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Your Observer

Jason Berzowski of Longboat Key Fire and Rescue prepares to drop the tape measure from the top of the cotton plant down to the ground Friday, July 15 at Casa del Mar.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • July 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Casa del Mar's cotton plant ceremony

The famous cotton plant at Casa del Mar had its annual height measuring event Friday, July 15 by the tennis courts at Casa del Mar where the plant is located. The cotton plant's new height is 32 feet.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sen. Mike Bennett, SMR Director of Sports Tim Mulqueen, State Rep. Greg Steube, Manatee County Commission candidate Vanessa Baugh and former NBA referee Bob Delaney poured drinks for tips.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Charity Bartending Night

Dozens of East County residents sipped on cocktails during the Charity Bartending Night July 14 at The Polo Grill and Bar. Former NBA referee and Lakewood Ranch resident Bob Delaney, State Rep. Greg Steube, Sen. Mike Bennett, Manatee County Commission candidate Vanessa Baugh and SMR Director of Sports Tim Mulqueen poured drinks for tips to benefit Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corporation's LWR Remembers 9-11 Flagpole Dedication and Memorial. The event, which is scheduled for Sept. 10 at the Premier Sports Complex, will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Keelie Robb loved performing a ribbon dance to "No One."
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • July 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Summer Dance Camp Recital

Pint-sized dancers took the stage for the Summer Dance Camp Recital July 15 at Gullett Elementary School in Lakewood Ranch. The dancers performed a variety of routines they perfected throughout the summer camp.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Click inside to see one of our favorite Cops Corner entries from the archives.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

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

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The town's Public Works Department won an award that communities in eight Southern states were eligible to receive.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 15, 2011
Longboat receives water award

The town of Longboat Key received a prestigious award for its water system supply and water quality reports.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Little League will advance to the Section IV Tournament July 22 in Haines City.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 15, 2011
Lakewood Ranch wins District 26 11/12 crown

Behind the arm of 12-year-old Steven Varone, Lakewood Ranch Little League shut out Braden River Little League 9-0 to capture the District 26 11- and 12-year-old division title July 13 at G.T. Bray.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Town Manager Bruce St. Denis eliminated the $265,000 budget shortfall and created a $222 budget surplus.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 14, 2011
Town manager makes budget reductions

The Longboat Key Town Commission was pleased with Town Manager Bruce St. Denis' progress in eliminating a $265,000 budget shortfall.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lucy Fox submitted this photo of Cardinal Mooney graduate Matthew Taylor catching a snook on Father's Day on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Weather

See this week's weather photo and temperatures.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Unit 202C at Summer Cover on Siesta, 1660 Summerhouse Lane, Siesta Key, has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,110 square feet of living area. It sold for $605,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 14, 2011
Summer Cove condo sells for $605,000

Unit 202C at Summer Cover on Siesta, 1660 Summerhouse Lane, Siesta Key, has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,110 square feet of living area. It sold for $605,000.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Don't feed the early birds; charge them a fee.
  • By Dr. Lori
  • July 14, 2011
The economics of antiques

Some important aspects of successful antiquing are to avoid financial missteps. Here are some tips to enhance your antiquing experience.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Photo courtesy of Norman Schimmel Siesta residents who live on the key’s canals often talk of vessels speeding past their homes.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • July 14, 2011
Island Beat: Siesta Key residents say, 'whoa,' to boaters

Siesta Key residents bring discuss the issue of damage from the wakes of boats that do not comply with the "slow" signs in the canals and other boating issues.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Red pentas
  • By Rick Wielgorecki
  • July 14, 2011
Is there a dwarf in your garden?

The subject of dwarf plants and their use in the landscape is the Holy Grail of homeowners - everybody wants a landscape that requires no maintenance.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Worship services

A list of worship services this week on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Siesta Key Association Vice President Peter van Roekens and SKA member Bob Luckner take a break from picking up litter on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Turnout collects record haul

Members of the Siesta Key Association, the Siesta Key Village Association and the Bay Island Association joined forces on Saturday to pick up trash on Ocean Boulevard and on Higel/Siesta Drive all the way to the north Siesta bridge.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
It was a close call between three of the lifeguards in the men’s rescue board race Thursday, July 14 during the 2011 James "MAC" McCarthy Southeast Regional Lifeguard Competition.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • July 14, 2011
VIDEO: Men's Rescue Board Race

The Men's Rescue Board Race took place on the first day of the 2011 James "MAC" McCarthy Southeast Regional Lifeguard Competition on Siesta Key Public Beach. The competition will run July 14 - 16.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Cops Corner

July 7 Forget me not 8:44 p.m. - 200 block of Beach Road. Impaired Person. A deputy responded to a report of a drunken man walking into the water. The deputy found the man wading in the surf, and he asked the man to get out of the water. The man stumbled to the sand and slurred his words. He was apparently so drunk that he forgot his last name. The deputy took him to a treatment center.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
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
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