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Your Observer

The Good Liquid Distilling Company will offer tours of the distillery in the future.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 1, 2023
Good Liquid opens distillery, cocktail bar at Waterside Place

Handcrafted cocktails are produced from spirits, syrups and foams that are made from scratch.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Jenny and Mike Schenk, co-owners of Bradenton-based Pineapple Kitchen, recently announced an expansion of the murder-mystery part of the company.
    By
  • Amanda Postma
  • October 1, 2023
Murder mystery show plans hotel expansion in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch

Pineapple Kitchen, a culinary and hospitality business based outside Lakewood Ranch, is expanding its murder mystery shows to meet rapidly growing demand.

  • Arts + Culture
Sixth grader Ethan Burnstein loves how colorful the sixth grade peace themed golf cart is for the homecoming parade.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 30, 2023
Out-of-Door Academy celebrates with school's first homecoming parade

Students, staff and alumni of the Lakewood Ranch school decorated 10 golf carts for the parade.

  • East County
  • Schools
The new 120,000-square-foot Sarasota County Administration Center will be next to Celery Fields in Fruitville Commons just east of I-75.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 30, 2023
Sarasota County breaks ground on new administration center

Staff is expected to vacate the current downtown headquarters and occupy the new building in late 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 30, 2023
High school football roundup: Week six

It was a week of blowouts: Only one area team, ODA, played a game decided by one possession.

  • East County
  • Sports
ODA running back Allen Clark raises the ball after scoring a touchdown against Santa Fe Catholic.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 30, 2023
ODA football runs over Santa Fe Catholic

The Thunder (3-2) had four rushing touchdowns in a 33-26 home win.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jess Kruse is selected to be one of six assistants to help chef Angela Massaro-Fain at the Cooking for Charity event at Meals on Wheels-Plus Sept. 28.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 29, 2023
Cooking event the right recipe for fundraising at Meals on Wheels Plus

Sisterhood for Good founder Angela Massaro-Fain forms a partnership with Meals on Wheels for a night of culinary delights.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Developer Rodrigo Trepp (left) and financial partner Micheal Ealy with the scale model of SOTA.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 29, 2023
Sales underway for new condo as site demolition downtown begins

The 16-floor hotel/condo tower on Main Street will offer two restaurants. It's expected to be completed in March 2026.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mike Seifert, the president of the board for the Country Club East HOA, talks to District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner about the proposed roundabout. Seifert wants a signal light instead.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 29, 2023
Concerned residents converge on county meeting over proposed roundabout

Manatee County District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner collected input about the road project from more than 200 citizens.

  • East County
  • News
Alice Green plays pickleball at Bayfront Park with Jim Wolohan.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • September 29, 2023
More parking, shared courts coming to Longboat's Bayfront Park this season

The addition of 15-19 parking spaces and more shared racket courts will help mitigate issues caused by pickleball, tennis, fitness classes and beach access.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 28, 2023
City of Sarasota budget unanimously approved

The City Commission OKs a spending plan increase of $33 million while holding millage rate steady.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mark Stackhouse, Barbara Richards Thomas Graff talk during a meeting.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 28, 2023
Project 180 turns life around for formerly incarcerated individuals

The nonprofit offers support to people starting over after serving a prison sentence.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sandy Ulrickson, a volunteer for the Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida, holds a rescued baby rabbit.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 28, 2023
Wildlife, flag-raising events should pique interest in Bradenton

Two unique events top the calendar and offer educational opportunities.

  • East County
  • Opinion
A home in Cherokee Park tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Built in 2009, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,538 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 28, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Sept. 11-15 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Cherokee Park home tops the week's sales at $4.19 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Booker senior receiver Joshua Burrows catches a ball behind the Braden River defense. Burrows would take the catch for a 60-yard touchdown.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 28, 2023
Booker High football finishes the job

A comeback win over Braden River High could be a turning point for the program.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sharleen Kow and John Vann wait their turn on Aug. 17 to ask commissioners to vote down a measure to reduce wetland protections.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 28, 2023
Final vote nears on protection of Manatee wetlands

Backers of each side of issue present their views of reducing wetland protections to state levels.

  • East County
  • News
The planned Banditos Tacos & Tequila at 1468 Main St. includes a proposal for a rooftop lounge.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 28, 2023
Proposed restaurant, bar zoning changes divide Planning Board

How outdoor rooftop bars are defined and the unknown impact of the new rules are points of concern.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota city commissioners adopted an ordinance in 2021 to register and regulate vacation rentals in coastal communities.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 28, 2023
Vacation rental fees are going up, citywide expansion may be next

With fee hikes approved, the Sarasota City Commission will take up regulations for short-term rentals across the city.

  • Sarasota
  • News
John Skeen, a 103-year-old World War II veteran of the Army's 70th Infantry Division and a bronze star medalist, was honored with a ride at the 2022 Tribute to Heroes Parade.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 28, 2023
Manatee County names Oct. 3 after local World War II veteran

World War II veteran John Skeen of East County is honored with his own day.

  • East County
  • News
Second grade teacher Jessica Perez Maquedo holds a storytime for the class.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 27, 2023
Dreamers Academy's new campus serves mission of dual-language learning

The tuition-free public charter school alternates its instruction between English and Spanish at its own campus.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Aayla Bruttell and John Darling face off during the 2023 Sarasota BJJ Open, held Sept. 22 at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 27, 2023
Brazilian jiu-jitsu event promotes anti-bullying initiative

Thadeu Vieira's event, held at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, saw more than 300 competitors.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Tommy Bahama's happy hour
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 27, 2023
A guide to the best happy hours on Longboat Key, St. Armands

Longboat Key and St. Armands Circle restaurants provide deals on tasty food and drinks during everyone's favorite time of day.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Mourners gathered along a road outside of Mikolayev.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • September 27, 2023
Local photographer captures another side of Ukraine war in new project

Allan Mestel’s latest project focuses on the people in the Russia-Ukraine war.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Brain Health Initiative founder Stephanie Peabody
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 27, 2023
Brain health gets a boost with Vital Signs screener

Brain health experts say Vital Signs signals an important step in national awareness.

  • East County
  • News
William and Francine Forster sold their Unit C301 condominium at 4765 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Mary Mooty Kileen, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $5.7 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 27, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Sept. 11-15 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

An Infinity home on Gulf of Mexico Drive tops this week's sales at $5.7 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Lorraine Road/Players Drive roundabout makes no sense
  • By Rex E. Jensen
  • September 27, 2023
Lorraine Road/Players Drive roundabout makes no sense

SMR's Rex Jensen gives his view of the Manatee County roundabout project scheduled for Lorraine Road and Players Drive.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The social service brouhaha
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 27, 2023
The social service brouhaha

Should county tax dollars be used to fund social service organizations? Where do you draw the line?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Beach pipe bomb threat was a swatting incident
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 27, 2023
Beach pipe bomb threat was a swatting incident

A multi-agency response to a pipe bomb claim was one of many in the state on the same day. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Veronica Young stands in front of her flooded home at Singletary Road and Riverview Road after Hurricane Ian devastates Myakka City.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 27, 2023
Manatee County learns lessons from Hurricane Ian response

Various public safety departments reassess needs for Myakka City residents during a hurricane.

  • East County
  • News
John Hokanson and Jayke Maracle have taken up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu together. Maracle said the sport has given him renewed confidence.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 27, 2023
Lakewood Ranch family bonds over Brazilian jiu-jitsu

John Hokanson and Jayke Maracle are examples of how the sport can change its competitors.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Teuton home in Myakka City has approximately $80,000 worth of damage from Hurricane Ian.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 27, 2023
Myakka City family returns to normalcy a year after Hurricane Ian

The Teuton family has spent the past year repairing $80,000 worth of damage caused by Hurricane Ian, which made landfall Sept. 28, 2022.

  • East County
  • News
The Longboat Key Fire Rescue department shows off their new Jaws of Life equipment, purchsed with a $39,000 grant from Firehouse Subs. From left to right: John Cz, Kaite Fountain, Public Information Officer Tina Adams, William Lewis, Ryan Corso, Lt. Ron Koper and Chief Paul Dezzi.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • September 27, 2023
Firehouse Subs grant provides LBK Fire Rescue with ‘game-changing’ equipment

Roughly $39,000 in grant money from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation went toward the purchase of gear for Longboat's firefighters.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Logan Schaub.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 27, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Logan Schaub

The Riverview High girls cross-country runner won the Large School division of the North Port Invitational.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Social Action Committee chair Susan Rosenbaum and Social Action Committee member Barbara Peltz with her husband Mark Peltz.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 26, 2023
Temple Emanu-El celebrates High Holy Days with food drive

All Faiths Food Bank honored the drive as its most successful fundraiser and food drive for the past six years, say temple staff.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Braden River High junior Marcus Galloway breaks a tackle and stumbles forward against Booker High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 26, 2023
Slow starts hurting Braden River High's football team

The Bradenton team has fallen to 2-2 after coming out flat in the last two games, both losses.

  • East County
  • Sports
  • By FPL Energy Expert Isaiah Kelley
  • September 26, 2023
Beat the Heat with FPL’s Virtual House of Savings While Helping Neighbors in Need

Summer heat has reached its peak, and Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) revamped augmented reality experience can help customers save during the record-breaking heat.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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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
2
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.
  • June 3, 2026
Teen founds Lakewood Ranch Leo Club to provide community service
3
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
Panther Ridge mom hopes to make connections in District 5 school board seat
4
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.
  • June 3, 2026
Braden River High graduate takes her dual athleticism overseas
5
Collin Purcell, Katie Blackwell and Brian Ott bring back the feel-good era of folk music in "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
  • June 3, 2026
Cool off this summer with Florida Studio Theatre's cabaret shows

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