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Your Observer

Police Chief Rex Troche and members of the Sarasota Police Department command staff present 2023 crime data to the Sarasota City Commission.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 26, 2024
Serious crime drops in Sarasota, according to police report

There were no murders last year, and the Sarasota Police Department reports a 16.2% decline in the most serious crimes in 2023.

  • Sarasota
  • News
MVP Sports and Social members go all-out for the pirate costume contest. Photos of the members were posted on social media so members at home could vote for best costume.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 25, 2024
Lakewood Ranch's MVP Sports and Social hits the high seas

Local residents board a cruise with the area's sports and social organization.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jordan Bullard, 16, performs at the event.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 25, 2024
Reggae Block Party honors legacy of a music icon

The eighth annual Osfest honored Oswald Caines of Democracy Reggae Band amid the upbeat music.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Phil Thibodeau takes his wife, Nicole, 7-year-old son Lochlan, 5-year-old daughter Zolana and 4-year-old son Dexon camping at the Adventure Park.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 25, 2024
Lakewood Ranch campout becomes a neighborly adventure

Dozens of families pitched their tents at Adventure Park to introduce their children to camping.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
"Josh" the Otter and administrative secretary Janet Shapiro promoted water safety at the 2023 community open house.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 25, 2024
Town looks to grow community open house this year

The town of Longboat Key is looking to make this year's community open house the biggest yet.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Beach University environmental classes return for 17th year
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 25, 2024
Beach University environmental classes return for 17th year

The monthlong education series is held each Thursday in March at Siesta Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Anwar Desvignes of Succulantes
    By
  • James Peter
  • February 24, 2024
Farmers Market fills downtown with artisanal goods and produce

Pepós Shoes brings handmade shoes from Colombia to Sarasota shoppers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Co-chairs of this year's fashion show are Ann King and Sherry Kenny.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 24, 2024
Palm Aire Women's Club struts for scholarships

The East County club held its annual fashion show to raise money for local students and charities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 24, 2024
Longboat faces rate hike for residential trash collection

Due to increases in labor costs and truck maintenance, Waste Management proposes a 28% residential rate increase.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The expansion of One Stop Housing's Oakridge Apartments on North Tamiami Trail would bring 36 new affordable housing apartments.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 24, 2024
Affordable housing projects take steps toward construction

Two affordable housing proposals would bring almost 200 units to north Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The latest version of One Park is planned for Block 1 of The Quay.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 23, 2024
Pared-down One Park condo plan proposed to city

A new plan for the 18-story building on Block 1 in The Quay includes 86 luxury condos. A plan for Block 9 will follow.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Carlos Paez, the director of before- and after-school care at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, always wanted to teach his students kindness and hoped they would pay it forward.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 23, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Prep staff member remembered for his kindness

Carlos Paez, the director of Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy's before- and after-school care, died Feb. 14. Students and staff will miss his ability to make them smile and laugh every day.

  • East County
  • Schools
Hugh Culverhouse Jr. donates wine collection to church auction
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 23, 2024
Hugh Culverhouse Jr. donates wine collection to church auction

All proceeds from the online-only auction of 300 bottles will benefit Church of the Redeemer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Elizabeth Apmann and other instructors worked individually with session participants.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 23, 2024
Pickleball players learn injury prevention and skills for charity

The Rotary Club of Longboat Key hosted the event that raised more than $12,000 and taught players intermediate skills.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • February 22, 2024
James Stephen ‘Steve’ Cox

James Stephen ‘Steve’ Cox, 72, of Bradenton, FL, passed away on February 14, 2024, with his family by his side.

  • East County
  • Tributes & Obituaries
A home in Sarasota Beach, which sold for $4 million, has seven bedrooms, seven-and-a-half baths and 5,184 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 22, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 5-9 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Sarasota Beach home on Plaza Des Las Palmas tops the week's sales at $4 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Gillespie Park is the only neighborhood in Sarasota that has two competing neighborhood associations.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 22, 2024
Gillespie Park neighborhood feud frustrates city

Two Gillespie Park associations put the city of Sarasota in a bind with competing grant applications.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nayeli Centeno, a Manatee Technical College Dental Assisting student, teaches Vaylin Jensen, a Lakewood Ranch High School junior, how to suction a mouth.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 22, 2024
MTC open house provides hands-on look at careers

Manatee Technical College's East Campus open house gave potential future students an opportunity to see the programs available.

  • East County
  • Schools
One of the acrylic panels that will allow visitors of the Mote SEA to come face-to-face with sea life.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 22, 2024
Sarasota’s landscape of attractions continues to grow — at a price

Cultural organizations in the Sarasota area are pursuing major projects with only so much philanthropy to go around.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The 25,000-square-foot Lakewood Ranch Library is the only project that has been completed at Premier Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 22, 2024
No money, but Manatee County plans for new Palmetto park?

Premier project drags, but $30 million will be spent on a veterans' memorial park.

  • East County
  • Opinion
A transfer of development rights proposal would allow owners of historic structures, such as the Palm Apartments next to the Embassy Suites hotel, to sell height and density rights to other development projects in perpetuity.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 22, 2024
Pitch would allow historic buildings to sell air rights, preserve structures

If the transfer program proposal is adopted, owners of historic structures in the city of Sarasota could sell height and density rights to other development projects in perpetuity.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ashley Eisenacher (10) is one of three freshmen on the Riverview High girls lacrosse team. Eisenacher had two goals against Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 22, 2024
Riverview High girls lacrosse wants to show strength of whole team

The Rams already have top-tier scorers. Now they're building full-team depth.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Charter school proposal raises concerns for Sarasota School Board
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 22, 2024
Charter school proposal raises concerns for Sarasota School Board

As the Sarasota County School Board reviewed a proposal for Sarasota Classical Preparatory Academy, board members voiced a range of concerns that included what they said was a lack of detailed plans.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
John Kenyon speaks about Cringer the alligator to an audience at Fruitville Library.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 22, 2024
Sarasota libraries explore world of wildlife with free events

Libraries are offering programming to tie in with One Book selection “An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us” by Ed Yong.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
New drinking and dining establishments in downtown Sarasota and elsewhere in the city will be defined differently under a new zoning text amendment.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 22, 2024
New definitions approved for Sarasota restaurants and bars

The complicated process of simplification is intended to reduce confusion over permitting of dining and drinking establishments in the city.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 21, 2024
Social media restrictions for teens should be left to families, residents say

The Florida Senate prepares to vote on a bill that would restrict the use of social media by teens. Sarasota residents weigh in on the idea.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Biologists Kristen Peterson and Jamie Wolanin monitor the Braden River to check for Old World Tape Grass growth.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 21, 2024
Invasive grass species threatens Braden River ecosystem

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission uses liquid copper to rid the Braden River of tape grass, an aquatic plant that could dominate native vegetation and damage wildlife.

  • East County
  • News
Former Sarasota and Braden River high schools running back Brian Battie played for Auburn University in 2023.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 21, 2024
College football video game could turn local stars into legends

This summer, EA Sports will release the first game in the series since 2013.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    In Memoriam |
  • February 21, 2024
Albert “Jay” Graf

Albert “Jay” Graf, 76, of Longboat Key, Florida and Wolfeboro, New Hampshire passed away January 8th, 2024 from Alzheimer’s disease in Sarasota, Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Iconic Gulfstream Avenue steel sculpture seeks new home
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 21, 2024
Iconic Gulfstream Avenue steel sculpture seeks new home

Complexus, the jewel of Sarasota's public art collection, will be heading for a Fruitville Road site if both the city and county governments approve.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Police order trespasser down from a construction crane
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 21, 2024
Police order trespasser down from a construction crane

A man who said he was "simply bored" was spotted standing near the edge of a crane in The Quay. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The home at 426 Cleveland Drive sold for $4 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 21, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 5-9 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Lido Key home on Cleveland Drive tops the week's sales at $4 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Lakewood Ranch baseball senior pitcher Lochlan Radloff struck out 77 hitters in 2023.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 21, 2024
Pitching gives Lakewood Ranch High baseball the edge

Other East County baseball and softball teams have high hopes.

  • East County
  • Sports
Roger Pettingell visits one of his listings.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • February 21, 2024
A day in the life with Sarasota's top Realtor

Roger Pettingell, Sarasota's best-selling Realtor for the 14th year, shares keys to his success in real estate and his efforts to humanize his work life.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
New cooking class emphasizes fresh, local ingredients
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • February 21, 2024
New cooking class emphasizes fresh, local ingredients

Trained chef Tina Anderson will teach cooking for all skill levels at Driftwood Beach Home and Garden on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Mixons' food truck showcases the history of Mixon Fruit Farms.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 21, 2024
Former Mixon Farms owners begin new stage with food truck

Although Mixon Fruit Farms closed, life with the Mixons continues on a food truck.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
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Squeaky Wheel Fringe runs June 2-7.
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