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Your Observer

Holly Ferguson sets off the first firework July 4, on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • July 14, 2011
Raffle winner detonates fireworks

On July 2, Holly Ferguson won the first raffle that allowed the winner to detonate the TNT box for the Siesta Key Fireworks show.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Sherry Griffith jumps out of the dory while her twin sister, Shelly, gets ready to whip the boat back around to head back out into the Gulf of Mexico Thursday, July 14 during the 2011 James "MAC" McCarthy Southeast Regional Lifeguard Competition.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • July 14, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: SE Regional Lifeguard Competition

The 2011 James "MAC" McCarthy Southeast Regional Lifeguard Competition started Thursday, July 14 out at Siesta Key Beach. The three-day event features professional lifeguards with Florida's junior lifeguards being featured on the final day. Lifeguards run, swim, paddle and row - testing their lifesaving skills among their peers in 13 different events.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 14, 2011
Community Golf Scores 07.05.11 to 07.11.11

East County golfers post amazing numbers on area courses.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Our view: Poor decisions drive budget

Sarasota's new city commissioners knew they had some tough going ahead of them following the spending and promises of previous commissions. Residents also had a hint, electing at least two new commissioners bent on reining in spending and government scope.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Letters to the Editor

State would get great return from rowing center funding; Jellyfish aren't '¨the problem here

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 14, 2011
Pelican Press going back to its roots

This edition of the Pelican Press marks the completed transition of the Pelican Press' ownership from Milwaukee-based Journal Community Publishing Group to our company, The Observer Group Inc., locally owned and publisher of the Sarasota Observer, Longboat Observer, East County Observer and Gulf Coast Business Review and the Palm Coast Observer on the east coast of Florida.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
When repairs of the North Siesta Bridge begin at night in June 2012, the bridge will continue to open for boat traffic, Florida Department of Transportation officials say.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • July 14, 2011
Keep Siesta Key bridge traffic moving

SKA board members urged FDOT officials to ensure smooth traffic management.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 14, 2011
County holds off on approving upkeep bills

The Sarasota County Commission's latest foray into the Siesta Key Village Maintenance Corp. saga ended Tuesday with a request for more information from staff.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • July 14, 2011
County agrees to annual parking review

A property owner's second lawsuit involving parking leads to a county commitment for more care in taxing parcels.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The new stormwater project will prevent runoff flowing from the beach to the Gulf.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • July 14, 2011
Stormwater project could lose funding

Residents' worries about the new stormwater retention pond at Siesta Public Beach have held up a pipeline project designed to prevent future beach closures.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Briefs

City budget to be discussed at July 20 Town Hall meeting.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • July 14, 2011
County sets maximum millage rate

The Sarasota County Commission has set its maximum millage rate for Fiscal Year 2012 not to exceed the current rate.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The LWR Remembers 9-11 event is scheduled for Sept. 10 at Premier Sports Complex.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Charity bartending to benefit 9-11 event

Celebrity bartenders will mix drinks to raise money for Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corporation's LWR Remembers 9-11 Flag Dedication tonight at The Polo Grill and Bar.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • July 14, 2011
City eyes job and service cuts

Thirteen positions are targeted for elimination, and city residents may see reductions in a host of services they once took for granted, as City Hall seeks to trim millions from its 2012 budget.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 14, 2011
What happened to my Pelican Press?

Dear Readers: Wednesday was a big day for us. It marked the completion of the transition of the Pelican Press' ownership from Milwaukee-based Journal Community Publishing Group to our company, The Observer Group Inc.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Drivers turning onto East Bay Street from southbound U.S. 41 experience wait times at the red turn light of up to five minutes and 10 seconds.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • July 14, 2011
Meet in the Middle

Concrete medians that were meant to protect Osprey residents from heavy traffic are being fingered as culprits behind dying businesses and long waits at red lights.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • July 14, 2011
City audit finds no wrongdoing

A look at how city employees were using purchasing credit cards shows the city largely in compliance with rules.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 14, 2011
County denies city-funding request for brownfield

The Sarasota County Commission will not give the city of Sarasota $500,000 to clean up a former dump site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Stephen King joins blood drive

The Suncoast Communities Blood Bank kicked off its sixth annual Boots vs. Badges blood drive competition with an open house Tuesday, July 12, at the Sarasota donor center.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Free fun for families on Friday

Grab your blankets and lawn chairs Friday, July 15, and find a spot at the Van Wezel's FridayFest on the bayfront.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mary Kaye and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman with Barbara Burkett and Jeanne Corbin
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Politicians make stops in Sarasota

Led by Chairman Joe Gruters, the Republican Party of Sarasota is attracting the attention of primary hopefuls.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Sarasota Sluggers team places fifth in statewide tournament

The Sarasota Cal Ripken 2011 8U Rookie "A" Team - Sarasota Sluggers - has placed fifth in the state of Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
News Briefs

Homeless fed at vice mayor's home Citizens group demands another county audit

  • Sarasota
  • News
When repairs of the North Siesta Bridge begin at night in June 2012, the bridge will continue to open for boat traffic, Florida Department of Transportation officials say.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • July 14, 2011
Traffic, rainy delays top concerns with Siesta Key bridge project

Smooth traffic management and making sure the work is completed before tourist season begins in earnest: Those were the foremost concerns voiced July 7, when the Siesta Key Association board of directors hosted Florida Department of Transportation officials for a discussion of the 2012 north Siesta Key bridge rehabilitation project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • July 14, 2011
Sewage-treatment smell riles Palmer Ranch

A wastewater-treatment plant on McIntosh Road had a new odor-elimination system installed, but residents complain the smell is worse than ever, and they are demanding the county take action.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Cops Corner

No refunds 7:36 p.m. - 1500 block of Main Street. Suspicious Incident. A driver called police to help him remove his ATM card, which was stuck in one of the new downtown parking meters.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
"There's a neat stillness up there, and it's only in the early morning or right after a thunderstorm," says Rabbi Brenner Glickman.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • July 14, 2011
Rabbi fulfills sky-high dream

Rabbi Brenner Glickman spent his 40th birthday on Cloud Nine, while hang-gliding at Wallaby Ranch.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Laurie Birch and Bruce Holst left Wednesday to reintroduce rare orchids and ferns back into their natural habitats in the Everglades.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • July 14, 2011
Rare finds

Two Marie Selby Botanical Garden employees are preparing to help rare ferns and orchids become productive members of society.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
"I want kids to read about this and know that they have the possibility to do something like this, to be the very best they can," says Dennis Flood.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • July 14, 2011
Journey of a Lifetime

Strapped into the pilot seat of his Cessna 172, Dennis Flood left May 22, from the Suncoast Air Center, in Venice, for Alaska.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
John Rorer is the head proprietor of Richard's Foodporium. The Sarasota-based company of natural foods and specialty goods runs 13 corporate and three franchise locations in Florida, from Port Charlotte to Flagler County.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 14, 2011
Stream of Dreams

John Rorer built a small natural foods empire on the Gulf Coast during the past decade. His lynchpin is a lesson for all entrepreneurs: He isn't afraid of new ideas.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Christ Hunt, who currently co-runs a private investigation firm in Sarasota, is training to become a baseball umpire.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 14, 2011
Perfect Pastime

A cop-turned-private investigator seeks another line of work. But he still aims to settle arguments.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By George Rauch
  • July 14, 2011
Market Watch: Debt causes direction of market to stay questionable

Right now, even though the market has sold off recently, we remain in what is technically called a bull market. Under current economic circumstances, it's amazing the market is not at half of its current value of 12,250 points.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Unit 1603 at The Tower Residences, 35 Watergate Drive, has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,985 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.09 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 14, 2011
Tower Residences condo sells for $2 million

A condominium in The Tower Residences tops all real-estate transactions in Sarasota from June 27 to July 1. Property Healers Inc. sold the Unit 1603 condominium at 35 Watergate Drive to Roger Hauger and Cathy Convery-Hauger, of Sarasota, for $2.09 million. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,985 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $2.35 million in 2003.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Tom Norton submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Weekly Winner: Keeping Watch

Tom Norton submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Donna Gaume shows Wendy Wilson all the services and products Mandala has to offer Wednesday, July 13 at Sarasota Prime Time.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • July 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Prime Time

Sarasota chamber members enjoyed an evening of mingling, meeting and munching Wednesday, July 13 during the Sarasota Prime Time event presented by The University of South Florida - Sarasota Manatee at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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