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Your Observer

Save these dates in 2024 for Longboat Key events
    By
  • James Peter
  • January 1, 2024
Save these dates in 2024 for Longboat Key events

You won't want to miss any of these happenings on the Key.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Lorenzo Condensa, Justina Carter and Chris Carter.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 1, 2024
Coffee shop owners look to expand their Longboat Key business

Chris Carter, Justina Carter and Lorenzo Condensa spend most days at their coffee shop, Sips. A year of success has allowed them consider a new business venture.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Cedric Mullins is the Orioles' starting centerfielder and a great defensive player.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 1, 2024
What our Sarasota sports columnist can't wait to cover in 2024

Big-time national events and intriguing high school sports storylines fill the calendar.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Seven roundabouts will be installed on State Road 70.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 1, 2024
Major East County road projects to progress in 2024

Seven roundabouts will be installed on State Road 70, and Lena Road will be expanded to connect S.R. 70 and S.R. 64.

  • East County
  • News
Scott Gutschewski holds up the 2023 LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 31, 2023
Lakewood Ranch sports scene should generate lots of excitement in 2024

Big-time national events and intriguing local storylines fill the calendar.

  • East County
  • Sports
Native landscape education program to begin at Celery Fields
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2023
Native landscape education program to begin at Celery Fields

Monthly classes are offered at Celery Fields by Sarasota Audubon Society and Serenoa Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.

  • Sarasota
  • News
New owner brings caregiving experience to Longboat Massage
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • December 30, 2023
New owner brings caregiving experience to Longboat Massage

After two car accidents, Maritza Rocha learned about the healing power of touch.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
New York trumpet player and Sarasota Jazz Festival Music Director Terell Stafford performs March 17, 2023, at the Sarasota Jazz Festival.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 30, 2023
Don't miss these Sarasota events in 2024

Sarasota offers events to suit many interests in 2024.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Lakewood Ranch Elks Co-event Chairs Faith Frost and Darrin Simone show Susan Goodman of the Myakka City Methodist Church some of the 10,000 toys they collected from Walgreen's stores during the Community Gift Drive.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 30, 2023
Walgreens, Lakewood Ranch Elks collect over 10,000 toys for children

More than 10,000 toys were collected from 25 Walgreens stores in the region as part of the Mighty Southwest District's Community Gift Drive of the Florida State Elks Association.

  • East County
  • News
Nathan Benderson hosted its annual fireworks display the night before the Fourth of July in 2023.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 29, 2023
Put these can't-miss East County events on your calendar for 2024

Save the date of these 15 events that will lead to a memorable 2024 in east Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Brian Walton during his first week of new executive director of Save Our Seabirds
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • December 29, 2023
New executive director has big plans for Save Our Seabirds' future

Brian Walton is using his previous nonprofit expertise to update systems at the City Island nonprofit and involve it in more community events.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Stories from Longboater's father inspire new book
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • December 29, 2023
Stories from Longboater's father inspire new book

Longboat Key resident Barbara Mishkin's new children's book, "TIP's Magical Journey: The Ride of Discovery and Inspiration," has received multiple awards.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rob Oglesby, the development director at Nate's Honor Animal Rescue, is thrilled to see the nonprofit's expansion project nearing its end. The project is expected to be complete in April.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 28, 2023
Animal rescue expansion completes in April for increased care

Nate's Honor Animal Rescue has been able to boost its intake and services as its expansion project nears completion.

  • East County
  • News
See Sarasota's 2023 in photos
    By
  • James Peter
  • December 28, 2023
See Sarasota's 2023 in photos

Classroom lizards, high-flying hoopsters, knights in shining armor and dancing reindeer made 2023 a year to remember in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The building located at 540 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • December 28, 2023
Tidewell Foundation's Longboat building no longer listed for sale

The property was listed without the executive board's knowledge and all options are still being explored, according to an official from the organization.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Cops Corner: The Best of 2023
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 27, 2023
Sarasota Cops Corner: The Best of 2023

Family feuds, getaway drivers on tricycles and a foursome fracas — all that and much more from this year's reports of the Sarasota Police Department.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The penthouse in the Epoch building offers 1,700 square feet of outdoor living space on two levels.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 27, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for 2023 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A condominium in Epoch tops the year's sales at $11.15 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Longboat Key: 2023 in photos
    By
  • James Peter
  • December 27, 2023
Longboat Key: 2023 in photos

Let's take a breath to appreciate where we've been.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Lakewood Ranch library is located at 16410 Rangeland Parkway.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 27, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Library set to open Jan. 12

The public is invited to attend the grand opening celebration at 10 a.m. Jan. 12.

  • East County
  • News
Words for 2024
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 27, 2023
Words for 2024

At the start of each year, we pick a word to live by. We asked others to give us their word for 2024. They all make persuasive cases.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Longboat Key Cops Corner: The Best of 2023
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • December 26, 2023
Longboat Key Cops Corner: The Best of 2023

Dogs on the beach, snakes indoors, tracking devices and an engagement announcement — these are just some of the calls that Longboat Police responded to in 2023.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Cardinal Mooney High football celebrates its first state championship since 1972.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 26, 2023
The top 10 moments of the 2023 Sarasota high school sports scene

In a year full of triumph and growth, these 10 moments made the biggest impact.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Florida Highwaymen exhibit will be on display at Sarasota City Hall beginning Jan. 8.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2023
Florida Highwaymen exhibit debuts at Sarasota City Hall

A collection of work from Black roadside painters will be on display at Sarasota City Hall beginning Jan. 8.

  • Sarasota
  • News
East County: 2023 Through the lens
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2023
East County: 2023 Through the lens

Here’s a taste of what the East County Observer saw through the camera lens during a fascinating 2023.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden River senior wrestler Jessey Colas captured the Class 2A title in the 182-pound division March 4 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 25, 2023
The top 10 moments of the East County high school sports scene

In a year full of triumph and growth, these 10 made the biggest impact.

  • East County
  • Sports
Top residential real estate sales for 2023 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 25, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for 2023 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home on Bird Key tops the year's Longboat-area sales at $11.5 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
A look back at 2023 on YourObserver.com
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 25, 2023
A look back at 2023 on YourObserver.com

The past year was packed with news in our area. Here are readers’ favorite stories from YourObserver.com.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sailors boys basketball Head Coach BJ Ivey always gets the most out of his teams.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 24, 2023
Unforgettable Sarasota sports stories in 2023

A big-time swimsuit partnership, a coach's lesson about love and a new soccer league left an impression on the Observer's sports columnist.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
This home at 8423 Lindrick Lane sold for $5.65 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 24, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for 2023 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in The Concession tops the year's Lakewood Ranch sales at $5.65 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The Sarasota County Starter Kit is available online.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2023
Sarasota County introduces free tool to guide new residents

The online program offered by the UF/IFAS Extension offers free education tools and guides for living in Southwest Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • News
LaDazhia Williams was rated a five-star player by ESPN coming out of Lakewood Ranch High in 2017.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 23, 2023
Columnist's favorite East County sports moments of 2023

These big-time events and conversations highlighted a wide-ranging 2023 sports year for the area.

  • East County
  • Sports
East Bradenton students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 22, 2023
East Bradenton students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa

These Gullett, Willis and Gene Witt elementary students can't wait to see what's under their tree Christmas day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The upper floors of Obsidian would offer bayfront views to the east and downtown views to the west.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 22, 2023
Controversial high-rise condos to be reconsidered for downtown Sarasota

A marathon meeting is expected as the 342-foot Obsidian condominium tower makes its first foray into the public process on Jan. 10.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Loree Pogue, Midge Saint, Lori Zandi and Jane Imperiale were bell-ringers for the Salvation Army in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 22, 2023
Salvation Army bell-ringers shatter fundraising goal in Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch crew of Salvation Army bell-ringers smashed their goal of collecting $10,000 at Publix this holiday season.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • December 21, 2023
Julie Marie Harrington

Julie Best, 82, died peacefully at her home in Longboat Key, Fla. on Dec. 9, 2023.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    In Memoriam |
  • December 21, 2023
Sylvia N. Turner

Sylvia N. Turner, “Dessert Queen Of Venice”, passed of natural causes at the age of 91 on December 11, 2023.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
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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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