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Your Observer

Francesca Magnotti, Liam Lizotte and Chance McArtor play with the fire hose.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • September 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Siesta Key Firefighters Visit St. Boniface Preschool

The Siesta Key Fire Department visited St. Boniface Preschool on Sept. 22.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 22, 2011
Mustangs remain undefeated

The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team improved its record to 29-0 with victories over Venice, Riverview and Seminole Sept. 21.

  • East County
  • Sports
April Piana of Cutting Loose Salon and Spa applies the finishing touches to fashion show model, Penny Hill.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 22, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Finishing Touches

Models showcased fashions from Eileen Fisher and Brooks Brothers during the Council of Realtors, Sarasota Chapter's fashion show and luncheon Sept. 21 at the Polo Grill and Bar.

  • East County
  • News
Beth Pheney, Nancy Phillips, Donna Soda and Julie Cutmore all belong to the Summit Group in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Women's Council of Realtors, Sarasota Chapter's fashion show

More than 300 business professionals and their guests gathered at the Polo Grill and Bar for the Women's Council of Realtors, Sarasota Chapter's annual fashion show and luncheon Sept. 21. Guests enjoyed lunch, a fashion show, featuring fashions from Eileen Fisher and Brooks Brothers, and a silent auction. Proceeds from the event benefit the Women's Council of Realtors Education Fund and Children First, an organization dedicated to strengthening children and families by improving the quality of their lives.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 22, 2011
COMMUNITY SPORTS TIPS: Staying Positive

This week, University Park Country Club Tennis Director Jared Grose shares tips for positive and stress free matches.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Life is a beach for this bird enjoying the early morning on Longboat Key's beach.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • September 22, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Bird of a Feather

Life is a beach for this bird enjoying the early morning on Longboat Key's beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Florida City and County Management Association (FCCMA) has offered its assistance to the town in its search for an interim town manager.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • September 22, 2011
FCCMA offers to help with interim manager search

The group can provide guidance through former managers and a list of managers currently seeking employment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Ringling Bridge will close one inside traffic lane next week during the hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 22, 2011
Ringling Bridge becoming energy efficient

The Ringling Bridge's 98 streetlights will be retrofitted with energy efficient lights starting next week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Sarasota

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

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Longboat Key

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

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 22, 2011
Land deal made on Tara Bridge

Manatee County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $1.6 million deal to purchase land from developer Pat Neal as part of an eminent domain settlement agreement.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 22, 2011
IT restructuring irks Bartolotta

The city manager believes the Sarasota City Commission's decision to transfer the Information Technology Department out of his office is a reflection on his management ability.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Chalk Festival founder and Chairwoman Denise Kowal announced Monday night that a 4-1 vote by the Sarasota City Commission had potentially ruined any chance of the festival’s return for its fifth anniversary in November.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 22, 2011
Chalk Festival off, back on again

The Sarasota Chalk Festival, scheduled for Nov. 1, was in jeopardy of being canceled because of the Sarasota City Commission's grant-permitting change.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Learn how to grant wishes

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida will be hosting a wish granting training session Saturday, Oct. 1, for volunteers in the Suncoast Region.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
David Walkley, David Mitchem and Brad Durrance. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Moving day is a roaring success

Two Men and a Truck's David Walkley and Brad Durrance were surprised when handed their job sheet for the day recently with instructions to move two full-mount trophies of African lions from Sarasota to Gainesville, to be displayed in the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
When Gracie McMinn gets tired of walking during the Heart Walk, her dad carries her the rest of the way. Gracie loves cheerleading and is learning to play tennis.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • September 22, 2011
Young survivors share their heartfelt stories

Ten-year-old McLain Miller has a scar down the center of her chest. She calls it "her zipper."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The city of Sarasota already has two electric car-charging stations in the Palm Avenue parking garage. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 22, 2011
City receives jolt from new program

The city of Sarasota will be receiving six electric car-charging stations in a variety of locations from Florida Power & Light by the end of the year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 22, 2011
FULL STORY: City Commission approves 5.3% millage increase

Sarasota city commissioners approved on second reading Tuesday a new fiscal year budget that raises the millage rate to 2.9249 mills.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 22, 2011
DID's marketing effort progresses

City leaders and business owners gave advertising updates at a marketing meeting this week hosted by the Downtown Improvement District.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Cover of 9/11 issue was in bad taste; Thanks for 9/11 remembrance coverage

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Our View: Survey says ... not much

Sarasota County's annual citizens survey feels more like an exercise in putting on a happy face than in determining what residents actually think.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Ashley and Tim Gruters pose with their Observer newspaper in front of the Biltmore estate in Asheville, N.C. Courtesy photos.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 22, 2011
Neighbors: No Reservations

A four-day weekend tennis tournament became a 33-day road trip that led Sarasota couple all the way to New York City and back.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A map released by the Florida Department of Transportation in June shows tentative sites for the 10 pedestrian islands along Midnight Pass Road between Beach Road and Stickney Point Road.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 22, 2011
Pedestrian plan peeves public

Condominium association members and others say a Florida Department of Transportation plan to construct 10 pedestrian islands on a 1-mile stretch of Midnight Pass Road will create more problems instead of helping people cross the road more safely.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The current Gulf Gate Library opened in December 1983. File photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 22, 2011
Work could start before 2015 on new library

The Sarasota County Commission has agreed to the replacement of the Gulf Gate Library on its current Curtiss Avenue site and has asked staff to look at ways the project can be started sooner than the fiscal year 2015 timetable for which it has been slated.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Residents of high-rise condominiums on Siesta often are unaware of the county fire code's specifications for alarms.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 22, 2011
Condo residents unaware of fire code regulations

In most high-rise condominium buildings, when a fire alarm on one floor goes off, alarms also sound on just the two floors above it and the floor below it, according to the county's chief Fire Prevention Division inspector.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 22, 2011
School board gets news of $14 million hole in next budget year

After approving its fiscal year 2012 budget, the Sarasota County School Board Tuesday examined early projections for revenues and expenses in 2013, including a projected shortfall of $14.5 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 22, 2011
Chair defends board's actions

County Commissioner Nora Patterson told a Tiger Bay Club audience that although the commission could have paid more attention to signs of trouble with procurement before a scandal erupted, the board was constrained by the county charter.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 22, 2011
More high school students seeking free, reduced-price meals

After the Sarasota County School District Food and Nutrition Services Department made it possible this school year for families to apply online for their children to receive free and reduced-price meals, more high school students have been approved for the aid.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
News Briefs

Public meeting to be held on new scrap metal law; Henry promoted to Health Department administrator; Planning Board approves Siesta Drive store permit; County business taxes due by Sept. 30

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Nicholas and Lawrence Metcalfe
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 22, 2011
Cafeteria Confidants: Take your Dad to School

Phillippi Shores Elementary students asked the important men in their lives to share lunch with them during "Take Your Dad to School" week. We asked the dads, grandfathers and kids to share some of their favorite school memories.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The home at 1535 Hillview Drive has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,707 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,275,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 22, 2011
Harbor Acres home sells for $1,275,000

Jonathan and Natalie Rosenthal, Atlanta, sold their home at 1535 Hillview Drive, in Harbor Acres, to Robert Stack, Bradenton, for $1,275,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Fran Palmeri took this photo of Siesta Key Beach under an umbrella of summer clouds.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Weekly Winner: Cotton Candy Clouds

Fran Palmeri took this photo of Siesta Key Beach under an umbrella of summer clouds.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Corey Shenkin submitted this sunrise photo, taken in Osprey.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Weekly Winner: Morning Glory

Corey Shenkin submitted this sunrise photo, taken in Osprey.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2011
Our View: This is the best we can do?

Seriously? The sign on this page is the best that Sarasota County could come up with not only to celebrate the Siesta Key Beach's top national ranking but to commemorate it for future visitors?

  • Sarasota
  • News
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The Citizen Tax Oversight Committee meets once a year to review expenditures of revenue brought in from the infrastructure surtax. The 2026 meeting lasted about 15 minutes on Thursday, April 2.
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Benderson Development's latest plans for the former Sarasota County Administrative Center property as presented to Laurel Park residents in December 2025.
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