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Your Observer

Michael and Sharon Defferding are active in their Country Club Community. Now, Sharon Defferding will serve on the Community Development District's board.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 19, 2024
Chance decides tied Lakewood Ranch CDD election

After two ties, the race for CDD5, Seat 2 was decided by drawing cards.

  • East County
  • News
Karen Gardiner, Patty Buck, Karen Fors and Ann Quackenbush at the Christ Church Welcome Back Party.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 19, 2024
Welcome back party at Christ Church

Christ Church of Longboat Key welcomes back snowbirds for the season on Nov. 13.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Andrea Helme has lived in Lakewood Ranch since 1999.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • November 19, 2024
Pioneering LWR woman finds comfort in raising funds for Alzheimer's research

Longtime Lakewood Ranch resident Andrea Helme marches forward on her goal of raising funds for Alzheimer's research and care.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Evelyn Lyman, 21 and Brian Guerrero, 24, from Sarasota Cuban Ballet School perform a scene from "The Nutcracker."
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 19, 2024
Young performers take center stage at Sarasota Rising: A Celebration of Youth

The closing event of the inaugural Living Arts Festival showcased up-and-coming talent in the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This Lake Club home at 15307 Anchorage Place sold for $6,275,000. It has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 6,245 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 19, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 4-8 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Anchorage Place tops the week's sales at $6.28 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Suspicious man sleeping on park bench resting after rescue from bay
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 19, 2024
Suspicious man sleeping on park bench resting after rescue from bay

The man told officers he was just rescued after going overboard on his boat. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Legislative delegation meeting set for Dec. 16
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2024
Legislative delegation meeting set for Dec. 16

Members of the Sarasota County delegation will hold their annual pre-session meeting at the Sarasota County Administrative Center in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Rev. Brock Patterson and Linda Crouse at the Longboat Island Chapel.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 19, 2024
Volunteer decorators needed for Longboat chapel's Christmas event

To be ready for Dec. 1, Longboat Island Chapel is asking for help from the community to prepare for the beloved Christmas in the Garden.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The yellow outline shows the approximately 43-acre parcel where 99 homes are proposed.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 19, 2024
Homebuilder shares plans for new residential development

The site plan shows 99 homes on 44 acres near State Road 64 and Uihlein Road in East County.

  • East County
  • News
A funding source is one of the challenges in developing a canal maintenance program.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 19, 2024
Longboat moves to set taxing district for canal maintenance program

At a meeting on Nov. 12, Longboat Key town commissioners voted to create the taxing district, but how to fairly allocate costs is still in question.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Construction of Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota Bay in The Quay is expected to be completed in late 2026.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2024
Contractor named for Quay condominium development

Kolter Urban will partner with Moss Construction to build Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Braden River High School's Kirsten Soler and Quinn McGettigan kiss the trophy. The Marching Band of Pirates earned its first state championship title in five years.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 19, 2024
Braden River High marching band claims state 2A title

The Marching Band of Pirates win first place, and Parrish Community High's Pride of Parrish Marching Band placed fourth in the same division.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Coldwell Banker Realty office on St. Armands Circle reopened on Nov. 13
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 19, 2024
Coldwell Banker Realty reopens its St. Armands Circle office

The real estate office renovated to build in resiliency for the potential of future flooding on St. Armands Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Noble Molineaux, 8, and Nyla Molineaux, 6, hold Brownie the chicken.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 18, 2024
McIntosh Middle Fall Festival celebrates the season and the school's offerings

Now in its second year, the fall festival brought together departments from throughout the school for activities, crafts and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Ivo F. Waerlop (1938-2024)
    In Memoriam |
  • November 18, 2024
Ivo F. Waerlop

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ivo F. Waerlop, who left us peacefully on July 28, 2024, at the age of 86 after a long battle with cancer and kidney disease.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Storm debris sits outside multiple stores at St. Armands Circle. Sarasota County’s two public drop-off sites for debris will soon close.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 18, 2024
Storm debris drop-off sites in Sarasota County to close Nov. 23

Sarasota County’s two public drop-off sites for residential vegetative storm debris will close permanently at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, the county announced Monday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ringling College graduate Dean Arscott won first place in the Sculptor's Choice and People's Choice awards for single projects, with "Neanderthal + Narwhal". The 2008 graduate and illustration major pulled the idea from an old sketchbook of drawings on letters of the alphabet.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 18, 2024
Former Ringling student takes home top award at Crystal Classic

Each year, the sand sculpting event brings an international lineup of artists to Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Maggie Mays, Rylie Jackson and Camiryn Opstal at the debutante event at Shore Longboat Key.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 18, 2024
Shore Longboat Key hosts Sarasota Debutantes

Debutantes Camiryn Opstal, Rylie Jackson and Maggie Mays invited all their friends to the island for an elegant brunch inspired by "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch High Head Coach Scott Paravicini talks with his team following a 41-3 win over Braden River High. It was the Mustangs' first win over the Pirates since 2013.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • November 18, 2024
Building high school football programs brick by brick

The Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high school football coaches reflect on the 2024 season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota's Dino Bever blows into a medieval animal horn.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 18, 2024
Sarasota Medieval Fair continues its run in Myakka City

The popular event attracts thousands to the Woods of Mallaranny along State Road 70.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The crew gets ready to move the hose from the working floor up to the floor above, where the simulated "fire" would be.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 18, 2024
Longboat Key Fire Rescue focuses training on high-rise techniques

The three department crews ran through scenarios that put high rise training into practice and helped solidify training on lower-frequency calls.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
As president of the Village Idiots Cycling Club, Dawn Zielinski lobbies for efforts to make roadways safer for cyclists.
    By
  • Emily Leinfuss
  • November 18, 2024
Village Idiots continue their mission to make roadways safer for cyclists

In a place with plenty of clubs and groups, the Village Idiots Cycling Club of Lakewood Ranch stands out, both in longevity — 15 years — and its core mission of bringing people together through a common passion.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The flooding from Hurricane Milton entered the Van Wezel through these doors to the kitchen.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 18, 2024
Van Wezel flooding highlights repurposing engineering study

Hurricane Milton damage prompts Karins Engineering's update to the Purple Ribbon Ribbon to focus on water intrusion mitigation.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Benisa Jones combines her passions for writing and journals to design her own journals.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 17, 2024
Creativity on display at Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch's fall art show

From jewelry to paintings to journals and more, the Creative Arts Association had a variety of works on display.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Cindy Noble and Susan Gilmore-Clarke at the St. Marys Women's Guild welcome back lunch.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 17, 2024
St. Mary Star of the Sea Women's Guild welcomes back members

Members look forward to the season as snowbirds arrive back on Longboat Key just in time for holiday festivities.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Gloria Diaz sparkles on the runway during the Waterlefe Fashion Show.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 17, 2024
Waterlefe Fashion Show displays elegance on the runway

Amateur models show off fashions, raise money for Our Daily Bread of Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Fire Chief Paul Dezzi and his son, Ryan, were recognized for saving their neighbor from cardiac arrest while off-duty.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 17, 2024
Longboat fire chief, son exemplify why a firefighter is always on call

Last Thanksgiving, Chief Dezzi and his son, Ryan, saved the life of their neighbor while both were off-duty. They were recognized by the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department this month.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The St. Regis Longboat Key at night on August 14, 2024. The resort's lights were an issue during the 2024 sea turtle nesting season.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 17, 2024
No fines added after final St. Regis hearing finds resort in violation

After a slew of lighting violations resulted in $6,850 of fines, representatives from the St. Regis say resort staff is working on compliance and education.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's Sandies award winners celebrate.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 16, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance presents its annual Sandies awards

After 18 years with the Business Alliance, Cheri Kessler takes home the Networking Queen award.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Debris remained a problem in Siesta Key after Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 16, 2024
Debris cleanup continues in Sarasota

More than 1 million cubic yards of debris has been collected to date.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Evan Percoco and Zach Zeller have ambitious plans for restaurants on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • November 16, 2024
Restaurateurs build a trifecta on Lakewood Ranch Main Street

Evan Percoco and Zach Zeller have already made a big impact on Lakewood Ranch's original downtown, with lots more good eating to come.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Cardinal Mooney junior Devin Mignery excelled in his first full year as the starting quarterback.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • November 16, 2024
Cardinal Mooney routs Somerset Academy 55-27

The Cougars cruised to 10-0 on the season in the Class 2A Regional Quarterfinal.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Luke Safford, Nancy Rozance and Shae Safford at Light Up Longboat on Nov. 25, 2023.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 15, 2024
Longboat lights up for the season

The sixth annual Light Up Longboat is expected to be bigger than ever.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The North Shore Road beach access point on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 15, 2024
Some Longboat Key beach accesses reopen after hurricanes

Several public beach access points reopened after crews worked to clean up debris from the entrances.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Helene brought four feet of water inside the Old Salty Dog; Milton crashed through it shutters and tore its historic bar in two.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 15, 2024
Patterson Foundation gives $250,000 for hurricane relief

The Patterson Foundation gift will be distributed through the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Mall at University Town Center's anchors are Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Dillard's, and the mall includes more than 125 specialty stores and restaurants.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 15, 2024
The Mall at UTC celebrates 10 years

A mall on the Sarasota-Manatee county line once looked like a long shot to be not only successful, but even built. Now it's a landmark economic driver.

  • East County
  • News
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