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Your Observer

The home at 2163 Datura St. has three bedrooms, two full baths, one half bath and more than 3,000 square feet of living space.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 12, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 26-30 for Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Nokomis, Osprey

A Sarasota property on Datura Street tops the week's sales at $1.95 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The wondrous Cleo is a bearded dragon who teaches seventh grade students the responsibilities of caring for a reptile while incorporating the science of aquaculture.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 12, 2023
Classroom pets play key role in school’s success story

Sarasota School of the Arts and Sciences' animals bring a sense of calm to the classroom alongside a unique learning opportunity.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Booker's Annette Castro dives for a loose ball against Lake Placid High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 12, 2023
Booker girls basketball wants a repeat performance

The Tornadoes have a different look in 2022-2023, but a return to the Final Four is the goal.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, will retire June 30. The School Board of Manatee County is in the beginning stages of the search for a new superintendent.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 12, 2023
Manatee School Board clashes on preference for new superintendent

Some board members say they would prefer a Florida resident while others say they are open to all candidates.

  • East County
  • Schools
Rick Boyce has made it a personal mission to make Siesta Key Beach a safer and healthier place to watch the waves.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 12, 2023
Siesta man is on a daily mission for a cleaner, safer beach

Rick Boyce has dedicated the past three years and eight months to cleaning up Siesta Key Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House is on its way to Waterside Place in 2023.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 12, 2023
Seeking clarity on major Manatee County issues in 2023

The fate of a county administrator, a major development and Premier Park are among the Manatee County items that will draw attention this year.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Groundwater seepage and occasional flooding from Sarasota Bay are among the reasons the city is pursuing a replacement for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 12, 2023
Van Wezel preservation talks elicit polarizing viewpoints

As commissioners start talks of a committee to explore the future of the Van Wezel, citizens draw battle lines between refurbishing and repurposing it as a replacement is planned.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tim Tremblay, 61, said he loves baseball because of the people the sport attracts.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 11, 2023
40-and-up baseball finds a home in Manatee County

The league, which also includes players from Sarasota County, prepares for its inaugural season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Booker senior Sariah Bradley.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 11, 2023
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Sariah Bradley

The Tornadoes girls basketball player led the team to a 58-12 win over Lake Placid Tuesday.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
  • By Adrian Moore, Geoffrey Lawrence
  • January 11, 2023
Nikki Fried is right to sue for medical marijuana patients’ gun rights

Although federal law prohibits marijuana use, it doesn’t give it grounds to discriminate against marijuana users.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Motorists will encounter lane closures on approach to the Gulfstream Avenue/U.S. 41 roundabout Wednesday through Friday.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 11, 2023
Surprise roundabout lane closure outrages Sarasota, Longboat

Sarasota city officials say FDOT will alert them in advance to similar work in the future.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Maya Schultz and Maeva Ginsberg-Klemmt let some some screams after winning the A Final of the Women's U17 2x (7:36.96) at the 2022 USRowing Youth National Championships.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 11, 2023
Look forward to these events, storylines from Sarasota sports in 2023

A rundown of what our columnist is looking forward to covering over the next 12 months.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Views across New Pass to the south end of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 11, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 26-30 on Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key

A Lido Shores home on John Ringling Parkway tops the week's sales at $6.6 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Dominated by luxury condominiums, the City of Sarasota seeks to implement zoning text amendments to stimulate attainable housing in the downtown zoning districts.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 11, 2023
Sarasota schedules town hall workshops on attainable housing

Residents will have opportunities to speak and learn about proposals in the works for four city zones.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A spray-painted Ukrainian flag defies the Russian terror and destruction.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 11, 2023
Longboat human rights photographer recounts travels to Ukraine

Beach Fitness owner Allan Mestel has traveled to Ukraine twice since the Russian invasion began last year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The condominium will be the tallest building on the north end of the island once completed.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 11, 2023
Town approves condo plan for land once owned by Mote Foundation

The building, which will be located at 5630 Gulf of Mexico Drive, will be the tallest building on the north end of the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Golf carts vandalized at county fairgrounds
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 11, 2023
Golf carts vandalized at county fairgrounds

Security cameras captured video of three youth breaking into Sarasota County Fairgrounds and racing golf carts around inside the barn. This and other reports from the Sarasota Police Department in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Two volunteers pedal the surrey and gives a forty-five minute guided tour.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 10, 2023
Cruising down Legacy Trail in a Surrey

The Surrey Program kicked off on Jan. 10 and will run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through April 12.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch High senior Diego Freyre.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 10, 2023
East County Athlete of the Week: Diego Freyre

The senior boys soccer player scored the lone goal in the Mustangs' 1-0 win over top-ranked Jesuit on Jan. 6.

  • East County
  • Sports
Mitchell Teitelbaum is introduced at the commission meeting on Nov. 29.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 10, 2023
County rescinds administrator's confirmation after harassment allegation

The majority of commissioners agreed that Mitchell Teitelbaum's employment with the county would not be pursued and called for improvements to the handling of complaints.

  • East County
  • News
The placement of the courts following relocation.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 10, 2023
Key Club pickleball plans passed

The site plans to replace existing parking for four new courts were passed unanimously on second reading.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Victoria Short, right, has been a teacher at William H. Bashaw Elementary School for 33 years. No matter the changes in education, she still loves teaching her students and building relationships with them.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 10, 2023
Veteran teachers talk about changes in education over three decades

From technology expectations to school culture, teachers have had to adjust the way they teach.

  • East County
  • Schools
About 25 Ukrainian refugee children are hosted at the Longboat Island Chapel for a Christmas party.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 10, 2023
Ukrainians welcomed on Longboat for a merry Christmas

Several Longboat Key residents helped raise money and host Ukrainian refugees over the holidays.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 10, 2023
You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here

A loud party on a boat involved a lot of uninvited guests. This and more police reports in this week's edition of Longboat Key Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Manatee County workers evaluate a leaking major water pipe on Jan. 4.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 10, 2023
Manatee workers evaluate how to deal with major waterline break

The county still has 12 miles of similar aging waterlines that need to be replaced.

  • East County
  • News
This Harbour Walk home at 579 Fore Drive sold for $1.65 million. It has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,218 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 10, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 26-30 in Lakewood Ranch

A Harbour Walk home on Fore Drive topped the week's sales at $1.65 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Seven of the nine poles are on Gulf of Mexico Drive. The remaining two are in residential neighborhoods.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 10, 2023
Longboat's north-end cell signal upgrade completed

Verizon's project to add nine poles wraps up with activation and better service.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sapphire apartments on North Tamiami Trail will be similar in appearance to Solle Apartments on U.S. 41 at 24th Street.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 10, 2023
Expansion of Sapphire apartment plans on Tamiami proposed

The developer of Sapphire North and South has secured the parcel separating the two.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Frank Galati when he directed Asolo Rep’s 2011 season-opener “My Fair Lady.”
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • January 9, 2023
Sarasota theater community mourns loss of stage legend Frank Galati

The two-time Tony Award winner and Asolo Rep associate artist died Jan. 2. He was 79 years old.

  • Arts + Culture
Pat DeChiara, Philip Deming, John Kurgan, Laurel Phillips, Jeff Vaughn, Cyndi Seamon and Wendi Bundy
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 9, 2023
Rip current delays Ohana protest

A rip current made it unsafe for kayaks to traverse around the Ohana seawall Christmas morning, but protesters plan to try again.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Cheryl Mendelson will step down as CEO of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation in March.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 9, 2023
SPAC Foundation CEO Cheryl Mendelson stepping down

The head of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation will leave Sarasota in March.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Students like seventh graders Jayden Lavalle and Kiley Nowaczyk have fun creating items and determining what to sell in the vending machine.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 9, 2023
New school supplies vending machine meets Haile Middle students' needs

The students stock some items in the machine and learn basic business lessons about cost of production and return.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 9, 2023
Upcoming public meetings on Longboat Key

A list of public meetings relevant to Longboat Key over the next 30 days.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
ODA's Zach Fox (11) and Oliver Giraud (22) double-team Sarasota Christian's Jayven Szewczyk in the post.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 9, 2023
Gritty defense key to more wins for ODA boys basketball

As the second half of the season begins, the Thunder has already matched its win total from a season ago.

  • East County
  • Sports
The practice range at the Bobby Jones Golf Course is surrounded by a stream that feeds water into the nature park adjacent to the golf course.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 9, 2023
Five Sarasota news stories to watch in 2023

From plans to incentivize affordable housing to the long-awaited reopening of the the Bobby Jones Golf Course, there is a lot of news in Sarasota on the way for 2023.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rabbi Howard Simon, April Glasco and Rona Simon enjoy a bashert reunion at Shabbat service Friday night.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 8, 2023
Special guest surprises at TBI's Shabbat service

The founder and CEO of Second Chance Last Opportunity spoke and sang at Shabbat service Friday night.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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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
5
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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