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Your Observer

Bartolotta
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • January 6, 2011
Bartolotta yields higher grades in evaluation

Three of five commissioners said the city manager met or exceeded all expectations, while one commissioner felt Bob Bartolotta came in below expectations in 11 of 19 job-related categories.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city's Washington, D.C., lobbyist, Marlowe and Co., will ask Congress to include a $500,000 earmark for Lido Beach renourishment, possibly on a Water Resource Development Act bill.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • January 6, 2011
City Hall seeks federal earmark cash

The city hopes Congress will attach onto House and Senate bills several spending requests to help pay for more than $100 million in local projects.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Observer and Gulf Coast Business Review occupy the third and fourth floors of the Crisp Building, 1970 Main St.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 6, 2011
Observer moves its offices to Main Street

The Observer and its sister publication, Gulf Coast Business Review, opened their new offices at 1970 Main St., in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • January 6, 2011
News Briefs

Community news and notes

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 6, 2011
Cops Corner

Cops Corner

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Wendy Surkis is looking forward to Sarasota Museum of Art's opening day, when the Sarasota community will be able to witness art in the making at the city's first modern- and contemporary-art museum.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 6, 2011
7 in 11: Wendy Surkis

Wendy Surkis is at the helm to combine modern and contemporary art in one Sarasota space.

  • Sarasota
  • News
County Commissioner Christine Robinson was sworn into office Dec. 17. She replaced Shannon Staub, who retired after 14 years.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • January 6, 2011
7 in 11: Christine Robinson

A month before her first day on the job, County Commissioner Christine Robinson was meeting with citizens groups to prep for her new role.

  • Sarasota
  • News
McIntosh Middle Schools students are mesmerized as Principal David Jones performs a card trick.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 6, 2011
Principal Performer

McIntosh Middle Principal David Jones builds relationships with students by enchanting them with his magic prowess.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This home at 3740 Bayou Louise Lane has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,606 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.07 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 6, 2011
Casey Key home sells for $1.7 million

A home on Casey Key tops all real-estate transactions this week.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Scott Gerber's Tude Dudes company has made 120 different aluminum dudes since July 1.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 6, 2011
7 in 11: Scott Gerber

After realizing his 20-hour-a-day job was not for him, Scott Gerber found something that put a smile on his face.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Joe Gruters has traveled more than 5,000 miles during his campaign for chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • January 6, 2011
7 in 11: Joe Gruters

Joe Gruters has spent the last few months traveling Florida, pursuing his dream of leading the state's Republican Party.

  • Sarasota
  • News
John Simon, with Isaac Group Holdings, says he is ready to build on his Pineapple Square development as soon as the market turns around.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • January 6, 2011
7 in 11: John Simon

The man behind the Pineapple Square development sees nothing but potential in Sarasota's future.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Albert Horrigan submitted this sunset photo overlooking the John Ringling Causeway.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 6, 2011
WEEKLY WINNER: Bridge Beauty

Enter your local sunset or sunrise photos for The Observer's weather photo contest, sponsored by Cool Today. Each week's winner will receive a $50 restaurant gift card. Please send your photos to The Sarasota Observer, 1970 Main St., Sarasota, Fla., 34236, or e-mail them to [email protected].

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
...
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 5, 2011
7 Black Tie Events in 2011

7 Black Tie Events in 2011

  • Black Tie
'I have an eclectic style. I like to mix expensive things with great finds.' - Lynn Barrie
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Guest Fashion Editor - Lynn Barrie

Guest Fashion Editor - Lynn Barrie

  • Black Tie
Liz Riedinger, Julie Best and Georgia Walters
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • January 5, 2011
Villagers strike a pose for monthly meeting

Kathleen Gallen, massage therapist and yoga instructor, was the guest speaker at the Jan. 5 meeting of the Longbeach Village Association. She focused on posture and noted how various ailments are related to it. Using volunteers, she demonstrated proper ways of sitting and standing. She currently teaches a weekly yoga class in the Village. Hostess for the meeting was Phoebe Shaw.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Frost
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • January 5, 2011
MAN ON THE STREET: Holiday Indulgence

With the holidays behind us, we hit the streets to ask Longboaters if they felt they overindulged this season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
We feature seven people who will have an impact in the new year.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
SEVEN in 11: Longboat Key

From local politics to Key development and new business ventures, these seven leaders will impact Longboat life in the new year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Stephen Ross scored 12 points in Braden River's 55-49 overtime victory over Lakewood Ranch Jan. 4.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 5, 2011
Pirates top Mustangs in OT

The Braden River High boys basketball team defeated rival Lakewood Ranch 55-49 in overtime of a Class 4A-District 10 contest Jan. 4.

  • East County
  • Sports
Students at McIntosh Middle School watch as Principal David Jones shows them a slight of hand trick.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 5, 2011
VIDEO: Mighty magic trick

David Jones, principal at McIntosh Middle School, performs his favorite card trick, the "Three Card Monte." Read the full story in the Jan. 6 edition of The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Diana Hamilton, a garden designer, created the display in front of Owen's Fish Camp restaurant.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • January 5, 2011
Two more enter City Commission race

Former candidates Paul Caragiulo and Diana Hamilton have announced candidacies for the City Commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Seasonal Longboat Key residents Merle and Lenny Nelson
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Temple Emanu-El observes tradition

Christmas Eve fell on a Friday, which gave 150 Temple Emanu-El members, including many Longboat Key residents, a chance to combine two traditions: Friday night Sabbath services and Shabbat dinners with a "traditional" Jewish Christmas Eve meal of Chinese food.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Key comes close to white Christmas

Longboat Key didn't get a white Christmas, but, just a few days after Christmas, the island did get frosty.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Cecilia Edmundson and Lucy Hunsinger
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Local author signs copies of book

Celia Edmundson signed copies of her book, "Letters to Lee," Dec. 23, at Circle Books, on St. Armands Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Reina Berman and Mary Brugger browse T-shirts.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Turtle Watch debuts colorful choices

The 2011 Longboat Key Turtle Watch T-shirts went on sale Jan. 1 at the Whitney Beach Antique and Art Fair. New this year are tank tops in shades of yellow and green.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Decorations flow during annual Lido Beach Christmas celebration

Here's a unique Christmas tradition: Every year, a group of Lido residents and visitors trek to Lido Beach, where they set up tables, food and Christmas trees and take pictures of beachwalkers so that they'll have a keepsake to take home.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
With David Sutton, of The Salvation Army, making the final kettle collection on Christmas Eve are Publix Manager Andy Lappin and dedicated bell ringer Edith Barr Dunn.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Sounds of season ring in donations for Salvation Army

The sounds of season could be heard from the week of Thanksgiving through the end of December at the Longboat Key Publix, where volunteers rang The Salvation Army bell in 90-minute shifts.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Nominations wanted for Kiwanis Citizen of the Year

The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key is seeking nominations for its 2010 Longboat Key Citizen of the Year award.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Phillip Younger wants the town to ask voters for a single $15 million referendum to construct north-end structures and recover some sand to renourish portions of the island's erosion hot spots.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2011
Younger submits new beach project option

The Town Commission will meet again Thursday to discuss the proposed $15 million beach project option.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Humane Society to host adoption event

Members of the new Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch will have plenty of furry friends with them at the Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market this weekend.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bob Mitchell, president of The Miracle League of Manasota, and Mike Gowan, Gecko's Grill & Pub
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Gecko's event raises $3,000

Gecko's Grill & Pub, in partnership with ABC 7, helped raise $3,000 for The Miracle League of Manasota during its monthlong Burgers and Buddies for Baseball promotion in December.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2011
Cops Corner

Classic Cops Dec. 27, 2006 1:46 p.m. 5200 block of GMD. Missing Person. Officer responds to a call about a missing juvenile. Father says his son had been at the beach looking for seashells and had wandered off. Officer takes description of the juvenile and gives it out on the radio. About 2:10 p.m., a citizen located the youth, walking on the beach in the 4200 block, near LaPlaya condominiums. The father is contacted and arrives to pick up the boy. The son tells the officer he had been walking and didn't realize how far he had gone.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Tom Aposporos sees his role as chamber president as being a resource for all member businesses.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 5, 2011
7 in 11: Tom Aposporos

The Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce president puts his politics, business and theater background to work.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 5, 2011
Building Permits

These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Dec. 23 through Dec. 29, in order of dollar amounts. (GMD = Gulf of Mexico Drive)

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Unit No. 2PH-A at Regent Place Tower Two, 675 Longboat Club Road, has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms and 3,564 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.8 million.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 5, 2011
Key Real Estate: Regent Place condo sells for $3.8 million

Between Dec. 27 and Dec. 31, a total of 12 sales were recorded at the Sarasota and Manatee county courthouses.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Commissioner-elect Jack Duncan will make Longboat Key Town Hall his home away from home in March.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 5, 2011
7 in 11: Jack Duncan

Harbourside resident Jack Duncan is now the District 2 commissioner-elect after another resident bowed out of the race in December.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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