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Your Observer

Located on the edge of Sarasota Bay, Plymouth Harbor offers stunning water and city views.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • February 1, 2024
Plymouth Harbor’s remarkable residents reflect the community's long legacy

Plymouth Harbor is home to people who have enjoyed distinguished careers in business, medicine, law, academia and, especially, the arts.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ben Baldwin was part architect, part decorator, part horticulturalist — an elegant gentleman whose goal in life was to create beauty to live in.
  • By Robert Plunket
  • February 1, 2024
Owners of Siesta Key home preserve its modern lineage

Designer Ben Baldwin had a vision for his Siesta Key home that remains safe with its current owners — down to every detail.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Commission Chair Mike Rahn, County Administrator Charlie Bishop, Commissioner George Kruse and Commissioner Ray Turner enjoy the first sip of water after Manatee County spent $53 million to retrofit the Lake Manatee Water Treatment Plant with new filters.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 31, 2024
Upgraded Manatee water treatment system serves its first drink

Manatee County's $53 million retrofit uses ultrafiltration membranes to block additional contaminants.

  • East County
  • News
Musical trio to present Neil Diamond tribute on Longboat
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 31, 2024
Musical trio to present Neil Diamond tribute on Longboat

The show will combine a concert and a behind-the-music breakdown of the inspiration for the artist's most popular songs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Cardinal Mooney's Bri Behn drives the lane against The Academy of Central Florida.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 31, 2024
Secondary contributions key to elite basketball team success

Having top-end talent helps, but the deeper a roster goes, the better its chances of winning playoff games.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Rev. Brock Patterson found his perfect fit at Longboat Island Chapel.
    By
  • Abby Weingarten
  • January 31, 2024
How one church and its pastor inspire its members to give back

Under Rev. Brock Patterson’s leadership, Longboat Island Chapel continues to offer vital support to area outreaches — with grace and a touch of humor.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 31, 2024
Getting started with the Breeze OnDemand smartphone app

Here’s everything you need to know to use Sarasota County's ride-share service now available for all of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dissatisfied diner calls police over service dispute
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 31, 2024
Dissatisfied diner calls police over service dispute

A woman wants officers to file a report following a dispute with a server and manager. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The salad bars in high school cafeterias come with plenty of ingredients for students to choose.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 31, 2024
Providing more food options is a recipe for success in Manatee schools

The School District of Manatee County offers increased variety to meet students' needs for a nutritious lunch.

  • East County
  • Schools
Construction of the $132 million Mote SEA is on schedule for opening by the end of 2024.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 31, 2024
$700 million worth of Sarasota projects take shape

Project leaders update the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce on the expected cultural and economic impacts of Mote, The Bay and more.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Marcus Schade hits a 3-point shot against Riverview High. Schade has made 41% of his outside shots this season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 31, 2024
Pirates basketball senior has developed into a shooting star

Braden River High senior guard Marcus Schade has lit up the score sheet this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bud Northway and Rosanna White at the Chamber's Light Up, Longboat event on Nov. 25. The couple will be renewing their vows after being married for six weeks.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 31, 2024
Vow renewal event set for Valentine’s Day on Longboat Key

Longboat couples are invited to commemorate their special day with a vow renewal ceremony on Feb. 14.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Terry Alexander Gans and Diane Gans, of San Carlos, California, sold their Unit 316 condominium at 3030 Grand Bay Blvd. to D W Johnstone (2014) Ltd. for $2.25 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 31, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 15-19 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in Grand Bay tops the week's sales at $2.25 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
David Proudfoot won the first Run for the Beads 5K on Feb. 18, 2023.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 31, 2024
Second Mardi Gras-themed race scheduled for Waterside

Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation's Run for the Beads Mardi Gras 5K Run/Walk will again wind through Waterside of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Samina Morrow, Julie Benjamin, John Fain, and Angela Massaro-Fain have a little fun in preparation for Phantom: A Masquerade Ball.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 31, 2024
Sisterhood for Good gives back to community with masquerade ball

Sisterhood for Good of Lakewood Ranch hopes its Phantom: A Masquerade Ball fundraiser produces plenty for those in need.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Anisa Mycak and Tania Vitvitsky hold up the Ukrainian flag.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 31, 2024
Humanitarian recounts scenes of everyday life amid Russia-Ukraine war

"They have to live because they could be dead the next day," says Tania Vitvitsky, a humanitarian of Ukrainians who did not flee Russia-Ukraine war.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Renderings of the playground being built at Tom Bennett Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 31, 2024
ADA-accessible playground coming to Tom Bennett Park

Manatee County commissioners and the Bradenton Kiwanis Club celebrated the groundbreaking on a state-of-the-art playground that will be accessible to all children.

  • East County
  • News
How to attract more health care practitioners
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 31, 2024
How to attract more health care practitioners

Florida needs thousands more doctors, nurses and mental health specialists. The Legislature wants to attract them by paying their medical school loans and making it easier to get a license.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Booker High girls basketball sophomore Yvette Brown.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 30, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Yvette Brown

The Booker High girls basketball sophomore has been on a roll in January.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
John Davidson inside his store in 2015.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 30, 2024
John Davidson, patriarch of Siesta Key, dies at age 93

The community leader started Davidson Drugs in 1958, founded and published the Pelican Press and tirelessly served his fellow islanders.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Northern portions of Longboat Key are typically more prone to flooding. However, the town has other portions of the island that are also low lying like the Sleepy Lagoon and Buttonwood Harbour neighborhoods.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 30, 2024
Sleepy Lagoon residents urge higher priority for drainage improvement

Longboat Key drainage projects are on the way, but the first won't begin construction until 2025.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jury duty scams on the rise in Sarasota, county warns
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 30, 2024
Jury duty scams on the rise in Sarasota, county warns

The county advises residents to hang up the phone and verify court-related calls with the Clerk and Comptroller’s Jury Office.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Tidewell Foundation
  • January 30, 2024
Tidewell 15th Annual Signature Luncheon Features Marilu Henner

The Tidewell Foundation’s crystal anniversary of the Signature Luncheon will take place on March 1, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
This Lake Club home at 16116 Clearlake Ave. for $3.1 million. It has six bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,299 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 30, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 15-19 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Clearlake Avenue tops the week's sales at $3.1 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
ODA boys soccer senior Josey Rubinstein.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 30, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Josey Rubinstein

The ODA boys soccer junior has 12 goals and 32 points this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Manatee County is having trouble filling its citizen advisory boards. Boards typically meet on the fifth floor of the Administration Building.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 30, 2024
Manatee County considers value of citizen advisory boards

Chief of Staff Andy Butterfield is in the process of reviewing all 18 advisory boards.

  • East County
  • News
Tyler Hilaire is the "nature boy" on campus. He's always finding sticks to play with.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 30, 2024
Beyond the Spectrum tailors education to each student

The Lakewood Ranch nonprofit works with children and young adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Police investigating suspicious vehicle find man sleeping inside
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 30, 2024
Police investigating suspicious vehicle find man sleeping inside

An officer had to wake the overnight camper and advise that the parking lot was not a place to stay. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Andrés Duany points out rooftops in Sarasota, stating they should be designed with their aesthetics in mind.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 30, 2024
Key Sarasota planner praises city while noting its shortcomings

"Have you seen (your bayfront)? It is such a collection of incoherent junk," says Andrés Duany, an influential planner of downtown Sarasota who is known as the "father of New Urbanism."

  • Sarasota
  • News
Education Center at Temple Beth Israel to host first fundraiser
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 30, 2024
Education Center at Temple Beth Israel to host first fundraiser

Program Director Susan Goldfarb highlights the new educational programs and The Education Center's decades-themed fundraiser.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 30, 2024
Attraction park proposed for Sarasota's City Island

Ride Entertainment wants to bring park golf, a 120-foot-tall tower ride and more to a reimagined Ken Thompson Park via private-public partnership.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Harry Anand's Change of Watch ceremony. Bobby Overall, Brian Will, Alex Lancaster, Harry Anand and Pete Kujawski.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 30, 2024
Yacht Club leader preaches local involvement as key to progress

New Commodore Harry Anand brings his skills as a business leader, community activist and mayor to the Sarasota Yacht Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Attorney alleges Battie had prior knowledge of hoax racist Facebook post
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 29, 2024
Attorney alleges Battie had prior knowledge of hoax racist Facebook post

The attorney for Kelly Franklin says evidence shows that Sarasota City Commissioner Kyle Battie was aware of the hoax nearly a month before presenting it at a meeting.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Corrosion caused Longboat power issues during Idalia, FPL says
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 29, 2024
Corrosion caused Longboat power issues during Idalia, FPL says

During Hurricane Idalia, 20 underground transformers failed and left 400 Longboat Key residents without power for 15 hours.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Deborah Jennings, Ann Friesch, Georgene Lytle, Jean-Marie Seidl, Kerry Ottenwess, Liz Burdeau and Lori Moran
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 29, 2024
Beachplace condominium celebrates 45th anniversary

Condo owners marked the milestone at their annual owners party and recall brushes with celebrity over the years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Eric Sanders' Braden River High football offenses have averaged 28.7 points per game since 2012.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 29, 2024
Eric Sanders takes over Braden River High football program

Sanders spent 12 seasons as offensive coordinator under former Pirates Head Coach Curt Bradley.

  • 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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