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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
JUST THE STATS

6-0 - The Lady Sailors basketball team's record as of Saturday, Dec. 3, after beating Bayshore High 61-30.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Meet this week's athlete, Camille Giardina.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 8, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Camille Giardina

Camille Giardina, 14, might be only a freshman, but she already is a major asset to Cardinal Mooney's varsity girls basketball team this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lynne Osterman submitted this sunset photo, taken near Point of Rocks on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
Weekly Winner: Stand-up Sunset

Lynne Osterman submitted this sunset photo, taken near Point of Rocks on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Pesty cleaning

Enjoy a classic Cops Corner entry from the Longboat Observer archives.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Graci and Dennis McGillicuddy
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Embracing Our Differences Annual Luncheon

Embracing Our Differences Annual Luncheon

  • Black Tie
The City of Sarasota and the Van Wezel Foundation have entered into a series of exploratory discussions regarding the future operations of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 7, 2011
Van Wezel operations investigated

The city of Sarasota is deciding whether or not there's a more efficient way to run the operations of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The mansion features the handiwork of 13 designers from the American Society of Interior Designers, who have transformed each room using the latest trends in home design and holiday décor.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 7, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Holiday Splendor at the Payne Mansion

The Payne Mansion Holiday Showhouse will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 2, 2012, and during the evenings of Lights in Bloom, from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 16 through Dec. 23 and Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Students from the Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo Academy.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
Local taekwondo students win awards

Students from the Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo Academy recently attended the Olympic Grand Prix Tournament at Lakewood Ranch High and walked away with numerous accolades.

  • East County
  • Sports
Eva Rey, executive director for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2011
IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Eva Rey

Florida native Eva Rey began work as the executive director for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall in August 2011.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
Holiday TRX cardio tennis class announced

Cardio tennis manager Michele Krause will hold a holdiday TRX cardio tennis class from 5:30-7 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Meadows Country Club, 3101 Longmeadow in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Sports
Those interested in giving a donation can contact Julie DeRice at 918-8062.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 7, 2011
Casey Key seeks toy donations

A Casey Key Salvation Army toy drive will be held Monday and residents are urged to donate for children wish lists.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Palm Avenue parking garage is lowering rates for the boat parade on Saturday afternoon.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 7, 2011
Downtown parking garage lowers rate for weekend holiday event

The Palm Avenue parking garage will offer a $2 cash-only rate to Christmas Boat Parade of Light attendees on Saturday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Trade-in event to benefit Habitat for Humanity

Sarasota County and Manatee County residents may donate their 'gently-used' furniture to local Habitat for Humanity Restore Home Centers, Dec. 9 to Dec. 12, to receive a discount voucher for the purchase of new furniture at The Furniture Warehouse.

  • East County
  • News
"Collateral Damage" is H. Terrell Griffin's sixth novel.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
Local author's novel hits national shelves

H. Terrell Griffin's 'Collateral Damage' was released nationwide this week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Read East County Observer's newest installment of Health Matters.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
SPECIAL ISSUE: Health Matters

As the new year begins, our East County professionals have chimed in to help you meet your heath, financial, fitness and other goals for 2012.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Delaney enjoys Alaska - sort of

What do you do after retiring from your career as an NBA referee?

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ralph and Bea Einstein
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
61 years and counting

Ralph and Bea Einstein will celebrate their 61st anniversary Dec. 30.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
First Bank employees Charlotte Dakel and Vicki Mann
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
Collection banks on holiday toys

First Bank of Longboat Key is banking on donations for Toys for Tots.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
All aboard for the holiday boat parade

The Cortez Yacht Club's Holiday Boat Parade is taking off Saturday, Dec. 17 from Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub and floating its way to the Seafood Shack.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Dr. Ira Abrahamson
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
Bridge player makes triumphant feat

Dr. Ira Abrahamson bid and made 7 notrump in back-to-back hands, which is like making two holes-in-one in successive outings of golf, he says. He made the first hand in his apartment, where he plays on Tuesdays, and it was the last hand bid of the day.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Alice Dean with PAL and Vacation Rentals Manager Gordon McMillan. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
25 years of work honored

Resort Operator Alice Dean started out in housekeeping at the Longboat Key Club and Resort 25 years ago.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jane Boehme, of the Longboat Key Garden Club, rings the bell for the Salvation Army Dec. 4.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
Boehme rings her silver bell

When the Longboat Key Garden Club signed up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army for two full days, Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key member Jim Burmeister, who is in charge of organizing the bell-ringing campaign, was relieved

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The resolution of the Colony dispute will be good for the town, but does the town have a role to in its resolution?
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
Commission talks role in Colony dispute

Former Mayor George Spoll generated discussion among commissioners after he spoke about the ticking clock for the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort redevelopment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Monica Simpson resigned from her position as Longboat Key Planning Zoning & Building Director in a Dec. 2 letter to interim Town Manager David Bullock.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
Simpson resigns as P&Z director

Planning Zoning & Building Director Monica Simpson resigned from her position after an investigation that ran a month-and-a-half but will continue to do consulting work for the town.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Publix will hold a community workshop to display its plans and renderings for the proposed project.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
P&Z to check out Publix plans

Planning & Zoning Board will discuss next week Publix's request for outline-development plan and site-plan approval.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
L'Ambiance, Sanctuary dismiss Key Club de novo challenge

Attorney Robert Lincoln says that the case will move forward with IPOC as the single plaintiff, but Key Club attorney John Patterson believes that the dismissal raises issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
St. Denis returns 401(k) contribution

The former town manager agreed to return a 401(k) match of $10,365.79 after commissioners questioned the payment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
News Briefs

Mote seeks part-time residents for study; Town files amended Armstrong complaint; Commission approves ordinances; Commission approves budget transfer for bonuses

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Patricia Ostroski
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
SEASON OF SHARING: Patricia Ostroski

Patricia Ostroski is spreading health and wealth. In 2008, Ostroski started teaching a weekly yoga class at Bayport Beach and Tennis Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The words "SUR 13" and "SOTA 941 County" were written in graffiti on New Pass Bridge. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
New Pass graffiti could be gang-related

Police found graffiti that appears to be connected to a local gang, but, according to Police Chief Al Hogle, gang activity is a rarity on the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The town should swap the two parcels next to Pattigeorges to get a community center.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Our View: Community center: Act III

Rather than let that 9,400-square-foot restaurant property continue to sit empty and deteriorate, it could be converted to a community center and perhaps satisfy the vision of creating town-center activities clustered around Publix.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Cell phone coverage is a matter of life or death; Town should mediate in Jim Armstrong case; Christmas bonus with tax dollars is wrong; Beer Can Island could be option for cell tower

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
George Rauch, Longboat Key, is chief executive officer of Bradenton-based General Propeller and a former Wall Street investment banker.
  • By George Rauch
  • December 7, 2011
Market Watch: Dollars and no sense equals indebted mess

A little more than three years ago, in March 2008, the U.S. national debt was $9.4 trillion. In the 925 days since then, our national debt has risen to almost $15 trillion.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Betty Huston
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
Neighbors: Betty Huston

Everyone whom 94-year-old Betty Huston passes while riding her three-wheel bike from Twin Shores to Publix gives her a wave.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
LECOM School of Dental Medicine
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2011
SPECIAL REPORT: East County's most expensive construction

In Sarasota and Manatee counties, 41 construction permits for more than $1 million have been pulled in the past year. Of those, about one-fourth are in the East County.

  • East County
  • News
The new plaque stands near the fountain on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 7, 2011
Ranch Community Fund unveils Founders' 50 plaque

The plaque on Lakewood Ranch Main Street recognizes donors who have established permanent charitable funds dedicated to Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
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