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Your Observer

The Unit 1A1 condominium in Vizcaya sold for $5 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 24, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for April 8-12 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in Vizcaya tops the week's sales at $5 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Capt. Josh Dillard (Officer of the Year) and firefighter Jason Morrow (Firefighter of the Year) were honored by East Manatee Fire Rescue April 15.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 24, 2024
East Manatee Fire Rescue presents top awards

Longtime friends and co-workers Josh Dillard and Jason Morrow were honored for their service.

  • East County
  • News
Neighbor shines a light on a nearby party
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 24, 2024
Neighbor shines a light on a nearby party

A man shining his headlights in an attempt to disrupt a nuisance outdoor party ends up with a dent from a beer bottle. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Gardeners Out East members Carolyn Lowry-Nation, Nancy Schneider and Melodie Friedebach stand by the Gold Star Memorial installed by the club at the Lakewood Ranch Library.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 24, 2024
Gold Star Memorial to be dedicated at Lakewood Ranch Library

Gardeners Out East will hold the dedication ceremony on May 4.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A site map of the proposed expansion of Payne Park Auditorium shows the existing building in gray and the new structure in yellow surrounded by 59 parking spaces.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 24, 2024
Second suitor emerges to lease Payne Park Auditorium

Hispanic/Latino organization UnidosNow pitches the city on a proposal to occupy the city-owned building as The Sarasota Players' plan works its way through staff scrutiny.

  • Sarasota
  • 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 24, 2024
Potential Longboat projects include flooding fixes, new rec center

At the latest strategic planning retreat, Longboat Key town commissioners talked about future major projects and reviewed the town’s initiatives for 2025-2026.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The purple line running from the Key to the orange dot represents the town-owned wastewater pipeline.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 24, 2024
Cost increase for sewer main project presents challenge for Longboat

The project rose in cost by about $8 million and would replace the subaqueous line underneath Sarasota Bay.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Crews drop a deep-cover reef module into Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 24, 2024
Artificial reefs create habitat in Sarasota Bay for juvenile fish

During the week of April 22, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program deployed 24 concrete artificial reefs as a part of a $150,000 program aimed at providing habitat for fish.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Riverview High baseball sophomore Caiden Cabral.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 24, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Caiden Cabral

The Riverview High baseball sophomore had two big games April 18-19.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
An attack on religion?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 24, 2024
An attack on religion?

A new Biden rule on immigration is forcing thousands of foreign-born clergy to leave their churches, temples and synagogues.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Crooked River Ranch sits along the Manatee River and is the first property that was recommended by ELMAC and also purchased by the county.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 23, 2024
Manatee County awarded $5 million for conservation purchase

Commissioners approved the purchase of Crooked River Ranch in December 2023.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River High senior Corin Mohammadbhoy.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 23, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Corin Mohammadbhoy

The Braden River High girls track and field senior won the triple jump at the Palmetto Invitational.

  • East County
  • Sports
A green sea turtle hatchling makes its way to the Gulf.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 23, 2024
What to know as turtle nesting season approaches

Sea turtle nesting season officially begins on May 1, but nests may start appearing earlier.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jamie Warrington, the director of transportation for the School District of Manatee County, says he and his staff are thinking of out-of-the-box ways to address transportation challenges.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 23, 2024
Manatee School District faces major transportation challenges

Population spike, driver shortage and a wide geographical coverage area are among the top problems facing Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Schools
This Country Club home at 6919 Belmont Court sold for $2 million. It has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,159 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 23, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for April 8-12 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club home on Belmont Court tops the week's sales at $2 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Why do we need a new library?
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 23, 2024
Why do we need a new library?

A Longboat Key reader asks whether the island needs a county-run library.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch Prep finished its first baseball season 4-10, but Head Coach Alex McDuffie said the Eagles learned a lot about what it takes to be a team.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 23, 2024
New Lakewood Ranch Prep baseball program starts with the small details

For the meantime, the pitch is for the players to learn responsibility to their teammates.

  • East County
  • Sports
Woman calls police to investigate suspicious poo in pool
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 23, 2024
Woman calls police to investigate suspicious poo in pool

A Longboat Key officer investigated the feces, which turned out not to be from criminal activity. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Eight of nine newly minted officers of the Sarasota Police Department with Police Chief Rex Troche and guest speaker Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 23, 2024
Sarasota Police Department welcomes nine new officers

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody tells new recruits, "It takes a very special person to answer the call."

  • Sarasota
  • News
Fellow commissioners attend James Satcher's swearing in as the new Supervisor of Elections. From left to right: Amanda Ballard, Jason Bearden, Judge Gilbert A. Smith Jr., James Satcher, Mike Rahn and Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 23, 2024
Major shift in Manatee County election personnel causes concern

With a presidential election looming, the Supervisor of Elections office ushers in a new administration.

  • East County
  • News
A black-crowned night heron in the Plymouth Harbor rookery.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 23, 2024
Plymouth Harbor unveils $1.65 million bird rookery preservation project

Residents, staff and board members cut the ribbon on Earth Day for the revitalized bird rookery and peninsula at Plymouth Harbor.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Richard Tatem was elected to the School Board of Manatee County in August 2022.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 22, 2024
Manatee School Board member vies for Florida House seat

Richard Tatem will resign from the School Board of Manatee County to pursue the District 72 Florida House seat.

  • East County
  • News
Carl Monticelli, Angelo Monticelli, Gabriele Salvatori, Kim Verreault, Lois Hefflefinger and Brian Harmon
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 22, 2024
Longboat Key Chamber promotes Tuscany trip with a wine tasting

Gabriele Salvatori traveled from his winery in San Gimignano to provide an authentic wine-tasting experience to Longboaters considering traveling to Italy.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 22, 2024
FAA document specifies airport land sale objections

The agency said valuation comparables and planned land use run contrary to the grant assurances required of civil aviation operations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ed Kolodzieski of Longboat Key company Ultra-Marine enjoyed showcasing what he said are the first Zodiac Nomads, a lightweight boat with an electric motor, in the United States.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 22, 2024
Boat enthusiasts gather at Suncoast Boat Show

Promoted as the Gulf Coast’s premier boat show, the event features a wide selection of boats both on land and in the water.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alessandro Di Ferdinando, Antonio Mancini and Giancarlo Di Cosmo
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 22, 2024
New Italian restaurant opens on St. Armands Circle

The highly anticipated Italian restaurant, 15 South By Napulè, will be the best of both worlds with an intimate restaurant downstairs and a lively bar and dance floor upstairs.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Tim Widing gives the LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy a kiss. Widing won the tournament in a two-hole playoff against Patrick Cover and Steven Fisk.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 21, 2024
Tim Widing wins 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic

Widing outlasted Patrick Cover and Steven Fisk to get the win at Lakewood National Golf Club.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sheila Frayne, Mary Schultz and Gail Gallagher
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 21, 2024
Longboat Island Chapel sends off snowbirds

The church hosted its annual end-of-season party as many members head back home after spending months on Longboat with longtime friends and attending numerous events.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Asher Ripley, 6, assembles plants to create a sun print at Suncoast Waterkeeper.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 21, 2024
Earth Day at The Bay unites community in support of the environment

The event featured Suncoast Remake Learning Days activities hosted by nonprofits from across Sarasota, a tree giveaway by the city of Sarasota and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kids cool down at the spash pad during the grand opening celebration of Waterside Park on April 20.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 20, 2024
Waterside Park of Lakewood Ranch celebrates grand opening

New amenities to the park include a playground and a splash pad.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Danny Walker hits his tee shot on the No. 18 hole at Lakewood National Golf Club on day three of the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic. Walker, a Lakewood Ranch High graduate, shot eight under par Saturday and is 13 under par for the tournament.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 20, 2024
Leaderboard takes shape heading into final day of LECOM Suncoast Classic

Patrick Cover leads at 18 under par, and a Lakewood Ranch High alumnus is in the top 10.

  • East County
  • Sports
The yellow outline shows the proposed site for the Villas at Elwood Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 20, 2024
Another Elwood Park development effort stalls

Eastwind Development attorney asks for continuance to consider more revisions to the villa project.

  • East County
  • News
Elena Bubnova and her daughter, second-grader Milana Bubnova, help Meily Fernandez perform a science experiment at the table of Sarasota High School's MaST Research Institute.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 20, 2024
Southside Elementary offers a showcase spanning educational fields at STEAM Night

The event brought together science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics in an exhibition for the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
At their April 17 meeting, barrier island mayors discussed how they might collaborate to better enforce regulations preventing illegal trimming or removal of mangroves, like the one that occurred on Longboat in 2023.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 20, 2024
Barrier island officials discuss mangrove delegation, infrastructure

Mayors from Longboat Key, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach met on Longboat to address common issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Anticoagulant poisons in bait traps threaten native rodent hunters, like barred owls, who help keep pests in check.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • April 20, 2024
Birds of prey help control rodent populations

Widespread use of anticoagulant rodenticides is a growing threat for Florida's raptors.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Miles Russell hits his tee shot on the No. 1 hole at Lakewood National Golf Club during round two of the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 19, 2024
Scores stay tight on day two of LECOM Suncoast Classic

Brandon Crick is the leader at 14 under par, with Morgan Hoffmann in second at 13 under par.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Squeaky Wheel Fringe runs June 2-7.
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'Jesus lizard' rescued on Longboat Key
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As a junior last season, Jayla Griffin led the Cougars in points, rebounds and assists per game en route to the FHSAA Class 3A-Region 2 semifinals.
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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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Top residential real estate sales for May 18-22 in Lakewood Ranch

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