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Your Observer

How they vote will influence how we vote, Bradenton residents Bob and Pam Luersen said.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 12, 2023
Some Manatee County voters say they won't forget wetlands decision

The Manatee County Commission voted 5-1 to cut additional wetland protections out of the Comprehensive Plan.

  • East County
  • News
Country Club's Diane Sosnosky says Albert, an alligator she found and nicknamed, was in her backyard on the 17th green of Legacy Golf Course in 2011.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 12, 2023
How should you handle wildlife encounters in Lakewood Ranch?

Representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office share information on local wildlife.

  • East County
  • News
Molly Garrett and Thea Pham sing "A Distant Shore." They are among 55 students in Haile Middle School's new choir program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 12, 2023
Haile Middle School in east Bradenton begins new choir program

Students are preparing for their first concert in December.

  • East County
  • Schools
The historic McAlpin House at 1530 Cross Street occupies a key parcel in the redevelopment plans of Orange Pineapple LLC for a 3.1-acre site in downtown.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 12, 2023
Request to demolish historic Sarasota house tabled by City Commission

Developer Orange Pineapple LLC wants a permit to take down the historic McAlpin House if it can't find a place to move it.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Adley Rutschman is the Orioles' catcher and in many ways the soul of the big-league club.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 12, 2023
Baltimore Orioles show off long-term plan in 2023

The team might make a fast exit from the postseason — but this year is only the beginning.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A home on Casey Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate at $8,525,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, five-and-three-half baths, a pool and 9,046 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 12, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Sept. 25-29 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Casey Key home tops the week's sales at $8.53 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • Real Estate
A community workshop led to preliminary plans for the Ringling Boulevard complex.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 12, 2023
Meeting produces two conceptual options for county admin building

Three days of collaborative work with Benderson Development and Laurel Park residents provided a starting point for redevelopment planning.

  • Sarasota
  • News
An aerial rendering of a completed Bath + Racquet Residences & Club.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 11, 2023
Site cleared for rebirth of Bath & Racquet Club

Rebranded as Bath + Racquet Residences & Club, the mixed-use development is expected to be a catalyst for south Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tampa's Madi Sparks won the Most Creative division of the costume contest at Barks and Boos with 13-year-old Daisy, who seemed to enjoy her perch in a popcorn machine.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 11, 2023
UTC event at The Green features dogs in costume

Barks and Boos drew hundreds of dog-friendly patrons and vendors.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Chad Davis talks with his Cardinal Mooney High volleyball team following an Aug. 28 practice. Davis said he expects the Cougars to be as strong as ever in 2023.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 11, 2023
Cardinal Mooney High volleyball has record-setting season

The Cougars' 18 regular season wins are the most in program history — and they're not done yet.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Lieutenants Mark Courtenay and Maxx Jakimer
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 11, 2023
Firefighters prepare for chili cook-off

The 23rd annual Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-Off will be held Oct. 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The cast and crew of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" rehearse on Oct. 8. The show opens on Oct. 19.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 11, 2023
Lakewood Ranch couple takes on 'The Rocky Horror Show'

The show opens at the Manatee Performing Arts Center on Oct. 19 and runs through Nov. 5.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Clearer water and more seagrass show the effects of improved water quality in Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 11, 2023
Sarasota Bay's water quality is the best it's been in 8 years. Can we keep it that way?

Area scientists are hopeful that the bay’s water quality will continue to improve but warn it’s not time to slow efforts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Woman calls police on gun-wearing neighbor
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 11, 2023
Woman calls police on gun-wearing neighbor

A long-running feud boiled over when a woman saw her neighbor with a gun in his waistband during an argument. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Helen Lehman and Lois Kersey are both in their 90s.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 11, 2023
Fridays offer friendship and free lunch for seniors in Myakka City

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee hosts a senior program every Friday at the Myakka Family Worship Center.

  • East County
  • News
Andrew and Judith Economos, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 25 S. Washington Drive to Nicholas Lee Reinhart, of Sarasota, for $7.4 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 11, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Sept. 25-29 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A John Ringling Estates home on South Washington Drive tops the week's sales at $7.4 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Ron Shields warms up for a competition between Longboat Key Public Tennis and the Longboat Key Club on Feb. 27, 2018.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 11, 2023
Tennis pro boosts players' excitement, social benefits with new book

Longboat tennis coach Ron Shields' guide to "Smart Doubles" teaches muscle memory techniques for recreational tennis players.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Town Manager Howard Tipton is looking forward to inviting people back this season, kicking things off with the ribbon cutting of the Karon Family Pavilion.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 11, 2023
Longboat town manager shares insights, challenges ahead of second season

Town Manager Howard Tipton’s job performance received rave reviews from Longboat Key commissioners.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Fearing the effects on traffic coming and leaving the barrier islands, Longboat Key leaders opposed a Sarasota proposal for Fruitville Road in 2019.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 11, 2023
Longboat, Sarasota discuss Fruitville lane reduction, infrastructure projects

Commissioners from Longboat Key and the city of Sarasota met on Oct. 9 to share updates on infrastructure projects.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Joe Martinez conducts the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble on March 24, 2023.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 11, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble set to open fifth season

The band makes its season debut Oct. 15 at Peace Presbyterian Church.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota boys swimmer Luca Simon.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 11, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Luca Simon

The Sarasota High senior boys swimmer wants to lead his team to a state championship four-peat.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
ODA boys cross country junior Kevin Gyurka is the top returnee in East County.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 10, 2023
East County Athlete of the Week: Kevin Gyurka

The Out-of-Door Academy sophomore boys cross country runner is ranked 26th in Class 1A by Athletic.net.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Out-of-Door Academy is opening a third campus, which will be a lower school located on Clark Road in Sarasota.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 10, 2023
The Out-of-Door Academy to open third campus in Sarasota

The Out-of-Door Academy lower school on Clark Road will open in August 2024.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Ruth's Chris Steak House is the first of several restaurants to open before the end of the year.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 10, 2023
New restaurants opening in Lakewood Ranch, East County

Ruth's Chris Steak House was the first of several new restaurants set to open before the end of the year.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
This Lake Club home at 16404 Clearlake Ave. sold for $3,199,000. It has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,678 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 10, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Sept. 25-29 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Clearlake Avenue tops the week's sales at $3.2 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Sheriff's deputy shot, killed driver who tried to ram him, according to report
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 10, 2023
Sheriff's deputy shot, killed driver who tried to ram him, according to report

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office reports a shooting took place overnight in which a deputy shot and killed a driver who tried to ram him with a vehicle.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
  • October 10, 2023
Great Futures KAPOW Here!

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties has been shaping superheroes for over 50 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Sarasota County Library hosted an open house for its new pop-up library.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 10, 2023
Pop-up library to bring books and services to Longboat Key

Sarasota County's mobile library visits area communities to make library resources more accessible.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Clayton Reagan, an eighth grader at Carlos E. Haile Middle School, looks at the way a pig walks, its bone structure and whether the pig has a drop in its belly before selecting a pig to show at the Manatee County Fair.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 10, 2023
What makes a perfect show pig for the Manatee County Fair?

East Bradenton students and FFA advisors talk about the qualities they seek in a show pig.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Sarasota County School Board will vote on a redistricting proposal aligned with the Sarasota County Commission district boundaries.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 10, 2023
Sarasota School Board to vote on redrawing district boundaries

The school board agreed to hold a vote on aligning the school district boundaries with those of the Sarasota County Commission districts.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The animated film "Lucy" promotes Southeastern Guide Dogs' Skilled Companion program.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 10, 2023
Southeastern Guide Dogs' animated film promotes companion program

The short film "Lucy" tells the story of a Skilled Companion dog finding her forever companion.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key is making efforts to inform car hauling companies about the no tolerance policy for parking along Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 10, 2023
Longboat continues no tolerance policy for unloading trucks on GMD

The town and police department are amplifying efforts to inform the public and car-hauling companies about where deliveries can happen safely.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Intoxicated man wanting to drive causes dispute with responsible bystander
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 10, 2023
Intoxicated man wanting to drive causes dispute with responsible bystander

Police responded to a late-night dispute in which a man was trying to stop another person from driving while intoxicated. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Alexandre Sicre (25) puts a shot on net against Sarasota Football Club.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 10, 2023
LWR Soccer Club's over 50 team isn't telling the same old story

The players on the new team in Lakewood Ranch have the enthusiasm of younger athletes.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch's Grayson Tullio and Monika Oberer have built a friendship on trust, honesty and a passion for helping others.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 10, 2023
Unconditional friendship raises money for Duchenne muscular dystrophy research

Monika Oberer and Grayson Tullio's 10-year friendship has meant not only supporting each other but also raising funds to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Phoenix Award was presented to a crew that successfully resuscitated an unconscious patient using CPR. From left to right: Firefighter Paramedic Trey Bowlin, Firefighter Paramedic Andre Hoefer, Firefighter Paramedic Chase Bullock and Lieutenant Jose Rivera.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 10, 2023
Longboat Fire Rescue awards honor distinguished crew and citizens

An observant citizen took quick action to avert a maritime blaze.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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University Town Center is poised to welcome more than a dozen new tenants, Ikea this summer to Dick's House of Sport in 2027.
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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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