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Your Observer

Candi and Jack Messerschmidt with Rachele Farnum worked to sign people up and hand them trash bags and blue gloves on Saturday, April 2, on Siesta Key Beach during the 2011 Great American Cleanup, part of Keep Sarasota County Beautiful.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 3, 2011
GALLERY: 2011 Great American Cleanup

Volunteers throughout Sarasota County participated in the 2011 Great American Cleanup as part of Keep Sarasota County Beautiful on Saturday, April 2. One of the cleanup sites was Siesta Key Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Singers Carol Sparrow and Randolph Locke shared their love of opera with the audience.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 3, 2011
GALLERY: Spring is for Singing

Animal and opera lovers alike enjoyed an evening of food, fun and music during Opera for Animals: Singing is Saving's ninth annual benefit concert, called Spring is for Singing, April 2 at the Palm Aire Country Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Keith and Debbie Lowrance, Bibb and Pam Swain, Deb Knowles, Diane and Keith Anderson
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • April 2, 2011
Orchid Ball 'The Great Gatsby'

Orchid Ball 'The Great Gatsby'

  • Black Tie
Kitchen Festival Chairwoman Debbi Benedict, special guest Katie Lee and Angie Stringer
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • April 2, 2011
Celebrity Breakfast featuring Katie Lee

Celebrity Breakfast featuring Katie Lee

  • Black Tie
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 2, 2011
Wave Runners post impressive finishes

Thirty members of the Lakewood Ranch YMCA Wave Runners swim team swam more than 165 events at the Area 3/5 Championship Swim Meet March 19-20 in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Sports
Dancers from the Sarasota Ballet School kept the crowd on its toes.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • April 2, 2011
Young artists shine at downtown festival

More than 500 Sarasota County students flocked Five Points Park Saturday, April 2 for the Arts and Cultural Alliance's YouthArts Fest.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 1, 2011
Former Marauder Nathan Adcock lands with Royals

Former Bradenton Marauders pitcher Nathan Adcock, who was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the fifth pick in the 2010 Rule 5 Draft, was named to the Royals' 2011 Opening Day roster.

  • East County
  • Sports
River Club resident Misty Pope sells custom made diaper cakes through her business Ladybug Bakeries.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 1, 2011
STORE AROUND THE CORNER: Ladybug Bakeries

River Club resident Misty Pope began selling custom made diaper cakes in January.

  • East County
  • News
First Vice President Karen Richard-Iezzi, speaker Jeremy Wallace, speaker Rod Thomson and President Charles Volkert on Thursday, March 31 during the monthly dinner meeting of the Sarasota Republican Club at the Sarasota Yacht Club.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 1, 2011
GALLERY: Sarasota Republican Club Dinner

The Sarasota Republican Club held their annual dinner and meeting on Thursday, March 31 at the Sarasota Yacht Club. Rod Thomson and Jeremy Wallace were the speakers for the evening.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The northbound lane in the 2800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive needs to be cut out to repair a leaking pipe.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 1, 2011
Leaky pipe creates GMD congestion

A leaking wastewater pipe under Gulf of Mexico Drive could create traffic delays near Bay Isles Road.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Marley dressed as Tinker Bell for the Humane Society of Sarasota County's Pug Parade in March.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 1, 2011
Humane Society competes in ASPCA $100,000 challenge

Fans and supporters can vote for the Humane Society of Sarasota County daily at www.votetosavelives.org.

  • Sarasota
  • News
"Each spring, the U.S. House of Representatives sponsors an art competition for high school students," U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan said.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 1, 2011
Buchanan promotes youth art

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is encouraging local high school students to participate in the 30th Annual Congressional Student Arts Competition.

  • East County
  • News
Sky rides will offer unparalleled view of the area.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 1, 2011
Slice of the City

APRIL FOOLS -- Sarasota aims high to bring in sky ride; 'Seniorpalooza' set to rock Payne Park; Officers in training get some new wheels; Circus Sarasota star bridges the gap

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This is a photo of a model unit at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort. The squatters will be required to take off their shoes upon entering the units, so as not to scuff the new floors.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 1, 2011
Squatters pay cash for keys to Colony

APRIL FOOLS - Neighbors of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort say current guests are squatters, not celebrities, and they want them out of here.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
President Tom Mayers recently requested the town allocate at least $1,000 annually for the group.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 1, 2011
Historical Society asks for town funds

President Tom Mayers recently requested the town allocate at least $1,000 annually for the group.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Yesterday's storm damaged mobile homes in Twin Shores Thursday. The flying metal also cut a palm tree in half.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 1, 2011
Storm damages Longboat Key community

A 30-second gust of wind and rain damaged 15 Longboat Key mobile homes, tearing off roofs and downing power lines.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Workers began the manhole and sewer line repairs Friday morning.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • April 1, 2011
Crews repair Laurel Park sewer line

Workers will try to keep noise to a minimum during the six-day project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 1, 2011
River Landings home burglarized

Burglar(s) stole about $20,000 in jewelry and electronics from a home in River Landings Thursday afternoon.

  • East County
  • News
Andrew Jackson
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • April 1, 2011
The other Jackson Lab eyes Sarasota

APRIL FOOLS - With the world-renowned Jackson Lab possibly looking elsewhere to build its new genetics-research facility, Sarasota County has found another Jackson Lab to take its place, but its impact will be much different.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • April 1, 2011
Waldorf hotel to return to Sarasota

APRIL FOOLS -- The tony hotel chain makes its comeback into the Sarasota market, by choosing the area for its brand-new express property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 1, 2011
City funds Five Points laser-light spectacular

APRIL FOOLS - A late-night laser tradition will entertain downtown Sarasota residents starting April 1.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 1, 2011
News Briefs

APRIL FOOLS - iPads shuffle off County Commission table; CLUCK gets some company down on the farm; Pizza shop's truck to draw ire of Siesta Key residents

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • April 1, 2011
New pension options please city retirees

APRIL FOOLS -- Unable to pay its pensioners in actual cash, the city has come up with several options that will still provide benefits and will rescue the city's budget.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 1, 2011
Polo players go medieval!

APRIL FOOLS' DAY - The Sarasota Polo Club already is home to the Sport of Kings. Soon, it will become the home to the Sport of Knights as well.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 1, 2011
Creature spotted at Benderson Park

APRIL FOOLS' DAY - They're calling her Benderson Bessie.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch may be forced to stop using its name because of a provision contained in the property's original land grant.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 1, 2011
JEOPARDY

APRIL FOOLS' DAY - Because of original land grants from the Spanish government, Lakewood Ranch may be forced to pay a $5 billion 'territorial payment' or change its name.

  • East County
  • News
Derricks such as these will dot the Summerfield community.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 1, 2011
Ranch CDD considers oil drilling

APRIL FOOLS' DAY - At least one Lakewood Ranch CDD 1 official hopes the option of oil drilling on CDD property could help reduce assessments for residents.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • April 1, 2011
Ranch Friends challenge incorporation group to sumo

APRIL FOOLS' DAY - Friends of Lakewood Ranch leaders want to settle the debate regarding incorporation through ancient Japanese wrestling.

  • East County
  • News
Charlie Sheen and Ken Sanborn say their new partnership is a win-win scenario.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • April 1, 2011
Sanborn: Studios, Sheen a winning combination (VIDEO)

APRIL FOOLS' DAY - Former 'Two and a Half Men' star Charlie Sheen is the frontrunner to star in Sanborn Studios' next series, 'Myakka City 52/365.'

  • Arts + Culture
The new mascot for the combined Lakewood Ranch/Braden River team will be a live horse wearing a pirate hat.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • April 1, 2011
District to combine Braden River, Lakewood teams

APRIL FOOLS' DAY - To help balance both schools' budgets, the Lakewood Ranch Mustangs and Braden River Pirates will become one team beginning next fall.

  • East County
  • News
The Jensen statue will be similar to the famous Rocky statue in Philadelphia, Pa.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • April 1, 2011
SMR to build Jensen statue

APRIL FOOLS' DAY -- Just two weeks after Schroeder-Manatee Ranch unveiled the name and logo of its new sports complex off State Road 70, officials have decided to change both.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • April 1, 2011
Ranch changes signature color

APRIL FOOLS' DAY - One year after changing its signature color, Lakewood Ranch is again swapping swatches.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • April 1, 2011
GOTCHA!

Welcome to our the East County Observer's 2011 April Fools' issue!

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 1, 2011
Our Town

APRIL FOOLS - Williams' dreams come crashing down; Longboat provides novel backdrop

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Clair
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 1, 2011
ELECTION DEBACLE

APRIL FOOLS - Because all town elections from the last four years are invalid due to advertising errors, the Town Commission must hold an emergency special election to re-vote for all commissioners.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 1, 2011
Key license-plate cameras to reduce crime, raise funds

APRIL FOOLS -- Longboat Key Police Chief Al Hogle is investigating a license-plate recognition system that would give Key residents exclusive rights to the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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