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Your Observer

Myakka City's Larry Morris, who is 12, meets Santa and Mrs. Clause.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 14, 2022
Flight to the North Pole brings joy to Myakka boy

Myakka City's Larry Morris has been participating in the Flight to the North Pole since his kidney transplant in 2019.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sanctuary was built in 1991 at 545 Sanctuary Drive within the gates of the Longboat Key Club.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 14, 2022
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 on Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key

A Sanctuary condominium topped the week's sales at $3.45 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Woman suspects nemesis damaged vehicles at her home
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 14, 2022
Woman suspects nemesis damaged vehicles at her home

After a contentious encounter with a woman in downtown, a Sarasota woman suspects her rival damaged two vehicles in her driveway. This and other Sarasota police reports in this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The town of Longboat Key has started conversations for 2023 hurricane season preparations.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • December 14, 2022
Hurricane season wraps up on Longboat Key

The town spent about $645,000 in preparation and recovery from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A 21-year-old man fell from the 18th floor to the fifth floor at the Bayso construction site in The Quay. He later died at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 14, 2022
One Park plan meeting with opposition from Quay residents

A plan to build an 18-story condo tower spanning over Quay Commons, a primary road within The Quay, is challenged by residents claiming the developer of One Park is circumventing the public process.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Myakka City Elementary teacher named Manatee County's Principal of the Year
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 13, 2022
Myakka City Elementary teacher named Manatee County's Principal of the Year

Principal Carol Ricks was honored for her dedication to students, teachers, staff and the Myakka City community.

  • East County
  • Schools
This Country Club Village home at 13662 Legends Walk Terrace sold for $2.3 million. It has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,771 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 13, 2022
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 in Lakewood Ranch

A County Club home on Legends Walk Terrace tops the week's sales at $2.3 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Braden River's Isaac Heaven.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 13, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Isaac Heaven

The Braden River boys basketball junior had three-straight games of 10 or more points and three or more rebounds last week.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lawrence Harry and neighborhood dog Ollie
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 13, 2022
Santa for dogs hands out treats all year

Lawrence Harry has been offering treats to his dog neighbors in Emerald Harbor for over 20 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Buttonwood Boat Basin is categorized as a local, residential canal.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • December 13, 2022
Reports give potential solutions on neighborhood flooding, sea level rise

Raising roads, changing the flow of flood water and shoreline stabilization are among suggestions for improving flooding issues in Sleepy Lagoon and Buttonwood Harbour neighborhoods.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Community Impact Vice President Kirsten Russell, Oliver Elliott, Keely Ramsdell and Xavier Lawson.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • December 13, 2022
Selby Gardens presents 19th annual Lights in Bloom

Lights in Bloom presents more than 2 million brightly colored lights arranged to illuminate Selby Gardens for the 2022 holiday season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Francine Achbar, Lisa Ramirez, Luz Corcuero, Cintia Elenstar and Arlene Skversky.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • December 13, 2022
Longboat Democratic Club invites UnidosNow to a luncheon

The Longboat Key Democratic Club invited three UnidosNow leaders to present on the Hispanic voter.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 13, 2022
Southwest adds three season flights for spring

Buffalo, Providence and Minneapolis flights will run in March and April.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Observer Staff
  • December 13, 2022
Man faces murder charges in death of Sarasota woman

The suspect was found unconscious at crime scene and was taken to a hospital.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The medical alert button worked, but there was no emergency
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 13, 2022
The medical alert button worked, but there was no emergency

Longboat Key police and fire-rescue teams arrived to find nothing wrong. This and more police calls from the island town in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Father Robert Dziedziak welcomes the congregation.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 12, 2022
St. Mary's celebrates 49 years on Longboat Key

About 250 parishioners gathered in Pick Hall on Thursday to mark the occasion.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Booker High School students surround teacher Courtney Smith.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 12, 2022
Sarasota surprises three Teacher of the Year finalists

Booker High's Courtney Smith joins two Venice-area educators still in the running for the countywide honor.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Lorraine Road will be widened between State Road 64 and 59th Avenue East.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 12, 2022
Plans altered to widen Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch

A revised series of plans calls for new acquisitions of residential land to build stormwater retention ponds.

  • East County
  • News
A 35-foot pole was erected to the left of the town's welcome sign on the North end of the island.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • December 12, 2022
Three of nine Longboat cell poles now on the job

The remaining six poles are expected to be on air in the coming weeks, according to a statement from Verizon.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Rick Konsavage and Gail Loefgren
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 12, 2022
Off the Clock goes to Harry's for the holidays

The monthly networking event was held Thursday at Harry's Continental Kitchens.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rev. Fred Emrich reads Robert Frost's "One More Brevity" with Reva, Ed and Ginny Upshaw and Rev. David Marshall.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 12, 2022
Memorial garden opened with pet blessings

The new pet memorial garden at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church is located off the sidewalk on Bay Isles Road and is open to the public.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Panther Ridge 9-year-old Ava Grady enjoys checking out the bears at A Country Bear Christmas at Bearadise Ranch in Myakka City.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 12, 2022
Country Bear Christmas sweet at honey in Myakka City

Bearadise Ranch back in business in Myakka with A Country Bear Christmas after clearing damage done by Hurricane Ian.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A peninsular cooter, soaking up the sun on a cabbage palm repositioned by the storm.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • December 12, 2022
Nature recovers faster than infrastructure at Myakka River State Park

The ecologically significant recreation venue remains closed while hurricane repairs continue.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Christmas in the Garden at the Longboat Island Chapel
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 12, 2022
Christmas cheer lights up Longboat Key

Good thing it's not turtle season because Longboat Key is shining bright.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tara's Dee and Jack Boenau went all out to participate in the Holiday Boat Parade at Jiggs Landing.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 11, 2022
Jiggs Landing parade brightens community in Bradenton

The annual holiday parade featured 23 boats lighting up a route down the Braden River.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
East County's Siena Williams, 5, attempts to win a prize while volunteer Shirley Bryant watches. Williams scored in the carnival game and brought home a prize.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 11, 2022
Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions horse around for holidays

The Myakka City ranch hosts a special Christmas event featuring the stallions.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Santa dashes through the bay on his brightly decorated boat.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • December 10, 2022
Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade dashes through the bay

Suncoast Charities for Children and Marina Jack presented Sarasota’s 36th annual Holiday Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Members of the Longboat Key Turtle Watch deliver donation checks to Mote Marine & Aquarium staff members.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 10, 2022
Turtle nesting season saw high numbers

A high number of nests were found this year, but there were also a high number of light-induced disorientations.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The planned Aventon Sarasota apartments is across University Parkway from the SRQ runway. The airport is challenging the legality of the rezoning and site plan approval.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 9, 2022
Airport files two legal actions against city over apartments approval

Despite pending mediation, the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport has filed preemptive challenges against the city over rezoning and approval of apartments at the former kennel club site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota's single-family home market has stayed strong despite pressure from increasing mortgage rates.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 9, 2022
Sarasota region's home sales decline 24% in October

Inflation and interest rates are putting downtown market pressure on home sales in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metro area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Selby Public Library in downtown Sarasota is among those closed for a staff development day on Friday.
  • By Observer staff
  • December 9, 2022
Sarasota County libraries closed Friday

Facilities will reopen countywide on Saturday following a staff development day.

  • Sarasota
  • News
County Administrator Scott Hopes served as Manatee County administrator for 22 months.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 9, 2022
Manatee administrator says county government now more efficient

Scott Hopes says his reshuffling of departments and responsibilities in Manatee County government is now complete.

  • East County
  • News
The south boat ramp and southern shoreline are set to be repaired.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 9, 2022
Benderson Park undergoes more than $3 million in hurricane repairs

Work at the Sarasota County park is expected to be complete by April 1 in time for the competitive season.

  • East County
  • News
Javier Torres, a fifth grader dressed as Santa, wishes everyone a Merry Christmas.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 8, 2022
Tara Elementary School fifth graders perform 'Snow Jubilee!'

Fifth graders perform an interpretation of "Snow, What Fun!" using music teacher's original compositions.

  • East County
  • Schools
Summerfield Park is among the assets maintained by the IDA.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 8, 2022
Lakewood Ranch IDA urges CDDs to consider upgrades

Some CDD board members, however, say maintaining their villages’ status should be the focus.

  • East County
  • News
The store provides for the needs of children in the foster care system.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 8, 2022
The Twig of Bradenton offers extra holiday gifts to foster children

The nonprofit gives the children extra regular shopping items, along with games and a gift card.

  • East County
  • Business
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Latest News

1
Benderson Development's latest plans for the former Sarasota County Administrative Center property as presented to Laurel Park residents in December 2025.
  • April 6, 2026
Benderson begins trek through rezoning of 1660 Ringling Boulevard
2
Emi Frydman checks out the basket of Easter eggs her family members found at the April 4 egg hunt at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church. The Easter activities, open to the public, made their return for the first time since the early 2020s through the efforts of church members.
  • April 6, 2026
Back from pre-COVID hiatus, St. Armands hosts Easter bash
3
Lydia Lardner, 3, makes an impressive start filling up her Easter basket with Kelly Lardner and family at the April 3 Sand Cay Condominiums Beach Resort's Easter egg hunt, a beloved tradition at the resort for more than a decade.
  • April 6, 2026
Families return for Easter egg hunt tradition at Sand Cay
4
Sarasota's Harlyn Voyles, 7, holds on for dear life during the mutton busting at Dakin Dairy Farms' Bull Bash April 4.
  • April 5, 2026
Dakin Dairy Farms' Bull Bash attracts 2,000 fans on Easter weekend
5
Jeremy Gandon kisses the LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy. He shot six under par in the final round to win the title at 22 under par overall, defeating Mitchell Meissner and Jay Card III by one stroke.
  • April 5, 2026
Jeremy Gandon wins 2026 LECOM Suncoast Classic

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