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Your Observer

Grant Bouck, 3, was amazed when a grape fell off the vine at his touch.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 21, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Grape Stomp

Residents of The Lake Club gathered Aug. 21 for a special grape stomping event at the community's vineyard.

  • East County
  • News
Kenny Scriven
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 20, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Spiral Style Dance Party

The Urban Spiral Dance Company invaded G.WIZ Saturday, Aug. 20 to present a 'Spiral Style Dance Party.' The performers and choreographers taught kids and even a few adults how to hula hoop and break dance.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Julianna Maggard, 9, Emma Katz, 9, and Rebekah Steinbeck, 9, performed “Tomorrow” and “Do, re, mi” during the Havdalah sing-a-long Saturday, Aug. 20 at Temple Emanu-El.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 20, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: La La La Havdalah

Temple Emanu-El held 'La La La Havdalah' Saturday, Aug. 20 at their synagogue. The event included an evening of singing along to great American classics as well as traditional Jewish songs and concluded with homemade desserts and coffee.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sandra Ceshker, Tamera Jackson and Betty Pawlowitz pose with Jack Daniel’s and lemonade Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Sarasota Yacht Club.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 20, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: SYC Concert with Bullseye Ride

SYC held their Concert on the Lawn & Dock Party inside Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Sarasota Yacht Club. The musical guest for the evening was a country band called Bullseye Ride. Jack Daniel's sponsored the party.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The birthday boys included Mike St. Hilaire, 69, Richard Perlman, 60, and Mike Greve, 66.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 20, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: A birthday party for three

Three Longboaters celebrated their birthdays together Saturday, Aug. 20 at Bay Isles. The birthday boys included Mike Greve, Richard Perlman and Mike St. Hilaire. Their party was catered by Nancy's BBQ and they also had a custom made cake by Slice of Heaven.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Guest speaker Anna Rodriguez spoke to the crowd Saturday, Aug. 20 during the 91st Anniversary Celebration For Women’s Equity at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 20, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: 91st Anniversary Celebration for Women's Equity

Hundreds of women from Sarasota and Manatee counties came out Saturday, Aug. 20 to attend the 91st Anniversary Celebration for Women's Equity at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A turtle nest at Sea Club, 4141 Gulf of Mexico Drive, will be opened Monday, Aug. 22.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 19, 2011
Turtle nest opening will take place Monday

A turtle nest at Sea Club, 4141 Gulf of Mexico Drive, will be opened at 7:40 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22. Park at the Sea Club or Turtle Crawl Inn, 4235 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High graduate Kirsten Hannabass placed sixth in the Swivel at the 37th Division 1 Show Ski National Championship.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 19, 2011
Local skiers place at national tournament

Three members of the Sarasota Ski a Rees Water Ski Show Team competed and placed at the 37th Division 1 Show Ski National Championship Aug. 12 to Aug. 14 in Janesville, Wis.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Hefty fines will be issued for any traffic violation in a school zone or near a school bus.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 19, 2011
School zones to be heavily patrolled

The Sarasota Police Department and Sarasota County Sheriff's Office will be closely monitoring all school zones on the first day of school - Monday, Aug. 22.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A Florida Highway Patrol report states Joan Gootjes Rhoat was driving eastbound on State Road 70 when her vehicle traveled into the westbound lane and into the path of a mack truck driving by Michael Bonfilio of Jupiter.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 19, 2011
Sarasota woman killed in accident

Joan Gootjes Rhoat, 51, died in an accident with a mack truck yesterday.

  • East County
  • News
Spc. 4 Patrick Lay a graduate of Braden River High School, was killed Aug. 11 while serving his country in Afghanistan.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 19, 2011
Soldier's funeral rescheduled

The funeral of Spc. 4 Patrick Lay II has been moved to Sunday.

  • East County
  • News
Author John Maxwell will speak at Bayside Aug. 20-21. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 19, 2011
Author John Maxwell to speak at Bayside

Bayside Community Church will host speaker and author John Maxwell this weekend.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Black Pearls dancer Veronica Mahaney was excited to perform for her new classmates.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • August 19, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River High Freshmen Orientation

Braden River High School faculty welcomed its incoming freshmen with an orientation program Aug. 18. The program featured performances by the marching band, the River Rhapsody singers, the Black Pearls dance team and more. Administrators also discussed Braden River's rules and expectations with the Class of 2015.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 19, 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
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: East County

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Tonya Herschberger and Linda Keefe. Courtesy Photo.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 18, 2011
Nurse and patient are all smiles at reunion

Four years ago, Linda and Larry Keefe were walking their dogs in downtown Sarasota when a drunk driver lost control of her vehicle.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Amazing Grace Circus from Nyack, NY performed a group act for the showcase performance Thursday, Aug. 18 inside the PAL Sailor Circus Arena.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 18, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: 2011 AYCO Showcase Performance

Participants in the 2011 American Youth Circus Festival showed off their talents Thursday, Aug. 18 during one of the two showcase performances of the week at PAL Sailor Circus Arena. There are 300 participants from all over the country and range in age from 9 to 87. This year's 5-day AYCO Festival also includes 90 different workshops that cover a wide variety of circus talents.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The session III campers sing “You Gotta Be” as the opening number for “Alone in the Universe” during dress rehearsal Thursday, Aug. 18 at Florida Studio Theatre.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 18, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: FST Session III Dress Rehearsal

The campers of Florida Studio Theatre's Performing Arts Camp Session III held an open dress rehearsal for their show "Alone in the Universe" Thursday, Aug. 18 in The Keating Theatre at Florida Studio Theatre.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Andrew and Kim Tyack with Andy Reeves
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 18, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: SK Chamber at King George Pub

The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce held their business card exchange event Thursday, Aug. 18 at The King George Pub. Those in attendance enjoyed catching up as well as meeting new members.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Friends of Lakewood Ranch leader Gary Berns said he is concerned some registered voters have not received ballots.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 18, 2011
Group raises concerns about straw poll

The Friends of Lakewood Ranch say they know of at least 129 registered voters who have not received straw poll ballots about the incorporation of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 18, 2011
Town schedules joint meeting with Sarasota County

The Longboat Key Town Commission will meet with the Sarasota County Commission in November.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The winners of the Kiwanis academic and technical institute scholarships pose together Thursday, Aug. 18, on the steps by The Grill.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 18, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Kiwanis Scholarship Ceremony 2011

The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key gave out a total of 21 scholarships during a morning breakfast ceremony Thursday, Aug. 18, at The Grill, at the Longboat Key Club. The 10 academic scholarships and 11 technical institute scholarships were handed out by scholarship committee Chairman Weldon Frost.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 18, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Sarasota

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

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 18, 2011
Fatal crash causes delays on State Road 70

A traffic accident involving a tractor-trailor in the East County has resulted in one confirmed fatality.

  • East County
  • News
The new contractor is expected to start work Oct. 1.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 18, 2011
CDD boards to change landscape contractors

Two Lakewood Ranch community development district boards have agreed to hire Down to Earth for landscaping services.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Liliana Ibarra called her summer internship in Washington, D.C., "amazing."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 18, 2011
Ranch graduate returns from Capitol

Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Liliana Ibarra interned at the White House this summer.

  • East County
  • News
Miguel Orduno, an illegal alien who was deported from the United States twice after serving federal prison time, has eluded arrest by providing false identification and using different home addresses.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
Deputies arrest fugitive sex offender in Lakewood Ranch

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies found Miguel Orduno Aug. 17 near the intersection of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and University Parkway.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 18, 2011
Premier Sports Campus to add lights

The Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch will begin installing lighting for eight of its fields Sept. 6.

  • East County
  • Sports
The meeting will be held at Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 18, 2011
Ranch CDD boards meet

Four Lakewood Ranch CDD boards will meet today starting at 8 a.m.

  • East County
  • News
Stacy Boll, Francesca Tebano, Peggy Messick, Vera Melnichuk and Judith Hart. Photos by Loren Mayo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
PEO honors recipients

Chapter CE of the Philanthropic Educational Organization, PEO, honored three scholarship recipients during its recent luncheon at Marina Jack.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
It was a hairy situation Aug. 11, when Sarasota invaded Mad Crow Brewery for “Hair of the Dog 2.”
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
Mad Crow hosts hairy situation

It was a hairy situation Aug. 11, when Sarasota invaded Mad Crow Brewery for 'Hair of the Dog 2.'

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A new Walmart for the grocery-store-starved North Trail will be built in 2012.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • August 18, 2011
Planning board approves Walmart

The city's Planning Board unanimously approved last week a proposed 'neighborhood market' Walmart for the North Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
As illegal short-term rentals continue to spark complaints, Code Enforcement Officer John Lally has found himself trying to balance the demands of tourists and full-time residents,
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 18, 2011
Short-term rentals continue to upset residents

Although sympathetic to tourists, the county's code enforcement officer is working to end illegal home rentals on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Beach Bazaar customers have been gathering up souvenirs as well as beach supplies. Photo by Rachel S. O’Hara.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 18, 2011
No. 1 beach equals big summer season

A full parking lot at Siesta Key Beach is translating into a lot of customers for Key merchants and restaurants.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Siesta Beach Pavilion has been a focal point for the public beach since it was dedicated in 1960. Photos courtesy of the Sarasota County History Center.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 18, 2011
Hidden wall enables building modifications

The discovery of a Siesta Beach Pavilion wall long hidden by structural additions will enable the county to modify the historic building without having to elevate it.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
News Briefs

Rep. Holder to lead legislative subcommittee; Sarasota sales fall 18% in July

  • Siesta Key
  • News
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