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Your Observer

Dana Fry, Steve Herrig, Jason Straka and Paul Azinger talk about building the Miakka Golf Club on the site in Myakka City. Herrig is the owner while Fry, Straka and Azinger are the course designers.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 6, 2023
Miakka Golf Club owner enlists star power to develop 'epic' course

Paul Azinger, a Major champion and golf analyst, helps the design effort in his old stomping grounds.

  • East County
  • News
Steven Lloyd on the back of his floating home. "My Best Life," at its temporary home in Marina Jack.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 6, 2023
Liveaboard boater breathes sigh of relief after Hurricane Idalia

A yacht owner says the lifestyle's benefits outweigh a few days of dread during tropical weather.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Former Riverview High and Venice High defensive back Charles Brantley started 11 games for Michigan State University in 2022.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 6, 2023
See these former area football stars on Saturdays

The Sarasota area has several alumni playing at the highest levels of college football.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The owners and management of Harry's got to work quickly to dry out their office building, which received 13 inches of water from Hurricane Idalia.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • September 6, 2023
Longboat Key takes stock of Hurricane Idalia flooding damage

Water damage, transformer failures and beach erosion are among the issues Longboat Key faced due to flooding.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Report of smoking hot clothing at Sarasota laundromat
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 6, 2023
Report of smoking hot clothing at Sarasota laundromat

Likely overdrying at a laundromat scorched a full load of clothes. These and other tales from the files of the SPD in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Cardinal Mooney senior quarterback Michael Valentino holds the ball aloft as he crosses the goal line for a touchdown.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 6, 2023
Cardinal Mooney High football eyes star-laden season

In their first two games, the Cougars have outscored their opponents 95-6, spreading the ball among several offensive weapons.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Mick Jagger and Melanie Hamrick spent two years renovating the house at 15809 Clearlake Ave.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 5, 2023
Mick Jagger's ballerina girlfriend sells Lakewood Ranch home

The Lake Club home brings $3.25 million after being on the market three months.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
This home at 8423 Lindrick Lane sold for $5.65 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 5, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Aug. 21-25 in Lakewood Ranch

A Concession home on Lindrick Lane tops the week's sales at $5.65 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The Longboat Key home at 5005 Gulf of Mexico Dr. is on the market for $12 million.
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • September 5, 2023
Longboat Key home hits the market at $12 million

The 3-year-old home sits on the Gulf of Mexico and comes with a second, buildable parcel.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Leighton Allenby and Michele De Luce
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 5, 2023
You and me on Longboat Key

Shell muralists make Facebook group to rebuild mural and organize other events.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Homeowners suffer dock damage from loose sailboat
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 5, 2023
Homeowners suffer dock damage from loose sailboat

A vessel crashed into the dock on Sarasota Bay hard enough to move it. With boat owner unknown, removal could take months.

  • Sarasota
  • News
High water from Hurricane Idalia's storm surge presented obstacles for Longboat Key first responders.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • September 5, 2023
Emergency services kept vigilant eye on Longboat Key during Idalia

Police and fire departments rode out the storm on the island to be in position to respond to emergencies.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat police investigate report of man soliciting cologne from backpack
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • September 5, 2023
Longboat police investigate report of man soliciting cologne from backpack

An evening on the beach is interrupted by a suspicious man on the beach, and a service dog dispute. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Longboat Island Chapel hosted a Labor Day brunch on Sept. 3.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 5, 2023
Longboat Island Chapel dedicates Labor Day brunch to beloved member

Chapel members celebrated the long weekend with a community brunch after their 10 a.m. service.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
One of the invasive apple snail shells that Richard Meyers found along the shore of a pond in Braden Woods.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 4, 2023
Will invasive apple snails slowly take over Manatee wetlands?

The snails annihilate aquatic vegetation, and there's no effective pesticide to treat them.

  • East County
  • News
Carrie Leitzman is selling Truman's Tap & Grill to spend more time with her family.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 4, 2023
Truman's generous goodbye to Lakewood Ranch

After serving the Lakewood Ranch area for 11 years, Truman's Tap & Grill is closed as of Sept. 1.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 4, 2023
County's fire assessment rate public meetings rescheduled

Topic of discussion? Rate increases for residents of the city of Sarasota and unincorporated Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Flags fly across all seven miles of Longboat Key on Sept. 11.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 4, 2023
9/11 flag memorial will line GMD again this year

Nearly 3,000 American flags will be placed in remembrance of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch senior quarterback Sebastian Mejia (12) pitches to senior running back Teagan Randall.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 4, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High football seeks answers after 0-2 start

The Mustangs lost 41-6 to Cardinal Mooney High on the road Sept. 1.

  • East County
  • Sports
Julie Farmer stops by the sandbag station at the Myakka Community Center. She's not as worried about her cabin off River Road as she is her cottage on Anna Maria Island.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 4, 2023
Idalia causes anxiety but little damage in Myakka City

Since Hurricane Ian left destruction in its wake, residents are now prepared for anything.

  • East County
  • News
The waters at Manatee County beaches have been deemed safe for swimming on Labor Day. The Department of Health-Manatee lifted its no-swim advisory that was issued in the wake of Hurricane Idalia.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 3, 2023
Swim advisory lifted for Manatee County beaches

Department of Health-Manatee said all beaches, other than Palma Sola South, have safe swimming conditions for Labor Day.

  • East County
  • News
Tristan Lovell (Optimist RWB — Blue) of Davis Island Race Team, Piper Roberts (Optimist RWB — White) of Sarasota Yacht Club and Ryan Rossignol (Optimist RWB — Red of Sarasota Youth Sailing) emerge from a bend in the course.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 3, 2023
75th Annual Labor Day Regatta keeps another generation sailing

The event drew young sailors, as well as experienced racers, from near and far.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jamie Billingsley, the emergency manager at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, demonstrates how to use a tourniquet with Stephen Arnold, the patient experience manager.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 2, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center to host Stop the Bleed

Stop the Bleed will teach people the actions necessary to help if someone is injured or bleeding.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch High girls golf sophomore Emily Storm finished tied for 51st (84) at the 2022 FHSAA state tournament as a freshman.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 2, 2023
East County Athlete of the Week: Emily Storm

The Lakewood Ranch High girls golfer was the medalist in the Mustangs' Aug. 26 match against Southeast High.

  • East County
  • Sports
‘Investments’ vs. increased operating costs
  • By Bob and Shannon Gault
  • September 2, 2023
‘Investments’ vs. increased operating costs

A reader writes to question the town of Longboat Key's spending.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Carol Hayes cleaning up the inside of Coastal HoBo
    By
  • Amanda Postma
  • September 2, 2023
Local businesses encouraged to take damage survey

The survey asks for both physical and economic damages caused by Hurricane Idalia.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 2, 2023
High school football roundup: Week two

After a strong opening week, only a few area teams walked out of week two with a win.

  • East County
  • Sports
Cardinal Mooney senior quarterback Michael Valentino holds the ball aloft as he crosses the goal line for a touchdown.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 2, 2023
Cardinal Mooney High football runs over Lakewood Ranch High

The Cougars used both speed and power to beat the Mustangs 41-6 at home.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
East County's Charles and Elaine Johnston evacuate to Freedom Elementary School due to concerns of storm surge at their home during Hurricane Idalia.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 1, 2023
Manatee County schools prepared for the next storm

Hurricane Idalia served as test run for residents and schools that become shelters.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Department of Health in Manatee County advised the public Friday that contact with local waterways following Hurricane Idalia could pose health risks.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 1, 2023
Manatee County waters unsafe for swimming after Hurricane Idalia

The Department of Health-Manatee issued a no-swim warning because the waters could pose a health risk.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • September 1, 2023
Jack Robert Swartz

SWARTZ - Jack Robert of Syracuse, NY and Longboat Key, FL passed away on August 23, 2023, at age 92, joining his beloved wife of 57 years Barbara Jean.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Ringling College of Art and Design placed 20th on list of 25 best film schools.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 1, 2023
Ringling College named among the top US film schools

The Sarasota college ranks 20th alongside major universities across the country.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Pine View School is ranked among the best schools in Florida by U.S. News & World Report.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2023
Three Sarasota schools ranked among the state and nation's best

Recent U.S. News & World Report rankings include Pine View, Suncoast Polytech and Riverview High School.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Jose Pavet of Cha Cha Coconuts on Aug. 31.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 31, 2023
Businesses on St. Armands Circle clean up after Hurricane Idalia flooding

Shops on the Circle received little water damage from the storm and plan to reopen Aug. 31 to Sept. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Question for Labor Day: Is your job a labor of love?
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 31, 2023
Question for Labor Day: Is your job a labor of love?

Lakewood Ranch-area workers share what they love about their jobs in honor of Labor Day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 31, 2023
Braden River High football game at Palmetto High postponed

All other East County week two football games are currently to be played.

  • East County
  • Sports
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