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Your Observer

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
The driveway leads past the tennis courts and guest house on its way to the main house.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 8, 2022
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 21-25 for Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Nokomis, Osprey

A two-property Siesta Key sale on Midnight Pass Road tops the week's transactions at $5.25 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Water management is a key factor during reconstruction of the Bobby Jones Golf Course both to prevent the formerly frequent flooding of the course and for the adjacent nature park. The entire project is designed to purify water flowing through the site through natural filtration.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 8, 2022
Bobby Jones Golf Course opening now set for mid- to late 2023

A two-month permitting delay pushed work into the rainy season, forcing an eight-month delay in opening the restored Bobby Jones Golf Course.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Local underprivileged children will have an opportunity to "Shop with a Cop" on Saturday.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 8, 2022
Kids get a chance to 'Shop with a Cop' Saturday

The Sarasota Housing Authority and SPD will team up on Saturday for the annual Shop with a Cop event.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Although traffic will begin using the entirety of the roundabout on Dec. 17, work will continue for months on the approaches from Main Street to Fruitville Road.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 8, 2022
Roundabout at 41 and Gulfstream expected to open Dec. 17

Although the entire project won't be completed until next spring, the long road to replacing the intersection at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue with a roundabout is expected to end next weekend.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Avoiding a ballot question saves the town between $10,000 and $20,000.
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • December 8, 2022
Town identifies options for avoiding July meeting near holiday weekend

Commissioners unanimously passed a motion to schedule a June 30, 2023, special meeting to cover business scheduled for July 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Booker High boys basketball team huddles during a timeout against North Port High on Tuesday. The Tornadoes came back from and eight-point deficit to tie the game at 40 before ultimately losing.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 8, 2022
Booker boys basketball wants to get back to glory days

The Tornadoes are inexperienced and on their third coach in three years, but a base of talent is there.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Braden River High School seniors Nathan Zapote and Grace Pino are happy to be at the school, which is open for school choice in the 2023-2024 school year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 8, 2022
Parents have more school choice options in Manatee County

More schools in the Lakewood Ranch area are open to school choice as enrollment at elementary and middle schools decreases.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fahd Khair, David Simonov and Jack Goehring play for the Lakewood Ranch Chargers U9 team.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 8, 2022
Lakewood Ranch soccer community says sport's popularity on the rise

As the 2022 FIFA World Cup rolls along, members of the community talk about how the sport's popularity has grown and where it could go from here.

  • East County
  • Sports
The U.S. 41 roundabout at Gulfstream Avenue is the fourth on the state highway along Sarasota's bay front with four more in the early planning stages.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 8, 2022
City receives MPO blueprint for decades of transportation projects

Sarasota city commissioners approve the Sarasota/Manatee MPO 2045 long-range priority list of transportation improvement projects. Most have a construction start date of 2030 and beyond.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tramm Hudson
  • By Tramm Hudson
  • December 8, 2022
SMH Board chair vows to impartially examine COVID-19 response

A report is expected on what went right, what went wrong and what the hospital system can learn.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Connor LaGrange of the Patterson Foundation, Stacey Efaw and Laurie Swink of Selah Freedom and Jerry Fox of Christ Church of Longboat Key
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 8, 2022
$100,000 donation helps stop sex trafficking nationwide

Christ Church made a $50,000 donation matched by The Patterson Foundation to cover startup costs for Selah Consulting.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Community Foundation has a coffee talk with Diane McFarlin
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • December 7, 2022
Community Foundation has a coffee talk with Diane McFarlin

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County held a private meeting to chat with Diane McFarlin on Dec 7.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Adrian Moore, Vittorio Nastasi
  • December 7, 2022
It’s time for Florida to stop relying on ‘taxation by citation’

Relying on fees and fines as a source of recurring revenue isn’t sustainable and should be reconsidered.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Denise Kleiner owns the concessions at Jiggs Landing.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 7, 2022
Not just for the birds: History buffs welcome at Jiggs Landing

Denise Kleiner stuffs her boat tours with years of knowledge she picked up living on the Braden River.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
River Club's Vera and Jim Slocum have been each other's yin and yang for 65 years.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 7, 2022
Chance meeting led to 65 years of marriage for River Club couple

Lakewood Ranch's Jim and Vera Slocum have laughed a lot while being each other's "yin and yang."

  • East County
  • Opinion
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Owen Ayers played his first two seasons of minor-league baseball exclusively with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of Single-A. So far in 2026, he's spent time with the South Bend Cubs of High-A and Knoxville Smokies of Double-A.
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