Your Observer

Robin Roy
April 22, 2010

Lawsuit accuses county official of influencing bid

A lawsuit against the county accuses division Director Larry Arnold of using his friendships to help award two contracts dealing with a spring-training stadium.

Sarasota
News

Observer Staff
April 22, 2010

Candlelight vigil honors Crime Victims' Rights Week

To promote victims' rights and honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf, a candlelight vigil was held Monday, April 19, at the Central Church of Christ, in honor of National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 22, 2010

St. Martha's undergoes energetic makeover

After undergoing Florida Power and Light's Business Energy Evaluation, St. Martha's Early Learning Center received free energy upgrades that are expected to save the organization up to $1,000 annually.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 22, 2010

Forty Carrots pays tribute to co-founder Diane Weiss

Forty Carrots Family Center staff, families, supporters, colleagues and alumni paid tribute to Diane Weiss, co-founder and co-executive director since 1993.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 22, 2010

Sharks win national title

The Sarasota YMCA Sharks Team won its fourth consecutive national title at the YMCA Short Course National Championship, held April 6 through April 9, in Fort Lauderdale.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 22, 2010

Observer Updates

Commission approves new bus rapid-transit route; Brick pavers are ruled out for Main Street; Parking garage holds groundbreaking

Sarasota
News

Observer Staff
April 22, 2010

Cops Corner

April 14 Clean break 12:38 a.m. - 500 block of North Jefferson Avenue. Suspicious Person. The caller reported that a man was showering in an apartment complex's pool area. The man's clothing was piled on the ground near the shower.

Sarasota
Cops Corner

Loren Mayo
April 22, 2010

Young gardeners grow successful harvest

Students at Gulf Gate Elementary and Emma E. Booker Elementary are learning through the hands-on project of caring for their EarthBoxes.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Adam Hughes
April 22, 2010

Bayshore Road home sells for $1.6 million

A home on Bayshore Road tops all real-estate transactions from March 23 to March 26.

Sarasota
Real Estate

Observer Staff
April 22, 2010

Our View

Sadly, smoking guns no surprise

Sarasota
Opinion

Maria Amodio
April 21, 2010

Man on the Street: Going Green

April 22 is Earth Day, so The Observer asked folks around downtown Sarasota what they do to be environmentally conscious.

Sarasota
News

Loren Mayo
April 21, 2010

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT: Gulf Gate Elementary

Every day, Gulf Gate Elementary students race to the courtyard after lunch to look after their EarthBoxes.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Kurt Schultheis
April 21, 2010

In Brief

Community news and notes

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

After recovery, eagle takes flight

A bald eagle became stranded in the waters of Longboat Key recently and needed help before she could spread her wings again.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

Euphemia Haye walks for a cure

Team Euphemia Haye participated for its eighth year in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF) "Walk to Cure Diabetes" event March 20, on Siesta Key, and raised more than $14,000.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

Historic real-estate office building still stands

One of the first real-estate offices on Longboat Key was started by Luther Garaux in the 1940s and was located in a two-story building at 5144 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The building still stands and is now, fittingly, an apartment complex.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

Beachplace enjoys a day at the races

Beachplace has gone to the dogs. Residents attended their annual "Night at the Dogs" event April 8, at the Sarasota Kennel Club.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

Golfers meet friendly fawn

East County resident Clint Pierce and his son, Tommy, were enjoying a round at Cypress Links at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club when they came face-to-face with this fawn.

East County
Neighbors

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

Kiddie Academy hops for MDA

Students at Kiddie Academy in Lakewood Ranch showed off their jumping skills during the school's MDA Hop-a-Thon event April 7.

East County
Neighbors

Pam Eubanks
April 21, 2010

Memorial may have home

CDD2 supervisors are considering Lakewood Ranch Town Hall as the site for the Fallen Heroes Memorial.

East County
News

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

Publix employees help save our local seabirds

Approximately 35 Longboat Key Publix employees were hard at work on Saturday, April 10, but they weren't behind the store's counters. Instead, they were volunteering at Save Our Seabirds.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Pam Eubanks
April 21, 2010

County endorses new MTI campus

Commission Chair Donna Hayes said the new campus will be 'like a gateway to (the) East County.'

East County
News

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

Holy mackerel:Resident catches 32-pound fish

Longboat Key resident Paul Geck recently reeled in quite the catch: a 50-inch, 32-pound king mackerel that he caught 1.5 miles west of Longboat Pass.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Pam Eubanks
April 21, 2010

Italian, Mexican cuisines to add spice to Ranch Main

LWR Commercial Realty officials recently secured an Italian restaurant for Main Street. Two more restaurant leases are out, including one for a Mexican eatery.

East County
News

Pam Eubanks
April 21, 2010

Student interaction yields special education

Under the leadership of Mill Creek resident Donna McGarry, students from Ashton Elementary School in Sarasota visited students enrolled at Pinnacle Academy in Lakewood Ranch.

East County
News

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

Longboat Key swans go into nesting mode

Spring is in the air, and that means the Harbour Links swans are in nesting mode.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Michael Eng
April 21, 2010

Faith to host second prom for residents with special needs

The theme for this year's prom will be 'Night with the Stars.'

East County
News

Kurt Schultheis
April 21, 2010

Pension, budget woes mount

A status of the town's three pension plans and the certainty of another shortfall in next year's budget were presented to the Town Commission Thursday, April 15.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
April 21, 2010

Business Observer 04.22.10

Two East County physicians, Dr. Arun Khazanchi and Dr. Harvey Mishner, purchased recently the former Wachovia Bank building, 11505 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood Ranch.

East County
News

Kurt Schultheis
April 21, 2010

Code changes move forward

The majority of the Town Commission agreed with the Longboat Key Club and Resort's suggested code clarifications and changes Friday, April 16.

Longboat Key
News

Kurt Schultheis
April 21, 2010

Association makes conversion argument

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association began making its case Monday, April 19, for why the resort's bankruptcy case should be converted to Chapter 7 liquidation.