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Your Observer

ODA sophomore Chase Maasdorp drives to the basket in the first half.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 22, 2015
Thunder roll in season opener

The ODA boys basketball team beat SMA 66-48 Nov. 16.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Tai and Ava Cholakian, of Sarasota, go take a ride to the groves.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 22, 2015
Mixon Fruit Farms serves up harvest fun

Harvest Festival attendees enjoyed games and fun at annual Harvest Festival.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 22, 2015
Bird Key Yacht Club honors its commodore

Members of Bird Key Yacht Club donned their best evening attire at the Commodore’s Ball on Nov. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 22, 2015
The Sanctuary welcomes back its residents

Residents of The Sanctuary welcomed back their neighbors on Nov. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 22, 2015
Riverdale home tops local sales list at $1.6 million

Robert and Barbara Mehmel, of Bernardsville, N.J., sold their home at 3911 Hawk Island Drive to Robert Carretta, trustee, of Richfield, Ohio, for $1,605,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Sarasota Young Professionals Group member and lead singer for Jah Movement Shantal Norman.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • November 22, 2015
Bands turn up the music at Rock for a Cause

The second Rock for a Cause and Battle of the Bands takes over Payne Park Saturday, Nov. 21.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dentists at the Remote Area Medical clinic worked quickly, usually turning over each patient in about 35 minutes.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 21, 2015
'A life-changing experience'

Just under 1,000 people receive medical treatment during a Remote Area Medical clinic on Saturday.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 21, 2015
Save Our Seabirds takes flight

Bird and music lovers flocked to Save Our Seabirds’ third annual Arias In Flight Nov. 21, at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 21, 2015
St. Mary kicks off the holiday season

Christmas came a month early at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church at the annual St. Mary Christmas Bazaar Nov. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Braden River running back DeShaun Fenwick and offensive lineman Alex Salguero celebrate following Fenwick's touchdown run in the second quarter.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 20, 2015
Pirates continue historic run

The Braden River High football team will travel to Plant City for the Class 7A-Region 3 finals Nov. 27.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 20, 2015
Dan Rather will lead mental health panel

The discussion will feature interesting tie-ins to the community dialog on homelessness and the state mental hospital crisis.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Chef Andrea Pisano doesn't eat turkey, but he loves cooking it, even the giblets.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 20, 2015
It takes heart to eat giblets

Should the naturally gnarly innards of a gobbler feed a gigantic gala at the Thanksgiving table?

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 20, 2015
Manatee County School Board seeks input on start times

Data shows later start times benefit middle, high school students

  • East County
  • News
One of a Kind winner Janet Arena of Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall walks to the stage to accept her award from Manatee County Commissioner Betsy Benac.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 20, 2015
The Sandies connect for a grand slam event

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance packs them into Polo Grill for annual members' choice awards.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • November 20, 2015
Three Things: Holiday getaways

Three Sarasota and Longboat Key properties that make for great escapes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Town Manager Dave Bullock blames strong easterly winds for the arrival of thousands of dead fish floating in Key canals.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 20, 2015
Red tide fish cleanup is underway

A town contractor is cleaning up dead fish floating on the top of Country Club Shores canals and in other waterways this morning.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • November 20, 2015
INTERACTIVE: Sarasota’s unemployment rate continues decline

The unemployment rate in Sarasota County fell to 4.8% in October, which is the lowest the economic indicator has been since June 2007.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Julie and Tom Ciesielski of Summerfield have had a rough five months since Tom was diagnosed with leukemia. Julie now raises funds for leukemia research.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 20, 2015
Donations do make a difference

Husband's leukemia prompts wife to begin fundraising efforts.

  • East County
  • News
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has chosen Sarasota for his Florida office.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • November 19, 2015
Donald Trump to speak in Sarasota

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump will hold a rally at Robarts Arena Saturday, Nov. 28.

  • Sarasota
  • News
"Please don't give up control of our gate for 10 years," said Country Club West resident Tom Willson. "We need the flexibility to address our safety issue at Balmoral."
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 19, 2015
Lakewood Ranch CDDs approve roadshare agreement

The three districts will share the costs of communal roads and gates maintenance.

  • East County
  • News
Pinellas Safe Harbor
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
Failed model in Pinellas

The data from Pinellas County’s come-as-you-are homeless shelter doesn’t bode well for Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Charles Preston Rawls, of Sarasota, submitted this photo of sailboats at sunrise in the bay at Island Park.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
Sarasota weather page photo: Nov. 19

Charles Preston Rawls, of Sarasota, submitted this photo of sailboats at sunrise in the bay at Island Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
John Smith submitted this photo of a snowy egret and its reflection as it glides inches above a lake in Bradenton.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
East County weather page photo: Nov. 19

John Smith submitted this photo of a snowy egret and its reflection as it glides inches above a lake in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Brando Cuyuch, Napier Hale, Destinee Guel and Araceli Cervantes show off their holiday-themed head wear.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 19, 2015
Bashaw Elementary serves up Thanksgiving meal

Students enjoyed ham, turkey and other holiday staples during a Thanksgiving Feast lunch Nov. 19.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Belinda Russell submitted this photo from Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
Longboat Key weather page photo: Nov. 19

Belinda Russell submitted this photo from Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This North American river otter, found in Melbourne, will be one of the otters featured at “Otters & Their Waters.” Credit: Tracy Frampton, of Florida Wildlife Hospital
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 19, 2015
Mote to showcase otters

"Otters & Their Waters" will be on display beginning in early 2016.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
"Sea... what you see," by Suzanne Tomlin
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
Suzanne Tomlin wins Observer photo contest

The grand prize is a $5,000 flooring makeover from Manasota Flooring Inc.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Town Manager Dave Bullock blames strong easterly winds for the arrival of thousands of dead fish floating in Key canals.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 19, 2015
Town seeks red tide fish kill cleanup

A town contractor will clean up dead fish floating on the top of Country Club Shores canals and in other waterways as soon as possible.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Selby House, Marie and William Selby’s original residence, was built in the early 1920s.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • November 19, 2015
Selby Gardens partners with Michael's on East

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens aims to reinvent its culinary offerings with a partnership with Michael's on East, which means better wedding accommodations and the possibility of a new waterfront restaurant.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Riverview junior Austin Katz won four gold medals at the Class 4A Swimming and Diving State Championships Nov. 14.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 19, 2015
Sarasota High 5 Moments: 11.19.15

Sarasota High 5 Moments: 11.19.15

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Cardinal Mooney seniors Matt Garcia, Reagan Griffith and Taylor Garris all signed scholarships Nov. 11.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 19, 2015
Area athletes ink college choices

Thirteen local athletes signed national letters-of-intent Nov. 11.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A condo unit at Beau Ciel tops all real estate transactions this week.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 19, 2015
Beau Ciel condo sells for $2.5 million

A condominium in Beau Ciel tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Jesse Biter and Eric Baird pose in front of the Hollywood 20 complex. They are part of a group of investors that purchased the property on Nov. 12 for $18.1 million.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Developer purchases Hollywood 20 complex, Siesta Key man arrested for drug trafficking

A look at what's going on the week of Nov. 19, 2015

  • Sarasota
  • News
Betsy Mitchell stands at the base of the ramp, where the dock at Blackburn Point Park is partially submerged. At high tide, she said, the water reaches the spot where she stands.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • November 19, 2015
Tides turn on accessible rowing dock

A Blackburn Point Park boat ramp made the bay accessible to disabled rowers until recently.

  • Sarasota
  • News
In 2005 Mark Spreen decided to return to his alma mater to continue the legacy of the Riverview High School Kiltie Band.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • November 19, 2015
Conversation with Mark Spreen

Riverview High School Band Director Mark Spreen remembers when he wore the plaid Kiltie uniform and tries to uphold the same traditions of previous directors.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Doris Leeper's "Garden Sculpture 3" sits on the corner of First Street and Orange Avenue.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • November 19, 2015
This week in history 11.5.15

A glimpse of the way things were from the archives.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Diane DelloRusso, who has worked in the jewelry business for 36 years and been a longtime manager at Jewelry by Cole, said she believes customers will appreciate the new St. Armands Jewelry store with its blend of classic and contemporary styles. She came out of retirement to assist with the transition and can't wait for longtime patrons to see the boutique's new look.
  • June 16, 2026
Two new shops coming to St. Armands Circle
2
Jolanta Bremer received the award of the 2026 Queen Helen.
  • June 16, 2026
Attendees get into costume as Mrs. Roper at The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime
3
JP Soars and the Red Hots will perform a free Father's Day concert at The Bay on Sunday, June 21.
  • June 16, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for June 18-24
4
The pickleball courts and basketball courts at Longboat Key’s Bayfront Park will be renovated over the summer.
  • June 16, 2026
Pickleball courts closed for major renovations
5
Elliott Mathes grew up watching his older brother, Will Mathes, compete for Sarasota Crew at the USRowing Youth National Championships. From June 11-14, he himself rowed with a junior national title on the line.
  • June 16, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Elliott Mathes

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