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Your Observer

Heidi walks in the pet parade with Violet Ditucci and Krista Post.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 22, 2023
Sarasota Pride Festival celebrates diversity with colorful array of activities

The event brought together a concert, a "RuPaul's Drag Race" performer, pets in costume, a vendor marketplace and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Triplets Amelia, Eloise and Elijah Dennis, 2, enjoyed riding in a wagon along the trail.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 21, 2023
Arlington Park gets spooky with Halloween Trail Carnival

The event brought together local vendors to provide a trick-or-treat experience for kids.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Rev. Brock Patterson blessing Mike and Lauren Ehlers's dog Tucker.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 21, 2023
Pets of all shapes, sizes and types blessed at Longboat Island Chapel

Rev. Brock Patterson welcomed all Longboat pets, including snakes, to the annual event.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 21, 2023
Free legal advice will be offered at Selby Library

The Young Lawyers Division of the Sarasota Bar Association will provide education on a variety of legal topics.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Fuego Comida & Tequila Lounge is open in The Green shopping center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 21, 2023
Upscale Mexican cuisine comes to Lakewood Ranch

Fuego Comida & Tequila Lounge in The Green will celebrate its opening on Day of the Dead on Nov. 1.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Centre Shops of Longboat Key
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • October 21, 2023
Longboat Key shopping center for sale for $7.6M

The center, which sits on 4.6 acres, is said to be one of the largest parcels on Longboat Key on the market.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 21, 2023
High school football roundup: Week nine

Four area teams walked away from week nine with key wins — and four did not.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Mustangs salute their student section following a 10-8 win over Gibbs High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 21, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High football picks up third win of 2023

The Mustangs (3-5) were 10-8 victors over Gibbs High (0-7) at home.

  • East County
  • Sports
Drunk driver sentenced to 40 years after crash that killed 4 people
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 20, 2023
Drunk driver sentenced to 40 years after crash that killed 4 people

The 2021 crash killed four men near a truck that was stopped on the shoulder due to a flat tire.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nelle Miller will start as CEO of All Faiths Food Bank in January 2024.
    By
  • Jim Stinson
  • October 20, 2023
Sarasota-area food bank chooses prominent community leader as new CEO

All Faiths Food Bank CEO's appointment comes after a national search.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Luna and Zander Hartman enjoy the pumkin patch at The Green at UTC.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 20, 2023
UTC Night Market in Sarasota embraces the fall season

Innovative vendors lined The Green at the Mall at University Town Center.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
From left to right: Brad Marner, Carole Erker, Jay Sparr, Liz Sparr, Nancy Rozance and Jim Chirgwin.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 20, 2023
Rotary Club removes 40 pounds of trash from Gulf of Mexico Drive

The Rotary Club of Longboat Key performs highway cleanup on GMD at least once a quarter.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Shoppes at University Town Center in east Manatee county will soon be home to a Trader Joe's.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • October 20, 2023
Trader Joe's opens Oct. 26 in The Shoppes at UTC

California-based grocer Trader Joe’s is known for its signature food items and loyal following.

  • East County
  • Business
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport expects to serve 4.3 million passengers in 2023, up from 1.3 mlllion in 2019.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 19, 2023
SRQ nears final approval for commercial development

One more City Commission vote remains in the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport's quest to win rezoning to build revenue-producing properties.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cedric Saunders played football at Ohio State University and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining the Bucs, and later the Detroit Lions, in a off-field capacity.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 19, 2023
Sarasota High School inducts 6 graduates into Hall of Fame

The inductees included Sarasota's first Black mayor, pro athletes and a science researcher.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
A home in the Oaks I tops all transactions in this week’s real estate at $2,325,000. Built in 1983, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 5,479 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 19, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 2-6 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

An Oaks I home on Webbs Cove tops the week's sales at $2.33 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 19, 2023
Sarasota deputies investigate murder-suicide in Clark Road business shooting

A shooting inside veterinary clinic KindVet left two dead. A social media post provides clues to the motive.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The music archive includes a wide variety of vintage materials.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 19, 2023
Sarasota Music Archive offers a journey through music history

The archive houses media from the 1850s, Jimi Hendrix records, jazz collections and classic comedy albums while preserving the sounds of the past for the future.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Rams' defense puts CAI running back Antwan Raymond on the ground.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 19, 2023
Riverview High football tries to move past emotional loss

The last-second 35-33 defeat against CAI was the latest in a string of tough games for the Rams.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
With lush preserved natural areas and established grass, Bobby Jones Golf Club appears ready for play.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 19, 2023
Bobby Jones Golf Club rates are set for first year of play

A dynamic pricing process will determine the rates by the minute. City residents will receive a 10% discount.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Marjorie Peter speaks against the map proposal.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 19, 2023
Sarasota School Board aligns with County Commission district map

The board also voted to pass its 2024 legislative agenda.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The Greenbrook Adventure Park pavilion was burned down over the Fourth of July 2023 and is expected to be rebuilt by July 2024.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 19, 2023
Greenbrook Adventure Park pavilion rebuild due in July

The Inter-District Authority is working on the design of the new pavilion after the previous one was destroyed by fireworks in July.

  • East County
  • News
Seven-time PGA Tour winner Billy Horschel hosts the Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour Thursday and Friday at The Concession.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 18, 2023
Minority golfers take their shot at Billy Horschel Invitational

Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour makes a stop at The Concession in the Lakewood Ranch area.

  • East County
  • News
Dan and Deborah Slottke of Mill Creek enjoy their ride through life with their 1979 Trans Am playing a big part.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 18, 2023
On the road with a couple of Bradenton Bandits

The upcoming car show at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church showcases unrelenting passion.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 18, 2023
City lobbyist act proposal meets with lukewarm response

Sarasota city commissioners are skeptical of the need for Erik Arroyo's ordinance to require paid lobbyists to register with the city.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Unit 1102 condominium at 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive sold for $6.03 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 18, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 2-6 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in The Beach Residences tops the week's sales at $6.03 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Pumpkin ice cream pie at Tyler's
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 18, 2023
Longboat restaurants usher in fall with seasonal dining specials

The autumn-themed menu items include pumpkin soup, lots of squash and, of course, pumpkin spice lattes.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Sergeant Sean Butler spent 24 years with the NYPD. Now, he helps the people of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 18, 2023
One night on patrol with the Longboat Key Police

What happens after sunset on Longboat Key? A reporter finds out on patrol with LBKPD.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jolie Pastorick said she practices golf in some form every day.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 18, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Jolie Pastorick

The Cardinal Mooney High girls golf freshman finished second at the Donald Ross Memorial Invitational on Oct. 9.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Waterlefe's Glenda Myers works with Ballard Elementary kindergartner Kemora Wallace once per week through the Books for Kids Kindergarten program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 18, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Rotary kicks off ninth year of Books for Kids program

The Books for Kids Kindergarten program, which helps students discover a love for reading and increases reading scores, is expanding into more Manatee and Sarasota County classrooms this school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Andy Butterfield is named chief of staff, a brand new position within the Manatee County government.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 18, 2023
Manatee County adds a chief of staff position

Andy Butterfield was the frontrunner for the county administrator position before commissioners decided on Charlie Bishop.

  • East County
  • News
The pool at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club's Athletic Center is being renovated. Work is scheduled to be complete by Dec. 1.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 18, 2023
Renovated pool on schedule at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club

The new hard-shell pool will be completed in December and include a larger area for water aerobics.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High School's Andrew Boudreau and Tyler Patten give it their all during a performance.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 18, 2023
Manatee County high school marching bands gear up for state competition

The Braden River, Lakewood Ranch and Parrish bands are concentrated on growth in hopes of earning a medal at the top level.

  • East County
  • Schools
Police escort pot-smoking loiterer from St. Armands restaurant
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 18, 2023
Police escort pot-smoking loiterer from St. Armands restaurant

A man who identified himself as "Ziggy Marley" refused to leave an eatery on St. Armands Circle. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The potential Longboat Key Community Center would be located in Whitney Plaza's largest building, at 6810 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 18, 2023
Manatee, Longboat work on Whitney Plaza community center agreements

Suggestions for use of the potential center include adult learning classes and hosting events.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Goodwill Manasota President and CEO Donn Githens (second from left) with the Community Ambassador Awards Luncheon honorees (from left) Rob Kehs, Dora Talamantes, Tom Waters and Bill Isaac
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 18, 2023
Goodwill Manasota revives its Community Ambassador of the Year Awards

The awards recognizing community service were last given in 2019.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
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Latest News

1
University Town Center is poised to welcome more than a dozen new tenants, Ikea this summer to Dick's House of Sport in 2027.
  • June 3, 2026
13 new retailers, eateries coming to University Town Center
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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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Teen founds Lakewood Ranch Leo Club to provide community service
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Panther Ridge's Chantal Wilford wants to provide further support to families in Manatee County through becoming the District 5 school board member.
  • June 3, 2026
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Maddie Baehr was hesitant to join Braden River flag football as a freshman. Now, she's a member of the Ireland Flag Football Women's National Team with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics just over two years away.
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Collin Purcell, Katie Blackwell and Brian Ott bring back the feel-good era of folk music in "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
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Cool off this summer with Florida Studio Theatre's cabaret shows

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