• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

News

Currently, Lakewood Ranch Boulevard dead ends in the Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park. Schroeder-Manatee Ranch officials say its extension south to Fruitville Road will be open in late 2017.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 6, 2016
Affordable housing key to expansion

The Villages project creates affordable housing and a new road network joining Sarasota and Manatee counties.

  • East County
  • News
Developer Pat Neal (right), and his son, John (left)
    By
  • Jack Short
  • January 6, 2016
Neal carves out a small chunk of Palmer Ranch

The developer submitted a pre-application proposal to build up to 50 homes where five stand.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manatee County School Board members hope to reinstate impact fees at 50%, 75% and 100% of the maximum recommended amount.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 6, 2016
Manatee County Commissioners to decide on school district impact fees

After the district in November approved reinstating impact fees, commissioners will put the final seal on bringing back the builder fees.

  • East County
  • News
The Retter Wing at Sarasota Memorial Hospital comes down to make room for a 44-bed Rehabilitation Pavilion.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • January 6, 2016
Sarasota Memorial makes room for rehabilitation pavilion

Demolition of the former Retter wing starts on the site for the new rehabilitation pavilion.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Starbucks has other locations in Manatee County, including one near Interstate 75 and State Road 64, as well as one on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. File photo from Flickr.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 6, 2016
Starbucks has plans for new East County location

Benderson Development has submitted plans to develop a Starbucks on Lockwood Ridge Road and State Road 70.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River High's new facility will house 10 cattle and cost more than $100,000 to construct.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 6, 2016
Braden River High opens new livestock facility

The school's new pole barn cost more than $100,000 to construct and will house 10 cattle.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Main Street celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 6, 2016
Getting ready for growth: Main Street choosy about new tenants

With only one retail unit unfilled, Lakewood Main Street stocked and ready to serve an expanding population.

  • East County
  • News
Fiscal 2016 will be Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock's busiest year to date.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 6, 2016
People to Watch: David Bullock

The town manager has millions of dollars in capital project to oversee in 2016, but none are as important to him as obtaining permits to renourish the island’s shoreline.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Welcome to the dais in March District 1 Commissioner elect Armando Linde and District 5 Commissioner elect Ed Zunz.Linde will serve in the seat Commissioner Lynn Larson will
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 6, 2016
People to Watch: Armando Linde and Ed Zunz

Armando Linde and Ed Zunz become the newest town commissioners in March, after the deadline for candidates to qualify passed without challengers last year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ted Bogusz, far left, and Anila Jain, far right, organized a graduation party for Bill Mariotti Friday, Dec. 11, at the USFSM Culinary Innovation Lab in Lakewood Ranch. Rocky the bull made an appearance.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 6, 2016
Lakewood Ranch resident earns degree of perseverance

After 30 years, Bill Mariotti goes back to school at the University of South Florida to earn his diploma.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 6, 2016
People to Watch: Manfred Welfonder and Chuck Whittall

Whose development project proposal will Colony Beach & Tennis Resort unit owners select? All unit owner eyes are on Manfred Welfonder and Chuck Whittall in 2016.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bob Gault has plans to bury the wires in Country Club Shores.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 6, 2016
People to Watch: Bob Gault

Bob Gault is hopeful enough residents realize an effort to bury power lines on Longboat Key isn’t complete until a neighborhood and side street project is approved in March.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Braden River High School is currently 229 students over its capacity.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 6, 2016
Manatee County student overload should lead to construction

District's plans for new high school should be finalized in 2016.

  • East County
  • News
Student safety, finding additional revenue sources and alleviating overcrowding in county schools are items on Dr. Diana Greene's to-do list for 2016.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 6, 2016
People to watch

Manatee County Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene focuses on capacity and revenue issues in the New Year.

  • East County
  • News
Out-of-Door Academy Senior Class President Sierra Dickerson is adding another dance to the school's lineup and hopes to improve student-faculty dialogue with Town Hall-style meetings.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 6, 2016
People to watch

ODA Class of 2016 President Sierra Dickerson hopes to start up Town Hall-style meetings with school faculty members.

  • East County
  • News
« 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
A rendering of the 12U baseball/softball fields five-plex that will be built at UMR Sports complex in East County.
  • May 23, 2026
Expansion 'gets real' at UMR Sports of Bradenton
2
Grant's Gardens has a two-bay garage at 525 Gulf Bay Road, and is proposing to build an office building on the lot across the street at 524 Gulf Bay Road.
  • May 23, 2026
Landscaping company seeks expansion in Longboat Key
3
  • May 23, 2026
New town clerk hired for Longboat Key
4
Oceane Visa, who says she has waited years to walk across the stage for graduation, is congratulated by Head of School Debra Otey.
  • May 22, 2026
Out-of-Door Academy graduates showed up for the moments that matter most
5
Leighton Paul (right), pictured here during the FHSAA Class 5A-Region 3 final May 14 against Gulf Coast, was Braden River's leadoff hitter this season. She went 0-for-3 in the state semifinals against Niceville.
  • May 22, 2026
Late rally not enough for Braden River High softball in state semifinals

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free