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Your Observer

Dawn Bedell submitted this sunset photo, taken at Lido Beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Cool Today Winner: Circle 'Round

Dawn Bedell submitted this sunset photo, taken at Lido Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Braden River High sophomore forward Austin Myara tallied his first hat trick of the season; helping lead the visiting Pirates to a 5-0 victory over Charlotte in a Class 4A-District 11 match Dec. 8.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 14, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Austin Myara

Braden River High sophomore forward Austin Myara tallied his first hat trick of the season; helping lead the visiting Pirates to a 5-0 victory over Charlotte in a Class 4A-District 11 match Dec. 8. Here is an inside look at this week's Athlete of the Week.

  • East County
  • Sports
Serenity Vega is a fourth grade student at Rowlett Magnet Elementary.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Observer Team Spotlight Q&A

Meet this week's Observer Team player, Serenity Vega.

  • East County
  • Sports
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Jose Silva
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Business Observer

Area businesses benefit from Premier; Turner Tree reports record-breaking sales; Jose Silva joins Blue Skye Lending

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 14, 2011
Lakewood Ranch Country Club home tops weekly sales

A home in the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Michele Bucher took this sunset photo from her front yard.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2011
Weekly Winner: Star Burst

Michele Bucher took this sunset photo from her front yard.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Detectives almost immediately ruled Scott's death as suspicious.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 13, 2011
Manatee County detectives search for clues in homicide

The body of Nicole Rose Scott, 29, was found Dec. 11 in a ditch at the end of University Parkway, east of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
About 160 people enjoyed a full turkey dinner.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 13, 2011
VFW holds Christmas party for National Guard unit

Braden River VFW Post 12055 thanked local soldiers with a special Christmas dinner.

  • East County
  • News
An appeal of a Goodwill Superstore was denied Monday.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 13, 2011
Goodwill appeal denied without discussion

Sarasota City commissioners decided not to hear an appeal by North Trail residents about a Goodwill Superstore.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Families and friends of Selby Gardens gathered Thursday for the bromeliad tree lighting just outside the Payne Mansion.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Selby Gardens bromeliad tree lighting

Selby Gardens lit its 20-foot-tall bromeliad tree Dec. 8.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Out-of-Door Academy students had many questions for Brian Wigelsworth.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Sand sculpting demonstration at ODA

Brian Wigelsworth did a special sand sculpting demonstration, Monday, Dec. 12, at Out-of-Door Academy's lower school campus.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
North Port High had the largest drop in graduation rate, from 88.1% to 83%.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • December 13, 2011
Three Sarasota schools graduate fewer, district dips below 84%

Despite small decrease, district schools remain higher than state average.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch High JV cheerleading squad took home a first-place trophy for its performance.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River High Cheerfest

East County cheerleaders showed off their team spirit during Braden River High's Cheerfest Dec. 10 Three JV squads and five varsity squads performed cheer and dance routines in front of their families and friends and a panel of judges. Lakewood Ranch won the JV competition while Braden River finished third. In the varsity competition, the Mustangs took home second place while the Pirates finished third.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
Lakewood Ranch gallops past Booker

The Lakewood Ranch High girls basketball team defeated Booker 54-28 Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
Lady Mustangs kick past Lady Tarpons

Aubrey Riggins scored Lakewood Ranch's lone goal off an assist by Morgan Salmon as the Lady Mustangs defeated Charlotte 1-0 Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
Mustangs blank Tarpons

The Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team shutout Charlotte 6-0 in Class 4A-District 11 action Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • Sports
Five-year-old Kristen Rice performed with the Gullett Elementary School dance team.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Gullett Elementary Winter Performance

Fifth-graders at Gullett Elementary School welcomed the holiday season with their winter performance of Toy Storage Dec. 13. Students acted, sang and danced throughout the production, which told the story of a bunch of toys getting cleaned up and coming out of storage just in time for Christmas. Those in attendance also enjoyed a performance by the Gullett dance team prior to the start of the show.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jeanne Dexter, Laura Turner, KC Bruelle, Mary Harper, Lisa Dexter and Lucretia Tuffile
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: St. Armands Resident Association

St. Armands Resident Association had a dual welcome back and welcome to the circle membership happy hour at newly opened LaMalinche Restaurant on Monday, Dec. 12. Members mingled with each other over drinks and light appetizers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tom Aposporos is president of the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 13, 2011
IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Tom Aposporos

Tom Aposporos is president of the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Braden River High varsity cheerleading squad was one of five teams to compete in the school's Cheerfest Dec. 10.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Team Spirit

East County cheerleaders showed off their team spirit during Braden River High School's Cheerfest Dec. 10.

  • East County
  • Sports
Longboat Pass Bridge is located at the north end of the Key.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 12, 2011
Longboat Pass Bridge construction project begins

Contractors are in the beginning phases of a $1.1 million repair project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A sand sculpture of ODA's logo, with a few extra creative additions, was created by Brian Wigelsworth on Monday. The sculpture will remain at the school until it finally falls apart.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 12, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Out-of-Sand

Brian Wigelsworth created a sand sculpture of Out-of-Door Academy's logo, Monday, Dec. 12, on Out-of-Door Academy's lower school campus.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Andy Mele along with Sarasota Bay Watch dumped 3 to 4 million microscopic baby scallops into the bay on Friday, Dec. 9.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 12, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Scallop release

Andy Mele along with Sarasota Bay Watch dumped 3 to 4 million microscopic baby scallops into the bay on Friday, Dec. 9.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tony Almengual and Katherine Orenic show off some ornaments they planned to hang on the Laurel Park Christmas tree, Sunday, Dec. 11, during the Laurel Park Holiday Party at Laurel Park.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 12, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Laurel Park Holiday Party

The 9th annual Laurel Park Holiday Party was full of bright lights, lots of sweets and plenty of singing, Sunday, Dec. 11, at Laurel Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Linda Pendray, Debbie Harvey, Peg Davant and Lily Wohl pose around the piano.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 12, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Cookies and Carols at St. Boniface

St. Boniface held its 5th annual Cookies and Carols event, Sunday, Dec. 11, inside St. Boniface's Parish Hall.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Our pets perceive the world around us in much the same way we do. They have the same five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.
  • By Dr. Howard Small
  • December 12, 2011
HEALTH MATTERS: Making sense of your pets' senses

Understanding how your pets' senses differ from humans can help you better discern when something is wrong.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2011
IN THE KITCHEN WITH: Tanya Waxler

River Club resident Tanya Waxler, a Realtor, simply loves to cook. Her son, Levi, now is on a high-fiber diet, so Waxler has found a creative and tasty way to make meatloaf healthier.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2011
Sarasota County starts work on $1.2 million baseball complex

Sarasota County and The Miracle League of Manasota today celebrated the groundbreaking for a new baseball field for handicapped individuals at Longwood Park.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 12, 2011
Goodwill Superstore appeal to be heard today

Sarasota City commissioners will hold an informal workshop today and hear why residents don't want the city to move forward with a Goodwill Superstore on the North Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 12, 2011
Obituary: Mary Lou Reesey

Mary Lou Reesey of Longboat Key and Youngstown, Ohio died Dec. 1. She was 80.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 12, 2011
Obituary: Robert Edwin Blumenthal

Robert Edwin Blumenthal of Longboat Key, formerly of Philadelphia, Pa. died Dec. 5. He was 77

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2011
Body found on University Parkway

The victim has been identified as 29-year-old Nicole Rose Scott.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2011
Former Mustang star to coach baseball camp

Former Lakewood Ranch High, Manatee Community College and University of Central Florida standout Jonathan Griffin will be on hand to help coach during 217 Sports and SCF baseball's winter baseball camp Dec. 19-22.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2011
Lakewood grapplers finish ninth

With only nine wrestlers competing, the Lakewood Ranch High wrestling team finished ninth in the 28-team tournament at Pinellas Park High Dec. 9-10.

  • East County
  • Sports
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2011
EMB cheerleaders finish fifth

The East Manatee Bulldogs Junior Midget cheerleading squad finished in the novice small division of the 2011 Pop Warner National Cheer & Dance Championships Dec. 7 at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

  • East County
  • Sports
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