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Your Observer

    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • October 20, 2011
Commissioners confident about candidate timeline

The majority of the Sarasota County commissioners believe they are allowing ample time to receive applications for a new county administrator. If they do not find the applicant pool adequate, they will extend the process.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City Manager Bob Bartolotta has denied allegations of impropriety.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • October 20, 2011
Bartolotta denies allegations of computer scrubbing

The city manager emphatically called the charge of computer scrubbing 'completely unfounded.'

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • October 20, 2011
School board to consider other district advertising policies

The Sarasota County School Board will wait six months to see how other Florida districts develop advertising policies before deciding on action.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • October 20, 2011
FULL STORY: Police pensions safe for now

The Sarasota City Commission Monday agreed night to table a proposal to force police officers into a 401(k) plan.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Ford-Coates
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 20, 2011
News Briefs

Citizens Academy enrollment open; Ford-Coates honored for finance operations; School district to host 2011 Fall College Night; Sheriff's Office receives forensics grant

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 20, 2011
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 20, 2011
Ranch CDDs to meet

Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts and the Inter-District Authority Board will discuss a new governance website, among other topics, at a meeting today.

  • East County
  • News
It’s an overcast, breezy day out at the Celery Fields, and Owen Comora is leaning against his SUV with a set of binoculars draped around his neck.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 20, 2011
Neighbors: Owen Comora

As the senior bird naturalist at Myakka River State Park, Owen Comora has devoted more than 4,000 volunteer hours to his passion.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 20, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Kudos to truth on occupiers and tea party; Occupy and tea party differences backward; What happened to just working hard?; More questions about county arrogance

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • October 20, 2011
Gifted program levels steady in Sarasota County schools

For the foreseeable future, the Sarasota County Public Schools should be at no risk of having to implement a lottery system to control the number of students in its gifted student programs.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Read this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 20, 2011
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Michael Dancer, No. 17, makes his way down the field to score a touchdown for the Sarasota Sailors Friday, Oct. 14, during the homecoming game against the East Lake Eagles at Cleland Stadium. Sarasota High lost 38-52. Photo by: Rachel S. O'Hara
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 20, 2011
JUST THE STATS

75 - The percentage of Cardinal Mooney High School students who participate in at least one sport each school year.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Courtesy Photo.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 20, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Summer Clarkson

Cardinal Mooney High School junior Summer Clarkson was among 80 riders nationally who competed in the equestrian hunter-jumper Marshall and Sterling League National Finals, in upstate New York.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The penthouse condominium at Tessera, 500 S. Palm Ave., has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and 5,780 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.2 million. Photo by Loren Mayo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 20, 2011
Tessera condo sells for $3.2 million

John Melk and Karen Palmer-Melk sold their penthouse condominium at Tessera, 500 S. Palm Ave., to Ermon and Linda Pickard, of Savannah, Tenn., for $3.2 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Valerie Byford submitted this sunset photo, taken near Marina Jack in downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 20, 2011
Weekly Winner: Boater's Paradise

Valerie Byford submitted this sunset photo, taken near Marina Jack in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Village's Safe Treats Halloween observance isn't just for children. File photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • October 20, 2011
Island Beat: Tushes slowly make progress on service station plans

The Tush family, owners of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Stickney Point Road, slowly are making progress on their plans for the former BP station just to the west of their store.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The Rev. Dean Taylor is an accomplished cellist who already has performed during one St. Boniface service. Rachel O'Hara
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • October 20, 2011
Neighbors: A focus on faith and fun

When the Rev. Dean Taylor arrived this month at St. Boniface Episcopal Church, he told the staff, 'This is your year to do bold and adventurous experiments, because the stakes are so low.'

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Robin Draper submitted this photo of a couple on a sunset stroll along the Siesta Public Beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 20, 2011
Weekly Winner: 'Some Enchanted Evening'

Robin Draper submitted this photo of a couple on a sunset stroll along the Siesta Public Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Outgoing President Gary MacDonald passes the gavel to Rose Marie Tamundy-Casanova. Courtesy photos.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • October 20, 2011
'Mighty' Kiwanians recognize outstanding club members

The 'Mighty' Siesta Key Kiwanis Club has named Carolyn Kofler its Kiwanian of the Year 'for unwavering support and dedication' to the club and the community.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
This Harmony home, which has six bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,637 feet of living area, sold for $870,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 20, 2011
Harmony home tops all sales at $870,000

A home in Harmony tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Fred Pflaum, Sarasota, sold his home at 4919 Primrose Path to Scott Wenk, Sarasota, for $870,000.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Garden Club members Jane Boehme and Celia Edmundson
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 19, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Garden Club Fundraiser

One hundred and twelve people enjoyed lots of wind with their wine at the Longboat Key Garden Club wine tasting fundraiser at Harry's Continental Kitchen. But that didn't stop the group from raising $465 on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Harry's Continental Kitchens supported the event with food and appetizers, and Howie Banfield provided entertainment.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Braden River High freshman Stanislaw Grzeslo swam the butterfly leg of the boys 200-yard medley relay.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 19, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Pool Party

The Braden River and Lakewood Ranch High boys and girls swim teams hit the pool for the 2011 Manatee County Championships this afternoon and G.T. Bray.

  • East County
  • Sports
Andy Youngs and Gail Buermann preview the St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Christmas Bazaar, which will take place on Nov. 19.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 19, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Christmas in October

Andy Youngs and Gail Buermann preview the St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Christmas Bazaar, which will take place on Nov. 19.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The group raised $1,605 for cancer research.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 19, 2011
Cardinal Mooney students raise funds

Students from Cardinal Mooney High School's Key Club gathered Oct. 1 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual Light The Night Walk at Ken Thompson Park in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Helen Bradshaw and Jane Howard-Jasper
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 19, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: ECW Lunch

The All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church Women got together for its monthly meeting. Guest speaker and nutritionist Rebecca Kloss taught the women in attendance about how to read a food label. She calls her speech 'How the Heck Can I Tell if This is Good for Me?' She suggests cutting out processed foods and go back to eating fresh. Hopefully, the luncheon following the lecture was according to her nutritional guides.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key resident Eve Kommel loves to prepare traditional dishes for company, and her favorite to serve is a simple Hungarian Goulash.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 19, 2011
IN THE KITCHEN WITH: Eve Kommel

Longboat Key resident Eve Kommel was born in Berlin in 1930 and learned how to cook from her Hungarian grandmother.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
On Friday, Oct. 14, then Acting Town Manager Al Hogle was notified that Planning, Zoning and Building Department employees complained of a problem with PZ&B Director Monica Simpson. File photos.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 19, 2011
Longboat Key faces Town Hall turmoil

After emergency Longboat Key Town Commission meetings Monday and Tuesday, assistant to the town manager Susan Phillips was named acting town manager.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 19, 2011
P&Z sends north-end cell tower support signal

The Longboat Key Planning & Zoning Board voted 8-1 to recommend an ordinance for an Outline Development Plan for a proposed cellular tower at Longboat Island Chapel.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 19, 2011
Mediation appeals to both sides in Colony dispute

U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday made his long-awaited rulings last week, but both sides now hope the case won't be decided in court.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Former Longboat Key Building Official Randy Fowler
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • October 19, 2011
Former building official assesses Simpson

Former Longboat Key Building Official Randy Fowler, who resigned in June 2009 amid frustrations with the Planning, Zoning and Building Department and the management style of former Town Manager Bruce St. Denis, said he's not surprised that Planning, Zoning, and Building Director Monica Simpson was placed on administrative leave amid allegations of verbally abusing employees.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 19, 2011
News Briefs

Mote, UF study could benefit coral reefs; Commission to discuss redistricting proposal; Lenobel, Zunz qualify to run for re-election; Town monitoring tropical disturbance

  • Longboat Key
  • News
People danced the night away to Blues Pig’s songs at last year's Fish Fry. File Photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 19, 2011
Fish-fry fundraiser to help keep history alive

Could the Longboat Key Historical Society Museum soon be history?

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 19, 2011
Key Club asks judge to toss writ challenge

Sarasota County Judge Charles Roberts heard arguments last week in the Longboat Key Club and Resort's request to dismiss a petition for a writ of certiorari.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Max Goldner's owners think he deserves his day at the beach on Longboat Key. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 19, 2011
Dog owners seek line in the sand

Key canine owners plan to ask commissioners to allow their pets test access to the island's beaches.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Read this week's Cops Cornet
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 19, 2011
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Donna and Jeff Lenobel escort their daughter, Jessica, the soon-to-be Mrs. Ian Paige, down the aisle.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 19, 2011
Beach wedding captures perfect Key moment

Jessica Lenobel, granddaughter of Longboat Key Commissioner Hal and Hazel Lenobel, married Ian Paige Saturday, Oct. 15, on the beach at the Longboat Key Club and Resort. Scarsdale, N.Y., resident Jessica and Roslyn, N.Y., resident Ian met in 2000 at the University of Michigan, where they both studied.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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