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Your Observer

Dr. Daren Spinelle offers accessible health care for the residents of Longboat Key at the Paradise Center Medical Suite.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 9, 2023
Doctor at The Paradise Center provides medical care for snowbirds

Dr. Daren Spinelle wants to make health care accessible for all residents even while living in Longboat part time.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • October 9, 2023
Robert J. Simmons

It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of Robert J. Simmons.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
The Longboat Key Foundation is in the process of raising $175,000 to replace the remaining 25% of the big dog park and all of the small dog park in Bayfront Park.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 9, 2023
Longboat Key Foundation raises money for dog park artificial turf

Jim Brown, chair of the Longboat Key Foundation, says $175,000 is needed to cover the remainder of the Bayfront Park dog parks with artificial turf.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Senior Andrew Scott, junior Vicente Rivera, junior Jonathan Leatt, junior Dylan Johnson and junior Vayle Johnson have the Lakewood Ranch High boys cross country team in the state meet hunt.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 9, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High boys cross-country team makes positive strides

Lakewood Ranch High has a shot at its first team state meet appearance since 2016.

  • East County
  • Sports
Homes for rent for less than six months will now be required to register as rentals with the town of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 9, 2023
Residential Rental Registry takes effect, aimed at organizing town rentals

The new registry that went into effect on Oct. 1 applies to residentially zoned properties that are rented to vacationers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Payne Park nonprofit hires veteran fundraiser
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2023
Payne Park nonprofit hires veteran fundraiser

Michael Ayres will lead the effort to raise capital and develop partnerships for the renovation and expansion of Payne Park Auditorium.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Layla Collis and Hannah Noake, 10, hold a piglet.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 8, 2023
Annual Pumpkin Festival celebrates fall and supports the community

The festival entertained families with activities and a menagerie of animals, all while supporting local vendors.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Although Lakewood Ranch 8-year-old Kenny Van Slyck, 3-year-old Carmela Van Slyck, 5-year-old Angelina Van Slyck and 6-year-old Vincent Van Slyck love seeing the first responder vehicles, they also love the free snacks.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 8, 2023
Safety Town teaches children about first responders in Lakewood Ranch

Children explored first responder vehicles as they learned about what local emergency services do for the community..

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 8, 2023
Sarasota among top cities for senior singles

Sarasota ranks third among 600 cities analyzed for seniors who find themselves back on the market.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • October 8, 2023
New study suggests common cancers are preventable with lifestyle changes

Adopting healthy dietary and exercise habits is a cornerstone of prevention.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
A rendering of the exterior view of The Ora.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 8, 2023
Jewish Federation receives $6 million grant to redevelop campus

The grant will allow the organization to introduce an events hall, a Holocaust education center and a summer camp.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rex Jensen
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 7, 2023
SMR CEO/president earns Builder magazine 'Legend' award

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch CEO and President Rex Jensen was honored for leading Lakewood Ranch to its standing as the No. 1-selling, multigenerational, master-planned community.

  • East County
  • News
Del Webb's Valerie Heyer was diagnosed in 2011 with stage four sarcoma. She says it means a lot to her that the Del Webb Breast Cancer and Beyond Walk is supporting people who are impacted by all types of cancer.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 7, 2023
Del Webb hosts Breast Cancer and Beyond Walk in east Bradenton

The Del Webb Breast Cancer and Beyond Walk supports those impacted by all types of cancer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Amy Cyr, Grant Rhea and Domine Clemons perform with The Brett Foreman Band.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 7, 2023
Fresh Fridays makes a comeback with 'Paint the Town Fresh'

The event kicked off its third season with an event featuring The Brett Foreman Band.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A young rider catches air on a scooter at Payne Skatepark.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 7, 2023
Sarasota group looks to expand skate parks countywide

City commissioners heard from Skate City SRQ about the shortage of parks for riders of all sorts of wheels from skateboards to wheelchairs.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Elma Felix's office in the Planning, Zoning and Building Department gets a lot of sun, perfect for the plants that add to the vibrant space.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 7, 2023
New planning manager appreciates Longboat's passion for preservation

Elma Felix was able to find her footing relatively quickly and knows how passionate residents are about Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 7, 2023
High school football roundup: Week seven

A light week on the Sarasota and East County schedules was tough for two of the three teams that did play.

  • East County
  • Sports
ODA sophomore Allen Clark gets tripped by the Bell Creek defense after a positive gain.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 7, 2023
ODA football falls to Bell Creek Academy at home

After scoring on its opening possession, the Thunder offense was stymied in an 8-6 loss.

  • East County
  • Sports
Cornerstone and Company serves craft cocktails including a spicy mango margarita.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 6, 2023
Ranch Nite Wednesdays returns to Waterside Place

Ranch Nite offers shopping, dining, live entertainment and cornhole in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Rick Hinkson keeps watch from a lifeguard tower.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 6, 2023
Sarasota beach lifeguards require special set of skills

Sarasota County lifeguards performed 100 rescues this year. A lifeguard shares what it takes to be an open-water first responder.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 6, 2023
Commissioner proposes act to require registration for paid lobbyists

Sarasota City Commissioner Erik Arroyo wants full disclosure of individuals paid to lobby elected officials and staff.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Melody Reedy is one of several Manatee County residents to hold up signs during the land use meeting Oct. 5, 2023 in an attempt to stop commissioners from cutting wetland protections out of the Comprehensive Plan.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 5, 2023
Manatee County Commission cuts wetland protections

In a vote of 5-1, the commission approved removing additional protections from the Comprehensive Plan.

  • East County
  • News
John Skeen, a 105-year-old World War II veteran, is honored during "The Littlest Flag" reenactment Thursday in front of Lowe's in Creekwood Crossing. The event told the story of Skeen's 70th Infantry Division liberating Forbach, France.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 5, 2023
A little flag flies high in Bradenton with World War II reenactment

The event told the story of East County resident John Skeen's 70th Infantry Division liberating Forbach, France.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County Schools hosted a groundbreaking for a new K-8 school at the intersection of Lorraine and Clark roads.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 5, 2023
New K-8 school at Clark, Lorraine celebrates groundbreaking

The two-story, 195,000-square-foot school is budgeted at $105.75 million and is slated to open in August 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
A home at 1611 Pine Bay Drive tops all transactions for the Sarasota area in this week's real estate. Built in 1969, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,764 square feet of living area. It sold for $935,000 in 2021.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 5, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Sept. 18-22 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Casey Key home tops the week's sales at $3.43 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Sarasota County Sheriff's deputy arrested on fraud charges
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 5, 2023
Sarasota County Sheriff's deputy arrested on fraud charges

Preston Hines is charged with falsely claiming hours for overtime detail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge is located at 4602 Lena Road.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 5, 2023
Everybody knows your name at the Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Club

While the Elks is a social club, it's also a charitable organization.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kimberly Knox works with Holistic Healing and Wellness Center of Longboat Key to teach about how food affects every part of your life
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 5, 2023
Local chef teaches classes on the healing properties of clean food

Kimberly Knox partners with the Holistic Healing and Wellness Center of Longboat Key to help reset people's eating habits to enjoy life and give them more energy.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This vacation rental property at 234 Grant Drive is one of three on Lido Key involved in a Bert Harris Act claim against the city for alleged devaluation resulting from a city ordinance that caps overnight capacity.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 5, 2023
City faces Harris Act challenge from Lido Key vacation rentals

The owners of three properties allege loss in appraised value over capacity restrictions.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tom Aposporos as Abraham Van Helsing
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 5, 2023
Bookstore1Sarasota creates frightful auditory experience for Halloween

For the month of October, the downtown store will offer a radio-style dramatization of Bram Stoker’s "Dracula."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Orion Kerkering was named to the Philadelphia Phillies postseason roster Oct. 3.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 5, 2023
Sarasota baseball dad watches son's MLB dreams come true

Todd Kerkering, the emergency manager for the city of Sarasota, was moved to tears at his son Orion Kerkering's debut.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A 2021 ordinance aimed to regulate hotel houses on the barrier islands is being expanded to all vacation rental homes in the city.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 5, 2023
Vacation rental ordinance set to go citywide

Although not unanimous, Sarasota city commissioners approved expanding regulation of short-term rentals to the mainland.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Alyssa Rockey, outreach services supervisor, and Katie Dow, manager of programs and partnerships in front of the Pop-Up Library
    By
  • James Peter
  • October 5, 2023
Selby Library celebrates its 25th anniversary

The Selby Library offers space for community, tools for creators and a large collection of materials.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Richard Corcoran was named interim president of New College of Florida earlier this year.
    By
  • Amanda Postma
  • October 4, 2023
New College of Florida names president after six-month search

The current interim president beat out two other finalists for the official title.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Wallace takes a nap with one of his beloved stuffed animals.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 4, 2023
Myakka City warthog gains fans on TikTok

Wallace the Warthog has nearly 100,000 followers and even receives gifts from fans.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Brian Gosling with Natural Design Landscaping uses a boxer to easily take out plants to make way for new landscaping.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 4, 2023
Main Street at Lakewood Ranch to undergo a makeover

New paint and landscaping will give Main Street a fresh look.

  • East County
  • 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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