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Your Observer

George Leibold.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 26, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: George Leibold

The Cardinal Mooney linebacker received an offer from Stetson University this offseason.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch wrestler Nate Smith had his junior season ended in the regional tournament stage because of a finger injury.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 26, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High wrestler hopes to earn a state title his senior year

A broken finger in last year's regional ended Nate Smith's quest in his junior year.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota man pleads guilty to 2022 murder
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 26, 2023
Sarasota man pleads guilty to 2022 murder

Johnny Evans. 23, was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Angry boyfriend smashes windshield after his partner's date with another man
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 26, 2023
Angry boyfriend smashes windshield after his partner's date with another man

Online-initiated tryst ends in a date paying for a windshield smashed by his partner. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Rosemary and Theodore Jadick, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 704 condominium at 1241 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Diane McCombe Bussandri and Norman Coulombe, trustees, of Quebec, Canada, for $3.2 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 26, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for July 10-14 in Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key

A condominium in The Water Club tops the week's sales at $3.2 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The Thieles at Tyler's Gourmet Ice Cream in Longboat Key
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 26, 2023
Tyler's Gourmet Ice Cream brings sweetness of childhood to Longboat

The ice cream shop's partnership with Lazy Lobster has made it a family-friendly destination.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
William Cinéa conducting field work in his native Haiti.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 26, 2023
Haitian botanist named Selby Gardens research associate

The three-year appointment will mutually benefit Selby Gardens' research and Caribbean flora.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Lindsey May, Julie Swann, Kathy Hall and Jennifer Alokeh show off their favorite donated shoes to The Twig.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 26, 2023
Sneaker Drive the right fit for the Lake Club Women's Giving Circle

The nonprofit hopes to donate 400 pairs of sneakers to The Twig to benefit foster children.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
9th grade student Alex Lieberman and Evan Heck program the robot.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 26, 2023
Local partnership gives students hands-on robotics experience

The collaboration began with RND Automation lending a robotic arm to the Faulhaber Fab Lab.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Buttonwood Harbour and Sleepy Lagoon neighborhoods are among those most prone to flooding during high tide.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 26, 2023
Careful planning, budgeting required for north-end drainage improvements

The Sleepy Lagoon and Buttonwood neighborhoods have long had an issue with drainage. A drainage committee and the town are committed to realizing improvement.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sharon Haas sets up tables at Ventura's about an hour before the doors open for dinner.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 26, 2023
Local businesses find ways to retain staff amid seasonal traffic issues

The town of Longboat Key and private businesses often need to find ways to encourage people to work on the island while some are drawn to work on the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Manatee County seeks planning commissioner
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 26, 2023
Manatee County seeks planning commissioner

The Planning Commission is a citizen's advisory committee that makes recommendations to the County Commission on land-use items.

  • East County
  • News
The NBP Dragon Women's Senior B team took first place in the 200 meter sprint race on July 21 (53.638).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 25, 2023
Competitive drive fires up these Nathan Benderson Park paddlers

Evelyn Silverthorn and Claire Keenan are among the local paddlers to compete at the 2023 Club Crew National Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
A special crane lifts the approximately 15-ton piece of acrylic that will become a main window in the Mote Science Education Aquarium's Gulf of Mexico Gallery tank that is two stories high.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2023
Mote aquarium construction offers window to the future

The $132 million project in Sarasota reaches a key milestone with the placement of two 15-ton acrylic tank windows.

  • East County
  • News
Natural attractions like beaches are one of the main scoring criteria for Travel + Leisure's best islands ranking.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 25, 2023
Longboat Key named one of the best US islands

The newest rankings from travel magazine Travel + Leisure place Longboat Key as No. 7 of the best U.S. islands.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ronnique Hawkins stands at the road named in her mother's honor while holding an award received by Veronica Allen.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 25, 2023
Newtown nonprofit leader remembers her police volunteer mother

Veronica Allen cared for the Newtown community as an SPD volunteer, while daughter Ronnique Hawkins took up the torch with a documentary about Emmett Till and the nonprofit Learn My History Foundation.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This Country Club home at 6919 Westchester Circle sold for $2.4 million. It has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,737 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 25, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for July 10-14 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club home on Westchester Circle tops the week's sales at $2.4 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Police respond to a call about a gushing water hose
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 25, 2023
Police respond to a call about a gushing water hose

A late complaint from a resident prompts police to turn off a water hose. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
A right-hand turn lane begins just past the Rosedale entrance on S.R. 70. Aggressive drivers had made that lane an accident hotspot according to Rosedale residents.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2023
Rosedale searches for traffic solutions on SR 70 and Lena Road

FDOT and Manatee County Public Works officials discussed the community's concerns about the design of S.R. 70 and Lena Road.

  • East County
  • News
The vegan version of the Chicago Hot was ranked among the country's top 10 vegan hotdogs for Summer 2023.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 25, 2023
Vegan hot dog at Sarasota eatery ranked in nation's top 10

The vegan version of Doggystyle's Chicago Hot was ranked by PETA among the top 10 hot dogs in the U.S. for summer 2023.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Florida Suncoast Waterkeeper patrol boat was purchased thanks to a grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 25, 2023
Suncoast Waterkeeper buys a patrol boat

The patrol boat will be christened July 29 during a celebration at Sarasota Sailing Squadron.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Emily Condensa instructs a Pilates Aligned session using the CoreAlign machine.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • July 25, 2023
Longboat residents beat the heat in Pilates studio

Longboat Key has several indoor fitness options, but one of the more popular has been Pilates, both in and out of season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Trip hazards and narrow sidewalks are among the mobility issues at St. Armands Key.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 25, 2023
St. Armands business district asks city for streetscape improvements

St. Armands Business Improvement District board chair Tom Leonard asked the Sarasota City Commission to consider a streetscape improvements option in the business district.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Navy veteran John Hynal shares Operation Eco Vets' mission at a farmers market.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 24, 2023
Operation Eco Vets looks for new home to host programs

The East County nonprofit supports veterans by providing opportunities to learn sustainability skills.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 24, 2023
SPD investigates overnight shooting near St. Armands Circle

The shooting occurred shortly before 1 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Jackson Drive and South Washington Drive.

  • Sarasota
  • News
An aerial view of floating solar panels cell platform on a body of water.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 24, 2023
City to permit floating solar power panels in comprehensive plan

State statute mandates solar generation, floating or ground mounted, be allowed in permitted zoning districts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
People mingling at Summer Night Out at Whitney Beach Plaza
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 23, 2023
Summer Night Out hosts local shoppers for community bonding

Businesses at Whitney Beach Plaza hosted Longboat residents for food, drinks and shopping.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Ronald and Marcia Owens say they do most things together, but they especially have fun delivering meals together.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 23, 2023
Meals on Wheels Plus Manatee volunteers add extra care into delivery

Lakewood Ranch residents Ronald and Marcia Owens have been delivering meals for the nonprofit for over 13 years.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
John Mcclain tours PGT Innovations, a custom windows and doors manufacturer. Students are learning about the manufacturing process, safety protocols and available jobs through The Haven's vocational summer camp.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 22, 2023
The Haven's camp works at getting jobs for those in need

A four-week camp in Sarasota introduced students to job opportunities with local manufacturers.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A rendering of an entrance into Siesta Promenade.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 22, 2023
Parallel parking plan causes friction for Siesta Promenade

Neighbors of the planned Benderson project convinced Sarasota County's Planning Commission to recommend against approval of the traffic-calming measure.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 21, 2023
Sarasota man arrested on child pornography charges

Hundreds of images were found on a computer belonging to a 51-year-old man.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Holly Ye recently completed a software engineering bootcamp through the State College of Florida Coding Academy. She is an educator transitioning to a career as a fullstack web developer.
    By
  • James Peter
  • July 21, 2023
The road to higher education for Sarasota and Manatee students has changed

Students face more competitive college admissions, shifting career pathways and increased expectations from employers.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Booker Middle gym teacher Kyle Mason said kids are more likely to want to wear their own clothes during class than when he was in school.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 21, 2023
Modern-day gym class focuses on getting kids moving

Gym teachers say they want their students to form a habit of being active.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cheryl Hughes is the Exceptional Student Education Gifted Coordinator while Nicole Cox heads Exceptional Student Education for the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 21, 2023
Gifted student eligibility requires a complete package

IQ, motivation, leadership and more figured into the equation before moving a student into the gifted program.

  • East County
  • Schools
Chief of Longboat Key Police Department George Turner and Town Commissioner Gary Coffin
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 21, 2023
Longboat Key police chief outlines department goals at Kiwanis Club meeting

Chief George Turner described recruitment and retention challenges the department has faced.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
John Saputo's Gold Coast Eagle Distributing will supply all the beer products to the new World Champions Cup that will be held Dec. 7, 8, 10 at The Concession.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 21, 2023
Gold Coast Eagle Distributing lands major role at World Champions Cup

The Lakewood Ranch distributor will handle all beer provisions and sales at the international golf event hosted by The Concession.

  • East County
  • Business
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