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Your Observer

As part of its economic-development goals, the city would like to build a hotel next to the Palm Avenue parking garage.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • February 22, 2011
City approves hotel negotiations

At least three developers are interested in building a hotel on the vacant lot adjacent to the new Palm Avenue parking garage.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2011
Lakewood falls to top-ranked Tampa Blake

The Lakewood Ranch boys basketball team believed it could compete with the top-ranked team in the state.

  • East County
  • Sports
Committee members will meet from 4-6 p.m., today in the board room of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 22, 2011
Incorporation group holds open meeting

Members of the Lakewood Ranch Incorporation Study Group will be available to answer questions from 4-6 p.m. today.

  • East County
  • News
Ed Weissman takes a look at a painting brought in by Dane Spencer to be appraised on Sunday, Feb. 20 at the Historical Society of Sarasota County's 2nd Annual Antiques and Appraisals Event, at Phillippi Estate.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • February 22, 2011
GALLERY: Antiques & Appraisals Event at Phillippi Estate Park

The Historical Society of Sarasota County and Sarasota County Parks and Recreation held their 2nd Annual Antiques & Appraisals Event this past weekend from Feb. 18 - Feb. 20.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2011
XPLOSION travel basketball teams seek players

The XPLOSION travel basketball program will host tryouts for its fifth-sixth-and-eleventh-grade teams Feb. 26 at Impact Basketball Academy, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2011
Mustangs open season 2-0

The Lakewood Ranch High baseball team opened its season with a pair of wins over Palmetto and Dixie Hollins Feb. 15 and 18.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 22, 2011
Local golfers sink aces

Golfers at Rosedale Golf & Country Club and Tara Golf & Country Club hit holes-in-one.

  • East County
  • Sports
New College celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • February 22, 2011
New College ranked No. 2 best value college in U.S.

The Princeton Review and USA Today have partnered to rank the nation's top 50 public and private colleges.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Longboat Key Town Commission will hold its next special pension workshop 1 p.m., Monday, March 7, at Town Hall.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 22, 2011
Commission reschedules pension meeting

A special pension workshop originally scheduled for today will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, March 7.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mary Benfer and Kathleen France
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 21, 2011
Legacy Luncheon featuring Lee Woodruff

Legacy Luncheon featuring Lee Woodruff

  • Black Tie
"My style is authentic to who I am - wearing the clothes you love is the privilege that comes with knowing who you are and what you want. Loving what you wear is always in style." - Doreen Sutherland
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 21, 2011
Guest Fashion Editor - Doreen Sutherland

Guest Fashion Editor - Doreen Sutherland

  • Black Tie
David Leffel answers a question during the first day of his workshop on Monday, Feb. 21. at the Longboat Key Center.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • February 21, 2011
GALLERY: David Leffel Workshop

David Leffel gave a five-day long workshop at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts from Feb. 21 through Feb. 25.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 21, 2011
Braden River wins district opener

The Braden River High softball team defeated Seminole Osceola 7-0 in its district opener Feb. 18.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 21, 2011
Lady Mustangs rout Lady Rebels

The Lakewood Ranch High softball team improved to 2-0 in the district with a 27-0 rout of Dixie Hollins Feb. 18.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River Little League pitcher Andre Smith's fastball was clocked at 35 miles per hour.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 21, 2011
GALLERY: Little League Opening Day

More than 650 Braden River and Lakewood Ranch Little Leaguers took to the field for their league's respective Opening Day Ceremony and Family Fun Day Feb. 19. Players and their families enjoyed bounce houses, games, food, music and other activities before settling in for an afternoon of exhibition games. The spring season officially begins today.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bryan Wacha, 10, hussles to get to a ground ball during his game on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Twin Lakes Park during Central Sarasota Little League Opening Day.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • February 21, 2011
GALLERY: Central Sarasota Little League Opening Day

Central Sarasota Little League celebrated its Opening Day Feb. 19 at Twin Lakes Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cheryl Loeffler, Joel Schemmel, Toni Schemmel and Sharon Chiodi. Courtesy of Signature Sotheby's.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 21, 2011
Signature Sotheby's announces 2010 top associates

Cheryl Loeffler and the Schemmel Property Group received top honors.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 21, 2011
Manatee commission to meet Tuesday

Agenda items include a 10 a.m. time certain on the Bra Win Palms Canal Dredging Assessment Project and a 10:30 a.m., time certain presentation on the Heartland Regional Transportation Authority.

  • East County
  • News
Early voting takes place Feb. 22 through March 6 at the Supervisor of Elections Office.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • February 21, 2011
Early voting begins Tuesday

Three City Commission seats will be decided in the city election.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The suspects were arrested at the Motel 6 at 660 66th St. Court E.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 21, 2011
Deputies arrest two in burglary string

Two men were arrested regarding a string of vehicle burglaries in the East County Feb. 18.

  • East County
  • News
Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road is closed today in observance of Presidents Day.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 21, 2011
Town Hall closed today

The town of Longboat Key and its departments will be closed today for the Presidents Day holiday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Susan Kelleghan paints beyond the border of a photograph taken by her husband, Bill Miller.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • February 20, 2011
GALLERY: Downtown Sarasota Festival of the Arts

The 23rd annual art festival featured paintings, sculptures, photography, glass, wood, jewelry, and ceramics with prices ranging from $25 hand-designed earrings to $20,000 metal sculptures. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Downtown Sarasota Alliance.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A large crowd turned out on Saturday, Feb. 19 for the Sarasota Exotic Car Fest in St. Armand's Circle.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • February 20, 2011
GALLERY: Sarasota Exotic Car Fest

The Sarasota Exotic Car Fest took place this Saturday, Feb. 19 on St. Armand's Circle. The event benefited The Child Protection Center, Inc.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Co-Chairwomen Mary Ann Robinson and Shelley Binion
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 19, 2011
Best in Show Gala 'ARC Safari: The Companion Animal Jungle'

Best in Show Gala 'ARC Safari: The Companion Animal Jungle'

  • Black Tie
Jeff and Giovanna McGrath with Wayne Ard
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 19, 2011
Sarasota Exotic Car Fest Tropical Dinner

Sarasota Exotic Car Fest Tropical Dinner

  • Black Tie
Last night's full moon cast a calming glow over Summerfield Park in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 19, 2011
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Moonlight magic

Last night's moon cast a calming glow over Summerfield Park in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Marilee Roberts, Valentino Balboni, Onofrio Triarsi, Ariane and Bob Dart
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 18, 2011
Luxury Lifestyle Jet Port Reception

Luxury Lifestyle Jet Port Reception

  • Black Tie
2011 honoree Jean Cooper, Kristine White and Sue Seiter
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • February 18, 2011
'She Knows Where She's Going' Honoree Luncheon

'She Knows Where She's Going' Honoree Luncheon

  • Black Tie
Juan Dalrymple, Sarah Walsh, Ryleigh Nader, Abbi Raphael and Parker Torres
    By
  • Maria Amodio
  • February 18, 2011
GALLERY: Imagine School Stampede-A-Thon

Students at Imagine School at Palmer Ranch learned just how fun exercise can be while raising funds for their school at the Stampede-A-Thon on Friday, Feb. 18.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Rhonda and Joseph Pecoraro and Vilma Vega
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • February 18, 2011
GALLERY: Hearts Afire Benefit

Hearts Afire hosted its fifth annual global humanitarian outreach benefit "A Night Laughter, Love and Hope," at Michael's On East.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Juniors Marissa Milko, Shelby Walker and Huntyre Elling are best friends.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 18, 2011
GALLERY: College and Career Fair

Students at Lakewood Ranch High School learned about job and educational opportunities during the school's College and Career Fair Feb. 18.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kaitlin Bohan
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 18, 2011
CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT: Gullett Elementary (VIDEO)

Puppy raisers from Southeastern Guide Dogs visited fourth- and fifth-grade students at Gullett Elementary School Thursday. The East County Observer caught up with students after the presentation to see what they learned.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 18, 2011
WEEKEND BEST BET: Polo Grill Winter Luau Party

The Polo Grill and Bar will host this Hawaiian-inspired event Sunday.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Florida Power and Light replaced an electrical pole that was damaged in a one-car crash.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • February 18, 2011
Driver destroys power pole

A 25-year-old woman was arrested after smashing into the concrete pole.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Permanent striping will be applied to the Sarasota County portion of Gulf of Mexico Drive next week.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 18, 2011
Paving project almost complete

The Gulf of Mexico Drive repaving project is in its final phase, which consists of striping the road starting next week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Howard Alan, Sarasota Arts Festival producer, and Florida State Representative, Ray Pilon, with Treasury Dude, center.
    By
  • Maria Amodio
  • February 18, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Treasury Dude

Florida State Representative Ray Pilon named 'Treasury Dude' this weekend's honorary Secretary of Treasury at a press conference this morning in Selby Five Points Park. Pilon presented the sculpture, made by Tube Dude creator Scott Gerber, with a symbolic oil can in order to 'grease the wheels of progress' for the Sarasota Arts Festival this weekend. The Arts Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 and Sunday, Feb. 20, on Main Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Students in Kirsten Hazelton's 2nd-grade class at Southside Elementary School used their magnifying glasses to watch their freshly released ladybugs get to work patrolling their vegetable garden at the school.
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Angelina Goesch and her mom, Ana Goesch, founder of Dogs of Lakewood Ranch, pose with Ana's 4-year-old Golden retriever, Maple.
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This year the Sarasota Opera House is turning 100. To celebrate, the Sarasota Opera is holding a special concert and dinner on April 11.
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