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Your Observer

A rendering of One Park West.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 4, 2024
Plans revealed for the final Quay development

One Park West will offer The Quay lifestyle at a lower price point, with units 'starting in the $1 millions.'

  • Sarasota
  • News
Wendell Butler
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 4, 2024
Braden River High to welcome new principal

Wendell Butler wants to create the opportunity for students to become the best version of themselves.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 4, 2024
Woman calls for police assistance to back out of parking spot

A resident called the Longboat Key Police Department to help her back a pickup truck out of a parking spot. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
A rendering shows the interior layout of Project 24 Climbing. Designs are currently being finalized.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 4, 2024
Climbing gym will take Sarasota vertical in 2025

Project 24 Climbing is expected to break ground in August and open in spring 2025, becoming Sarasota's only climbing gym.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Inner Compass Brewing Company opens in Lakewood Ranch on June 5.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 4, 2024
Inner Compass Brewing Co. opens in Lakewood Ranch

The brewery features 30 craft beers on tap, and all are brewed in Florida.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A rendering of the St. Regis Longboat Key, set to open this summer.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 3, 2024
St. Regis tackles task of hiring 400 employees before resort's summer opening

As The St. Regis Longboat Key looks toward its opening, its managerial staff is holding a job fair to hire the hundreds of workers it will need.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Maggie Poppoon, 6, a visitor from Texas, examines stone items at the market.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 3, 2024
Visitors enjoy locally made items and the outdoors at farmers market

The market offered a wide range of items, including jewelry, crafts and foods.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Parrish Community High softball team (20-8) celebrates a FHSAA Class 5A title game win, 3-2 over Gainesville High (24-5), on May 24. It is the team's second-straight state title and was aided by six East County players.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 3, 2024
Dodgeball day key to Parrish Community High's softball state title

The Bulls (20-8) won the FHSAA Class 5A title game 3-2 over Gainesville High (24-5) on May 24.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Oasis Gospel Justice Center team celebrates the opening of the legal aid service at Oasis Church.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 3, 2024
Oasis Church opens justice center in Lakewood Ranch

The Oasis Gospel Justice Center provides legal aid to anyone once per month.

  • East County
  • News
The Artists Court apartments at South Washington Boulevard and Adams Lane will include 26 attainable units thanks to the city's bonus density and other incentives.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 3, 2024
Sarasota wins Local Action Award from Florida League of Cities

The award recognizes the city's effort to bring about affordable and attainable housing through bonus density incentives.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarah Brown, deputy director of Community and Veterans Services, is the former Animal Welfare division chief.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 3, 2024
Palmetto animal shelter to close as county plans resource center

Manatee County will move dogs at the Palmetto Dog Adoption Center into the Bishop Animal Shelter and open a new resource center that aims to help prevent pets from being surrendered to shelters.

  • East County
  • News
From left, The Exchange Secretary Anne Johnson, CEO Karen Koblenz and President Chris Gallagher at the organization's arts and cultural awards ceremony in 2023.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 2, 2024
The Exchange awards $404,000 in grants

Formerly Women's Exchange, the organization annually awards funds to regional arts groups with revenues from its consignment operations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Long Range Transportation Plan Project Manager William Roll speaks to attendees at the Phase 1 Visioning workshop.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 2, 2024
MPO seeks public input to shape 2050 transportation priorities

Shrinking funds and higher costs mean closer scrutiny in developing the long-range transportation plan update for the Sarasota-Manatee region.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The traditional turkey dinner at the Lazy Lobster
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • June 2, 2024
Lazy Lobster celebrates Thanksgiving in June with food drive

With every turkey dinner, the restaurant will be collecting non-perishable foods to donate to area pantries.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Heather Kasten is President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 1, 2024
Sarasota Chamber a finalist for Chamber of the Year

The winners in four categories grouped by organization size will be announced July 17.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The exterior of the Ohana estate at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive, photographed in 2013.
    By
  • James Peter
  • May 31, 2024
$19.75M Ohana sale sets new record for Longboat Key

The home breaks the record for Manatee County as well. The estate features three pavilions, a tennis court and two elevators.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Motorcyclist killed in Fruitville Road crash
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2024
Motorcyclist killed in Fruitville Road crash

The crash occurred May 30 west of Honore Avenue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Signs along Uihlein Road already reflect the new speed limit of 40 miles per hour. The signs along Rangeland Parkway will be changed in August.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 31, 2024
Two Lakewood Ranch roads get higher speed limits

Manatee commissioners approve changes to speed limits on Rangeland Parkway and Uihlein Road in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Climate Adaptation Center CEO Bob Bunting
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 31, 2024
Climate Adaptation Center receives $50K to expand outreach

The Sarasota-based nonprofit plans to use the grant funds to increase education efforts and support its annual climate conference.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Red marks the streets targeted in the Sarasota County street resurfacing project both on and off Siesta Key.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 31, 2024
Siesta Key residential street resurfacing begins

Neighborhood streets are the main objective of the $11.4 million project scheduled for completion in January 2025.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2024
Allegiant adds two nonstop flights from SRQ

Allegiant Air has initiated seasonal service from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport to Austin, Texas and Des Moines, Iowa.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Deanna Mesghali and Felicia McDermott
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • May 30, 2024
New marketing manager strengthens relationships with chamber members

Meet the planner behind one of Longboat Key's most popular networking events: Networking at Noon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A backhoe pulls a large tree apart May 29 inside a fenced-off section of the Uplands Preserve, owned by New College of Florida. The college is clearing the area to make way for beach volleyball courts and a lacrosse practice field.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • May 30, 2024
New College's tree removal from Uplands stuns neighbors

The city of Sarasota can't enforce tree ordinance on state property, officials say.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The last Ranch Nite Wednesday of the 2023-2024 season, presented by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, drew a large crowd.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 30, 2024
Ranch Nite Wednesdays in Lakewood Ranch takes a summer break

The food truck event at Waterside Place will resume in October.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Regular schedules of prescribed burns help restore and maintain healthy habitats for imperiled fire-dependent species such as gopher tortoises.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • May 30, 2024
Fire plays critical role in Myakka park

Some imperiled species, such as the gopher tortoise, crested caracara and pine lily, wouldn't survive without occasional fires.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The previous departure SRKUS (green) with the newly implemented procedure TIDES (orange) from SRQ.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 30, 2024
Flight path from SRQ changes direction over Longboat Key

A change in the angle of departures from SRQ was made by the Federal Aviation Administration and impacts the path of flights over Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The first home at 8218 Sanderling Road has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 8,638 square feet of living area. The second has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,302 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 30, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for May 13-17 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey and Nokomis

A two-house Siesta Key property on Sanderling Road tops the week's sales at $12 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
An overhead view of the proposed site of a convention center and hotel by developers Mark Kauffman and Sadek Omar of Jebcore Development. The site includes the city-owned federal courthouse building and the U.S. Post Office.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 30, 2024
Post office site pitched for downtown convention center

Developers seek to garner support from the DID board for a public-private partnership with the city of Sarasota for a hotel and event center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) hits a layup against the Seattle Storm in a May 17 game. The WNBA is having a surge in popularity in 2024 — and entrepreneur Steve Rosenfeld wants to bring a team to Sarasota.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 30, 2024
The WNBA in Sarasota? One entrepreneur wants to make it happen

Steve Rosenfeld believes Sarasota is the perfect spot for a professional basketball team in the up-and-coming league.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Members of Choral Artists of Sarasota offer a performance.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 30, 2024
Choral Artists of Sarasota preps for D-Day commemoration in France

The chorus will be seen by more than a million people at Normandy American Cemetery and will also perform in Paris.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Volunteer Dawn Brown
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 30, 2024
Salvation Army opens Sarasota food pantry to meet increased need

The nonprofit introduced the new services in response to a rising number of visitors to the Venice location and food requests from those seeking utilities assistance in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By JL Bainbridge Family Wealth Advisors
  • May 30, 2024
Should Your Retirement Planning Include Medicare?

Healthcare costs in retirement can be high, so only thinking about Medicare as health insurance can be a big mistake.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Former Sarasota and Braden River high schools running back Brian Battie played for Auburn University in 2023.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 29, 2024
Brian Battie remains in hospital, according to Auburn Head Coach

Court records filed May 24 indicate that Battie has a "prognosis of permanent paralysis."

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Eleni Sokos, 35 is taking over the CEO role (Chief Executive Oyster) from Anna Maria Oyster Bar founder and co-owner John Horne, 63.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 29, 2024
Anna Maria Oyster Bar founder to slow down, names next CEO

Restaurateur John Horne found a succession plan in the office next door to his, with up-and-coming executive Eleni Sokos.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
SMR Senior Vice President Laura Cole talks about Lakewood Ranch's accomplishments over 30 years.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 29, 2024
Lakewood Ranch turns 30 and still is growing

The No. 1-selling multigenerational, master-planned community in the nation celebrates its successes.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch's Rob Rempert said his 15-week-old labradoodle, Madison, has helped keep his spirits up as he hopes for a kidney transplant.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 29, 2024
Lakewood Ranch man perseveres through kidney transplant process

Rob Rempert has been on the kidney transplant list for four years but has faith the system will come through for him. He says more kidneys would be available if people understood the system and UNOS.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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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.
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