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Your Observer

The Sarasota Military Academy makes their way down Main Street Monday, May 30 during the Memorial Day parade.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 30, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Memorial Day parade and ceremony

Thousands of people came out to celebrate Memorial Day, Monday, May 30 by attending the Memorial Day parade downtown and the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Memorial Day ceremony that took place at J.D. Hamel Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Isabella Roca, 4, couldn't stop dancing.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 30, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Memorial Day Parade

Waving American flags, East County residents lined the sidewalks of Lakewood Ranch Main Street May 29 for the third annual Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade. Other festivities included live music, face painting and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ten-year-old Daniel Gavin got the call on the mound for A/C Warehouse May 25.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 29, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Manatee County Cup

Dozens of Braden River and Lakewood Ranch Little Leaguers hit the field for the annual Manatee County Cup Little League Baseball tournament this past week. Thirty-two Braden River and Lakewood Ranch Minors, Majors and Juniors teams competed in the tournament, which began May 14. As of today, 13 East County teams are still vying for the title of Manatee County Cup champion. The tournament runs through June 4.

  • East County
  • Sports
Tyler, Ryan and Dylan Katchen hang out at the awards ceremony.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • May 28, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: SAMMY'S RUN

Runners laced up their shoes Saturday for the third annual Sammy's Run, held at Oak Park School.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Karel Beck and Sally Wright
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 28, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: BKYC Memorial Day party

The members of Bird Key Yacht club celebrated Memorial Day and the long weekend with a buffet style dinner and lots of red, white and blue Saturday, May 28 at the clubhouse.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Barbara Pressman, Bob Berns, Bonnie Zeamon and Douglas Pressman pose together at the Longboat Key Club's BBQ and Movie night Saturday, May 28 at the Longboat Key Club hotel poolside.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 28, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: LBKC BBQ and Movie

Longboat Key Club celebrated Memorial Day and the long weekend with a BBQ and movie Saturday, May 28 by the pool at the hotel.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Ken Bennett, Kristy Homan and Matt Walters won 1st place with a score of 57 at the 2011 Longboat Key Invitational Friday, May 27 at the Longboat Key Club Islandside.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 27, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: 2011 Longboat Key Invitational

Eighteen teams of four played in the 2011 Longboat Key Invitational Friday, May 27 at the Longboat Key Club Islandside.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Stephen Hueston, Alyssa Nutter, Lauren Kennedy, Andrew Interial, Taylor Keenan, Jason Rosales and Jereme Johnston pose together while they wait down stairs prior to graduating Friday, May 27 at the Van Wezel.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 27, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Cardinal Mooney Graduation

Cardinal Mooney's Class of 2011 graduated Friday, May 27 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Prior to graduating, the class of 124 students primped and posed for photos with friends and teachers down stairs before heading into the performing arts hall.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Paris Fauquet, 6, cooled off by balancing a cold, wet sponge on top of her head.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • May 27, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Willis Elementary Field Day

Willis Elementary School students celebrated the end of the school year with a fun-filled Field Day May 27. Students enjoyed a day outside while competing in a variety of games, including tug-of-war, limbo and even three-legged races.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Brenden Beith, 4, digs Siesta Beach. He had fun in the sand over Presidents Day weekend this year.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 27, 2011
Dr. Beach names Siesta Beach No. 1

For the first time, Sarasota's Siesta Beach takes the top spot on the famous national best-beach ranking.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Trash collection will be affected.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 27, 2011
County offices close for Memorial Day

Manatee County Government office will be closed May 31.

  • East County
  • News
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
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