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Your Observer

SMR's new coffee table book, "Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land" is available locally and on Amazon.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 10, 2025
'Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land' is a fun history lesson

The coffee table book, written by Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, documents the development of a successful, southwest Florida community.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Carrie Walden, the Project Edge classroom instructor, is teaching 10 students including Mia Pardella and Justin Torres in the Project Edge program at MTC East.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 10, 2025
MTC program teaches students with disabilities skills to enter workforce

At Manatee Technical College, Project Edge is transitional program for students with intellectual disabilities to learn foundational skills.

  • East County
  • Schools
Samara Williamson has been at the Lake Club for more than four years, moving to her general manager position from that of assistant general manager in 2023.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2025
Lake Club manager named tops in her field

The honor was part of November's Lakewood Ranch Community Appreciation Awards.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Gabriella Rawles holds a Fighting Irish tennis ball and poses for a photo at Notre Dame Stadium. The senior at ICL Academy online is headed to South Bend, Indiana, in January as an early enrollee.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 10, 2025
Notre Dame commit rekindles love for tennis after recovery from a shoulder injury

Gabriella Rawles was once unsure if she'd ever return to the sport after the injury caused her passion to fade.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Tides of Longboat is one of several condo complexes in Manatee County where the first floor units saw a significantly reduced property tax assessment despite being undamaged by the 2024 hurricanes due to the first floor units’ elevations.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 10, 2025
Town of Longboat has questions after property valuations decrease

Drastic reductions in property appraisal evaluations for undamaged condo units have raised the alarm for Longboat leaders.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Firefighter paramedic Aaron Maness and Training Captain David Eggleston raise their hands to recite an oath before receiving their badges. The two had already completed their training but had not officially received their badges in a ceremony. Maness was later awarded the Medal of Honor by Fire Chief Paul Dezzi.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 10, 2025
Longboat firefighter receives rare Medal of Honor award for action

Given only twice in the past 15 years, the medal was one of several awards given out at the Longboat Key Fire Department's annual program.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Unit 154 condominium at 556 Spanish Drive N. sold for $385,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 10, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 24-28 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in The Water Club at Longboat Key on of Mexico Drive tops the week’s sales at $2,375,000.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The “A Valentine’s Comedy Night” fundraiser will benefit Harbor 58, Foster the Family, and Bring on the Ministry. Harbor 58 broke ground on its new housing development for teens aging out of foster care in November.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 10, 2025
Harbor58 breaks ground on $4.5 million housing project in Manatee County

The East County nonprofit supports young adults who have aged out of foster care.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Director of Government Relations Stephanie Garrison leads the work session Dec. 3.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 10, 2025
Changing millage review process a top priority among Manatee commissioners

Finding a way to cut taxes is a top priority, but finishing improvements on Lorraine Road is not.

  • East County
  • News
An example of what a downtown Sarasota point-to-point shuttle might look like.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 10, 2025
Short rides pitched to solve downtown Sarasota's parking woes

A condo group representative advocates for point-to-point transit options to make it easy for nearby residents to frequent businesses downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
SR 64 grocery store, storage facility denied by Manatee commission
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 10, 2025
SR 64 grocery store, storage facility denied by Manatee commission

The proposed site is located next to Neal Communities' Palm Grove development.

  • East County
  • News
Paisley Binswanger poses for a photo. The four-year varsity player hopes to reach 1,500 points and 300 assists by the time her career with Sarasota High girls basketball concludes in February 2026.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 10, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Paisley Binswanger

The senior guard leads the Sailors in several statistical categories and signed with Samford in November.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota Deputy Police Chief Scott Mayforth delights a young shopper at a previous Shop with a Cop event.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2025
Shop with a Cop event returns Saturday

The annual Shop with a Cop will pair 125 underprivileged kids with Sarasota Police Department officers for an early morning shopping spree on Saturday, Dec. 13.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 10, 2025
Water and sewer fee increases considered on Longboat Key

The town of Longboat Key considers simplifying the process to raise fees to keep up with rising costs of hookups for the services.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Clogged toilet plunges landlord and tenant into eviction
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2025
Clogged toilet plunges landlord and tenant into eviction

A renter threatens to zip-tie a property owner over a plumbing issue in an ongoing whirlpool of discontent. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Will some of us say goodbye to property taxes?
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • December 10, 2025
Will some of us say goodbye to property taxes?

A proposed cut to property taxes sounds like a good idea, but, as always, it comes with unintended consequences.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Why should e-bikes be forced into danger?
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • December 9, 2025
Why should e-bikes be forced into danger?

The road is a dangerous place for bikes, be it regular or electric. Create rules for all cyclists that keep everyone safe on the multiuse path.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
St. Regis Longboat Key Resort installed a stainless steel metal arch on a converted groin extending into the Gulf. Longboat Key town staff asked the hotel to take the arch down because it does not follow town code.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 9, 2025
St. Regis arched sign dispute enters next chapter

The Longboat Key Town Commission rescinded its earlier decision, directing town staff to take a fresh look at the town's sign code that might be more inclusive of the arch.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
More than $25,000 in cash was found as part of a drug investigation last week at a Sarasota home.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 9, 2025
Sarasota man arrested on drug charges following Public Works assist

A city crew helps Sarasota police officers in recovering evidence flushed down a toilet.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Seniors Gavin Moore, Abigail Frint and Ryan Johnson were among 12 students at Lakewood Ranch High School to set up and spread the word about the opportunities available at the new College and Career Center.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 9, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High's College and Career Center makes its debut

Set up by 12 of Lakewood Ranch's “brightest of the brightest" students, the center can help students explore their career choices.

  • East County
  • Schools
Holiday stress can take away from the joy of the season.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • December 9, 2025
How to stress less during the holidays

This can be a time of limited time and lofty expectations. How to make sure you're taking care of yourself to stay healthy and enjoy the season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Martha McKlveen, a Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center volunteer and donor, is eager for Kitty City to be able to support more cats that are in need, just like the over 1,000 she has fostered since 2009.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 9, 2025
Kitty City built at Nate's Honor with $250,000 donation from volunteer

Martha McKlveen is passionate about cats, especially those who have issues that keep them from being adopted.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Police Officer Michael Pietron uses a radar to check speeds on the Ringling Causeway.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 9, 2025
State grant helps SPD focus on dangerous drivers

The Sarasota Police Department has received a $142,000 grant for a high-visibility traffic enforcement campaign.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jolly (Flynn Nolen, center) is surrounded by the other characters including Candy (Christiana Allison), Mrs. Claus (Jillian Hurley), Jangle (Ray Barber), Tinsel (Vanessa Smith), Jingle (Mareece Love) and Santa Claus (Dellan Short).
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 9, 2025
'Deck the Halls' celebrates the holidays, Sarasota-style

The annual production by Florida Studio Theatre has become a holiday tradition for audiences.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Woman discovers she is being followed by PI in Longboat Key
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 9, 2025
Woman discovers she is being followed by PI in Longboat Key

A woman called police who helped identify the man following her in a gray sedan as a private investigator. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
A Wild Blue at Waterside home at 1058 Blue Shell Loop sold for $3.25 million. Built in 2025, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,607 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 9, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 24-28 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in Wild Blue at Waterside topped the week's sales at $3.25 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Four boys compete for Sarasota Scullers in the Plant High Winter Sprints on Dec. 6 at Nathan Benderson Park. The Scullers, founded in 1991, are hosting a fundraiser on Dec. 13 to build back from damages suffered during past hurricane seasons.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 9, 2025
Sarasota Scullers pursue 1 million meters

The youth rowing organization's presence exceeds its humble numbers and is hoping its upcoming fundraiser can fuel an even better future.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Santa Claus welcomes Ketia Alennsia Joachim, Henry Lerricia Jeanbaptiste and John Kerry Jeanbaptiste for a morning of family holiday fun at Stillpoint Mission. Longboat Island Chapel and other local groups helped make the Dec. 6 toy distribution happen.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • December 9, 2025
Stillpoint Mission brings holiday spirit to community

With the support of Longboat Island Chapel and other local organizations, the group delivered toys, clothes and fun.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rev. Brock Patterson raises his right hand as he is sworn in as Longboat Key Fire Rescue’s second ever chaplain at the department’s awards ceremony Thursday, Dec. 4.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 9, 2025
Longboat Fire Rescue welcomes new chaplain

The Longboat Island Chapel's Rev. Brock Patterson becomes a resource for first responders.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Miracle League Board President Robyn Graham, Elks Golf Tournament Director Mark Liddell, Elk Sarah Davis and Miracle League Executive Director Chris Cushman celebrate the Elks' $1,500 donation to the league.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 9, 2025
The miracle of caring is celebrated at Longwood Park in Sarasota

The Miracle League of Manasota honors the late Joanne DiCarlo, a local Elks member who supported the program for years.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kirt F. Bopp (1950-2025)
    In Memoriam |
  • December 8, 2025
Kirt F. Bopp

Kirt F. Bopp, 75, passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in an accident while cleaning his windows at home—a task so characteristic of the care and pride he took in everything he touched.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Violinist and pianist Donna Smith performs with singer Johanna Davis at a special Christmas concert for attendees at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church on Dec. 6.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • December 8, 2025
Angelic voices ring throughout All Angels for Christmas concert

All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church invited musicians Johanna Davis and Donna Smith to perform holiday tunes for attendees.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The idea for Moo-Jitsu was a collaboration between 9-year-old Olivia Whitman and her father Brandon Whitman in October of last year. They launched the business in August.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 8, 2025
Love of cows adds spice to Lakewood Ranch business

Moo-Jitsu is a new spice company that brands itself through a love of cows and jiu jitsu.

  • East County
  • Business
Emily Burns and Jack Coleman of Poppo's Taqueria dish up their popular pork tacos at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key's Lawn Party on Dec. 6 at Ken Thompson Park.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • December 8, 2025
Longboat's Lawn Party returns following hurricane hiatus

More than 30 restaurants participated after a year off as Kiwanis Club of Longboat raises money for the Children's Guardian Fund.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Francesca Bisordi poses for a photo on Dec. 4 during a Lakewood Ranch wrestling practice. Currently competing in the 155-pound weight class, she formerly wrestled at 170 in both 2024 and 2023.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 8, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Francesca Bisordi

The junior wrestler for Lakewood Ranch High is the program's first female to reach the state tourney.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Lake Manatee EMS station is due for a replacement. EMS moved into the space in 1982.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 8, 2025
Site for a new Lake Manatee EMS station is under fire

Manatee County commissioners are not in favor of a site that borders Lake Manatee and Lake Manatee State Park.

  • East County
  • News
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