• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • 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
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • 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
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Sarasota

Interim Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer discusses leadership and experience.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • October 31, 2013
Daily Headlines: Oct. 31, 2013

Happy Halloween! Today's stories: City of Sarasota struggles with Sunshine law; Sarasota Interim County Administrator Tom Harmer discusses leadership; Longboat Key Police Union ratifies its contract; and MORE!

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Medium levels of Karenia brevis caused fish kills on Siesta Key in January. There were no signs of the organism near any Siesta beaches in recent samples.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • October 31, 2013
South County beaches show signs of red tide

Water samples collected by the Sarasota County Health Department show medium levels of the organism that causes red tide near Manasota Beach and Blind Pass.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota High School students dressed as zombies circled St. Armands at last year's Fright Night. (File photo)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 31, 2013
St. Armands offers 'Thriller' night

Fright Night: Halloween on St. Armands Circle begins at 6 p.m. tonight.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • October 31, 2013
Sheriff offers Halloween safety tips

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office reminded trick-or-treaters to stay safe this Halloween, issuing a list of safety recommendations for area parents and children.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Courtesy photo. Volunteers with the Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 31, 2013
Day of Hope

The city of Sarasota recognized Church of the Redeemer for serving the community's homeless and at-risk children at its third annual Day of Hope, held in August.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kennedy
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 31, 2013
Artistic award

Patrice Kennedy, art teacher and fine-arts specialist at Oak Park school, received the 2013 Cindy Balisteri Distinguished Arts Educator Award for Leadership in Arts Education from the Community/Schools Partnership for the Arts.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Thomas Harmer, 55, was tapped to be Sarasota County’s interim county administrator for a period of six months following the firing of former County Administrator Randall Reid last week.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • October 31, 2013
Succession Plan

Thomas Harmer, Sarasota County's new interim county administrator, talks about overcoming crises and adapting to unexpected circumstances as he steps in to lead.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 31, 2013
City struggles with Sunshine Law

City Manager Tom Barwin has been criticized for Sarasota's recent history of potential Sunshine Law violations, but he promises a new mindset from the city in the future.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 31, 2013
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Police Chief Bernadette DiPino was named head of the Sarasota Police Department in January.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • October 31, 2013
Crime rate data under fire

The Sarasota Police Department disputes the accuracy of crime data that show the city has a higher rate of crime than neighboring municipalities.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 31, 2013
News Briefs

City Commission maintains State Street garage plans; Drug turn-in event sees increased participation

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 31, 2013
City looks to neighborhood watches for help

The Sarasota Police Department's renewed focus on community-led policing has the city encouraging interest in neighborhood-watch groups.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Spencer Dunford, general manager of Hidden Harbor Marina, said the revamped facility will feature concierge services, a boating club and a future restaurant.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • October 31, 2013
Hidden Harbor Marina plans to reopen amid resurging market

After more than six years, Hidden Harbor Marina is just weeks away from reopening.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • October 31, 2013
County to tighten ban on designer drugs

A committee representing area criminal justice leaders approved an ordinance that tightens loopholes in the laws banning designer drugs.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy photo. Sarasota Ballet Artistic Director Iain Webb welcomed Cuban defector Edward Gonzalez to the ballet and freedom in March.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 31, 2013
Our View

High crime in Sarasota?; Hudgins for administrator; First dance of freedom

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
« 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227 1228 1229 1230 »
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 in Sarasota

1
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
2
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
3
District 5 representative Ron Cutsinger will be the 2026 chairman of the Sarasota County Commission.
  • December 19, 2025
Sarasota County commissioners pick chair, vice chair
4
Locations of the new St. Armands speed tables are marked in red.
  • December 19, 2025
St. Armands speed humps will be replaced with permanent speed tables
5
All games in the 2027 Sarasota College Softball Classic will be played on the championship field (lower left) at the new 17th Street Park Regional Sports Complex.
  • December 18, 2025
New north Sarasota park draws major collegiate softball tournament

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 © 2025 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.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now