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Your Observer

Sosso
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 25, 2011
Prudential Palms to close five offices

Real-estate broker Helen Sosso will close five Prudential Palms Realty offices to reduce costs.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Jeff Strong puts the finishing touches on his 2010 entry. Photos by Rebecca Wild Baxter.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 25, 2011
Planning under way for 2011 Crystal Classic

The organizers have planned several new features for the second master sandsculpting event on Siesta Key, including a special tribute to veterans.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
On a sunny day at Siesta Public Beach, the shower area in the northernmost part of the parking lot poses no immediate problems, but rainy days and heavy shower use have produced algae growth in standing water.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 25, 2011
Beach outdoor shower prompts complaints

A resident recently alerted commissioners to dangers of standing water in the Siesta Public Beach parking lot.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Sarasota County staff finally has removed dead palm trees that stood in front of the Michael Saunders office on Ocean Boulevard. File photo.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 25, 2011
County receives mostly positive marks for Village maintenance

During the first eight days Sarasota County workers have handled the upkeep of Siesta Village, they have won positive marks.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 25, 2011
County extends wiki deadline

The extension comes after requests from the public for more time to participate.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • August 25, 2011
City proposes $844,000 in cuts, millage-rate hike

City Manager Bob Bartolotta said the increased millage rate would help pay for the Lido Pool and Taylor center. He also reduced the amount needed from the rainy-day fund.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • August 25, 2011
Committee spars with police lieutenant

The city's Police Complaints Committee debated with Lt. John LeBlanc over what kinds of reports are necessary for the committee to review.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
News Briefs

Siesta, Venice chambers hosting networking session; City providing budget details on its website; Community orientation program kicks off Sept. 1

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Click inside to view this week's Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 25, 2011
Siesta Key on track again to top tourist tax collections

Based on figures through June, Siesta Key brought in $32,000 more in tourist tax collections than the city of Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
One of the proposed Main Street sidewalk widening sections is from the Pineapple Avenue roundabout to Orange Avenue.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • August 25, 2011
DID plans sidewalk-widening project

The Downtown Improvement District believes a Main Street sidewalk-widening project will benefit stores and create a more uniform feel to the downtown district.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Flashing school speed-limit signs were not working for a brief period of time on the first day of school at Southside Elementary School. Photo by Kurt Schultheis.
  • By Kurt Schultheis and Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 25, 2011
New school year sees few problems on first day

Except for the minor glitches expected on any opening day of the new school year, the Sarasota County School District reported a generally smooth start Monday.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Mary Anne Servian
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
News Briefs

Downtown Sarasota Alliance sees changes; U.S. Rep. Bachmann to greet Sarasota voters

  • Sarasota
  • News
Genevieve Beauchamp leads the campers in song.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • August 25, 2011
Sarasota's young voices unite in song at camp

The Sarasota Young Voices program held a one-week summer camp Aug. 15 to Aug. 19, to prepare for a commemorative concert to be held Sept. 11, at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kelly Sims
  • By Loren Mayo and Rachel S. OHara
  • August 25, 2011
Neighbors: Back to School 2011

First-day-of-school jitters aren't just for the little ones - they happen to moms, dads and the older kids, too.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
Our View: Keep eliminating fees

Sarasota City Commissioner Shannon Snyder started a crusade recently to get the city's impact fees eliminated or suspended. It did not take much to get his fellow city commissioners to agree.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Selling Bobby Jones is short-sighted; Seniors to blame for overspending

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Unit 1603 at Royal St. Andrew, 555 S. Gulfstream Ave., has two bedrooms, three baths and 1,929 square feet of living area. It sold for $775,000. Photo by Loren Mayo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 25, 2011
Royal St. Andrew condo sells for $775,000

Robert Rutter sold his Unit 1603 condominium at 555 S. Gulfstream Ave. to Powell and Sarah Robinson, Sarasota, for $775,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Deloris Hammock submitted this sunset photo of Sarasota Bay, with Longboat Key in the distance.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
Weekly Winner: Hazy Days

Deloris Hammock submitted this sunset photo of Sarasota Bay, with Longboat Key in the distance.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The front of the Casey Key home is surrounded by palm trees and other foliage.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 25, 2011
Home & Garden: Reflection perfection

Three years ago, Grant's Gardens started designing the landscaping, paving and lighting along with the lagoon and pool, with the help of Lucas Lagoons, of this Casey Key home.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
Our View: Tourism numbers tell tale

The most recent tourism numbers demonstrate more than ever the critical importance of focusing on beach health and appropriate parking and lodging facilities for tourism.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Commissioners criticized for access; Seniors, others must accept responsibility; For beach parking, a small garage?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Parking meters were first installed in Sarasota in 1942 and removed that May. They were installed in 1946 and removed in 1967.
  • By Rodger Skidmore
  • August 25, 2011
My View: Creative parking meter options

It seems city commissioners have forgotten what they have done in the past. And yes, I do consider that the commissioners of 1942, 1946 and 2011 are the same people.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Nestled in a quiet area a short distance from the intersection of Treasure Boat Way and Higel Avenue, Sandy Shore Avenue was the scene of vehicle break-ins last week.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 25, 2011
Detained bicyclists linked to vehicle burglaries

Last week on the Key, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies thought it was more than a little suspicious when they spied two young men on bicycles with no lights heading eastbound over the north Siesta bridge in the early-morning hours.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
"I was so fortunate to see the world while working," Blair Northen says.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 25, 2011
Neighbors: Blair Northen

After graduating from college, Northen decided to explore the world. She found the job of a lifetime, more beauty in her natural surroundings than she could imagine and her future husband.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
This home at 5217 Shadow Lawn Drive, which has has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,421 square feet of living area, sold for $400,000. Photo by Rachel S. O’Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 25, 2011
Hidden Harbor home tops sales at $2.5 million

The following residential real estate transactions took place between Aug. 8 and Aug. 12. A home in Hidden Harbor tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Fran Palmeri took this photo of a trio of pelicans looking for tasty treats in the Gulf of Mexico.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
Weekly Winner: Dive! Dive! Dive!

Fran Palmeri took this photo of a trio of pelicans looking for tasty treats in the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: East County

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
The lobby of the new office for J Wood Realty inside the building at 330 S. Pineapple Avenue.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 24, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Chamber After Hours combines with meet the neighbors event

The Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce held their After Hours event Wednesday, Aug. 24 in conjunction J Wood Realty's 'meet the neighbors' event that included Envy and Bridge Street Bistro.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The town’s required firefighter pension plan contributions exceed 35% of firefighter payroll costs.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 24, 2011
Pension contributions top 50% of police, 35% of fire payroll costs

Pension contributions top 50% of police, 35% of fire payroll costs A Florida League of Cities report shows that the town's required pension contributions make up a higher-than-average share of payroll costs.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Click inside to see one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • August 24, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Sarasota

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

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Sarasota County’s beaches and parks will be cleaned up as part of Keep Sarasota County Beautiful’s 2011 International Coastal Cleanup effort.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • August 24, 2011
Sarasota cleanup effort underway

Keep Sarasota County Beautiful is ramping up its 2011 International Coastal Cleanup effort, which will be held Sept. 24.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Fifth graders Gracie Schlotthauer, 9, Emma Donato, 10, Hannah Bizick, 10, Caroline Lafoe, 10, and Celia Miller, 10, show off their new, brightly colored shoes.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 24, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: First day back at ODA

Students, parents and family members filled the halls on the first day back to school Wednesday, Aug. 24 at of Out-of-door Academy.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The accident occurred near the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Reckless driver dies in Lakewood accident

Sammy K. Pletcher Jr. lost control of his vehicle when he tried to pass vehicles last night in a left-turn lane on northbound Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 24, 2011
TOPSoccer set to kick off sixth season

Braden River TOPSoccer will host registration for its upcoming fall season from 5-7 p.m., Sept. 1-2 at the Braden River Soccer Club clubhouse behind Lakewood Ranch High School, 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

  • East County
  • Sports
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