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Your Observer

Construction takes place on the K-8 at Skye Ranch.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Major construction projects on the way for Sarasota schools

Sarasota County Schools is building two new schools, in addition to pursuing school facility replacements and renovations.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Parents wait in their cars for dismissal at Braden River Elementary School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
How to have a successful car line

The car line doesn't have to be something you dread. Check out these tips on how to get through the car line safely while having fun.

  • East County
  • Schools
Food Services Manager Melissa Phillips
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Riverview High staffer reflects on years with the district

After joining the school district in 1998, Melissa Phillips, a food and nutrition services manager, says there’s still nowhere she’d rather be.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Progress continues on the renovation of Carlos E. Haile Middle School. The project is estimated to be complete in December.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
Manatee schools continues construction on east Bradenton projects

Some East County schools will see new classrooms in the 2024-2025 school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fruitville Elementary student Summer Medvecky heads to the car with ESE Paraprofessional Cluster Aide Tammy Gauntt.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
The ins and outs of pick-up and drop-off

Parents and a school principal offer their advice on successfully navigating the scene of pick-up or drop-off time.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Patricia Heffner, the head custodian at Freedom Elementary School, has been with the School District of Manatee County for 26 years.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
Freedom Elementary custodian takes pride in 26 years with Manatee schools

Patricia Heffner's love for cleanliness shows in her work.

  • East County
  • Schools
This home at 1624 Baywood Way (front) has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,060 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 18, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for July 1-5 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey and Nokomis

A home in Casey Key home tops the week's sales at $3.65 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The courtyard of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Looking for things to do in Sarasota? She wrote the bucket list.

Kelly Stilwell is the author of the recently released book “100 Things to Do in Sarasota Before You Die.”

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lola Bartolomeo, 10, learns the aerial silks.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Circus Summer Camp teaches kids the art of performance

Circus Arts Conservatory offers the chance for children to discover new skills and grow confidence.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
From left, Kerry Joyce, Todd Sweet, Ronan Dunphy and Jerry Sparkman addressed attendees at the 'Meet the Architects' workshop for the planned Sarasota Performing Arts Center.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 18, 2024
SPAC architects meet with residents for first design workshop

Renzo Piano Building Workshop architects meet with community as they begin concept design for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
  • July 18, 2024
Hospital Staff is 'Responsive and Reassuring'

“I felt I was in good hands,” says Mark Mattis, 66, of Lakewood Ranch, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former sales executive.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By Trine l. Alfaro
  • July 18, 2024
Empowering Minds: Parrish & North River Charter Academies

Give us a call to schedule a tour at Parrish Charter Academy.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By State College of Florida Advanced Technology Center
  • July 18, 2024
Youth+Innovation STEM Programs at the State College of Florida Advanced Technology Center

SCF offers a dynamic range of pre-college workshops, camps, homeschool classes, and after-school activities designed to give students a head start in STEM fields.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sponsored Content
Volunteers packed 250 backpacks with school supplies during the Pack the Patrol Car fundraiser in August 2019 to hand out to Sarasota students.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 17, 2024
Help Sarasota Police 'Pack the Patrol Car'

The school supply drive by SPD and Sarasota City YMCA continues through Aug. 2.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Gail Bowers, a kindergarten teacher at Fruitivlle Elementary, works with student Marina Prybylski.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 17, 2024
Property tax referendum funds career pathways, teacher retention

Voters will decide whether to renew a property tax referendum in November.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Alec Henderson, a recent graduate of the diesel systems program at Manatee Technical College, looks over a truck engine. He's already had been offered a job at Ring Power, a local construction machinery dealer.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • July 17, 2024
Dual enrollment programs give students a head start on promising careers

East County options can suit a variety of career paths.

  • East County
  • Schools
Andres Rodriguez, who graduated in May from Booker High School and Suncoast Technical College's digital video technology program, puts finishing touches on a music video he made as a graduation project.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • July 17, 2024
Dual enrollment option gives Sarasota students a head start on a career

Sarasota options can suit a variety of career paths.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
An oak snag in the front yard of Susan and John Darovec of Braden Woods is beneficial to wildlife, such as this red-bellied woodpecker.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 17, 2024
Dead trees bring the show to life in Braden Woods

Snags prove to be an important source of food and shelter for area wildlife, such as woodpeckers.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
More roundabouts planned for Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 17, 2024
More roundabouts planned for Lakewood Ranch

Manatee County is working with Lakewood Ranch developers on a series of roundabouts from University Parkway to State Road 64.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 486 E. Royal Flamingo Drive sold for $2.8 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 17, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for July 1-5 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Bird Key home on Royal Flamingo Drive tops the week's sales at $5.7 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Mississippi State student Maxwell Gebhart examines the invasive tape grass in the wild. He's used to seeing it in a lab.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 17, 2024
Biologists slowly ridding the Braden River of tape grass

Students study the invasive species that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been working to eradicate from the Braden River.

  • East County
  • News
Holiday traffic frustration prompts two road rage incidents
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 17, 2024
Holiday traffic frustration prompts two road rage incidents

Drivers exit their vehicles to block the path of others during two incidents over the July 4 weekend. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Traffic circulates around the new roundabout at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue on its first day of operation.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 17, 2024
Data shows efficiency of Gulfstream roundabout at peak hours

FDOT data helps engineers understand the efficiency of roadway improvements like the Gulfstream roundabout.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This empty city-owned lot along Laurel Avenue between Payne Parkway and South Washington Boulevard could become home to a new theater to be developed by the Sarasota Players.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 17, 2024
The Players' new theater heads to South Washington Boulevard

The Sarasota City Commission instructs staff to draft a lease that moves the proposed project outside Payne Park but still includes Payne Park Auditorium.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A digital version of Booker High alum Josiah Booker (8) snags a pass for Central Michigan University in front of a University of Akron defender in "College Football 25." Booker is a freshman wide receiver at CMU.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 17, 2024
'College Football 25' brings back memories, creates new ones

After an 11-year hiatus, the video game franchise is back — and with local athletes involved.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Can Buchanan be beaten?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 17, 2024
Can Buchanan be beaten?

Vern Buchanan is 12-0 in elections. But Eddie Speir, another little-known challenger, believes Buchanan’s RINO-ish voting record makes him vulnerable.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Sarasota Tsunami swimmer Ava DiPasquale.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 16, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Ava DiPasquale

The 12-year-old Sarasota Tsunami swimmer impressed at the Florida Age Group Championships.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Terri Driver with the rescued great blue heron.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 16, 2024
Great blue heron rescued from fishing line

Terri Driver helped a great blue heron while on patrol for Longboat Key Turtle Watch.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Kyle Battie speaks at the Veterans Housing Initiative groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 31, 2023.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 16, 2024
City faces more legal bills in Kyle Battie defamation case

Sarasota City commissioners approved another round of legal expense payments for Battie.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Memorial Hospital named a top rehab hospital
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 16, 2024
Sarasota Memorial Hospital named a top rehab hospital

SMH's U.S. News & World Report rankings have improved for the third straight year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This Lakehouse Cove at Waterside home at 8076 Grande Shores Drive sold for $2,175,000. It has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,553 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 16, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for July 1-5 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Clearlake Avenue tops the week's sales at $3.7 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Dr. Robert McCann has lived in River Club for 18 years and is running to represent District 5 on the Manatee County commission.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 16, 2024
Will performing as a commissioner be Robert McCann's next talent?

The doctor, lawyer, Navy veteran, pilot and scuba diver is ready for a new adventure in politics.

  • East County
  • News
Garry Kohn, a visiting member from the Mason Deerfield Rotary Club, presents a banner to Lang Wooddy, the new Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch president.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 16, 2024
New Lakewood Ranch Rotary president focuses on a successful year

River Strand's Lang Wooddy wants to meet members' expectations of having successful events, expanding programs and helping the community.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Artem Kopmar, a captain of the Braden River Soccer Club U16 boys team, dribbles around Davi Pereira at a team practice.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 16, 2024
Braden River Soccer Club will earn national exposure at Denver tournament

The U16 boys soccer team won the Florida State Cup in May to qualify for the US Club National Cup.

  • East County
  • Sports
Burglar turned out to be a renter who was double-booked
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 16, 2024
Burglar turned out to be a renter who was double-booked

An officer responded to a burglary call but discovered the "intruder" was another vacationer who booked the same rental. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Al Ernst and Cliff Hornsby
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 16, 2024
84-year-old lives his dream as a stand-up comedian

On-stage as "Gerry Atric," Longboat's Cliff Hornsby injects a dose of levity into the aging process.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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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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