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Your Observer

Otis is a friendly face around Lakewood Ranch High's barn.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 6, 2024
Junior Ranchers program at Lakewood Ranch High helps students grow love for agriculture

The summer camp leaves kids wanting to learn more about agriculture.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Allan Knight will take over the Cardinal Mooney High indoor volleyball program. Knight has won two FHSAA state titles in his coaching career, which has spanned more than 25 years.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 6, 2024
New Cardinal Mooney volleyball coach brings state title experience

Allan Knight has won state titles at Bishop Moore Catholic and Timber Creek High.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Riverview High's DJ Johnson ran for 1,660 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 6, 2024
FHSAA board approves NIL bylaws for high school athletes

Florida becomes the 36th state, plus Washington, D.C., to approve such bylaws.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
  • By Azure Siesta Key
  • June 5, 2024
A New Era of Luxury Living Begins on Siesta Key’s Pristine Shores

Conceptualized nearly a decade ago by Ed Eible of Architura, Azure residences will feature three exclusive units.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The fencing along the Tribute to Heroes Parade route did seem too constrictive.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 5, 2024
Kudos to Lakewood Ranch for another stirring parade

Veterans and first responders share the spotlight during the annual event

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 5, 2024
Sarasota School Board sets vision for next 6 years, addresses VPK cost gap

The strategic plan prioritizes early childhood education and literacy.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Girlfriend of Battie murder suspect pleads not guilty to helping dispose of gun
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • June 5, 2024
Girlfriend of Battie murder suspect pleads not guilty to helping dispose of gun

Nicole Roberts is charged with being a principal to second-degree murder with a firearm and is due in court June 7.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 5, 2024
On D-Day, the Allies had the will, leadership to win

Let history inform our current commitments to conflict, and peace.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Fireworks light up Sarasota Bay at Suncoast Charities for Children’s 2023 Fourth of July celebration.
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • June 5, 2024
Help needed to keep annual July Fourth bayfront fireworks display popping

Suncoast Charities for Children seeks community support to continue the annual bayfront Fourth of July Fireworks display. It’s time to rocket up the fundraising.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The new long-range plan for Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport shows a new parking deck over the current short-term parking along with a new arrivals road, separating it from the departures traffic.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 5, 2024
Airport has more than enough land to expand, says CEO

A planned new parking deck, more surface lots and acreage across the airfield mean the airport can afford to part with New College site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Paul Lotierzo and Jason Champion
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 5, 2024
Project Pride offers new gathering place for LGBTQ+ community

The organization recently established a new headquarters and hired its first executive director.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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
  • June 5, 2024
New elections supervisor secures 26% budget hike mid-year

The office received an $841,340 increase for the last four months of the fiscal year.

  • East County
  • News
Laurel Phillips and Jeffrey Vaughn, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 525 Norton St. to Christopher Baker and Tori Baker, trustees, of Wesley Chapel, for $2.5 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 5, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for May 20-24 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home in Sleepy Lagoon Park tops the week's sales at $2.5 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
A May 2024 rendering of the Sarasota County library on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 5, 2024
Next up for Longboat Key public library? Fundraising

An early estimate for the core library is $11.1 million. Longboat needs private donors to make $3.5 million in enhancements possible.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Police respond twice to a skirmish over a bicycle
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 5, 2024
Police respond twice to a skirmish over a bicycle

Officers encounter an embattled couple two times in one night in a dispute over ownership of a bike. This and other tales from the files of the SPD in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
An overhead rendering of affordable housing community New Trail Plaza.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 5, 2024
New affordable housing underway on the North Trail

Blue Sky Communities and CASL break ground on a new 96-unit affordable and attainable housing development on former Sarasota County property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sharon Meier and Mimi Dolan
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • June 5, 2024
Longboat natives share what it was like to grow up on the Key

Sharon Meier and her sister Mimi Dolan recreated a photo of them growing up on the island taken 50 years ago.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee has received a cornerstone gift from Larry Greenspon that will be used for the redevelopment of its 32-acre campus on McIntosh Road in Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 4, 2024
Philanthropist donates $3.5M to Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

Larry Greenspon's second major donation will help complete a recreational sports complex.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 4, 2024
Jewfish Key property owners retract de-annexation petition before public hearing

The Jewfish Key Preservation Association’s petition retraction canceled the hearing set for June 3, in which town commissioners would have accepted or denied the de-annexation.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This Esplanade home at 13819 Palazzo Terrace sold for $1.8 million. It has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,665 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 4, 2024
Lake Club home tops Lakewood Ranch-area sales at $2.56 million

Seven East County homes sell for more than $1 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
A rendering of One Park West.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 4, 2024
Plans revealed for the final Quay development

One Park West will offer The Quay lifestyle at a lower price point, with units 'starting in the $1 millions.'

  • Sarasota
  • News
Wendell Butler
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 4, 2024
Braden River High to welcome new principal

Wendell Butler wants to create the opportunity for students to become the best version of themselves.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 4, 2024
Woman calls for police assistance to back out of parking spot

A resident called the Longboat Key Police Department to help her back a pickup truck out of a parking spot. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
A rendering shows the interior layout of Project 24 Climbing. Designs are currently being finalized.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 4, 2024
Climbing gym will take Sarasota vertical in 2025

Project 24 Climbing is expected to break ground in August and open in spring 2025, becoming Sarasota's only climbing gym.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Inner Compass Brewing Company opens in Lakewood Ranch on June 5.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 4, 2024
Inner Compass Brewing Co. opens in Lakewood Ranch

The brewery features 30 craft beers on tap, and all are brewed in Florida.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A rendering of the St. Regis Longboat Key, set to open this summer.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 3, 2024
St. Regis tackles task of hiring 400 employees before resort's summer opening

As The St. Regis Longboat Key looks toward its opening, its managerial staff is holding a job fair to hire the hundreds of workers it will need.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Maggie Poppoon, 6, a visitor from Texas, examines stone items at the market.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 3, 2024
Visitors enjoy locally made items and the outdoors at farmers market

The market offered a wide range of items, including jewelry, crafts and foods.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Parrish Community High softball team (20-8) celebrates a FHSAA Class 5A title game win, 3-2 over Gainesville High (24-5), on May 24. It is the team's second-straight state title and was aided by six East County players.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 3, 2024
Dodgeball day key to Parrish Community High's softball state title

The Bulls (20-8) won the FHSAA Class 5A title game 3-2 over Gainesville High (24-5) on May 24.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Oasis Gospel Justice Center team celebrates the opening of the legal aid service at Oasis Church.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 3, 2024
Oasis Church opens justice center in Lakewood Ranch

The Oasis Gospel Justice Center provides legal aid to anyone once per month.

  • East County
  • News
The Artists Court apartments at South Washington Boulevard and Adams Lane will include 26 attainable units thanks to the city's bonus density and other incentives.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 3, 2024
Sarasota wins Local Action Award from Florida League of Cities

The award recognizes the city's effort to bring about affordable and attainable housing through bonus density incentives.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarah Brown, deputy director of Community and Veterans Services, is the former Animal Welfare division chief.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 3, 2024
Palmetto animal shelter to close as county plans resource center

Manatee County will move dogs at the Palmetto Dog Adoption Center into the Bishop Animal Shelter and open a new resource center that aims to help prevent pets from being surrendered to shelters.

  • East County
  • News
From left, The Exchange Secretary Anne Johnson, CEO Karen Koblenz and President Chris Gallagher at the organization's arts and cultural awards ceremony in 2023.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 2, 2024
The Exchange awards $404,000 in grants

Formerly Women's Exchange, the organization annually awards funds to regional arts groups with revenues from its consignment operations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Long Range Transportation Plan Project Manager William Roll speaks to attendees at the Phase 1 Visioning workshop.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 2, 2024
MPO seeks public input to shape 2050 transportation priorities

Shrinking funds and higher costs mean closer scrutiny in developing the long-range transportation plan update for the Sarasota-Manatee region.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The traditional turkey dinner at the Lazy Lobster
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • June 2, 2024
Lazy Lobster celebrates Thanksgiving in June with food drive

With every turkey dinner, the restaurant will be collecting non-perishable foods to donate to area pantries.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Heather Kasten is President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 1, 2024
Sarasota Chamber a finalist for Chamber of the Year

The winners in four categories grouped by organization size will be announced July 17.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The exterior of the Ohana estate at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive, photographed in 2013.
    By
  • James Peter
  • May 31, 2024
$19.75M Ohana sale sets new record for Longboat Key

The home breaks the record for Manatee County as well. The estate features three pavilions, a tennis court and two elevators.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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