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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Background bolsters Fitzgerald's potential

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2012
JUST THE STATS

2 - The number of home runs the Lakewood Ranch High softball team hit in its 8-2 victory over Venice Feb. 16.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2012
News Briefs

Amputee inspires students at Braden River; Five-year-old airlifted after crash on University

  • East County
  • News
"We both like to win," Ryan Ockey, left, said of himself and his brother, Damon. "We've had a couple of races where we’ve both been on the podium, and that’s pretty cool." Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 22, 2012
Cardel Homes revved up for Payton

The homebuilder will auction off shotgun-seat laps in its Ferrari racecars to raise funds for the Payton Wright Foundation and another charity.

  • East County
  • News
Jim Youngblood, 79, is eager to offer members of Harvest United Methodist Church a peaceful place to think about God and remember their loved ones.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 22, 2012
Work begins on garden

Harvest United Methodist Church is constructing a memorial garden on its property.

  • East County
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2012
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mike Eng, Managing Editor
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • February 22, 2012
Observed: Decision devolves into shameful display

When members of the Manatee County School Board last week voted 3-2 to institute a 1.75% pay cut and furlough days - retroactive to the beginning of the school year, no less - they surely knew the outrage it would cause.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Rex Jensen is president and CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch.
  • By Rex Jensen
  • February 22, 2012
My View: Give 'em the sleeves from our vest

Every one of us - young and old alike - has been dealt a bad, if not losing, hand by this economic crisis.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • February 22, 2012
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Jen Blanco, Associate Editor
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2012
COMMENT: Baseball a sign of springtime

Spring has officially sprung across the East County, and nothing signals the start of spring more than America's favorite pastime.

  • East County
  • News
Tampa Bay Rays Head Athletic Trainer Ron Porterfield, right, teaches wrist exercises to Braden River pitcher Brooks Nelson.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2012
Rays trainer works with Braden River

Head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield has been working on strength and conditioning with the Pirates since October.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sophomore Justin Otis scored seven points for Lakewood Ranch, including the team’s final two buckets. Photos by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2012
Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball ends season in quarterfinals

The Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball team saw its season come to an end with a 57-32 loss to Tampa Sickles in the Class 6A-Region 3 quarterfinals Feb. 16.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • February 22, 2012
Sianna bests The Villages in SRQ Magazine Cup

Sianna defeated The Villages 8-7 in overtime to win the SRQ Magazine Cup Feb. 19.

  • East County
  • Sports
The East County Observer and Bogey’s Restaurant and Sports Pub have teamed up to showcase the East County’s top athletes. Each recipient’s article will be featured on the restaurant’s wall.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Daniel Reyna

Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch seventh-grader Daniel Reyna scored five goals while helping lead the Sharks to a 2-1 record to open the season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Blake Riley-Hawkins hopes to take his wrestling career to Ohio State University, where his older brother, Kyle, went.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2012
Lakewood Ranch High grappler returns to states

Lakewood High junior Blake Riley-Hawkins competed in the Class 2A state wrestling tournament for a second season, finishing 2-2 in the 132-pound weight class.

  • East County
  • Sports
Although he technically is retired, Bill Mixon still works most days at Mixon Fruit Farms. “It’s my life; I enjoy being a farmer,” he says.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 22, 2012
Neighbors: Bill Mixon

At 83 years old, one of the East County's most famous farmers has published his memoirs in 'Believers in Action: Mixon Fruit Farms.'

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This Mill Creek home, which has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,341 square feet of living area, sold for $430,000. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 22, 2012
Mill Creek home tops weekly sales at $430,000

A home in Mill Creek tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Stephen and Dena Cressman, Parrish, sold their home at 15006 21st Ave. E. to James and Andrea Rodman, Bradenton, for $430,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Javier Huanay took this sunset photo at Jiggs Landing.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Javier Huanay took this sunset photo at Jiggs Landing.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jean and Ron Schwied stand in their kitchen in front of a map of the route they will be taking. Their home is rented out, and they are ready to take off.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • February 22, 2012
Longboat Key couple sets sail around the eastern U.S.

It will take approximately 10 months for the Schwieds to sail The Great Loop around the eastern U.S.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Unit 23 at 7155 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for for $275,000. Photo by Mallory Gnaegy
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 22, 2012
Key Towers South condo sells for $340,000

Genevieve Simpson, of Albuquerque, N.M., sold her Unit 8-G condominium at Key Towers South, 1750 Benjamin Franklin Drive, to Richard and Kathryn Poulsen, of Watertown, N.Y., for $340,000.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Basic training on the Gyrotonic pulley tower: This "arch and curl" move is based on the modern dance contraction. It stretches and strengthens the torso.
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • February 22, 2012
Aerobic Grandma: The circular route to flexibility

A couple of decades ago, something fell to the floor in a professional colleague's office, and when I reached down to retrieve it, she said, "Well, at least one of us can still pick up something from the floor."

  • Longboat Key
  • News
If you know someone who should be featured as an Athlete of the Week, please call or send the suggestion to Mallory Gnaegy at 366-3468, Ext. 360 or mgnaegy@yourobserver.com.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • February 22, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Sherry Fideler

Sherry Fideler has always been active. When she took an aerobics class with her sister, she realized it combined two of her favorite things - dance and aerobics.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • February 22, 2012
JUST THE STATS

148 - Score of overall champions Evan and Jaclyn Fletcher and Marion and Irene Pye at the Couples Member/Guest 2012 Golf Tournament Friday, Feb. 17, at the Longboat Key Club and Resort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Visit www.acbl.org for more about the game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org.
  • By Brian Gunnell
  • February 22, 2012
Bridge Bites: A practice finesse

The humble finesse is the first thing we learn, and we also learn that some finesses win, some lose. Later, we learn that some finesses are purely for practice and serve no useful purpose.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Stan Singer submitted this sunset photo, taken on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Stan Singer submitted this sunset photo, taken on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Keith Fitzgerald
  • By Rod Thomson
  • February 22, 2012
Candidate Fitzgerald: Can he teach and run?

New College professor Keith Fitzgerald's candidacy for Congress has raised questions among administrators and trustees about his ability to maintain his teaching duties.

  • East County
  • News
Elise Lee, Meagan Sanchez, Isabella Sanchez, Amy Lee and a Ferrari Stroller
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • February 21, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Exotic Car Festival

Aston Martin's, Bugattis, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royce, Bentleys and the people fortunate enough to own the prime real-estate filled St. Armands Circle Park on Saturday, Feb. 18. And the traffic cramming St. Armands for the Exotic Car Festival was a car show all of its own. It was the 11th year the festival has taken place, and was just one event of an entire weekend of events benefiting the Child Protection Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 21, 2012
Miracle League field renamed

A grand opening ceremony for the newly named Orioles Pirates Miracle League Field of Manasota is slated for Saturday.

  • East County
  • Sports
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines. Image shown will not play video.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • February 21, 2012
FEB. 21: Daily Headlines Video

Join us as we observe and report today's stories from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota, and Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Marie and Incoming Commodore Bob Hunter and Carlene and outgoing Commodore Bob Baime
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • February 21, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Bird Key Yacht Club Change of Watch

It was a good year for Commodore Bob Baime, as he oversaw the remodeling of the Bird Key Yacht Club. As of Saturday, Feb. 18, new Commodore Bob Hunter has taken over the watch. A dinner and ceremony celebrated the outgoing and incoming officers and commodores. And just like the tide, out with the old and in with the new.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Brewster's prolific list of arrests include charges of burglary, forgery and use of stolen credit cards.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • February 21, 2012
Sarasota man arrested for the 40th time

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested Stephen Brewster, 32, marking his 40th arrest, early this morning.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Hunter Byrne, Ryne Sutherly and Cooper Schrock
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • February 21, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Phillippi Shores Jogathon

Students laced up their running shoes for Phillippi Shores' jogathon Friday, Feb. 17. Parents and teachers cheered on the young Falcon runners as they made their laps around the school playground.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Trash, recycling and yard waste collections for the week will be postponed by one day from Tuesday through Saturday for residents in unincorporated Manatee.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 21, 2012
East County trash collection delayed

Trash collection will be delayed in unincorporated portions of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
All registered Longboat Key voters can participate in the election.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 21, 2012
Key voter registration deadline is today

Residents have until 5 p.m. today to register to vote in the March 20 General Municipal Election.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota City Commission meets today at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 21, 2012
Commission considers downtown projects today

The Sarasota City Commission will also consider hiring a search firm to find a new permanent city manager this afternoon.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Meet Pat Orlando, owner of Used Book Heaven
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • February 21, 2012
In the public eye: Pat Orlando

The vast selection books available at Used Book Heaven might be overwhelming to the average person, but for owner Pat Orlando, keeping track of the store's 40,000-book inventory is second nature.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
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