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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
News Briefs

New animal license fees approved; Nominations sought for Keystone Awards

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Talks between The Van Wezel Foundation and city staff over future operations of the performing arts hall have been tabled for two months. Photo by Norman Schimmel.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2012
City officials spar with Van Wezel Foundation

The chairman of the Van Wezel Foundation expressed alarm Tuesday that, after months of negotiations with city staff, commissioners want more details concerning options.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2012
DID pares down project features

A consensus was reached Tuesday, during a Downtown Improvement District meeting, to eliminate brick streets and parallel parking plans for Main Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Boaters in Sarasota Bay don’t want to be told where they will be allowed to anchor outside a managed mooring field scheduled to be constructed this year.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: Mooring field

City commissioners have agreed with staff recommendations for regulating boaters anchored outside a proposed mooring field.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A new Walmart neighborhood market is coming to the site where Winn-Dixie operated a store for four decades. File photo.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: North Trail revitalization

A Walmart grocery store and a new Goodwill Superstore have been approved by the city on the North Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: Lourdes Ramirez

After people become acquainted with Lourdes Ramirez, they often ask if she has a law degree because of her expertise in county issues.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini’s scheduling of a meeting for Friday was called into question by the City Commission.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2012
Bartolotta thinks 'ulterior motives' at work

The Sarasota City commissioners will hold a special meeting Friday to review an investigation of three city computers, though they have not received any preliminary report.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
News Briefs

New College notches No. 5. ranking

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
Our View: No bricks, no parallel parking!

Now, if only the Sarasota city commissioners will listen.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Rod Thomson
  • January 5, 2012
My View: Clip those 'golden parachutes'

We need a complete re-start on the contracts given to top government employees. These ridiculous buyout packages for administrators at taxpayer expense must stop.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Photo by Norman Schimmel
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: John F. McCarthy

The county's interim executive director of community services is overseeing some of the county's biggest projects starting this year, including the Siesta Public Beach improvements.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Photo by Norman Schimmel.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: Tom Maroney

From 'wrangling' criminals in Arizona to supervising Siesta Village upkeep, Tom Maroney knows the importance of a sense of humor.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: Term limits

A Florida Supreme Court ruling later this year could bring faster, future turnover to the Sarasota County Commission.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: Cathy Antunes

From baseball to term limits, one Sarasota citizen is doing her best to keep local government responsive to the people.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: Beach Improvements

The nation's No. 1 beach is scheduled for a major facelift starting this summer, but the work could disrupt annual events.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Florida Department of Transportation already has begun extensive planning for the renovations of the north Siesta Bridge, which will begin June 5. Photo by Norman Schimmel.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: North Bridge Renovations

The potential for a confluence of three major projects on the north end of Siesta Key has residents and business owners trying to keep a positive outlook.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Incoming Sarasota County administrator Randall Reid’s first day is Jan. 23. Photo courtesy of Alachua County.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: Randall Reid

Randall Reid will take the reins of Sarasota County government in January, when he assumes his new role as the county's administrator.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
In early December, a Sarasota County contractor installed a new fence at the intersection of Treasure Boat Way and Ocean Boulevard, as part of the county’s efforts in overseeing Village upkeep. Photo by Rachel O'Hara.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: Maintenance Corp.

Property owners have entered the new year with unresolved issues over the long-term upkeep of Siesta Village.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Marina Jack restaurant and marina owner Bob Soran continues to fight Sarasota County Property Appraiser Bill Furst's claim the restaurant owes $1.5 million in back property taxes. Photo courtesy of Norm Schimmel.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2012
Delve into 12: Marina Jack

A lawsuit, filed by Marina Jack to dispute a claim the restaurant owes $1.5 million in back property taxes, could be resolved in 2012.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Lee Fox is executive director of Save Our Seabirds.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 5, 2012
Save Our Seabirds seeks cleanup volunteers

Volunteers are needed this Saturday for a cleanup of the bird-rescue facility.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Siesta Key Village Association members plan to research options for improving the visibility of pedestrians using the Village’s crosswalks at night. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Concerns voiced about pedestrian safety at night

Siesta Key Village Association members plan to ask county officials to work on a means of illuminating Village crosswalks at night, to improve pedestrian safety.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Photo by Norman Schimmel
  • By Loren Mayo and Rachel S. OHara
  • January 5, 2012
Sarasota locals vow new year resolutions

Their 2012 vows include eating at every restaurant downtown, learning to tango, remaining a city 'cheerleader' and maximizing opportunities in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 5, 2012
BUSINESS OBSERVER

Waste Pro garbage truck drivers awarded for safety; Local businessman publishes book on socialism; NBI Sun Control to donate percentage of sales; YMCA receives grant from Harry Sudakoff Foundation; SunTrust Bank hires new vice president; The Insurance Mart receives Best of Award; Half Shell Oyster House of Sarasota opening downtown; Darwin's on 4th hires brewmaster; Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota appoints new General Manager

  • Sarasota
  • News
This home at 1320 Quail Drive has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 4,453 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,375,000. Photo by Nick Friedman.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 5, 2012
Quail Drive home sells for $1,375,000

Lawrence and Gail Monaco sold their home at 1320 Quail Drive to Scott and Elizabeth Woods, Sarasota, for $1,375,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • January 5, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Tayler Brothers

Tayler Brothers, 20, of Osprey, got his first boogie board for his fifth birthday and has not been off his surfboard since.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
JUST THE STATS

21 - The number of points senior Tanner Weigand scored in Sarasota High's men's basketball 54-48 win over St. Mary's (Canada), Dec. 30. The win gave them a third-place finish in the 10-team Lehigh Holiday Madness tournament in Lehigh Acres.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Samantha Bisceglia submitted this sunrise photo, taken on on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Samantha Bisceglia submitted this sunrise photo, taken on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Photo courtesy of Norman Schimmel.
  • By Norman Schimmel
  • January 5, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: A booming good time

Although downtown Sarasota did not have its traditional New Year's Eve celebration, the 16-minute fireworks show on the bayfront, by Marina Jack, did mark a celebratory start for 2012. And although the crowd wasn't close to the size seen on July 4, people nonetheless were appreciative of the light show.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
ISLAND BEAT: Oh, what a busy beach it was for the holidays

With temperatures hovering the 80s for much of the holiday period, it was no surprise that the No. 1 beach in the country was a popular spot.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Pelican Cove resident Margie Rosenthal socializes with Mim Sabshin at Temple Emanu-El’s Lunch with the Rabbi Jan. 4. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • January 5, 2012
Pelican Cove residents host Lunch with the Rabbi

When Temple Emanu-El's Lunch with the Rabbi program celebrated its second anniversary Jan. 4, Pelican Cove resident Marjorie Rosenthal made certain the occasion would be a special one.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
This Siesta Beach home, which has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,090 square feet of living area, sold for $1,554,800. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 5, 2012
Sandy Hook home sells for $2 million

Linda Boring, Sarasota, sold her home at 15 N. Sandy Hook Road to Renee Chase and Edward Aroyan, Sarasota, for $2 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Peter van Roekens took this photo of a rainbow over Siesta Key beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2012
Weekly Weather

Peter van Roekens took this photo of a rainbow over Siesta Key beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 4, 2012
12 Black Tie Events in 2012

12 Black Tie Events in 2012

  • Black Tie
Overall, the Sarasota County School District has maintained an A grade every year that state grades have been assigned.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 4, 2012
Sarasota High Schools earn top rankings

Every high school in Sarasota County received either an A or a B ranking from the Florida Department of Education Wednesday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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