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Your Observer

John Balerna
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • January 27, 2016
Twin Shores’ helping hands

Twin Shores resident Diane Brandlein would like to thank her neighbor John Balerna.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    A time to celebrate |
  • January 27, 2016
Just Married — Chelsea and Taylor

Chelsea Rodrigue and Taylor Clegg, who were voted “Cutest Couple” their senior year in 2008, met while attending Cardinal Mooney High School. They started dating their sophomore year on Sept. 21, 2005 and were married ten years later on Nov. 21, 2015.

  • Sarasota
  • Celebrations
Ellenton pairs figure skaters Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea won their first national championship Jan. 23.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 27, 2016
East County High 5 Moments: 01.28.16

East County High 5 Moments: 01.28.16

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River first baseman Bethaney Keen will open her final high school season Feb. 2.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 27, 2016
That's the ticket ...

Check out these top sports events in East County this week.

  • East County
  • Sports
A red ruffed lemur looks up after a quick groom.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 27, 2016
Lemur reserve climbs to new heights

The Lemur Conservation Foundation, celebrating 20 years, begins fundraising to fuel its expansion.

  • East County
  • News
An egret stands in some overgrowth in a Tara Preserve pond.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 27, 2016
New Tara Preserve expenses float to surface

CDD supervisors hope to weed out unnecessary costs in maintaining their ponds.

  • East County
  • News
Rendering courtesy of SJ Collins Enterprises.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 26, 2016
Sarasota County commissioners approve Whole Foods project

The project is located on 4.5 acres of wetlands.

  • East County
  • News
Huck will be one of three otters featured at "Otters & Their Waters." Photo courtesy of Tracy Frampton/Florida Wildlife Hospital
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • January 26, 2016
Mote sets date for otter exhibit

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s newest exhibit, “Otters & Their Waters,” will open Feb. 26.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Braden River High senior Hannah Figueroas won Best in Show for Digital Photography.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 26, 2016
Braden River High student wins summer scholarship

Senior Hannah Figueroa received a scholarship for a one-month course at Ringling College of Art & Design.

  • East County
  • News
Prominent Siesta Key property owners Jay Lancer and Jim Syprett bought the former 7-Eleven in the Village for $1.6 million.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 26, 2016
Daiquiri Deck owners buy Siesta 7-Eleven

Siesta Key Village property owners Jim Syprett and Jay Lancer bought the former convenience store on Ocean Boulevard this month.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Country Club's golf course was spotted with pink before the tournament.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 26, 2016
Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club on par with pink

The Women's Golf Association raised money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A view of the .95 acre parcel at 20 N. Washington Blvd.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • January 26, 2016
County’s latest attempt to sell downtown parcel unproductive

The county’s invitation to negotiate for the purchase of a parcel at the corner of 301 and Main Street did not produce a viable offer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Proceeds from the For the Love of the Game event will benefit Braden River's athletic programs.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 26, 2016
For the Love of the Game to benefit Pirate athletics

Braden River High will hold its For the Love of the Game dinner and auction Feb. 27.

  • East County
  • Sports
Marla Doss has been with Community Haven since July 1985.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 26, 2016
Longtime staff leaves Community Haven

After 30 years with the organization, Marla Doss is no longer with CHAC.

  • East County
  • News
ODA sophomore Liberty Strafuss drives toward the baseline in the first half.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 26, 2016
ODA's season ends in quarterfinals

The Out-of-Door Academy girls basketball team fell to Fort Myers Canterbury 33-28 Jan. 25.

  • East County
  • Sports
Local funds are needed to help pay for a seasonal traffic study.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 26, 2016
Local funds needed to power traffic study

Metropolitan Planning Organization funds will help drive a seasonal traffic study.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Angela Abrams shows relief as she high-fives finish line coordinator Roger Raddatz after completing the Suncoast Half Marathon. Would the community embrace a bigger event?
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 25, 2016
SIDE OF RANCH: Jay Heater

Would big Lakewood Ranch half marathon get non-runners moving?

  • East County
  • News
After this month's Thunder by the Bay festival generated some complaints from businesses and officials, the city is debating the future of special events in the downtown core.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 25, 2016
Survey says Thunder by the Bay dampens downtown business

A majority of downtown merchants said Thunder by the Bay either hurt or didn’t impact their business, but the event organizer wants the city to consider the broader effects of the motorcycle festival when evaluating its future.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 25, 2016
Islamic Society applies to Sarasota County for private school

The society hopes to open classes in the fall.

  • East County
  • News
The building is located at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 25, 2016
Manatee Commission discusses pool renaming

The board also will consider taking of property for a roadway project.

  • East County
  • News
McNeal Elementary students are advancing on to the First LEGO League regional competition next month.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 25, 2016
McNeal Elementary students advance to regional LEGO competition

Members of the First LEGO League are heading to Plant City in February.

  • East County
  • News
Bass Pro Shops plans to open a location east of I-75.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 25, 2016
Bass Pro moves forward with plans for Sarasota location

Bass Pro Outdoor World has applied for a comprehensive plan amendment to allow a store at at northeast corner of Fruitville Road and I-75.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Town Manager Dave Bullock is investigating the use of utility reserve funds to help pay for costs associated with the town’s $23.85 million neighborhood and side street undergrounding project.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 25, 2016
Bullock still investigating neighborhood undergrounding funding

Informational meetings scheduled with neighborhoods this month to discuss the neighborhood undergrounding project will be rescheduled after the Feb. 16 regular workshop.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Southside Polo player Matt Sekera reaches for the ball.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 24, 2016
Tailgaters think tropical at Sarasota Polo Club

Southside Polo played Whiskey Pond.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Page Jackson and Esther Swett admire the arrangement by Barbara Rao
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • January 24, 2016
Garden Club impresses with Architecture Pizzazz

The annual flower show themed "Sarasota Architecture with Pizzazz" runs through Jan. 24 at the Sarasota Garden Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Overall champion Michael Lamb of Bradenton poses with his plaque. Lamb, a University of South Florida student, set a personal best at 1:14.32.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 24, 2016
Bradenton runner breaks the ice at Suncoast Half Marathon

Lakewood Ranch event gets off to chilly start, but runners warm to the task.

  • East County
  • News
Smoking hot crawfish from Walt's Fish Market.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • January 23, 2016
Residents keep warm with Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival

Festival takes over Selby Five Points Park for weekend full of seafood and entertainment.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's LaDazhia Williams finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 23, 2016
Mustangs fall in OT

The Lakewood Ranch High girls basketball team narrowly fell to Winter Haven 49-48 in overtime Jan. 23.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team captured its fourth-consecutive district championship Jan. 22.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 23, 2016
Mustangs win fourth straight title

The Lakewood Ranch boys soccer team came from behind to beat Riverview 2-1 in the Class 5A-District 8 championship Jan. 22.

  • East County
  • Sports
Addison and Jimmy Gill dance to the music.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 22, 2016
Braden River Elementary students have a ball

The school hosted its annual Fairy Tale Ball Jan. 22.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • January 22, 2016
Benderson seeks waiver and extension to plan "Fruitville Initiative"

The Commission will consider whether to allow Benderson to present a rezone request before the required time elapses.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • January 22, 2016
Beachplace greets seasonal residents

Beachplace Association welcomed back owners at a party Jan. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • January 22, 2016
Water Club welcomes back residents

Residents of Water Club attended the association’s welcome back party Jan. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • January 22, 2016
Students re-enact Ellis Island at Phillippi Shores

Phillippi Shores Elementary School helps students trace family heritage.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • January 22, 2016
St. Mary has an Italian feast

St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Men’s Club hosted its annual Italian Night Jan. 22.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
One team made a butterfly from a strawberry and apple slices.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 22, 2016
Freedom Elementary students build with broccoli

Technology Student Association members create scenes from fruits and vegetable

  • East County
  • Schools
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Sarasota Art Museum Senior Curator Rangsook Yoon poses in front of an unnamed piece in Judy Pfaff's exhibition, "Picking Up the Pieces."
  • April 6, 2026
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The Citizen Tax Oversight Committee meets once a year to review expenditures of revenue brought in from the infrastructure surtax. The 2026 meeting lasted about 15 minutes on Thursday, April 2.
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