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Your Observer

    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • March 1, 2012
Manatee County YMCA holds annual Pinewood Derby

The Manatee County YMCA held its annual Pinewood Derby car race during the Y Guides weekend campout Feb. 18.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • March 1, 2012
SCORES: ODA girls tennis improves to 4-1

The Out-of-Door Academy girls tennis team improved its record to 4-1 with a pair of victories over Cardinal Mooney and Shorecrest Prep Feb. 28-29.

  • East County
  • Sports
Anka Dierbach, Karin McLoughlin, Anna McBride, Annelie Gustke, Ulla Heitmann and Ingril Holzberg are all German.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 1, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Opera Guild Fashion Show & Luncheon

Opera enthusiasts gathered Feb. 29, at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club as the Bradenton Opera Guild hosted a fashion show and luncheon fundraiser.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
David Meyersburg with Frank Rodriguez
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 1, 2012
PHOTO GALLEY: Chabad Gala

Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch hosted its Annual Gala Cocktail Evening and Auction event Feb. 29, at the ballroom of the Polo Grill and Bar.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Participants began a January workshop by sharing thoughts and ideas for the north end in small groups.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 1, 2012
PIC to hold north-end revitalization forum

The public is invited to the forum, which will focus on a community-based, north-end planning effort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
Hub reopens three weeks after fire

Chris Brown, owner of The Hub Baja Grill in Siesta Village, reported that the restaurant passed all its inspections Tuesday and was ready to reopen for lunchtime Wednesday, 22 days after an early-morning fire caused extensive smoke damage in the building.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
A show of thanks from 'Birdland'

Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta (left) and Sarasota resident Norman Schimmel were joined Feb. 27 by Janet-Marie Smith, vice president of planning and development for the Baltimore Orioles, to celebrate the formal completion of the Orioles' new Baseball Operations Center at Ed Smith Stadium.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
Riverview High musicians recognized

Four students from Riverview High School's Kiltie Band were chosen to join the Florida Music Educators Association 2012 All-State Honor Band in Tampa.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota City Commissioner Shannon Snyder said a bold decision to cut the budget could be the elimination of the Sarasota Police Department
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 1, 2012
Police department to be axed?

A proposal to eliminate the Sarasota Police Department arose during City Commission budget discussions this week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Residents and merchants have complained for months about the parking meters downtown.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 1, 2012
Residents, merchants say 'We don't want them'

Sarasota residents and merchants took over a city parking-management forum last week, continuing to call for the removal of downtown parking meters.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Downtown Improvement District Operations Manager John Moran showed these photos of pummeled plants and bushes during and after the Presidents Day weekend art fair. Courtesy of DID.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 1, 2012
Downtown merchants eager to protect landscaping

City merchants say they are tired of pedestrians using their flowerbeds and bulbouts during weekend events as if the plants were pathways.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 1, 2012
Commissioners unhappy with hotel proposals

Three out of five Sarasota city commissioners are unhappy with conditions proposed by two developers for a downtown hotel project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 1, 2012
Sarasota County Circuit Court ruling favors Marina Jack

County Property Appraiser Bill Furst has lost a court battle to force Marina Jack to pay $1.5 million in property taxes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Rod Thomson
  • March 1, 2012
My View: Admit it: Meters are a failure

Hurricanes, traffic, beach repairs, the economy, balancing budgets, crime, bridges. All of these things have at one time or another confounded Sarasota city leaders. But nothing, nothing, causes unending vexation like parking.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
Letter to the Editor

Turner punishing North Trail

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • March 1, 2012
Neighbors: Nell Rude

For the past three years, Sarasota resident Nell Rude has been creating an exhibit to thank American veterans.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The home at 993 S. Orange Ave. is one of five historic homes on this year’s tour. Photo courtesy of Giovanni Lundardi
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • March 1, 2012
Sarasota alliance to host annual historic home tour

The tour features five unique homes in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dr. Beach tells a national TV audience in late May about his selection of the Siesta Public Beach. Photo by Norman Schimmel.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • March 1, 2012
The Sand Man: 'Dr. Beach' comes to Siesta

Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman was a professor at the University of Maryland when he created the Top 10 U.S. Beaches list and earned the title, 'Dr. Beach.'

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Siesta housing market has been recording strong sales figures over the past months, Realtors say. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • March 1, 2012
Buyers flocking to Siesta homes, condos

With the No. 1 beach drawing more tourists, the inventory of houses and condos is decreasing, and prices are going back up, Realtors say.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
John and Mable Ringling’s mansion, Ca d’Zan, is just one of the attractions that makes Sarasota the top spring-break family destination, according to Livability.com. Photo by Carolyn Bistline.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • March 1, 2012
Sarasota named No. 1

In a survey of U.S. travel writers, Livability.com has determined that Sarasota is the No. 1 spring-break destination for families.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Members of the Pine Shores Presbyterian Church Youth Group are celebrating national recognition for helping All Faiths Food Bank. Courtesy Photo.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • March 1, 2012
Pine Shores youth group collects record donations

The Pine Shores Presbyterian Youth Group raised $17,432 and collected 2,365 cans of soup - more than any other Presbyterian church in the country - on Super Bowl Sunday.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • March 1, 2012
Condominium owners worried about Citizens Insurance decision

Siesta condominium owners this week were seeking clarification about a ruling that could lead to their paying as much as five times more for wind damage insurance policies.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
News Briefs

Libraries, AARP offering free tax-return assistance; Volunteers needed for 2012 cleanup; Members sought for emergency services board

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The central atrium reading area of Gulf Gate Library is so popular, patrons have asked staff for a similar space in the new facility.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • March 1, 2012
Gulf Gate Library open house is an open book

An open house last week offered about 80 Gulf Gate Library patrons the opportunity to suggest features for the new two-story facility.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 1, 2012
Sarasota County braces for looming shortfalls

General fund projections for Sarasota County show a budget shortfall hitting as early as 2015, then climbing.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • March 1, 2012
Observed: Erroneous info never seems to cease its flow

A couple of weeks ago, it was the beach parking. Now, again, it's the tennis courts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mark H. Smith is a Siesta Key architect and long-time board member of various island organizations.
  • By Mark H. Smith
  • March 1, 2012
My View: Key leader shares progress on projects

I have the distinct pleasure of being on the board of directors of the Siesta Key Village Association and the Siesta Key Village Maintenance Corp., as well as being chairman of the board for the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Larry Lantz served as a barber on Siesta Key for 48 years. He spent the last 12 years of his career at The Village Barber, in Siesta Center. File photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • March 1, 2012
Siesta Key remembers barber

Larry Lantz, who was known for his wit and warmth during 48 years of work as a barber on Siesta Key, died Feb. 13. He was 75.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Olson, Luckner earn resident's commendation; Fitzgerald story biased

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Read this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Do you know a Siesta Key resident who should be featured as
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • March 1, 2012
Neighbors: Al Smith

After becoming one of the best-known journalists in Kentucky, Al Smith came back to Sarasota, to visit his childhood home.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
A condominium in Summer Cove sold for $1,185,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 1, 2012
Summer Cove condo tops home sales at $1,185,000

A condominium in Summer Cove on Siesta tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Joseph and Regina Culloo, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., sold their Unit 404-C condominium at 1660 Summerhouse Lane to Susan Dietrich, of Norwich, N.Y., for $1,185,000.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
JUST THE STATS

8 - The number of goals the ODA girls lacrosse team scored in their first game. The Lady Thunder beat Sarasota Military Academy 8-4 Feb. 21.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Samantha Bisceglia captured this beautiful sunrise on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 1, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Samantha Bisceglia captured this beautiful sunrise on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • March 1, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Victoria Krupa

Victoria Krupa, 17, is enjoying a stellar junior year as Cardinal Mooney's goalkeeper for the lacrosse team.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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