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Your Observer

An estimated 700 meals were prepared for the 40th Annual Pioneer Day Picnic last year.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • September 17, 2015
Rotary Club cooks up Pioneer Picnic tradition

Swamp cabbage takes center stage at the club's 41st annual picnic.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jon Thaxton makes friends with a scrub jay while taking notes in the wilderness.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • September 17, 2015
This week in history 9.17.15

A glimpse of the way things were from the archives.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Bobby Jones Golf Club Study Committee is split on whether the course should return to its historic 1925 design.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 17, 2015
Should Bobby Jones restore its historic design?

A study committee agrees the course needs a major capital investment. But there are differing views on how it should look — and no answer for how much it may cost.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Although a segment of First Street is closed for construction, businesses in the area are excited to reap the benefits of the project.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 17, 2015
First Street improvements highlight a growing area

As the city works on a project designed to make a segment of First Street near Cocoanut Avenue more walkable, businesses in the area are excited by the changes — and by the growth surrounding them.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The clear cutting of neighborhood lots is one of the ongoing problems with trees in the city, residents say.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 17, 2015
City staff advances conversations regarding enhanced tree protections

With strong backing from neighborhoods, the city of Sarasota will explore amending city codes to make regulations regarding urban trees more stringent.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy Memory Portraits by Gigi.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • September 17, 2015
Baby bloopers

Sarasota parents' baby-photo snafu goes viral.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
David and Sterling Hobbs, marina employees, look forward to upcoming changes at the facility.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • September 17, 2015
Marina Jack owners to upgrade Turtle Beach facility

The historic Turtle Beach Marina will now be known at Bayfront Yacht Works & Marina.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • September 17, 2015
County celebrates park’s completion — at last

After a troubled run, Bay Island Park will have a new look and a new name.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Chris Sharek says there is a passionate electric vehicle-owner community, eager to promote the product. "They want to tell the world, they really do," Sharek said.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 17, 2015
Conversation with Chris Sharek

One of the organizers of Electrify the Island sees exponential growth in the availability of electric cars, and Sarasota is among the places embracing them quickly.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cops Corner
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 17, 2015
Cops Corner: Sarasota 9.17.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • September 17, 2015
WHAT'S HAPPENING | Week of Sept. 17

Check out a rundown of this week's news.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • September 16, 2015
And the survey says ...

Manatee County School Board members got a mixed review of the district from two surveys in August.

  • East County
  • News
Dan Lobeck asked the board not to listen to developers who pushed back against the idea of assessing school impact fees for the first time in five years.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • September 16, 2015
Developers to School Board: We need more time

Representatives of the development industry say the recovery isn’t yet solidified, and impact fees may damage it.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Co-Chair Becca Towery, Chairwoman Rebecca Dalton, Kristin Triolo and Alfredda O’Dato
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • September 16, 2015
WCR Sarasota annual Fashion Show and Luncheon

Women's Council of Realtors Sarasota hosted its annual Fashion Show and Luncheon

  • Black Tie
Matt Dively plans to incorporate flavors of his cruet restaurant, Blue Que Island Grill, into his new eatery in the Rosemary District.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • September 16, 2015
Servandos to open in former Darwin's space

Blu Que Island Grill owner Matt Dively plans to open a new Mexican restaurant in the Rosemary District

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 16, 2015
Sarasota Christian records win

The Sarasota Christian volleyball team improved to 7-2 on the season with a 3-0 win versus St. Petersburg Canterbury School Sept. 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Friends of the Braden River met Tuesday, Sept. 15, to discuss the river cleanup.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • September 16, 2015
Friends of Braden River plans for October river cleanup

Formerly called the Old Braden River Historical Society, the group’s mission is to safeguard the river.

  • East County
  • News
Courtesy photo. The 2015 Women's Resource Center scholarship recipients.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • September 16, 2015
State grant to fund Women's Resource Center intiative

The Women's Resource Center of Sarasota County receives five-year Displaced Homemakers Grant for $411,000.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A greet sea turtle hatchling makes its way to the ocean. Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol found a record-breaking 36 green sea turtle nests this season. (Photo credit: Marc Ellis, H2O pictures)
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • September 16, 2015
Turtle nesting season reaches record numbers

Preliminary results show a record number of green sea turtle nests and a tied combined record of green and loggerhead nests from Longboat Key to Venice.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Senior middle infielder Nicolas Torres receives individual hitting instruction from Oscar Despada and Michael Rivera.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 16, 2015
FIBA offers elite level training

The Florida International Baseball Academy is now enrolling students for both the fall and spring seasons.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
David Pilston became CEO of Save Our Seabirds in 2012.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • September 16, 2015
Conversation with David Pilston

In three short years, Save Our Seabirds CEO David Pilston has turned the center from run-down to exemplary.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Enjoy this week's edition of Longboat Key Cops Corner.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 16, 2015
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 9.17.15

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

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bud Collins and his wife, Anita Ruthling Klaussen, in front of the newly dedicated Bud Collins Media Center at the U.S. Open.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • September 16, 2015
U.S. Open celebrates Bud Collins

The United States Tennis Association dedicated the U.S. Open’s media center to Bud Collins Sept. 6.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Featured speaker John McCarthy and Sarasota Bay Watch President Larry Stults at last year’s Scallopalooza.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • September 16, 2015
Scallopalooza to benefit Sarasota Bay’s scallop populations

The fifth annual Scallopalooza will take place Oct. 3 at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Longboat Key Town Commission is determined to decrease bridge openings.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 16, 2015
Bridge openings don’t clog traffic, study shows

Commissioners gave Town Manager Dave Bullock direction to invite Coast Guard and FDOT officials to a future meeting to discuss bridge openings.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lowell Lakritz blows into the shofar horn he brought back from his most recent trip to Israel.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • September 16, 2015
Sound of the shofar

Longboat resident will play the shofar for the Temple Emanu-El congregation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips suggested the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key consider donating the money to Bayfront Park earlier this month.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 16, 2015
Bayfront Park grants become addicting

A revamped Bayfront Park that’s been in the works since 2008 has received $12,270 in funding gifts for a new children’s playground on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A survey of a wastewater pipeline underneath Sarasota Bay will be performed next year.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 16, 2015
Longboat Key highlights 2016 legislative priorities

Preserving a longstanding vacation rental ordinance tops Longboat Key’s list of 11 priorities it wants the Legislature to take note of when it convenes in January for the 2016 Legislative session.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Longboat Key Town Commission approved Town Manager Dave Bullock's 2015-16 fiscal year budget on first reading Sept. 9.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 16, 2015
Commission approves $16,241,037 budget; tax rate to fall 2%

The Longboat Key fiscal 2015-16 budget will be balanced by using $622,240 from the town’s reserve funds. General-fund expenses are projected to increase 4.58%.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Commissioner Lynn Larson called the unfunded pension liability the biggest problem facing future taxpayers.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 16, 2015
BP money to reduce pension debt

Longboat Key Commissioner Lynn Larson argued $23 million in unfunded liabilities is more pressing than other proposed uses.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Scott Pike, who was known for painting portraits of Plymouth Harbor residents, died Sept. 13.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • September 16, 2015
Scott Pike colored his life with art

Scott Pike, who was known for painting portraits of Plymouth Harbor residents, died Sept. 13.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Back row: Andrew Nesto, Joe Mojica, Kenny Kirchoff and Dave Fox. Front row: Cathi Fox, Ada Mojica and Sigi Molingowski.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • September 16, 2015
Serving up fun

Rules and regulations aren't important in the Tara Preserve's water volleyball game. Its focus is on fun and friendship.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Frank Rupertus chats with Herb Dolan while delivering a meatball sample.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • September 16, 2015
Wawa has arrived

With the grand opening of Wawa on State Road 64, and more on the way, the northern gas station invasion has officially begun in East County.

  • East County
  • News
Jewish Family & Children Service of the Suncoast Executive Director Rose Chapman said 80% of clients served by the organization are not Jewish, so adding Center for Building Hope’s programming to the mix makes sense.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 16, 2015
Nonprofit assumes cancer support services

Center for Building Hope and Jewish Family & Children Service hope to transition cancer support programming to JFCS Oct. 1.

  • East County
  • News
The Manatee County School Board swore in University Park resident John Colon as its newest member Sept. 7.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 16, 2015
Conversation with John Colon

As the new East County representative on the Manatee County School Board, John Colon hopes to bring a collaborative spirit to the group.

  • East County
  • News
Entrance through the Balmoral Woods Boulevard gate to the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club has been an item of concern for CDD 6 residents.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 16, 2015
Lakewood Ranch CDD 6 raises questions over gates

Lakewood Ranch Ranch chairman seeks attorneys' opinion on whether the community can restrict access on Country Club roadways.

  • East County
  • News
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