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Your Observer

Eighteen-month-old Brayden Ridenour enjoyed tossing shells onto the grill while playing at Adventure Park in Greenbrook this morning.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 29, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Playtime

Eighteen-month-old Brayden Ridenour enjoyed tossing shells onto the grill while playing at Adventure Park in Greenbrook this morning.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Read one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Longboat Key

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

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Read one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Sarasota

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

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
David Bullock has been deputy administrator of Sarasota County since 1997.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • September 29, 2011
Bullock signs contract with $180K salary for consideration

The agreement signed by David Bullock for the Longboat Key Town Commission to consider includes an annual salary of $180,000.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

Enjoy a classic Cops Corner entry from the East County Observer archives.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
If Ringling Boulevard is under construction, motorists would likely head to Fruitville Road to get through downtown quickly. And if Fruitville Road is under construction, drivers are likely to use Ringling Boulevard. File photo.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 29, 2011
Roundabouts set for season

Construction on two Ringling Boulevard roundabouts and a paving project on Fruitville Road will start in November. CRA Advisory Board members questioned the move.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo courtesy of Alison Tolpa
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
St. Martha's earns designation

St. Martha Catholic School was recognized last week by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Cardinal Mooney students donate

Members of Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School's Key Club recently organized a school-wide drive to collect items to donate to the Bethesda House of Sarasota, a non-profit organization that assists families affected by HIV.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
One of the city of Greenville, S.C.’s most controversial moves involved buying lots behind the Reedy River for mixed-use developments. Photo courtesy of Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 29, 2011
Greenville outlines its success story

Sarasota hosted the economic development director of Greenville, S.C., to hear how the city revitalized its downtown core since the 1970s.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The portion of Blackburn Point Park known as Fisherman’s Island will feature fishing piers and a kayak launch. File photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 29, 2011
Blackburn Point Park plans move forward

The County Commission approved a permit for construction and a water buffer variance. One more meeting is to be held to address remaining concerns.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rob Lewis, executive director of Planning and Development Services, has notified the county commissioners he also has organized a team of internal staff to work on the project.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 29, 2011
New beach sign in the works

At the County Commission's direction, county staff is assembling a group of representatives from the Key and interested members of the public to create new signage about the Siesta Public Beach being No. 1 in the United States.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
If all goes as planned, county staff should have a new bid for a vendor to handle the Village maintenance ready by Oct. 8, said Tom Maroney, general manager of business operations and public works for Sarasota County.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 29, 2011
Village maintenance vendor bid almost ready

A request for proposals for a new vendor to handle the upkeep in Siesta Village is awaiting final county approval before it is released. At the latest, a new vendor should be on board by early 2012. In the meantime, the county will continue the upkeep.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 29, 2011
Parking garage mural project approved

A Palm Avenue parking garage mural project will coincide with the Chalk Festival in November.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Xiaotian Tang, or "Frank," teaches his students how to speak about birthdays in Chinese.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • September 29, 2011
Visiting Chinese teacher learns new lessons

Chinese teacher Xiaotian Tang is currently teaching the foreign language at two Sarasota County high schools.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Our View: Fast-track zoning change

The new Sarasota City Commission is making real attempts to be more business- and development-friendly, to change the city's "no" perception.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
According to Virginia Haley, the ranking for Siesta Public Beach has produced higher tourist tax collections for the county than the SCVB saw in fiscal year 2007-08, one of the county’s best.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 29, 2011
Siesta still leading the way

It seems Siesta Beach's No. 1 beach ranking is paying off.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Because of lawsuits, special circumstances exist regarding the dock construction along Avenida del Norte and Canal Road on Siesta Key. Courtesy Sarasota County.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 29, 2011
Docks approved on Avenida del Norte

The Sarasota County Commission Tuesday not only approved license agreements for single-family docks on a street adjacent to the Grand Canal but also told staff it did not need to discuss future requests.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Our View: Just lower the speed limit

Other than the historic progression of things, there is no good reason for Siesta Key's Midnight Pass Road to be a state road.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Phil Grande, downtown resident and radio host, at Selby Five Points Park. File Photo.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 29, 2011
Sarasota homeless issue stretches to Selby Library

Downtown Sarasota radio host Phil Grande says the city and Sarasota County need to work together to solve problems involving the homeless at both Selby Five Points Park and the Selby Public Library.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Main Street enhancements include widened sidewalks and changes in streetscape to create a uniform appearance in the historic district. File photo.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 29, 2011
Sarasota Main Street renovations proposed

The city of Sarasota will host two public meetings to ask downtown residents and business owners what major renovation they would like to see on Main Street.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
News Briefs

New regulations proposed for scrap metal; County to dedicate historical marker

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
News Briefs

DSA announces officers for 2011-2012

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Cops Corner: Sarasota

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

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Siesta Beach signs needs improvement; Traffic Advisory Board commended for support

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • Sarasota
  • News
David Merrill
  • By David Merrill
  • September 29, 2011
My View: Public amenities are essential

The city of Sarasota could reap much needed cash by selling Payne Park and Bobby Jones Golf Course, but should it?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Parking meter placement defies commonsense

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Bubby enjoys biting at the water that shoots out of a hose during his time in the outdoor play area.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 29, 2011
Neighbors: Canine Campers

Kelsey Baker unlocks the back door of her car to let out her beagle, Barkley, and ushers him off toward the front door of Camp Bow Wow.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson, Norman Schimmel, Commissioner Jon Thaxton, Assistant Sarasota County Fire Chief Bill Hoag and Commissioner Joe Barbetta. Photo by Kelly French.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 29, 2011
Sarasota County firefighters recognized during presentation

Sarasota resident Norman Schimmel, a native New Yorker, Tuesday presented to the Sarasota County Fire Department a framed photograph of the wall at the Tribute WTC Museum in New York City that is a memorial to the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Eileen and Bob Parkinson are hoping for another stellar turnout for the second Crystal Classic on Siesta Key Nov. 10-14.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 29, 2011
Neighbors: Classic Commitment

As chairs of the Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sandsculpting Competition's organizing committee, Eileen and Bob Parkinson relish the opportunity to contribute to their adopted community.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Santa Claus arrives at Siesta Center to visit with children and families during a past Light Up the Village event on the Key. File photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 29, 2011
Island Beat: Volunteers sought for the Key's second Crystal Classic

Mote is seeking hundreds of volunteers interested in helping out with the second Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sandsculpting Competition, which will be held Nov. 11-14.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
This Siesta Beach home, which has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and two half-baths, a pool and 4,626 square feet of living area, sold for $1,425,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 29, 2011
Siesta Beach home tops week's sales at $1,425,000

A home in Siesta Beach tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Ryan Taylor and Karen Varone, Sarasota, sold their home at 5050 Commonwealth Drive to Anthony and Courtney Bonacuse, of Sparks, Md., for $1,425,000.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Carolyn Bistline submitted this week’s photo of one of the colorful lifeguard stands on Siesta Key Public Beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Weekly Winner: Blue on blue

Carolyn Bistline submitted this week's photo of one of the colorful lifeguard stands on Siesta Key Public Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
This home at 1589 Gulfview Drive has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,114 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,295,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 29, 2011
Bay Point Park home sells for $1,295,000

Valerie Terris, Sarasota, sold the home in Bay Point Park at 1589 Gulfview Drive to Ralph Miller and Patricia Miller, trustees, Sarasota, for $1,295,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Shirley Blair submitted this sunrise photo, taken in downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 29, 2011
Weekly Winner: Religious Experience

Shirley Blair submitted this sunrise photo, taken in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dawn Davis enjoys catching up on her reading and having a macaroni salad for lunch during her lunch break from her work at Superior Bank.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 28, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Lunch Break

For many people working, lunch time is a time to walk away from work and have a little bit of food, possibly with other co-workers. For others, it is a nice way to catch up on some reading while enjoying the shade of a palm tree.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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