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Your Observer

Renovations of the home at 5151 Jungle Plum Road, Siesta Key, are expected to be complete by June.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 9, 2024
Former Playboy president lists Siesta Key home for $20 million

Entrepreneur Randy Nicolau, a former president of Playboy, has listed a waterfront home in Siesta Key's Hidden Harbor community for $20 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The existing concrete seawall on the north end of Bayfront Park will be replaced with a sloped living shoreline.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 9, 2024
Seawall projects to enhance shoreline of Longboat's Bayfront Park

Contingent on federal funding, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program plans projects to improve oyster habitat, reduce erosion and bolster storm protection.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This Concession home at 19436 Newlane Place sold for $3.4 million. It has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 5,566 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 9, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 25-29 in Lakewood Ranch

A Concession home tops the week's real estate sales at $3.4 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Bayfront Park doesn't need more pickleball courts
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • January 9, 2024
Bayfront Park doesn't need more pickleball courts

A Longboat Key resident writes that the sounds of pickleball are the most annoying in all of sports.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Construction worker accused of stealing a battery in civil dispute
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 9, 2024
Construction worker accused of stealing a battery in civil dispute

When a construction boss noticed a battery was missing, Longboat Key PD was called to the scene. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Manatee County is seeking input on major issues through an online citizen survey.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 9, 2024
Manatee encourages feedback on county issues with citizen survey

The citizen survey is available online and takes no more than five minutes to complete.

  • East County
  • News
Ute Vela competes in the Observer Challenge held Feb. 3-5, 2023. She and her husband, Enrique, have won the tournament four times.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 9, 2024
Observer Challenge to bring weekend of island camaraderie

Longboat Key Tennis Center will host the annual tournament that's all about teamwork Jan. 19-21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The mezzanine is designed to be used as an event space.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 9, 2024
Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi to open Lakewood Ranch restaurant Jan. 20

After years of delays, the Japanese restaurant is opening the State Road 70 location on Jan. 20.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Art by Pamela Olin
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 9, 2024
Father-daughter duo's art exhibition opens at Plymouth Harbor

Pamela and Richard Olin showcase 3D artwork on the theme of family.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A rendering of the view of the upper floors of One Park Sarasota.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 9, 2024
Plans revealed for 18-story downtown Sarasota condo tower

The 86-unit luxury design for One Park will resemble the prior plan in architecture, features and finishes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Autumn Tselios leads the Naples-based band, The Rockefellers, at Fresh Fridays on Jan. 5.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 9, 2024
How downtown Sarasota block party organizers find fresh bands

Fresh Fridays, held the first Friday of each month, sources high-end bands locally and from outside the area.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Harry Strunk, 2, explores inside a cardboard tunnel.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 9, 2024
Sarasota Children's Museum kicks off quest for a dedicated space

The inaugural event of Sarasota's Children's Museum drew families to The Bay Park, offering children interactive experiences and hands-on learning activities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This is just a practice run on Kore Steakhouse. The street lights will be covered with garbage bags during the exhibit to provide a darker background for the projections.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 9, 2024
Visual art display celebrates 30 years of Lakewood Ranch

"Ranch Reflections," a showcase of moving murals, runs from Jan. 14-20 at Waterside Place.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • By Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
  • January 8, 2024
Quality Care and a Supportive Birth Plan

“Education about what to include in a birth plan and an understanding of what our hospital offers can alleviate fears,” says Chrissy Coney, RNC, BSN, CLC, Birth Designer at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

  • Health
Sponsored Content
A Coastal Flood Watch has been issues for coastal Sarasota and coastal Manatee counties from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2024
Longboat Key issues severe weather alert

Residents are asked to bring in or secure outdoor items. Sand bags are available at Public Works.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • January 8, 2024
William Kenneth (“Ken”) Morris

William Kenneth (“Ken”) Morris passed away on January 2, 2024, after a two-year struggle with idiopathic lung disease.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
ODA sophomore guard Allen Clark had 17 points against Sarasota Christian on Jan. 5.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 8, 2024
ODA boys basketball has a losing record but winning expectations

The Thunder (5-8) started 2024 with a 51-45 home win over Sarasota Christian (10-4) on Jan. 5.

  • East County
  • Sports
If you want to keep those New Year's resolutions, break them down into three-month goals and apply the SMART methodology.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • January 8, 2024
Set smarter goals for yourself this year

If you want to actually keep those New Year's resolutions, here's the experts' way.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Acquisition of 36.3 acres in the Myakka Conservation Stewardship Area is underway by Manatee County.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 8, 2024
Manatee County accelerates land conservation from 2020 referendum

There are eight properties currently in the acquisition process, but Mixon Fruit Farms is out of the running.

  • East County
  • News
Bud and Charlie made their debut Dec. 31 at the Sarasota Polo Club with Alan Freitag holding the reins. Anyone who attends the matches can take a free ride at halftime.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 8, 2024
Belgian draft horses make big impression at Sarasota Polo Club

Bud and Charlie will be pulling a wagon full of fans at halftime of the Sunday polo matches in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A plant grows from a conch shell in a display by William Tippit of Apopka, Florida.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 7, 2024
Orchids in Paradise show grows knowledge of the flowers

The show brought together vendors from the local area and beyond, as well as other Sarasota County orchid societies.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Judy and Allen Saden
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 7, 2024
Temple Beth Israel hosts welcome back party

The Longboat Key synagogue started the year by welcoming 49 new members with an after-service party.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Residents can weigh in on Longboat Key issues with town survey
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 7, 2024
Residents can weigh in on Longboat Key issues with town survey

The Citizen Satisfaction Survey will arrive in Longboat mailboxes starting Jan. 10.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
LBK North coalition opposes Whitney Plaza water taxi stop
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 6, 2024
LBK North coalition opposes Whitney Plaza water taxi stop

Longboat Key North co-chair Maureen Merrigan says the stop doesn’t make logistical sense.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A rendering of the proposed Main Street redevelopment shows the front elevation of the building.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 5, 2024
10-story apartment complex proposed for Tube Dude downtown site

The developer of 1 Main Plaza intends to transform the 1700 block of Main Street in Sarasota into a 226-unit building that will include 25 affordable housing units.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Carlos E. Haile Middle School is undergoing a campuswide renovation and will have a new 10-classroom addition.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 5, 2024
Haile Middle to offer new opportunities with 10-classroom addition

The addition, expected to be complete in the spring, will expand the school's robotics and agriscience programs.

  • East County
  • Schools
David Wilkins, president of the Manasota Association for the Study of African American Life and History, spoke to the Longboat Key Democratic Club on Jan. 2, 2024.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 5, 2024
Democratic Club speaker advocates for access to Black history education

David Wilkins, the president of the Manasota Association for the Study of African American Life and History, spoke to the Longboat Key Democratic Club about the importance of education on racial history.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Windward at Lakewood Ranch opened a new amenity center in August 2022.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 5, 2024
Lakewood Ranch remains best-selling multigenerational community in US

Lakewood Ranch keeps its standing as No. 1 for the sixth consecutive year.

  • East County
  • News
The Preserve at Tara's Bob Tyo and Gregg Gumta bring their Corvettes to the car show on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 4, 2024
Cars line Lakewood Ranch Main Street for Classic Car Show

Dozens of cars spanning decades shine on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Chloe Quesada, Sofie Quesada and Addison Fierro bring 2-week-old goats to Ranch Nite Wednesday. They're yoga goats.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 4, 2024
Chilly 2024 start for Ranch Nite Wednesdays

The normally packed event left a little elbow room for those in attendance on Jan. 3.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kudos to the Observer for a commitment to environmental reporting
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • January 4, 2024
Kudos to the Observer for a commitment to environmental reporting

The chair of Suncoast Waterkeeper notes the Observer Media Group's contributions to environmental initiatives.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Children's 'museum without walls' to host inaugural event
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 4, 2024
Children's 'museum without walls' to host inaugural event

A new Sarasota nonprofit wants to create a dedicated hands-on museum space for children.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Condo controversy, SRQ growth among top Sarasota stories coming this year
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 4, 2024
Condo controversy, SRQ growth among top Sarasota stories coming this year

From downtown condo towers and hotel plans for Siesta Key to an airport expansion and first-year operations at Bobby Jones, there is plenty of news to come in 2024.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cardinal Mooney junior Chris McCorkle (8) sprints downfield against Riverview.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 4, 2024
The top Sarasota athletes to watch in 2024

These athletes combine natural talent and hard work to excel in their respective sports.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Unit 1404 condominium in The Residences at 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive sold for $2.8 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 4, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 11-22 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A condominium in The Residences tops the week's sales at $2.8 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner says the Commission must do a better job explaining the reasons for its decisions to the public as well as communicating its vision.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 4, 2024
Commissioner says communication with Manatee constituents must improve

District 5's Ray Turner says his constituents "will know what he stands for."

  • East County
  • Opinion
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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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