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Your Observer

From left, Mark Huey, CEO of the Economic Development Corp.; Allan Lane, economic-development manager for North Port; Randy Welker, economic-development coordinator for the city of Sarasota; and Allen Carlson, CEO of Sun Hydraulics.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 11, 2011
Business experts: Get the government out of the way

Three of Sarasota County's top economic-development officials and a local CEO have provided a road map for the county's economic recovery, including thoughts on government's role and local competition.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
“I joined Kiwanis when women were first allowed to join,” Jo Rita Stevens says. “They did a lot at Riley Hospital for Children, where I spent the first six months of my life.”
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 11, 2011
Neighbors: Jo Rita Stevens

There's not much than can slow Jo Rita Stevens down.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Unit 1004 at Beau Ciel, 990 Blvd. of the Arts, has two bedrooms, three baths and 3,135 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.2 million. Photo by Loren Mayo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 11, 2011
Beau Ciel condominium sells for $1.2 million

Constance Thompkins, trustee, Sarasota, sold the Unit 1004 condominium at 990 Blvd. of the Arts to Bengal Holdings of Florida LLC for $1.2 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Arlene Fortsch submitted this sunrise photo taken on Siesta Key overlooking Little Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 11, 2011
Weekly Winner: Rising Rowers

Arlene Fortsch submitted this sunrise photo taken on Siesta Key overlooking Little Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 11, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: East County

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Denise Cotler of the American Cancer Society with Sarah Tello and Barbara Tello-Accola
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 10, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: R.O.C.K. Scholarship Recipient College Send-Off Luncheon

Reaching Out to Cancer Kids -- R.O.C.K. -- held a college send-off luncheon for its scholarship recipients at Columbia Restaurant.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Bobby Jones Golf Club Golf Shop will sell items $75 or less this weekend that are eligible for purchase without charging a 7% sales tax.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • August 10, 2011
Golf course participates in sales tax holiday

The city-owned Bobby Jones Golf Club Golf Shop will be selling clothing items eligible for the sales tax free weekend.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Check out the footage we shot at our local airport.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 10, 2011
VIDEO: BEHIND THE SCENES - SRQ Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

We take you behind the scenes at the SRQ Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Look for the story in this week's edition of the Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Eric Bein, owner and chef of Station 400, made the deal official this afternoon.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 10, 2011
New tenant signs on Serving Spoon space

Station 400 today signed a lease for the space formerly occupied by the Serving Spoon restaurant.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Today’s meeting took place at Longboat Key Town Hall.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 10, 2011
Commission approves Comp Plan amendments

The amendments relate to the Bayfront Park Recreation Center and the Key Club's Islandside renovation-and-expansion project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bay Street will be closed to through-traffic Aug. 15.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 10, 2011
Sewer repairs to close street in Alta Vista

The work will be performed on Bay Street next week and will shut down the road for through-traffic.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lisa Knopp and her daughter, Grace, 11, walk to the bank in the rain after having lunch Wednesday, August 10 at Barnacle Bill's downtown.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 10, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Strolling in the rain

Lisa Knopp walks under the protection of an umbrella while her daughter, Grace, 11, enjoys walking in the cool rain drops Wednesday, August 10 down Main Street.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 10, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Sarasota

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

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Photo courtesy of Whitney Prewitt.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2011
Mote volunteer rescues baby turtle

Mote Marine Aquarium sea turtle patrol volunteer Whitney Prewitt found a lost hatchling the morning of Aug. 8 on Longboat's beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2011
District opens line for parents

The Manatee County School District this week opened a special line, called the Parent Information Phone Line, to help parents with back-to-school questions.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Some Dolphin Tower condominium unit owners are selling their units at deep discounts.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • August 10, 2011
Dolphin Tower units depreciating fast

Five condominium units at the structurally troubled Dolphin Tower sold in July for much less than what previous owners paid.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo by Dora Walters.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2011
Rabbi Katz goes camping

Rabbi Jonathan Katz, of Temple Beth Israel, went to camp this summer at Camp Coleman, located in Cleveland, Ga.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Colony Beach and Tennis Association board members will recommend a final development proposal to unit owners in September.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 10, 2011
Four finalists chosen to redevelop Colony Beach & Tennis Resort

The Colony Association announced that the pool of developer finalists has been narrowed down to four companies' proposals.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Beth Callans started Beth Callans Management in 1998.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 10, 2011
Callans closes, landlord seeks damages

A Sarasota judge signed an injunction banning Beth Callans and the company's agents from removing property from its office suites.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The role of Publix registers with the town, according to a review of the plans submitted by the Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. to redevelop its Longboat Key store and the Avenue of the Flowers shopping center.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 10, 2011
P&Z checks out Publix plans

The Planning Zoning & Building Department's review of Publix's preliminary plans states that staff is 'encouraged and excited' about plans, but more details are needed.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 10, 2011
Loeb-owned hotel loan sees restructuring

Loeb Realty officials say that an agreement with the lender is near - and that it won't affect the Longboat Key Club's Islandside project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 10, 2011
Pharmacy won't be part of plaza's prescription

After a national retailer decided against anchoring the site, the owners of Whitney Beach Plaza are now in talks with a convenience store chain.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Overlook Park, near New Pass Bridge, was the scene of a brawl Sunday night that resulted in four arrests and two simple assault charges.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 10, 2011
Crowd brawls at Overlook Park

Although those involved in the brawl gave police differing accounts of what happened, parties agreed on what started the incident - talking trash.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2011
News Briefs 08.10.11

Seats available on town retirement system boards; Commission to discuss Comp. Plan amendments

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Capella Ixtapa Resort, northwest of Acapulco, Mexico. Courtesy Photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2011
Our View: Excellent, not good enough

When the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association board and its consultant, Joel Rosen, unveiled recently the names of the six finalists - now down to four - to rejuvenate and redevelop the Colony, three executives' names popped out as the type of top-flight resort/hotel operators whose skills would mesh with the Colony's uniqueness.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By Ed Adams
  • August 10, 2011
My View: It's a doggoned shame

My dog reads the newspaper. No joke, but Red has to do it on the floor. The doggoned pages are too big for a dachshund to hold in his piddling paws.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2011
Letters to the Editor: 08.10.11

The problem is dog owners, not the dogs; Attacked by dog on the beach

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 10, 2011
Judge approves town's line on the sand

A Sarasota judge's ruling validated the town's $16 million beach-bond referendum.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 10, 2011
Town emails crack the code of meeting cancellations

The number of code enforcement meetings was questioned.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 10, 2011
Vet clinic slated for S.R. 70 site

Lakewood Ranch couple plans to open an 8,000-square-foot veterinary clinic near the Lakewood Walk Shopping Center.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube likely will get funding for 10 additional deputies, but not for the 20 he requested.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 10, 2011
Manatee County commissioners use savings to fund police hires

Instead of a millage increase, Manatee commissioners likely will use about $800,000 in extra property-tax revenues to fund the addition of 10 to 11 deputies for the sheriff's office.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: East County

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 10, 2011
County sticks by Tara land-use decision

Manatee County commissioners last week rejected a developer's request for $1.9 million for preventing it from developing the property.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jen Blanco
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 10, 2011
COMMENT: We are ready for some football!

The regular season will be here before we know it, and that brings me to my final topic of conversation - the East County Observer Football Guide.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River Middle School Principal Randy Petrilla played football and basketball and ran track while attending Sarasota High School.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 10, 2011
Principal recalls football memories

Braden River Middle School Principal Randy Petrilla played quarterback for Sarasota High in the early-to-mid 1970s.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kai Haaskivi spent two years as an assistant coach for the U.S. U-17 National Team. Now, he serves as director of coaching for the BRSC. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 10, 2011
BRSC kicks off new academy

Braden River Soccer Club Director of Coaching Kai Haaskivi will launch his own academy later this month.

  • East County
  • Sports
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