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Your Observer

GreyHawk Landing's Raymond Turner took over as District 5 commissioner on Aug. 1, 2023
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 7, 2024
Ray Turner says District 5 will get a long-term plan and transparency from him

The Manatee commissioner, who is running for reelection, stresses the county must "get ahead of the growth."

  • East County
  • News
Neirda Thompson-Pemberton wants to make education fun.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 7, 2024
Lakewood Ranch nonprofit tricks kids into liking math

FUNducation practices "educational espionage" with Legos and robots.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The home at 614 Owl Way has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,366 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 7, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for July 22-26 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Bird Key home on Owl Way tops the week's sales at $2.4 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Lakewood Ranch High junior girls swimmer Payton Griffin.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 7, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Payton Griffin

The Lakewood Ranch High junior girls swimmer wants to reach the podium at the state meet this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Commissioner-At-Large BJ Bishop and Scott Dudley with the Florida League of Cities Advocacy Committee.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 7, 2024
Commissioner Bishop takes on new committee for Florida League of Cities

This will be Bishop’s first year on the Resolutions Committee, which sets the FLC’s legislative priorities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
If rescued turtles need rehabilitation, they may end up at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 7, 2024
Rescues, rehab and forensics aid Mote’s research on local species

Information gathered from rescue calls, necropsies and bone research can help to tell stories of local species.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota High boys team and the Riverview High girls team repeated as state swimming champions in November — Sarasota for the fourth-straight time and Riverview for the third-straight time.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 7, 2024
The season ahead for swimming, golf and cross-country preps

The state title defense of boys and girls swimming champions headline the fall slate.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Enough of the smearing
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 7, 2024
Enough of the smearing

Dishonest tactics and dirty falsehoods disgust voters. One Manatee candidate decided not to take it anymore.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Water made the road nearly impossible around the 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 6, 2024
Hurricane Debby brought unexpected amounts of water to LBK

The storm left many parts of Longboat Key flooded, and water damage was the main issue seen by the town's damage assessment team.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Summerfield Bluffs 13-year-old Leah Abrams looks over her destroyed yearbooks as her family works to clean up their home after it was flooded. "All of my yearbooks are ruined," she says.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer, Liz Ramos
  • August 6, 2024
Manatee County calls Hurricane Debby a 100-year storm

Some spots in Manatee County, including Lakewood Ranch, received as many as 18 inches of rain in a two-day period.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • August 6, 2024
SRQ adds flight to Philadelphia-Delaware

Avelo Airlines is adding a seasonal route between Sarasota-Bradenton and the Delaware Valley.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Firefighters responded to a fire Aug. 5 aboard a 65-foot yacht at the Longboat Key Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2024
Yacht sinks after fire at Longboat Key Club

Lithium batteries may have caused all-night blaze, officials say.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A sign in the north-end Village warns drivers of high water after Hurricane Debby passed Longboat Key.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 6, 2024
See the impact of Hurricane Debby around Longboat Key

Although it didn't experience a direct hit from the storm, Longboat Key still saw flooding, rainfall and heavy winds.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County offices will remain closed through Tuesday
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2024
Sarasota County offices will remain closed through Tuesday

Breeze transit services are resuming on a limited basis.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This Lake Club home at 16216 Clearlake Ave. sold for $2.6 million. It has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,879 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 6, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for July 22-26 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Clearlake Avenue tops the week's sales at $2.6 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Police respond to guest angry that resort doesn’t sell cigarettes
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 6, 2024
Police respond to guest angry that resort doesn’t sell cigarettes

A guest at a local resort caused a scene after being upset that the resort didn’t have cigarettes for sale. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
George Kruse is running for re-election in District 7. The Kruse family from left to right: Alexander, Olivia, Jessica and George.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 6, 2024
Manatee Commissioner George Kruse goes grassroots for reelection

Kruse is running for reelection to the at-large District 7 seat.

  • East County
  • News
Senior Frankie Clark, senior Carson Fisher, junior Allen Clark and senior Marvin Palominos are expected to be major contributors for ODA football in 2024.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 6, 2024
ODA football chases another state title

The Thunder have made changes during the offseason, but the program's ethos remains the same.

  • East County
  • Sports
The original Superman lunch boxes by Adco debuted in 1954.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 6, 2024
Sarasota Toy Museum debuts Aug. 8 with thousands of vintage exhibits

Owner Richard Pierson has assembled toys representing more than 200 years of playtime history.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Department breakdowns include details like expenditures by type, like these for Public Works.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 6, 2024
Town launches first digital platform for in-depth budget exploration

The Digital Budget Book allows citizens to see more details about the town’s budget, departments and demographics.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mike Rusnak
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 6, 2024
UPS Store on Longboat Key makes house calls and ships cars

Owner Mike Rusnak shares the unique items he sees while assisting Longboaters with shipping.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
After Hurricane Debby hit the area Aug. 5, 2024, an East Manatee Fire Rescue worker paddles toward a flooded home on Quonset Road along the Braden River to rescue the occupant.
    By
  • Jay Heater, Lesley Dwyer, Liz Ramos
  • August 5, 2024
Hurricane Debby causes major flooding in Lakewood Ranch area

Nolan Middle School remains open as a shelter as almost 100 roads in Manatee County close due to flooding.

  • East County
  • News
General Harris Street by Christ Church of Longboat Key after Hurricane Debby at high tide around 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 5.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 5, 2024
Hurricane Debby brings flooding, travel disruptions to Longboat Key

After expecting a normal rainy weekend in Florida, residents were taken aback by the aftermath of the tropical storm-turned-hurricane.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County opens evacuation shelter Monday afternoon
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2024
Sarasota County opens evacuation shelter Monday afternoon

Many Sarasota County government services will resume Tuesday and Wednesday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The osprey takes flight at Bayfront Park after a month of rehab at Save Our Seabirds.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 5, 2024
Save Our Seabirds releases rehabbed osprey at Bayfront Park

After about a month of rehabilitative care at Save Our Seabirds, an osprey was released at Bayfront Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Main Street in downtown Sarasota was nearly empty at 10 a.m. on Monday after Tropical Storm Debby dumped a foot of rain in some areas of Sarasota County.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • August 5, 2024
Sarasota, St. Armands drying out after Debby's deluge

Most shops are slow to open after a weekend of heavy rain and wind.

  • Sarasota
  • News
See Hurricane Debby's impacts around Sarasota
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2024
See Hurricane Debby's impacts around Sarasota

Severe flooding conditions exist on roads in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A car drives through floodwaters on Longboat Key on Sunday.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2024
Hurricane Debby floods areas of Longboat Key

More rain is forecast for Monday and a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The ponds are home to a few species of turtles including soft-shell turtles and alligator snapping turtles.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 5, 2024
Manatee County to preserve key Myakka property

The 105 acres will open to the public in about a year as the Triple Oak Preserve.

  • East County
  • News
City of Sarasota declares state of emergency
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2024
City of Sarasota declares state of emergency

The declaration provides the city with more flexibility regarding expenditures and resource allocations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High boys golfer Parker Severs finished second individually at the Class 3A state tournament in 2023.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 5, 2024
East County's nonfootball fall high school sports outlook

The area should have at least one state title-contending program.

  • East County
  • Sports
Suspect arrested for Saturday homicide at Ringling Causeway
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2024
Suspect arrested for Saturday homicide at Ringling Causeway

Richard Minor, 66, is being held without bond following a shooting death at Hart's Landing.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Golf Society is not finished yet, but this photo offers an idea of what a suite will look like.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 5, 2024
Members-only golf lounge to open in Lakewood Ranch

The Golf Society is planning to open in August on Solutions Lane.

  • East County
  • Business
Petar Sibinkic remembers his love for the sport after kayaking for the first time in months.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 4, 2024
Former Olympian helps Longboaters reach peak fitness

Personal Trainer Petar Sibinkic was a two-time Olympian and explains how he uses his experience to better clients’ health.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Flooding near Banana Court and Gulfstream Avenue on Sunday
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 4, 2024
Tropical weather floods roads in Sarasota, Manatee counties

Sarasota County urges residents to stay off roads and remain inside due to Hurricane Debby.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2024
Manatee County portion of Longboat Key ‘encouraged’ to evacuate

Flooding in low-lying and flood-prone areas can be expected due to storm's rainfall.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Squeaky Wheel Fringe runs June 2-7.
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This Country Club Village home at 13318 Palmers Creek Terrace sold for $3.2 million. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, six baths, a pool and 5,874 square feet of living area.
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