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Your Observer

Christy James of the Longboat Key Flower Shop
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 7, 2024
New flower shop opens on Longboat Key

Owner Christy James shared her hopes and plans for the new flower shop on the island at her ribbon-cutting with the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Rollins College sophomore Zi Burns started her sailing career as crew before switching to skipper this year.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 7, 2024
ODA grad sets sail on new adventure at Rollins College

Zi Burns played basketball with the Thunder but has taken to sailing with the Tars.

  • East County
  • Sports
Snowden Mowry, 11, paints a "Better Together" mural on the digital graffiti wall.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 6, 2024
Better Together Block Party celebrates the community in style

The event offered butterflies, bubbles, fun activities and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Braden River High School sophomore Alexa Helton performs as part of a quartet. She looks forward to seeing her skills as a clarinet player grow as she continues in high school.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 6, 2024
Arts Alive showcases Manatee County student talent while supporting the arts

Students from Braden River and Lakewood Ranch high schools perform or have their artwork work on display.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 6, 2024
Applications open for Leadership Sarasota class of 2025

Youth and adult programs are designed to educate and inspire community leaders of tomorrow.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tesla preparing to open its new Sarasota store at University Town Center.
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • April 6, 2024
Tesla set to open UTC dealership by end of April

The electric vehicle manufacturer has built a 55,000-square-foot showroom and service center at University Town Center just off I-75.

  • East County
  • Business
Rep. Tommy Gregory answers interview questions during a public forum on March 26 at SCF. He was hired as SCF's seventh president on Friday.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 5, 2024
Rep. Tommy Gregory accepts post as SCF president

The District 72 representative will be the seventh president of the State College of Florida.

  • East County
  • Schools
Miss Jodi hosts the UTC Kids Club every other week.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 5, 2024
UTC Kids Club participants dance through another Wednesday

Miss Jodi's School of Dance hosts the club every other week at The Green at University Town Center.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Michael Gregory looks out at the rough seas from Siesta Key Beach after Hurricane Idalia on Aug. 30, 2023.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 5, 2024
24 named storms forecast for a high-activity hurricane season

Climate Adaptation Center, a Sarasota-based nonprofit focused on challenges arising from climate change, predicts a total of 24 named storms, 12 hurricanes and six major hurricanes in the 2024 Atlantic season.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sites 1 and 2 are 1442 and 1456 22nd St. Site 3 is the location of Bertha Mitchell homes, which Sarasota Housing Authority is seeking to redevelop into a public housing community of up to 50 units per acre.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 5, 2024
More affordable housing is coming to Newtown

The City Commission approved zoning text amendments to clear the way for Sarasota Housing Authority to build up to 770 units.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Professor Susan MacManus
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 4, 2024
Political analyst speaks to the Longboat Key Democratic Club

Professor Susan MacManus stated this upcoming election will be the hardest she has covered due to the mistrust of the public.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Kara Kohler celebrates at Nathan Benderson Park after she wins the U.S. Olympic Trials’ women’s single sculls competition on Feb. 26, 2021.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 4, 2024
2024 US Rowing Olympic Team Trials hit Benderson Park this week

The event will determine who heads to the Paris Olympics this summer.

  • East County
  • Sports
Monterey at Lakewood Ranch has two models available, including the Centennial.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 4, 2024
Toll Brothers joins Lakewood Ranch to market new Monterey village

Lakewood Ranch continues to expand its holdings as builders want to capitalize on the brand.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The Observer needs new management
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 4, 2024
The Observer needs new management

Longboat Key's mayor writes that a recent editorial would have made more sense as an April Fools' joke.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The Unit 501 condominium at Ten35 has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,631 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 4, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for March 18-22 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A condominium in Ten35 tops the week's sales at $5.1 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Commercial parcels like this one at 24th Street and North Tamiami Trail are candidates for redevelopment under Sarasota's new commercial centers and corridors affordable housing program.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 4, 2024
Affordable housing will be incentivized in Sarasota's commercial areas

Despite neighbors' concerns, incentives are now in place to bring attainable residences to the city's commercial corridors and centers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering of Safe Children Coalition's new youth shelter.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 4, 2024
Partnership supports new shelter for homeless teens

A $500,000 gift match challenge helps accelerate progress on a new Safe Children Coalition shelter.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The historic McAlpin House at 1530 Cross Street occupies a key parcel in the redevelopment plans of Orange Pineapple LLC for a 3.1-acre site in downtown.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 4, 2024
Historic McAlpin House's destiny remains undetermined

The Sarasota City Commission again continues a public hearing over a request to demolish the McAlpin House to make way for a 3.1-acre downtown development.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Riverview High junior pitcher Allison Cole finished the 2024 season with a 1.40 ERA and a 14-5 record over 124.2 innings.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 4, 2024
Riverview High softball wins with a smile

The Rams are 12-3 thanks to commanding pitching, timely hitting and a lot of joy.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Participants hold signs during the rally.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 3, 2024
Restrictions to Sarasota School Board public comment face opposition

Speakers criticized the proposed measures, as well as the Sarasota County School Board’s responsiveness to public input.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Ellen McLaughlin, the director of Schoolhouse Link with Safe Children Coalition, and David Leubcke, the senior director of programs, are thrilled to receive a grant for the Lake Club Giving Circle for the first time.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 3, 2024
Lake Club Giving Circle grants $30,000 to area nonprofits

The 15 Manatee and Sarasota nonprofits receiving grants from The Lake Club Giving Circle focus on helping women, children and families.

  • East County
  • News
Rosita Reyes is in her first season as the Sarasota High track and field coach.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 3, 2024
Track and field no easy task to coach

Sarasota High Head Coach Rosita Reyes explains the intricacies of the sport.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Christine Hales
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 3, 2024
Iconographer combines painting with prayer

All Angels gallery will be displaying Christine Hales' icons from April 7 to June 28.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Artwork in the new Big Top gives a tip of the hat to Sarasota's connection with the circus industry.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 3, 2024
Big Top Brewing expands to Fruitville Commons with huge plans

The Sarasota restaurant/brewery targets mid-April for the opening of its 18,000 square-foot business on the southern edge of Lakewood Ranch.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Zahrada I by Halflants + Pichette Architects, built in 2021, is an example of the Sarasota School of Architecture incorporating contemporary lifestyle features.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 3, 2024
Architecture Sarasota debuts 'Moderns that Matter' exhibit

Striving to preserve the legacy of the region's designs, the Sarasota 100 documents a century of places that shaped Sarasota's identity.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 160 Bryant Drive has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,486 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 3, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for March 18-22 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Lido Beach home on Bryant Drive tops the week's sales at $9 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Residents won't be fooled by City Island proposal
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 3, 2024
Residents won't be fooled by City Island proposal

A reader writes that a proposal to "activate" Ken Thompson Park would be better as an April Fools' joke.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
An aerial view of the proposed Longboat Pass Bridge solution shows the new bridge would be built to the west of the existing bridge.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 3, 2024
North-end community raises concerns about new Longboat Pass Bridge

FDOT presented three possible build alternatives to replace the Longboat Pass Bridge. North-end residents are more concerned about the impacts.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Commission votes to allow additional freeboard with possible expansion
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 3, 2024
Commission votes to allow additional freeboard with possible expansion

Town commissioners debated over how much optional freeboard to allow after a change in FEMA flood maps for Sarasota County.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Fishermen tangle over crossed lines on Sarasota Bay
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 3, 2024
Fishermen tangle over crossed lines on Sarasota Bay

A man claims another fisherman intentionally hooked him while casting after their lines previously became tangled. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The Myakka City Historical Society's Walter Carlton and Marilyn Coker talk to "major donors" Barbara and Bob Anson about the Myakka City Historic School House project.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 3, 2024
Donations inject life into Myakka City Historic School House project

The final $60,000 was raised to finish the community center project in late 2024.

  • East County
  • News
Back: Commissioner Penny Gold, Commissioner Gary Coffin, Commissioner B.J. Bishop, Commissioner Debra Williams, Commissioner Sarah Karon. Front: Vice Mayor Mike Haycock, Mayor Ken Schneier
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 3, 2024
Town embarks on planning phase with community organization input

Every year, the town of Longboat Key's budget and strategic planning phases begin with a workshop, where community organizations are given the chance to outline their goals.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A rendering of the new Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion on the campus of SMH-Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 3, 2024
$16 million donated to SMH Jellison Cancer Institute

Susan Milman has now given $21 million in support of the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ready, set … give!
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • April 3, 2024
Ready, set … give!

Philanthropy is like a sport in Sarasota-Manatee. It is no surprise Sarasota has its own Super Bowl of giving. Turn on your generosity engine.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The new pedestrian hybrid beacon near Bayfront Park.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 2, 2024
Two pedestrian hybrid beacons are now operational on Longboat Key

Two of the hybrid beacons are on the island, one at Bayfront Park over to the beach access and another near Country Club Shores.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota High track and field sophomore Grayson Cicilioni.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 2, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Grayson Cicilioni

The Sarasota High runner is moving up the ranks in the 3,200-meter run.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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