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Your Observer

Cliff Talbott, lifeguard two with the Manatee County Beach Patrol Division, demonstrates for Longboat Key Fire Rescue officers how to make a controlled dive into the water while conducting a marine rescue. The beach patrol led a multi-department training on Sept. 24 off Coquina Beach.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • September 27, 2025
First responders dive into marine rescue training

Manatee County Beach Patrol Division rescuers led a training with Longboat Key Fire Rescue on Coquina Beach to prep them for water-based emergencies.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Green at UTC is filled with bubbles and games every fourth Wednesday of the month for the UTC Kids Club.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 26, 2025
The Green at UTC bubbles over with fun

Once a month, games are set up on the green as part of the UTC Kids Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Pedestrian killed crossing Bee Ridge Road
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 26, 2025
Pedestrian killed crossing Bee Ridge Road

A 76-year-old Sarasota man was pronounced dead at the scene of the 7 a.m. incident.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cannons Marina is at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key. The 70-plus year-old business started as a fish camp in the late 40s opened by Ernie Cannon.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • September 26, 2025
Cannons Marina changes hands

Port-Charlotte-based Ingman Marine is acquiring the 70-plus-year-old Longboat Key marina.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Eddie Molina and his son Theo Molina, 2, take a stop outside a shop in Siesta Key.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 26, 2025
Visitors and residents enjoy a slow evening in Siesta Key

A night in Siesta Key Village exploring the sights through the lens of a camera.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
  • By RCLA Town Hall
  • September 25, 2025
Ringling College TOWN HALL Celebrates Its 45th Season

“There’s nothing like hearing directly from experts,” said Lauren Kurnov, Executive Director of Ringling College TOWN HALL. “It really brings leading news stories and hot topics to life.”

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
When Nikesh Patel isn't at City Hall he is at his small family farm near Myakka caring for a variety of animals.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 25, 2025
New Sarasota Public Works director is the 'right person at the right time'

Former City Engineer Nikesh Patel succeeded long-time department head Doug Jeffcoat, who retired after 30 years with the city.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key finalizes $24.1 million budget
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • September 25, 2025
Longboat Key finalizes $24.1 million budget

The unanimous approval was a formality after months of discussions about funding priorities in a year following back-to-back hurricanes in 2024.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota Police Department will install speed detection cameras at six schools throughout the city.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 25, 2025
School zone, red light cameras yield nearly 50,000 tickets in a year

Despite 49,320 citations in a year, Sarasota Police Department reports photo and video enforcement is resulting in a downward trend in citations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Kilwins Sarasota is located at 312 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands Key.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • September 25, 2025
Kilwins makes sweet return to St. Armands Circle

Following a nearly yearlong closure from hurricane damage, the fudge and ice cream shop is reopening this weekend.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Sarasota football's offense lines up during the first quarter against Braden River. The Sailors would eventually win their home opener, 27-7, on Aug. 29.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • September 25, 2025
Local football has won — a lot. It's time to take notice.

The Riverview, Booker, Cardinal Mooney and Sarasota high school football teams are off to commanding starts.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Elisha DeMassa's husband Michael DeMassa, Janine Lebano and Sue McGregor
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 25, 2025
The Bay Sarasota group starts new run and walk club

The Bay's new club offers both run and walk routes, attempting to appeal to all ages and abilities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Film based on model’s breast cancer journey to screen in Sarasota
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 25, 2025
Film based on model’s breast cancer journey to screen in Sarasota

The film "Hello Beautiful" is based on the book "Walk Beside Me" by Christine Handy, a former Victoria's Secret model and breast cancer survivor.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The home at 1348 Harbor Drive was built in 1957 and has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 6,946 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 25, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for September 8-12 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Harbor Acres home on Harbor Drive tops the week's sales at $3,837,500.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
  • By JL Bainbridge
  • September 25, 2025
Do You REALLY Know How Your Investments Are Performing?

What your financial statements might not be telling you - and how to finally get clarity.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor
  • September 25, 2025
FINANCIAL FOCUS® When Investing, One of the Best Abilities is Durability

A well-founded investing strategy is a durable one — one that can withstand the test of time.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Chief Tim Enos
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 24, 2025
Tim Enos returns as schools police chief

Enos is back in the role of chief of police of Sarasota County Schools following his Aug. 24 resignation from the school board.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Nathan Patel
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 24, 2025
Local Boy Scout rescues couple in Thailand

Nathan Patel, 12, tossed a ring buoy to rescue a couple who were struggling in the water, during a summer vacation.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
School closures threaten Sarasota’s economy
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • September 24, 2025
School closures threaten Sarasota’s economy

Shutting down Wilkinson Elementary would just be the start of many future closures, one reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
David Sessions, Andrea Saputo Cox and Joseph Najmy were the speakers at Pioneers of Progress: Founding Businesses of Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 24, 2025
Business 'pioneers' talk about Lakewood Ranch's success

Their business fortunes skyrocketed with the Ranch, and they hope smart planning keeps it that way.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Sarasota Police Department Officer Kyle Carter makes preparations for an explosives training hosted by Bird Key Yacht Club at its soon-to-be-demolished clubhouse on Sept. 5.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • September 24, 2025
Bird Key Yacht Club gets a head start with its remodel

Sarasota Police uses the soon-to-be-demolished clubhouse as a space for officers to practice their explosive entry tactics.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Waxing Bye Felicia opened on Sept. 22, and owner Felicia Michaels began her day waxing the arms of one of her past clients, Stacey Oaster. Oaster drove nearly two hours for her services and says she plans to continue to do so.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 24, 2025
Waxing Bye Felicia opens in Lakewood Ranch

Felicia Michaels, owner of Waxing Bye Felicia, said it is her priority to make her clients feel comfortable and satisfied with her services.

  • East County
  • Business
Raymond Perkowski, 10, and Ryan Avery Perkowski, 4, join their mother Allison Imre and Sisterhood For Good President Angela Massaro-Fain at an event to celebrate the beginning of Sisterhood For Good's fifteenth year.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 24, 2025
Sisterhood For Good honors members and donors who support their mission

Founded in 2011, Sisterhood For Good has awarded grants totaling $622,427 to local nonprofits since its inception.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Man arrested for indecent exposure at Lido Beach Pavilion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 24, 2025
Man arrested for indecent exposure at Lido Beach Pavilion

After exposing himself to a family at Lido Beach Pavilion, a man returns to the scene of the crime the next day and is arrested. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
A Tempo Hotel by Hilton is proposed to be built on Fruitville Road from the Downtown Hair Studio to the left through the end of the block.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 24, 2025
New Fruitville Road hotel nears administrative approval

A new four-star hotel in the works for the 1500 block of Fruitville Road receives partial sign-off from Sarasota's Development Review Committee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
From left to right: Chris Vito, Penny Sellers, Dave Boone and Cathy Boone play a game of pickleball at the multipurpose Bayfront Park courts in Longboat Key Friday, Sept. 19.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • September 24, 2025
With the popularity of pickleball, is there still room for tennis?

The tidal-wave growth of pickleball in the past decade has splashed down in Longboat Key's Bayfront Park and changed the landscape of the only venue for free racket play on the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Devin Mignery stands on the field during Cardinal Mooney football's pregame warm-ups. The senior quarterback is headed to Stanford next fall, but has yet to start in 2025.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • September 24, 2025
Devin Mignery, amid injuries, commits to Stanford football

The Cardinal Mooney senior quarterback has pushed onward despite multiple setbacks

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The home at 3272 Bayou Road, built in 1990, sold for $2.05 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 24, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Sept. 8-12 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Palazzi Al Mare condominium on Benjamin Franklin Drive tops the week's sales at $4.85 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Duette Preserve has become home to 131 relocated gopher tortoises since Manatee County opened a recipient site in December 2023.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 24, 2025
Gopher tortoises pay to stay in Manatee County

The county just brokered a deal that will bring in over $725,000 to house 191 tortoises.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key Town Commission met at town hall Monday, Sept. 22 to hold a workshop where legislative priorities, canal dredging and more were discussed.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • September 24, 2025
Early results say no to changing Gulf of Mexico Drive

A mention of Gulf of Mexico on the town's list of legislative priorities launched the Longboat Key Town Commission into debate.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
District 5 Commissioner Bob McCann votes against approving Manatee County's FY2026 budget.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 24, 2025
With one no, Manatee County approves $1.3 billion budget

Commissioner Bob McCann was the only commissioner to vote against the approval.

  • East County
  • News
Madeleine “Maggie” Green Brenner (1936-2025)
    In Memoriam |
  • September 23, 2025
Madeleine “Maggie” Green Brenner

Madeleine “Maggie” Green Brenner passed away on Friday, September 12, 2025, at age 88.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Longboat Key commissioners continue to meet about a fair canal maintenance tax for town residents.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • September 23, 2025
Canal sediment may be reused for Sarasota Bay pipeline

The $9.2 million canal dredging project planned years from now could benefit another major infrastructure project and save the town of Longboat Key money.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Christian sophomore Gabe Milliken poses for a photo. The cross country standout finished eighth among 150 runners at Saturday's SSAA championships.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • September 23, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Gabe Milliken

The sophomore for Sarasota Christian cross country has set a winning pace.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The 12-hole course at Calusa Country Club in Lakewood Ranch is pictured. Scheduled to open in November, it's the latest in an emerging trend of shorter courses.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • September 23, 2025
Golf is forever flawed, but 12-hole courses mark positive movement

Calusa Country Club is a local advocate of the unconventional, emerging format.

  • East County
  • Sports
Dozens gathered at the Longboat Key Club Thursday, Sept. 18 for a symposium to explain how state laws have changed in the wake of the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • September 23, 2025
Condo owners on Longboat gather to navigate regulation changes

When Miami's Surfside condominium tower collapsed in 2021, the ripple effects extended across the whole state.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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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