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Your Observer

David and Jeff Koffman at their day job as owners of Design Works in downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 13, 2024
Potential City Island investors want to leave a legacy

The many endeavors of entrepreneurs Jeffrey and David Koffman, who say capitalism begets altruism, include a plan to grow City Island's status as an attraction.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Riverview High girls lacrosse senior Caroline Steinwachs (17) is a consistent offensive threat.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 13, 2024
Sarasota high school athletes are off to hot starts

On the diamond, track and lacrosse field, these high schoolers are posting impressive numbers.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Barbara Thurston, Barbara Pressman and Barbara Stanton
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • March 13, 2024
Sarasota, Longboat women bond over shared name: Barbara

Barbaras from around Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and the Keys meet up every month to network and help the community.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A vision plan for the Sarasota Square Mall property presented at the March 7, 2024, Sarasota County Planning Commission meeting.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 13, 2024
Sarasota Square Mall redevelopment includes up to 1,200 apartments

The Sarasota County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of five measures to pave the way for replacing Sarasota Square Mall.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Amara Chepuri, a fifth grader at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, hopes to make it to the quarterfinals at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 13, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Prep student qualifies for Scripps National Spelling Bee

Amara Chepuri is spelling her way to the top, one letter at a time.

  • East County
  • Schools
Man swindled with bail bond sob story
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 13, 2024
Man swindled with bail bond sob story

Man meets woman. Woman says bond soon to be revoked. Man gives $350. Woman vanishes into the night. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Built in 1991, 3572 Fair Oaks Way has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,052 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 13, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 26 to March 1 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Queen’s Harbour home on Fair Oaks Way tops the week's sales at $6 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Robyn Bell, Lynne Lash, Linda Jacobs and Christine Captain say the Suncoast Food & Wine Fest is their favorite event of the year.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 13, 2024
Rotary Club raises $140,000 from Suncoast Food & Wine Fest

The Lakewood Ranch nonprofit has now granted $2.3 million over the years.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
After heart surgery, David Paliotta completely changed his diet and exercise patterns.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 13, 2024
Lakewood Ranch senior gives peak performance

After a quadruple bypass surgery, Summerfield's David Paliotta works toward an unlikely goal: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A red Corvette on display at the 2019 Corvettes on the Circle car show at St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 13, 2024
New city agreement brings car shows back to St. Armands

St. Armands Association compromised with the city of Sarasota to ensure that landscaping and park aesthetics are preserved during car shows and other events.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota’s own answer to crime reduction
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • March 13, 2024
Sarasota’s own answer to crime reduction

The most intractable problem of crime is that of repeat offenders. Solving that is no easy task, but in Sarasota, an impressive nonprofit called Project 180 is showing it can be done.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Biden’s fantasia vs. Florida’s fiscal responsibleness
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 13, 2024
Biden’s fantasia vs. Florida’s fiscal responsibleness

What a contrast — the Biden proposed budget and the historical federal deficits versus the Florida budget for 2024-2025.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Authorities speak to guests outside the Zota Beach Resort on Aug. 4, 2017, after a double homicide took place at the resort.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 13, 2024
Charges reduced for suspect in Longboat murder case

On Jan. 12, detectives arrested Latoya Hanna in St. Lucie County following a six-year investigation for the 2017 Longboat murders at Zota Beach Resort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Cardinal Mooney High softball freshman Olivia Lockhart.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 12, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Olivia Lockhart

The Cardinal Mooney High softball freshman is making a major impact at the plate.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Longboat Key ranked fifth top place to retire on Florida's Gulf Coast
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 12, 2024
Longboat Key ranked fifth top place to retire on Florida's Gulf Coast

Travel website and newsletter The Travel listed its top seven spots to retire on the Sunshine State's Gulf Coast.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Robin Zerola and Claudia Brown search through deals on women's clothes.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 12, 2024
Royal Rummage Sale draws crowd of bargain hunters

The annual event at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church sold 800 tickets for the early-bird sale.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Jessica Muroff, United Way Suncoast CEO
  • March 12, 2024
County Commission decision will bring end to 211 for Sarasota County residents

The commission's Sept. 11 decision will eliminate a service that hundreds of thousands of Sarasota residents have come to rely on for more than 40 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Manatee County, USF partnership helps paraprofessionals become teachers
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 12, 2024
Manatee County, USF partnership helps paraprofessionals become teachers

A federal grant will send 60 English for Speakers of Other Languages paraprofessionals to the University of South Florida to earn their teaching degrees.

  • East County
  • Schools
This Riverdale Revised home at 602 Regatta Way sold for $4.2 million. It has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,388 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 12, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 26 to March 1 in Lakewood Ranch

A Riverdale Revised home on Regatta Way tops the week's sales at $4.2 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
St. Armands Market provides all types of products from food, drinks, cleaning supplies, skin care and more.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • March 12, 2024
St. Armands Market offers accessible groceries and essentials

Residents and tourists can grab on-the-go meals and stock their pantries without fighting traffic to leave St. Armands Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Oats McGoats is adjusting to his new home at the Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary in Myakka City.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 12, 2024
Stray goat finds home in Myakka City

A stray goat that was found wandering the streets of Jacksonville was taken in by the Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Man causing disturbance resists arrest and assaults officer
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 12, 2024
Man causing disturbance resists arrest and assaults officer

A Longboat Key officer responded to a disturbance, which escalated quickly. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Service dog and owner forge special friendship
    By
  • James Peter
  • March 12, 2024
Service dog and owner forge special friendship

Beth Usher endured brain surgery, befriended Mr. Rogers, spreads humor and now spends time on Siesta Key with her best friend and service dog, Gromit.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Brandin Gallaway takes a corner kick for Braden River Soccer Club during a practice at Premier Sports Campus in July 2023. Elliott Falcione said youth soccer will continue to be a cornerstone of the facility's schedule in the coming years.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 12, 2024
Premier Sports Campus of Lakewood Ranch focuses on economic impact

Youth events are easier to land than professional ones and bring a sizable impact to the area, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Executive Director Bureau Elliott Falcione says.

  • East County
  • Sports
Rev. David Marshall blesses Spike the bearded dragon.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 12, 2024
Open house connects town staff, organizations and residents

The 2024 community open house was held on the Town Center Green, allowing it to be bigger than in previous years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
There are an estimated 700 vacation rental properties across the city of Sarasota.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 12, 2024
New city department will enforce vacation rental regulations

The total new cost to register and enforce the citywide vacation rental ordinance expansion is about $150,000.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Braden River High boys track and field senior Derek Anders.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 12, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Derek Anders

The Braden River High boys senior track and field athlete set a school record in the high jump on March 8.

  • East County
  • Sports
Church of the Redeemer
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 11, 2024
Wine auction nets $88,000 for Church of the Redeemer

Proceeds of the auction of a wine collection donated by parishioner Hugh Culverhouse Jr. will help build a church in the Dominican Republic.

  • Sarasota
  • News
ODA junior Makenna Larkin catches a pass against Bradenton Christian School on March 7. Larkin scored two goals against BCS.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 11, 2024
ODA girls lacrosse using attitude to its advantage

The Thunder is 5-2 as of March 8 after winning just four games in 2023.

  • East County
  • Sports
The location in Fort Myers provides an idea of what to expect in Lakewood Ranch if the project is approved.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 11, 2024
Proposal for dining, entertainment spot worries Lakewood Ranch residents

Residents fear plans for Backyard Social will threaten the hours and character of the Lakewood Ranch community.

  • East County
  • News
Cookbook by Longboat resident makes recipes easy to read
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • March 10, 2024
Cookbook by Longboat resident makes recipes easy to read

Kathleen Greig shares her love for diverse cuisines and recipes through her blog and debut cookbook, "Inspired Cuisine."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key survey: Give us your preference on a library
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 10, 2024
Longboat Key survey: Give us your preference on a library

The Observer straw poll asks Longboat residents their preferences for a library, community center and education center. Give us your feedback.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Liam Middleton, 6, does a backflip on the bungee trampoline.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 9, 2024
Irish Celtic Festival draws hundreds to Lakewood Ranch

The Irish Celtic Festival featured Irish food and music, along with games and a dog parade.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
17-year-old male dies in an east Bradenton shooting Friday
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 9, 2024
17-year-old male dies in an east Bradenton shooting Friday

A 17-year-old Parrish male is arrested on probable cause of manslaughter with a firearm.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 9, 2024
CareerEdge offers free CNA training program

The fast-track program for certified nursing assistants will begin April 30.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Proposed lane configurations for Longboat Pass Bridge design alternatives.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 9, 2024
Future of Longboat Pass Bridge up for discussion

Keeping the current bridge would mean "increasingly costly maintenance and repair projects causing continued disruption to traffic," FDOT says.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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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.
  • June 2, 2026
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