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Your Observer

Sarasota Christian School wide receiver Travis Miller (12) led the team in receiving yards in 2023 with 545.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 8, 2024
Sarasota Christian makes transition to 11-man football

The Blazers played eight-man football for two seasons before the jump.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Shaded in blue are sending-only zones and in yellow sending and receiving zones in this draft map of the city's proposed transfer of development rights program.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 8, 2024
Transfer of development rights workshop postponed until Monday

The program would allow owners of designated historic properties to sell height and density rights to other developers in downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jospeh Vavrik as the Penguin and Heidi Vavrik as Lark.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 8, 2024
Sarasota cosplayers find place to be themselves and fictional characters

Cosplayers describe the experience and effort of bringing their favorite heroes and villains to life.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By BayView Dental
  • August 8, 2024
This One Habit Can Make You a Cavity Magnet.

Habitual snackers, brace yourself.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Gov. Ron DeSantis talks with Sarasota business owners affected by Tropical Storm Debby at the Philippi Creek Oyster Bar on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • August 7, 2024
DeSantis visits Sarasota to survey storm damage

Gov. Ron DeSantis offered assistance and heard from business owners following Tropical Storm Debby.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Breeze Airways will offer nonstop service to eight total destinations from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • August 7, 2024
6 nonstop flights coming to SRQ airport

The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport will offer service to 60 nonstop destinations, with the addition of new flights from Breeze Airways.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Looking toward Bee Ridge Road from the Tuttle Circle roundabout
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2024
Debby's impact felt after dumping historic rainfall on Sarasota

The National Weather Service reports nearly 18 inches of rain fell in Sarasota, the fourth highest reading in the state.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Flooding around noon Aug. 5 off Shadow Ridge Circle near Celery Fields
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2024
Tropical Storm Debby: By the numbers

A few statistics help tell the tale of Sarasota's latest storm.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High junior Payton Griffin has shown out for both the Mustangs and her club team, Sarasota Tsunami, this season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 7, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Payton Griffin

The Sarasota Tsunami swimmer finished eighth in the 200-meter freestyle at the USA Swimming Futures Championship.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A rendering of the planned new Bird Key Yacht Club building.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 7, 2024
Bird Key Yacht Club looks toward future with new club building

The club's new $20 million building will be hurricane-resilient and compliant with federal regulations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Streetside bather arrested for indecent exposure
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2024
Streetside bather arrested for indecent exposure

A woman who said she was taking a bath on Central Avenue was arrested for vulgar and indecent behavior. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Palm Aire's Nick Barbi says students in the Community Observations and Analysis using Spectroscopic Techniques and Wetlands Imaging to build Stewardship of the Environment program will use spectrometers. The program is funded through the Mary Jo Barbi STEAM Education and Scholarship Fund.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 7, 2024
Nonprofit creates education fund in honor of Palm Aire resident

Science and Technology Society fund will provide educational programming to students.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Averleigh Cross couldn't wait to start kindergarten at Freedom Elementary School in 2023. The School District of Manatee County is encouraging all families ensure their kindergartners are present on the first day.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 7, 2024
Are you ready to go back to school?

Students and parents should make sure to check these off their back-to-school prep list.

  • East County
  • Schools
Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 7, 2024
Longboat congregations use summer to renovate

Temple Beth Israel and Longboat Island Chapel discussed current and future renovation plans.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
GreyHawk Landing's Raymond Turner took over as District 5 commissioner on Aug. 1, 2023
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 7, 2024
Ray Turner says District 5 will get a long-term plan and transparency from him

The Manatee commissioner, who is running for reelection, stresses the county must "get ahead of the growth."

  • East County
  • News
Neirda Thompson-Pemberton wants to make education fun.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 7, 2024
Lakewood Ranch nonprofit tricks kids into liking math

FUNducation practices "educational espionage" with Legos and robots.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The home at 614 Owl Way has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,366 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 7, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for July 22-26 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Bird Key home on Owl Way tops the week's sales at $2.4 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Lakewood Ranch High junior girls swimmer Payton Griffin.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 7, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Payton Griffin

The Lakewood Ranch High junior girls swimmer wants to reach the podium at the state meet this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Commissioner-At-Large BJ Bishop and Scott Dudley with the Florida League of Cities Advocacy Committee.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 7, 2024
Commissioner Bishop takes on new committee for Florida League of Cities

This will be Bishop’s first year on the Resolutions Committee, which sets the FLC’s legislative priorities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
If rescued turtles need rehabilitation, they may end up at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 7, 2024
Rescues, rehab and forensics aid Mote’s research on local species

Information gathered from rescue calls, necropsies and bone research can help to tell stories of local species.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota High boys team and the Riverview High girls team repeated as state swimming champions in November — Sarasota for the fourth-straight time and Riverview for the third-straight time.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 7, 2024
The season ahead for swimming, golf and cross-country preps

The state title defense of boys and girls swimming champions headline the fall slate.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Enough of the smearing
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 7, 2024
Enough of the smearing

Dishonest tactics and dirty falsehoods disgust voters. One Manatee candidate decided not to take it anymore.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Water made the road nearly impossible around the 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 6, 2024
Hurricane Debby brought unexpected amounts of water to LBK

The storm left many parts of Longboat Key flooded, and water damage was the main issue seen by the town's damage assessment team.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Summerfield Bluffs 13-year-old Leah Abrams looks over her destroyed yearbooks as her family works to clean up their home after it was flooded. "All of my yearbooks are ruined," she says.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer, Liz Ramos
  • August 6, 2024
Manatee County calls Hurricane Debby a 100-year storm

Some spots in Manatee County, including Lakewood Ranch, received as many as 18 inches of rain in a two-day period.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • August 6, 2024
SRQ adds flight to Philadelphia-Delaware

Avelo Airlines is adding a seasonal route between Sarasota-Bradenton and the Delaware Valley.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Firefighters responded to a fire Aug. 5 aboard a 65-foot yacht at the Longboat Key Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2024
Yacht sinks after fire at Longboat Key Club

Lithium batteries may have caused all-night blaze, officials say.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A sign in the north-end Village warns drivers of high water after Hurricane Debby passed Longboat Key.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 6, 2024
See the impact of Hurricane Debby around Longboat Key

Although it didn't experience a direct hit from the storm, Longboat Key still saw flooding, rainfall and heavy winds.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County offices will remain closed through Tuesday
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2024
Sarasota County offices will remain closed through Tuesday

Breeze transit services are resuming on a limited basis.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This Lake Club home at 16216 Clearlake Ave. sold for $2.6 million. It has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,879 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 6, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for July 22-26 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Clearlake Avenue tops the week's sales at $2.6 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Police respond to guest angry that resort doesn’t sell cigarettes
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 6, 2024
Police respond to guest angry that resort doesn’t sell cigarettes

A guest at a local resort caused a scene after being upset that the resort didn’t have cigarettes for sale. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
George Kruse is running for re-election in District 7. The Kruse family from left to right: Alexander, Olivia, Jessica and George.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 6, 2024
Manatee Commissioner George Kruse goes grassroots for reelection

Kruse is running for reelection to the at-large District 7 seat.

  • East County
  • News
Senior Frankie Clark, senior Carson Fisher, junior Allen Clark and senior Marvin Palominos are expected to be major contributors for ODA football in 2024.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 6, 2024
ODA football chases another state title

The Thunder have made changes during the offseason, but the program's ethos remains the same.

  • East County
  • Sports
The original Superman lunch boxes by Adco debuted in 1954.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 6, 2024
Sarasota Toy Museum debuts Aug. 8 with thousands of vintage exhibits

Owner Richard Pierson has assembled toys representing more than 200 years of playtime history.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Department breakdowns include details like expenditures by type, like these for Public Works.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 6, 2024
Town launches first digital platform for in-depth budget exploration

The Digital Budget Book allows citizens to see more details about the town’s budget, departments and demographics.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mike Rusnak
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 6, 2024
UPS Store on Longboat Key makes house calls and ships cars

Owner Mike Rusnak shares the unique items he sees while assisting Longboaters with shipping.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
After Hurricane Debby hit the area Aug. 5, 2024, an East Manatee Fire Rescue worker paddles toward a flooded home on Quonset Road along the Braden River to rescue the occupant.
    By
  • Jay Heater, Lesley Dwyer, Liz Ramos
  • August 5, 2024
Hurricane Debby causes major flooding in Lakewood Ranch area

Nolan Middle School remains open as a shelter as almost 100 roads in Manatee County close due to flooding.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
4
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
5
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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