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Your Observer

Taylor Destasio
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • November 1, 2010
MAN ON THE STREET: Sweetie sweets

Girls from Girls Inc. were asked what their favorite Halloween candy is.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Betty Rahm
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • November 1, 2010
MAN ON THE STREET: Voting poll

On the eve of the general election, we asked Longboaters what has been the biggest influence on them this election season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Sue Wolverton
  • November 1, 2010
Vote no on Amendment 4 for health of our economy

In the upcoming Nov. 2 election, Florida voters will determine the passage of Amendment 4 to the Florida Constitution. This statewide 'Vote on everything' amendment will have a devastating impact on our state's economy and quality of life and would require citizens to decide hundreds of technical land-use planning issues at the ballot box.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Teresa Beeson
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • November 1, 2010
Bayou Tavern hosts Halloween party

Imaginations ran rampant as party-goers turned out for a Halloween celebration Sunday at the Bayou Tavern at the Whitney Beach Plaza.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The investigation began about three months ago. Forty-nine suspects were arrested Oct. 29.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 1, 2010
Sheriff's office conducts drug sting

As of Friday, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office had arrested 49 suspects.

  • East County
  • News
Former Vice Mayor Ken Shelin believes a private nonprofit organization may be able to revitalize Selby Five Points Park.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • November 1, 2010
Commission considers Five Points Park options

A proposal to privatize the downtown park will be discussed at this afternoon's City Commission meeting.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jim Sherer and Aaron Lemoniades stand with freshly painted stakes. Photo by Mary Lou Johnson.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 1, 2010
Turtle nesting season ends

Turtle-nesting season ended yesterday, but volunteers already have a stake in next season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Town Commission will also discuss an upcoming north end beach renourishment project tonight.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 1, 2010
Commission reviews sign code

The Town Commission will review more changes to its controversial sign code at its regular meeting tonight.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jeanne Dimmick, Donna Heffner and Dee Tornillo
    By
  • Maria Amodio
  • October 31, 2010
Spanish Main holds spooky celebration

Spanish Main Yacht Club held their annual Halloween party on Sunday, Oct. 31.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Chelsea Batscha from Siesta Key Oyster Bar hands out candy.
    By
  • Maria Amodio
  • October 31, 2010
Costumed cuties parade Siesta Village

Trick-or-treaters filled up their goody bags as they strolled the streets of Siesta Key Village for the Siesta Key Village Association safe trick or treating on Sunday, Oct. 31.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Fabiola Sanchez, 7, had a blast on the slide with her friends.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 31, 2010
Families enjoy Woodland fall festival

Hundreds of families gathered at Woodland - The Community Church for the church's Fall Festival Oct. 31. Attendees enjoyed games, inflatable slides, pony rides, a petting zoo and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This year's Primrose parade featured a plethora of different costumes.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • October 31, 2010
Costumed kids parade at Primrose

Buzz Lightyear, Batman and even Nintendo's Super Mario made an appearance at Primrose School of Lakewood Ranch's Parade of Costumes Oct. 29. Following the parade, the costumed kids returned to their classrooms for a Halloween party.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dave and Kyla Weiner with Billy and Liebe Gamble
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • October 31, 2010
Safe Sex: Halloween Bash

Safe Sex: Halloween Bash

  • Black Tie
Judy Graham, Bob and Carol Carter
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • October 30, 2010
Mote's Annual Oceanic Evening

Mote's Annual Oceanic Evening

  • Black Tie
Kay and Bob Goodman and Margaret Churchill with Jeff and Jane Johnson
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 30, 2010
Ghoulish get-ups stroll SYC

Never mind the outlandish costumed characters who floated around Sarasota Yacht Club for this year's Halloween party - it was the giant inflatable black cat in the lobby that first caught everyone's attention!

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jean Zakovec with Bill and Joyce Steele and Jim Zakovec
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 30, 2010
Drifting spirits haunt BKYC

Bird Key Yacht Club members laced up in costumes ranging from witches to hippies this Halloween.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Erik Hermansen, Cole Reuter, Lola Scott, India Hirschowitz, Isabella Scott and Emma Levins pose on St. Armand's Circle.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 30, 2010
St. Armands Circle celebrates Halloween

St. Armands Circle was filled with tons of trick-or-treaters, young and young at heart, Saturday evening. All the stores and restaurants stayed open late so that bumble-bees, witches, ninjas and pumpkins could fill their bags full of sweet treats.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A view of Pineapple Avenue filled with chalk artists hard at work.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 30, 2010
3rd Annual Chalk Festival draws a crowd

Burns Court was a lot more colorful this weekend with the addition of the 3rd Annual Chalk Festival. The event was free to attend and the theme of this year's festival and art was 'Halloween'.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tailback Michael Glover rushed for 134 yards and scored the Pirates final touchdown.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 29, 2010
Pirates football team clinches playoff berth

Braden River High School captured a spot in the playoffs with a 45-34 victory over Booker in a Class 3A-District 10 contest Oct. 29.

  • East County
  • Sports
Skylar Makal, 9, knew every word to "Hoedown, Throwdown."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 29, 2010
Freedom families flock to 'Hollywood'

Children at Freedom Elementary School donned their red carpet best for the school's Freedom Goes to Hollywood-themed dance Oct. 29. Guests enjoyed dancing, as well as popcorn and other snacks.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lorena Roberts had a front-row spot to watch the Lakewood Ranch marching band perform.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • October 29, 2010
Families flock to Main Street fright night

Hundreds of costumed kids flooded Lakewood Ranch Main Street for the community's annual Boo Fest Oct. 29. The event featured a costume parade, a performance by the Lakewood Ranch High School marching band, trick-or-treating, games and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Natalie Stennes tried out her Halloween costume a few days early.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • October 29, 2010
Braden River boogies at Halloween dance

Ghosts, superheroes and plenty of bumblebees flocked to Braden River Middle School for its Halloween dance Oct. 28. Participating students signed a pledge to remain drug free prior to hitting the dance floor.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Nolan boys were ready to hit the dance floor.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • October 29, 2010
Nolan students party at fall dance

Nolan Middle School turned its cafeteria into a dance hall for the school's fall dance Oct. 28. The dance featured plenty of tunes as well as a haunted house for Halloween.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Girls from Girls Inc. make their way down Main Street to go trick-or-treating at Merrill Lynch and UBS.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 29, 2010
Girls Inc. trick-or-treat haunted offices

Lady Gaga, vampires, southern belles, witches and geishas all paraded through UBS and Merrill Lynch's haunted hallways as part of their Girls Inc. Halloween on Friday afternoon.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
More than 250 street painters will create pieces at this year's festival.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 29, 2010
WEEKEND BEST BET: Sarasota Chalk Festival

The Sarasota Chalk Festival, featuring 250 street painters from the U.S., Italy, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands and Slovenia, takes place from 8 a.m. to midnight Oct. 30 to Oct. 31, along South Pineapple Avenue in Burns Square.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Parallel parking spaces on the right side of the road will remain on John Ringling Boulevard.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 29, 2010
Parallel parking spaces to remain on Circle

The city eliminated plans to eliminate 10 spaces along John Ringling Boulevard.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Hundreds of families flocked to Main Street for last year's Boo Fest.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • October 29, 2010
WEEKEND BEST BET: Ranch Boo Fest

Lakewood Ranch will turn Main Street into a Halloween 'spooktacular' tonight for its annual Boo Fest event.

  • East County
  • News
Jose Antonio Velazquez dressed as a fluffy dog last year for Fright Night Halloween on St. Armands.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 29, 2010
WEEKEND BEST BET: Fright Night Halloween

St. Armands Circle businesses have treats in store for Saturday night.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Candidate Kathy Bolam had claimed Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent influenced her to concede her race.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • October 29, 2010
Judge sides with supervisor of elections

A former Charter Review Board candidate sued after she conceded her race. She wanted to change her mind but was told she couldn't.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sean Ellis, 7, and his sister Emily Ellis, 5, attend Braden River Elementary School.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 29, 2010
Moms group celebrates fall

East County mothers and their children gathered at Greenbrook Adventure Park Oct. 25 for the MOMS Club of Manatee's Harvest Festival. Families enjoyed lunch, decorating pumpkins, playing on the playground and other activities.

  • East County
  • News
Tom Dabney, Honoree Cy Bispham, Barbara Dickinson and Kerry Kirschner
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • October 28, 2010
9th annual Lifetime Achievement Awards Dinner honoring Cy Bispham and Posthumous honoree Patrick Dickinson

9th annual Lifetime Achievement Awards Dinner honoring Cy Bispham and Posthumous honoree Patrick Dickinson

  • Black Tie
Artist and 2010 Ageless Creativity award recipient, Eleanor Merritt, with Vera Vercauteren.
    By
  • Maria Amodio
  • October 28, 2010
Local artists recognized for 'ageless creativity'

The Longboat Key Center for the Arts held a recognition award ceremony for their 2nd annual Ageless Creativity awards on Thursday, Oct. 28.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Branch office manager Donna Davis and financial advisor Richard Crawford
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 28, 2010
Edward Jones branch opens on Circle

Richard Crawford, financial advisor, held an open house for the new Edward Jones Branch at 443 John Ringling Blvd., on St. Armands Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jim and Kathy Valente lost their son, Jimmy, in 2007.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 28, 2010
NOPE Vigil lights hope for future

Families and friends who have lost loved ones to drug overdoses gathered at the Manatee County Judicial Center tonight for the NOPE Candlelight Vigil. The event was held as part of Red Ribbon Week, the country's oldest and largest drug prevention campaign.

  • East County
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch High girls cross country team won the Manatee County Championship Cross Country Meet Oct. 27.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 28, 2010
Lady Mustangs win county championship

The Lakewood Ranch High girls cross country team scored 17 points to capture the Manatee County Championship Oct. 27 at G.T. Bray.

  • East County
  • Sports
Selena Gonzales, Faith Kiger and Kira Mashke
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 28, 2010
Books come to life at Southside Elementary (VIDEO)

Students at Southside Elementary School paraded the campus today dressed as their favorite book characters. Scroll down for video.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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