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News

A view of downtown Sarasota along the bay front from the Ringling Causeway.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 14, 2024
Downtown Master Plan update seeks to enhance city's brand

Sarasota city commissioners debate the composition of an ad hoc committee that will be seated to take the 2020 plan into the future.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mote staff and interns carry Lil' Dougie to the water.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 13, 2024
Sea turtle rescued by county employee released on Siesta Beach

Named after the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office employee who rescued her, Lil’ Dougie was released after receiving care at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering of the St. Regis Longboat Key, set to open this summer.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 13, 2024
St. Regis Longboat Key to be unveiled Aug. 16 for soft opening

The resort will hold an unveiling ceremony for the local community on Friday, followed by a soft opening ahead of its official opening in late September.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Joan Leonard, the community liaison for Suncoast Blood Centers in Lakewood Ranch, hopes the shelves can be fully stocked with blood for the next hurricane.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 13, 2024
SunCoast Blood Centers looks for donations

Hurricane Debby further depleted the nonprofit's inventory, which already has yet to return to pre-COVID-19 donations.

  • East County
  • News
Alejandra Cintron Rivera (left) and Ella Satterfield (right) help film the short documentary about Sister Keys featuring Rusty Chinnis (center).
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 13, 2024
Ringling College to release documentaries about Longboat nonprofits

As part of a growing program, students with the college created a series of short films highlighting local environmental stewardship efforts.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This bridge over Sand Branch Creek was one of two private bridges that were destroyed by flooding on Jason and Summer Thurber's property on Waterline Road.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 13, 2024
Swollen Sand Branch Creek batters east Bradenton residents

The water surge from Hurricane Debby caused over $125,000 in damages and left sinkholes in its path.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota City Hall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 13, 2024
Commissioners mull how to replace city attorney

Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier and Deputy City Attorney Michael Connolly are retiring next spring; likely replacements are current law firm partners.

  • Sarasota
  • News
New Pilates club opens in Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 12, 2024
New Pilates club opens in Lakewood Ranch

Club Pilates opened on Aug. 12 in the Center Point Plaza at the corner of University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

  • East County
  • Business
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
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Latest News

1
Saucy! is expanding on the Gulf Coast, with a Lakewood Ranch and Trinity location opening May 4 and 5, respectively.
  • May 7, 2026
Saucy new chicken spot opens in Lakewood Ranch
2
Work will soon begin on replacing anbd raising 1,500 linear feet of seawall at the Bayfront Park marina.
  • May 7, 2026
Bayfront Park marina seawall to be rebuilt
3
Tammy King talks with fourth graders Dylan Amador-Guerra and Knox Smith about their journals.
  • May 7, 2026
Program helps elementary students explore who they want to be when they grow up
4
Ben Milliken is the all-time leading passer in program history for Sarasota Christian football. Now, he's the first Blazer headed to an NCAA Division I program.
  • May 7, 2026
Sarasota Christian quarterback caps legacy with history-making commitment
5
The home at 843 Norsta Way was built in 1963 and has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,467 square feet of living area.
  • May 7, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for April 20-24 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

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