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News

The Purple Ribbon Committee has until June 30, 2025 to submit its report on suggestions for repurposing the Van Wezel Peforming Arts Hall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 23, 2025
Cost to keep the Van Wezel going estimated at $17 million

The draft Karins Engineering report to the city's Purple Ribbon Committee includes systems upgrades and flood proofing the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, but not expanding or reconfiguring seating.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The former S.H. Kress store in downtown Sarasota is an example of a property that would be eligible to transfer its by-right developable height and density to a developer of a receiving site.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 23, 2025
Program aimed at preserving historic structures approved by city

The Sarasota City Commission OKs an ordinance to permit owners of historic buildings to sell by-right density to other owners of downtown property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The handheld section of the Lefty's menu features a Maine lobster roll, grouper sandwich, seafood tacos, smash burger, fried chicken thigh sandwich and soft shell crab BLT.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 22, 2025
Seafood restaurant opens Monday in Sarasota's Rosemary District

Lefty's Oyster & Seafood Bar will welcome diners to its Lemon Avenue location on Monday, Jan. 27.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Commissioner Bob McCann is looking into the possibility of a building moratorium in District 5.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 22, 2025
Manatee County District 5 commissioner pushes for building moratorium

Bob McCann says a residential building moratorium would allow for flooding prevention and infrastructure improvements.

  • East County
  • News
The Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board's Jan. 17 agenda included a discussion on boat dock and lift heights after a recommendation from the town commission.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 22, 2025
Ordinance to raise max boat dock, lift height passed by planning board

With final approval from the Longboat Key Town Commission, the ordinance would allow homeowners to raise boats higher for protection from high surges.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Meet the two candidates for Longboat's at-large commission seat
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 22, 2025
Meet the two candidates for Longboat's at-large commission seat

Deborah Murphy and Steve Branham are up for election for one of the Town Commission's at-large seats, which will be left vacant.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The National Weather Service predicts the cold weather will persist through the weekend.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • January 21, 2025
Bundle up: Series of cold fronts hit Southwest Florida this week

Lows will be in the low 40s for most of the week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Winn-Dixie in the Southeast Plaza, at the corner of Bee Ridge Road and McIntosh Road, is being converted to an Aldi, the company said.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • January 21, 2025
Sarasota Winn-Dixie to close, reemerge as Aldi

The conversion could take several months, the company said.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The Planning and Zoning Board approved an ordinance to allow Verizon to increase the height of its existing wireless cell service poles to allow for better service quality.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 21, 2025
Verizon cell service improvements on the way for Longboat Key

The ordinance for taller poles to improve wireless coverage will now go before the Longboat Key Town Commission in February for public hearings.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Calusa Country Club is hosting a grand opening event on Jan. 23. It will open to the public shortly after.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 21, 2025
Calusa Country Club to open in Lakewood Ranch in February

Lakewood Ranch's newest golf course will feature 30 holes and a socialized concept.

  • East County
  • Business
Manatee County's Library Advisory Board will reconvene by April.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 21, 2025
Manatee library advisory board set to reconvene

The board hasn't met in over a year but will hold its first meeting by April.

  • East County
  • News
The center turn lane would benefit drivers entering Country Club Shores.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 21, 2025
Country Club Shores turn lane construction to start in February

The construction timeline will last through the upcoming peak season, but a traffic plan will prevent major traffic delays, Longboat Key town officials say.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Deputy Chief Frank Rubino started with the Longboat Key Police Department in 2013.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 20, 2025
Deputy Chief Frank Rubino takes over as interim chief for LBKPD

Rubino looks forward to keeping the Longboat Key Police Department up to accreditation standards and boosting community relations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Marine biologist Sean Patton shows the Gardeners Out East a piece of Hydrilla verticillata he plucked out of the pond next to Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 20, 2025
Garden club looks under the surface of Lakewood Ranch ponds

Gardeners Out East invited Sean Patton from Stocking Savvy to speak at its first meeting of the year.

  • East County
  • News
Poly has been installed in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 20, 2025
With Poly installed, what's next Sarasota's roundabout art program?

Now that Poly has been installed in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street, the city still faces the question of where to place sculptures originally planned for other traffic circles.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
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
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
A rendering of the street level of 1260 North Palm Residences.
  • May 7, 2026
Condo tower controversy appears headed back to mediation

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