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Your Observer

According to FPL spokesman Neil Nissan, crews responded to the scene and restored power to affected residences by 9 a.m.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 27, 2012
Power outages impact north Key residents

Residents on the north end of Longboat Key were among the 900 FPL customers who lost power early this morning.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The public is invited to see the roping and penning portion of the competition from 2-5 p.m. Jan. 28, at the rodeo arena at the Sarasota Polo Club. Admission is free.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 27, 2012
Polo pros, cowboys saddle up for SMR Cup

Polo players will take on Schroeder-Manatee Ranch cowboys this weekend in a three-day competition.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 27, 2012
Hazardous waste disposal available to island residents

The town of Longboat Key, in conjunction with the cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach will hold a hazardous waste collection for residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Board member John Holtzermann helps out with construction efforts. (Courtesy: Longboat Island Chapel)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 26, 2012
Aging in Paradise construction moves forward

The church began construction of a new elevator last week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Legoman was released Jan. 26 by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office into the custody of Burns Square property owner and artist Denise Kowal, founder of the Sarasota Chalk Festival.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 26, 2012
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Free at last

Legoman was released Jan. 26 by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office into the custody of Burns Square property owner and artist Denise Kowal, founder of the Sarasota Chalk Festival.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 26, 2012
JAN. 26: 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
Dr. Sean Snaith says Sarasota and the country can continue to see a slowdown in growth for the first quarter of 2012, mainly because of a labor market that’s struggling to recover locally.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 26, 2012
Economic outlook looks weak

A Central Florida-based economist told Sarasota officials Sarasota is rebounding slowly and won't see job growth for another year or so.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 26, 2012
Lakewood golfers receive proclamation

The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team, which captured the Class 2A state championship Nov. 1-2, received a proclamation from the Manatee County Commission Jan. 24.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 26, 2012
Local teaching pros to square off in tennis series

Ty Braswell and Nate Griffin will face Travis Eckert and Gerardo Azcurra in the fourth event of the Gettel Nissan Tennis Series Feb. 11 at the Palm-Aire Country Club.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 26, 2012
Lady Mustangs send three to state meet

Three members of the Lakewood Ranch High girls weightlifting team finished in the top three at the District 8 State Qualifying Weightlifting Meet Jan. 25 at Port Charlotte High and will now advance to the state meet Feb. 11 at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 26, 2012
Braden River Key Club to host Sandbox Volleyball Tournament

The Braden River High Key Club will host its first Sandbox Volleyball Tournament from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 10 at Bee Ridge Park in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 26, 2012
SCORES: Pirates blank Sailors, advance to district final

The top-seeded Braden River High boys soccer team blanked Sarasota 5-0 in a Class 4A-District 11 semifinal Jan. 25.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 26, 2012
Thunder set to face Falcons in district final

The Out-of-Door Academy boys soccer team defeated St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep 4-1 in a Class 1A-District 8 semifinal Jan. 25.

  • East County
  • Sports
Phil Couture, Dana Magee, Courtney and Vice Commodore Lee Goodman
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 26, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Yacht Club Commodore's Ball and Opening

Sarasota Yacht Club members break out the comm-adorable gowns and suits for ball. A train of former commodores decked in their finest were presented into the dining room of Sarasota Yacht Club members on January, 21. The group dated back to 1997. Following the procession was dinner and dancing the night away.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This Abraham Lincoln artwork was spotted on the rooftop of Hollywood 20.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 26, 2012
Is Honest Abe the new face of Hollywood 20?

This rendering of Abraham Lincoln, which seems to have borrowed the hat from Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat," was spotted on the rooftop of the Hollywood 20 movie theater in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jason Flovig, 4, and Isabella Balje, 3, held up two of the orange bows that were adorned on the new playground items at Forty Carrots.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • January 26, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Forty Carrots playground renovation

Forty Carrots held a special ceremony to commemorate the renovation of both of the playgrounds at Forty Carrots, Tuesday, Jan. 24.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dick Vitale signs a basketball for Alan Streitmatter.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 26, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Dick Vitale at The Broken Egg

Famed sportscaster Dick Vitale appeared at his favorite restaurant and home away from home, The Broken Egg, Thursday, Jan. 26 to film part of an upcoming ESPN program called, 'All Access with Dickie V.' Vitale, a Lakewood Ranch resident, eats at The Broken Egg on an almost daily basis and considers the breakfast and lunch restaurant his second home. 'They treat me really well here,' said Vitale. 'They help me raise money for cancer research, and they have great food. I eat at the Siesta Key location at least once a week.' Vitale talked with fans, posed for photos and signed autographs. With the help of The Broken Egg, Vitale raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for The V Foundation for Pediatric Cancer Research through private donations and the sale of basketballs, bobble heads, his books and other memorabilia.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Butter Sculpture
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 26, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Fleet Captain's Dinner

Bird Key Yacht Club was packed for Fleet Captain Allyn Carlson's dinner on Saturday, Jan. 21. The usual table of seafood and ice sculpture was done-up with a butter sculpture of a fish jumping out of water. It was one of the best displays of the year by Executive Chef Joseph A. Santangini. The room was packed with tons of people and it was practically bumper-to-bumper - as the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Dylan Interval and Daniel Rodriguez show off their books, Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Bay Haven Elementary.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • January 26, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Build a Book at Bay Haven

Bay Haven held their 5th annual Build a Book event, Wednesday, Jan. 25, inside Bay Haven's cafeteria.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Congressman Vern Buchanan will run for re-election with mostly the same district that produced victories for him in 2008 and 2010.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 26, 2012
Buchanan's district stays intact

The 13th Congressional District only received a slight redistricting modification according to a new redistricting map.

  • Sarasota
  • News
ODA team leaders from last year's Relay for Life accepted the Top Youth Award on behalf of ODA's student body.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 26, 2012
ODA receives Top Youth Award

The American Cancer Society recognized the Out-of-Door Academy Jan. 25 for ranking fourth nationally in fundraising.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 26, 2012
First lady kicks off literacy

To kick off the statewide program, Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! first lady Ann Scott paid a visit Monday, Jan. 23, to Sarasota Middle School.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 26, 2012
Cops Corner

Cops Corner

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 26, 2012
Letter to the Editor: Stop trying to reinvent downtown Sarasota

Letter to the Editor: Stop trying to reinvent downtown Sarasota

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Rachel Brown Hackney
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 26, 2012
Observer: At long last, a sign marks the site of No. 1 beach

Rob Lewis probably felt as though he had given birth last week. For months, Lewis, the county's executive director of planning and development services, was the person in charge of getting a photogenic sign up at Siesta Key Public Beach, something proudly proclaiming what Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman told a national TV audience last May: Siesta is the No. 1 beach in the country.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 26, 2012
Maintenance Corp. ordinance set for hearing

The County Commission this week approved a Feb. 21 public hearing on a new Maintenance Corp. ordinance for the Village.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The property leased by Blu Que Island Grill (formerly Blu Smoke), in the Village, is one of the parcels owned by Chris Brown that he contends Sarasota County staff singled out for an excessively high 2011 parking assessment.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 26, 2012
Village property owner's lawsuit back in Circuit Court

A U.S. District Court judge agrees that a Village property owner's latest lawsuit against the county hinges on issues that should be tried in Circuit Court.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 26, 2012
Sarasota Planning Commission gains three new members

The County Commission Jan. 24 appointed three new members to the Sarasota County Planning Commission: Joseph Gessner, Robert Morris III and Terry J. Richardson.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 26, 2012
News Briefs

SCVB wins top award for US Airways insert; State to host information session for condo owners

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Residences on Siesta Key Beach opened in 2009. Units in the six-story building range in size from 1,700 square feet to 2,600 square feet, and are priced from $785,000 to a little more than $2 million. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 26, 2012
Gulf Coast real-estate arms with a new strategy

The recession crushed the first go-around of a $100 million luxury condo project on the Gulf Coast. A New York real-estate firm now will take its turn, armed with a new strategy.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 26, 2012
Sarasota School Board tables budget decisions

Although the Sarasota County School Board took its first look last week at budget projections for the 2013 fiscal year, the board will not make any decisions about the spending plan until spring at the earliest, Chairwoman Caroline Zucker said this week.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 26, 2012
Commission enacts new ethics policy

The policy stipulates duties and responsibilities of all Sarasota County employees and the County Commission regarding the prevention and reporting of fraud.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Tanja Hoffman and her son, Robin, say they love operating their new bakery on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 26, 2012
German family introduces authentic tastes to Key

Tanja, Maneul and Robin Hoffman moved from their home country to open A Taste of Germany on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • January 26, 2012
JAN. 25: 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
Construction on a roundabout at Pineapple Avenue and Ringling Boulevard is expected to last until June at the latest. Photo by Norman Shimmel.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 26, 2012
Burns Square businesses eye construction effects

Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown announced that the city Jan. 29 will close Ringling Boulevard from Orange Avenue to U.S. 41.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Senior city planner Steve Stancel told the DID board Tuesday that this latest offer would be much easier to sell to the City Commission.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 26, 2012
DID will pay for $1.9 million project

The Downtown Improvement District has reversed course, agreeing to pay for all of a Main Street project that resides within its district.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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