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Your Observer

Jaclyn McCarthy makes sure Tito Toniolo Teixeira gets just the right candy during the Kiddie Academy Halloween parade.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 3, 2024
Fun for the kiddies at the Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch on Halloween

The students were treated to a parade through a sweet trunk or treat section.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Country Club West's Michele Campbell and Blythe Hanson are VIPs at this year's Suncoast Food & Wine Fest.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 3, 2024
Foodies flock to Premier Sports Campus for Suncoast Food & Wine Fest

Over 30 local restaurants prepared dishes for the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch's premier event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ed Chiles has been in the restaurant business for more than 40 years.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • November 3, 2024
Ed Chiles remains involved after the sale of his three iconic island eateries

Ed Chiles recently sold his popular Manatee County restaurants and has been spending some time outside the area: with family in Montana and on businesses in Tennessee — including cannabis bars. But his heart, and passion for sustainability, remains on Anna Maria Island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
East County's Arthur Matney was showing off his 2020 C8 Corvette at the Knights Car Show. "It's the most awesome car I've ever had," he says.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 2, 2024
Knights' car show in Lakewood Ranch benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Classic cars spark fun stories by all who attend the event at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Rhonda Sheehan and Brian Berry
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 2, 2024
Fresh Fridays combine block party energy and the arts

While featuring the Bay Kings Band and performances by The Sarasota Players, the event allowed attendees to explore work by local artists and the variety of galleries along Palm Avenue.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Culverhouse gives a half million dollars to Season of Sharing
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2024
Culverhouse gives a half million dollars to Season of Sharing

The gift from Eliza and Hugh Culverhouse Jr. to the annual campaign will help provide relief for local families impacted by this year's hurricanes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The St. Regis Longboat Key opened in August during a big celebration of the long-anticipated resort.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 2, 2024
St. Regis opens a new wealth of possibilities for Longboat Key

After a decade of twists and turns, the St. Regis Longboat Key introduces a different level of luxury for the island — with a nod to the noted property that preceded it.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Alyssa Entin, 10 and Victoria Haroutunian, 10, dressed as circus clowns to embrace the circus theme at the Ringling Museum.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 1, 2024
Ringling Museum offers trick-or-treating on Halloween

After the recent hurricanes left many neighborhoods damaged, the museum decided to host Halloween at The Ringling.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lido Beach will reopen to the public Saturday, Nov. 2 following significant impacts from hurricanes Helene and Milton.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • November 1, 2024
Lido Beach to reopen Saturday

Public restrooms and the concession stand will be open, and lifeguards will be on duty.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The AMC 12 movie theater was one of three businesses operating at the otherwise vacant Sarasota Square Mall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 1, 2024
AMC 12 at Sarasota Square Mall closes permanently

The theater was one of three businesses planned to survive redevelopment of the largely vacant mall.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Amber Tarbet takes 13-year-old Leah Barros through her riding lesson with the help of Martha Murphy, Lisa Hughes and Sheryl Aguilar. SMART with Heart is looking for more volunteers and instructors to serve more people.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 1, 2024
Nonprofits merge to continue providing therapeutic equine therapy

Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy has merged with Hooves with HEART to become SMART with Heart.

  • East County
  • News
Karen Holbrook, the regional chancellor of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, has announced she will retire at the end of the year.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 1, 2024
USF Sarasota-Manatee chancellor to retire

Karen Holbrook has led the campus through significant growth.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 31, 2024
Breeze Airways adds multiple routes from SRQ

The premium low-cost airline adds service to and from seven destinations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jamie Kahns and Bob Kahns with Bank of America and Tim Estep, the manager for the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, get into the western theme for the alliance's Hob Nob.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 31, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's Hob Nob BBQ brings community together

Approximately 400 people attend the BBQ at Lakewood Ranch Library.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Peter Salefsky, Barbara Bostic and Gail Duerst
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 31, 2024
Seniors get into costume at Halloween Boo Bash

The Halloween Boo Bash at Senior Friendship Centers showed there are no age limits when it comes to enjoying Halloween.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Chidsey Building is being restored as part of The Bay's Phase 2 project.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 31, 2024
The Bay undertakes restoration of historic Chidsey Building

The project is expected to be complete by summer of 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Pascal Charbonneau walks from one chess board to another as he performs the demonstration of 15 simultaneous games.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 31, 2024
Chess grandmaster recalls the challenges of the game

Sarasota resident Pascal Charbonneau played 15 simultaneous games during an exhibition at a recent Manasota Chess Center event.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
School District of Manatee County students will have to make up time due to academic time lost as a result of the hurricanes.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 31, 2024
Manatee County students to make up educational time lost from hurricanes

Changes to the academic calendar have been announced for this school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Rawn Associates designed Klarman Hall at Harvard Business School.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 31, 2024
Orchestra names architecture firm for Fruitville Road facility

William Rawn Associates of Boston will lead the design of the planned Sarasota Orchestra Music Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 1632 Floyd St. was built in 1995 and has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,338 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 31, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 14-18 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Nokomis

A Morton Terrace home on Floyd Street tops the week's sales at $2.68 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The School District of Manatee County is making progress on its new K-8 school being built in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 30, 2024
New K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch has a name

The School Board of Manatee County unanimously voted to name the school Lake Manatee K-8.

  • East County
  • Schools
Captain Rick McCoy gives directions to the next debris collection site.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 30, 2024
Longboat Key receives additional police support from state agencies

To help with traffic control and deter looting, the Longboat Key Police Department is receiving supplemental patrols from departments from Jacksonville to Miami.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
High at Hart's Landing
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 30, 2024
High at Hart's Landing

Two men regain consciousness and walk away after denying being under the influence of narcotics. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Gecko's Grill and Pub chef Scott Kleinberg will share his passion for cooking at the Suncoast Food and Wine Fest during a cooking demonstration.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 30, 2024
Local chefs to share their passion through Food & Wine Fest demos

Pascone's Ristorante and Gecko's Pub and Grille chefs will take guests on a culinary journey.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Though Myakka’s ecosystems adapted to seasonal flooding, increased threats of pollutant runoff from outside the park is concerning.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • October 30, 2024
Hurricane's fury can benefit wetlands, such as Myakka River State Park

It can play an important role in shaping healthy, albeit dramatically changed, ecosystems.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A crew works to repair the wave attenuator on Oct. 25.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 30, 2024
Nathan Benderson Park rebounds after Hurricane Milton damage

The park's wave attenuator took the biggest hit this hurricane season, but all events are full-speed ahead.

  • East County
  • News
Cariloha Sarasota lost about 80% of its inventory due to hurricanes Helene and Milton.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 30, 2024
Longboat Key small businesses seek public's help after losing everything

After hurricanes Helene and Milton affected them greatly, local businesses ask for help from the Longboat Key community to keep their businesses from closing down.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The Unit 707 condominium at 4401 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for $1.25 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 30, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 14-18 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home in John Ringling Estates tops the week's sales at $2 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Cindy McCollough, founder of TANKS, Inc., has a one-on-one with Marmalade. It can take months to build trust with some of the rescues. Others will never let a human handle them.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 30, 2024
Myakka City sanctuary takes in senior and special needs cats

TANKS Inc. is home to 50 cats, seven beagles and five steer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A rendering of One Park West.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 30, 2024
One Park West approval completes planning for The Quay

The construction schedule will depend on final plans for the adjacent Hyatt Regency site redevelopment, which will impact views and pricing in the 69-unit residential tower.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Midge Pescatello browses among the hand-decorated trees at St. Mary, Star of the Sea's 2020 Christmas Bazaar.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 30, 2024
Christmas Bazaar returns Nov. 9 to Longboat Key

The annual Christmas Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mary Star of the Sea for all Christmas shopping needs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Another storm for condos
  • By Adrian Moore, Jeff Brandes
  • October 30, 2024
Another storm for condos

New condo inspection and repair laws, compliance deadlines and the rising cost of insurance are on the verge of creating a catastrophe for many condo owners.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
1000 NORTH will be located in the BLVD Sarasota building at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and North Tamiami Trail.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 29, 2024
Exclusive restaurant, club coming to Sarasota

1000 NORTH, with a long list of celebrity partners, will bring its second private dining club concept to the BLVD Sarasota building.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Vince Golden and Kerry Urell play pickleball together at Longwood Park. According to Golden, nobody bakes better banana bread than Urell.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 29, 2024
University Park 95-year-old credits his good health to pickleball

Vince Golden plays pickleball every morning, rain or shine.

  • East County
  • Sports
Robert E. Willis Elementary's Kaitlyn McIntrye, Aly Martinez, Jelena Konatar and Izzy Nunez participated in the world VEX competition. If the referendum fails, STEM opportunities for students could lessen.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 29, 2024
School tax referendum poorly designed, but worth supporting

Manatee district must do better job of adding salaries to its general budget.

  • East County
  • Opinion
8-year-old dirt bike rider hospitalized after crash with police officer
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 29, 2024
8-year-old dirt bike rider hospitalized after crash with police officer

The Sarasota Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating a crash Monday evening that involved an SPD officer and an 8-year-old boy riding a dirt bike.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
As a junior last season, Jayla Griffin led the Cougars in points, rebounds and assists per game en route to the FHSAA Class 3A-Region 2 semifinals.
  • June 2, 2026
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Several residents report checks mailed from the post office in Lakewood Ranch have been stolen and washed.
  • June 2, 2026
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3
Lido Shores Property Owners Association board members, including President Michelle Swartz, Vice President Jon Tilkemeier, Tom Fitzgerald and Jan Farber, joined team members from New Pass Dock & Seawall, including Co-Owner Jonathon Sisler, President and Co-Owner Todd Wagner and Sales Manager Matt Billib, to break ground on a new beachside pavilion to replace one destroyed by the 2024 hurricanes.
  • June 2, 2026
Lido Shores breaks ground rebuilding meeting space
4
Natalie Gutwein is among those leading the charge to create the Siesta Key Beautification Task Force.
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Pianist Michael Stephen Brown will replace Robert Levin as a faculty member at the Sarasota Music Festival and will perform on June 6 at Holley Hall.
  • June 1, 2026
A slimmer Sarasota Music Festival aims to be as satisfying as ever

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