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Your Observer

Jessica and Gerrid Smith traveled to Ethiopia twice to complete the adoption process. They returned home with Elijah in July. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • September 14, 2011
Lakewood couple completes family with adopted son

On June 28, Lakewood Ranch residents Jessica and Gerrid Smith boarded a plane for Africa. They returned from Ethiopia with their adopted son, whom they have named Elijah.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 14, 2011
Obituary: Florence Mann

Florence Mann, 91, of Canton, Mass., and formerly of New Bedford, Mass., and Longboat Key, died Sept. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Unit 6 at En Provence, 2161 Gulf of Mexico Drive, has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,400 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.9 million. File photo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 14, 2011
En Provence condo sells for $2.9 million

Jerald Kamiel, of Cresskill, N.J., sold his Unit 6 condominium at En Provence, 2161 Gulf of Mexico Drive, to John and Charlotte Suhler, of Darien, Conn., for $2.9 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Sara Ferguson and Melissa DeMore work their thighs in Chair High V pose.
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • September 14, 2011
Pure Barre comes to town

This summer saw a new exercise technique added to the options locally available to fitness seekers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Enjoy this week's Deal Us In
  • By Donna Swan
  • September 14, 2011
Deal Us In: Loser-on-loser play makes winning easy

"You can easily see," writes Alma Jones, of Iron Mountain, Mich., "looking at mine and my partner's hands that a three notrump contract would have been better and easier to make but difficult to bid."

  • Longboat Key
  • News
"I planted squashes," said Cody Pooler, 11. "It was fun. You poked holes and planted."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 14, 2011
New greenhouse cultivates learning at Pinnacle Academy

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch installed a greenhouse this summer at Pinnacle Academy. Students now are getting their hands dirty and trying to get their garden to grow.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Senior wide receiver Fred Porter made several plays on offense and special teams during ODA’s 28-12 district win Sept. 9.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 14, 2011
Running backs face new stakes, make adjustments

ODA sophomore Demardre Patterson and eighth-grader J.T. Fischer already are making names for themselves on the Thunder sidelines in their first season with the team.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch residents Annie Thornhill and Regina Morris will run their first and only 50-mile ultramarathon this weekend.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 14, 2011
Ranch runners step up for first ultramarathon

Lakewood Ranch residents Regina Morris and Annie Thornhill will compete in the North Face Endurance Challenge Sept. 17 in Wisconsin.

  • East County
  • Sports
Non-alcoholic champagne corks flew through the air, and camera flashes blinded the Braden River Middle School seventh-grader and his FC Sarasota U12 teammates.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 14, 2011
Chargers win home tourney

The Lakewood Ranch Chargers U13 boys team won the Nike Cup Labor Day Showcase Sept. 3-5 at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
A University Park home, which has three bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, a pool and 4,323 square feet of living area, sold for $1.15 million. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 14, 2011
University Park home sells for $1.15M

A home in Sloane Gardens tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Forrest and Carole Rivinius, University Park, sold their home at 7922 Sloane Gardens Court to Patricia Chisholm of Nova Scotia, Canada, for $1.15 million

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Meet this week's Athlete of the Week, Olivia Ortiz
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 14, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Olivia Ortiz

Lakewood Ranch High junior Olivia Ortiz crossed the finish line in 18 minutes, 49.27 seconds to finish first overall at the 19th Annual Canes Classic 5K Sept. 5 at G.T. Bray Park. The 16-year-old followed up her victory with a second-place finish (18:26.30) at the Dejà Vu Invitational Sept. 9 in Tampa. Here is an inside look at this week's Athlete of the Week.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 14, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 13, 2011
Ranch readies for interim contractors

Lakewood Ranch CDD boards this week are expected to hire interim landscape contractors

  • East County
  • News
Braden River will try to get its first win Friday night versus Palmetto.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 13, 2011
Pirates come up a point short

For the second week in a row, Braden River found itself on the outside looking in following a 7-6 loss to North Port Sept. 9.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 13, 2011
EMB Mitey Mites top Trojans

The East Manatee Bulldogs Mitey Mite team defeated the Palmetto Trojans 27-6 for its second win of the season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Patti and Harry Smith have been attending Braden River Elementary’s Grandparents Day Luncheon ever year since their grandson, Alex Miller, started school.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: BRE Grandparents Luncheon

Braden River Elementary students enjoyed spending time with their grandparents during the school's annual Grandparents Day Luncheon Sept. 9.

  • East County
  • Schools
Anyone who has issues to discuss with the city manager may come to Room 112 in City Hall tomorrow at 7:30 a.m.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 13, 2011
Bartolotta's office hours begin tomorrow

The city manager and city staff members will meet with the public the second Wednesday of each month to discuss development issues in city limits.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Can you name this prominent Florida-native plant?
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 13, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Florida-native plant

Can you name this prominent Florida-native plant?

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Town Hall is located at 501 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • September 13, 2011
Commission passes 1.8872 millage rate

The budget and millage rate will be approved on second reading at a special meeting beginning at 5:01 Monday, Sept. 26.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Read one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 13, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Sarasota

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

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Read one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 13, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Longboat Key

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

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 13, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
This little guy makes its home in a sea of purple flowers just outside the gardens' fence, next to the main parking lot.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 13, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Pretty in purple

It's not necessarily one of the most eye-catching flowers at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, but we thought it deserved a little recognition.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 13, 2011
Premier Sports Campus to host action-packed weekend

Soccer, rugby, Frisbee and football players from across the state will take to the fields this weekend at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
Student Cody Rivard got some help from his mom, Shannon. Photo courtesy of Alison Kendzior.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Bashaw Math Fair

Families at Bashaw Elementary School honed their math skills recently during the school's Math Fair Sept. 8.

  • East County
  • News
Michelle Zirkle works on her serve during her tennis lesson with tennis pro Michael Skwira out at the Siesta Key Public Beach Courts.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 13, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Serve's Up!

Siesta Key Public Beach offers more than just water and sand activities. The public tennis courts out by the beach are a great place to enjoy a game of tennis with friends or to get in a tennis lesson.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Nine-year-old Leila Parks spent time with her grandparents, Douglas and Elizabeth Durande, and her great-grandmother, Ursula Shanaghan.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 12, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: BRE celebrates grandparents

Students at Braden River Elementary School enjoyed spending time with their grandparents Sept. 9 in honor of Grandparent's Day.

  • East County
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch High cross country team opened its season at the Deja Vu Invitational Sept. 9 in Tampa.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 12, 2011
Ortiz and McDermott finish in Top 10

Lakewood Ranch High runners Olivia Ortiz and Devin McDermott finished in the Top 10 at the Dejà Vu Invitational Sept. 9 in Tampa.

  • East County
  • Sports
ODA volleyball head coach Keba Phipps, right, pictured with senior Sammi Jo Gaeta, resigned last week.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 12, 2011
ODA volleyball coach resigns

The Out-of-Door Academy volleyball coach Keba Phipps resigned from her position Sept. 9 for personal reasons

  • East County
  • Sports
The exhibit will feature "Crown" by Douglas Schatz. The official unveiling is slated for November.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 12, 2011
Season of Sculpture to unveil sixth season

Ten new large-scale sculptures will be installed at Sarasota's Bayfront Park this November.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Enforcement hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with rates of $.50 per hour from May to October, and $1.00 per hour from November to April.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • September 12, 2011
Metered downtown parking program resumes Oct. 3

Sarasota will resume its parking meter program Oct. 3. Some meters and pay stations are being relocated near the judicial center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Doyle Walker and Curtis Vandernolen, with Longboat Key Public Works, line Gulf of Mexico Drive with American flags Saturday, Sept. 10.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • September 12, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Annual memorial

The town of Longboat Key, in conjunction with the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce, installs 2,977 American flags (one for each victim of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks) along Gulf of Mexico Drive each year as a Sept. 11 tribute.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Among the public hearings will be those on the total fiscal year 2012 millage rate and the stormwater improvement and the fire and rescue district assessments.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 12, 2011
County Commission to hold public hearing on budget

The Sarasota County Commission will hold public hearings Monday, Sept. 12, on tax assessments and the fiscal year 2012 budget during a special meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. in the commission chamber at the Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Expect lane closures and possible delays on Interstate 75, U.S. 301, U.S. 41, state Route 758 and state Route 72.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • September 12, 2011
Roadwork updates for week of Sept. 11

Construction work will take place this week on Interstate 75, U.S. 301, U.S. 41, state Route 789, state Route 758 and state Route 72.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 12, 2011
IN THE KITCHEN WITH: Dean Consiglio

Local optometrist Dr. Dean Consiglio loves cooking up a grilled pizza for his family.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Town Hall is located at 501 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • September 12, 2011
Commission to discuss budget today

The Longboat Key Town Commission will discuss the town's budget at a workshop meeting and regular commission meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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