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Your Observer

Olivia D'Orazio, a Lakewood Ranch High School senior, has always wanted to serve in the military, so she joined the school's JROTC program. Now she plans to attend Auburn University for its ROTC program. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 13, 2022
Lakewood Ranch students earn big money in scholarships

Lakewood Ranch High's Olivia D'Orazio and Braden River High's Gabriel French are among the top students who strike gold with their academic work.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 13, 2022
Longboat Key swans lose chance at cygnets

One female laid an egg this year, but it was deemed not viable, says Key swan keeper David Novak.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Deanna Rollyson (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 13, 2022
Longboat Key resident aims to raise COPD awareness

Deanna Rollyson was diagnosed with COPD and is starting an effort to help other women with the disease.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 12, 2022
East County weather page photo: May 12

Gordon Silver snapped this polka dot wasp moth on lantana in Del Webb at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 12, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: May 12

Diane Suner captured a curious seagull on Lido Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 12, 2022
Longboat Key weather page photo: May 21

Brian Wamback captured this tour boat sailing along the sunset near Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The planned Concourse B at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will connect to the terminal's ticketing area with a soaring ceiling and expansive windows. (Courtesy rendering)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 12, 2022
New concourse is just the start of SRQ expansion plans

To meet current growth and plan for as many as 7 million annual passengers, the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is investing $72 million to build a new concourse with more to follow.

  • Sarasota
  • News
When a driver on the road is driving recklessly, law enforcement often turns to a helicopter so it's mobile units can back off.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 12, 2022
Fatal crash illustrates pursuit's difficulty

This particular accident was quite different in nature.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Julie Madison takes a fuel break with the help of a pair of her kayaker support crew on April 21.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 12, 2022
Cortez woman swims a lap around Longboat Key

Battling waves, wind and 72-degree water, 34-year-old Julie Madison completed a trio of Sarasota-area challenges with the April swim.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Rams tried to use "rally caps" to motivate the team to a comeback.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 12, 2022
Riverview High baseball cannot complete comeback in regional quarterfinals

Sarasota High and Cardinal Mooney High also lost their regional quarterfinal games Tuesday night.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
This Country Club home at 8009 Royal Birkdale Circle sold for $1.42 million. It has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a pool and 4,367 square feet of living area. (Photo by Ian Swaby)
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 12, 2022
Country Club East home tops sales at $1.58 million

A Country Club East home tops this week's sales at $1.58 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 12, 2022
Quay penthouse sells for nearly $10 million

A Quay penthouse Shores tops the week's sales at $9.75 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Kindergartner Emmet Johnson checks people out after purchasing their food. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 12, 2022
Restaurant event serves lessons to Tara Elementary kindergartners

Josephine Johnson's students run a one-night restaurant to test their math, science and social skills.

  • East County
  • Schools
Although much of the Lakewood Ranch area doesn't have too many concerns from a hurricane's storm surge, high winds cause create a disastrous situation.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 12, 2022
Manatee offers preparedness expo as hurricane season approaches

Designed to help residents form a plan, the Hurricane Preparedness Expo will feature 45 displays and more than 20 emergency vehicles.

  • East County
  • News
Clyde Metcalf stepped down from the Sarasota High baseball program on Wednesday. Metcalf had been the team's coach since 1982. File photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 11, 2022
Clyde Metcalf steps down as Sarasota High baseball coach

Metcalf had been the Sailors bench boss since 1982.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 11, 2022
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Not a fall after all

Police reports from around the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Lieutenant Shawn Battick helps the team load the firehose onto the truck after a training exercise.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 11, 2022
East Manatee Fire Rescue names its major award winners

Firefighter Ryan Berggren and Lt. Shawn Battick go above and beyond for the department.

  • East County
  • News
Oaks and other hardwoods are considered desirable replacement trees over their ability to grow into a canopy.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 11, 2022
City not swayed by palm exemption in approving tree ordinance update

New standards will apply citywide, with no difference between the mainland and barrier islands.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Booker sophomore Jakai Peterson enters the Class 2A championships ranked fourth in the long jump (5.49 meters) and 11th in the 400 meter run (57.96 seconds).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 11, 2022
Nearly 40 area athletes head to the FHSAA track and field championships

The championships will be held May 11-14 in Gainesville.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 11, 2022
Longboat Key home sells for $4.65 million

A Longboat Key home in Country Club Shores tops the week's sales at $4.65 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 11, 2022
Sarasota Cops Corner: Man, it's gone

Police reports from around Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • May 11, 2022
Not learning from history on affordable housing

The labor market in Sarasota is adjusting all the time — and fairly quickly.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Andrew Shackleford was hired as Lakewood Ranch High's director of sports performance in 2021. Shackleford and athletic director Kent Ringquist are leading the school's efforts to renovate the weight room after 24 years.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 11, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High begins fundraising to renovate its weight room

Personalized workout-tracking technology would result as part of a $100,000 fundraising effort.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 11, 2022
Got a grad? We want to hear about them

The Longboat Observer will celebrate the class of 2022 in an upcoming issue.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Some participants used sticky notes to indicate where and what kind of improvement they were suggesting for Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 11, 2022
Residents point to new ideas for Longboat Key's main street

The town and a consultant gathered views on the path forward for Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The RCLA Board of Directors and President Emily Walsh present Ringling College President Larry Thompson with a check for $600,000 to support the Alfred R. Goldstein Library and student scholarships.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 10, 2022
Ringling College receives $600,000 from RCLA

The funds are part of RCLA’s most recent gift commitment of $3 million to support the Alfred R. Goldstein Library and student scholarships.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The boathouse would be constructed just behind these docks on shore at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 10, 2022
County approves $20M for indoor sports complex at Benderson Park

The two-story complex at Sarasota's Nathan Benderson Park is planned to have a boathouse on the bottom and basketball/volleyball courts above.

  • East County
  • News
Mark Bruce says the course will be a par 71 when it is finished. It will be 6,900 yards from the back tees.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 10, 2022
Commission approves hotel, resort villas for Bradenton golf course

The hotel and resort villas will give Heritage Harbour a stay-and-play identity in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
In a remarkable adaptation, a fawn's spotted coat blends in with the dappled pattern of sunlight on the forest floor, helping conceal them from predators. (Photo courtesy of Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • May 10, 2022
White-tail deer were nearly hunted to extinction

One of Myakka State Park's earliest managers helped relocate and breed the species that now thrives.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Amanda Lee.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 10, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Amanda Lee

The Lakewood Ranch High softball player had the game-winning RBI in the Mustangs' 1-0 district championship win over Venice High.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kevin Negandhi, Rod Gilmore, Dick Vitale, Scott Drew, Keyshawn Johnson and V Foundation CEO Shane Jacobson stand together at the Dick Vitale Gala. The 2022 gala raised $11.1 million for the V Foundation, an event record.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 10, 2022
Dick Vitale turns own challenges into record-setting gala

Dick Vitale shares intimate details of his cancer treatments on social media to raise more funds for the V Foundation.

  • East County
  • Sports
Four pickleball courts are proposed between courts 12 and 17 of the Longboat Key Club's Tennis Garden and a golf course fairway.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 10, 2022
Residents slam noise, notifications in pickleball project

Residents of Winding Oaks say Key Club's proposal for four new courts is out of bounds.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • May 10, 2022
Robert Marshall Hurst

The Honorable Robert Marshall Hurst, 89, of Longboat Key, Florida passed away Friday April 22, 2022.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Braden River High School's Ricardo Robinson-Shinall is Florida Studio Theatre’s Write a Play educator of the year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 10, 2022
Braden River High teacher and students earn Florida Studio Theatre's Write a Play awards

Braden River students' story of snack envy leads to Write a Play award.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 9, 2022
Sarasota commissioners defer ride-share policy to city manager

A solution in search of a problem? City commissioners put a ride-share policy, or not, on the desk of the city manager.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rev. Dave Marshall stands in front of the spot where the memorial will be.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 9, 2022
All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church plans pet memorial

The church will redo part of its garden to make a space for people to grieve their pets.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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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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