Your Observer

Observer Staff
April 29, 2010

Foundation offers 'smile' wristbands

As part of its first fundraiser, the Alton Thomas Yung Foundation will be offering "What Would Alton Do" wristbands in Pine View School colors with WWAD on one side and 'SMILE' on the other.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 29, 2010

Sarasota Observer reader wins 'mother' of all contests

The votes are in - more than 15,000 total - and the winners of the YourObserver.com Mother-Daughter Lookalike contest have been named.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 29, 2010

Siesta Fiesta draws crafty crowd

Siesta Key Village transformed into an artful showcase April 24 and 25, as shoppers perused 250 of the nation's most talented artists and crafters who displayed life-size sculptures, handmade jewelry and paintings, photography and ceramics.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 29, 2010

'Biggest Loser Sarasota' contestants tighten their belts, winner drops over 50 pounds

It took diet, nutrition and exercise under the guidance of certified personal trainer Patti Linn Stanley, but the 13 contestants who underwent the first "Biggest Loser Sarasota" program shed between 7.5 and 20 percent of their body weight.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Robin Roy
April 29, 2010

'Racism fuels Newtown perception'

An adviser to the Police Advisory Panel believes if Newtown residents believe whites think they are criminals, they wonder why they should obey the law.

Sarasota
News

Robin Roy
April 29, 2010

Retailers clamor for new downtown garage location

With so much interest in the retail section of the Palm Avenue parking garage, the city may increase the space by 33%.

Sarasota
News

Robin Roy
April 29, 2010

Road closure could hurt businesses

Construction of a new drug store in the Southbay Shopping Center has led to the permanent closure of road that residents in the Southbay community used to access the shopping center.

Sarasota
News

Robin Roy
April 29, 2010

Keys seek to define 'private beach'

With the county preparing again to discuss public access to beaches, residents of Siesta Key and Casey Key want to ensure they retain private-property rights.

Sarasota
News

Loren Mayo
April 29, 2010

St. Martha's students cook up creative inventions

Andrea Hempill, a teacher at St. Martha's, has led her class through a solar-oven project exhibition in honor of Earth Day. Her top-three teams will compete Saturday, May 1, at the Energy Whiz Olympics, in Cocoa Beach.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 29, 2010

Our View

2050 plan: economic death

Sarasota
Opinion

Observer Staff
April 29, 2010

Letters to the editor

Stadium: House of cards; Wrong kind of change

Sarasota
Opinion

Adam Hughes
April 29, 2010

Siesta Key home sells for $2.3 million

A home in Mira-Mar tops all real-estate transactions from March 29 to April 2.

Sarasota
Real Estate

Observer Staff
April 29, 2010

Cops Corner

April 20 Burning rubber 7:26 a.m. - South Tamiami Trail and Bee Ridge Road. Road Hazard. A large tire was seen rolling down Bee Ridge Road and crossing Tamiami Trail. No word on its origin or destination.

Sarasota
Cops Corner

Kurt Schultheis
April 29, 2010

Lender reveals plans for Colony

Colony Lender LLC partners David Siegal and Randy Langley want to build a new resort and buy out the resort's owner, Dr. Murf Klauber, for $12 million.

Longboat Key
News

Pam Eubanks
April 28, 2010

'Chef' Hayes sweetens blueberry fest

Manatee County District 4 Commissioner Donna Hayes put her cooking skills to good use Wednesday.

East County
News

Maria Amodio
April 28, 2010

Man on the Street: Kentucky Derby

The Observer asked folks what they're doing to celebrate the 136th Kentucky Derby, which takes place Friday April 30 through Saturday May 1.

Sarasota
News

Robin Hartill
April 28, 2010

Save Our Seabirds director on standby for oil spill relief

Lee Fox will coordinate local wildlife rescue efforts if oil spreads toward Florida waters.

Longboat Key
News

Kurt Schultheis
April 28, 2010

Beautification project begins

A $500,000 grant the town received last week will be used to replace welcome signs and wayfinding signs on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Longboat Key
News

Robin Roy
April 28, 2010

Park proponents seek to halt process

Hudson Bayou residents ask the City Commission to place a park-acquisition request on hold, while they talk to adjacent neighborhoods that oppose that request.

Sarasota
News

Observer Staff
April 28, 2010

Suspense is over: Gussin to release novel

Longboat Key novelist Patricia Gussin's publishing company, Oceanview Publishing, will release her fourth novel, "And Then There Was One," Oct. 4.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 28, 2010

Klaubers welcome new addition

Murf and Sue Bassett Klauber are proud to announce the birth of their 15th grandchild.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 28, 2010

The Colony welcomes some familiar faces

Longboat Key resident Barbara Bishop is enjoying family visiting from New Hampshire.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 28, 2010

Congratulations!

Kristy Blair Iannello recently became engaged to John Powers Balfour II.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 28, 2010

Pattigeorge's adds new additions for Earth Day

Employees at Pattigeorge's restaurant on Longboat Key celebrated Earth Day by planting new herb-and-vegetable gardens.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 28, 2010

Camera crew sets up at the Colony

A camera crew filming a commercial to promote state tourism was spotted Monday, April 26, at The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 28, 2010

Resident receives belated birthday gift

Dawn diLorenzo spotted a bald eagle nesting on Longboat Drive South, near Whitney Beach Plaza, and snapped a few photos.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 28, 2010

Longboat Observer readers win 'mother' of all contests

The votes are in - more than 15,000 total - and the winners of the YourObserver.com Mother-Daughter Lookalike contest have been named.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Kurt Schultheis
April 28, 2010

Push for new center emerges

Key Club General Manager Michael Welly says the Longboat Key Club and Resort is willing to donate funds for a new town community center - on one condition.

Longboat Key
News

Kurt Schultheis
April 28, 2010

Observer Updates

Florensa reports groin project is 'mostly finished'; Broadway beach project receives 400 yards of sand

Longboat Key
News

Kurt Schultheis
April 28, 2010

Contract negotiations stall again

The town of Longboat Key and its firefighters are still at an impasse for a new three-year contract.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
April 28, 2010

Observer names look-alike winners

The East County's Tracey Punzone-Roman and her daughter, Emily, garnered more than one-fifth of all votes during The Observer Group's Mother-Daughter Look-alike Contest on YourObserver.com.

East County
Neighbors

Pam Eubanks
April 28, 2010

Memo could derail Ranch's Villages

SMR's Villages of Lakewood Ranch South project is set to go before Sarasota County commissioners April 29. But a last-minute legal issue may wreck the project completely.

East County
News

Michael Eng
April 28, 2010

'OUR LITTLE MIRACLE'

The day after Christmas, Lakewood Ranch 10-year-old Rachael Jaworski collapsed in her bathroom with two brain aneurysms and a ruptured arterio-venous malformation. To date, her doctors have not been able to find a solution.