publishes book on socialism; NBI Sun Control to donate percentage of sales; YMCA receives grant from Harry Sudakoff Foundation; SunTrust Bank hires new vice president; The Insurance Mart receives Best of Award; Half Shell Oyster House of Sarasota opening downtown; Darwin's on 4th hires brewmaster; Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota appoints new General Manager

  • Sarasota
  • News
This home at 1320 Quail Drive has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 4,453 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,375,000. Photo by Nick Friedman.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 5, 2012
Quail Drive home sells for $1,375,000

Lawrence and Gail Monaco sold their home at 1320 Quail Drive to Scott and Elizabeth Woods, Sarasota, for $1,375,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • January 5, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Tayler Brothers

Tayler Brothers, 20, of Osprey, got his first boogie board for his fifth birthday and has not been off his surfboard since.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
JUST THE STATS

21 - The number of points senior Tanner Weigand scored in Sarasota High's men's basketball 54-48 win over St. Mary's (Canada), Dec. 30. The win gave them a third-place finish in the 10-team Lehigh Holiday Madness tournament in Lehigh Acres.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Samantha Bisceglia submitted this sunrise photo, taken on on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Samantha Bisceglia submitted this sunrise photo, taken on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Photo courtesy of Norman Schimmel.
  • By Norman Schimmel
  • January 5, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: A booming good time

Although downtown Sarasota did not have its traditional New Year's Eve celebration, the 16-minute fireworks show on the bayfront, by Marina Jack, did mark a celebratory start for 2012. And although the crowd wasn't close to the size seen on July 4, people nonetheless were appreciative of the light show.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
ISLAND BEAT: Oh, what a busy beach it was for the holidays

With temperatures hovering the 80s for much of the holiday period, it was no surprise that the No. 1 beach in the country was a popular spot.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Pelican Cove resident Margie Rosenthal socializes with Mim Sabshin at Temple Emanu-El’s Lunch with the Rabbi Jan. 4. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Pelican Cove residents host Lunch with the Rabbi

When Temple Emanu-El's Lunch with the Rabbi program celebrated its second anniversary Jan. 4, Pelican Cove resident Marjorie Rosenthal made certain the occasion would be a special one.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
This Siesta Beach home, which has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,090 square feet of living area, sold for $1,554,800. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 5, 2012
Sandy Hook home sells for $2 million

Linda Boring, Sarasota, sold her home at 15 N. Sandy Hook Road to Renee Chase and Edward Aroyan, Sarasota, for $2 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Peter van Roekens took this photo of a rainbow over Siesta Key beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
Weekly Weather

Peter van Roekens took this photo of a rainbow over Siesta Key beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 4, 2012
12 Black Tie Events in 2012

12 Black Tie Events in 2012

  • Black Tie
Overall, the Sarasota County School District has maintained an A grade every year that state grades have been assigned.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 4, 2012
Sarasota High Schools earn top rankings

Every high school in Sarasota County received either an A or a B ranking from the Florida Department of Education Wednesday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Carol Bernasconi and Janice Hamlin
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 4, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Garden Club Floral Design Class

The Sarasota Garden Club held the first session of its six-week class on the basics of floral arrangement Tuesday, Jan. 3. Each Tuesday, the class meets to learn the fundamentals of design taught by flower show judges. Classes begin with a lecture, and after a lunch break, students have a chance to create their own arrangements and have them critiqued.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The suspect is a black male, about 5-foot-10, 150 pounds, 30 to 35 years old with a scruffy beard. He was wearing all black with white shoes.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 4, 2012
VIDEO: Man robs East County CVS store

Deputies are investigating a Jan. 2 robbery of CVS Pharmacy at 3724 84th Ave. Circle E.

  • East County
  • News
City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini has called a 2 p.m. special meeting at City Hall Friday to discuss a forensic investigation of three city computers.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 4, 2012
Commission meets Friday to discuss audit

The Sarasota City commissioners will review an investigation of three city computers at a special meeting on Friday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
Delve into 12: East County

Enjoy an detailed preview of the 12 highly anticipated issues and people of 2012.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
Delve into 12: Longboat Key

Enjoy an detailed preview of the 12 highly anticipated issues and people of 2012.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Itzhak Perlman speaks to the Rotarians, Tuesday, Jan. 3, inside the USF Sarasota-Manatee FCCI Rotunda.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • January 4, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Rotary Evening with Itzhak Perlman

The Sarasota Bay Rotary Club held an 'Evening with Itzhak Perlman', Tuesday, Jan. 3 at University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. The evening included a reception with drinks and appetizers, speeches by Rotarians and Itzhak Perlman as well as an open orchestra rehearsal with the members of the Perlman Music Winter Residency Program.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
Salvation Army donations ring true

The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key was rich with Salvation Army bell ringers this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
All Angels sees colorful new year

On Saturday, Dec. 31, Ralph Garafola opened his one-man art show at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church gallery, 563 Bay Isles Road.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
SYC wishes employee 'joy'

Joy Waugh, employee at the Sarasota Yacht Club for the past 14 years, is retiring and moving home to Branson, Mo., to begin a new chapter of her life.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
Visiting family goes fishin'

Henry, Sam, Ivy-Reese and Amaya Kriser, grandchildren of Dan and Vicki Kriser, had a successful day of fishing recently near Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
"The Town Commission's departures from the requirements of the Zoning Code infringed on Petitioners' legitimate expectations under the Zoning Code and constituted a miscarriage of justice." Wrote Judge Charles E. Roberts in a 19-page ruling.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 4, 2012
Key Club pursues options after judge grants writ petition

Judge Charles E. Roberts described the Town Commission's approval of a development order related to the Key Club's expansion project as a 'miscarriage of justice.'

  • Longboat Key
  • News
"So far, I think he’s done a wonderful job," Mayor Jim Brown said.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 4, 2012
Delve into 12: Town Manager: Bullock

Longboat Key Town Manager David Bullock received a one-year contract for the position in October, but his role as town manager is likely to continue.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 4, 2012
Delve into 12: Director of PZ&B

Wanted at Longboat Key Town Hall: Someone 'collaborative, diplomatic, a team player, highly energetic, affable, assertive.'

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 4, 2012
Delve into 12: Dogs: Longboat Beach Access?

Max Goldner doesn't know that he's been the subject of Longboat Key Town Hall debates and front-page newspaper articles.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 4, 2012
Delve into 12: The Colony

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort remains mired in legal issues, but the association of unit owners says that won't stop them from moving forward with redevelopment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 4, 2012
Delve into 12: Key Club

The Longboat Key Club and Resort starts the year with a setback to its Islandside project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
Ranch to offer resident orientation

Attention new Lakewood Ranch residents. If you're confused by the acronyms CDD, IDA and HOA, this is the presentation for you.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
Girl Scout troop delivers tasty treats

Girl Scout Brownie Troop 764 cooked up a special batch of treats for the area's homeless pets recently.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
News Briefs

Fish kills sign of mullet season; Town receives reimbursement; Kiwanis Club seeks award nominations; Griffin's novel makes magazine's Top 10 list

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
Our View: Hypocrisy of the state

When Florida lawmakers convene next week for the 2012 session, conventional wisdom says they will be almost totally consumed with protecting their turf - that is, the boundaries of their legislative districts. And, oh yea, they'll have to figure out how to cut another $2 billion or so from the state budget.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • January 4, 2012
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 4, 2012
Delve into 12: Cell Tower

Debate about a proposed 150-foot cellular tower will continue to ring through at Town Hall.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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