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Your Observer

Governor Rick Scott
  • By Rick Scott
  • December 14, 2011
My View: Education, jobs top budget priorities

Next year's budget for the state of Florida focuses on education and jobs without adding new financial burdens to families and businesses.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • December 14, 2011
Castaway

Enjoy this week's castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Braden River High School senior Gabriela DeJesus said she is enjoying every minute of her senior season.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 14, 2011
Braden River senior bounces back on team

After being ruled academically ineligible and having to sit out last season, Braden River senior Gabriela DeJesus brought her grades up and now is back on the court with the Lady Pirates.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jen Blanco, associate editor
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 14, 2011
COMMENT: The family that plays together ...

As a parent, there's no greater joy than watching your child reach a monumental milestone, earn a scholarship or sink the game-winning shot.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River baseball coach Mike Verrill said the position with the Pirates is the perfect opportunity for him.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 14, 2011
Pirates name new coach

Former Out-of-Door Academy baseball coach Mike Verrill was named Braden River High's new varsity baseball coach Dec. 2.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 14, 2011
COMMUNITY GOLF

Rob Jordan earned first place in Flight One of the Individual Stableford Men's Event Dec. 10, at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.

  • East County
  • Sports
Local officials and representatives of The Miracle League of Manasota and other agencies sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as part of the groundbreaking ceremony.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 14, 2011
FULL STORY: Baseball complex to open

The Miracle League of Manasota and Sarasota County officially broke ground on a specialized baseball complex for individuals with disabilities.

  • East County
  • News
Panet-Raymond
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 14, 2011
Golf pro recreates River Club restaurant

Golf professional Jacques Panet-Raymond recently opened Caddyshak Sports Bar & Grille in The River Club restaurant space and plans to open a dance club there, as well, starting in January.

  • East County
  • News
Wilson Williams and His Platters members Wilson Williams, Verceal Whitaker and Al Holland will perform classics such as “Only You” at San Marco Plaza. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 14, 2011
The Platters spin into San Marco

The concert will benefit the Humane Society of Manatee County and the Dan Toler Fund for ALS.

  • East County
  • News
Primrose School of Lakewood Ranch owner Sharon Frank arrived at her business Dec. 9 to find her monument-style sign destroyed
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
News Briefs

Ranch Cinemas holds 'Cans' Film Festival; Driver smashes Primrose School sign

  • East County
  • News
Rosedale resident Jack Sodini and his student, Isaiah Depina, had a blast on the golf course together.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 14, 2011
Rosedale residents open course, hearts to students

Members of the Rosedale Golf & Country Club treated children from Moody Elementary School to lunch and golfing at the course Dec. 6 and 8.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Meet this week's athlete of the week, Andy Sawyer
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 14, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Andy Sawyer

Andy Sawyer started playing tennis when he was 8 years old, after his dad introduced him to the sport.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dawn Bedell submitted this sunset photo, taken at Lido Beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Cool Today Winner: Circle 'Round

Dawn Bedell submitted this sunset photo, taken at Lido Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Braden River High sophomore forward Austin Myara tallied his first hat trick of the season; helping lead the visiting Pirates to a 5-0 victory over Charlotte in a Class 4A-District 11 match Dec. 8.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 14, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Austin Myara

Braden River High sophomore forward Austin Myara tallied his first hat trick of the season; helping lead the visiting Pirates to a 5-0 victory over Charlotte in a Class 4A-District 11 match Dec. 8. Here is an inside look at this week's Athlete of the Week.

  • East County
  • Sports
Serenity Vega is a fourth grade student at Rowlett Magnet Elementary.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Observer Team Spotlight Q&A

Meet this week's Observer Team player, Serenity Vega.

  • East County
  • Sports
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Jose Silva
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Business Observer

Area businesses benefit from Premier; Turner Tree reports record-breaking sales; Jose Silva joins Blue Skye Lending

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 14, 2011
Lakewood Ranch Country Club home tops weekly sales

A home in the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Michele Bucher took this sunset photo from her front yard.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Weekly Winner: Star Burst

Michele Bucher took this sunset photo from her front yard.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Detectives almost immediately ruled Scott's death as suspicious.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 13, 2011
Manatee County detectives search for clues in homicide

The body of Nicole Rose Scott, 29, was found Dec. 11 in a ditch at the end of University Parkway, east of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
About 160 people enjoyed a full turkey dinner.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 13, 2011
VFW holds Christmas party for National Guard unit

Braden River VFW Post 12055 thanked local soldiers with a special Christmas dinner.

  • East County
  • News
An appeal of a Goodwill Superstore was denied Monday.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 13, 2011
Goodwill appeal denied without discussion

Sarasota City commissioners decided not to hear an appeal by North Trail residents about a Goodwill Superstore.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Families and friends of Selby Gardens gathered Thursday for the bromeliad tree lighting just outside the Payne Mansion.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Selby Gardens bromeliad tree lighting

Selby Gardens lit its 20-foot-tall bromeliad tree Dec. 8.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Out-of-Door Academy students had many questions for Brian Wigelsworth.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Sand sculpting demonstration at ODA

Brian Wigelsworth did a special sand sculpting demonstration, Monday, Dec. 12, at Out-of-Door Academy's lower school campus.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
North Port High had the largest drop in graduation rate, from 88.1% to 83%.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • December 13, 2011
Three Sarasota schools graduate fewer, district dips below 84%

Despite small decrease, district schools remain higher than state average.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch High JV cheerleading squad took home a first-place trophy for its performance.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River High Cheerfest

East County cheerleaders showed off their team spirit during Braden River High's Cheerfest Dec. 10 Three JV squads and five varsity squads performed cheer and dance routines in front of their families and friends and a panel of judges. Lakewood Ranch won the JV competition while Braden River finished third. In the varsity competition, the Mustangs took home second place while the Pirates finished third.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
Lakewood Ranch gallops past Booker

The Lakewood Ranch High girls basketball team defeated Booker 54-28 Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
Lady Mustangs kick past Lady Tarpons

Aubrey Riggins scored Lakewood Ranch's lone goal off an assist by Morgan Salmon as the Lady Mustangs defeated Charlotte 1-0 Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
Mustangs blank Tarpons

The Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team shutout Charlotte 6-0 in Class 4A-District 11 action Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • Sports
Five-year-old Kristen Rice performed with the Gullett Elementary School dance team.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Gullett Elementary Winter Performance

Fifth-graders at Gullett Elementary School welcomed the holiday season with their winter performance of Toy Storage Dec. 13. Students acted, sang and danced throughout the production, which told the story of a bunch of toys getting cleaned up and coming out of storage just in time for Christmas. Those in attendance also enjoyed a performance by the Gullett dance team prior to the start of the show.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jeanne Dexter, Laura Turner, KC Bruelle, Mary Harper, Lisa Dexter and Lucretia Tuffile
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: St. Armands Resident Association

St. Armands Resident Association had a dual welcome back and welcome to the circle membership happy hour at newly opened LaMalinche Restaurant on Monday, Dec. 12. Members mingled with each other over drinks and light appetizers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tom Aposporos is president of the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 13, 2011
IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Tom Aposporos

Tom Aposporos is president of the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Braden River High varsity cheerleading squad was one of five teams to compete in the school's Cheerfest Dec. 10.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Team Spirit

East County cheerleaders showed off their team spirit during Braden River High School's Cheerfest Dec. 10.

  • East County
  • Sports
Longboat Pass Bridge is located at the north end of the Key.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 12, 2011
Longboat Pass Bridge construction project begins

Contractors are in the beginning phases of a $1.1 million repair project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A sand sculpture of ODA's logo, with a few extra creative additions, was created by Brian Wigelsworth on Monday. The sculpture will remain at the school until it finally falls apart.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 12, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Out-of-Sand

Brian Wigelsworth created a sand sculpture of Out-of-Door Academy's logo, Monday, Dec. 12, on Out-of-Door Academy's lower school campus.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
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