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Your Observer

A.J. Grande paddles at the SUP Series Kids Demo on Siesta Key Beach last year.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 12, 2014
Sarasota County gauges support for SUP

Stand-up paddle board rental businesses could soon find a niche on Siesta Key public beach and other local beaches. Sarasota County staff have asked for public input on the issue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Longboat Key Triathlon & Duathlon begins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. (File photo)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 12, 2014
Organizers seek volunteers for Longboat Key Triathlon

The race takes place at 7:30 a.m. May 18, at the Islandside section of the Resort at Longboat Key Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota Police Department arrested six individuals in the parking lot of City Hall Friday.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 12, 2014
Police make drug arrests in City Hall parking lot

On Friday, the Sarasota Police Department Narcotics and Street Crime units conducted an undercover bust on buyers and sellers of designer drugs.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sand will be flowing from a pipe onto the the sand-starved north end of the island by Wednesday.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 12, 2014
VIDEO: Sand arrives Wednesday

Work to mobilize a dredge and pipe that will bring sand to the north end of the Key is ongoing.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Tiffany and Sophia Storis
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 11, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Selby Garden's Mother's Day Brunch

Families celebrated Mother's Day at the Selby Gardens Mother's Day Brunch Sunday, May 11. After brunch, which included hot dishes and desserts, attendees enjoyed the gardens.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Charlotte and Mike Griffin have three daughters at Braden River.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • May 11, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: BRE PTO Annual Fundraiser

Braden River Elementary School's Parent Teacher Organization held its annual fundraiser, Night on the Bayou, May 10 at Linger Lodge Restaurant & Bar.

  • East County
  • News
Ed Stanton, Donna Farina, Rick Gress and Barry McClure
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • May 10, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Yacht Club Mother's Day Dash

Sarasota Yacht Club held a Mother's Day Dash featuring an exciting regatta followed by a poolside party and buffet on Saturday, May 10. Although this is the first year for the race, the club hopes to make it an annual event.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Carlos Arevalo, Destiny Sowell, Daniel Hoy and Samantha Wallice Villacorta
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 10, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Military Academy Prom

Sarasota Military Academy held its annual prom Saturday, May 10, at Michael's On East. To mark the end of the academic year, students spent the evening dining and dancing.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
China Roberts and Jacob Baxter
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 10, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota High School Prom

Sarasota High School held its annual prom Saturday, May 10, at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Students enjoyed dinner and dancing at the masquerade-themed evening.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Girls Inc. participants shout a cheer before the run.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 10, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Run for the Music 5K

Hundreds of runners gathered May 10, at Lakewood Ranch High School, for the Lakewood Ranch High School band program's Run for the Music 5K.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A Life Story Foundation held its 2nd annual DeBartolo Family Foundation All-in-For ALS Casino Night event Friday, May 9, at The Lake Club.
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • May 9, 2014
2nd annual DeBartolo Family Foundation All-In For ALS Casino Night

2nd annual DeBartolo Family Foundation All-In For ALS Casino Night

  • Black Tie
Joe Hembree and Sara Blackwell
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 9, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Argus Foundation 'Low Country Boil'

The Argus Foundation held its annual 'Meet and Greet Our Government Officials' at its Low Country Boil Friday, May 9, at Sarasota Outboard Club. The evening invited members to mingle with government officials from Sarasota and Manatee Counties while enjoying an all you-can-eat pot luck dinner. "I come every year for the camaraderie and the ability to interact with the public casually" says Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ali and Traci Cavanaugh
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • May 9, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Payton Wright Golf Tournament

The Payton Wright Foundation held its Sixth Annual Golf Tournament May 9 at Lakewood Ranch Country Club. The event also included a banquet with dinner, a silent auction and live music.

  • East County
  • News
Kruegle has volunteered at FISH Boatworks for almost 3 years.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • May 9, 2014
PHOTO OF THE DAY: The Art of Boat Building

Longboat Key resident Herman Kruegle assists Rick Stewart in the restoration of an old wooden boat on Friday, May 9, at FISH Boatworks in Cortez Fishing Village.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Proceeds will go to Prospect Riding Center, a nonprofit that provides therapeutic and recreational horse riding.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • May 9, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: Prospect Riding Center Hoedown

Prospect Riding Center will host its 2014 Hoedown Dance Jamboree Saturday.

  • East County
  • News
Following brunch guests can catch the final concert of the Spring Music Series, performed by Yesterdayze.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 9, 2014
Weekend Best Bet: Selby Gardens Mother's Day Brunch

Enjoy the gardens with loved ones before sitting down for brunch catered by Michael's On East Sunday, May 11.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bryn Dulitz, Sasha Sumskoy, Dean Thompson, Micah Jodhan, Sam Elnaggar and Emily Freed of the Boston Red Sox.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 9, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Ashton Elementary's World Series Games

Ashton Elementary fifth grade students went up to bat at the school's annual World Series Games Friday, May 9, at Twin Lakes Park. The students were divided into Major League Baseball teams, such as the Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays, to recreate the World Series Games. Those who didn't play helped off the field with concession stand vendors, security guards and cheerleaders.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
An upcoming Longboat Pass water main replacement project in Longboat Pass means the town will utilize city of Sarasota drinking water from time to time.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 9, 2014
Longboat changes water source

Town staff shut off the Manatee County interconnect pipe that funnels water from Manatee County to the island yesterday to have a water meter replaced.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Michael Lawson sits with her son, Malachi, 3.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 9, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Kiddie Academy Mother's Day

Children at Kiddie Academy enjoyed special time with their mothers May 8 and May 9, during a special Mother's Day tea party event, at the school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Michelle Ragni's class of 3 and 4 year olds prepare for a breakfast feast.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 9, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: All God's Children Mother's Day

Children at All God's Preschool at Living Lord Lutheran Church celebrated their mothers May 9, during special festivities at the school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The unit 801 condo at 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive represents the fifth-highest condo sale in Sarasota this year.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 9, 2014
Lido condo sells for $3.97 million

A Ritz-Carlton Beach Residences condominium sale this week marks the highest price for a Ritz-Carlton condo on Lido Key since 2006.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino and Lt. Pat Ledwith announce the details of a two-year operation targeting local drug traffickers.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 9, 2014
Sarasota Police reveal details of drug operation

The Sarasota Police Department in conjunction with other agencies arrested 33 suspects as part of 'Operation SRQ Cartel II,' which ended last month.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nathan Benderson Park will host the 2017 World Rowing Championships.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • May 9, 2014
Rowing championships gets a logo

Sarasota and Manatee county officials will unveil the logo for the 2017 World Rowing Championships at a Saturday press conference.

  • East County
  • News
Colony Lender Principal David Siegal said he expects Unicorp to be awarded the winning auction whenever it occurs.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 9, 2014
Colony auction postponed

Orlando-based Unicorp National Development Inc. President Charles Whittall has entered into a contract with a bankruptcy trustee to purchase the resort's bankrupt estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ron Carter and Jim Nale
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • May 8, 2014
La Cirque Appetit

La Cirque Appetit

  • Black Tie
Lori Babyak and Theresa Getzen
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • May 8, 2014
A Fashionable Evening: A Tribute to Phil King Honorary Committee Reception

A Fashionable Evening: A Tribute to Phil King Honorary Committee Reception

  • Black Tie
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 8, 2014
Obituary: Kenneth Hugh Barr

Kenneth Hugh Barr, 73, of Sarasota, died May 8.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The school district hosts community engagement forums periodically throughout the school year.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • May 8, 2014
School district hosts community engagement forum

Haile Middle School will host the latest Manatee County School District community conversation.

  • East County
  • News
The remaining work on the Bay Island seawall replacement project should take six months, according to Sarasota County staff.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 8, 2014
Siesta seawall project moves ahead

Sarasota County commissioners gave staff approval Wednesday, to proceed with the Bay Island Park seawall replacement project.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
LECOM students will take the Bayshore High School youth through a staged car accident scenario at 1 p.m., May 8, at the high school's Balvanz Stadium, 5401 34th St. West, Bradenton.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 8, 2014
LECOM students stage car accident for 'Operation Prom'

Members of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine's Emergency Medicine Club will stage an Operation Prom event at 1 p.m., May 8, at Bayshore High School's Balvanz Stadium, 5401 34th St. West, Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • May 8, 2014
Looking for love

Siesta Key residents along the Grand Canal have a new neighbor, Mr. T the gopher tortoise.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Woman's Exchange seeks to expand its footprint to better manage internal circulation and sales, but residents across the street from the addition are worried about the consignment shop’s plans. Photo by David Conway
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 8, 2014
Residents react to overlay project

Residents hope their concerns about the expansion of the Woman's Exchange - the first project to go through the Laurel Park Overlay District review process - are taken into consideration.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The County Commission approved 500-foot no-parking zones on Avenida de Mayo in January. Photo by Alex Mahadevan
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 8, 2014
Siesta residents question parking restriction's effects

Nearly four months after the county installed no-parking zones on Avenida de Mayo, residents still see cars parked in restricted areas.

  • Sarasota
  • News
File photo The 2013 Sarasota Chalk Festival, themed "Legacy of Valor," featured 500 artists.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 8, 2014
Chalk Festival founder explains relocation

Denise Kowal said moving the festival from Burns Square was a difficult decision, but her issues with the Sarasota City Commission led to her relocating the event.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy photo El Adobe will close Saturday after spending more than 40 years on South Tamiami Trail.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 8, 2014
News Briefs

El Adobe site sells for $2 million; Tourism officials call emergency meeting

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy renderings McKim and Creed presented two images that depicted what an above-ground lift station structure could possibly look like. The group said the designs are still preliminary and subject to input from city residents.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 8, 2014
Commission OKs above-ground lift station building

To protect Lift Station 87 from storm surges, the City Commission approved a new design that will place a building on the site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Staff at the 12th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem program sort through the delivery of presents for children up to 18 years of age.
  • December 22, 2025
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Cindy Ritchell, Ann Quackenbush, Brenda Korthauer, Beverly Sutton and Kit Torchia all lend a helping hand in packing seeds to send internationally to farmers who need them. Quackenbush is a driving force behind Hope Seeds, a charitable ministry through Christ Church of Longboat Key.
  • December 22, 2025
Longboat's Hope Seeds nears 10 years of giving back
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Andrew Carrillo poses for a photo on Dec. 16 at Out-of-Door Academy. He's been the go-to guy on attack for the Thunder throughout their 2025-26 season.
  • December 22, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Andrew Carrillo
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Manatee County commissioners approve reducing speed limits throughout the county.
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Speed limits reduced on nine roads in Manatee County
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The library will be constructed on the light green area depicted on this map within Longboat Key's Town Center Green. The entire library would be around 11,230 square feet with the possible enhancements.
  • December 22, 2025
Buchanan's $1 million donation formally accepted for library

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