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Your Observer

Carl Shofstall
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 9, 2022
Sarasota City Commission, At Large: Carl Shofstall

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 9, 2022
Sarasota City Commission, At Large: Sheldon Rich

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Debbie Trice
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 9, 2022
Sarasota City Commission, At-Large: Debbie Trice

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Charlie Mopps will return on Wednesday to his new role in Longboat Key, serving in a senior role to Public Works Director Isaac Brownman, overseeing all major construction projects for the town. (File photo)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 9, 2022
Mopps returns to Longboat after seven months in Venice

The former town employee was hired as the Public Works program manager.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 9, 2022
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Credit where credit is due

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
This great egret is a regular at the Publix on Bay Isles Road. (Photo by Lesley Dwyer)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 9, 2022
Egret keeps his eyes on Longboat Publix

This great egret is a regular at the Publix on Bay Isles Road.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
GreyHawk Landing's Kristen Barnhardt looks forward to a new school year for her sons Mason Barnhardt, who is a kindergartner, and Parker Barnhardt, who is a second grader, with Principal Chuck Fradley. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 9, 2022
Rowlett Academy families look forward to a new school year

East County is among the parents who get an introduction to the 2022-23 school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Duane Chapman introduces himself to the audience. (Photo by Ian Swaby)
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 9, 2022
'Dog the Bounty Hunter' talks fighting through adversity at The Source Church

TV personality Duane Chapman and his wife, Francie, shared their story at the East County church Aug. 7

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 8, 2022
Hayden of 'The Bachelorette' once sold real estate on Longboat Key

The 29-year-old worked for two companies on the island from 2018 into 2019.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Industrial Court serves as the access road to U.S. Recycling. To the right are businesses located along Central Avenue. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 8, 2022
Neighborhood complaints over recycling plant reach City Commission

With little authority available, the Sarasota City Commission is considering all options to provide relief for residents in Central Cocoanut surrounding a growing debris recycling business.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • August 8, 2022
Crowds enjoy spectacle at traveling Loomis Bros. Circus

The traveling circus made its visit to Sarasota from Aug. 5-7.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • August 8, 2022
Robert Wagner

Mr. Robert Thomas Wagner (Bob), 90, of Sarasota, FL, died peacefully on July 21, 2022, with his children by his side.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
The town must have their comprehensive plan evaluated every seven years. (File photo)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 8, 2022
Planning and Zoning Board halfway through revising town's comprehensive plan

The first set of amendments to the plan have been approved by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High student Kathleen Cravens just returned from an internship sponsored by NASA. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 8, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High student finds the perfect space for her astronomic career goals

"I like the whole concept of exploration. It's humanity pushing its limits. It the curiosity. There is going to be another space race. But it's going to be Mars."

  • East County
  • Opinion
Debra Otey starts as the new head of school at Out-of-Door Academy. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 8, 2022
ODA welcomes new head of school

Debra Otey says she looks forward to her 30th year in education at ODA.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • August 7, 2022
Fresh Fridays return with jazz night

August's block party was held outside the Art Ovation hotel.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 6, 2022
Music on Main in Lakewood Ranch showcases talent

Shelly Bonet headlines at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Crested caracaras didn't live in Myakka's dry prairie during the years of fire exclusion but have returned since the reintroduction of fire. (Photo by Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • August 5, 2022
Fire helps shape region's ecosystems

While most dry prairie in Florida has been converted to agriculture or developed, the park protects nearly 15,000 acres of this highly biodiverse and globally imperiled ecosystem.

  • Sarasota
  • News
James Linkogle, right, speaks with longtime co-worker Chris Sherrick at his retirement party. (Photo by Lauren Tronstad)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2022
Longboat Key project manager's second retirement sticks

James Linkogle served the town of Longboat Key for 23 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2022
Three sent to hospital after early morning Sarasota crash on Interstate 75

Truck collides with sedan near Bee Ridge Road, FHP reports.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Morgan Bentley
  • August 5, 2022
My View: Hospital board deserves re-election

Under this board’s oversight, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare has accomplished remarkable achievements. There is no need to change horses.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Whitaker Lofts is the latest residential development to be approved in the North Trail Overlay District. The project includes 19 condos and more than 8,000 square feet of retail. (Courtesy of Halflants + Pichette Architects)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 4, 2022
New residences planned to revive North Tamiami Trail district

Nearly 10 years after it was adopted by the city, the special zoning district meant to improve Tamiami Trail from downtown to University Parkway is beginning to see long-awaited redevelopment.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Pike Corporation employee Skyler McCray uses a bucket lift to direct the new pole that will support a "smart" power switch on University Parkway. (Photo by Ian Swaby)
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 4, 2022
FPL upgrades power lines to withstand severe storms

Daily equipment assessments and automated feeder switches directing power flow are expected to help Florida Power & Light prevent outages during natural disasters.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 4, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: August 4

MaryAnn Tygh Parks captured this photo of a fawn having a bite to eat at Myakka River State Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 4, 2022
Longboat Key weather page photo: August 4

With an eye on composition, Mary Kondrat captured the sun setting on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 4, 2022
East County weather page photo: August 4

Darlene Edelman captured this photo of a magnolia flower in University Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Work progresses on the St. Regis hotel building on Longboat Key. (Eric Garwood)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 4, 2022
Podiums key to St. Regis buildings' vertical construction

Work crews build key structural elements, begin pouring roofs.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 4, 2022
Purrfect and Wonder-Fur Pet Photo Contest Pictures

Have photos of your four-legged family members? We want to see them!

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Blazers quarterback Ben Milliken gets wrapped up by Trey Featherston in practice. (Photo by Ryan Kohn)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 4, 2022
Sarasota Christian preps for first football season

In a twist, the school will play eight-on-eight football in the SSAC instead of 11-on-11 out of concern for offensive linemen depth.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Palm Apartments building is dwarfed by the 18-story Embassy Suites hotel next door. (Andrew Warfield)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 4, 2022
City Commission allows demolition of 1925 Sarasota building to proceed

Experts weighing in on the Palm Apartments say much of its historic character has been lost to numerous renovations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jordyn Byrd and the Cardinal Mooney indoor volleyball team hope to capture the program's second state title in 2022. (File photo.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 4, 2022
Prose and Kohn: A non-football fall sports sneak preview

A look at the area's swimming, volleyball, cross-country and golf programs, in which multiple champions could be crowned by the end of the year.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Manatee County Sheriff's deputies assisted the FHP with an accident on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old Bradenton man and also resulted in serious injuries to an 83-year-old woman.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 3, 2022
Motorcyclist, 20, killed in crash on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard

A 20-year-old Bradenton man was killed Wednesday morning when his motorcycle collided with a car in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County deputies are assisting the Florida Highway Patrol with an accident that has caused at least one fatality on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 3, 2022
Lakewood Ranch Boulevard accident Wednesday leads to at least one fatality, closes lanes

Lakewood Ranch Boulevard northbound lanes closed between Wood Fern Trail and Gatewood Drive as traffic detours through shopping plaza.

  • East County
  • News
Keith Davey
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2022
Lakewood Ranch CDD 4, Seat 2: Keith Davey

Meet the candidate.

  • East County
  • News
Mark Gough
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2022
Tara CDD, Seat 5: Mark Gough

Meet the candidate.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2022
Remaining no-swim advisories dropped in Sarasota

Bird Key/Ringling Causeway among the last batch with improving water quality.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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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.
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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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