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News

The golf course at Longboat Key Club, which is accessible by membership or stay at the resort, has 45 holes to play.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal, Andrew Warfield
  • August 20, 2025
Longboat golfers' only public option is to hit a long drive

For the nonmembers, golfers from Longboat Key have to venture to the mainland to play at Bobby Jones Golf Club in Sarasota.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The two finalists for the superintendent position are Misty Mathis, the executive director of curriculum and instruction for the Nassau County School District, and Laurie Breslin, the executive director of student support and family engagement for the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 20, 2025
Superintendent finalists share their goals for Manatee County School District

Laurie Breslin and Misty Mathis spent Aug. 18 being interviewed by the school board and meeting with community members.

  • East County
  • Schools
Bradenton's Steve Doll takes his best shot on Hole 17 at River Run Golf Links, one of the few affordable golf opportunities in Manatee County.
    By
  • Jay Heater, Lesley Dwyer
  • August 20, 2025
Is affordable golf in the Lakewood Ranch area a myth?

Some local opportunities still exist, but the future of affordable golf in East County is cloudy at best.

  • East County
  • News
This map shows where the homes would be clustered in relationship to the Miakka Golf Club, along with the access points to both.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 20, 2025
Some Myakka residents fear TerraNova rezone will set bad development precedent

TerraNova is requesting to lower the minimum lot sizes it is selling from 5 acres to 1 acre.

  • East County
  • News
Interim Sarasota City Manager Dave Bullock looks on during his first City Commission meeting on July 7.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 20, 2025
Sarasota city manager search firms make their pitch

With executive search firms narrowed to three, Sarasota has received their proposals to supply candidates for city manager. A special commission meeting is proposed to discuss.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key town manager Howard “Tip” Tipton poses for a photo in his office at town hall Monday, Aug. 18. Tipton spoke to the Longboat Observer about the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget which adds three staff positions to the payroll.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 20, 2025
Three new Longboat Key staff positions budgeted in 2026, others not

The Town Commission will vote on the 2026 fiscal year budget at two meetings in September which includes a 6.5% staff pay increase and is described by Town Manager Howard Tipton as a "storm-weary budget."

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Police Department recently put up digital signs reminding motorists crossing Ringling Bridge to slow down.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 20, 2025
Police crack down on speeding near Ringling Bridge

Sarasota Police Department said it has received several complaints of people going too fast across the bridge.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commission Chair George Kruse (center) directs staff on Aug. 19 to cancel the Aug. 21 land use meeting.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 19, 2025
Manatee County wetlands vote postponed

Commission Chair George Kruse canceled the Aug. 21 commission meeting.

  • East County
  • News
The busy intersection at Bay Isles Parkway and Gulf of Mexico Drive came in at number two on the list of the five most hazardous intersections, tracking back to July 2023.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 19, 2025
Most Longboat Key fender benders happen at these 5 intersections

Police say the department's emphasis on being visible along Gulf of Mexico Drive helps calm traffic and keep drivers and pedestrians safe.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota man arrested on child pornography charges
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 19, 2025
Sarasota man arrested on child pornography charges

Following months of investigation by the Sarasota Police Department, Colton Berman, 29, faces 13 counts of possession of child pornography.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Factors such as cold stress, boat collisions, fishing gear entanglement and habitat loss contribute to the increase in manatee deaths in Florida
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 19, 2025
Below the surface: The truth about manatee safety

Factors including cold stress, boat collisions, fishing gear entanglement and habitat loss contribute to the increase in manatee deaths in Florida.

  • East County
  • News
A conceptual rendering of the Oak Grove Garden for Selby Gardens Master Plan Phase 2.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 19, 2025
Selby Gardens wins Planning Board approval for Master Plan Phase 2

Despite concerns over tree removal and mitigation plans, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens gets the green light to proceed with $61 million Master Plan Phase 2 project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rob Anderson was named CEO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center in April.
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • August 19, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center's new CEO brings experience to its expansion

Rob Anderson relocated from Texas to Lakewood Ranch to run east Manatee County's largest hospital at a critical time for the facility. He aims to manage the growth smartly.

  • East County
  • News
Bruce Cassidy says The Concession is a “second-shot course,” where reaching the green in less than three strokes is key.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • August 18, 2025
The Concession hunts for its first Major

Sarasota and Manatee county tourism leaders are joining forces with a top-tier golf course in the region for a dream-big goal: land one of the sport's four major title events.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 18, 2025
Public hearings scheduled in September for Longboat Key budget

The recommended budget for fiscal year 2026 is a decrease from 2025.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April
2
  • March 20, 2026
Longboat Key's Cops, Cars & Coffee rescheduled
3
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
  • March 20, 2026
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
4
Dolores M. Stevens (2025)
  • March 19, 2026
Dolores M. Stevens
5
Zachary Keller and Helen Krushinski star in "Water for Elephants," which comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 12-14, 2027.
  • March 19, 2026
'Water for Elephants,' 'Six' and 'Hell's Kitchen' lead Van Wezel's 2026-27 lineup

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