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Your Observer

Joshua Rogers and Brett Wagner were close friends for most of their lives. Courtesy photos.
  • By Pam Eubanks and Jen Blanco
  • January 4, 2012
IN MEMORY: Lakewood Ranch remembers crash victims

Lakewood Ranch High School seniors Brett Wagner and Joshua Rogers died from injuries sustained in an accident Dec. 25.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch resident Jim Longhitano took this sunset photo last summer.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Lakewood Ranch resident Jim Longhitano took this sunset photo last summer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This Country Club of Lakewood Ranch home, which has four bedrooms and four-and-one-half baths sold for $964,500. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 4, 2012
Lakewood Ranch home tops sales

Raymond and Carol Lamoureaux sold their home at 7802 Mathern Court to Anthony and Kathleen Constantinou, of Killingworth, Conn., for $964,500.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
McKinlee Quinn Gilbert
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2012
East County Births

Congratulations to the East County parents who celebrated recent births. The East County Observer will publish birth announcements each month. To have your listing included, please email your information to Managing Editor Michael Eng, [email protected].

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Half Shell Oyster House, 1991 Main Street, will host its soft opening (dinner only) Monday, Jan. 9. The restaurant officially opens Jan. 10 with lunch and dinner service.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 3, 2012
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Aw, shucks!

Where can you find such delectable oyster decor in Sarasota? Why, a new restaurant on Main Street, of course.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 3, 2012
District 26 Umps opening up the cages

District 26 Little League umpires are opening up the cages at Braden River Little League from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 7.

  • East County
  • Sports
Joe Salvino and Tennis Pro David Sparks watch tennis matches from the sidelines at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 3, 2012
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Off the Court

Joe Salvino and Tennis Pro David Sparks watch tennis matches from the sidelines at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bob Sweat, Manatee County supervisor of elections.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 3, 2012
Bob Sweat announces retirement

Manatee Elections Supervisor Bob Sweat announced today he will retire in November.

  • East County
  • News
The future of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will be discussed tonight at City Hall.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 3, 2012
Commission reviews Van Wezel tonight

The Sarasota City commissioners will review a plan to target violent crimes in North Sarasota at their regular meeting tonight.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 3, 2012
Weather Service issues freeze warning for East County

Temperatures are expected to dip below 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the East County tonight.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 3, 2012
Commission to hold work session

Manatee County commissioners today will meet with members of the Palmetto City Commission for a special work session.

  • East County
  • News
A witness called deputies at 1:32 a.m. to report that Ricky Leer killed a 53-year-old victim during an argument in the woods.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 3, 2012
UPDATE: Body found in wooded area

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested Ricky Leer, 58, for Second Degree Murder.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 3, 2012
Chamber accepting nominations for small business awards

Completed nomination forms must be received no later than Friday, Feb 10.

  • Sarasota
  • News
REx Jensen, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch president and CEO.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 3, 2012
IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Rex Jensen

Twenty years ago, if you would have asked Rex Jensen if he could envision himself heading up one of the most recognizable and sought-after land management, agricultural and development companies in the nation, he would have told you that he wasn't the right man for the job.

  • East County
  • News
Deputies located suspect Matthew V. Benvenuto, 19, attempting to unlawfully enter another residence nearby and were able to take him into custody.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 3, 2012
Deputies catch residential burglary suspect

On Jan. 2, at about 5 p.m. deputies responded to a progress residential burglary at the 6000 block of Seagate Ave.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The investigation has been turned over to the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Section.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 3, 2012
Dead body found in wooded area

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident as a homicide.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Public Works Director Juan Florensa wrote that the town expects a second reimbursement of $172,235 in the near future.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 2, 2012
Town receives $1,033,411.50 reimbursement

The funds provide partial reimbursement for erosion caused by Tropical Storm Fay in 2008.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
IPOC and the associations had argued in the petition that there were seven major deficiencies in the development order approved by the Longboat Key Town Commission June 30, 2010 after more than 20 days of quasi-judicial hearings.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 2, 2012
Judge grants IPOC, associations writ of certiorari

Judge Charles E. Roberts ruled that the commission departed from the requirements of the town's zoning code in approving a development order for the Key Club's project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 2, 2012
Wind, freeze, and red flag advisories issued for Sarasota

The National Weather Service has issued three separate advisories for Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Construction and maintenance projects resume Jan. 3.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 2, 2012
Sarasota road construction resumes tomorrow

In observance of the holiday season, construction has been suspended through today, and will resume tomorrow, Jan. 3.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Tuesday, Jan. 3 is the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for the Jan. 31 Presidential Preference Primary.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 2, 2012
Supervisor of Elections to host several events this week

The Supervisor of Elections hosts several election-related events this week, including voter registration and education events, public meetings, and public appearances by Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent and senior staff members.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Screenshot of www.sarasotagov.com. The new site features a jumbotron with rotating images of Sarasota.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 2, 2012
City unveils refreshed website

A revamped website for the city of Sarasota was released this year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 2, 2012
Manatee County offices closed

Manatee County Government offices will be closed today.

  • East County
  • News
Shirley Goodman has been tap dancing for 80 years.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 2, 2012
YEAR IN PICTURES: December, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Interim County Administrator Terry Lewis and Commission Chairwoman Nora Patterson recognized lifeguards Scott Ruberg and Robert Martini for recovering the wallet of a grateful Canadian tourist.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 2, 2012
YEAR IN PICTURES: December, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Pelican Press.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
A tense debate between District 1 Commissioner Willie Shaw and the rest of the commissioners ensued when the commission began to discuss the goals for the city over the next two years.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 2, 2012
TOP STORY, DEC.: North Sarasota crime top priority

Sarasota city commissioners will work toward reducing the crime and number of homicides in North Sarasota by enlisting the help of a criminologist who has reduced crime in cities nationwide.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The boats docked at Sarasota Yacht Club were awash in a rainbow of colors during the "Lighting of the Fleet" ceremony in December.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 2, 2012
YEAR IN PICTURES: December, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Longboat Observer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 2, 2012
TOP STORY, DEC.: Colony developers not waiting for settlement

Club Holdings and the association board are intent on building mostly new units - even without Klauber's three acres.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Gary Amig, access management/safety program manager for District One of the Florida Department of Transportation, talks Tuesday evening with Kathy Bell, a resident of the Excelsior condominium complex.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 2, 2012
TOP STORY, DEC.: Straw poll shows opposition to pedestrian islands plan

The majority of Key residents attending a public meeting Tuesday indicated they preferred no action out of five options for improved pedestrian safety on Midnight Pass Road.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Lauren Costello, 6, made sure to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas during Tara Elementary School’s Dinner with Santa Dec. 2. Published Dec. 8, 2011.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 2, 2012
YEAR IN PICTURES: December, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The East County Observer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
LECOM School of Dental Medicine
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 2, 2012
TOP STORY, DEC.: The East County's Most Expensive Projects

In Sarasota and Manatee counties, 41 construction permits for more than $1 million have been pulled in the past year. Of those, about one-fourth are in the East County.

  • East County
  • News
Marion Ruthardt, from Duisburg, Germany, worked on her piece, "Avatar," in November, on Dolphin Street for the Sarasota Chalk Festival.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 1, 2012
YEAR IN PICTURES: November, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
"Something Fishy" took second-place honors in the second Crystal Classic Master Sandsculpting Competition on the Key, which drew more than 40,000 spectators.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 1, 2012
YEAR IN PICTURES: November, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Pelican Press.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Many Main Street merchants said they are still recovering from the construction of the Five Points roundabout and the installation of parking meters and hope the city will delay the Main Street streetscape project. Photo by Kurt Schultheis.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 1, 2012
TOP STORY, NOV.: Merchants denounce Main Street project

Downtown business owners believe now is not the time for a Main Street streetscape project that will tear up the street and sidewalks.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lois Lesser, Sands Point resident, held a 100th birthday party for former Sands Point resident Ursula Pearson in November.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 1, 2012
YEAR IN PICTURES: November, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Longboat Observer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Interim Town Manager Dave Bullock has met approximately half of town employees so far. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 1, 2012
TOP STORY, NOV.: Bullock reports for duty

Longboat Key's new interim manager reported Nov. 1 for his first day of official duty at Town Hall and settled into his new role.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
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