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Your Observer

A green sea turtle hatchling makes its way to the Gulf.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 23, 2024
What to know as turtle nesting season approaches

Sea turtle nesting season officially begins on May 1, but nests may start appearing earlier.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jamie Warrington, the director of transportation for the School District of Manatee County, says he and his staff are thinking of out-of-the-box ways to address transportation challenges.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 23, 2024
Manatee School District faces major transportation challenges

Population spike, driver shortage and a wide geographical coverage area are among the top problems facing Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Schools
This Country Club home at 6919 Belmont Court sold for $2 million. It has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,159 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 23, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for April 8-12 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club home on Belmont Court tops the week's sales at $2 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Why do we need a new library?
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 23, 2024
Why do we need a new library?

A Longboat Key reader asks whether the island needs a county-run library.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch Prep finished its first baseball season 4-10, but Head Coach Alex McDuffie said the Eagles learned a lot about what it takes to be a team.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 23, 2024
New Lakewood Ranch Prep baseball program starts with the small details

For the meantime, the pitch is for the players to learn responsibility to their teammates.

  • East County
  • Sports
Woman calls police to investigate suspicious poo in pool
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 23, 2024
Woman calls police to investigate suspicious poo in pool

A Longboat Key officer investigated the feces, which turned out not to be from criminal activity. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Eight of nine newly minted officers of the Sarasota Police Department with Police Chief Rex Troche and guest speaker Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 23, 2024
Sarasota Police Department welcomes nine new officers

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody tells new recruits, "It takes a very special person to answer the call."

  • Sarasota
  • News
Fellow commissioners attend James Satcher's swearing in as the new Supervisor of Elections. From left to right: Amanda Ballard, Jason Bearden, Judge Gilbert A. Smith Jr., James Satcher, Mike Rahn and Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 23, 2024
Major shift in Manatee County election personnel causes concern

With a presidential election looming, the Supervisor of Elections office ushers in a new administration.

  • East County
  • News
A black-crowned night heron in the Plymouth Harbor rookery.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 23, 2024
Plymouth Harbor unveils $1.65 million bird rookery preservation project

Residents, staff and board members cut the ribbon on Earth Day for the revitalized bird rookery and peninsula at Plymouth Harbor.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Richard Tatem was elected to the School Board of Manatee County in August 2022.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 22, 2024
Manatee School Board member vies for Florida House seat

Richard Tatem will resign from the School Board of Manatee County to pursue the District 72 Florida House seat.

  • East County
  • News
Carl Monticelli, Angelo Monticelli, Gabriele Salvatori, Kim Verreault, Lois Hefflefinger and Brian Harmon
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 22, 2024
Longboat Key Chamber promotes Tuscany trip with a wine tasting

Gabriele Salvatori traveled from his winery in San Gimignano to provide an authentic wine-tasting experience to Longboaters considering traveling to Italy.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 22, 2024
FAA document specifies airport land sale objections

The agency said valuation comparables and planned land use run contrary to the grant assurances required of civil aviation operations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ed Kolodzieski of Longboat Key company Ultra-Marine enjoyed showcasing what he said are the first Zodiac Nomads, a lightweight boat with an electric motor, in the United States.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 22, 2024
Boat enthusiasts gather at Suncoast Boat Show

Promoted as the Gulf Coast’s premier boat show, the event features a wide selection of boats both on land and in the water.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alessandro Di Ferdinando, Antonio Mancini and Giancarlo Di Cosmo
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 22, 2024
New Italian restaurant opens on St. Armands Circle

The highly anticipated Italian restaurant, 15 South By Napulè, will be the best of both worlds with an intimate restaurant downstairs and a lively bar and dance floor upstairs.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Tim Widing gives the LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy a kiss. Widing won the tournament in a two-hole playoff against Patrick Cover and Steven Fisk.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 21, 2024
Tim Widing wins 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic

Widing outlasted Patrick Cover and Steven Fisk to get the win at Lakewood National Golf Club.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sheila Frayne, Mary Schultz and Gail Gallagher
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 21, 2024
Longboat Island Chapel sends off snowbirds

The church hosted its annual end-of-season party as many members head back home after spending months on Longboat with longtime friends and attending numerous events.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Asher Ripley, 6, assembles plants to create a sun print at Suncoast Waterkeeper.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 21, 2024
Earth Day at The Bay unites community in support of the environment

The event featured Suncoast Remake Learning Days activities hosted by nonprofits from across Sarasota, a tree giveaway by the city of Sarasota and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kids cool down at the spash pad during the grand opening celebration of Waterside Park on April 20.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 20, 2024
Waterside Park of Lakewood Ranch celebrates grand opening

New amenities to the park include a playground and a splash pad.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Danny Walker hits his tee shot on the No. 18 hole at Lakewood National Golf Club on day three of the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic. Walker, a Lakewood Ranch High graduate, shot eight under par Saturday and is 13 under par for the tournament.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 20, 2024
Leaderboard takes shape heading into final day of LECOM Suncoast Classic

Patrick Cover leads at 18 under par, and a Lakewood Ranch High alumnus is in the top 10.

  • East County
  • Sports
The yellow outline shows the proposed site for the Villas at Elwood Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 20, 2024
Another Elwood Park development effort stalls

Eastwind Development attorney asks for continuance to consider more revisions to the villa project.

  • East County
  • News
Elena Bubnova and her daughter, second-grader Milana Bubnova, help Meily Fernandez perform a science experiment at the table of Sarasota High School's MaST Research Institute.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 20, 2024
Southside Elementary offers a showcase spanning educational fields at STEAM Night

The event brought together science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics in an exhibition for the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
At their April 17 meeting, barrier island mayors discussed how they might collaborate to better enforce regulations preventing illegal trimming or removal of mangroves, like the one that occurred on Longboat in 2023.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 20, 2024
Barrier island officials discuss mangrove delegation, infrastructure

Mayors from Longboat Key, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach met on Longboat to address common issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Anticoagulant poisons in bait traps threaten native rodent hunters, like barred owls, who help keep pests in check.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • April 20, 2024
Birds of prey help control rodent populations

Widespread use of anticoagulant rodenticides is a growing threat for Florida's raptors.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Miles Russell hits his tee shot on the No. 1 hole at Lakewood National Golf Club during round two of the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 19, 2024
Scores stay tight on day two of LECOM Suncoast Classic

Brandon Crick is the leader at 14 under par, with Morgan Hoffmann in second at 13 under par.

  • East County
  • Sports
First grader Anna Lum blows a ball through a maze at the wind powered maze activity.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 19, 2024
McNeal Elementary hosts STEAM Night

Students participate in a variety of STEAM activities from coding to an art project and more.

  • East County
  • Schools
Demolition is underway at the former Sweet Tomatoes site on Tamiami Trail.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • April 19, 2024
Demolition of Sarasota restaurant makes way for new development

Heavy machinery tore down the former location of Sweet Tomatoes, near The Landings Shopping Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jamie Lovemark watches his tee shot on the No. 10 hole at Lakewood National Golf Club during the first round of the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic. Lovemark shot four under par for the round.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 18, 2024
Golfers go low on first day of LECOM Suncoast Classic

Mason Andersen is in sole possession of first place after shooting 62 at Lakewood National Golf Club.

  • East County
  • Sports
St. Armands Circle will soon have a new Italian restaurant concept, 15 South by Napulè, located at 15 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, which was most recently the home of St. Armands Oyster Bar.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • April 18, 2024
New Italian eatery opens this month on St. Armands

The owner of Napulè is opening an Italian restaurant called 15 South by Napulè.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Erendira and Nik Wallenda present a check Wednesday for more than $100,000 to Nate's Honor President Rob Oglesby to go toward the rescue's $14 million improvement program.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 18, 2024
High-wire artist presents Nate's Honor Animal Rescue with sky-high check

Nik Wallenda's "A Brave New Wonderland" show generates $108,377 toward Nate's improvements.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Gill Ruderman, of Braden River VFW Post 12055, enjoys his ride as the 2023 Tribute to Heroes Parade grand marshal.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 18, 2024
It's a steady march toward another parade in Lakewood Ranch

Entries begin to line up for 2024 Tribute to Heroes Parade.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Munchies 420 Cafe has gotten a facelift and the new owners are vowing to continue the Gulf Gate landmark's traditions.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • April 18, 2024
Munchies 420 Cafe receives facelift under new ownership

The landmark Gulf Gate restaurant's grand reopening is scheduled for 4/20.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
    A time to celebrate |
  • April 18, 2024
Kelly Arbuckle Platt and Lynn W. Platt

Longtime Sarasota residents, Kelly Arbuckle Platt and Lynn W. Platt celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 6, 2024 with family and friends.

  • Sarasota
  • Celebrations
Lo' Key Island Grille is expected to wrap up construction this summer and open its doors in October.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 18, 2024
Casual restaurant to open on Longboat Key in October

Lo’ Key Island Grille will emphasize a laid-back atmosphere with a sizable outdoor space while serving fresh seafood.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Chris Jericho meets Jake Harris, 4, and Christopher Harris, 9.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 18, 2024
Wrestler Chris Jericho visits Booker High to inspire students

The wrestler and comic book author visited the school to encourage students — including those working on the digital art for his new graphic novel.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The Unit 1403 condominium at 401 Quay Commons has four bedrooms, five baths and 4,818 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 18, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for April 1-5 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Quay Commons condominium in Block 6 tops the week's sales at $9.3 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Chris Udermann captured pictures of flooding in the Village following a weather event in April 2024.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 18, 2024
Commissioners discuss allocating funds to tackle floods in low-lying areas

Roughly $2.6 million could be moved toward flooding mitigation projects and may soon be a topic of consideration for the Longboat Key Town Commission.

  • 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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