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Your Observer

George Leibold takes a long-range shot against Booker High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 2, 2023
Cardinal Mooney boys basketball has the depth needed for a deep run

The Cougars, 15-9, are closing year two under Coach Vince Cherry on an upswing.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Drum circle newbie Julia Clark (center) bangs her worries away among the usual cadre of characters.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • February 2, 2023
The beat goes on at Siesta Key drum circle

Now in its 26th year, the Siesta Key drum circle is as steady and evocative as the tide. And much like the beach’s famous sand, its rhythm is just as healing.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The county's wastewater treatment plant on Lena Road is a source of reclaimed water in Manatee County.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 2, 2023
In response to growth, Manatee seeks to expand reclaimed water supply

Manatee County is doing research on a possible reclaimed water partnership with the city of Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Declare fentanyl a WMD
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 2, 2023
Declare fentanyl a WMD

President Joe Biden’s ineptness at stopping fentanyl from China and Mexico has fueled Florida’s fentanyl death toll — second highest in the U.S. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody makes a case for decisive action.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Eric Garwood started as managing editor of the Longboat Observer and Sarasota Observer in 2017.
  • By Observer staff
  • February 2, 2023
Observer managing editor leaves legacy of laughter, mentoring

After six years at the helm of the Longboat and Sarasota Observers, Garwood is moving on.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Hayley Roberts is a five-star tennis player according to the Tennis Recruiting Network.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 2, 2023
GreyHawk Landing tennis player has ace potential

Hayley Roberts is a five-star player according to the Tennis Recruiting Network.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Inter-District Authority meets at the Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 2, 2023
Quest to privatize Lakewood Ranch CDD roads hits road block

The Community Development Districts of Lakewood Ranch likely will need new legislation to privatize roads.

  • East County
  • News
The Town Center Green is in phase two of construction, which includes a privately funded stage.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • February 2, 2023
Town lays out expectations of county library project

The county is funding the project and deems design, planning and operations as its responsibility.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Don Malko, who won a trip for two to the Super Bowl, shows off his drawings of significant members of the aerospace industry.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 2, 2023
Lakewood Ranch aerospace journalist flying high after winning Super Bowl tickets

Don Malko and his grandson are heading to the Super Bowl courtesy of Verizon.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Failure to secure the air rights over Quay Commons led to One Park developer Quay 1 and 9 to decline to close on the property resulting in mutual lawsuits with the master developer, Quay Venture.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 2, 2023
Contention remains in the air over One Park plan

As it awaits its scheduled court date, the City Commission lays out the plan for consideration of One Park in The Quay. Final approval rests on either amending or revising the original development agreement.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Town Square
  • February 2, 2023
It Takes a Village: Town Square's Unique Approach to Senior Care

Picture a 1950s-style town, filled with vintage memorabilia, midcentury storefronts and even a 1956 Pontiac. That’s what you’ll find when you step into Town Square University Parkway.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The Chateau Sarasota officially opens Feb. 4 in the former Roy's space.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 1, 2023
French cuisine to open at former Roy’s in Sarasota

After more than a year of delays, The Chateau Sarasota on Siesta Drive will open Feb. 4.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
B.J. Ivey was presented by Sarasota High with a commemorative basketball and shirt in recognition of his 300th varsity win.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 1, 2023
Sarasota High coach reaches 300-win mark at varsity level

B.J. Ivey has taken his time on the basketball sidelines to heart.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
For years, Blasé Café has been the go-to spot for locals escaping the tourist hustle.
  • By Su Byron
  • February 1, 2023
Where to find the hidden nightlife in Sarasota, Longboat

Night owls rejoice. If the day’s winding down but you’re still going strong, you don’t have to go to bed. Nighttime is still the right time for some of us.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Kelly Harmon with Lakewood Ranch Community Activities calls out the letter and number in bingo while asking residents about themselves to allow everyone to get to know each other.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 1, 2023
LWR Community Activities ramps up programming to meet demand

With more people getting involved, the social organization is creating new programs to meet the expanding needs of its residents.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden River High School senior Christian Bell is nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy, and senior Terrence Tysall is nominated to the U.S. Naval and Air Force academies.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 1, 2023
Two Manatee students receive military service academy nominations

Braden River High seniors Christian Bell and Terrence Tysall hope to attend the U.S. Naval Academy with their nominations from U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan.

  • East County
  • Schools
Police called after disturbance over bad haircut
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 1, 2023
Police called after disturbance over bad haircut

A mother causes a disturbance at a barber shop over an alleged bad child's haircut. This and other reports from the Sarasota Police Department in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
350 Morningside Drive sold for $1.95 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 1, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 16-20 for Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key

A Lido Key home on Morningside Drive tops the week's sales at $1.95 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Yesterdayze is performing at the Town Center Green for the Savor the Sounds concert series.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 1, 2023
Savor the Sounds returns to Longboat and the 1960s

Yesterdayze will perform at Town Center Green on Saturday night at the first Savor the Sounds concert of the year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Howard Tipton's first day as town manager was Jan. 30.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • February 1, 2023
Tipton recounts his picture-perfect first day

A dream of coastal living has become reality for Longboat Key's new town manager.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Carol Swed hits a "hole in one."
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 31, 2023
New members ace their debut

The 18-hole Women's Golf Association welcomed 23 new members on Tuesday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Scott Wilson has taken golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, England, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 31, 2023
Lakewood Ranch golf pro links players to unique experiences

Wilson Links company has sent groups to Scotland, England, Ireland and other top golf destinations.

  • East County
  • Sports
This Concession home at 8353 Lindrick Lane sold for $3,075,000. It has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,860 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 31, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 16-20 in Lakewood Ranch

A Concession home on Lindrick Lane tops the week's sales at $3.08 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Lakewood Ranch High senior Devlin Loynd.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 31, 2023
East County Athlete of the Week: Devlin Loynd

The Lakewood Ranch High senior wrestler went 5-0 at the team's round robin meet Jan. 22.

  • East County
  • Sports
Traffic on and off Longboat Key remains a top concern for residents who filled out the survey.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 31, 2023
FDOT resets schedule for roundabout work, lane closures

Work on U.S. 41 and on Gulfstream Avenue exiting the barrier islands will require overnight and daytime lane closures Sunday through Thursday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The steak frites features chimichurri Sauce and french fries.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 31, 2023
Post Kitchen and Bar in Sarasota puts a new twist on old favorites

The restaurant at The Shoppes at University Town Center features seafood and craft cocktails.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Braden River High School Chorus performs at Christ Church.
  • By Marc Fors
  • January 31, 2023
Braden River High choir performs at Christ Church

The high school chorus is competing in the Smoky Mountain Spring Choral Festival held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The city of Sarasota is exploring future uses of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall once a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center is built.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 31, 2023
Engineering, preservation expertise sought for Van Wezel repurposing

City commissioners held an initial discussion about qualifications for a committee to study the renovation and repurposing of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Check with rental company first
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 31, 2023
Check with rental company first

What first appeared as a stolen rental car turned out to be a scheduled towing. This and other Longboat police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Any property rented for less than six months will be subject to the new program, unless one of 30 properties excluded by the town.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 31, 2023
Short-term rental program could start this fall on Longboat

If passed, the program to register properties rented for under six months would kick-off Oct. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The media center in R. Dan Nolan Middle School, along with every other media center in the School District of Manatee County, has had its books vetted and approved. Now schools are working on vetting books in classroom libraries.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 31, 2023
Manatee schools continue book-vetting for state compliance

Some books brought into Manatee County classrooms by teachers face the possibility of being deemed inappropriate after a new Florida law has increased the scrutiny on reading material.

  • East County
  • Schools
Members of the town's volunteer boards were recognized for their efforts by town staff Friday.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 31, 2023
Volunteers recognized as integral part of Longboat government

Members of the town's advisory boards were formally recognized for the first time in more than a decade.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Steve Koenig revealed his superman shirt under his button-down as he asks Southside Elementary students what their favorite superhero is.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 30, 2023
Southside Elementary invites Holocaust survivors to speak

The Sarasota elementary school hosted two guest speakers to share their stories of the Holocaust on Jan. 27.

  • East County
  • Sports
Tzeva features a Mediterranean menu with Israeli influence.
    By
  • Amanda Postma
  • January 30, 2023
New restaurant concept to open in downtown Sarasota

The new Mediterranean dining spot is set to begin service Feb. 8.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
SPD investigates two Friday night hit-and-run fatalities
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 30, 2023
SPD investigates two Friday night hit-and-run fatalities

Two pedestrians were struck and killed within 20 minutes on Fruitville Road. SPD investigators do not suspect the two incidents are related.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Outgoing Chair Allison Imre hands over the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance gavel to new Board Chair Erik Hanson.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 30, 2023
Growing Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance names new board chair

Erik Hanson says that the growth of the LWRBA and affordable housing are two priorities for the board in 2023.

  • East County
  • Business
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