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Your Observer

Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • February 2, 2012
FEB. 2: Daily Headlines Video

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

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Josie Kolbe, 8, perfected her jump roping technique today as Braden River Elementary School launched's its Jump Rope for Heart event, which will run through Feb. 8.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 2, 2012
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Jump rope

Josie Kolbe, 8, perfected her jump roping technique today as Braden River Elementary School launched's its Jump Rope for Heart event, which will run through Feb. 8.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bello Nock did tricks on a trapeze attached to a helicopter from 500 feet up in the air, Thursday, Feb. 2, above the Circus Sarasota big top.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • February 2, 2012
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Bello's performance in the sky

Bello Nock of Circus Sarasota did some high flying today above the big top on Tuttle and 12th.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ira and Mary Barash
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • February 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Garden Club Jan. Meeting

The Longboat Key Garden Club was schooled on seasonal planting and sensory gardens. Researcher for the University of Florida Lisa Hickey from the Manatee-County Government extension office discussed the senses and annuals on Tuesday, Jan. 31. She talked about the Children's Sensory Garden, which had its ribbon-cutting earlier in the day. The garden contains areas for every sense. She also discussed annuals: when to plant what, how to plant, and where to get the plants from.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 2, 2012
Gasoline shortage for certain stations

Several gas stations in Southwest Florida are without gasoline because of a tanker shipment issue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 2, 2012
Sheriff searches for student stalker

Police are looking for a man who tried to lure a Phillippi Shores Elementary School student into his sport utility vehicle Wednesday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The two cars were traveling east on Webber Street, just west of Leafy Lane, at 2:50 a.m. when a red Cadillac driven by Brayam Alfaro-Piliado, 16, of Bradenton drifted to the right and struck two mailboxes on the south shoulder of Webber Street.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 2, 2012
Car crash splits car in half

A fatal car crash early Wednesday has left one man dead and another critically injured.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Gov. Rick Scott on Jan. 19 issued an executive order suspending Ruben from public office, after the Manatee County Sheriff's Office conducted an initial investigation and forwarded its findings to the State Attorney's Office.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 2, 2012
Manatee County public servant arrested for child molestation

An East County man serving as a commissioner for the Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue District has been arrested on charges of molesting several children over the last seven years and suspended from public office.

  • East County
  • News
First-year medical student Morgan Pyne, of Bradenton, received congratulations from Dr. Thomas Quinn after receiving her white coat. Pyne is a graduate of Lakewood Ranch High School. Photo by Michael Polin.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 2, 2012
Medical, pharmacy students earn white coats at ceremony

Medical and pharmacy students at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine celebrated their transition from classroom study to a clinical education during a special "White Coat" ceremony Jan. 28.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The concept plan presented Jan. 18 includes a new community center building, kayak launch, multi-use active recreation space and a community garden.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 2, 2012
Second Bayfront Park meeting planned for Monday

The meeting is open to the public and will seek resident input about the park's future.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2012
The Glenridge finishes expansion

The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch recently completed construction of a 10,700-square-foot expansion to The Carroll Center, the neighborhood in the community that provides Medicare-approved skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bonnie Schiavone, Marilyn Schott and Jules Price enjoyed time together.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 2, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Networking Social

Members of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance gathered Feb. 1, at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, for the organization's monthly networking social.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Business owners and residents will leave the restaurant in a silent march to City Hall for the 6 p.m.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 2, 2012
Bag-wearers to say, 'Bag meters'

Opponents of the city's parking meters will hold a rally Monday at Mattison's City Grille, then march to City Hall to voice concerns.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A new Costco under construction at Westfield Sarasota Square Mall is expected to open this summer.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 2, 2012
Palmer Ranch adding homes, jobs, businesses

Approximately 600 homes and hundreds of jobs in new businesses are coming to Palmer Ranch.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2012
News Briefs

Hotel projects need further examination

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 2, 2012
CRA Advisory Board recommends project

An advisory board will recommend the city approve seven downtown projects and a roundabout.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Sean Roth
  • February 2, 2012
SNN6 could be facing a sell-off of its assets

A lender to SNN has received a final judgment to sell off the TV channel's assets, but an SNN owner calls it a partnership squabble that will be resolved.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bicyclists must now stop and wait for traffic to clear before crossing Central Sarasota Parkway on The Legacy Trail.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 2, 2012
Legacy Trail intersection modified

An intersection at Central Sarasota Parkway and The Legacy Trail is designed to give motorists the right of way at all times.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rod Thomson, Editor-at-Large
  • By Rod Thomson
  • February 2, 2012
My View: Hold back the heavy hand

Sarasota County staff recently presented heavy-handed code changes to landscaping that would have required even more bureaucracy to oversee onerous burdens on a struggling industry.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Carol B. Green lives in Sarasota.
  • By Carol Green
  • February 2, 2012
My View: More specifics on job creation, please

Too bad. Too bad Florida's Republican voters couldn't unite behind the perfect candidate. There is no such thing as the perfect candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 2, 2012
FULL STORY: City picks Romney by wide margin

Both Sarasota County and state Republican voters overall chose Mitt Romney as their GOP candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2012
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Read this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • February 2, 2012
Symposium on Parkinson's disease to feature worldwide distinguished doctors

The Neuro Challenge Foundation and the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System will host the annual Suncoast Parkinson's Symposium, the largest gathering of its type in the nation, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at Sarasota Memorial's Institute for Advanced Medicine.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Michelle Zemil
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2012
Ovations

Congratulations are in order.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jayna Hertlein, 3, enjoys filling her bucket with sand as she prepares to make a sandcastle Feb. 1 on Siesta Key Beach.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 2, 2012
Siesta businesses boom in season

Businesses on the Key say the No. 1 beach ranking and warm weather are translating into a double-digit increase in seasonal tourist traffic.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 2, 2012
VIP parking preserved for Fourth of July

In response to worries about interference with the Siesta Chamber's July Fourth VIP picnic, county staff is delaying the start of a stormwater project at the Siesta Public Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2012
News Briefs

Libraries, Orioles team up to promote reading

  • Siesta Key
  • News
An early-morning kitchen fire will necessitate the closing of The Hub Baja Grill for up to four weeks. Photo courtesy of Robert S. Hackney.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 2, 2012
Kitchen fire causes The Hub to close temporarily

Fire officials were working Wednesday to discover the cause of a fire that resulted in at least $200,000 in damage to The Hub, closing it for up to four weeks.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 2, 2012
FDOT turns down Midnight Pass speed-limit request

Saying studies do not justify a change, the Florida Department of Transportation has denied a request by the Sarasota County Commission, the Siesta Key Condominium Council and the Siesta Key Association, requesting a lower speed limit on a one-mile segment of Midnight Pass Road.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 2, 2012
Four county schools make state's Top 20 lists

Pine View School, Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences, Sarasota Middle School and Laurel Nokomis are ranked in the Top 20 for their respective state categories.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Robert Shuey and Joe Shaw, employees of Tierra Inc., check on the depth of the water table Jan. 31 in one section of the Siesta Public Beach Park. Photo by Norman Schimmel.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 2, 2012
'Field work' under way at Siesta Public Beach

If you see a couple of men digging into the parking lot at Siesta Public Beach over the next couple of weeks, the odds are good they are part of a crew working under the auspices of the Sarasota County Public Works Department.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Sarasota Chalk Festival founder Denise Kowal talks with the news media after appearing to pick up Legoman Jan. 26 in Venice. Photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • February 2, 2012
Observed: Legoman 'sprung' from custody, but public's questions remain

If the Legoman appearance on Siesta Key last fall was a publicity stunt for the Chalk Festival, why not say so?

  • Sarasota
  • News
John Gudritz is the co-owner of an investment management firm.
  • By John Gudritz
  • February 2, 2012
My View: Village atmosphere can be detriment to Key's future

Siesta Key Village has changed over the last 12 years, and not in a way that I would have anticipated or chosen.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Citizens group offers fuller explanation of efforts; Parking meters should be bagged immediately

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2012
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Rev. Dr. Jay Rock
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • February 2, 2012
Interfaith Partnership seeks to promote tolerance

St. Boniface Episcopal Church hosted the first of several gatherings planned by a new partnership, the Sarasota-Manatee Interfaith Partnership, Sunday, Jan. 29.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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