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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 25, 2010
Letters to the Editor 02.25.10

To send in your letters, please e-mail them to [email protected], or mail them to The Sarasota Observer, 1517 State Street, Sarasota, 34236. The Sarasota Observer gives priority to letters of local interest and about local issues. The Observer will print all letters to the editor if it feels they are of general interest, but only if the letter is signed and the author's street address and phone number are given. The editor reserves the right to condense letters.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • February 25, 2010
New Gate student clearly has a way with words

Tenth-grader Savannah Hillebrand will compete in the Poetry Out Loud state competition next month in Tallahassee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • February 25, 2010
SSAS launches Web site for Haiti relief effort

Starting this week, David Carr, art director for Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, will announce to students a fundraising Web site to help Haiti's earthquake victims.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 25, 2010
Business Observer 02.25.10

Award-winning full-service hair-and-nail salon Sassy Hair held a ribbon cutting Feb. 18 at its Siesta Key location, 209 Beach Road. The event was held during a Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce business-card exchange event co-hosted by Foxy Lady of Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 25, 2010
Cops Corner 02.25.10

The complainant sold a man a riding lawnmower. The man stopped making payments on the lawnmower. The complainant asked the sheriff's office for help, and deputies discovered that the man hadn't lived at his listed address since October.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 25, 2010
Casey Key home sells for $950,000

Thurston and Shirley Monson, of Kittery, Maine, sold their home at 4000 Casey Key Road to Mario and Lisa DePinto, of Nokomis, for $950,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • February 25, 2010
Rumors swirl over drop in arrests

When the number of police department arrests fell 53% for the month of January as compared to last year, it left many inside and outside the force wondering why.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • February 25, 2010
Broomstick battle

Mother-and-daughter Laura Zalkin and Alex Zalkin challenged one another to a good witch/bad witch duel out on the dance floor at Temple Emanu-El's Purim Masquerade Ball Saturday, Feb. 20, at the temple. For the story and more photos, see page 11.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • February 25, 2010
SSAS launches Web site for Haiti relief effort

Starting this week, David Carr, art director for Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, will announce to students a fundraising Web site to help Haiti's earthquake victims.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 25, 2010
Home & Garden 2010

The 34th annual Longboat Key Home and Garden Tour Guide

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 24, 2010
Town shows no love for reindeer display

The town warned The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort about a reindeer display that was decorated for Valentine's Day.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • February 24, 2010
Charges of racism, sexism hit city job search

As commissioners ready to hire a new city auditor and clerk Thursday, some community members question why they haven't already awarded the job to the interim city auditor and clerk, who is a black woman.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 24, 2010
Town is counting cars

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Monica Simpson said the town commissioned a traffic engineer to count traffic for three weeks on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • February 24, 2010
St. Mary's collects more than $20,000

St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church has collected $22,420 for Haitian Relief, and donations are continuing to come in.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 24, 2010
Manatee East unveils new concession building

Manatee East Little League recently unveiled its new concession building during the league's Opening Day celebration Feb. 20.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 24, 2010
Players Club acts and sings the part

There was a lot to love about The Players Club's Valentine's Day concert directed by resident Michael Arnold.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 24, 2010
Garden Club shows its love for dinner

The Longboat Key Garden Club's annual progressive dinner, which featured the theme "Love is on the Key," drew a record 77 people on Feb. 13.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 24, 2010
Iwo Jima Marines are now few, but still proud

Longboat Key resident and Iwo Jima survivor Martin Samowitz was there when the U.S. Marine Corps raised the flag that became an iconic image of WW II. The 65th anniversary of Iwo Jima was Feb. 19, and the anniversary of the flag raising over Mount Suribachi was four days later, on Feb. 23.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 24, 2010
No mystery: Grand Bay resident's first novel is a hit

Last year, Grand Bay resident James Hensal published "Heir of Suspicion."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 24, 2010
Briefs 2.25.10

Community news and notes

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 24, 2010
Group seeks pirate's life for statue

The Historical Society wants to locate a permanent home for the statue that welcomed guests to The Buccaneer Inn.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 24, 2010
Camera system considered

Longboat Police Chief Al Hogle is investigating a license-plate recognition system that could help locate stolen cars and wanted persons entering or exiting the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 24, 2010
Our view: Four commissioners want it

Watching the Key Club process is frustrating, often excruciating - for everyone. And some deal with it better than others (Ahem, Commissioner Peter O'Connor).

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By Michael Welly
  • February 24, 2010
My view: Longboat Key Club's continuance necessary

I would like to take this opportunity to address the Longboat Key Club's request for a continuance regarding its Islandside redevelopment application, which has caused a further delay in the Town Commission hearings.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 24, 2010
Club seeks code amendments

A decision by Longboat Key Club and Resort officials to seek amendments to the town's zoning code would further delay its Islandside application.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 24, 2010
Police union raises wage issue

The town's labor attorney said the town is in no position to offer wage increases to police officers as part of a new three-year contract.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 24, 2010
Church shows mercy in St. Mary's case

Former St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church office assistant Margaret Carroll was sentenced to house arrest and probation for grand-theft charges.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 24, 2010
Greyhound rescue to host performance

The Gilley Girls, a performance troupe comprising former racing greyhounds, will perform at Racing Dog Rescue Project's Open House and Fundraiser from 1-4 p.m., Feb. 28, at the organization, 1801 Verna Road.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 24, 2010
LECOM students earn scholarships

Two Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton students received top honors at the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association's 107th annual conference Feb. 18-21 in Ft. Lauderdale.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 24, 2010
IDA moves forward with irrigation study

Lakewood Ranch CDD supervisors learned water could be coming in and out of the district without being metered.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 24, 2010
Filmmakers complete 'Payton's Song'

A documentary on the East County's beloved Payton Wright, a 5-year-old who died of brain cancer, may be featured in this year's Sarasota Film Festival.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 24, 2010
Ranch's renting dilemma

One resident said his condo association's policy is making it difficult for him to find a tenant for his Lakewood home.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 24, 2010
Teenager's aim triggers state accolades

Panther Ridge resident Laura Headlee, 15 has won the Florida State Shooting Championship five times for cowboy action shooting.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 24, 2010
East squads in starting blocks for new season

ODA opened its season Feb. 20, while Braden River and Lakewood will open their seasons tomorrow at the Bobcat Relays in North Port.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 24, 2010
Athlete of the Week: Courtney Mirabella

The Observer spotlights Braden River High freshman Courtney Mirabella.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 24, 2010
Former Pirate leads Lakewood to victory

Lakewood sophomore Huntyre Elling, who played for Braden River last year, pitched a shutout over her former teammates Feb. 19.

  • East County
  • Sports
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