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Your Observer

Dominic and Elizabeth Zaccone sold their home at 541 Harbor Point Road to Pierre McCormick, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $7,712,800.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 17, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 1-5 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Bay Isles home on Harbor Point Road tops the week's sales at $7.7 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Six pickleball courts opened at UMR Sports in early 2022.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 17, 2024
Athletic academy plans expansion into all-encompassing sports complex

UMR Sports will add baseball and softball fields, mini golf and a multipurpose field for soccer, football and lacrosse to its campus in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Myakka Rancher Jim Strickland says Florida residents have to think about what the future of the state will look like so they can make proper decisions today.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 17, 2024
Rancher says Manatee County faces key conservation decisions

Myakka's Jim Strickland says Florida is headed toward ecological disaster if the public doesn't deal with important issues now.

  • East County
  • News
Vacant Longboat commission seat draws 6 applicants
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 17, 2024
Vacant Longboat commission seat draws 6 applicants

Longboat Key commissioners have several choices to choose from when appointing a new commissioner on Jan. 22.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Population growth spawns prosperity. Development comes with it.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 17, 2024
Population growth spawns prosperity. Development comes with it.

Anyone who lives in Florida, full or part time, and thinks they have the right to keep others from having what you have is delusional. Don’t like it? Go back to New Jersey.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Selby Gardens: A vision comes to life; a shinier gem
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 17, 2024
Selby Gardens: A vision comes to life; a shinier gem

The opening last week of the first phase of the Gardens’ $92 million master plan was a monumental culmination.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Water taxi for Whitney? No way
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 17, 2024
Water taxi for Whitney? No way

While a water taxi sounds like a good idea, by our way of thinking if it were such a good idea, typically the private sector would fill the need.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Vaccine deaths higher than COVID deaths, entrepreneur and author say
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 17, 2024
Vaccine deaths higher than COVID deaths, entrepreneur and author say

Here are shocking statements of late, from Steve Kirsch and Bret Weinstein, both early dissenters to the COVID vaccines.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Authorities speak to guests outside the Zota Beach Resort on Aug. 4, 2017, after a double homicide took place at the resort.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 16, 2024
Second suspect arrested for 2017 Longboat murders at Zota resort

Detectives took 34-year-old Latoya Hanna into custody on Jan. 12 on a felony murder charge.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High senior Evan Bolick committed to Ave Maria University.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 16, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Evan Bolick

The Lakewood Ranch High senior defensive end committed to Ave Maria University on Jan. 14.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota County's OnDemand service debuted in 2021.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 16, 2024
Islandwide OnDemand ride-share service to begin this month

The new transit system extends Sarasota County’s Breeze OnDemand service to include Manatee County portion of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mirabai Holland
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 16, 2024
Health coach offers holistic wellness education on Longboat

Mirabai Holland's Lose-to-Win program teaches participants how to balance diet, stress, exercise and sleep.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Braden River High Pirates celebrate after a goal against Lakewood Ranch High. The Pirates beat the Mustangs 1-0 for the first time since 2015.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 16, 2024
Braden River High boys soccer takes the next step

The senior-laden Pirates are 11-1-1 in 2023-2024.

  • East County
  • Sports
This home at 7973 Grande Shores Dr., in Waterside sold for $1,432,500. It has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,486 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 16, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 1-5 in Lakewood Ranch

A Riverdale Revised home on Regatta Way tops the week's sales at $4.53 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Man jumping from bushes raises officer’s suspicions
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 16, 2024
Man jumping from bushes raises officer’s suspicions

The man, an overnight truck driver, said he just likes going to the beach at night. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Finishing touches are being applied to the pirate ship-themed playground at Bayfront Park.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 16, 2024
Bayfront Park playground, splash pad to reopen Feb. 1

The $3.22 million project includes a new pirate-themed playground and splash pad at the Sarasota park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 16, 2024
Studies examine SR 64 widening, White Eagle speed limits

With area growth, the subject is whether to widen State Road 64 to four lanes from Lorraine Road to Verna Bethany.

  • East County
  • News
Former Sarasota chamber CEO to run for hospital board seat
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 16, 2024
Former Sarasota chamber CEO to run for hospital board seat

A well-known advocate for businesses and nonprofits in Sarasota has filed to run for the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Greysun Gross-Hendel tests the power of the water hose.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 16, 2024
Families tour new Longboat Key Fire Rescue facility

A Longboat parents group spent the morning at Fire Station 92 for a hands-on learning experience.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Ozzy Pirner, 2, discovers the wonders of snow in Florida.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 15, 2024
Sarasota sees snow day at First Sarasota Baptist Church

More than 20,000 pounds of fresh "snow" gave local children a chance to build snowmen and toss snowballs.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Booker High School cheerleaders bring their enthusiasm to the walk.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 15, 2024
Celebrations span Sarasota for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The day’s events included the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast and Community Awards, the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Walk and Celebration, and MLK Music Fest.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Roseate spoonbills feed by wading in shallow water and sweeping their unique bill from side to side. Spoonbills are very sensitive to shifts in water depth.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • January 15, 2024
Myakka bird count shows park's avian habitat importance

A citizen science event tallied 14,386 individual birds on one day in Myakka River State Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Harbour Yacht Club preps boaters for emergencies
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 15, 2024
Longboat Harbour Yacht Club preps boaters for emergencies

New club commodores partner with the Coast Guard to teach residents what to do when disaster strikes on the water.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Roger Kabler as Robin Williams
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 15, 2024
Robin Williams impersonator shares his story at TBI comedy show

Longboaters enjoyed a night of laughter and nostalgia at the synagogue during "The Ultimate Robin Williams Tribute Experience."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
One option for the intersection of Shade Avenue and Novus Street is traffic separators and raised crosswalks.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 15, 2024
Resident input sought on Shade Avenue, Novus Street intersection

Sarasota city staff wants the public's thoughts on a complete street project at Shade Avenue and Novus Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The long-awaited 22-classroom addition at Lakewood Ranch High School is open for students and teachers.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 15, 2024
Lakewood Ranch High welcomes students back with new building

After years of waiting, the 22-classroom addition is open to students and teachers.

  • East County
  • Schools
Will affordable housing policy encourage 'concrete canyons'?
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 15, 2024
Will affordable housing policy encourage 'concrete canyons'?

Sarasota Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch worries that the city's proposed incentives might bring about unintended consequences.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Whitney Plaza Community Center would be located at 6810 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 15, 2024
Lease and funding in place for Whitney Plaza Community Center

Classes and course offerings at the center are still to be determined at the Longboat Key center.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Rose Burns places second, Cindy Jackson placed first and Marissa Stephenson places third in the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association's chili cook-off.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 14, 2024
Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association hosts chili cook-off

Participants put their own twist on chili recipes.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden River Library is one of seven locations in the Manatee County Public Library System.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 14, 2024
Manatee County severs ties with American Library Association

The commission voted to end the county's membership and barred staff from attending conferences of the national library organization.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High School sophomore Camryn Shear has her steer hold its head up with pride during the auction.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2024
Students flourish at Manatee County Fair steer shows

The annual steer show highlights action at the fair on Jan. 13.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This Lake Club home at 15420 Anchorage Place closed this week for $6.3 million.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 13, 2024
Lake Club home sells for $6.3 million

The previous owners of the Lakewood Ranch home loved the area so much that they purchased another home in The Lake Club.

  • East County
  • News
Kettle of Fish performed at Savor the Sounds on Feb. 19, 2022.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 13, 2024
Savor the Sounds brings fresh lineup to 2024 season

Longboat Key's outdoor concert series kicks off Jan. 27 at the Karon Family Pavilion.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Among the proposed changes to the city's parking program is metered spaces on Ben Franklin Drive along Lido Beach. Those spaces are currently free of charge.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 13, 2024
Free Lido Beach parking spaces under debate in city proposal

City commissioners Jen Ahearn-Koch and Erik Arroyo defend open access to the beach amid a plan to increase fees and expand paid parking in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Passenger traffic at SRQ increased by 3 million passengers from 2018 to 2023.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 13, 2024
SRQ airport surpasses 4.3 million passengers

Passenger traffic at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is up 215% since 2018 as expansion work continues.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jennifer Kovatch (left) and Keith Pandeloglou (right) of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities present the Volunteer of the Year Award to Lakewood Ranch's Monaca Onstad.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 12, 2024
LWR Community Activities honors Volunteer of the Year

Former SMR Community Relations Director Monaca Onstad won the coveted award.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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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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