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Your Observer

Fireworks are the highlight of Fireworks on the Lake at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 11, 2024
Lowering the boom on my love of fireworks

The fuse is lit every year on social media regarding the love/hate of fireworks.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The interior of the Kreissle Forge
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 11, 2024
Kreissle Forge is a time capsule of a disappearing craft

The historic Kreissle blacksmith's forge, located near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, provided metalwork for many of the community's landmarks and still has more to offer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The home at home at 1449 Hillview Drive has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,982 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 11, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for June 24-28 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey and Nokomis

A Harbor Acres home on Hillview Drive tops the week's sales at $5.97 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Sarasota's Liam Kinne will play in the U.S. Kids Worlds Championship, held Aug. 1-3 in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 11, 2024
Sarasota junior golfer heads to US Kids World Championship in August

Liam Kinne, 9, also won a Drive, Chip and Putt local qualifier on July 8.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Angela Stephanides teaches a geometry lesson.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 11, 2024
School district optimistic following rise in standardized testing scores

The state of Florida's testing results indicated a 2% rise in third grade English Language Arts scores.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Some homes on Siesta Key are built over several underlying 25-foot-wide lots as platted in the early 19th century.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 11, 2024
Request to combine 'nonconforming lots' on barrier islands denied

Sarasota County Commission approval would have allowed legacy 25-foot-wide lots to be redeveloped contrary to the current density requirements.

  • Sarasota
  • News
LWRBA volunteers Patrick Larivaud, Cooper Hodgson, Ali Marks, Jenna Nelson, Duette Hart and Annemarie Graff work a shift at Meals on Wheels Plus on Oct. 7, 2022.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 10, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance gives back year-round

The nonprofit offers a variety of benefits to assist local businesses and nonprofits.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Lakewood Ranch Library offers more than just books, such as puzzles.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 10, 2024
Observer editor spends a day exploring the Lakewood Ranch Library

The new facility offers opportunities for people of all ages to gather and participate in a variety of activities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Owen Peacock, 9 and Ellie Rodgers, 9, make hot dog buns.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 10, 2024
Kids work together to create tasty dishes at Young Chefs Academy

The company focuses on teaching kids the "joy and value" of cooking.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Riverview High rising senior kicker/punter Nick Delfau.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 10, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Nick Delfau

The Riverview High football rising senior is the Kohl's Kicking No. 38 punter in the class of 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Unite with shared vision that puts kids ahead of politics
  • By Liz Barker
  • July 10, 2024
Unite with shared vision that puts kids ahead of politics

Public schools are the foundation of our democracy. How we respond to vouchers and charter schools is crucial.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Naming our new park: Honoring the legacy of Overtown
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • July 10, 2024
Naming our new park: Honoring the legacy of Overtown

A Rosemary District resident proposes that the park's name should honor the legacy of Overtown.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Neathan Gibson is the director of coaching for the new Premier Soccer FC SWFL in East County.
  • By Dani Hernandez
  • July 10, 2024
Soccer leagues merge to strengthen opportunities

League officials say unified goals will help the Lakewood Ranch area's youth soccer players.

  • East County
  • Sports
Mahjong at The Paradise Center
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 10, 2024
Mahjong at The Paradise Center improves cognitive skills, builds community

Carol Peschel mastered the art of mahjong and now breaks down the challenging game for Longboaters.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Unit 303 condominium at 4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for $6 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 10, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for June 24-28 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in Sage LBK tops the week's sales at $6 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
A rendering of an expanded Payne Park Auditorium designed by Fleischman Garcia Maslowski architects.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 10, 2024
Opposition grows along with theater's plans for Payne Park Auditorium

Revised lease terms for Payne Park Auditorium are on the table for the Sarasota City Commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City development standards manual receives first update in 22 years
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 10, 2024
City development standards manual receives first update in 22 years

Design and development standard have evolved, but the city of Sarasota's manual hasn't been updated since 2002.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Emilia Kalev reads to Olive, a pug, during the Read with the Dogs program at Gulf Gate Library.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 10, 2024
Libraries shift focus from physical collections to community hubs

With a public library branch headed to Longboat Key, Sarasota County staff highlight the ways in which libraries have evolved to offer a full suite of resources and events.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Construction projects, like the St. Regis development, would likely need many inspections from the town planning and zoning department throughout the course of building.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 10, 2024
Longboat Key seeks interlocal agreement to share planning staff in emergencies

The town’s P&Z department asked to become part of an existing pact with neighboring municipalities to share staff in times of need.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota's Mary Tucker is an advocate for athletes talking about their mental health struggles.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 10, 2024
Sarasota rifle shooter seeks gold in Paris

Mary Tucker will compete in two events at the 2024 Paris Olympics this month.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Republicans killing their own; ‘go negative to win’
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 10, 2024
Republicans killing their own; ‘go negative to win’

You know the saying: All is fair in love, war and politics.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Observer recommends
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 10, 2024
Observer recommends

The common refrain and complaint you here about all county commission candidates is this: “The greedy developers control them.”

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Woman caught skinny-dipping in homeowner's pool
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 9, 2024
Woman caught skinny-dipping in homeowner's pool

Claiming to be with the CIA, a nude woman is removed from a homeowner's pool on St. Armands. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Braden River High rising senior quarterback Lucas Despot received his first offer from Shorter University on June 25.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 9, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Lucas Despot

The Braden River High quarterback received his first offer from Shorter University on June 25.

  • East County
  • Sports
A protective liner has been installed on top of the south Phosphogypsum stacks at Piney Point. It includes a new stormwater control system, and soil cover and grass to reduce the chance of soil erosion.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • July 9, 2024
Environmentalists, state of Florida settle Piney Point lawsuit

The agreement adds pollution controls and funds for water quality monitoring.

  • East County
  • News
City, county and Sarasota Housing Authority officials snip the ceremonial ribbon to open the SHA's 84-unit Cypress Square apartments.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 9, 2024
Housing Authority opens 84 affordable housing apartments

The new Cypress Square is the SHA's ninth public and low-income housing redevelopment in the past 16 years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Parrish's Heather Felton is running for the District 1 seat on the School Board of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 9, 2024
Desire to be an advocate inspires Manatee school board candidate

Heather Felton, a former teacher, wants to continue to help students but in a new role.

  • East County
  • Schools
Donald Edwin Swanson 1932-2024
    In Memoriam |
  • July 9, 2024
Donald Edwin Swanson

Donald Edwin Swanson, 92, of Bristol, Wisconsin, formerly of Longboat Key, passed away peacefully in his home July 5, 2024, surrounded by his family. 1932-2024

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Sarasota Yacht Club plans to build a three-story addition as part of its expansion plans.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 9, 2024
Sarasota Yacht Club presents expansion plans to the city

A three-story, free-standing structure is proposed to meet growing membership demands.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This Lake Club home at 8525 Pavia Way sold for $2.76 million. It has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,558 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 9, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for June 24-28 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Pavia Way tops the week's sales at $2.76 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
East County's Mark Stanoch is running for the District 1 seat of the School Board of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 9, 2024
Resident wants to give back to the community through school board seat

Mark Stanoch says serving on the Manatee County School Board will be an opportunity to make the district better for his grandchildren and all children.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Hashtag Cafe opened 18 months ago and recently expanded to add a yarn business.
  • By Emily Leinfuss
  • July 9, 2024
Sarasota coffee shop doubles in size, adds yarn business

A family of German immigrants musters up a rare match by opening a yarn store inside their European-style cafe.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Reported residential break-in determined to be a dream
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 9, 2024
Reported residential break-in determined to be a dream

A resident called to report there was an intruder in her house, but told responding officers it must have been a dream. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Photograph of the pipe lying on its side at the Town of Longboat Key's Public Works Department. The breach was in the bottom invert of the pipe.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 9, 2024
To tackle urgent infrastructure projects, Longboat faces $27M debt

Due to rising project costs, two necessary utility projects come with a price tag of almost $40 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A patron of iSmash stands atop a used car during a smash therapy session.
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • July 9, 2024
'Smash therapy' company plans Sarasota location

Franchisees plan to bring four new iSmash locations to Southwest Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
William Michael O’Neil III (1935-2024)
    In Memoriam |
  • July 8, 2024
William Michael O’Neil III

William Michael O’Neil III, age 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Sarasota, Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
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