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Your Observer

Jen Hamey is running for the District 1 seat on the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 23, 2024
Parrish attorney runs for District 1 seat on Manatee Commission

Jennifer Hamey says her law skills will help her serve her Manatee County constituents.

  • East County
  • News
Ryan Neuzil hits the bench press at Athletic Edge as part of a final offseason workout. Neuzil, a member of the Atlanta Falcons, reports to training camp July 24.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 23, 2024
Former Pirates star Ryan Neuzil preps for Atlanta Falcons training camp

Neuzil spends time at Lakewood Ranch's Athletic Edge Sports Performance Training Center each offseason.

  • East County
  • Sports
This Lake Club home at 6210 Baycross Drive sold for $2.3 million. It has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,141 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 23, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for July 8-12 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Baycross Drive tops the week's sales at $2.3 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Longboat Key officer frees cat stuck in porch ceiling
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 23, 2024
Longboat Key officer frees cat stuck in porch ceiling

A caller asked for police assistance when a cat got stuck in a new porch ceiling. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Booker High rising junior wide receiver Dylan Wester.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 23, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Dylan Wester

The Booker High football wide receiver is primed for a big 2024 season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Ember Bly, 5, Avenn Zarchev-Miller, 7, and Brooklyn Koenreich, 5, prepare to blast off into space.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 22, 2024
Explorers of the Galaxy summer camp teaches drama and life skills

The Drama Kids theater program recently moved into a permanent space featuring a black box theater, on Interstate Boulevard.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Finding the right sunscreen often means checking labels and researching ingredients.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • July 22, 2024
How to have a sun-safe summer

Sunscreens are not created equal, and the most expensive isn't necessarily the best.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Jonathan Mitchell and Jason Starkman look forward to offering The Original Wolfie's New York-style deli items at its new location in Lakewood Ranch on Paylor Lane.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 22, 2024
The Original Wolfie's to open location in Lakewood Ranch

The new location will be a commissary and production facility that offers grab 'n' go items as well as delivery of its New York-style deli food.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Plants such as paspalum repens, a medium-protein aquatic grass native to Florida, provide manatees with ample, toxin-free food at Myakka.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • July 22, 2024
With rising water levels, manatees return to Myakka

Water quality and abundant food are key draws for these massive park regulars.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A rendering of the proposed Sarasota Youth Sailing building in Ken Thompson Park by PSDW Architecture shows outdoor boat storage, which may not be permitted there by code.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 22, 2024
New youth sailing building faces zoning headwinds

Plans for a new Sarasota Youth Sailing facility could be subject to a restriction on outdoor storage of boats.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cliff Kaplan is proposing this bridge in Greenbrook Adventure Park be transformed into a "rainbow bridge," a place where pet owners can pay tribute to their dogs, cats and birds after they die.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 22, 2024
Rainbow bridge for pets proposed in Greenbrook Adventure Park

The footbridge would be a place of comfort for grieving pet owners.

  • East County
  • News
Sarah Rubin of Save Our Seabirds showcases a hawk foot to Finn Seth-Ward, 4.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 22, 2024
Save Our Seabirds' education programs take flight

Director of Outreach and Avian Care Sarah Rubin said the educational ramp-up will start at the end of summer.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Alexia Swayka, 4, gets into the center of the action.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 21, 2024
Giant bubbles entertain kids and adults at Selby Gardens

Bubbles Under the Banyans welcomed former "America's Got Talent" contestant Blaise Ryndes.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Matthew Burns, a Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary volunteer, shows off the new shuttle bus that will expand the nonprofit's educational opportunities.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 20, 2024
Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary upgrades its facilities

An anonymous endowment funds a new retrofitted shuttle and classroom area.

  • East County
  • News
Adriana Gretch, Rich DeStasio, Barbara Bishop-Reid and Greg LeBlanc fist bump after the game.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 19, 2024
Lakewood Ranch residents make fast friends at cornhole

The weekly game is held in The Yard at Waterside Place on Thursday mornings.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A home in an exclusive neighborhood on Lighthouse Point Drive has sold for $10.8 million.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 19, 2024
Longboat Key Club home sells for $10.8 million

The home faces New Pass and includes an office and theater room.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A still image of bodycam footage of the Feb. 26, 2024 shooting off University Parkway.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 19, 2024
State clears Sarasota Police officers in Feb. 26 fatal shooting

The pursuit of a suspected bank robber ended in the killing of a suspect who brandished a gun in a partially submerged car.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Police respond to Thursday night bomb threat at Selby Library
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 19, 2024
Police respond to Thursday night bomb threat at Selby Library

No explosives were found in the backpack of a 57-year-old Sarasota man.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Author honors late husband's fights for justice and safer air travel
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 19, 2024
Author honors late husband's fights for justice and safer air travel

Plymouth Harbor resident Ruth Kreindler's new book details attorney Lee Kreindler's legal advocacy for victims and their families in major aviation disasters.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Candidates for seats on the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board participate in a League of Women Voters forum in Venice recently. The race has garnered increased interest in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • July 19, 2024
Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board race generates renewed interest

With Democratic and write-in candidates, Aug. 20 will be a closed primary.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota School Board member Bridget Ziegler, between Chair Karen Rose and member Tom Edwards, speaks at the July 18 meeting.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 19, 2024
School board OKs changes to public comment rules

The board also discussed raising school meal prices and approved new staff positions.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Seagrasses under Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 18, 2024
Longboat plans to mitigate infrastructure impacts on seagrass

Two projects require seagrass mitigation. If done properly, the planting will help boost Sarasota Bay's fish habitat.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch Deli will be open in the San Marco Plaza on July 29 at 10 a.m.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 18, 2024
New deli and lunch spot coming to Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch Deli will open in the San Marco Plaza on July 29.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Gene Tischer, Gary Scott, Sandra Johnson and the Rev. Jeffrey Nunes
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 18, 2024
Longboat Island Chapel hosts Stillpoint Mission’s new president

The chapel collected toilet paper to donate to the nonprofit.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sandbar Seafood & Spirit is one of three Manatee County waterfront restaurants Chiles Hospitality has sold.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • July 18, 2024
Chiles Hospitality sells Mar Vista and 2 other beachfront restaurants

A St. Petersburg-based restaurant group also purchases Anna Maria Bake House and Chiles Hospitality's events department.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Voter registration deadline for August primary election is fast approaching
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 18, 2024
Voter registration deadline for August primary election is fast approaching

Registration and party affiliation changes must be done by July 22.

  • Sarasota
  • News
McIntosh Middle School students Kuba Mohrbacher and Anna Dulovich participated in a robotics competition with the Technology Student Association.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
An array of STEM opportunities awaits in Sarasota's schools

With offerings from dual enrollment engineering programs to a full-size planetarium, the district continues to emphasize STEM education.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Christian Garzia pushes off defenders during a Sarasota Surge rugby match. Garzia is an advocate of his brother, Rocco, who has Prater-Willi syndrome.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 18, 2024
Sports mean more than on-field results to these local athletes

Leadership and self-confidence are skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

  • East County
  • Schools
STEM programs can lead to opportunities to participate in world competitions. Robert E. Willis Elementary's Kaitlyn McIntrye, Aly Martinez, Jelena Konatar and Izzy Nunez partiicpated in the world VEX competition.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
STEM programs open world of opportunities in Manatee schools

The school district adjusts to to meet students' interest in STEM programs.

  • East County
  • Schools
Visit Sarasota County works to attract nature tourism, capitalizing on activities such as kayaking at The Bay park.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 18, 2024
Seasonal visitor numbers down as travel normalizes after pandemic

Visit Sarasota County reports a 9% drop in visitors during season.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jackson Hostetler fishes with the camp the week of July 15.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Fishing camp passes down knowledge and experience

"Paying attention to the smaller stuff is definitely what makes the biggest difference."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Police investigates Thursday overnight shooting
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 18, 2024
Sarasota Police investigates Thursday overnight shooting

No injuries were reported in the incident at the 2100 block of Waldemere Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Stacy Copeland, a rising third grader at Braden River Elementary School, shows off the page she wrote in Spanish about manatees.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
Dual language programs on the rise in Manatee County

Five elementary schools have dual language programs, and the district hopes to expand to middle school.

  • East County
  • Schools
McIntosh Middle School students Skyler Rissler, Baylee Wallingford and Kinleigh Souders with their rabbits Marvel, Finn and Velvet
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Agricultural scene emerges in Sarasota’s school district

New programs are being implemented, while the district prepares to open The Farm, a revamped facility at McIntosh Middle School for raising livestock and other activities.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Dreamer's Academy has now installed a dual-language library.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Interest grows in dual language programming within Sarasota school district

Dreamers Academy helped introduce the learning model in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High School's Kennedy Hoeper, Emma Syfert and Kendall Huerta say the future of agriculture is bright. They each plan to have careers in some facet of agriculture.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
Future of agriculture grows strong in Manatee County

Students say they are ready to enter the industry despite any challenges.

  • East County
  • Schools
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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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