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News

Sarasota's iconic "Mermaid Fountain" has been included in the Smithsonian Institution's collection of public artworks.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 12, 2024
Smithsonian adds Sarasota's 'Mermaid Fountain' to its public art collection

The iconic downtown fountain will be honored by the city of Sarasota at a Sept. 13 ceremony.

  • Arts + Culture
Audit machines won't be used, but voting will carry on as usual for the primary election on Aug. 20.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 12, 2024
Manatee County's new vote audit machines stalled until November election

The primary election will follow the old protocol and be audited by a hand count.

  • East County
  • News
City Furniture will open a 120,000-square-foot showroom in UTC's East District by summer 2025.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 10, 2024
Furniture store going big and green at University Town Center

City Furniture will open a 120,000-square-foot showroom in UTC's East District by summer 2025.

  • East County
  • Business
The Humane Society of Sarasota County wants to purchase a 1.6-acre city-owned site to create a dog walking path. The bottom portion of the site is a Sarasota County stormwater retention easement.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 10, 2024
Humane Society moves closer to buying city lot for dog-walking path

More than half of a 1.6-acre city-owned site adjacent to the Humane Society of Sarasota County is under a stormwater retention easement. The rest would be a walking path.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Flooding near the dock on Linley Street.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 10, 2024
Full scope of Debby’s damage still to be determined, Longboat officials say

A preliminary assessment estimates that 35-40 structures were damaged by flooding.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Tweaks made to Longboat’s final recommended budget for FY25
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 9, 2024
Tweaks made to Longboat’s final recommended budget for FY25

The final recommended budget for fiscal year 2025 included changes in revenue and some expenditures ahead of the next budget meetings on Sept. 9.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
10-year-old Kylie Ung, 12-year-old Isaiah Edwards, 11-year-old Isariah Edwards and 13-year-old Isaialyah Edwards at the 2023 Sarasota County Fair.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 8, 2024
Fairgrounds operator calls aging site a valuable community asset

Despite failed efforts to redevelop and improve the site, Rory Martin says county should appreciate its value "instead of poking fun at us."

  • Sarasota
  • News
On the left, the canopy of the worst-scoring site in Suncoast Waterkeeper's new mangrove survey. On the right, healthy mangroves at the survey's reference site.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 8, 2024
Mangroves are healthier when allowed to grow naturally, research shows

Suncoast Waterkeeper’s pilot study will help advocate for stricter enforcement of mangrove protection regulations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Shaded in blue are sending-only zones and in yellow sending and receiving zones in this draft map of the city's proposed transfer of development rights program.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 8, 2024
Transfer of development rights workshop postponed until Monday

The program would allow owners of designated historic properties to sell height and density rights to other developers in downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Gov. Ron DeSantis talks with Sarasota business owners affected by Tropical Storm Debby at the Philippi Creek Oyster Bar on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • August 7, 2024
DeSantis visits Sarasota to survey storm damage

Gov. Ron DeSantis offered assistance and heard from business owners following Tropical Storm Debby.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Breeze Airways will offer nonstop service to eight total destinations from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • August 7, 2024
6 nonstop flights coming to SRQ airport

The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport will offer service to 60 nonstop destinations, with the addition of new flights from Breeze Airways.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Looking toward Bee Ridge Road from the Tuttle Circle roundabout
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2024
Debby's impact felt after dumping historic rainfall on Sarasota

The National Weather Service reports nearly 18 inches of rain fell in Sarasota, the fourth highest reading in the state.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Flooding around noon Aug. 5 off Shadow Ridge Circle near Celery Fields
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2024
Tropical Storm Debby: By the numbers

A few statistics help tell the tale of Sarasota's latest storm.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering of the planned new Bird Key Yacht Club building.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 7, 2024
Bird Key Yacht Club looks toward future with new club building

The club's new $20 million building will be hurricane-resilient and compliant with federal regulations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Palm Aire's Nick Barbi says students in the Community Observations and Analysis using Spectroscopic Techniques and Wetlands Imaging to build Stewardship of the Environment program will use spectrometers. The program is funded through the Mary Jo Barbi STEAM Education and Scholarship Fund.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 7, 2024
Nonprofit creates education fund in honor of Palm Aire resident

Science and Technology Society fund will provide educational programming to students.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School fourth graders Leona Killion and Michael Chmielarski created business cards as a dancer and a soccer player for the Project T.E.A.C.H. activity on March 12.
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