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Your Observer

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy sophomores Kiran Kalia, Olivia Longino, Samantha Strohbach and Gianna Weldon work present "Did I Do It?" a book they wrote with their 14 classmates in Joseph Bockus' Cambridge AICE English Language class.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 2, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Prep class publishes collaborative novel

The class of 18 students work together on a self-published murder mystery novel.

  • East County
  • Schools
The conceptual drawing for The Bay master plan includes a site for a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center, shaded in purple.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 2, 2024
Funding for new performing arts center divides county and city

County commissioners' recommendation forecasts no tax increment financing revenues for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center architect contract.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota campus of Sarasota Memorial Hospital in 2021.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • May 2, 2024
Sarasota Memorial Hospital earns 'A' for patient safety

SMH was lauded by The Leapfrog Group for how well it prevents medical errors, accidents and infections.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Tidewell Foundation
  • May 2, 2024
Tidewell Foundation Raising the Next Generation of Hospice Nurses

Tidewell Hospice, a not-for-profit organization, offers care provided by expert care teams wherever patients call home.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Sandy Finnegan, Debbie Karlin and Judy Posner
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • May 1, 2024
Women's Golf Association of Longboat Key celebrates end of season

This year saw the golf groups switch from paper scorekeeping to the Golf Genius app.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Progress continues on new schools in Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 1, 2024
Progress continues on new schools in Lakewood Ranch

A high school is expected to open in August 2027, and a K-8 school is expected in August 2025.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • May 1, 2024
Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board candidates forum set for July 11

For the first time, the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County will hold a Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board candidates forum.

  • Sarasota
  • News
New museum to feature model railroad and vintage toys
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 1, 2024
New museum to feature model railroad and vintage toys

Lakewood Ranch's Richard Pierson expects to open Sarasota Toy Museum and Moosehead Toys and Comics, with space dedicated to an HO scale model train layout, in July.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. offers Special Olympics Florida's Registered Training Program for Manatee County athletes.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 1, 2024
East Bradenton equine therapy program needs room to grow

Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. offers therapeutic horseback riding and trains athletes for the Special Olympics.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
2024 is the 43rd year of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's sea turtle monitoring program.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 1, 2024
First sea turtle nest of 2024 recorded in Sarasota County

The sea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1, which also marks the start to Longboat Key's sea turtle ordinances.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Currently, only CDD1 has rules for ponds, lakes and fishing. This sign is posted along Hidden River Trail.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 1, 2024
Lakewood Ranch CDDs seek uniform regulation of lakes

Currently, only CDD1 has rules to regulate the ponds and lakes within its district.

  • East County
  • News
Alice Abyss published “Pharmakides."
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 1, 2024
Book fair shines spotlight on world of local authors

Authors gathered at the Bookstore1Sarasota fair to showcase works in a range of genres.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The dust coming off the Lennar Homes construction site on C.R. 675 is causing health and safety concerns for residents.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 1, 2024
Residents fed up with construction dust

Manatee County considers additional requirements for developers clearing land to control dust from their construction sites.

  • East County
  • News
Man claims he was served spiked drinks
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 1, 2024
Man claims he was served spiked drinks

A regular patron says a bartender siding with his estranged wife served drinks that made him sick. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Lakewood Ranch's Grayson Yost and Logan Koehler love participating in the Pinewood Derby. They came up with the theme and design of their cars.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 1, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Cub Scouts prepare for annual Pinewood Derby

The top three winners from six dens will participate in the Manatee District Pinewood Derby.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Unit M-908 L’Ambiance condominium has three bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths and 3,220 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 1, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for April 15-19 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in L’Ambiance tops the week's sales at $5.7 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Cardinal Mooney junior Chris McCorkle (8) sprints downfield against Riverview.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 1, 2024
What to watch as spring football begins in Sarasota

Each of the area's teams has intriguing storylines to follow before summer arrives.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Town of Longboat Key operating hours change permanently
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 1, 2024
Town of Longboat Key operating hours change permanently

The town implemented a pilot program with earlier operating hours. That schedule will remain permanent after the successful test run.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Support Services Director Carolyn Brown will retire from the town of Longboat Key in July.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 1, 2024
Support Services Director Carolyn Brown to retire from town in July

After almost six years with Longboat Key, Brown is ready to move on to one more venture before retiring.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The proposed site of a city-owned attainable housing development across First Street from City Hall. The red X marks the location of the city's credit union office, which is now being considered for purchase by the city.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 1, 2024
Trailblazing city housing plan enters uncharted legal waters

Sarasota Deputy City Attorney Michael Connelly warns of potential legal hurdles as no Florida city has yet to build its own workforce housing development.

  • Sarasota
  • News
That’s one heckuva wrap!
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • May 1, 2024
That’s one heckuva wrap!

Of course, there was fashion, food and fun, but the amount of money donated this year tops the charts as a season standout.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Florida Studio Theatre's Arts Plaza project will be on its five-theater campus in Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 30, 2024
Florida Studio Theatre receives $4 million gift for Arts Plaza

The grant puts FST's $57 million downtown arts center project on track for a December 2024 groundbreaking.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota High girls track and field sophomore Aubri Antczak.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 30, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Aubri Antczak

The Sarasota High girls track and field sophomore holds the school record in the 3,200-meter run (11:04.22)

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Flynn Berman, 11, breaks the matzah.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 30, 2024
Families celebrate Passover at Temple Emanu-El feast

The event taught the traditions of Passover in an evening featuring costumes, songs, games and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Braden River High sophomore Benecio Claudino and junior Grant Hicks are undefeated as a doubles pair in 2024. This is their first season together as a full-time pair.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 30, 2024
Braden River High boys tennis duo is a pair of aces

Sophomore Benecio Claudino and junior Grant Hicks complement each other's strengths.

  • East County
  • Sports
John H. Marble Park is undergoing major renovations.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 30, 2024
Manatee County funds community initiatives

The Manatee County Commission has approved funding for various initiatives for community organizations, public safety, transportation and more.

  • East County
  • News
New HR director confirmed for Manatee County
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 30, 2024
New HR director confirmed for Manatee County

The Manatee County Commission unanimously confirmed Kate Barnett as human resources director after serving as the department's interim director since June 2023.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 16543 Kendleshire Terrace has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,580 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 30, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for April 15-19 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club East home on Kendleshire Terrace tops the week's sales at $2.55 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Braden River High sophomore flag football player Natalie Davis.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 30, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Natalie Davis

The Braden River High flag football sophomore had two TDs and two INTs April 23 against Keswick Christian

  • East County
  • Sports
Joan Elder packing meals
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 30, 2024
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church packs 30,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger

People from all over the area volunteered with the church to provide meals for local food pantries and nonprofits.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's CJ Bannister says her eight years in the Air Force are some of the best years of her life. It instilled in her a heart for service not only to the military but the community.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 30, 2024
Lakewood Ranch veteran honored for service to the military and community

Tidewell Foundation honors U.S. Air Force veteran C.J. Bannister.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The site plan of the new Sarasota County Regional Fire Training Academy, color-coded in phases under current funding.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 30, 2024
Sarasota County fire training academy receives funding approval

The County Commission allocates $43 million to build the first phase of a regional facility.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Elyssa Ackerman, Saleeah Kofar-Naisa and Naomi Flores
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 30, 2024
Christ Church sponsors reading of new children's book

The Sarasota-based authors of "Jamani's Lucky Day" entertained students in the Reading Buddies program at 13th Avenue Dream Center in Bradenton.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Resident calls for police assistance for ducklings in pool
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 30, 2024
Resident calls for police assistance for ducklings in pool

An officer decided it was best to wait for a trained professional to take care of the small ducks. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The Ringling College Visual Arts Center was designed by Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors of Sarasota.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 30, 2024
SPAC architect selects Sarasota-based firm as architect of record

Italy-based Renzo Piano Building Workshop has named Sweet Sparkman as its local partner to design a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • April 30, 2024
Sarasota-Bradenton leads nation in slashing home prices

The rising cost of insurance has pushed some buyers to look outside Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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