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Your Observer

New Sarasota High football Coach Josh Phillips was previously the defensive coordinator at Manatee High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 26, 2023
Sailors football coach envisions program on the rise

Josh Phillips comes to Sarasota High with a variety of experience in the sport.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Manatee County will provide attendants for its busy parks
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 26, 2023
Manatee County will provide attendants for its busy parks

Having attendants on site will allow the county to respond quicker to the residents' issues.

  • East County
  • News
An exam room at The Paradise Center's medical suite, which opened in 2020.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 26, 2023
Medical pros meet potential patients at The Paradise Center

The Paradise Center on Longboat Key is hosting a four-day open house from 1-2 p.m. Jan. 31 through Feb. 3 for residents to meet doctors in a variety of specialties.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Deputy Director of Utilities Kevin Morris and Utilities Director Evan Pilachoswki prepare for a presentation to commissioners on Jan. 17.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 26, 2023
Manatee trash collections could drop to once per week

Trash haulers are operating at a loss with twice-weekly collections, and county commissioners expressed concerns around the possibility of overburdening certain residents with rate increases.

  • East County
  • News
Ralph Hughes holds the first of two spy novels he wrote based on his time with the CIA.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 26, 2023
Former CIA chief writes truth-based fiction

After 27 years in the CIA, Longboat retiree Ralph Hughes couldn't tell his own story. So he wrote two spy novels instead.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jordyn Byrd said she enrolled early at Texas to get a head start on workouts and earn playing time next season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 26, 2023
Volleyball star Jordyn Byrd reflects on her path to stardom

Byrd, a two-time Gatorade Florida Player of the Year, enrolled early at the University of Texas.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 26, 2023
Answers to the most-asked questions on affordable housing in Sarasota

With initial land-use changes in place, the city is embarking on more granular changes to open the doors for private development.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bay Haven Elementary School for Basics Plus fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom to read for story time.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 25, 2023
Bay Haven school shares story time with the mayor

Fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
About 50 people attend FIt Fest at The Paradise Center on Tuesday.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 25, 2023
Longboat's Paradise Center lets people sample new ways to sweat

Fit Fest was a chance for the community to try out TPC's various fitness programs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
LaDazhia Williams is averaging 8.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for LSU.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 25, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High alumna thrives with LSU women's basketball

After two transfers, LaDazhia Williams is living up to her potential for the undefeated Tigers.

  • East County
  • Sports
An elevator and custom staircase both lead to a rooftop deck on the fourth level complete with a jacuzzi.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 25, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 9-13 on Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key

A Lido Key home on North Polk Drive tops this week's sales at $5.73 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
One noise exemption town staffers had hoped to add was the sound of water cascading into water, such as the sound of a fountain in operation.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 25, 2023
Longboat noise rules remain the same

Town commissioners opted to not move forward with new proposed exemptions.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lawns and homes are tidy in Country Club Shores.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 25, 2023
Maintaining town aesthetic drives new property standards

Longboat leaders are considering updated rules on a variety of property maintenance fronts.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 25, 2023
What is ‘effective’ notice?

Florida’s Republican lawmakers hate the daily newspapers and for 25 years have sought to end laws requiring public notices in newspapers. Their answer: Let government control public notice. Ha!

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Rye Preserve is among the areas that will be included in the trail system.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 25, 2023
Plans advance for recreational trail though Manatee County

The proposed trail will connect Manatee County to both Sarasota and Hillsborough trails.

  • East County
  • News
Spray paint sketches cause a sawbuck setback
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 25, 2023
Spray paint sketches cause a sawbuck setback

Dumpster graffiti costs a business owner $20 in damages, and police mediate a squabble among warring lobby lady factions. These and more Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Firefighter/paramedics Trey Bowlin and David Oliger show two kinds of AEDs the department has in their possession.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 25, 2023
Life-saving training, tech return to Longboat emergency departments

The Longboat Key Club's donation to the town allowed for new AEDs to be purchased for police patrol vehicles.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Public Art Committee has narrowed to three its choices for sculpture in the roundabout at Fruitville Road and U.S. 41.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 25, 2023
It's round 2 for Fruitville Road roundabout art proposals

The Public Art Committee narrows down to three concepts to recommend to City Commission. But will birds or clouds fly?

  • Sarasota
  • News
The No. 18 hole at Lakewood National Golf Club often sees big crowds during the LECOM Suncoast Classic.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 25, 2023
Volunteer opportunities at Suncoast Classic open as schedule shifts

The Korn Ferry Tour's stop in Lakewood Ranch stop will in mid-April.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Living spaces include ceilings up to 17 feet high with floor to ceiling windows.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 24, 2023
One-of-a-kind Lido Shores home on the market at $10 million

The post-modern Sarasota school of architecture residence on Morningside Drive overlooks Pansy Bayou.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
This Esplanade Azario home at 16112 Umbria Place sold for $1.42 million. It has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,101 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 24, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 9-13 in Lakewood Ranch

An Esplanade Azario home on Umbria Place tops the week's sales at $1.42 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Town rules only cover size of docks and permanent structures.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 24, 2023
Longboat learns little from town canal survey

Only 11 responses were received from the 89 surveys that were sent out twice.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kathleen Cravens is a student member of The Rocketry Club at Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 24, 2023
Fab Lab's Rocketry Club aims high — 15,000 feet, to be exact

High schoolers at Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab are designing and building a rocket to soar more than 2 miles into the air.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Braden River boys basketball junior Marcus Schade.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 24, 2023
East County Athlete of the Week: Marcus Schade

The Braden River boys basketball junior leads the Pirates with 16 points per game.

  • East County
  • Sports
Tammy Sawmelle, the dean of nursing for the State College of Florida, shows how a simulation works. Nursing students are able to go through simulations in SCF's neonatal unit, birthing suite, pediatric ICU, medical ICU, trauma ICU, surgical ICU, neuro ICU and cardiovascular ICU.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 24, 2023
SCF Manatee-Sarasota grows nursing program

State College of Florida will be able to accept 350 students into its programs as a result of $1.1 million raised through community partnerships and matched by the state legislature.

  • East County
  • Schools
Shallow water and big boats don't mix
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 24, 2023
Shallow water and big boats don't mix

The operator of a boat outside the normal channel was just waiting for a tow. This and other police reports in this week's Longboat Key Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
From the property's beach groin, the scale of the project is evident.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 24, 2023
St. Regis developer asks Longboat for parking garage permission

Desired changes could go before the Planning and Zoning Board as early as March.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Paul Seed (left) presents the literal big check in the amount of $10 million to SPAC Foundation Board Chairman Jim Travers.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 24, 2023
SPAC Foundation receives $10 million gift

A foundation operated by a Canadian businessman with a seasonal home on Longboat Key is helping fund the architectural design phase for the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
New Sarasota High football Coach Josh Phillips was previously the defensive coordinator at Manatee High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 23, 2023
Sarasota High hires Manatee defensive coordinator as football coach

Josh Phillips played football and ran track at Yale before embarking on a coaching career.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Police handcuff 36-year-old Darryl Williams in a store parking lot in Sarasota. He was charged with four felonies.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 23, 2023
Officer bitten in scuffle leading to Sarasota man's arrest

Police say that another officer was spit on as officers worked to detain the suspect on a felony charge.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Progress at University will be located next to the former Sarasota Kennel Club, which may be developed into another apartment complex.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 23, 2023
One SRQ-adjacent apartment complex progresses while a second remains on hold

The City Commission gave the go-ahead for the 280-unit Progress at University apartment development. Meanwhile the legal battle over Aventon apartments next door will go on at least through the spring.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Gisele Pintchuck and Edie Chaifetez attend Embracing Our Differences 20th Anniversary Grand Opening.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 23, 2023
Bayfront art exhibit emphasizes our differences

The 20th anniversary of the Embracing our Differences exhibition attracted more than 13,000 entries.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Will Frentz has been a member of the U.S. Deaf Men's National Team for 16 years, joining when he was in high school.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 23, 2023
U.S. Men's Deaf National Team captain shares his soccer story

Will Frentz and his team held a training camp Jan. 14-16 at Premier Sports Campus.

  • East County
  • Sports
Traffic circulates near the Bay Isles north entrance.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • January 23, 2023
Police can ticket Bay Isles drivers starting Feb. 1

The agreement, approved by town commissioners in December, allows police to enforce traffic laws in the gated community.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
City Hall cultural exhibit showcases Sarasota's history
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 22, 2023
City Hall cultural exhibit showcases Sarasota's history

The opening reception for the City Hall Cultural Exhibition will be Jan. 26.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Martha Gaffney loves hearing the history and poetry of Robert Burns every year at the Burns Supper.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 21, 2023
St. Andrew Society of Sarasota hosts Burns Supper

The annual Burns Supper celebrates the Scottish poet's birthday, camaraderie and Scottish heritage.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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