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Your Observer

File photo. Grace Hullinger promotes peace on Earth from the float for the Sarasota Tabernacle Christian School Saturday, at the Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade in 2014.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 3, 2015
Sarasota calendar 12.3.15

Sarasota and Siesta Key events for the week of Dec. 3.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
C.J. Bannister received the Woman Veteran of the Year Award from Sarasota County Veterans Commission President Ted Smith.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 3, 2015
Goodwill Manasota director named Woman Veteran of the Year

C.J. Bannister, director for the Goodwill Manasota Veterans Services Program, helps veterans adjust to civilian life.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2015
Cops Corner: Sarasota 12.03.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
A new congressional map upends the political stage ahead of the 2016 election in Florida.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 2, 2015
Supreme Court approves new congressional map that splits Sarasota

In a 5-2 decision, the Florida Supreme Court approved a congressional redistricting map that splits Sarasota County into two districts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 2, 2015
Local physician gets prison time for unlicensed practice

The former ear, nose and throat doctor continued his practice for a year after the revocation.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 2, 2015
Orioles to host annual Birdland Classic

The Baltimore Orioles will hold their Sixth Annual OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic Feb. 22.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Manatee County School Board will approve Hollis Morantes', former physics teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School, resignation Dec. 8.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 2, 2015
Lakewood Ranch High science teacher resigns

After being arrested on drug charges Nov. 4, Hollis Morantes resigned from the East County school.

  • East County
  • News
Christine Goodall, Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino, artist Joe Cuffaro and Mike Evanoff
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 2, 2015
Sarasota Police Department shows artistic side

Local artist transforms part of the Sarasota Police Department headquarters into a community space with new mural.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 2, 2015
Refugee Rule of One

Before you become part of the chorus of altruists chastising Florida Gov. Rick Scott for wanting a pause on Syrian refugees, you should apply Arthur Laffer’s Rule of One.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
BBC Plaza, the ownership group consisting of entrepreneurs Jesse Biter, Eric Baird and David Chessler, have announced a three-phase plan for redeveloping Sarasota Main Plaza.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 2015
SURVEY: What should be developed at Hollywood 20?

The Observer is collecting reader submissions for what you want to see at Sarasota Main Plaza.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Summerfield resident Larry Marshall is helping improve Lakewood Ranch resident's golf game one swing at a time as the new PGA golf instructor at Esplanade Golf & Country Club.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 2, 2015
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Shopping can wait, I might be suited to play golf

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch senior goalkeeper Liam Bramley has posted four shutouts through the first seven games of the season.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 2, 2015
Keeping the faith

Lakewood Ranch soccer team confident senior can lead them to a championship.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 2, 2015
Your Calendar: Longboat Key

Check out upcoming events on Longboat Key and surrounding areas.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Enjoy this week's edition of Longboat Key Cops Corner.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 2, 2015
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 12.3.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Longboat Key Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Capt. Wayne Genthner of Wolfmouth Charters has lunch with collie mix AbuJuju, 6, at the Bridgetender Inn on Anna Maria Island Nov. 18.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 2, 2015
Key fishing captain urges for doggy dining ordinance

The town of Longboat Key is the only local municipality without an ordinance allowing man and his best friend to dine together.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manfred Welfonder, principal at MW Corp., has been hoping to redevelop the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort on Longboat Key for more than five years. His plans call for 350 new residences within the 18-acre resort, valued at roughly $200 million.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 2015
New Colony redevelopment plan labeled 'tremendous opportunity'

Lutgert Cos. is lending its stellar reputation and experience to a plan to bring the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort back to life. Will it be enough?

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This year's Observer Challenge will be Dec. 11 to 13.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 2, 2015
Meet your match at the Observer Challenge

The 16th annual Observer Challenge will be Dec. 11 to 13.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Michael Garey hopes to sell 1,200 event tickets and 2,000 raffle tickets for this year’s Gourmet Lawn Party on Dec. 5.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 2, 2015
Conversation with Michael Garey

Michael Garey is this year's chairman of the Gourmet Lawn Party on Dec. 5.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat's resident health and fitness expert moved to the Key in 2009.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 2, 2015
Mirabai Holland teaches Manatee to get fit

Longboat resident Mirabai Holland, a nationally known fitness expert, is helping Manatee County workers — and the rest of the country — learn to live healthily.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The home at 1435 Westway Drive to 1435 Westway LLC has five bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,566 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 2, 2015
Westway Drive home sells for $5,475,000 million

The home at 1435 Westway Drive has five bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,566 square feet of living area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Joanne Assaly of Country Club Shores and her dog, Toby, 10, brave the crosswalk at the Country Club Shores beach access at Longboat Club Drive in the 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Nov. 24 and had to wait for 10 cars to whiz by them before they could
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 2, 2015
Gulf of Mexico Drive crosswalks aren’t shortcuts to safety

Mayor Jack Duncan seeks an education plan for new Gulf of Mexico Drive crosswalks and Police Chief Pete Cumming plans to have officers present when they are fully functional.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Town Manager Dave Bullock said peacock trapping will begin soon in Longbeach Village and the plan to cull the peacocks to 12 male birds will be “figured out as we go.”
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 2, 2015
Peacock plan takes flight

Will 2016 be the year of the peacock removal? That’s what Dave Bullock promises Village residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 2, 2015
Cops Corner 12.3.2015

Crime reports from around the area.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
GreyHawk Landing CDD supervisors said it cost $300 to clean the pool after the vandalism incident on Halloween.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 2, 2015
GreyHawk Landing searches for pool potty crew

CDD supervisors are looking for individuals who vandalized the community pool.

  • East County
  • News
Michael Corbino Jr.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 2, 2015
Former pro racer Michael Corbino Jr., 27, dies in crash

Corbino, 27, of Longboat Key, died Nov. 29 after he lost control of his motorcycle and hit a tree while traveling northbound on South Tamiami Trail.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The United States U-15 Men's National soccer team will play the Netherlands and Brazil Dec. 4 and Dec. 6, respectively (file photo)
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 2, 2015
East County Sports Spotlight: 12.03.15

That's the ticket ...

  • East County
  • Sports
Kaden Daft, 10, last week started helping physical education teacher Melissa Dowling set up for her classes.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 2, 2015
Bashaw Elementary practices community service

The school urges fifth-grade students to become role models.

  • East County
  • News
Margie Hernandez started developing her property into a fruit and produce grove about six years ago.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 2, 2015
A red-hot, green thumb: East County resident perfects hot sauce recipe

Think you know your hot sauces? You haven’t met Margie Hernandez — or her homegrown jalapeños.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Town Hall's new purchasing manager, Ana Owen, likes to go sailing in her free time. She's been learning the skills for the water sport for the last four years.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 2, 2015
Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority board questions purchasing power

The IDA wants to structure the new purchasing manager’s spending.

  • East County
  • News
Secretary of State John Kerry outlines the process of vetting refugees.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 2, 2015
Kerry outlines refugee vetting process

Kerry outlines refugee vetting process

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 1, 2015
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office investigates vehicle burglaries

Four unlocked cars in Greenbrook Village East were targeted last night.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Harbour placed in the top five of last year's "Light Up the Key" contest.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 1, 2015
Deck the Key with our annual holiday lights contest.

Judging for "Light Up the Key" will take place from Dec. 9 to 11, and the top five properties will receive a prize.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Ben Quartermaine, stormwater engineer for Sarasota County, addresses members of the Siesta Key Village Association.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 1, 2015
Siesta Village merchants fret about project timing

Businesses would rather a three-week stormwater project that may cause traffic delays and divert people around the Village wait until after Labor Day.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh is the new chairwoman of the Manatee County Commission.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 1, 2015
Vanessa Baugh elected as Manatee County Commission chairwoman

The District 5 commissioner will lead the commission after just three years on the board.

  • East County
  • News
Susana and Timmy Abell perform for the kindergarten, first-grade and second-grade classes.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 1, 2015
Willis Elementary School students sing along with Timmy Abell

The North Carolina musician is traveling to several Manatee County schools this week.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Main Street Visitor Information Center will open Dec. 3.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 1, 2015
Visit Sarasota County center coming to Main Street

The tourism group’s downtown Visitor Information Center will move from Lemon Avenue into the former Firestone building in the 1700 block of Main Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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