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Your Observer

The home at 238 Island Circle has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,854 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 20, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for June 3-7 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey and Nokomis

A home in Sarasota Beach tops the week's sales at $3 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Plans are to add floors 3-8 to the end of the Art Ovation hotel to include eight new rooms and a rooftop expansion.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 20, 2024
Art Ovation hotel plans eight-room expansion

New floors are planned to be added above existing space at the northwest corner of the current building.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Molten bronze is poured from the crucible into a series of molds at Bronzart Foundry.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 20, 2024
Bronzart Foundry creates art for sites around the world

The Sarasota-based foundry crafted an award for the 14th Dalai Lama.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
  • June 20, 2024
Young Circus Star Is Treated Like Family

“Finding the ER at Fruitville is like finding a gold mine.” -Nova Wallenda, a member of the Wallenda Circus Family and mother to a pediatric ER at Fruitville patient.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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School board members Karen Rose, Bridget Ziegler and Tom Edwards.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 19, 2024
Sarasota School Board extends superintendent's contract

Terry Connor, superintendent of Sarasota County Schools, is now officially signed on to serve for the next five years.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Braden River High junior Yahshua Edwards (17) leans into a hit from Lakewood Ranch junior defensive back Mike Turner (24) during a 2023 game. Edwards has transferred to Riverview High for the 2024 season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 19, 2024
Impact transfers abound on Sarasota football scene

These players will make a difference for their teams this fall.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
For Sarasota school board
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 19, 2024
For Sarasota school board

After four years of culture wars, the fallout from COVID and changing to a new superintendent, the school board needs stability and consistency.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Brian Finnerty and Amanda Heisey spent more than a decade on stage with each other at area theaters before getting married in January.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 19, 2024
Newlyweds found love and theater in Sarasota

Brian Finnerty and Amanda Heisey have been sharing stages in the area for nearly a decade.

  • Arts + Culture
Motorcycle seller ghosts buyer with tardy title transfer
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 19, 2024
Motorcycle seller ghosts buyer with tardy title transfer

Police suspect fraud when purchaser by proxy reports no title two months after buying a Harley. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Joshua Vasquez, the youngest of the Vasquez family at 13 years old, has been around bees his whole life.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 19, 2024
Heritage Bee Farm in Myakka City keeps buzzing along

The family-owned bee farm educates people on beekeeping and breeds queen bees.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Gus Mollasis loves to display different items relating to cinema in Sarasota Estate Auction.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • June 19, 2024
Gus Mollasis teaches the magic of movies on Longboat Key

"At The Movies with Gus Mollasis" at the Education Center takes film students back to the golden age of cinema.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Unit A-401 condominium at 415 L’Ambiance Drive has three bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths and 3,220 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 19, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for June 3-7 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in L’Ambiance at Longboat Key Club tops the week's sales at $5.55 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Spectators are set up on all sides of the lake to watch the fireworks show at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 19, 2024
Parking for Fireworks on the Lake event in Sarasota now on sale

The Nathan Benderson Park Fourth of July event drew 16,000 people last year.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key to add new town engineer position
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 19, 2024
Longboat Key to add new town engineer position

Town staff presented preliminary operating revenues expenditures for the fiscal 2025 budget, which included increases in personnel costs due to inflation and new staff members.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A study done by the Florida Department of Transportation estimated that the current drawbridge is raised about 100-300 times a month.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 19, 2024
What's the right size for a new Longboat Pass Bridge?

With new bridge alternatives on the table, FDOT returned to Longboat Key after community members raised concerns about size and scale.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota Democrat Party charges Republicans intentionally locked them out of the District 1 County Commission primary with the late addition of a write-in candidate.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 19, 2024
Democratic Party accuses Mast campaign of foul play

A last-minute write-in candidate for Sarasota County Commission District 1 makes Aug. 20 election a closed primary.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Observer recommends
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 19, 2024
Observer recommends

2024 primary election recommendations from Observer Media Group CEO and Founder Matt Walsh.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Sarasota County lifts burn ban after recent rains
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2024
Sarasota County lifts burn ban after recent rains

The ban had been in effect since May 5.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Give credit for reading scores where it’s due
  • By Tom Edwards
  • June 18, 2024
Give credit for reading scores where it’s due

Superintendent Asplen laid the groundwork. Teachers, administrators and staff persevered through turmoil, and now Terry Connor is keeping the momentum going.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A pickup truck is parked in a driveway in Stone Ridge. Currently, the truck can't park in a driveway overnight in the Country Club, but as of July 1, the HOA will no longer be allowed to prohibit it.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 18, 2024
New bill could pose problems for East County homeowners associations

Florida House Bill 1203 goes into effect on July 1 and limits what HOAs can prohibit, such as work trucks in driveways.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 18, 2024
FPL commits to finish utilities undergrounding project by end of 2024

Existing electrical poles on Longboat Key are scheduled to be removed by Dec. 31.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
An athlete prepares to shoot a basketball, as a Cardinal Mooney student watches.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 18, 2024
Athletes with intellectual disabilities shine at Camp Shriver

Special Olympics Florida teamed up with Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School to bring the camp to Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This Lake Club home at 17010 Clearlake Ave. sold for $3,591,500. It has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,315 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 18, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for June 3-7 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Clearlake Avenue tops the week's sales at $3.59 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Resident worries about personal info after grocery delivery
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 18, 2024
Resident worries about personal info after grocery delivery

A Longboat Key resident called police after a delivery driver scanned her driver’s license to drop off a bottle of wine. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The Thunder football team beat LPCA 33-14 on Nov. 10 to win the SSAA Class 4A championship.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 18, 2024
The top 10 moments of the 2023-2024 East County high school sports year

The year featured championship wins and several other programs on the rise.

  • East County
  • Sports
The yellow outline is the proposed site of Lakewood Springs, 299 townhomes with an amenity center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 18, 2024
Lorraine Road housing project planned to include affordable units

Unlike prior such projects in East County, these units will come with an amenity center.

  • East County
  • News
A site map shows the current and proposed buildings of Lofts on Lemon.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 18, 2024
Steps taken toward adding 200-plus low-income housing units

The design of one housing development "saddened" him, says Planning Board Chair Michael Halflants.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Andrew Littauer with his authentic Romanian figurines
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • June 18, 2024
23 years in Romania fostered Longboater's appreciation for life

After Romania's dictator was overthrown, Andrew Littauer worked to privatize banks there. Then he decided to stay.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Starting July 15, parking at Centennial Park will no longer be free of charge.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2024
Sarasota parking fee changes will begin July 15

Warnings will only be issued during the first week of paid parking on Benjamin Franklin Drive and Centennial Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
One dead after single-vessel boat crash off Longboat Key
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 17, 2024
One dead after single-vessel boat crash off Longboat Key

The Friday night incident involved a single vehicle with seven passengers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Deborah Miller with her book "One Little Pill"
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • June 17, 2024
Longboat resident shares her road to recovery from opioid addiction

Deborah Miller's memoir challenges the stigma of addiction stereotypes and gives hope to those struggling.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Court 13 at Payne Park Tennis Center offers a spot for players to relax before and after matches.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 17, 2024
Pro shop, lounge opens at Payne Park Tennis Center

Court Thirteen, part pro shop and part lounge, is one of several recent improvements.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
A building on 10th Street collapsed during Hurricane Ian in 2022.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 17, 2024
Owners of Ian-damaged homes may apply for federal assistance

The Resilient SRQ Housing Recovery Program has $55 million to help low-income homeowners repair damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

  • Sarasota
  • News
An epiphany on the poop problem
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • June 17, 2024
An epiphany on the poop problem

A letter writer zeroes in on a potential cause of Longboat's dog poop profusion.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Nate Strawderman (right) gives instructions to Bradenton Christian quarterback Caden Ott. Strawderman is going The Out-of-Door Academy football program as an associate head coach and passing game coordinator. He will also be an assistant athletic director at the school.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 17, 2024
Out-of-Door Academy adds passing game guru

Nate Strawderman, 26, joins the Lakewood Ranch school after coaching at Bradenton Christian School.

  • East County
  • Sports
  • By Florida Power and Light Company (FPL)
  • June 17, 2024
Florida Power & Light enhances energy grid with planned upgrades in Sarasota County

FPL plans to make upgrades in Sarasota as part of its ongoing commitment to avoid outages and restore power faster following severe weather.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Squeaky Wheel Fringe runs June 2-7.
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'Jesus lizard' rescued on Longboat Key
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As a junior last season, Jayla Griffin led the Cougars in points, rebounds and assists per game en route to the FHSAA Class 3A-Region 2 semifinals.
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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.
  • June 2, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for May 18-22 in Lakewood Ranch

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