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Your Observer

Neathan Gibson is the director of coaching for the new Premier Soccer FC SWFL in East County.
  • By Dani Hernandez
  • July 10, 2024
Soccer leagues merge to strengthen opportunities

League officials say unified goals will help the Lakewood Ranch area's youth soccer players.

  • East County
  • Sports
Mahjong at The Paradise Center
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 10, 2024
Mahjong at The Paradise Center improves cognitive skills, builds community

Carol Peschel mastered the art of mahjong and now breaks down the challenging game for Longboaters.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Unit 303 condominium at 4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for $6 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 10, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for June 24-28 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in Sage LBK tops the week's sales at $6 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
A rendering of an expanded Payne Park Auditorium designed by Fleischman Garcia Maslowski architects.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 10, 2024
Opposition grows along with theater's plans for Payne Park Auditorium

Revised lease terms for Payne Park Auditorium are on the table for the Sarasota City Commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City development standards manual receives first update in 22 years
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 10, 2024
City development standards manual receives first update in 22 years

Design and development standard have evolved, but the city of Sarasota's manual hasn't been updated since 2002.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Emilia Kalev reads to Olive, a pug, during the Read with the Dogs program at Gulf Gate Library.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 10, 2024
Libraries shift focus from physical collections to community hubs

With a public library branch headed to Longboat Key, Sarasota County staff highlight the ways in which libraries have evolved to offer a full suite of resources and events.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Construction projects, like the St. Regis development, would likely need many inspections from the town planning and zoning department throughout the course of building.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 10, 2024
Longboat Key seeks interlocal agreement to share planning staff in emergencies

The town’s P&Z department asked to become part of an existing pact with neighboring municipalities to share staff in times of need.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota's Mary Tucker is an advocate for athletes talking about their mental health struggles.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 10, 2024
Sarasota rifle shooter seeks gold in Paris

Mary Tucker will compete in two events at the 2024 Paris Olympics this month.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Republicans killing their own; ‘go negative to win’
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 10, 2024
Republicans killing their own; ‘go negative to win’

You know the saying: All is fair in love, war and politics.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Observer recommends
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 10, 2024
Observer recommends

The common refrain and complaint you here about all county commission candidates is this: “The greedy developers control them.”

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Woman caught skinny-dipping in homeowner's pool
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 9, 2024
Woman caught skinny-dipping in homeowner's pool

Claiming to be with the CIA, a nude woman is removed from a homeowner's pool on St. Armands. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Braden River High rising senior quarterback Lucas Despot received his first offer from Shorter University on June 25.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 9, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Lucas Despot

The Braden River High quarterback received his first offer from Shorter University on June 25.

  • East County
  • Sports
A protective liner has been installed on top of the south Phosphogypsum stacks at Piney Point. It includes a new stormwater control system, and soil cover and grass to reduce the chance of soil erosion.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • July 9, 2024
Environmentalists, state of Florida settle Piney Point lawsuit

The agreement adds pollution controls and funds for water quality monitoring.

  • East County
  • News
City, county and Sarasota Housing Authority officials snip the ceremonial ribbon to open the SHA's 84-unit Cypress Square apartments.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 9, 2024
Housing Authority opens 84 affordable housing apartments

The new Cypress Square is the SHA's ninth public and low-income housing redevelopment in the past 16 years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Parrish's Heather Felton is running for the District 1 seat on the School Board of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 9, 2024
Desire to be an advocate inspires Manatee school board candidate

Heather Felton, a former teacher, wants to continue to help students but in a new role.

  • East County
  • Schools
Donald Edwin Swanson 1932-2024
    In Memoriam |
  • July 9, 2024
Donald Edwin Swanson

Donald Edwin Swanson, 92, of Bristol, Wisconsin, formerly of Longboat Key, passed away peacefully in his home July 5, 2024, surrounded by his family. 1932-2024

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Sarasota Yacht Club plans to build a three-story addition as part of its expansion plans.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 9, 2024
Sarasota Yacht Club presents expansion plans to the city

A three-story, free-standing structure is proposed to meet growing membership demands.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This Lake Club home at 8525 Pavia Way sold for $2.76 million. It has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,558 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 9, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for June 24-28 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Pavia Way tops the week's sales at $2.76 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
East County's Mark Stanoch is running for the District 1 seat of the School Board of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 9, 2024
Resident wants to give back to the community through school board seat

Mark Stanoch says serving on the Manatee County School Board will be an opportunity to make the district better for his grandchildren and all children.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Hashtag Cafe opened 18 months ago and recently expanded to add a yarn business.
  • By Emily Leinfuss
  • July 9, 2024
Sarasota coffee shop doubles in size, adds yarn business

A family of German immigrants musters up a rare match by opening a yarn store inside their European-style cafe.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Reported residential break-in determined to be a dream
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 9, 2024
Reported residential break-in determined to be a dream

A resident called to report there was an intruder in her house, but told responding officers it must have been a dream. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Photograph of the pipe lying on its side at the Town of Longboat Key's Public Works Department. The breach was in the bottom invert of the pipe.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 9, 2024
To tackle urgent infrastructure projects, Longboat faces $27M debt

Due to rising project costs, two necessary utility projects come with a price tag of almost $40 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A patron of iSmash stands atop a used car during a smash therapy session.
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • July 9, 2024
'Smash therapy' company plans Sarasota location

Franchisees plan to bring four new iSmash locations to Southwest Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
William Michael O’Neil III (1935-2024)
    In Memoriam |
  • July 8, 2024
William Michael O’Neil III

William Michael O’Neil III, age 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Sarasota, Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
James Michael 'Mike' LaPensee
    In Memoriam |
  • July 8, 2024
James Michael 'Mike' LaPensee

James Michael “Mike” LaPensee, a longtime resident of Anna Maria, passed away June 22, 2024, at the age of 79.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
These five books have been named as the finalists for the 2025 One Book, One Community event hosted by the Sarasota County Libraries.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 8, 2024
Finalists announced for annual One Book, One Community selection

Sarasota County residents can join the debate over the Sarasota County Libraries' selections on social media.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota resident Kelly Franklin has filed an amended complaint alleging defamation against City Commissioner Kyle Battie.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 8, 2024
Amended city commissioner complaint shifts focus from slander to libel

A Sarasota resident challenges the prior ruling that Kyle Battie was acting as an elected official when he made racial allegations during a public meeting.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Former Braden River High baseball player Ryan Waldschmidt had a breakout junior season at the University of Kentucky, earning All-American Third Team honors from Baseball America.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 8, 2024
Former Pirates baseball star makes national waves at Kentucky

After an All-American season, Ryan Waldschmidt hopes to be a first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Braden River Soccer Club practices at Lakewood Ranch Park. County staff wants to add two new turf fields to the park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 8, 2024
Synthetic soccer fields are coming to East County

Constant use has staff looking toward synthetic turf over grass.

  • East County
  • News
Florida Studio Theatre Arts Plaza will be built next door to the current building on First Street.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 8, 2024
FST challenge match brings $2 million donation for Arts Plaza

Florida Studio Theatre has raised $41 million of its $57 million goal to build a new downtown Arts Plaza.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bar Italia is preparing to open on July 13 in the Center Point plaza on the corner of University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 8, 2024
New Italian restaurant set to open in Lakewood Ranch

Bar Italia is scheduled to open on July 13 in the Center Point plaza.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Robert Romanski, Alexa Lowrey, Julia Piermont and Chris Westfall
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 7, 2024
Christ Church of Longboat Key honors America through worship music

The Rev. Julia Piermont curated a music program of American hymns for the Sunday service after July 4.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Scott Matthews pulls the lever for the cars to go while JJ Johnson races his potato car.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 7, 2024
Bird Key Yacht Club races potatoes for July 4

A decade-old tradition has club members building and racing potato cars while waiting for the fireworks show on Independence Day.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Drone adds another layer to emergency services in Manatee County
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 7, 2024
Drone adds another layer to emergency services in Manatee County

Archer First Response Systems launched a pilot program at the EMS station in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Complete Streets Improvement study underway on Anna Maria Island
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 7, 2024
Complete Streets Improvement study underway on Anna Maria Island

The study will examine cyclist and pedestrian safety. Longboat eyes a similar project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key residents gather at the Broadway Beach Access on Sept. 25, 2022, to fill sandbags ahead of Hurricane Ian.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 6, 2024
Pre-storm sandbag operations continue monthly through September

On Aug. 1 and Sept. 3, Longboat Key households can collect up to 10 sandbags through the town's pre-storm sandbag operations.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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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