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Your Observer

    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 23, 2012
Commission approves search for new manager

The Sarasota City Commission has approved a $28,500 contract to start a national search for a new city manager.

  • Sarasota
  • News
North Tamiami Trail will see an economic boost south of University Parkway when a Walmart grocery store is built along the trail this summer. File photo.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 23, 2012
Revitalization plan pitched

Engaging residents about their visions for U.S. 41 north of downtown is the key to creating a master plan that will spur economic development, city commissioners say.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bank of America at 1605 Main St. will likely close next year for a new Fruitville Road location. Kurt Schultheis.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 23, 2012
Big bank shifts its downtown presence

Bank of America will vacate its Main Street location. A space for a sign above the building soon will be available.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 23, 2012
County partnering with Chalk Festival grant process

The Sarasota County Commission this week agreed to partner with the Chalk Festival in applying for a highly competitive National Endowment of the Arts grant.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
News Briefs

Jury scam reported; Old police station demolition set for Feb. 28; Detert reappointed to education board

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 23, 2012
Turner expects at least 40 city employee cuts

Another 40 city employees might have to be laid off, and employee benefits cut further, to balance the city's next budget, Sarasota Vice Mayor Terry Turner says.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
Our View: County subsidies: immoral

Maybe a a good roundhouse to their proboscises might knock some sense into them and awaken them.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Jan Schneider holds a law degree and a doctorate in political science. A former Democratic candidate for the District 13 congressional seat, she practices law and lives on Bird Key.
  • By Jan Schneider
  • February 23, 2012
My View:Mortgage settlement is hardly 'landmark'

While President Obama is hailing his $26-billion mortgage servicing settlement as "a landmark settlement" that will 'speed relief to homeowners" and "begin to turn the page on an era of recklessness," in truth, the deal affords only modest relief to homeowners and fails to address systemic flaws that precipitated the 2008 financial meltdown.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau has offered its assistance to keep tourism figures high on the Key beyond this season. File photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 23, 2012
SCVB wants to maintain No. 1 beach momentum

The Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau has offered to help Key businesses build on the No. 1 beach ranking Siesta won last year.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Call it the 'little orphaned south end'; f you want change, add parking spaces

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 23, 2012
Street Teams to start in March

An agreement between the city of Sarasota and The Salvation Army should allow members of the homeless population to help clean up the city.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A chickee hut at Kissimmee State Park is the recreation of an 1876 "cow camp" structure. Courtesy of Florida State Parks.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 23, 2012
Homeowners warned about construction

County officials want to make sure homeowners understand that chickee huts must comply with certain government construction codes.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
New crosswalks coming to Midnight Pass Road will be more elaborate than the crosswalk from Beach Way to the public beach. File photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 23, 2012
County supports crosswalks plan

On Tuesday, the Sarasota County Commission unanimously agreed to support a Florida Department of Transportation plan for six pedestrian crosswalks on Midnight Pass Road.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 23, 2012
Florida Supreme Court to hear term-limits cases

The state's highest court will hear oral arguments April 10 in combined cases from Sarasota and Broward counties.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
News Briefs

More light to shine on Village SCAT stop; Siesta man charged with vehicle burglaries; One Book program to welcome Wilson

  • Siesta Key
  • News
A traffic analysis conducted by a Sarasota County consultant in May 2011 proposed vehicle-flow changes for four driveways at Siesta Public Beach.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 23, 2012
Plan improves traffic flow

The proposed improvements for Siesta Public Beach call for 130 new parking spaces, for a total of 967, and better traffic flow.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Walt Olson. Photo by Nick Friedman.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 23, 2012
Observed: Olson may yet prove the value of persistence

Having worked as a journalist for more than three decades (yes, I'm giving away my age here), I've had the opportunity to get to know more than a few people on a mission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
John Gudritz is the co-owner of an investment management firm. He and his wife have been coming to the Key since the 1970s and have been seasonal residents since 2008.
  • By John Gudritz
  • February 23, 2012
My View: Beach alcohol debate an uphill battle for public-safety side

Rachel Brown Hackney's Feb. 16 column on the controversy of the legal consumption of alcohol on Siesta Key Beach called on all of us who live here to let our opinions on this subject be heard by the Sarasota County Commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
With The Celery Fields gaining in popularity, residents are requesting more amenities.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 23, 2012
Celery Fields popularity grows

The County's stormwater site-turned-park is welcoming so many visitors that residents are starting to clamor for more parking spaces and other amenities.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • February 23, 2012
Neighbors: Benny Kimsey

The Siesta Key resident will bring his popular bluegrass picnic back to Turtle Beach in March.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Jerry and Gail Klink are spending their first winter on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • February 23, 2012
New Siesta Key snowbirds share their life experiences

Gail and Jerry Klink discussed life in Saudi Arabia and more Feb 21, at Siesta Key Chapel.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
China Smith stopped boxing in 2007 to launch his non-profit, China Smith and Friends Inc. This year, he hopes to return to the ring.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • February 23, 2012
Neighbors: China Smith

'The People's Champ' talks about growing up in Sarasota, giving back to his community and his plans to return to the boxing ring.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ally, Pineview
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
Pelikids: February 2012

Pelikids is a monthly feature highlighting the work of Sarasota County students. This month's offerings are from students at Bay Haven Elementary and Pineview schools.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 23, 2012
Windward Passage unit sells for $999,000

A condominium in Windward Passage was the only transaction in this week's real estate. William and Nancy Kuhn, Sarasota, sold their Unit W-7 condominium at 4712 Ocean Blvd. to Richard and Charlotte Clark, Sarasota, for $999,000.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Diana Inskeep submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Diana Inskeep submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • February 23, 2012
Going the Distance: Sarasota man to run 3,273 miles

Ultra-distance runner and Sarasota resident John Pyle will run from San Francisco to Key West as part of the Patriot Run Across America.

  • Arts + Culture
Meet this week's athlete of the week: Issac Mingus.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • February 23, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Isaac Mingus

Issac Mingus, 14, was never able to play a sport such as baseball, basketball or football as a young child. Born prematurely, Mingus had to have an IV shunt placed in his head, which prevented him from participating in contact sports.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
JUST THE STATS

2 - The number of RBIs Sarasota High senior Danny Mars notched in the Sailors' 8-5 win over Riverview Feb. 21.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Debbie and Brian Lamb
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
BUSINESS OBSERVER

Signature Sotheby's adds new sales associate; Aimee Cogan receives promotion; Zwiwwel opens in downtown Sarasota; Signs Now Sarasota sponsors scholarship

  • Sarasota
  • News
A condo at 128 Golden Gate Point sold for $1.149 million. Photo by Nick Friedman.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 23, 2012
Vista Bay Point condo sells for $1.15 million

A condominium in Vista Bay Point tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Mark Gerszewski and Patricia Wunderlin, trustees, Sarasota, sold the Unit 602 condominium at 128 Golden Gate Point to Sandra Young and Patrick McNamee, trustees, St. Louis, for $1.149 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Charles Preston Rawls submitted this sunrise photo, taken near downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Charles Preston Rawls submitted this sunrise photo, taken near downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Dietrich family was recognized for its contribution. Pictured are students Tyler and Alexsa, with their parents, Sandi and Billy, and grandparents, Sandy and Bill.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 23, 2012
ODA opens new baseball facilities

The Out-of-Door Academy on Feb. 21 celebrated the grand opening of its new Thunder Baseball Concession Building and Scorer's Booth.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Patrick Kopfle, Kayla Moore and Bob Kirscher of the Broken Egg
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance MemberFest

Members of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance enjoyed an evening of fun and games during the organization's MemberFest 2012 block party Feb. 22 on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. Those in attendance enjoyed playing games, sampling food from local restaurants, a wacky member awards presentation, prizes, networking and socializing with other members.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bugsy and Ceili dressed for the occasion
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • February 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Mardi Gras at Lynches Pub and Grub

St. Armands didn't have the usual Mardi Gras parade this year. But leave it to the Lynch sisters to throw the alternative party. On Feb. 21, Mardi Gras, Lynches Pub and Grub was decked with purple and yellow balloons, employees with feathered hats and patrons with masks. And there was no shortage of beads, either. The sisters served complimentary pancakes, per tradition, and Joe Bruno's Dixieland Hot Dogs band played crowd favorites, such as 'Pennis from Heaven.'

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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