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Your Observer

ODA boys cross country senior Declan Fiorucci finished 19th overall (16:34.50) at the state meet in 2022.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 2, 2023
East County Athlete of the Week: Declan Fiorucci

The ODA track and field athlete won the 3,200 meter run (9:45.26) at the 2023 Sarasota County Championships April 13.

  • East County
  • Sports
Ringling College President Larry Thompson and Veterans Club president Marcus Adkins unveil the monument.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 2, 2023
Newly donated monument at Ringling College honors veterans

The monument, called Testimonies (Resilience), was formerly displayed in Patriot Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jack Dean, Tryla Larson, Mayor Ken Schneier, Estella Villegas, Antonia Munos, Deanna Mesghali, and Scott Kuykendall.
    By
  • Sidra Wali
  • May 2, 2023
Ribbon-cutting marks opening of La Villa Café on Longboat

The new restaurant is officially open and serving coffee, healthy breakfast items and empanadas.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
A turtle nest was laid on Longboat Key last week.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • May 2, 2023
Longboat spots first turtle nests of 2023

The nestings of loggerhead turtles and green sea turtles are typical on Longboat Key through the season, which is May 1 to Oct. 31.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School staff, School District of Manatee County officials and Leader in Me representatives celebrate McNeal Elementary becoming a Leader in Me Lighthouse School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 1, 2023
McNeal Elementary becomes Leader in Me Lighthouse School

Lakewood Ranch's McNeal Elementary is the first traditional school in Manatee County to earn the recognition.

  • East County
  • Schools
Scott Schneider, Jason Wysong and Doug Wagner are the finalists for the next superintendent of the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 1, 2023
Meet the finalists: Manatee school board selects superintendent finalists

Community members will be able to meet the three finalists and submit feedback.

  • East County
  • Schools
Andrea O'Brien learns about "The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You" from its author, Simone Knego.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 1, 2023
Bookstore1Sarasota book fair spotlights community of local authors

The two-day downtown Sarasota event brought together 28 local authors.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bernie Phillips is in the process of offering the lecture series "Fulfilling Our Infinite Potentials: Solving the World's Problems."
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 30, 2023
For Sarasota man, empowerment comes one mind (and heart) at a time

Bernie Philips, who holds a doctorate in sociology from Cornell University, wants to lead a revolution in the social sciences through his lecture series.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County's planned shuttle service between downtown and SRQ would utilize trolley-like vehicles every 20 to 30 minutes.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 29, 2023
County plans trolley service between SRQ and downtown Sarasota

The shuttle service would serve the growing number of visitors flying into Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and staying downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lieutenant Brandon Desch climbs a ladder as part of the first step of the search and rescue training Thursday.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • April 29, 2023
Longboat fire department gets refresher course on search and rescue

Firefighters practiced the correct way to conduct a search and rescue in a two-story home.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Military Academy High School teacher arrested
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 28, 2023
Sarasota Military Academy High School teacher arrested

Michelle Little, 29, is facing a felony charge of indecent, lewd or lascivious touching of a 17-year-old male student.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Donna Pettinato, Sandy Finnegan, Margaret Lachmann
    By
  • Sidra Wali
  • April 28, 2023
Women's Golf Association tees off end of season

Club members gathered for a luncheon at the Harbourside Ballroom to celebrate another great season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Doug Wagner was selected to be one of three candidates vying to be the next superintendent of the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 28, 2023
Manatee School Board names three finalists for superintendent

The three finalists, Doug Wagner, Jason Wysong and Scott Schneider, will be interviewed in-person May 10 -11.

  • East County
  • Schools
Amber Austin, owner and founder of South Florida Ballroom, leads a private dance lesson at the Paradise Center.
    By
  • Sidra Wali
  • April 28, 2023
Paradise Center emphasizes importance of brain health in May

The Paradise Center will host ballroom dance lessons and improv classes taught by professionals to help cognitive function and body health.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Nikka Colorado and Courtenay Smith strike a yoga pose in their new Waterside Place studio.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 28, 2023
Shack Yoga + Fitness opens second location in Waterside Place

The Shack Yoga opened its second location after being on Central Avenue in the Rosemary District for the past 10 years.

  • East County
  • Business
Sarasota city commissioners hope an impending ban on smoking on city beaches will result in far fewer beach butts. A separate ordinance will also ban smoking in city parks. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 28, 2023
Smoking ban in the works for Sarasota County beaches, parks

County commissioners voted 3-1 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance that is enforceable.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Neil Giraldo created Three Chord bourbon.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 27, 2023
Musician Neil Giraldo delivers rockin' bourbon to Sarasota

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist's premium Three Chord Bourbon made its debut in Sarasota's market.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Jinnie Rice and Kimber Skowronski. Rice is Skowronski's mother. Skowronski needs 400 volunteer hours before moving in, but family members can help.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 27, 2023
Habitat for Humanity Sarasota holds its first Women Build

The nationwide events started in 1991, but this is the first for the Sarasota chapter.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Protesters line up in front of the Manatee County Administration Building on Tuesday before the commission meeting.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 27, 2023
Manatee commissioners shift stance on library control

Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library are cautiously optimistic that commissioners will trust the librarians and the current advisory committee to do their jobs.

  • East County
  • News
Earth-moving equipment is on site at Turtle Beach as more than 92,000 cubic yards of sand will be delivered to make repairs to the storm-damaged beach.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 27, 2023
South Siesta beach repair may slow traffic to a turtle's pace

Repair work on Turtle Beach will bring upwards of 120 dump trucks to Siesta Key per day.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Tanner Crump threw a complete-game shutout against Port Charlotte High on April 24.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 27, 2023
'Workhorse' pitcher gives Sarasota baseball a lift as playoffs approach

Plus, a look at how other area baseball and softball teams are faring as the regular season concludes.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Assistant City Engineer and avid bicyclist Dan Ohrenstein rides the Ringling Trail on his commute. He was a co-leader on the complete street project team.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 27, 2023
Ringling Trail wins statewide honor

American Public Works Association Florida Chapter named the multi-modal conversion of Ringling Boulevard project of the year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mary Davis Wallace, who is the lead for the Sarasota Public Art Plan, at Garden Sculpture on the lawn at city hall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 27, 2023
Mary Davis Wallace talks about her proposed Public Art Plan for the city

Sarasota's public art lead and city planner spent 18 months creating the guiding document that will be unveiled in a workshop on May 3.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 531 Golden Gate Point tops all transactions in this week’s real estate at $3.5 million. Built in 1945, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 2,058 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.25 million in 2022.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 27, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for April 10-14 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A home in Golden Gate Point tops the week’s sales at $3.5 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The town is hopeful power lines and poles will be removed ahead of peak hurricane season.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • April 27, 2023
Power lines targeted for removal before peak hurricane season

The town of Longboat Key hopes poles and power lines can be removed by August to avoid hurricane damages.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
At-large Commissioner George Kruse
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 27, 2023
Manatee's move to hire another interim administrator goes awry

Jon Mast, the head of the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association, withdraws from consideration.

  • East County
  • News
The Michael Saunders & Co. south Longboat Key office.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 27, 2023
Michael Saunders & Co. to combine two Longboat Key sales offices

Longboat agents will work under one roof at the spacious south Key location.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The six-week abortion ban
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 27, 2023
The six-week abortion ban

Lawmakers are shifting to pro-life, but American culture is not. This issue won’t ever be solved.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Vanessa Baugh replaced Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge for two days as chair before Van Ostenbridge was reinstated.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 26, 2023
Manatee County commissioners embark on another wild ride

A flip-flop of commission board chair and the pursuit of another interim administrator are the latest oddities.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Ty Knight
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 26, 2023
Local Navy seaman uses military training to aid gunshot victim

Old Miakka native Ty Knight was presented with the USO Sailor of the Year award in Washington, D.C.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Junior RJ Salser, junior Carter Westendorf and sophomore Logan Alexander are key pieces for the Cougars.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 26, 2023
Cardinal Mooney boys lacrosse has chance to travel redemption road

The Cougars' potential next two opponents in the regional playoffs beat them in the regular season. They want to strike back.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Mary T. Del Pup, Marilyn Davol, Cindy Noble, Linda Olsen, Susan Gilmore-Clarke.
    By
  • Sidra Wali
  • April 26, 2023
St. Mary welcomes new officers at Mass and luncheon

The church's women's guild celebrated its members after installing five new officers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Support your local distributors
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 26, 2023
Support your local distributors

A reader agrees that despite Bud Light's marketing we should toast our local beverage distributors.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Dee Donegan said the key to her success is her ability to drive the ball "long and straight."
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 26, 2023
Rosedale golfer has won 17 of past 20 women's club championships

Bradenton's Dee Donegan said she views the sport as her "happy place."

  • East County
  • Sports
The Public Art Committee has narrowed to three its choices for sculpture in the roundabout at Fruitville Road and U.S. 41. The concepts will be further developed before recommendations are presented to the Sarasota City Commission.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 26, 2023
Artists make final pitch for Fruitville Road roundabout sculpture

The Public Art Committee will decide on which sculpture design to recommend for City Commission approval on May 3.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota High senior Rocco DePastino.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 26, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Rocco DePastino

The Sarasota High catcher is an energy source in the dugout and hit the game-winning RBI April 24 against Port Charlotte High.

  • East County
  • Sports
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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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