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Your Observer

Students are ready to represent Sabal house after the completion of the sorting ceremony.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 10, 2024
ODA implements house system to promote positive culture

The house system creates a welcoming culture, positive connections and leadership opportunities at The Out-of-Door Academy.

  • East County
  • Schools
Mark and Shanna Thompson, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 762 Jungle Queen Way to Danny and Danielle Madole, of Longboat Key, for $1.25 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 10, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 25-29 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Longboat Key home on Jungle Queen Way tops the week's sales at $1.25 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Vacation rental at 24 N. Polk Drive on Lido Key.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 10, 2024
Sarasota moves toward expanding vacation rental regulation

City Commissioner Erik Arroyo maintains his opposition, comparing the ordinance to "using a sledgehammer to kill a fly."

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Town Hall
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 10, 2024
Longboat greenlights storm resiliency upgrades to Town Hall

A $250,000 investment from the town of Longboat Key will enable Town Hall to receive overdue upgrades after nearly seven years of project delays.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation's Sarasota Philanthropy Center is on State Street in downtown.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 10, 2024
Community foundation opens scholarship applications for Sarasota sutdents

Students may apply for higher education financial aid through April 3.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Trimming mangroves often requires a permit from Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 10, 2024
Mangrove enforcement on Longboat stays with state authority

The town won’t be taking over mangrove protection duties as it requires more staff and resources than Longboat Key can allocate.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sailors boys basketball Head Coach BJ Ivey always gets the most out of his teams.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 10, 2024
New Sarasota High athletic director wants to build college-style programs

BJ Ivey will continue to coach the Sailors boys' basketball team, in addition to his new responsibilities.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Braden River High girls soccer junior Niley Molina.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 9, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Niley Molina

The Braden River High girls soccer junior has a team-high 10 goals this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
    In Memoriam |
  • January 9, 2024
Pauline Martin

Pauline Martin, “The Lady with PAZZAZ” passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on January 4, 2024.

  • Siesta Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Christian Ziegler
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 9, 2024
Christian Ziegler ousted as Florida GOP chairman

The Executive Committee elects Evan Power of Tallahassee to Republican Party of Florida's leadership position.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Riverview High senior boys basketball player Jayden Dudash.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 9, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Jayden Dudash

The Riverview High senior boys basketball player is averaging 11 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as of Jan. 9.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Joel Morganroth, chair of the board of trustees, cuts the ribbon.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 9, 2024
Selby Gardens cuts the ribbon on Phase 1 of its Master Plan

The new facilities include what the organization says is the world’s first net-positive energy botanical garden complex.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Renovations of the home at 5151 Jungle Plum Road, Siesta Key, are expected to be complete by June.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 9, 2024
Former Playboy president lists Siesta Key home for $20 million

Entrepreneur Randy Nicolau, a former president of Playboy, has listed a waterfront home in Siesta Key's Hidden Harbor community for $20 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The existing concrete seawall on the north end of Bayfront Park will be replaced with a sloped living shoreline.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 9, 2024
Seawall projects to enhance shoreline of Longboat's Bayfront Park

Contingent on federal funding, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program plans projects to improve oyster habitat, reduce erosion and bolster storm protection.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This Concession home at 19436 Newlane Place sold for $3.4 million. It has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 5,566 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 9, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 25-29 in Lakewood Ranch

A Concession home tops the week's real estate sales at $3.4 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Bayfront Park doesn't need more pickleball courts
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • January 9, 2024
Bayfront Park doesn't need more pickleball courts

A Longboat Key resident writes that the sounds of pickleball are the most annoying in all of sports.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Construction worker accused of stealing a battery in civil dispute
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 9, 2024
Construction worker accused of stealing a battery in civil dispute

When a construction boss noticed a battery was missing, Longboat Key PD was called to the scene. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Manatee County is seeking input on major issues through an online citizen survey.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 9, 2024
Manatee encourages feedback on county issues with citizen survey

The citizen survey is available online and takes no more than five minutes to complete.

  • East County
  • News
Ute Vela competes in the Observer Challenge held Feb. 3-5, 2023. She and her husband, Enrique, have won the tournament four times.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 9, 2024
Observer Challenge to bring weekend of island camaraderie

Longboat Key Tennis Center will host the annual tournament that's all about teamwork Jan. 19-21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The mezzanine is designed to be used as an event space.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 9, 2024
Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi to open Lakewood Ranch restaurant Jan. 20

After years of delays, the Japanese restaurant is opening the State Road 70 location on Jan. 20.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Art by Pamela Olin
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 9, 2024
Father-daughter duo's art exhibition opens at Plymouth Harbor

Pamela and Richard Olin showcase 3D artwork on the theme of family.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A rendering of the view of the upper floors of One Park Sarasota.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 9, 2024
Plans revealed for 18-story downtown Sarasota condo tower

The 86-unit luxury design for One Park will resemble the prior plan in architecture, features and finishes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Autumn Tselios leads the Naples-based band, The Rockefellers, at Fresh Fridays on Jan. 5.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 9, 2024
How downtown Sarasota block party organizers find fresh bands

Fresh Fridays, held the first Friday of each month, sources high-end bands locally and from outside the area.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Harry Strunk, 2, explores inside a cardboard tunnel.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 9, 2024
Sarasota Children's Museum kicks off quest for a dedicated space

The inaugural event of Sarasota's Children's Museum drew families to The Bay Park, offering children interactive experiences and hands-on learning activities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This is just a practice run on Kore Steakhouse. The street lights will be covered with garbage bags during the exhibit to provide a darker background for the projections.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 9, 2024
Visual art display celebrates 30 years of Lakewood Ranch

"Ranch Reflections," a showcase of moving murals, runs from Jan. 14-20 at Waterside Place.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • By Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
  • January 8, 2024
Quality Care and a Supportive Birth Plan

“Education about what to include in a birth plan and an understanding of what our hospital offers can alleviate fears,” says Chrissy Coney, RNC, BSN, CLC, Birth Designer at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

  • Health
Sponsored Content
A Coastal Flood Watch has been issues for coastal Sarasota and coastal Manatee counties from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2024
Longboat Key issues severe weather alert

Residents are asked to bring in or secure outdoor items. Sand bags are available at Public Works.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • January 8, 2024
William Kenneth (“Ken”) Morris

William Kenneth (“Ken”) Morris passed away on January 2, 2024, after a two-year struggle with idiopathic lung disease.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
ODA sophomore guard Allen Clark had 17 points against Sarasota Christian on Jan. 5.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 8, 2024
ODA boys basketball has a losing record but winning expectations

The Thunder (5-8) started 2024 with a 51-45 home win over Sarasota Christian (10-4) on Jan. 5.

  • East County
  • Sports
If you want to keep those New Year's resolutions, break them down into three-month goals and apply the SMART methodology.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • January 8, 2024
Set smarter goals for yourself this year

If you want to actually keep those New Year's resolutions, here's the experts' way.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Acquisition of 36.3 acres in the Myakka Conservation Stewardship Area is underway by Manatee County.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 8, 2024
Manatee County accelerates land conservation from 2020 referendum

There are eight properties currently in the acquisition process, but Mixon Fruit Farms is out of the running.

  • East County
  • News
Bud and Charlie made their debut Dec. 31 at the Sarasota Polo Club with Alan Freitag holding the reins. Anyone who attends the matches can take a free ride at halftime.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 8, 2024
Belgian draft horses make big impression at Sarasota Polo Club

Bud and Charlie will be pulling a wagon full of fans at halftime of the Sunday polo matches in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A plant grows from a conch shell in a display by William Tippit of Apopka, Florida.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 7, 2024
Orchids in Paradise show grows knowledge of the flowers

The show brought together vendors from the local area and beyond, as well as other Sarasota County orchid societies.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Judy and Allen Saden
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 7, 2024
Temple Beth Israel hosts welcome back party

The Longboat Key synagogue started the year by welcoming 49 new members with an after-service party.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Residents can weigh in on Longboat Key issues with town survey
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 7, 2024
Residents can weigh in on Longboat Key issues with town survey

The Citizen Satisfaction Survey will arrive in Longboat mailboxes starting Jan. 10.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
LBK North coalition opposes Whitney Plaza water taxi stop
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 6, 2024
LBK North coalition opposes Whitney Plaza water taxi stop

Longboat Key North co-chair Maureen Merrigan says the stop doesn’t make logistical sense.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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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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