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Your Observer

Jen Blanco
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 2, 2011
COMMENT: Perfection carries several meanings

Seasons are defined by wins and losses; district, regional and state titles; and record-setting performances.

  • East County
  • Sports
Freshman Justin Ross and senior Ryan Fischer read the "The Quiltmaker's Gift" to a group of fifth-grade students.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 2, 2011
Pirate football players share time, stories with Tara students

The Braden River football team read to fourth- and fifth-grade students at Tara Elementary Oct. 27 during the school's Sports Day. A group of players also read to Dehlia Garrity's first-grade class at Braden River Elementary Oct. 26.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Remember our veterans on 11/11/11; Beware of the dailies' outsourced call centers

  • East County
  • Opinion
Meet this week's athlete, Kyle Thoma.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 2, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Kyle Thoma

Thirteen-year-old fullback Kyle Thoma hauled in two touchdown passes, rushed for an 80-yard touchdown, kicked three extra points and racked up more than 200 yards of total offense, leading the East Manatee Bulldogs Junior Midget team to 24-13 victory over the Palm Harbour Panthers in the opening round of the playoffs Oct. 29.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High's boys and girls varsity and JV cross country teams all won county titles Oct. 29. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 2, 2011
Lakewood Ranch wins championships

The Lakewood Ranch boys and girls varsity and JV teams were all victorious at the Manatee County Championships Oct. 29 at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch residents Rob Tucker and Janie Scott hope to bring a little fun to their new martial arts studio.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 2, 2011
New martial arts studio lands on Ranch Main St.

America's Best Martial Arts opened Oct. 26 on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 2, 2011
Sports Briefs

Midgets to play for conference honors

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2011
Our View: Rowing park questions

Nathan Benderson Park just keeps growing, in scope and in cost. As an international rowing destination, it could be a huge sports tourism draw to Sarasota and Manatee counties.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Rod Thomson
  • By Rod Thomson
  • November 2, 2011
My View Postal decisions were good politics

The U.S. Postal Service decision to keep open the Tallevast distribution office is good news for those 300 employees. But it does not alter the underlying need for cuts.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2011
Obituary: Pamela Mary Guthrie

Pamela Mary Guthrie, 85, of Sarasota, and formerly of London and Longboat Key, died Oct. 24.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2011
Obituary: Caleb Livingston Batten

Caleb Livingston Batten, 90, of Longboat Key, died Oct. 6.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2011
Obituary: Stuart Curtiss Allen

Stuart Curtiss Allen, 102, of Bradenton, and formerly of Longboat Key, died Oct. 19.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 2, 2011
Real Estate Reports

Signature Sotheby's announces new agents; New agents join MS&Co. St. Armands Key office

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Kevin Kegler submitted this sunset photo, taken at Casa del Mar on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2011
Weekly Winner: Dynamic Duo

Kevin Kegler submitted this sunset photo, taken at Casa del Mar on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • November 2, 2011
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Read this week's Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2011
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
This Richmond Park home, which features four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,454 square feet of living area, sold for $760,000. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 2, 2011
University Park home tops sales at $760,000

A home in Richmond Park tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Adrienne and John Wagner, trustees, Sarasota, sold the home at 8120 Collingwood Court to Robert and Wendy Grady, of Haddonfield, N.J., for $760,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2011
Business Observer

Ranch company films ShleterBox documentary; Pope Financial launches in Ranch; SMR introduces assistance program

  • East County
  • News
Gabe White tried on an entire firefighter outfit.
  • By Dianne Trask
  • November 2, 2011
Goddard education heats up with firefighters' visit

In keeping with its 'In the Neighborhood' theme during October, The Goddard School at Lakewood Ranch hosted a variety of professionals throughout the month. Children enjoyed a visit by a fire truck and ambulance Oct. 21.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Cathy Woolley took this sunset photo in the Bradenton Marina at Pier 22.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2011
Weekly Winner: Dinner by the River

Cathy Woolley took this sunset photo in the Bradenton Marina at Pier 22.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
"We knew nothing about (organzing) museum exhibits when we got involved in this project," says Dan Boxser with his wife, Litten. "There's no question, this whole thing has enriched our lives."
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • November 2, 2011
BACKSTAGE PASS:The museum underwriters

Longboat Key couple Dan and Litten Boxser had no idea that underwriting an exhibit at the Florida Holocaust Museum could generate so much buzz in the African-American community.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 2, 2011
Key narrowly misses Conde Nast list

The island received the 11th highest ranking of U.S. islands in the 2011 Readers' Choice Survey.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
...
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • November 1, 2011
Black Tie Standout of the Week

Black Tie Standout of the Week

  • Black Tie
Christian Iturrino, Sean Freund, Andrew Beall checked out the fire truck.
  • By Dianne Trask
  • November 1, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Goddard's 'In the Neighborhood'

In keeping with its "In the Neighborhood" theme during October, The Goddard School at Lakewood Ranch hosted a variety of professionals throughout the month. Children enjoyed a visit by a fire truck and ambulance Oct. 21.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Stacy Alexander of Mote with Amy Stephens and Courtney Lynn with Macy’s, a sponsor of Penguin Island
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • November 1, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Penguin Island Opens

The six black-footed penguins at Mote Aquarium have been getting a lot of attention lately. The VIPs had their on VIP event for the ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, Nov. 1 when public leaders, Mote trustees and Penguin Island Sponsors came to enjoy a reception and ribbon cutting. The Penguin Island exhibit, featuring the South African mammals, which are endangered in the wild, is now open.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Kurt Wenner is a world-renowned artist, architect and innovator of 3D pavement art.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • November 1, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Asphalt art

The Sarasota Chalk Festival today opened on Pineapple Avenue and will continue through Monday, Nov. 7.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 1, 2011
SCF basketball season tickets on sale

Season tickets for the upcoming State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota Manatees basketball season are now on sale.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Braden River Soccer Club U10 boys silver team went undefeated during the Halloween Havoc Tournament Oct. 15-16.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 1, 2011
Fourth BRSC team scores Halloween Havoc title

The Braden River Soccer Club U10 Silver team won its division of the ninth annual Halloween Havoc Tournament Oct. 15-16.

  • East County
  • Sports
Can you tell us where this fall scarecrow resides? The first person to answer correctly gets a Facebook shout out.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 1, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY Where am I?

Can you tell us where this fall scarecrow resides? The first person to answer correctly gets a Facebook shout out.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Public Works employees Doyle Walker and Curtis Vandermolen trim the sea grapes. It is an annual job every Oct. 31 when turtle season ends, but the weather yesterday did not permit trimming.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • November 1, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Sea Grape Trimming

Longboat Key Public Works employees Doyle Walker and Curtis Vandermolen trim the sea grapes. It is an annual job every Oct. 31 when turtle season ends, but the weather yesterday did not permit trimming.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Angela Mejicanos dressed as a web and dressed her daughter, Stella, 7 mos., as an itsy bitsy spider, Monday, Oct. 31, at ODA.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • November 1, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Itsy Bitsy Spider and her Web

Angela Mejicanos got crafty and spun a costume for herself and her daughter that was just the right amount of Halloween with a ton of cuteness.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Parking meter hourly rates rise from 50 cents to $1 today. File photo.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 1, 2011
Downtown Sarasota parking meter rates rise today

For the next six months, parking meters in downtown will have an hourly rate of $1 per hour.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Teachers Rachel Wilson, Lynn Edwards, Michael Lawson and Kaitlyn Bunker enjoyed the evening.
  • By Marina Wolf-Schmidt
  • November 1, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Kiddie Academy Gala

The Parent Committee at Kiddie Academy hosted the preschool's second Apple Gala Oct. 22 at Cantina Toscana.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Janet Nutting and Jamie Aymerich
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 31, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Fright Night Round 2

St. Armands was transformed into a Halloween town on Monday and packed with hundreds of creatures, superheroes, animals and a whole fruit basket's worth of fruit items for Fright Night. Zombies that were once Sarasota High School students swarmed around St. Armands Circle, bringing hundreds of gawkers to watch their apocalyptic performance of Thriller later in the evening.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bill Cogbill and Tom Luciani
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 31, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Halloween at Bird Key Yacht Club

Of the Bird Key Yacht Clubbers in the Halloween spirit on Monday, Oct. 31, the witches were the most frequent costumes. There was a special Halloween menu, special decor and the staff were all dressed for Halloween. Ann Webber provided piano music for the event, such as Halloween-sounding Phantom of the Opera.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mario, Jack, 4, Marissa, 7, and Ann Marie Govic trick-or-treated as a family throughout the Village.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 31, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Siesta Key Village Trick-or-Treating

Hundreds of children and their parents took went trick-or-treating, Monday, Oct. 31, in Siesta Key Village.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
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