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Your Observer

A fire, the cause still unknown, destroyed the Sarasota Polo Club's clubhouse early Saturday morning.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 28, 2023
Fire destroys Sarasota Polo Club's clubhouse

The building was empty at 1 a.m. Saturday when the fire was reported. No cause for the fire has been determined.

  • East County
  • News
Foxy Lady’s founder and owner Lorry Eible has been a local trendsetter for 50 years.
  • By Amy Bentley
  • January 28, 2023
St. Armands' Foxy Lady is still fabulous at 50

Foxy Lady founder Lorry Eible credits family, friends and generations of loyal customers for 50 years of success.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Tracy Jackson and Tim Hensey are cautiously confident that most Siesta Key residents seek independence from county government.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 27, 2023
Siesta Key fights for its independence

A determined group of Siesta Key residents seeks a new, more responsive form of localized government for the island.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Firefighters work at the scene of a reported fire at 1661 Main Street.
  • By Eric Garwood
  • January 27, 2023
No fire found at Main Street church

Sarasota fire-rescue and police temporarily block the thoroughfare during the Friday morning investigation.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club hopes to educate the public on plants to grow that will provide habitat for the monarch butterfly.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 27, 2023
Hope grows for the monarch butterfly in Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club hosts a public meeting to talk about the importance of saving monarch butterflies.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Clarinetist John Fullam
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 27, 2023
Lakewood Ranch concert features noted clarinetist

Noted clarinetist John Fullam will share his joy of music during the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble’s Winter Concert after his recovery from Hodgkin lymphoma.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The home at 3360 Gulfmead Drive was built in 1951. It has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,559 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 26, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 9-13 for Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Nokomis, Osprey

A Siesta Key home on Gulfmead Drive tops the week's sales at $5.8 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Lakewood Ranch veterinary hospital undergoes expansion
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 26, 2023
Lakewood Ranch veterinary hospital undergoes expansion

Dr. Wendy Ellis says the 11,790-square-foot expansion serves a need in the area by bringing together different area specialists.

  • East County
  • Business
Sarasota driver killed in 17th Street crash
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 26, 2023
Sarasota driver killed in 17th Street crash

A collision between a sedan and a tractor-trailer took place at the intersection of Gun Club Road and 17th Street near the park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
New Sarasota High football Coach Josh Phillips was previously the defensive coordinator at Manatee High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 26, 2023
Sailors football coach envisions program on the rise

Josh Phillips comes to Sarasota High with a variety of experience in the sport.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Manatee County will provide attendants for its busy parks
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 26, 2023
Manatee County will provide attendants for its busy parks

Having attendants on site will allow the county to respond quicker to the residents' issues.

  • East County
  • News
An exam room at The Paradise Center's medical suite, which opened in 2020.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 26, 2023
Medical pros meet potential patients at The Paradise Center

The Paradise Center on Longboat Key is hosting a four-day open house from 1-2 p.m. Jan. 31 through Feb. 3 for residents to meet doctors in a variety of specialties.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Deputy Director of Utilities Kevin Morris and Utilities Director Evan Pilachoswki prepare for a presentation to commissioners on Jan. 17.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 26, 2023
Manatee trash collections could drop to once per week

Trash haulers are operating at a loss with twice-weekly collections, and county commissioners expressed concerns around the possibility of overburdening certain residents with rate increases.

  • East County
  • News
Ralph Hughes holds the first of two spy novels he wrote based on his time with the CIA.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 26, 2023
Former CIA chief writes truth-based fiction

After 27 years in the CIA, Longboat retiree Ralph Hughes couldn't tell his own story. So he wrote two spy novels instead.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jordyn Byrd said she enrolled early at Texas to get a head start on workouts and earn playing time next season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 26, 2023
Volleyball star Jordyn Byrd reflects on her path to stardom

Byrd, a two-time Gatorade Florida Player of the Year, enrolled early at the University of Texas.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 26, 2023
Answers to the most-asked questions on affordable housing in Sarasota

With initial land-use changes in place, the city is embarking on more granular changes to open the doors for private development.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bay Haven Elementary School for Basics Plus fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom to read for story time.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 25, 2023
Bay Haven school shares story time with the mayor

Fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
About 50 people attend FIt Fest at The Paradise Center on Tuesday.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 25, 2023
Longboat's Paradise Center lets people sample new ways to sweat

Fit Fest was a chance for the community to try out TPC's various fitness programs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
LaDazhia Williams is averaging 8.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for LSU.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 25, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High alumna thrives with LSU women's basketball

After two transfers, LaDazhia Williams is living up to her potential for the undefeated Tigers.

  • East County
  • Sports
An elevator and custom staircase both lead to a rooftop deck on the fourth level complete with a jacuzzi.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 25, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 9-13 on Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key

A Lido Key home on North Polk Drive tops this week's sales at $5.73 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
One noise exemption town staffers had hoped to add was the sound of water cascading into water, such as the sound of a fountain in operation.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 25, 2023
Longboat noise rules remain the same

Town commissioners opted to not move forward with new proposed exemptions.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lawns and homes are tidy in Country Club Shores.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 25, 2023
Maintaining town aesthetic drives new property standards

Longboat leaders are considering updated rules on a variety of property maintenance fronts.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 25, 2023
What is ‘effective’ notice?

Florida’s Republican lawmakers hate the daily newspapers and for 25 years have sought to end laws requiring public notices in newspapers. Their answer: Let government control public notice. Ha!

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Rye Preserve is among the areas that will be included in the trail system.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 25, 2023
Plans advance for recreational trail though Manatee County

The proposed trail will connect Manatee County to both Sarasota and Hillsborough trails.

  • East County
  • News
Spray paint sketches cause a sawbuck setback
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 25, 2023
Spray paint sketches cause a sawbuck setback

Dumpster graffiti costs a business owner $20 in damages, and police mediate a squabble among warring lobby lady factions. These and more Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Firefighter/paramedics Trey Bowlin and David Oliger show two kinds of AEDs the department has in their possession.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 25, 2023
Life-saving training, tech return to Longboat emergency departments

The Longboat Key Club's donation to the town allowed for new AEDs to be purchased for police patrol vehicles.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Public Art Committee has narrowed to three its choices for sculpture in the roundabout at Fruitville Road and U.S. 41.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 25, 2023
It's round 2 for Fruitville Road roundabout art proposals

The Public Art Committee narrows down to three concepts to recommend to City Commission. But will birds or clouds fly?

  • Sarasota
  • News
The No. 18 hole at Lakewood National Golf Club often sees big crowds during the LECOM Suncoast Classic.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 25, 2023
Volunteer opportunities at Suncoast Classic open as schedule shifts

The Korn Ferry Tour's stop in Lakewood Ranch stop will in mid-April.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Living spaces include ceilings up to 17 feet high with floor to ceiling windows.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 24, 2023
One-of-a-kind Lido Shores home on the market at $10 million

The post-modern Sarasota school of architecture residence on Morningside Drive overlooks Pansy Bayou.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
This Esplanade Azario home at 16112 Umbria Place sold for $1.42 million. It has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,101 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 24, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 9-13 in Lakewood Ranch

An Esplanade Azario home on Umbria Place tops the week's sales at $1.42 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Town rules only cover size of docks and permanent structures.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 24, 2023
Longboat learns little from town canal survey

Only 11 responses were received from the 89 surveys that were sent out twice.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kathleen Cravens is a student member of The Rocketry Club at Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 24, 2023
Fab Lab's Rocketry Club aims high — 15,000 feet, to be exact

High schoolers at Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab are designing and building a rocket to soar more than 2 miles into the air.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Braden River boys basketball junior Marcus Schade.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 24, 2023
East County Athlete of the Week: Marcus Schade

The Braden River boys basketball junior leads the Pirates with 16 points per game.

  • East County
  • Sports
Tammy Sawmelle, the dean of nursing for the State College of Florida, shows how a simulation works. Nursing students are able to go through simulations in SCF's neonatal unit, birthing suite, pediatric ICU, medical ICU, trauma ICU, surgical ICU, neuro ICU and cardiovascular ICU.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 24, 2023
SCF Manatee-Sarasota grows nursing program

State College of Florida will be able to accept 350 students into its programs as a result of $1.1 million raised through community partnerships and matched by the state legislature.

  • East County
  • Schools
Shallow water and big boats don't mix
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 24, 2023
Shallow water and big boats don't mix

The operator of a boat outside the normal channel was just waiting for a tow. This and other police reports in this week's Longboat Key Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
From the property's beach groin, the scale of the project is evident.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 24, 2023
St. Regis developer asks Longboat for parking garage permission

Desired changes could go before the Planning and Zoning Board as early as March.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

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Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
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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
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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
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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.
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Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
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Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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