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Your Observer

Laurie Breslin has been named the new superintendent for the School District of Manatee County in a unanimous vote on Aug. 26.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 27, 2025
Laurie Breslin named as the new Manatee County superintendent

After a two-month superintendent search, the Manatee County School Board decided to hire from within.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jeff and Terri Driver from the Rotary Club of Longboat Key join Public Works Director Charlie Mopps in placing the first discarded monofilament fishing line into newly installed recycling receptacles at Overlook Park. As part of its environmental improvement initiatives, the club is working to get as much ghost fishing gear out of Longboat's waterways as possible.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 27, 2025
Longboat Key leaders work to keep fishing lines out of ecosystem

Members installed GPS-marked recycling containers at Overlook Park and hope to help marine wildlife avoid entanglement.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Georgie Hristov, Christian Womeldorph, Antonio Saviano and Gregory Kotlarczyk are eager to explore the partnership between Wellness Concepts and Florida Premier.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 27, 2025
Wellness Concepts offers Premier service in Lakewood Ranch

Wellness Concepts partners with Florida Premier FC SWFL to provide free injury prevention training and services to soccer players.

  • East County
  • News
Mote Ranch's Keith Paynter is a teacher at Braden River Middle School and a volunteer mangrove ranger.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 27, 2025
Braden River Middle School teacher subs as mangrove ranger

Keith Paynter is among the Suncoast Waterkeeper volunteers who help monitor local mangrove forests.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
'My girlfriend can beat up your girlfriend'
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 27, 2025
'My girlfriend can beat up your girlfriend'

A downtown bar brawl begins when a man tells another man that his girlfriend would "stomp his girl." This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Acoustic guitarist and singer Ross David played some tunes on Aug. 17 at Lido Beach.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 27, 2025
Music performers keep Longboat Key, St. Armands entertained

Musicians Eddie Tobin, Steel Pan Dan and Chad Tallman share what they enjoy about playing at area venues.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Commissioner Tom Knight is also the former Sarasota County Sheriff.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 27, 2025
Sarasota County sounds early warning of coming budget deficits

The County Commission alters future budget season schedules to begin planning for future general fund shortfalls.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Concession Golf Club Majority Owner Bruce Cassidy and General Manager Brian Weimann will be the key players in the club hosting the 2026, 2027 and 2028 Senior PGA Championship.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 27, 2025
Concession Golf Club owner builds a village

Bruce Cassidy takes on general chair role for the 2026 Senior PGA Championship.

  • East County
  • Sports
The sold unit at 455 Longboat Club Road was built in 1990 and has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,410 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 27, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for August 11-15 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home on Longboat Key on Gulf of Mexico Drive tops the week’s sales at $11 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Sarasota Police force patrolling the waters to make sure the diving team is safe from the heavy currents.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 27, 2025
Neighboring police collaboration increases public safety on Gulf Coast

Longboat Key and Sarasota police departments and law enforcement agencies sign memorandums of understanding that allow the organizations to work together to fight crime, respond to emergencies and search for missing persons.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The subaqueous wastewater pipeline was damaged by corrosion from resting against a log or tree stump, spilling about 11 million gallons of sewage before being repaired, according to a Longboat Key permit support document.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 27, 2025
Design nearly complete for replacement of ruptured sewage line

Longboat Key needs to replace a 50-year-old metal sewage line with a plastic pipe that will travel under Sarasota Bay to a Manatee County treatment center.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Florida Department of Transportation crews had removed the Gulf of Mexico Drive sign from the intersection at Bay Isles Parkway.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 26, 2025
State begins removing references to Gulf of Mexico on Longboat roadway

The town stresses that the move by FDOT does not mean a name change for Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dead fish washed ashore on Palma Sola Bay in August just north of Longboat Key, prompting water testing which found algal blooms.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 26, 2025
Potentially harmful algal bloom found just north of Longboat Key

A report of dead fish washed up in Palma Sola Bay led to water testing, which is raising alarm bells among environmental advocates.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Themba Hillary and Themba Hillary II have volunteered at Mhlume Primary School in Eswatini, which borders South Africa, every summer since 2016. This year, they wanted to turn it up a notch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 26, 2025
Father and son donate time and supplies to students in Africa

Lakewood Ranch's Themba Hillary uses the trip to Eswatini to teach his son the importance of giving back.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A rendering of the proposed Motorhaus Storage at 1087 N. Orange Ave.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 26, 2025
Developer applies for vacation of right of way near Laurel Park

Plans are to build a 10-story residential project at Ringling Boulevard and Osprey Avenue near historic downtown section of Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioner Bob McCann says he'll restore the wetlands lawfully.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 26, 2025
Commissioners vowed to restore wetland buffers. So what happened?

A final vote to restore Manatee County protections was scheduled Aug. 21, but the meeting was canceled.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 26, 2025
Grant will fund pedestrian, bike safety education effort in Sarasota

The Sarasota Police Department will focus on seven roadways in an education forward high-visibility enforcement initiative.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A Concession home at 8455 Lindrick Lane tops this week's sales at $3.4 million. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,065 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 26, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Aug. 11-15 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in The Concession tops the week’s sales at $3.4 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Golfing legend Ernie Els lines up at putt in 2023 at The Concession during the World Champions Cup. The Concession will host the Senior PGA Championship in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Els is likely to be a major draw. Could the area also see Tiger Woods?
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 26, 2025
Senior PGA Championship makes those in the Lakewood Ranch area dream big

Tigers Woods turns 50 in December. Could he join the fun at The Concession?

  • East County
  • Sports
Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 26, 2025
The why behind the 5:01 meeting start time

Town Commission meetings are usually scheduled for an hour on the dot, but Longboat Key has its budget hearings scheduled for 5:01 p.m. in September, a norm for the town since 2017.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Couple caught hiding underwear in pockets at beach access
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 26, 2025
Couple caught hiding underwear in pockets at beach access

An illegally parked car led police to a couple fooling around on the beach, and a man had police called on him for limping. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Removal of Avenue of Art sidewalk paintings has begun
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 25, 2025
Removal of Avenue of Art sidewalk paintings has begun

The city of Sarasota initiated the removal, due to an FDOT mandate requiring the removal of public installations of pavement paintings on sidewalks and roadways.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioner at Large BJ Bishop; District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 25, 2025
Florida League of Cities honors two Longboat commissioners

BJ Bishop and Penny Gold accumulated points over the past year in the Florida League of Cities' certification program for elected officials.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Nina Young, 13, of the band Pins and Needles, performs on stage.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 25, 2025
Music Compound marks a year in new Sarasota location

The music school invited the community inside for performances by students, sample lessons, local vendors and other offerings.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints Karen Rose to Sarasota School Board
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 25, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints Karen Rose to Sarasota School Board

Rose will fill the vacancy left by Tim Enos as he leaves to become chief of police for the school district.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Aloha Ukulele president Alice Baumann leads Aloha Ukulele in song, mostly with ukulele but occasionally with other instruments. She says she has "five minutes more experience" than the members she leads.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 25, 2025
Aloha Ukulele spreads 'joyous noise' through 'instrument of joy'

Lakewood Ranch club Aloha Ukulele is made up of approximately 50 active members who gather and bond through music.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Jason Bearden says the process of getting the roundabout approved was deceptive.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 25, 2025
Commissioners spar over University Parkway roundabout

One Country Club resident says she will begin legal action because she feels the citizens' rights were violated.

  • East County
  • News
Girl in critical condition after rescue from drain on Bahia Vista Street
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 24, 2025
Girl in critical condition after rescue from drain on Bahia Vista Street

Sarasota County Fire-Rescue took the child to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Kawailana Vaiaoga of Aloha Productions invites women and children up to dance.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 23, 2025
Live music, Polynesian dancers attract a crowd at UTC Night Market

Aloha Productions and Sugar Vibe provide the entertainment University Town Center's The Green.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Connie DiMaggio, a member of Longboat Island Chapel, shows off some of the stylish shoes community members donated to its shoe drive-focused Gather and Give on Aug. 19 at the chapel.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 23, 2025
Longboat Key church helps students start the year on the right foot

Longboat Island Chapel is gathering athletic shoes, socks and shoelaces for Stillpoint Mission as this month's fundraising focus.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A rendering of the as-yet not named Zenith Redevelopment project, which will include nearly 42,000 sauare feet of retail and commercial at the Five Points roundabout.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 23, 2025
Redevelopment of downtown building will create 18-story tower

Plans for the vacant Zenith office tower in Sarasota will include demolition and development of a 96-unit residence and 42,000 square feet of commercial space.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Woody Wolverton was an avid pilot even late into his life, piloting aircrafts high above Longboat Key into his 80s.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 22, 2025
Generosity, charisma and stories were trademarks of Wolverton

Two-time college football national champion, Pearl Harbor survivor and monumental Kiwanis benefactor Woody Wolverton died Monday. His legacy is that of generosity and community involvement.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
State Sen. Joe Gruters was elected chair of the Republican National Committee.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 22, 2025
Republicans elect Sarasota's Gruters as chairman of RNC

Florida State State Sen. Joe Gruters, one of President Trump's staunchest allies, is elected chair of the Republican National Committee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Stephanie McCranie, Derek Roura, Chris Romeo and Jolanda Nel perform as the Klassika Ensemble on Aug. 19 at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 22, 2025
St. Armands church brings classical music fusion to the masses

The fourth and final Midsummer Concert Series performance takes place Aug. 27 at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rain drives the protest against the Little League fields inside the Lakewood Ranch Library for a photo, but library supervisor Tiffany Mautino wants it noted that protests are not allowed inside the library.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 22, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community at odds over youth baseball fields

Manatee County is planning to build three youth baseball fields at Country Club East Park next year.

  • East County
  • News
K-9 Officer Butch becomes the fourth deployed by the Sarasota Police Department.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 22, 2025
SPD puts fourth K-9 unit on patrol

Sarasota Police Department K-9 Officer Butch is now on citywide patrol with handler Officer Adam Bearden.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
4
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
5
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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