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Your Observer

  • By SOTA Residences & Hotel
  • November 2, 2023
Live Above Main Street’s First Boutique Hotel in your Private Residence

A boutique hotel on Main Street, hosting an intimate collection of private residences on the uppermost floors, SOTA Residences & Hotel is bringing curated urban living to the next level.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Sponsored Content
Riders wait at the start line at Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club's annual CycleFest.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 2, 2023
Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club to host CycleFest in Lakewood Ranch

CycleFest gives riders an opportunity to reach varying personal goals.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 8415 Midnight Pass Road has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,838 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 2, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 16-20 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Siesta Key home on Midnight Pass Road tops the week's sales at $4.78 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The welcome center at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will be the first stop for guests.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 2, 2023
Selby Gardens Phase 1 work nears completion

With opening ceremonies date uncertain, the annual Lights in Bloom will go on as scheduled.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Reni Papalexiou at Wild Yoga at Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 2, 2023
The must-try yoga options in Sarasota

Sarasota offers many yoga opportunities, including ones involving goats, lemurs and floating in the air.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tennis Coach Dickie Herbst and Cornell Professor Emeritus Joe Novak formed a friendship after Herbst read a story about Novak in the East County Observer. Novak died in September.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 2, 2023
It's always story time at the East County Observer

The Lakewood Ranch-area newspaper celebrates 25 years at the Nov. 3 Music on Main.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The roundabout at Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway Street is intended to improve safety at the intersection.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield, Carter Weinhofer
  • November 2, 2023
A progress report on the keys’ most notable traffic projects

Keep your eyes on the road with these roadway projects.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A green sea turtle hatchling makes its way to the Gulf.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 2, 2023
Sea turtle nesting season persisted despite high heat, hurricane

Overall, it was a good year for sea turtles, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium says.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kent Eschenbach and James Denner (right) pose with Larry Frankel (middle) on Siesta Beach.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • November 2, 2023
Photobomber conducts daily raids on unsuspecting beachgoers

Larry Frankel, also known as the Siesta Key Photobomber, keeps the smiles coming on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Santa greets a young runner at the finish of the 2022 Sandy Claws Beach Run.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2023
Registration open for Sandy Claws Beach Run on Siesta Key

The 47th annual event is scheduled for Dec. 9 at Siesta Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota High and Sarasota Tsunami girls swimmer Natalia Strezenicky.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 1, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Natalia Strezenicky

The Sarasota High girls swimmer won the 500 yard freestyle at the team's Class 3A district meet Oct. 27.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Original Wolfie's will serve classic New York deli-style sandwiches under the direction of chef Sol Shenker.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • November 1, 2023
The Original Wolfie's deli opens Nov. 2 in the Rosemary District

The grand opening festivities will feature live entertainment from New York's Dani Luv.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Sarasota High boys basketball senior Daniel Munn and the Sailors could have another big season in 2023-2024.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 1, 2023
Storylines to watch this winter high school sports season

Regular season games get underway in November, as soon as next week in some sports.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The groundbreaking is commemorated.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 1, 2023
Groundbreaking held for Sarasota’s first veterans housing development

The community celebrated the project, a collaborative effort that involved the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and St. Vincent de Paul Cares.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Libby Gallups, Judie Rogers and Debbie Emery came in costumes, and in character, as the Sanderson Sisters from "Hocus Pocus." The three friends entertained the crowds by adopting the voices and mannerisms of their characters.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 1, 2023
Attendees dress in costumes to impress for Fright Night on St. Armands Circle

Friends and families put in a group effort with their Halloween costumes for the trick-or-treating event.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The root of it all: Education
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 1, 2023
The root of it all: Education

The high-voltage, sometimes violent, anti-Israel protests on college campuses are one of the inevitable results of state-run education. It shows how little college students know about history and how easily they are "manipulated and mobilized."

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
436 Polk LLC sold the home at 436 S. Polk Drive to Bruce Ingram Jr., trustee, of New Braunfels, Texas, for $4.5 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 1, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 16-20 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Lido Beach home on Polk Drive tops the week's sales at $4.5 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Liz Reed giving the Bradenton Ghost Walk
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 1, 2023
Design 2000 employee hunts ghosts in her spare time

Liz Reed is the co-founder of the Paranormal Society of Bradenton and shares that she wants to help people understand that ghosts really aren't that scary.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Ted Lindenberg of Books for Kids works with Oneco kindergarten student Cosette Smart and volunteer Marla Perlstein during a 30-minute mentoring session in the school's cafeteria.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 1, 2023
Books for Kids founder honored by Lakewood Ranch Community Fund

Ted Lindenberg will be presented the 2023 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award on Nov. 9.

  • East County
  • News
A lane closure will affect traffic on the John Ringling Causeway during an FDOT maintenance project.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 1, 2023
Lane closures coming to John Ringling Causeway

The FDOT maintenance project has begun and will continue into winter. Single lane closures are mostly overnight.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The new Gulf Island Ferry System utilizes two catamarans, providing residents with a new way to travel between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 1, 2023
Ferry service between Bradenton, Anna Maria Island to begin by end of 2023

Three initial stops for the Gulf Islands Water Ferry will allow travelers to enjoy the water going from downtown Bradenton to the barrier islands.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 1, 2023
East County Observer thrives at 25 in the Lakewood Ranch area

The local newspaper, which celebrates a quarter century on Nov. 3 at Music on Main, has grown up with its readers.

  • East County
  • News
Double trouble at a bail bond business
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 1, 2023
Double trouble at a bail bond business

A man was refused a refund from a bail bondsman after learning a relative had already been bonded out. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Teri Hansen, president and CEO of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation addresses the Sarasota Chamber membership at its 103rd annual meeting on Oct. 27, 2023.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 1, 2023
Sarasota Chamber packs the house for 103rd annual meeting

About 600 attended the event as the gavel was passed to Teri Hansen of the Barancik Foundation.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Freshly caught stone crab claws wait to be bought at Walt's Fish Market.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 1, 2023
New regulations aim to protect Florida’s stone crab population

With 99% of stone crab landings coming from Florida, the fishery is critical to many local businesses.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Florida Power & Light's underground utilities project remains in progress, eyeing a finish line in early 2024.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 1, 2023
FPL still investigating Idalia outages with Longboat underground utilities

While the company still hasn't provided an answer, representatives look to maintain regular communication with the town.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Parallels to 1930s Nazis
  • By Llewellyn Rockwell Jr.
  • November 1, 2023
Parallels to 1930s Nazis

The Nazis' demonic evil began long before the Holocaust. It began with policies similar to what we see in the U.S. today.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Jose Mateo and Eva Martin hold hands as they prepare to cross the finish line of the Florida Inline Skating Marathon.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 31, 2023
Inline skaters keep the wheels turning at Nathan Benderson Park.

A national event in Sarasota brought interest to a sport that has faded in interest since the 1990s.

  • East County
  • Sports
Residents should see equipment mobilizing on Bogey Lane by early November, according to Public Works Director Isaac Brownman.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 31, 2023
Country Club Shores asbestos pipe replacement begins

The multiphase project on Longboat Key will start with Country Club Shores IV and V and will wrap up by early 2025 before proceeding to the final two phases.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The town of Longboat Key had to go back to the drawing board to redesign a potential roundabout at the intersection of Broadway Street and Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 31, 2023
FDOT keeps Longboat Key in mind with new five-year work plan

The Florida Department of Transportation's tentative plan includes three major infrastructure projects for Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This Lake Club home at 8537 Pavia Way sold for $3,455,000. It has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,291 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 31, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 16-20 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Pavia Way tops the week's sales at $3.46 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The new youth softball complex at 17th Street Regional Park will feature 220-foot outfield fences, conforming to collegiate and professional softball standards.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 31, 2023
Adult softball, funding strategy approved for 17th Street Park

Sarasota County commissioners authorized an additional $8 million spend for the now $65 million first phase of the regional park project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
East County resident Nicole Knapp was appointed as the director of Development Services on Oct. 24 by the Board of County Commissioners.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 31, 2023
East County resident takes over as Manatee Development Services director

Nicole Knapp has worked for Manatee County for the past eight years.

  • East County
  • News
Willis Smith Construction CEO David Sessions receives the Rick Fawley Economic Development Award of Distinction on Oct. 27.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 31, 2023
Willis Smith CEO receives major economic award

David Sessions was honored with the Rick Fawley Economic Development Award of Distinction.

  • East County
  • News
Norman Pritchard at his last service at Christ Church of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 31, 2023
Pastor at Christ Church retires after nine years

The Rev. Norman Pritchard served the Presbyterian Church for 50 years and made a mark in service and worship.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Angelina Van Slyck learns the rules of the road at McNeal Elementary School on Oct. 28 during Manatee County's Mobility Week.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 31, 2023
Manatee County promotes safe transportation for Mobility Week

A special event at McNeal Elementary School presented information on various transportation topics.

  • East County
  • News
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Blair "Chip" Kunka and Jan Kunka of the Bradenton Lions Club didn't previously have a young contact to start a Leo Club. When Tyler LaPlaca reached out, they were all in.
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