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Your Observer

Mayor Kyle Battie and Dr. Josie Hamilton cut the ribbon at Burns Court Veterinary Care.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 22, 2023
New downtown vet clinic takes fear out of exams

Burns Court Veterinary Care, now open on Dolphin Street, follows Fear Free, a veterinary initiative to alleviate anxiety in pets during the clinic visit.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Ian Black Real Estate has been contracted to scout Sarasota for potential properties for affordable and attainable housing.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 22, 2023
City hires Ian Black to find affordable housing properties

The Sarasota real estate firm will scour the market for locations to help ease the housing crisis.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Shortage of courts: It’s not that big of a pickle
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 22, 2023
Shortage of courts: It’s not that big of a pickle

Does Longboat really need more public pickleball courts?

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch High girls lacrosse senior Morgan McCabe.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 22, 2023
East County Athlete of the Week: Morgan McCabe

The Lakewood Ranch High girls lacrosse senior has 29 goals in 10 games for the 8-2 Mustangs.

  • East County
  • Sports
Commissioners Deborah Murphy, Penny Gold, Gary Coffin, BJ Bishop, Debra Wiliams, Mayor Ken Schneier and Vice Mayor Mike Haycock.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • March 22, 2023
Longboat welcomes new commissioners to their seats

Gary Coffin and Deborah Murphy were sworn into the Longboat Key Town Commission on March 20.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The second annual doubles pickleball tournament is held at Longboat Harbour.
  • By Ken Comeforo
  • March 22, 2023
Pickleball is a big dill at Longboat Harbour

The condominium's second annual pickleball tournament was held on March 14 and 15.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
In the summer of 2021, the Volt Power Co. workers removed several light poles in the Country Club Shores neighborhood.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • March 22, 2023
Underground work, power line removal slated to finish this summer

All underground infrastructure work is completed in phases 1, 2 and 3 on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
701 Old Compass Road
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 22, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for March 6-10 in Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key

An Emerald Harbor home on Old Compass Road tops the week's sales at $4.7 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Woman IDs robbery suspect as he talked to police
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 22, 2023
Woman IDs robbery suspect as he talked to police

A purse snatcher is identified by the victim who was driving by when he was talking to police. This and other reports from the Sarasota Police Department in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Sandra Frank will retire as CEO of All Faiths Food Bank by the end of 2023.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 22, 2023
All Faiths Food Bank CEO announces retirement

Sandra Frank will step down after 11 years of leading the organization through evolution and rebranding.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Within the first few minutes of a Blissful Goat Yoga class, Dolly Parton already is jumping on instructor Brooke Woodworth's back.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 22, 2023
Myakka's Blissful Goat Yoga delivers unique healing experience

Owner Corinn Smith combines yoga, goats and donkeys for a one-of-a-kind experience.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kurt Turner
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 22, 2023
Six authors and a food truck take over Longboat Library

The Longboat Library held an author's showcase on March 19 and invited the Maine Line lobster truck.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble Conductor Joseph Miller conducts the band during The Star Spangled Banner.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 22, 2023
Artsy sounds welcome in Waterside of Lakewood Ranch

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch's new Sights and Sounds series provides a cultural boost.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The current posted speed limit on Broadway Street is 20 miles per hour.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • March 22, 2023
Longboat Key pursues mini roundabouts in the Village

Town commissioners asked staff to pursue cost estimates and potential funding sources for at least two roundabouts on Broadway Street.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The drug drop box at SPD headquarters is available year-round.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 22, 2023
Sarasota PD partners in DEA National Take Back Day

Unused, expired and unwanted prescription drugs may be dropped off at two Sarasota locations on April 22.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Conner Morrell won his heat at the 2022 Amalie Oil / Tub O' Towels 410 Sprint at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 21, 2023
Lakewood Ranch sprint car driver earns spots in Tony Stewart's circuit

Conner Morrell will race in two high-level series in 2023, including Kyle Larson's High Limit series.

  • East County
  • Sports
Plantation man arrested in hit-and-run that injured an SPD officer
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 21, 2023
Plantation man arrested in hit-and-run that injured an SPD officer

An officer was struck by a suspect driving a stolen vehicle Monday night on Bird Key. He is expected to make a full recovery.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Realtor Stacy Haas of Michael Saunders & Company announced the sale of a $5.15 million Lake Club home on Tuesday.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 21, 2023
Lake Club home sells for $5.15 million in Lakewood Ranch

Realtor Stacy Haas of Michael Saunders & Co. represented the sellers of the Bowspirit Way house.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Moment worthy of extra celebration
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • March 21, 2023
Moment worthy of extra celebration

A couple asked a police officer to help them celebrate their engagement. This and more Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    In Memoriam |
  • March 21, 2023
Larry “Sammy” Corbitt

Larry “Sammy” Corbitt, 80, passed away surrounded by loved ones on March 17, 2023.

  • East County
  • Tributes & Obituaries
This Country Club home at 13315 Palmers Creek Terrace sold for $2.8 million. It has five bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, a pool and 6,171 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 21, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for March 6-10 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Pavia Way tops the week's sales at $3 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
780 SRQ Condominiums will include 34 units, two of them priced as attainable.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 21, 2023
Downtown Sarasota multifamily projects move through review committee

Four condo and apartment developments will bring nearly 300 new units in the city.

  • Sarasota
  • News
OnPlace staff members celebrating the company's one-year anniversary are Erin Steele, community relations, Sandy Friedman, business development, Monaca Onstad, president and CEO, Amanda Arnold, vice president, and Mackenzie Straley, director of community experience.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 21, 2023
Community lifestyle specialist spreads wings with OnPlace

Former SMR community relations director Monaca Onstad uses her Lakewood Ranch experience to enhance communities around the nation.

  • East County
  • Business
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • March 21, 2023
Longboat looks to wage increases to fill open town roles

The town's main hiring disadvantage is the seasonal traffic congestion faced by employees, which largely live off-island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Residents enjoy dinner and a movie on March 11 at Bayfront Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 20, 2023
Date night with the Longboat Key Garden Club

The Garden Club held its annual dinner and a movie on March 11 at Bayfront Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan hosted a roundtable with local leaders about recent red tide outbreaks on Florida's Gulf coast.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • March 20, 2023
Local leaders agree: Steps need to be taken to combat red tide

Longboat Key town commissioners met with Rep. Vern Buchanan and other local leaders to discuss the current red tide outbreak and steps to lessen its impacts in the future.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
6-year-old Emilia Kalev reads to Olive, a pug who arrived with Joanne Long, a volunteer with The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 20, 2023
Cuteness, cuddliness encourages reading at Read with the Dogs

Families keep returning to the program, which is held at multiple Sarasota County libraries and features certified pet therapy dogs.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jeremy Schiller laughs at his team as the game clock winds down.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 20, 2023
Former Mustangs coach thrives at IMG Academy

University Park's Jeremy Schiller led the Ascenders' varsity team to an 18-9 record in 2022-2023.

  • East County
  • Sports
Julie McClure, president of Manatee County Orchid Society, discusses the selection of plants she has brought to the event.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 19, 2023
Friendships bloom at garden club orchid presentation in Lakewood Ranch

The Gardeners Out East event offered a chance for members and nonmembers to learn about orchid care.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
River Strand's Lisa Larson, Kathy Justinak, Mary Griffith, Nedra Clark, Valerie Thurston, Sandy Franks, Adrian Figliotti, and Marla Coniglio lit up the runway during Stylin' at the Strand.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 18, 2023
River Strand models raise funds for Food Bank of Manatee County

Women walked the runway March 18 at River Strand of Bradenton's annual Stylin' at the Strand fashion show.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dick Hyman performs.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 18, 2023
Jazz legend highlights six-day festival in Sarasota

Pianist Dick Hyman, 96, thrilled the crowd inside the Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Danielle Gassenhofer listens carefully as her children, 8-year-old Eleanor Gassenhofer and 6-year-old Edison Gassenhofer, get advice on how to cast from Robert LaVopa, a member of the Lakewood Ranch Angler's Club.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 18, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Angler's Club Youth Fishing Seminar reels in fun

Children learned the basics of fishing in preparation for the Angler's Club annual Youth Fishing Tournament.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Executive Director Sherika Evans drives the Suncoast School for Innovative Studies school bus every day.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • March 18, 2023
School leader goes extra mile to ensure student success

Sherika Evans believes giving kids a better life doesn't end with them — it involves the whole family.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Allen Speer, Mia Braddock, Laurie Swink, Jerry Fox and Stacey Efaw
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 18, 2023
Sex trafficking survivor speaks out at Christ Church

Christ Church began supporting Selah Freedom in December after making a $50,000 donation to the anti-trafficking nonprofit in Sarasota.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Morrissey and McCarthy families were having a blast at the event.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 18, 2023
Attendees find greater than gold at Shamrock Pub block party

Loyal patrons and newcomers both enjoyed the festive scene on St. Patrick's Day.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County Mosquito Management patrols the entire county with a full-time crew of 20 and 11 more seasonal workers, treating for larvae and adult populations.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 17, 2023
Mosquito season is coming, and your yard might be part of the problem

Sarasota County's mosquito manager says residents can help control the population during the rainy season.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
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
2
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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Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
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Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
Longboat Goodwill officially celebrates grand opening
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Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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