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Your Observer

In addition to a pool, 900 Alameda Lane offers 210 feet of private beach on Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 5, 2023
Indian Beach waterfront estate hits the market at $10.9 million

The estate includes a main house, a guest cottage, a carriage house and 210 feet of private beach along Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mangrove forests are one of the most threatened tropical ecosystems in the world. Florida’s estimated 600,000 acres of mangroves contribute to the overall health of the state’s coastal zone in addition to providing some of the best kayaking experiences.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 5, 2023
An exploration of Lido’s mangrove tunnels reveals heart of our coastal ecosystem

Key Life’s intrepid reporter encounters Florida’s unique ecosystem on a kayak tour through Lido Key’s magical mangrove tunnels.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
An aerial shot of The Bay shows its position alongside Sarasota’s iconic bayfront.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 5, 2023
The Bay Park begins to take shape — and it’s just getting started

A core group of business, civic and philanthropic leaders in Sarasota came together over the past decade for one common cause: to turn a parking lot into a world-class park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sujin Lim's concept of her "Sun Always Shines" proposal.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 5, 2023
Sun shines through clouds in sculpture chosen for Fruitville roundabout

A year after a rejection of Dwell, the city's Public Art Committee picks another sculpture concept, Sun Always Shines, by Sujin Lim. The selection must be approved by the City Commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, celebrate the groundbreaking of the new firing and driving range.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 5, 2023
New firing range and driving pad breaks ground in Manatee County

Bradenton Police Department and Manatee Technical College's firing and driving range being built in Myakka City will serve all law enforcement agencies in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • May 5, 2023
Asolo Repertory Theatre names new managing director

Ross Egan will succeed 50-year Asolo Rep veteran Linda DiGabriele on July 1.

  • Arts + Culture
The original Revere Quality House now serves as a guest house and pool pavilion for a newer 4,755-square-foot “companion house” built in 2007. Similar design motifs unify the two structures to create a lavish Siesta Key estate.
  • By Robert Plunket
  • May 5, 2023
Siesta Key property shares tales of two homes — one of which is legendary

Every house has a story or two to tell. But this home on Siesta Key has so many that it’s hard to tell where to begin.

  • Siesta Key
  • Real Estate
American Jewish Committee Regional President Anne Virag and Regional Director Brian Lipton were present for the proclamation.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • May 4, 2023
Longboat proclaims May as Jewish American Heritage Month

Town Commissioner BJ Bishop read the proclamation at the May 1 regular meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Cardinal Mooney's Chris McCorkle has offers from Florida and West Virginia among other NCAA DI schools.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 4, 2023
A look at Sarasota-area spring football

As practice gets underway, here's one thing to watch for each area team during their spring games later this month.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 4, 2023
Man arrested in Sarasota for January murder in Bradenton

Sarasota Police and U.S. Marshals apprehend 24-year-old Dorian Brooks on multiple felonies.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Wayne Gaither, FDOT District One Southwest Area Office Director speaks to the Sarasota Chamber during last week's State of the Community event.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 4, 2023
I-75 plans prioritize efficiency, safety while keeping up with growth

FDOT Director Wayne Gaither discussed goals and challenges of local highway planning during the State of the Community event.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This condominium in The Vue tops all transactions in this week’s real estate at $4.5 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,816 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 4, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for April 17-21 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Nokomis

A condominium in The Vue tops the week’s sales at $4.5 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The upper floors of Obsidian would offer bayfront views to the east and downtown views to the west.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 4, 2023
Neighbors ask city to block construction of 18-story downtown condos

Bay Plaza residents tell commissioners that the planned 347-foot condo tower, Obsidian, is out of scale and is detrimental to the neighborhood.

  • Sarasota
  • News
FPL released its 2023 hurricane season residential storm tips.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • May 4, 2023
FPL releases storm-ready tips ahead of hurricane season

Hurricane season starts June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sailors senior Tyler Maszak slides safely into second base.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 3, 2023
Playoff updates for Sarasota-area high school programs

Local teams and athletes in track and field, baseball, softball and beach volleyball are still alive.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
As much as SOS is an inviting place for people to behold birds — from pelicans to parakeets — the facility’s primary business is helping to revive ailing ones.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • May 3, 2023
Save Our Seabirds takes off on expansion plans for the nonprofit

Aaron Virgin, the new CEO of Save our Seabirds, has big plans for the avian sanctuary.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Irene Chang-Britt’s story is one of personal growth and reinvention.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 3, 2023
Former Pepperidge Farm CEO is living her dream life on Bird Key

Irene Chang-Britt, the former CEO of Pepperidge Farm, shares her tales of success — and why retiring on Bird Key is the sweetest part.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Woman called police after yelling at child for picking flowers at Payne Park
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 3, 2023
Woman called police after yelling at child for picking flowers at Payne Park

Bikers damaging a car, phantom spit and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
A hero or an ogre?
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 3, 2023
A hero or an ogre?

A reader weighs in on the governor's battle with The Walt Disney Co.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Fahd Khair, David Simonov and Jack Goehring play for the Lakewood Ranch Chargers U9 team.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 3, 2023
As Lakewood Ranch has grown, so has Chargers youth soccer

The organization has brought joy to thousands of soccer players, with more growth ahead.

  • East County
  • Sports
He tried to fix the Navy
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 3, 2023
He tried to fix the Navy

Thomas Modly’s new book, "Vectors," gives the untold context to what was a national controversy in 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Bradenton's Aarna Patel, who is 9, looks at the different plants in the sensory garden with her mother, Rita Patel.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 3, 2023
Opportunities bloom with Braden River Library's new sensory garden

Library staff plan to have story time, educational lessons and more in the sensory garden.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
3614 Fair Oaks Place
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 3, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for April 17-21 in Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key

A Manchester Bay home on Fair Oaks Place tops the week's sales at $3.7 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Cardinal Mooney sophomore Rosemary Selke.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 3, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Rosemary Selke

The Cardinal Mooney sophomore won the girls 800-meter race at the Cougars' track and field district meet.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Michael Drake, the Longboat Key Historical Society’s president, stands in front of the cottage that now houses the organization’s extensive collection of artifacts.
  • By Patricia Horwell
  • May 3, 2023
Longboat Key Historical Society gives new life to the past

The organization’s new location at Longboat Key’s Town Center will serve as a museum showcasing archives, artifacts and historical objects.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Ed's Tavern co-owners Bob Bender, Adam Myara and Albert Myara said the new restaurant will have the same menu and many of the same features as the existing one.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 3, 2023
Ed's Tavern to open a second location in Lakewood Ranch

The popular sports bar will open a 4,200-square-foot restaurant at the State Road 64 and Upper Manatee River Road intersection late this year.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Personal Chef Bruno Wu serves colorful cuisine to Longboat clients
    By
  • Sidra Wali
  • May 3, 2023
Personal Chef Bruno Wu serves colorful cuisine to Longboat clients

Chef Bruno Wu has more than 200 clients in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The site map shows the plans for the Sarasota Orchestra's new home on 32 acres on Fruitville Road.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 3, 2023
Sarasota Orchestra closes on $14 million site purchase on Fruitville

After acquiring its 32-acre site outside city limits, the Sarasota Orchestra begins planning for a new music hall campus.

  • Sarasota
  • News
11th grader Evanah Torres, 10th grader Izzy Martinez, and 11th grader Paul Cloutier work on Torres' section of the mural.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 3, 2023
Riverview High students express their artistic side with community mural

Students are expressing themselves artistically as they create a mural for a nearby homeowner that celebrates living in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The growth of staghorn coral that was outplanted by Mote in 2019 near Key West.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • May 3, 2023
Mote coral reef restoration to have far-reaching benefits

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium will use a $7 million grant from NOAA to lead restoration of Florida’s Coral Reef.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
During peak season, demand for pickleball kept court lines long and the parking lot full.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • May 3, 2023
Bayfront Park pickleball won't be getting more courts

A motion to restripe the only dedicated tennis court at Bayfront Park for pickleball use failed to gain support.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Concerned about Americans' problem with obesity, Lakewood Ranch's Rich Medford started Americas Wellness Group.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 2, 2023
Lakewood Ranch businessman makes large-scale attack on weight loss

Rich Medford started the business Americas Wellness Group to combat obesity.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Pickleball needs to make room for other park activities
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 2, 2023
Pickleball needs to make room for other park activities

A Longboat yoga group believes that Bayfront Park needs a new system to manage pickleball traffic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton is spending the first months of his new job listening to staff and evaluating systems.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • May 2, 2023
Meet Longboat Key’s new town manager

Longboat Key’s new town manager, Howard Tipton, measures the success of his weeks by the number of sunsets he gets to see.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Maria Shaw, a senior at Out-of-Door Academy, will major in biology at Oxford College of Emory University after graduation with a dream of becoming a surgeon.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 2, 2023
School experiences at ODA launch senior toward promising future

After an internship at Blake Hospital and positive experiences in science classes, Lakewood Ranch's Maria Shaw can't wait to work toward becoming a surgeon.

  • East County
  • Schools
Florida Department of Health employee Quiana Tolbert helps 11-year-old Beckett Hill into the Sarasota Aging Sensitivity Suit, alongside Aging System Policy Coordinator Susan Berger.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 2, 2023
Sarasota event on aging shows young attendees a new point of view

Participants at the International Intergenerational Event tried on the Sarasota Aging Sensitivity Suit, which simulates being in your late 70s or early 80s.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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