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Your Observer

Raymond Turner, with his wife Debbie at his side, takes the oath of office to become the District 5 Manatee County Commissioner Aug. 1, 2023. He is running for reelection.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 27, 2023
Manatee County welcomes its newest commissioner

Raymond Turner has been named as District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh's replacement.

  • East County
  • News
No new local malaria cases reported since July 13
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 27, 2023
No new local malaria cases reported since July 13

The outbreak will be declared over if no new cases are reported by Sept. 7.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Christina Unkel was named the club president of Super League Tampa Bay on July 15.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 27, 2023
Sarasota's Unkel selected as team president of Super League Tampa Bay organization

Christina Unkel, a former FIFA referee, has spent 15 years working at the highest levels of the sport.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A Coast Guard helicopter flies over Nathan Benderson Park on July 26 for the Spirit of America camp week.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 27, 2023
Coast Guard teaches boating safety at Nathan Benderson Park

Campers, ages 10 to 14, enjoyed fun, adventure and safety during Spirit of America week at the park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mural Organizer Walter Gilbert, Colson family member Sonja McCoy Harvey and Mayor Kyle Battie
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 27, 2023
New mural in Rosemary District celebrates local Black history icons

The mural on the Planned Parenthood health center features Lewis and Irene Colson.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
What we do matters
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • July 27, 2023
What we do matters

While some say artificial intelligence poses threats to the media, Florida newspapers remain strong with local journalism reporting human experiences and connections — something AI will never do as we do.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
To the campers, it's all fun and games at Dream Oaks Camp, but goals are set by parents and staff members ahead of their arrival.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 27, 2023
Dream Oaks camp is a dream come true for campers and parents

Foundation for Dreams and its camp offer horseback riding, canoeing and swimming for kids and a respite for their parents.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A home in Cocoanut Bayou tops all transactions in this week’s real estate at $6 million. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,865 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 27, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for July 10-14 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Cocoanut Bayou home on Higel Avenue tops the week’s sales at $6 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Superintendent Terry Connor talks with board member Robyn Marinelli.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 27, 2023
Sarasota School Board begins consideration of annual budget

A vote will take place on the tentative budget during a meeting on Aug. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch Little Free Library founder Elizabeth Henderson and Neel Menon dedicate the new library in Bob Gardner Park to Jai Menon, Neel's brother who died in 2016.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 27, 2023
Little Free Libraries continue to grow in the Lakewood Ranch area

The smallish libraries have a great impact to the communities they serve.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The bid to build a pad for the sculpture commissioned for the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 10th Street was $743,651.70.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 27, 2023
Concrete pad prices prompt reconsideration of public art placement

The bid for concrete foundations in U.S. 41 roundabouts was nearly four times the cost of the sculptures.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Homes in Lakewood Ranch, including this Neal Signature Homes' Seaside model, continue to fly off the shelf. Lakewood Ranch continues to be ranked as the No. 1-selling, multi-generational, master-planned community in the U.S.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 27, 2023
Lakewood Ranch retains standing as the top multigenerational, master-planned community

The RCLCO rankings also noted that Lakewood Ranch was No. 2 in total sales with 1,227, up 20% from the same period a year ago.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 26, 2023
City caps millage rate at 3.000

The max millage approved by commissioners will support the proposed $285.68 million budget.

  • Sarasota
  • News
George Leibold.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 26, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: George Leibold

The Cardinal Mooney linebacker received an offer from Stetson University this offseason.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch wrestler Nate Smith had his junior season ended in the regional tournament stage because of a finger injury.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 26, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High wrestler hopes to earn a state title his senior year

A broken finger in last year's regional ended Nate Smith's quest in his junior year.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota man pleads guilty to 2022 murder
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 26, 2023
Sarasota man pleads guilty to 2022 murder

Johnny Evans. 23, was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Angry boyfriend smashes windshield after his partner's date with another man
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 26, 2023
Angry boyfriend smashes windshield after his partner's date with another man

Online-initiated tryst ends in a date paying for a windshield smashed by his partner. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Rosemary and Theodore Jadick, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 704 condominium at 1241 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Diane McCombe Bussandri and Norman Coulombe, trustees, of Quebec, Canada, for $3.2 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 26, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for July 10-14 in Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key

A condominium in The Water Club tops the week's sales at $3.2 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The Thieles at Tyler's Gourmet Ice Cream in Longboat Key
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 26, 2023
Tyler's Gourmet Ice Cream brings sweetness of childhood to Longboat

The ice cream shop's partnership with Lazy Lobster has made it a family-friendly destination.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
William Cinéa conducting field work in his native Haiti.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 26, 2023
Haitian botanist named Selby Gardens research associate

The three-year appointment will mutually benefit Selby Gardens' research and Caribbean flora.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Lindsey May, Julie Swann, Kathy Hall and Jennifer Alokeh show off their favorite donated shoes to The Twig.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 26, 2023
Sneaker Drive the right fit for the Lake Club Women's Giving Circle

The nonprofit hopes to donate 400 pairs of sneakers to The Twig to benefit foster children.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
9th grade student Alex Lieberman and Evan Heck program the robot.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 26, 2023
Local partnership gives students hands-on robotics experience

The collaboration began with RND Automation lending a robotic arm to the Faulhaber Fab Lab.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Buttonwood Harbour and Sleepy Lagoon neighborhoods are among those most prone to flooding during high tide.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 26, 2023
Careful planning, budgeting required for north-end drainage improvements

The Sleepy Lagoon and Buttonwood neighborhoods have long had an issue with drainage. A drainage committee and the town are committed to realizing improvement.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sharon Haas sets up tables at Ventura's about an hour before the doors open for dinner.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 26, 2023
Local businesses find ways to retain staff amid seasonal traffic issues

The town of Longboat Key and private businesses often need to find ways to encourage people to work on the island while some are drawn to work on the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Manatee County seeks planning commissioner
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 26, 2023
Manatee County seeks planning commissioner

The Planning Commission is a citizen's advisory committee that makes recommendations to the County Commission on land-use items.

  • East County
  • News
The NBP Dragon Women's Senior B team took first place in the 200 meter sprint race on July 21 (53.638).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 25, 2023
Competitive drive fires up these Nathan Benderson Park paddlers

Evelyn Silverthorn and Claire Keenan are among the local paddlers to compete at the 2023 Club Crew National Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
A special crane lifts the approximately 15-ton piece of acrylic that will become a main window in the Mote Science Education Aquarium's Gulf of Mexico Gallery tank that is two stories high.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2023
Mote aquarium construction offers window to the future

The $132 million project in Sarasota reaches a key milestone with the placement of two 15-ton acrylic tank windows.

  • East County
  • News
Natural attractions like beaches are one of the main scoring criteria for Travel + Leisure's best islands ranking.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 25, 2023
Longboat Key named one of the best US islands

The newest rankings from travel magazine Travel + Leisure place Longboat Key as No. 7 of the best U.S. islands.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ronnique Hawkins stands at the road named in her mother's honor while holding an award received by Veronica Allen.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 25, 2023
Newtown nonprofit leader remembers her police volunteer mother

Veronica Allen cared for the Newtown community as an SPD volunteer, while daughter Ronnique Hawkins took up the torch with a documentary about Emmett Till and the nonprofit Learn My History Foundation.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This Country Club home at 6919 Westchester Circle sold for $2.4 million. It has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,737 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 25, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for July 10-14 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club home on Westchester Circle tops the week's sales at $2.4 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Police respond to a call about a gushing water hose
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 25, 2023
Police respond to a call about a gushing water hose

A late complaint from a resident prompts police to turn off a water hose. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
A right-hand turn lane begins just past the Rosedale entrance on S.R. 70. Aggressive drivers had made that lane an accident hotspot according to Rosedale residents.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2023
Rosedale searches for traffic solutions on SR 70 and Lena Road

FDOT and Manatee County Public Works officials discussed the community's concerns about the design of S.R. 70 and Lena Road.

  • East County
  • News
The vegan version of the Chicago Hot was ranked among the country's top 10 vegan hotdogs for Summer 2023.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 25, 2023
Vegan hot dog at Sarasota eatery ranked in nation's top 10

The vegan version of Doggystyle's Chicago Hot was ranked by PETA among the top 10 hot dogs in the U.S. for summer 2023.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Florida Suncoast Waterkeeper patrol boat was purchased thanks to a grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 25, 2023
Suncoast Waterkeeper buys a patrol boat

The patrol boat will be christened July 29 during a celebration at Sarasota Sailing Squadron.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Emily Condensa instructs a Pilates Aligned session using the CoreAlign machine.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 25, 2023
Longboat residents beat the heat in Pilates studio

Longboat Key has several indoor fitness options, but one of the more popular has been Pilates, both in and out of season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Trip hazards and narrow sidewalks are among the mobility issues at St. Armands Key.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 25, 2023
St. Armands business district asks city for streetscape improvements

St. Armands Business Improvement District board chair Tom Leonard asked the Sarasota City Commission to consider a streetscape improvements option in the business district.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
4
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
5
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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