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Your Observer | All

A fire at the Lido Beach Holiday Inn forced an evacuation this morning, but didn’t cause major structural damage or leave anyone injured.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 21, 2015
Top Story — January: Lido Beach resort fire forces evacuation

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Cliff Roles
  • December 20, 2015
Debutante Ball 2015

Debutante Ball 2015

  • Black Tie
The Great Lawn is covered in larger-than-life butterflies.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 19, 2015
Selby comes to light with Lights In Bloom

Families stroll Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for 12th annual Lights In Bloom exhibit.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 18, 2015
Runners jingle in Lakewood Ranch

More than 2,000 runners participated.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
CDD 1 supervisors hope friends of the boys who died will place flowers and other memorabilia at an alternative site.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 18, 2015
Lakewood Ranch CDD 1 has new plan for memorial site

Supervisors hope a bench can serve as a new, safer memorial location.

  • East County
  • News
Sam Brown, Paul Bowman and Ron Morris
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • December 18, 2015
Y-Achievers Scholarship Partners Holiday Luncheon

The YMCA Foundation of Sarasota hosted its annual Y-Achievers Scholarship Partners Holiday Luncheon on Friday, Dec. 18, at The Francis.

  • Black Tie
Jose Escobar, of Bradenton, shows off his early Christmas present.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 18, 2015
Salvation Army of Manatee County distributes gifts to families

The organization collected thousands of toys through its Angel Tree program.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Growth in the healthcare and education sectors has helped drive the unemployment rate down, and actually served to buoy the local economy during the recession, according to local metro area data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 18, 2015
INTERACTIVE: Sarasota’s unemployment rate continues to fall

With about 1,600 fewer unemployed residents in November than the same month in 2014, the local jobless rate continues its decline to 4.5%.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 18, 2015
Siesta Key Condominium Council announces lighting contest winners

The annual contest decides the best and brightest of the council's members.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
CEO Richard Fletcher, COO Chris Loftus and Chief Nursing Officer Judy Young judged the entrees. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 18, 2015
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center staff sweeten up hospital café

Twelve departments participated in a gingerbread house contest this week.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 18, 2015
The Rev. Michael Mansperger celebrates 25 years

The Rev. Michael Mansperger celebrated 25 years of service to the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant Dec. 17, at Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
There is light rain and cloudy skies this morning on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 18, 2015
Cold front passes through the area today

Light rain and cloudy skies this morning is part of a cold front passing through that's bringing cooler temperatures to the area.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 18, 2015
Planning Commission moves Whole Foods, Wawa forward

Sarasota county commissioners will decide in January whether to allow developers to remove wetlands to build a commercial center.

  • East County
  • News
Mykayla Graham's first glance at the present room where children were able to take their pick of three gifts to bring home.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 18, 2015
Boys & Girls Club gifts holiday party to students

Children played games, met Santa Claus and picked out presents at the Lee Wetherington branch Boys & Girls Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Runners will start the 3.1 mile run around 7 p.m.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 18, 2015
Jingle 5K/Walk hits Lakewood Ranch

More than 2,000 runners are expected to participate.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
2
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy
3
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
4
Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
Longboat Goodwill officially celebrates grand opening
5
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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