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Your Observer

    By
  • Dora Walters
  • December 30, 2009
Joint Effort

St. Mary's groups combine forces for Christmas party.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • December 30, 2009
Memorable Moments

We asked Longboaters to share their most memorable moments of the past decade.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Kent Chetlain
  • December 30, 2009
Key Real Estate

Water Club unit brings $1,535,500.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 30, 2009
Business Observer

Ellenton resident John Hutson opened Professional Touch Dry Cleaners in mid-December, at 6854 Gulf of Mexico Drive, in Whitney Beach Plaza.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 30, 2009
Scoreboard

Get the latest scores from local bridge and golf clubs.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 30, 2009
Player of the Week: Brittany Lashway

Cedars Tennis and Fitness Club tennis player Brittany Lashway fills us in on her athletic secrets.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Donna Swan
  • December 30, 2009
Deal Us In: When is it time to ruff?

It is a natural tendency to give your partner a ruff at the first opportunity. That can be a major mistake, as in this week's hand.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 30, 2009
Weather: New Outlook

Get this week's weather stats with tide chart, sunrise/sunset and moon phases.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 30, 2009
TOP STORY, JULY: River Club in fighting form

The community's Homeowner's Association budgeted nearly $40,000 to fight a proposed cell tower.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 29, 2009
TOP STORY, JUNE: Wilder leaves Lakewood

Lakewood Ranch High School Principal Mike Wilder accepted a position at the district level.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 29, 2009
TOP STORY, June: Roundabouts increase time

The city's consultant found that trips between downtown and the barrier islands would take up to a minute longer with roundabouts in place.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 29, 2009
TOP STORY, June: 'Fight the good fight'

Town Manager Bruce St. Denis received direction to spend up to $25,000 to hire a consultant to combat Sarasota's plans to construct five roundabouts on U.S. 41.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 29, 2009
Commission to take parking garage vote

The Palm Avenue parking garge design/build team is asking city commissioners to consider design changes and three additional stories on the five-level garage.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 28, 2009
TOP STORY, May: Sign code irks business owners

Longboat Key business owners urged the town's planning board for a review of the sign code they said could be bad for business.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 28, 2009
TOP STORY, May: $72 million bus system advances

SCAT's rapid-transit project got past the first federal-government hurdle.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 28, 2009
Key Club urges project support from members

Longboat Key Club and Resort General Manager Michael Welly met with club members last week to ask for support at Town Commission public hearings next month.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 28, 2009
TOP STORY, MAY: Main gets new anchor

Good Earth Natural Food Store announced plans to move into the Lakewood Ranch Main Street space claimed by Morton's Gourmet Market.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 27, 2009
TOP STORY, APRIL: Hostage shares story

Keith Stansell will signed copies of 'Out of Captivity: Surviving 1,967 Days in the Colombian Jungle,' at Lakewood Ranch Booksellers.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 27, 2009
THE YEAR IN PICTURES 2009

The East County Observer takes a look back at our most memorable photos of the year. Click inside to see our recap of 2009 and to see which images made the cut.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 27, 2009
TOP STORY, April: Turner, Atwell win runoff

Precinct-by-precinct results showed that the support base for both City Commission candidates Terry Turner and Suzanne Atwell secured their victories.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 27, 2009
TOP STORY, April: North Shore beach access closed

The Longboat Key Town Commission agreed to shut down the beach access in April after being informed there was no beach left and conditions were unsafe for beachgoers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 26, 2009
TOP STORY March: Elected Mayor referendum defeated

More than 4,400 voters cast their ballots against the elected-mayor referendum, while nearly 2,400 supported it.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 26, 2009
TOP STORY, March: 'A vote for change'

Newcomer Gene Jaleski wins the at-large Town Commission race by 198 votes, and a general-obligation bond amendment passes in a landslide.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Pam Eubanks and Jen Blanco
  • December 26, 2009
TOP STORY, MARCH: BRHS coach dies

Defensive line coach Doug Garrity died after a single-vehicle accident March 21.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 25, 2009
TOP STORY, FEBRUARY: Springing into Action

Johan Kriek, Gregory Cilek and Tim Morris are the masterminds behind Springbok Sports Club and Academy.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 25, 2009
TOP STORY February: City to choose Palm Avenue plan

Developers submitted their proposals for a planned parking garage on Palm Avenue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 25, 2009
TOP STORY, February: Campaign issue escalates

Commissioner Randall Clair contends his opponent is 'tainted' by voicing an opinion about the Longboat Key Club's $400 million Islandside renovation project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 24, 2009
TOP STORY, January: Town to receive permit

The state's intent to issue a permit for groin construction at The Islander Club most likely means construction can begin behind the condo buildings in November 2009.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 24, 2009
TOP STORY January: Downtown to emphasize security

The Downtown Improvement District said security and landscaping were at the top of its priorities list.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2009
Residents place foundation for street

Laurel Park residents rolled up their sleeves Dec. 19 to lay bricks along Rawls Avenue for one block, from Oak Street to Devonshire Lane.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2009
Gingerbread house takes after mansion

The 6,000-piece gingerbread mansion, with its 200 golden sunflowers, 130 scroll-and-leaf panels and 60 shimmering starflowers, took more than three months to create.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2009
The Year in Pictures

Compelling moments. Timeless occasions. Outstanding memories. A look back at some of the most memorable photos published in The Sarasota Observer this year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 24, 2009
Sheriff exonerated on election charges

A supporter of David Gustafson filed a claim with the state elections commission, alleging 40 of Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight's campaign contributions were improper.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2009
Cops Corner

Complainant said an office-supply store's delivery truck dropped off a load of supplies and clipped the complainant's phone line while it drove away.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2009
Cops Corner

Complainant said an office-supply store's delivery truck dropped off a load of supplies and clipped the complainant's phone line while it drove away.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 24, 2009
A home on Casey Key sells for $9.9 million

The following residential real-estate transactions took place between Nov. 24 and Dec. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
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