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Your Observer

Dr. Kumar Mahadevan is president of Mote Marine Laboratory.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 21, 2010
Mote receives $25,000 BOOST grant

The award is one of 38 grants from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Braden River High sophomore forward and team captain Trevon Young scored 12 points in the Pirates district victory Dec. 17.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 20, 2010
Nothing But Net

The Braden River High boys and girls basketball teams hit the court Dec. 17, taking on St. Pete Lakewood in key district matchups for both teams. The boys basketball team defeated St. Pete Lakewood 41-34. Javar Baity led the way with 14 points while Trevon Young scored 12 and Tre Bryant added 11. The Lady Pirates fell to the Lady Spartans 60-35. Caitlyn Benedetto led the way for Braden River with 14 points and Alexis Stout added 1o points. The teams return to action Jan. 3-4, 2011 against Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
About 75% of the 35,000-square-foot shopping center is currently vacant.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 20, 2010
Whitney Beach Plaza sells for $3.7 million

Juliani Kenney Investment Capital LLC purchased the plaza.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
  • By Sharon Frank
  • December 20, 2010
Primrose kids carol on Main

Kindergarten students at Primrose School recently warmed up their voices in celebration of the holidays.

  • East County
  • Schools
Islandside Property Owners Coalition attorney Michael Furen submitted a petition challenge in July.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 20, 2010
Judge sets code amendment hearings

The Islandside Property Owners Coalition is challenging code changes made by the Town Commission.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Chairwoman Gerri Aaron, honoree Rose Chapman and Marie Monsky
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 19, 2010
'Celebrating Silver - A Musical Salute to JFCS and Rose Chapman'

'Celebrating Silver - A Musical Salute to JFCS and Rose Chapman'

  • Black Tie
Leo and Margie Tonner
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • December 19, 2010
Gulfshore residents gather for good time

Gulfshore of Longboat Key residents gathered Dec. 19 at the clubhouse for a holiday party. Hosts for the evening were Nancy and Mike Freeland. For the festive occasion, Nancy Freeland adorned a tabletop display with a snowy village.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Four-year-old Claire Schmalzer asked for a princess for Christmas.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 19, 2010
Santa visits Polo Grill

Dozens of children and their families gathered at the Polo Grill to share their wish lists with Santa Claus one final time during the restaurant's Breakfast with Santa event Dec. 18. Guests enjoyed a hearty breakfast before enjoying some quality time with the Big Guy himself.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The sculpture "Bharata" was installed at the northeast corner of Selby Five Points Park.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 19, 2010
Downtown sculpture placement complete

The 12th and final piece of the "Intersection" public art project was put in place Friday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Whitney Kitchens (Mary) played Baby Jesus in the Living Nativity performance when she was a baby.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 19, 2010
The Savior is Born

An estimated 5,000 people watched the story of Christmas brought to life during the Tabernacle's annual Living Nativity performances Dec. 16-19. The East County church's Christmas tradition featured more than 100 cast members, live animals, flying angels and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The escorts wait for the portrait
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 18, 2010
Debutante Ball

Debutante Ball

  • Black Tie
Savannah and Michelle Gallatin
    By
  • Maria Amodio
  • December 18, 2010
BKYC Holiday party brings cheer to children

Bird Key Yacht Club members had a merry time at their holiday party Saturday, Dec. 18.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber President Tom Aposporos is leading efforts to improve Longboat's trolley system.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 17, 2010
Trolley group motors forward

A group seeking solutions for the Longboat Key trolley route hopes to form relationships with the town and Manatee and Sarasota counties.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 17, 2010
Alumni game to benefit Adrian Little John

The Lakewood Ranch High boys and girls soccer teams will be hosting an alumni game at 6 p.m., Jan. 3.

  • East County
  • Sports
Gilly the Shark hangs out with Mote Public Relations Specialist Hayley Rutger.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 17, 2010
Santa Jaws program continues at Mote

Photo-ops with Gilly the Shark will take place from noon to 2 p.m., Dec. 18.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 17, 2010
WaveRunners post impressive showing at Gator Holiday Classic Invitational

Twelve members of the Lakewood Ranch YMCA WaveRunners swim team competed at the Gator Holiday Classic Invitational Dec. 3-5 in Gainesville.

  • East County
  • Sports
Community Foundation board member, Patricia Courtois, and Jim Shirley, executive director of the Sarasota Arts Council.
    By
  • Maria Amodio
  • December 17, 2010
Community Foundation gives local organizations a BOOST

The Community Foundation of Sarasota handed out $500,000 in grants to 38 local organizations at their BOOST grants event on Friday, Dec. 17.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Newly appointed County Commissioner Christine Robinson takes the oath of office, with her husband, Eric, by her side.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 17, 2010
Robinson sworn into office

County Commissioner Christine Robinson replaces retiring Commissioner Shannon Staub.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Alayna Tabor gave her heart and her love to Melton, the snowman.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 17, 2010
'Melton' warms hearts of Witt families

Second-grade children at Gene Witt Elementary School shared a story of giving and sharing with their holiday production of 'Melton, the Warm Hearted Snowman' Dec. 16. Fourth and fifth grade students in Witt's "Orff"estra also performed as part of the evening.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Grinch (Ann White) decorates the Christmas tree at the Sarasota Courthouse.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 16, 2010
Bay Haven rocks around the Christmas tree

Bay Haven School of Basics-Plus third-graders trekked off to the courthouse Thursday with their teacher, Missy Owens and The Grinch. All had a merry time singing carols, decorating the tree and attempting the moonwalk.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Joni Weist, Phil Fronmholz, Gale Wyman and Melodee Dougherty
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 16, 2010
Spinella serenades Republicans with seasonal songs

World-class tenor Joseph Spinella gave a starry performance at the Sarasota and Longboat Republican Clubs monthly dinner gathering.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2010
Cops corner

Dec. 7 Unusual campaign strategy 11:15 a.m. - 7300 block of South Tamiami Trail. Suspicious Incident. A political party volunteer reported a man walked into the party headquarters and rambled about bad "guys," the Bible and Benjamin Netanyahu bringing guns to The White House. The man called himself Christ and called President Obama the anti-Christ. During the conversation, the employee determined that the real reason for the man's visit was to inquire about running for office.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
This home at 1767 Baywood Drive has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,021 square feet of living area. It sold for $405,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 16, 2010
Bay View Acres home sells for $405,000

A home in Bay View Acres tops all real-estate transactions this week

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Commissioner Phillip Younger discussed the island-wide beach project at the regular workshop Dec. 16.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 16, 2010
Commission chooses sand, structures

The Longboat Key Town Commission chose an option Thursday that will ask the voters two separate referendum questions for sand and north end structures in March.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Alexis Upham is the senior director of development at the University of South Florida.
    By
  • Maria Amodio
  • December 16, 2010
Donor spotlight: Alexis Upham

Each week, The Sarasota Observer will feature a different donor who is involved with Season of Sharing, a 10-year, community-wide fundraising partnership created by the Community Foundation.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alex Nugent
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 16, 2010
Athlete of the Week: Alex Nugent

Cardinal Mooney High School senior Alex Nugent just finished his last football season as quarterback.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Steve Turner of Giving Tree Music shows Sofia Mingote, 10, how to control the volume of her classmates' drumming with her arms.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2010
Tara kids enjoy drum circle

Three Tara Elementary School teachers rewarded their Safety Patrol and TV Production students for a job well done with a special drum circle event presented by Giving Tree Music today.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Briana Calderon mimics the pose of the woman she painted on this wooden canvas.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 16, 2010
Neighbors: Briana Calderon

Briana Calderon, a 16-year-old junior at Booker High School for the Visual Performing Arts, says that her love for art has been a part of her life since she was a little girl.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2010
Letters to the editor

Letters to the editor

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Bob Soran
  • December 16, 2010
My View: Marina Jack's annual financial obligations exceed the average

Rather than continuing to foster public misconception about Marina Jack and its partnership with the city, we think a better service could be provided by outlining the facts accurately.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The latest cost add-on to the ever-growing costs of the Legacy Trail: a $3.1 million bike and pedestrian overpass over U.S. 41. Money is apparently no object with the ballooning Legacy Trail.
  • By Rod Thomson
  • December 16, 2010
My View: Legacy of the spending blob

I'm sure the Legacy Trail and its ever mounting cost is nice for those people who live near it - and who like to bike and have bikes. But that is not a large percentage of the people in Sarasota County, and not a great reason for public policy.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2010
Our View: The plunder of business subsidies

Gov.-elect Rick Scott knew when he entered the state's political arena and certainly knows now that turning around Florida's economy is likely to be the toughest challenge he will have faced in his professional life.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 16, 2010
In Brief

In Brief

  • Sarasota
  • News
Debbie and Dan Dannheisser fulfilled the Christmas wish list of a boy whom they had never met.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 16, 2010
The Christmas Spirit

As two parents in Georgia contemplated a way to break the news to their 9-year-old son that they couldn't afford Christmas presents this year, a Sarasota resident was already making calls to obtain the boy's Christmas wish list.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 16, 2010
Rebound could balance city fund

Once predicted to be millions in the hole, Sarasota's tax-increment financing could break even if a state economic forecast becomes reality.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Debbie Comer
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 16, 2010
Selby guests pine for decorations

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Great Room by the Bay was transformed into a holiday wonderland for the Marie Selby Gardens Associates' Wine, Dine and Pine event Nov. 30.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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