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Your Observer

    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 11, 2015
Pirates hoops to hold Pancake Breakfast

The Braden River High boys basketball team will host an All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 11, 2015
Seagrass health improves in Sarasota Bay

Coverage has increased dramatically, returning to levels not seen since the 1950s.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The event includes a flashlight night walk, where attendees can admire the 12 Days of Christmas displays at Lake Manatee State Park. Courtesy photo by Rosalie Coddington.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 11, 2015
Weekend Best Bet: Holiday Reflections at the Lake

Lake Manatee State Park hosts first annual holiday family event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Taco Bus had planned to open on Main Street in downtown Sarasota, but re-assigned their lease to a Tampa company.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 11, 2015
Taco Bus nixes downtown Sarasota location

The owners of the Cask & Ale cocktail bars in Tampa Bay have shown interest in the Main Street space.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Samantha Crawford, Bea Kelly, Sarah Johnson, Patty McGuire and Emma Diner with Sarasota Sings provided entertainment for the holiday luncheon.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 11, 2015
Palm-Aire Women's Club hosts holiday luncheon

The members filled the country club will festivity Friday, Dec. 11.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Drop off a new, unwrapped toy valued at $5 at the Longboat Key Police Department, 5460 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 11, 2015
Town collecting items for Toys for Tots

Drop off a new, unwrapped toy valued at $5 at Longboat Key Town Hall or the Longboat Key Police Department.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
FDOT anticipates temporary detour routes on University Parkway at I-75, exit 213, interchange at night and overnight from Dec. 14 through Dec. 17.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 11, 2015
FDOT announces I-75 and University Parkway detours, closures

Construction on the Diverging Diamond Interchange will cause traffic interruptions Dec. 14 through Dec. 17.

  • East County
  • News
Bunny Skirboll and Ann Hartka
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 11, 2015
Compeer treasures friendships with jam session

Compeer Jam brings friends together for a night of food and music at Sarasota Architectural Salvage.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 11, 2015
Mustangs notch district win

The Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team topped Sarasota 4-1 Dec. 10.

  • East County
  • Sports
Amelia Villa Mosqueda and Chiara Diaz play Ralph the Reindeer and the Candy Cane Kid.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 11, 2015
Willis Elementary hosts holiday hoedown

The school's Western-themed winter play was held Thursday, Nov. 10.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 11, 2015
Chamber gets in the holiday spirit

Members of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce gathered for a holiday Business After Hours Dec. 10, at Harry’s Continental Kitchens.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 11, 2015
Sarasota Polo Club player retrains racehorses for a new profession

Nick Johnson converts failed racehorses to polo ponies.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 10, 2015
Christ Church makes Santa’s nice list

Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian hosted a Christmas party for 75 of their reading buddies on Dec. 10.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 10, 2015
Game, set match: It’s time for the Observer Challenge

The 16th annual Observer Challenge tournament kicked off with a cocktail party on Dec. 10, at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota County Homeless Services Director Wayne Applebee, in front of a private residence on Butler Avenue that the county identified as a potential shelter site.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 10, 2015
County defends possible shelter locations

Homeless don’t commit more crimes than people who own homes, according to Sarasota County representatives.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Harvey Vengroff at the Oakridge Apartments, formerly Sarasota Airport Hotel. Photo by Mark Wemple
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 10, 2015
Find a way to say yes

Capital flows where it is welcome. So Sarasota entrepreneur Harvey Vengroff is taking his capital to Manatee. City commissioners could change the story with leadership.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
"We're on the homestretch," said Nancy's BBQ owner Nancy Krohngold. The final touches are wrapping up at her new Lakewood Ranch location, Li'l Nancy's at the Ranch.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 10, 2015
Barbecue and beer opening on Lakewood Ranch Main Street

Li’l Nancy’s Barbecue is slated to open before Christmas; Craft Growlers to Go will open in January.

  • East County
  • News
The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association’s annual owners meeting will start as scheduled 9 a.m. Dec. 15 on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 10, 2015
Judge blesses Colony owners’ meeting

Owners are also scheduled to hear development presentations from the MW Development Group/The Lutgert Cos. and Unicorp President Chuck Whittall Dec. 15.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 10, 2015
Mystery solved for sandbar party

Did someone host a company party on a Big Pass sandbar?

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 10, 2015
Developer plans upscale Rosemary hotel

Boston-based developer Jason Cincotta is moving ahead with plans for a 76-room hotel at 599 Cocoanut Ave.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 10, 2015
Garden Club falls in Amore

The Longboat Key Garden Club celebrated the holidays Dec. 9, at Amore by Andrea.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rather than exchanging gifts, Manatee County schools nurses donated money to send two special needs students to camp.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 10, 2015
Manatee County schools nurses sponsor two Dream Oaks campers

The women donated $675 to provide camp scholarships.

  • East County
  • News
Chase Maasdorp scored 13 points for ODA in its victory versus St. Petersburg Canterbury School Dec. 7.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 10, 2015
Sarasota Sidelines: 12.10.15

Sarasota Sidelines: 12.10.15

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Fisher Schlabach, Trey Lantz, Garrett Mullenax, Grady Martin and Julian Soriano are enjoying every minute they get to spend on the soccer field with Tony Colton.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 10, 2015
No time for excuses

Sarasota Christian sophomore returned to the soccer field this fall after his fourth battle with Clear-cell sarcoma — a rare form of kidney cancer.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2015
Sarasota Letters to the Editor 12.10.15

Confusing opinion; Don't ignore Native American side of history

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Lorinn Williams and Donald Smith sold their Unit PH-C condominium at 888 S. Orange Ave. to B.G. Holding Corp. for $1.9 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 10, 2015
Casey Key home sells for $2.6 million

The following residential real estate transactions took place between November 23 and November 27.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Niki Muller, of Longboat Key, submitted this photo of a sparrow on a fence.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2015
Longboat Key weather page photo: Dec. 10

Niki Muller, of Longboat Key, submitted this photo of a sparrow on a fence.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Monica Mingote, of Bradenton, submitted this photo of a “furious sky” from Jiggs Landing.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2015
East County weather page photo: Dec. 10

Monica Mingote, of Bradenton, submitted this photo of a “furious sky” from Jiggs Landing.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Charles Preston Rawls submitted this photo of “fire in the sky” over Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2015
Sarasota weather page photo: Dec. 10

Charles Preston Rawls submitted this photo of “fire in the sky” over Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Paul Parr, on the balcony of his unit at Sunset Royale, overlooking the west end of Siesta Key Public Beach.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 10, 2015
Condo owners will ask for protective measures

A group of condo owners will ask that, if the county must build bigger and better picnic shelters and a pavilion, that it include some measures to abate disturbances.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2015
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Main plaza brainstorm, county eyes Osprey parcel

WEEK OF DEC. 10 2015

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 10, 2015
Branch out to find this year’s Christmas tree

Stands around town offer trees and wreaths to help deck the halls.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A boat decorated as a Christmas tree makes its way down the bay for the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 10, 2015
Sarasota calendar 12.10.15

Sarasota and Siesta Key events for the week of Dec. 10.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo. "The Lovers" by Marc Chagall - The Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 10, 2015
Selby Gardens prepares for Chagall exhibit in 2017

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to enhance visitor experience by pairing exhibit series and horticultural displays.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City Manager Tom Barwin will engage with residents and businesses as he attempts to brainstorm the best way to create renewed energy in Five Points Park.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 10, 2015
City targets more active parks and recreation program

Starting with Five Points Park, the city is embracing a new parks philosophy. Constrained by budget limitations for years, how can staff create new recreation opportunities?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Paul Thorpe will hand over his duties as parade organizer after wrapping up the 20th annual Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 10, 2015
Will the Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade keep marching on?

Parade organizer Paul Thorpe is retiring after two decades of organizing the event. Will anyone step up to take his place?

  • Sarasota
  • News
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