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Your Observer

Riverview High mourns loss of longtime principal Edward Brown Jr.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 14, 2023
Riverview High mourns loss of longtime principal Edward Brown Jr.

One retired teacher called Brown Jr. "The founding father of Riverview High School."

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
President Brittany Lamont, board member Keith Pandeloglou and Communications Coordinator Kristie Calandro prepare for the last meeting of the year.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 14, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance puts focus on philanthropy

About 40 nonprofits showcased their services for alliance members at their last meeting of the year.

  • East County
  • Business
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 14, 2023
71-year-old pedestrian critical after being hit by a pickup truck

The Bradenton woman was crossing at the intersection of Lockwood Ridge Road and University Parkway.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Terry Connor with 2024 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year Ronnique Major.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 14, 2023
Booker Elementary teacher named Sarasota's Teacher of the Year

Fifth grade teacher Ronnique Major was honored with the annual award by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Cardinal Mooney High football celebrates its first state championship since 1972.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 14, 2023
Senior class leads Cardinal Mooney football to state title win

The Cardinal Mooney High Cougars got key contributions from several members of the class against Trinity Catholic.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Nicolette Marks and Rebecca Kuse
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • December 14, 2023
The Market on Longboat Key is back for the season

After a one-year hiatus, the outdoor market returns with a variety of goods such as lobster rolls, cupcakes and artisanal gifts.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Team USA's David Toms and Brett Quigley look over the green on the No. 9 hole at The Concession Golf Club during the World Champions Cup at The Concession.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 14, 2023
Concession Golf Club makes a major statement during World Champions Cup

Could the 2031 PGA Championship now go to the Lakewood Ranch-area course?

  • East County
  • Opinion
The home at 1625 Landings Blvd. has five bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths, a pool and 3,928 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 14, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A home in The Landings tops the week's sales at $1.98 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Town canals were put into seven groups to help pursue funding sources.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • December 14, 2023
Town holds off on canal dredging program for another year

The need for new surveys and a search for ways to reduce costs were among key reasons for slowing down the project on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 14, 2023
Sarasota wrestles with definitions of drinking, dining establishments

A proposed zoning amendment would, in theory, clarify the definitions of restaurants, nightclubs, bars, etc. to establish different rules under which each may operate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
In 2021, developer Gary Kompothecras proposed a seven-story hotel with up to 120 rooms at 1260 Old Stickney Point Road.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 14, 2023
Repealed ordinance clears the slate for Siesta Key hotels

Sarasota County commissioners repeal comprehensive plan changes that led to county approval of hotels later ruled illegal in court.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The current design for the Premier Racquet and Aquatic Complex. The 25-meter by 25-yard pool (3) is being removed from the plans.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 14, 2023
Plans scaled back for aquatic complex in Lakewood Ranch

While the Premier Park design had included three pools, Manatee County commissioners voted to remove the 25-meter pool to cut costs.

  • East County
  • News
The Greater Sarasota of Commerce Golf Classic will be held Jan. 8, 2024 at Bobby Jones Golf Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 13, 2023
First Bobby Jones golf tournament sells out

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic is scheduled for Jan. 8.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bonnie Chiseling, Paula Norwood, Barbara Eisenberg and Debbie Rand
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • December 13, 2023
Women's Golf Association of Longboat Key holds festive tournament

The Frosty Frolic was full of holiday spirit with groups dressed up as Elvis Presley in "Blue Christmas," festive flamingos and candy canes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Protesters hold signs during the rally.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 13, 2023
School board calls for Bridget Ziegler's resignation

Sarasota County School Board member Bridget Ziegler has been embattled by controversy but gave no indication that she would resign from her position.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Spend the holidays with people who value you. Let go of the guilt, and the stress will fade away, too.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • December 13, 2023
Here's a simple recipe for happy holidays

Relax and pamper yourself. Do something healthy. These are your holidays too.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 13, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center hires new COO

Philip Reber's goal is to make LWRMC the hospital of choice for local residents.

  • East County
  • Business
Some East County residents are opposed to more development. PulteGroup is seeking to add another 1,100 homes east of the Future Development Area Boundary.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 13, 2023
Lazy C Ranch clears hurdle toward 1,100 new homes in Manatee County

Pulte Homes is one step closer to building the residential project, which is mostly east of the county development boundary.

  • East County
  • News
Tami Andrews Charlton, of Glenville, North Carolina, sold her home at 554 Jessmyth Drive to MCJR Property Holding LLC for $2.6 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 13, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Longboat Key Estates home on Jessmyth Drive tops the week's sales at $2.6 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Hayleigh Vuong, Sriya Ashok, Marguerite Barnett, Imelda Pallen Berry, Francis and Malloy McCaffrey, Romal Boldadora and Aegean McCAffrey perform at the Asian Talent and Fashion Show in 2023.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 13, 2023
Education, philanthropy key goals of the American Asian Women's Association

Women from any ethnicity with an interest to learn about Asian cultures and traditions are welcome to join the Lakewood Ranch nonprofit.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Police awaken residents in response to false kidnapping call
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 13, 2023
Police awaken residents in response to false kidnapping call

Officers surrounded a home during an early morning raid before determining the 911 call was fake. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
A Wilco Electrical LLC employee works on the town's underground utilities project along Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • December 13, 2023
Longboat's overhead power lines to be removed in early 2024

With all materials in hand for Phase 2, the utility project team is optimistic about completing final conversions by the end of the calendar year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Accreditation assessors question Officer Joshua Connors about the marine patrol vessel.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • December 13, 2023
Longboat Key Police Department nears possible accreditation

After performing well in the initial assessment, all that’s left is to go before the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement in February 2024 for final review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sailors boys basketball Head Coach BJ Ivey always gets the most out of his teams.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 13, 2023
The storylines of the early winter sports season

These high schoolers have taken their game to a new level in 2023-2024.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Biden administration policies ignore the data
  • By Guy Bentley, Adrian Moore
  • December 13, 2023
Biden administration policies ignore the data

New proposed "solutions" take on problems that don’t exist or don’t have evidence that they will provide a fix.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
IMG Academy girls golfer Alana Kutt.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 12, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Alana Kutt

The Sarasota-area golfer signed with Coastal Carolina University in November.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A conceptual rendering by Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors of Sarasota shows a reimagined New College East Campus on land the college plans to acquire from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 12, 2023
New College agrees to purchase 31 acres from SRQ airport

New College of Florida's East Campus sits on land it leases from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The lease is set to expire in 2056.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This Isles home at 8327 Redonda Loop sold for $1,825,000. It has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,346 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 12, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 in Lakewood Ranch

An Isles home on Redonda Loop tops the week's sales at $1.83 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • James Peter
  • December 12, 2023
Sarasota author’s book to be featured in Times Square display

Ritu Anand’s children’s book “Kara’s Dreams” won recognition in the 2023 New York City Big Book Award contest.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
River Club's Douglas Whitney, an architect for 43 years, always has loved drawing by hand. He is the only one in WBRC's Lakewood Ranch office to still have a drafting table.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 12, 2023
Lakewood Ranch architect retires after 43 years

From Main Street restaurants to Tidewell Hospice House to R.E. Crawford Construction headquarters, Douglas Whitney has made his mark on Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Habitat restoration zones help protect plants and wildlife, while offering park visitors superior wildlife viewing opportunities thanks to reduced human-related disturbances.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • December 12, 2023
Habitat restoration zones help stabilize natural environment

These areas give wildlife and vegetation a chance to flourish free from human disturbances.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • December 12, 2023
Attempt to return batteries to grocery store ends in trespass warning

A civil disturbance broke out at a store after a woman tried returning batteries without a receipt. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Xavier Uhlinse made 20 of his 25 shots to win the Boys 12-13 division of the Elks Hoop Shoot event held Dec. 6 at Haile Middle.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 12, 2023
Elks Hoop Shoot lets local athletes in on national free throw competition

Six winners from a local event at Haile Middle will advance to the district stage of competition.

  • East County
  • Sports
Pickleball deserves tennis-like support
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • December 12, 2023
Pickleball deserves tennis-like support

A Longboat Key resident makes the case for more pickleball courts at Bayfront Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Golf legend Nick Price tells the crowd about what went into planning the golf course and what it will be like to play the course.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 12, 2023
Soleta Golf Club plans to put Myakka City on the map as golf destination

Golf legends Nick Price and David Leadbetter are part of the team behind the Soleta Golf Club.

  • East County
  • News
The building located at 540 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • December 12, 2023
Tidewell Foundation puts Longboat office building on market for $3M

The office building currently houses The Paradise Center, Fitness Quest Longboat Key and medical offices.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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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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