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News

Sarasota City Hall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 20, 2025
Sarasota begins drafting the next two-year strategic plan

Meticulous wordsmithing of the mission and vision statements sets the tone for the list of project goals for city's 2026 blueprint.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A Renzo Piano Building Workshop conceptual rendering of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center as viewed from the 10th Street Canal.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 20, 2025
SPAC pact still faces City Commission uncertainty

A rising price tag on pared-down project, the county's fiscal disinterest and bay view easements make commissioners uneasy over committing to next design phase of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bob Haskin returns a serve against Alan Bartlett at a recent pickleball game at Lakewood Ranch High School.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 20, 2025
Pickleball players search for home courts closer to home

Passionate pickleball players — which is to say just about all of them — are dinking and dunking for new Lakewood Ranch courts to compete on. A solution might be in play.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County names new human resources chief
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 19, 2025
Sarasota County names new human resources chief

Mike McNichols will join the county in advance of the April retirement of Chris Louria.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch Library has been open for over a year now.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 19, 2025
What's ahead for the year-old Lakewood Ranch Library

The second floor buildout is in the design phase as library and Manatee County personnel consider how to best use it.

  • East County
  • News
Traffic often gets congested heading north from Longboat Key.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 19, 2025
Beach traffic issue flow raised again by north-end Longboat community

Traffic is inevitable, but the north-end community group thinks a simple solution for the exits on Coquina Beach could make a big difference.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The front entrance of Manatee County's leased space at Whitney Plaza.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 19, 2025
Manatee County to leave Longboat Key plaza space in August

The county planned to turn the leased space into a community center with adult education classes but now is shifting away from putting money into a leased space.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The development envelope of a future project between Fruitville Road and Fourth Street is outlined in yellow with the options for the driveway location shown off Fourth Street.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 19, 2025
Fruitville Road project wins adjustment for Fourth Street driveway

With no site plan submitted, the developer of nearly 2 acres between Fruitville Road and Fourth Street at North Tamiami Trail gets critical access approval.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Black skimmer chicks have started to appear on Lido Beach.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 19, 2025
Shorebird stewards ready for start of breeding season in Florida

Nesting shorebirds frequent Longboat and Lido Key beaches in the spring and summer months, with the season officially starting on Feb. 15.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Van Wezel Performng Arts Hall seats 1,741 for touring performances.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 18, 2025
Commttee begins to weigh options for Van Wezel

With five months to go, the Purple Ribbon Committee shifts from research to discussion on ways to repurpose Sarasota's primary performance venue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Spanish Main Yacht Club in Longboat Key is comprised of 212 units and is situated on Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 18, 2025
Spanish Main Yacht Club faces $13M lien from restoration company

The Servpro company from Michigan filed the lien due to unpaid invoices from the Longboat Key condominium community.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Some parts of Longboat Key's beaches were lined with dead fish on Feb. 17.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 18, 2025
Red tide effects pop up on Longboat Key beaches

Piles of dead fish added to the foul odor on some parts of Longboat Key beaches around Feb. 17.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
John Neal, with Neal Land & Neighborhoods, is building North River Ranch in Parrish.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • February 18, 2025
Big projects to keep an eye on in Parrish

With bulldozers and (lots of) building permits in tow, a pair of communities a short car ride away from Lakewood Ranch are in boom mode. "Coming soon" signs dot the landscape.

  • East County
  • News
The Urban Air Adventure Park location in Lakewood Ranch will be its largest in the country.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 17, 2025
Urban Air Adventure Park flies into Lakewood Ranch this summer

The 60,000-square-foot indoor adventure park is anticipated to open July 25 on Professional Parkway.

  • East County
  • Business
This boardwalk used to start flush to the ground. Now, it's raised about 2-3 feet.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 17, 2025
Longboat nature parks still need major repairs before reopening

Caused by the hurricanes, the replacement of park boardwalks, the town boat ramp and the town dock could cost around $2 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
Herb Methodology co-owner Tryla Brown Larson celebrates the launch of her line of locally made products at Longboat Key's Design 2000 Salon on Jan. 29.
  • February 4, 2026
Herb Methodology launches at Design 2000
2
Davin Davidson reeled in 20 offers from NCAA Division I FBS programs from Jan. 20 through 31.
  • February 4, 2026
Cardinal Mooney quarterback's recruitment takes off
3
Golf pro Stephen Arnold succeeded in his goal of playing 100 holes of golf in a single day to benefit families involved with First 1,000 Days Suncoast.
  • February 4, 2026
Golfing feat makes a difference for area families
4
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall
5
Chamber launches summertime internship program
  • February 4, 2026
Chamber launches summertime internship program

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