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Your Observer

Village business owners say that with parking at a premium during season, people would not be inclined to move their electric vehicles after charging them, if other spaces were not visible. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • December 8, 2011
Parking worry arises over charging-station proposal

Village business owners say people using electric-vehicle charging stations might be reluctant to give up those spaces.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • December 8, 2011
Groups could collaborate on trash collection

Two Key organizations may partner to supply trash bags at beach accesses.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
Main Street project worries continue

The Downtown Improvement District must present its Main Street project recommendations to the City Commission Jan. 17.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
News Briefs

New fence installed by Treasure Boat Way; Gulf Gate Library plans win commission approval

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 8, 2011
Commissioners dislike Facebook concept

The Sarasota County Commission addressed social networking policies at a board retreat last week.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Lennie Macarthur, Sasha von Dassow, Nancy Streetman, Barb Ahern and Janis Payne
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 8, 2011
Musicians pull some strings to form new orchestra

The Glenridge String Orchestra's 20 members meet weekly to practice for their spring concert.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Turtle Beach Resort is marking the opening of a new fine art gallery featuring works by the father of innkeeper Gail Rubinfeld and her identical twin sister, Miri Rosenfeld, including "Reflection." The resort is located at 9049 Midnight Pass Road.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • December 8, 2011
Island Beat: Siesta Beach has had some creative 'campers'

Not only has Siesta Public Beach been attracting its share of regular tourists, but it also has had a number of homeless people camping out, Sgt. Scott Osborne, who heads the Key's Community Policing Station, has told Siesta Key Association members.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Past Hazzan Diane Nathanson with incoming Hazzan Jeffrey Weber. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 8, 2011
Nathanson honored as first female member of clergy

Temple Beth Sholom recognized Hazzan Diane Nathanson, the first woman in the temple's 78-year history to serve as a member of the professional clergy, with a tribute dinner.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
Our View: Halt downtown streetscape

There is a lot wrong with the city's proposed streetscape project along downtown's Main Street historic district.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Unit 61 at Tessera, 500 S. Palm Ave., has two bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,830 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.2 million. File photo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 8, 2011
Tessera condominium sells for $1.2 million

Inge Smith, trustee, Sarasota, sold the Unit 61 condominium at Tessera, 500 S. Palm Ave., to John and Patricia Clark, of St. Joseph, Mich., for $1.2 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Read this week's Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This Crescent Royale home, which has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,181 square feet of living area, sold for $455,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 8, 2011
Bay Island Shores home sells for $800,000

A home in Bay Island Shores tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Night Hawk Properties LLC sold the home at 775 Freeling Drive to James and Anne Westman, Sarasota, for $800,000.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Carolyn Bistline took this photo of the sun setting into the Intracoastal Waterway.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
Weekly Weather: Molten Bay

Carolyn Bistline took this photo of the sun setting into the Intracoastal Waterway.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
JUST THE STATS

6-0 - The Lady Sailors basketball team's record as of Saturday, Dec. 3, after beating Bayshore High 61-30.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Meet this week's athlete, Camille Giardina.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 8, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Camille Giardina

Camille Giardina, 14, might be only a freshman, but she already is a major asset to Cardinal Mooney's varsity girls basketball team this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lynne Osterman submitted this sunset photo, taken near Point of Rocks on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
Weekly Winner: Stand-up Sunset

Lynne Osterman submitted this sunset photo, taken near Point of Rocks on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Pesty cleaning

Enjoy a classic Cops Corner entry from the Longboat Observer archives.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Graci and Dennis McGillicuddy
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Embracing Our Differences Annual Luncheon

Embracing Our Differences Annual Luncheon

  • Black Tie
The City of Sarasota and the Van Wezel Foundation have entered into a series of exploratory discussions regarding the future operations of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 7, 2011
Van Wezel operations investigated

The city of Sarasota is deciding whether or not there's a more efficient way to run the operations of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The mansion features the handiwork of 13 designers from the American Society of Interior Designers, who have transformed each room using the latest trends in home design and holiday décor.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 7, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Holiday Splendor at the Payne Mansion

The Payne Mansion Holiday Showhouse will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 2, 2012, and during the evenings of Lights in Bloom, from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 16 through Dec. 23 and Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Students from the Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo Academy.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
Local taekwondo students win awards

Students from the Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo Academy recently attended the Olympic Grand Prix Tournament at Lakewood Ranch High and walked away with numerous accolades.

  • East County
  • Sports
Eva Rey, executive director for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2011
IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Eva Rey

Florida native Eva Rey began work as the executive director for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall in August 2011.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
Holiday TRX cardio tennis class announced

Cardio tennis manager Michele Krause will hold a holdiday TRX cardio tennis class from 5:30-7 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Meadows Country Club, 3101 Longmeadow in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Sports
Those interested in giving a donation can contact Julie DeRice at 918-8062.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 7, 2011
Casey Key seeks toy donations

A Casey Key Salvation Army toy drive will be held Monday and residents are urged to donate for children wish lists.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Palm Avenue parking garage is lowering rates for the boat parade on Saturday afternoon.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 7, 2011
Downtown parking garage lowers rate for weekend holiday event

The Palm Avenue parking garage will offer a $2 cash-only rate to Christmas Boat Parade of Light attendees on Saturday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Trade-in event to benefit Habitat for Humanity

Sarasota County and Manatee County residents may donate their 'gently-used' furniture to local Habitat for Humanity Restore Home Centers, Dec. 9 to Dec. 12, to receive a discount voucher for the purchase of new furniture at The Furniture Warehouse.

  • East County
  • News
"Collateral Damage" is H. Terrell Griffin's sixth novel.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
Local author's novel hits national shelves

H. Terrell Griffin's 'Collateral Damage' was released nationwide this week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Read East County Observer's newest installment of Health Matters.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
SPECIAL ISSUE: Health Matters

As the new year begins, our East County professionals have chimed in to help you meet your heath, financial, fitness and other goals for 2012.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Delaney enjoys Alaska - sort of

What do you do after retiring from your career as an NBA referee?

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ralph and Bea Einstein
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
61 years and counting

Ralph and Bea Einstein will celebrate their 61st anniversary Dec. 30.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
First Bank employees Charlotte Dakel and Vicki Mann
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
Collection banks on holiday toys

First Bank of Longboat Key is banking on donations for Toys for Tots.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
All aboard for the holiday boat parade

The Cortez Yacht Club's Holiday Boat Parade is taking off Saturday, Dec. 17 from Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub and floating its way to the Seafood Shack.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Dr. Ira Abrahamson
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
Bridge player makes triumphant feat

Dr. Ira Abrahamson bid and made 7 notrump in back-to-back hands, which is like making two holes-in-one in successive outings of golf, he says. He made the first hand in his apartment, where he plays on Tuesdays, and it was the last hand bid of the day.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Alice Dean with PAL and Vacation Rentals Manager Gordon McMillan. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
25 years of work honored

Resort Operator Alice Dean started out in housekeeping at the Longboat Key Club and Resort 25 years ago.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jane Boehme, of the Longboat Key Garden Club, rings the bell for the Salvation Army Dec. 4.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
Boehme rings her silver bell

When the Longboat Key Garden Club signed up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army for two full days, Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key member Jim Burmeister, who is in charge of organizing the bell-ringing campaign, was relieved

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The resolution of the Colony dispute will be good for the town, but does the town have a role to in its resolution?
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
Commission talks role in Colony dispute

Former Mayor George Spoll generated discussion among commissioners after he spoke about the ticking clock for the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort redevelopment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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  • December 21, 2025
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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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Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
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The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
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East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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