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Your Observer

Spectators are set up on all sides of the lake to watch the fireworks show at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 19, 2024
Parking for Fireworks on the Lake event in Sarasota now on sale

The Nathan Benderson Park Fourth of July event drew 16,000 people last year.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key to add new town engineer position
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 19, 2024
Longboat Key to add new town engineer position

Town staff presented preliminary operating revenues expenditures for the fiscal 2025 budget, which included increases in personnel costs due to inflation and new staff members.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A study done by the Florida Department of Transportation estimated that the current drawbridge is raised about 100-300 times a month.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 19, 2024
What's the right size for a new Longboat Pass Bridge?

With new bridge alternatives on the table, FDOT returned to Longboat Key after community members raised concerns about size and scale.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota Democrat Party charges Republicans intentionally locked them out of the District 1 County Commission primary with the late addition of a write-in candidate.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 19, 2024
Democratic Party accuses Mast campaign of foul play

A last-minute write-in candidate for Sarasota County Commission District 1 makes Aug. 20 election a closed primary.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Observer recommends
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 19, 2024
Observer recommends

2024 primary election recommendations from Observer Media Group CEO and Founder Matt Walsh.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Sarasota County lifts burn ban after recent rains
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2024
Sarasota County lifts burn ban after recent rains

The ban had been in effect since May 5.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Give credit for reading scores where it’s due
  • By Tom Edwards
  • June 18, 2024
Give credit for reading scores where it’s due

Superintendent Asplen laid the groundwork. Teachers, administrators and staff persevered through turmoil, and now Terry Connor is keeping the momentum going.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A pickup truck is parked in a driveway in Stone Ridge. Currently, the truck can't park in a driveway overnight in the Country Club, but as of July 1, the HOA will no longer be allowed to prohibit it.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 18, 2024
New bill could pose problems for East County homeowners associations

Florida House Bill 1203 goes into effect on July 1 and limits what HOAs can prohibit, such as work trucks in driveways.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 18, 2024
FPL commits to finish utilities undergrounding project by end of 2024

Existing electrical poles on Longboat Key are scheduled to be removed by Dec. 31.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
An athlete prepares to shoot a basketball, as a Cardinal Mooney student watches.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 18, 2024
Athletes with intellectual disabilities shine at Camp Shriver

Special Olympics Florida teamed up with Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School to bring the camp to Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This Lake Club home at 17010 Clearlake Ave. sold for $3,591,500. It has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,315 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 18, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for June 3-7 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Clearlake Avenue tops the week's sales at $3.59 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Resident worries about personal info after grocery delivery
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 18, 2024
Resident worries about personal info after grocery delivery

A Longboat Key resident called police after a delivery driver scanned her driver’s license to drop off a bottle of wine. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The Thunder football team beat LPCA 33-14 on Nov. 10 to win the SSAA Class 4A championship.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 18, 2024
The top 10 moments of the 2023-2024 East County high school sports year

The year featured championship wins and several other programs on the rise.

  • East County
  • Sports
The yellow outline is the proposed site of Lakewood Springs, 299 townhomes with an amenity center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 18, 2024
Lorraine Road housing project planned to include affordable units

Unlike prior such projects in East County, these units will come with an amenity center.

  • East County
  • News
A site map shows the current and proposed buildings of Lofts on Lemon.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 18, 2024
Steps taken toward adding 200-plus low-income housing units

The design of one housing development "saddened" him, says Planning Board Chair Michael Halflants.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Andrew Littauer with his authentic Romanian figurines
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • June 18, 2024
23 years in Romania fostered Longboater's appreciation for life

After Romania's dictator was overthrown, Andrew Littauer worked to privatize banks there. Then he decided to stay.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Starting July 15, parking at Centennial Park will no longer be free of charge.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2024
Sarasota parking fee changes will begin July 15

Warnings will only be issued during the first week of paid parking on Benjamin Franklin Drive and Centennial Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
One dead after single-vessel boat crash off Longboat Key
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 17, 2024
One dead after single-vessel boat crash off Longboat Key

The Friday night incident involved a single vehicle with seven passengers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Deborah Miller with her book "One Little Pill"
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • June 17, 2024
Longboat resident shares her road to recovery from opioid addiction

Deborah Miller's memoir challenges the stigma of addiction stereotypes and gives hope to those struggling.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Court 13 at Payne Park Tennis Center offers a spot for players to relax before and after matches.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 17, 2024
Pro shop, lounge opens at Payne Park Tennis Center

Court Thirteen, part pro shop and part lounge, is one of several recent improvements.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
A building on 10th Street collapsed during Hurricane Ian in 2022.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 17, 2024
Owners of Ian-damaged homes may apply for federal assistance

The Resilient SRQ Housing Recovery Program has $55 million to help low-income homeowners repair damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

  • Sarasota
  • News
An epiphany on the poop problem
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • June 17, 2024
An epiphany on the poop problem

A letter writer zeroes in on a potential cause of Longboat's dog poop profusion.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Nate Strawderman (right) gives instructions to Bradenton Christian quarterback Caden Ott. Strawderman is going The Out-of-Door Academy football program as an associate head coach and passing game coordinator. He will also be an assistant athletic director at the school.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 17, 2024
Out-of-Door Academy adds passing game guru

Nate Strawderman, 26, joins the Lakewood Ranch school after coaching at Bradenton Christian School.

  • East County
  • Sports
  • By Florida Power and Light Company (FPL)
  • June 17, 2024
Florida Power & Light enhances energy grid with planned upgrades in Sarasota County

FPL plans to make upgrades in Sarasota as part of its ongoing commitment to avoid outages and restore power faster following severe weather.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Rabbi Michael Shefrin meets Gracie, and Craig Serota.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 16, 2024
Temple Emanu-El celebrates pets with annual Blessing of the Animals

The event honored pets of all kinds, offering blessings to dogs, cats and even a leopard gecko.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Prehab falls into two main categories: general and sport specific.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • June 16, 2024
An ounce of prehab is worth a pound of rehab

Healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent injuries and preserve mobility.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
A rendering of the reception area of the St. Regis Longboat Key, featuring the mural and bar.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 16, 2024
St. Regis hiring event draws large turnout as resort nears completion

More than 500 people attended the event on June 12, which was intended to help fill some 400 open positions.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Jeri Schleicher, Todd Schleicher, Nadine Berchen, 2-year-old Carson Bercher and Matt Bercher celebrate Father's Day by Daren Puppa, who played for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 1993 to 2000.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 15, 2024
Dad's Day Block Party brings sports fans to the Mall at UTC

Former pro athletes highlight the Father's Day event in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Low water levels concentrate fish and other aquatic animals, sustaining migratory and native wading birds, including imperiled species like wood storks.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • June 15, 2024
Rainfall ends record low water levels at Myakka

Periodic dry conditions, resulting from extended drought, regulate and benefit plant and animal communities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dick McLaughlin and Julia Piermont
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • June 14, 2024
Christ Church builds community to become a year-round church

Christ Church of Longboat Key hosted its first monthly lunch to encourage fellowship among congregants.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A draft rendering shows the view from the terrace, overlooking the Town Center Green.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 14, 2024
For enhanced public library, LBK Foundation needs to raise $3.5M

A single donation of roughly that size could also come with naming rights.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Corinne Arriaga (left) and Alvimarie Corales approach multimodal transportation from different perspectives.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 14, 2024
Dynamic duo leads implementation of Sarasota In Motion

Alvimarie Corales and Corinne Arriaga are the city's public faces, and sometimes lightning rods, of transportation planning.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Red, White and Blueberry Celebration at Fiorelli Winery is about bringing people together to celebrate community and the country's independence.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 14, 2024
Fiorelli Winery celebration to benefit Suncoast Charities

Sales from the Red, White and Blueberry Celebration on June 29 will benefit Sarasota nonprofit Suncoast Charities for Children.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Edwardo Diaz and Yenifer Aries clean up the sidewalk outside Alvin's Island shop after torrential rains caused flooding on St. Armands Circle on June 12.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2024
State and Sarasota city, county declare states of emergency

The declaration provides greater local government flexibility for spending in response to recent flooding.

  • Sarasota
  • News
One Park, designed by Hoyt Architects, has received approval from the Planning Board with construction expected to begin this fall on Block 1 in The Quay.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 13, 2024
One Park condo tower wins Planning Board approval

The first of two buildings to carry the One Park name will occupy Block 1 in The Quay.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Crew freshman Jenna Khalil (second from left) was in the stroke seat in the Sarasota Crew girls U16 8+ boat at the US Rowing Youth National Championships, between coxswain Sophia Karanjai and rowers Claire Xia and Annalise Naylor. The boat finished seventh in the A Final (7:32.17).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 13, 2024
Sarasota Crew rowers race the best at Youth Nationals

For senior rowers, the race was the finish line on their Crew careers.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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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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