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Your Observer

Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, increased the amount of tornado relief to Calhoun County, Ala.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 27, 2011
Patterson Foundation pledges tornado relief

The Sarasota charitable foundation will contribute up to $50,000 to assist in the recovery from the tornado in Calhoun County, Ala.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road will not be open Monday, May 30.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 27, 2011
Town Hall closed for Memorial Day

The town of Longboat Key will be closed on Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2011
WEEKEND BEST BET: Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade

The annual Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade will begin at 6 p.m., May 29, on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
NFL Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, founder of the Amer-I-Can program, gave the keynote address.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 27, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Amer-I-Can Graduation

Manatee County School District and other officials congratulated students from Lincoln, Sugg, Harlee and Johnson middle schools for completing the Amer-I-Can program with a special graduation ceremony May 26 at Braden River High School.

  • East County
  • Schools
Barbara Pfeiffer's students enjoyed the special day, which was made possible because of one of her student's parents.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 27, 2011
Gullett student lace up for Nike Day

Children at Gullett Elementary School recently enjoyed Nike Day.

  • East County
  • News
The Town Commission also accepted a Gulf of Mexico Drive signage plan presented by the Florida Department of Transportation.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 27, 2011
Commission will ratify contract

The Longboat Key Town Commission will ratify a one-year Longboat Key Fire Rescue contract next month. The contract will expire in September.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Joie Giannini and Kenny Routte will graduate from Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School tonight.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • May 27, 2011
VIDEO OF THE DAY: Senior sound off

Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School seniors tonight will bid adieu to their high school. In the following video, they talk about their experiences and their future plans.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

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

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 26, 2011
Pirates swing into summer camp

The Braden River High baseball team will host its 2011 Pirates Baseball Summer Camp from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 13-16 at the Braden River High baseball field.

  • East County
  • Sports
The 2008 E350 Mercedes-Benz is offered courtesy of Encore Motorcars of Sarasota.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 26, 2011
Encore Motorcars offers big prize for lucky stroke

A hole-in-one on hole No. 3 will get you a 2008 E350 Mercedes-Benz at the Longboat Key Invitational.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bob Stanley is managing broker of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate's Longboat Key office.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 26, 2011
LBK office named among top NRT Coldwell offices

The branch ranked No. 4 among Coldwell offices of similar size nationwide.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Town Commission will also review a Florida Department of Transportation Gulf of Mexico Drive signage plan today at Town Hall.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 26, 2011
Commission to ratify firefighter contract today

The Longboat Key Town Commission is expected to ratify a one-year Longboat Key Fire Rescue contract today that expires in September.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
About 50 students worked on the statue.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 26, 2011
Ranch students unveil statue (VIDEO)

Students in Greg McGrew's engineering class today unveiled the Mustang statue they've been creating for the last four months.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Before he walked away from the commission table mid-meeting May 25, Jim Ley shook hands and hugged all five county commissioners, including Chairwoman Nora Patterson.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 26, 2011
'Thanks' and 'goodbye'

Jim Ley had positive things to say about the residents and staff for which he served more than a decade as the chief executive of Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ray Borghesi and Mike Broy
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2011
Wall of winners finds a home

One Sarasota animal-lover, who also happens to be a barber and stylist, is kicking off a community program to benefit animal welfare at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 28, at the Boardwalk Studio (1500 Stickney Point Road), in the Boatyard Village.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cardinal Mooney seniors make their mark.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2011
Cardinal Mooney seniors make mark

Shortly after fresh cement was poured on the grounds of Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School Thursday, May 19, the seniors started signing their names and sketching out "2011" in giant letters.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ernie Ritz, chairman of the Downtown Improvement District, is behind a proposal to install in Selby Five Points Park speakers that pump out music to create an ambience in the downtown park.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 26, 2011
DID tunes in to park addition

Downtown leaders are pushing for amplified music to ring out in Selby Five Points Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Payne Park
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 26, 2011
City staff earmarks $182 million for capital-improvement projects

From bayfront connectivity to new police radios to U.S. 301 landscaping, City Hall has 52 projects that it is currently planning to perform during the next 10 years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioner Paul Caragiulo, left, believes the newly installed parking meters could drive customers away from downtown businesses.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 26, 2011
Workshop focuses on parking and budget

An informal City Commission meeting allowed commissioners to highlight issues most important to them.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2011
News Briefs

Sit-in protest at library aimed at park benches; Downtown parking meters go online; Government offices closed for holiday; and Meetings & agendas.

  • Sarasota
  • News
During their long-distance relationship and marriage, Michael Haluska and Susan Lorenc-Haluska shared the tradition of fixing the same meal and clinking wine glasses via their computers.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • May 26, 2011
Couple stays connected through virtual reality

Susan Lorenc-Haluska and Michael Haluska fell in love over dinner, drinks and long conversations - via their computers. after nearly two-and-a-half years of marriage.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2011
Our View: Benches, unfortunately, had to go

It is refreshing to see a serious Sarasota City Commission willing to take decisive action on behalf of productive law-abiding members of the community. It did so when voting to remove park benches from Selby Five Points Park for what should be obvious reasons.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Jeffrey Oldenburg and Peggy Benzinger
  • May 26, 2011
MY VIEW: Redeeming North Trail

As we have been working to help revitalize blighted areas in Sarasota (the Rosemary District, Gillespie Park and North Tamiami Trail) for the last 18 years, we share your editorial writer's frustration ("North Trail hypocrisy") in that no seated City Commission in the last 30 years has contributed anything really significant to the revitalization of the North Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Kathy Baylis and Debra Jacobs, The Patterson Foundation
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2011
Baylis admirers cheer her accomplishments

The Economic Development Foundation of Sarasota County hosted a retirement reception Tuesday, May 24, at Laurel Oak Country Club, for Kathy Baylis, founding president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gabriella Hunt, 2, was eager to put on her lei. She is pictured with her mom, Nina.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 26, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Chick-fil-A Anniversary Celebration

The Chick-fil-A on State Road 70 celebrated its 10th anniversary May24 with a special Family Night Luau Party. Festivities included free kid's meals, live music, giveaways, a bounce house and appearances by Chick-fil-A Cow and Kid Cow.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2011
Cops Corner

900 block of Siesta Drive. Animal Problem. Officers responded to a report of a dead shark on a sidewalk. What they found was ... a dead shark on a sidewalk.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Unit 17PHC at the Plaza at Five Points has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 4,174 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.16 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 26, 2011
Hidden Harbor home sells for $3.2 million

A home in Hidden Harbor tops all real-estate transactions from May 9 to May 13. YOLA Sunshine Ltd. sold the home at 5109 Jungle Plum Road to Morgan and Kathleen O'Brien, of Pittsburgh, for $3.2 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Wayne Magee submitted this sunset photo of his granddaughters, taken on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2011
WEEKLY WINNER: Sisterly Bonding

Wayne Magee submitted this sunset photo of his granddaughters, taken on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bob and Katie Bolon
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • May 25, 2011
2011 Lincoln Day Dinner With Special Guest Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum

2011 Lincoln Day Dinner With Special Guest Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum

  • Black Tie
Outgoing county administrator Jim Ley will receive more than $265,000 severance.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 25, 2011
Ley's resignation accepted

The Sarasota County Commission voted to accept the county administrator's resignation agreement and then nominated a Sarasota County Sheriff's Office official to take the job on an interim basis.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jackson, 2nd grade, and Cassidy, 1st grade, Geach sing "The Climb" together Wednesday, May 25 during "An Evening With the Stars" Talent Show 2011 at Phillippi Shores Elementary.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 25, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Phillippi Shores Elementary talent show

Phillippi Shores Elementary students performed a wide variety of talents Wednesday, May 25 during "An Evening With the Stars" Talent Show 2011 at Phillippi Shores Elementary.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The new parking meters are electronic and take coins and debit/credit cards only.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 25, 2011
VIDEO: Man on the Street - Downtown Parking Meters

The new parking meters are up and running downtown as of Monday, May 23. So how do they work and what do people have to say about them?

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Longboat Key Revitalization Task Force is trying to help revitalize the north end of the Key.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 25, 2011
Longboat task force creates mission statement

The Longboat Key Revitalization Task Force announced its mission statement this week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Graham and Kamara McWilliam, pictured with their daughter Courtney, moved to the East County from England about a month ago.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 25, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River Elementary Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

Braden River Elementary showed its appreciation for its volunteers during its Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast this morning. About 30 volunteers enjoyed pastries, fruit, juice and coffee along with a slide show.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 25, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
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From left to right, Maya Carpentiere, Amanda Gonzalez, Christiana Allison, Grayson Buchanan, Sheila Wallis and Ryan Duga star in Florida Studio Theatre's children's production, "The Pirate Ship and the Sea Monster and Other Winning Plays."
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Florida Statute 1001.42(4)(f)2 will require high schools, including Braden River High (pictured) and Lakewood Ranch High, to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. unless the district submits paperwork and gets accepted to keep the current start times.
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