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Your Observer

The bromeliad tree lit up the entrance to the mansion for all to see.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 6, 2011
Selby Gardens sells pieces of holiday tree

Bromeliads from the Selby holiday tree are available for purchase from 1 to 3 p.m. today.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Eric Carrier suffered traumatic brain injury during a dirt bike crash last October.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 6, 2011
Recovery benefit planned for crash victim

The Eric Carrier TBI Benefit 2011 will take place this Saturday.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Town Clerk's office is located in Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 6, 2011
Town seeks volunteers for Sarasota County committee

Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Jan. 19 to the Town Clerk.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
We feature seven Sarasota leaders who will have an impact in 2011.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 6, 2011
SEVEN in 11: Sarasota

From local politics to new business ventures and charitable donations, these seven leaders will impact Sarasota life in the new year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 6, 2011
Sheriff's office conducts drug drop-off program

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office this week began its Citizen Medication Collection Program to provide a safe disposal location for unused prescription medications.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 6, 2011
Ranch predicts increased home sales

Lakewood Ranch is leading the market in commercial real estate with its 11% vacancy rate compared to the 13% in downtown Sarasota and 22% in the remainder of the local market.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
John Thomas, 19, and Eli Robertson, 25, are accused of five armed robberies facilitated through the Craigslist website.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • January 6, 2011
Agencies nab Craigslist suspects

Police say John Thomas, 19, and Eli Robertson, 25, lured victims with the promise of buying or selling an iPhone.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • January 6, 2011
7 in 11: Chris Gallagher

As a senior designer with Jonathan Parks Architect, Chris Gallagher shapes not only Sarasota's facades but also its community.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Debra Jacobs became president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation in 2009. The foundation has identified nine initiatives that it will explore in the next three to five years.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • January 6, 2011
7 in 11: Debra Jacobs

As CEO of The Patterson Foundation, Debra Jacobs will lead the $200 million foundation through nine strategic initiatives.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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
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