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Your Observer

Craft Growlers To Go & Tasting Room (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • August 31, 2022
Craft beer is picking up in Lakewood Ranch

Craft beer aficionados don't have to travel far to quench their thirst. Lakewood Ranch has become a go-to destination for craft beer enthusiasts and entrepreneurs.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Daris Rodriguez is in her first year as head coach of the Sarasota High volleyball program. (Photo by Ryan Kohn)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 31, 2022
New coach rebuilds Sailors volleyball with sense of community

Daris Rodriguez said her team must build better bonds before they can start winning consistently. Plus, a look at other area teams.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Michaela Mattes. (Photo by Ryan Kohn)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 31, 2022
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Michaela Mattes

The Cardinal Mooney and Sarasota Sharks girls swimmer took gold at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Honolulu.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 31, 2022
Voters spoke: They’re PO’d

Politicians take note: The results in Sarasota’s school and hospital board elections and Manatee’s commission elections sent a clear message.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    In Memoriam |
  • August 31, 2022
Brooke GuyAsbury

Guy Asbury’s Memorial Service will be held on Friday, 09/09/2022 at Sarasota National Cemetery at 11:30 AM.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Tara's Bill Kaser (back) and Lakewood Ranch's Don Deibert do all the dispatching from their homes but eventually would like to get an office for the nonprofit. (Photo by Jay Heater)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 31, 2022
Sarasota, Manatee seniors can tap into nonprofit ride service

Two Lakewood Ranch men started a senior ride service after nonprofit ride-provider ITN Suncoast closed.

  • East County
  • Business
Marissa Krone is a junior girls golfer at Parrish Community High but lives in the East County area. This season, she'll be joined on the team by her sister, freshman Maya Krone. (File photo.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 31, 2022
The East County non-football fall sports outlook

Once again, the Lakewood Ranch area has plenty of intriguing athletes to watch in golf, volleyball, swimming and cross-country in 2022.

  • East County
  • Sports
The project area for the $21.4 million Bahia Vista Street force main project, which is expected to be completed in early 2024. (Courtesy of Sarasota County)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 31, 2022
County commissioners approve sewer line expansion on Bahia Vista Street

A budget amendment of $21 million brings to $280 million a project to expand capacity and upgrade the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 31, 2022
Sarasota Cops Corner: Floppy fries flare-up

Police reports from around Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
At an April meeting of the Republican Club of Longboat Key , School Board member Bridget Ziegler, center, was joined by candidates Robyn Marinelli and Timothy Enos. (File photo)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2022
Longboat Key voters opt for challengers in Sarasota School Board election

In contentious race, the town leaned toward opponents of all three countywide winners.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Built in 1993, the home at 605 Weston Pointe Court has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,806 square feet of living area. (Courtesy of Ryan Ackerman, Coldwell-Banker Realty)
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 31, 2022
Weston Pointe property sells for more than $2 million

A Weston Pointe property tops the week's sales at $2.05 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Michael Saunders & Co. sales associate Kim Ogilvie presents a check to Sandra Chapnick, co-founder of Josh Provides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation. (Photo courtesy of MSC Foundation)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 31, 2022
Michael Saunders & Co. foundation delivers over $50,000 to charities

The MSC Foundation has donated more than $1.1 million since 2011.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
(Courtesy rendering)
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • August 31, 2022
10,000-square-foot retail flex development coming to Bradenton

A group of investors bought the property near I-75 and is building a center to meet demand for flex space.

  • East County
  • News
Those in opposition to the amendment dressed in white shirts to show their unity. (Photo by Ian Swaby)
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 30, 2022
Sarasota commissioners advance Lorraine Road rezone

The Sarasota County Commission has forwarded an amendment to the state to consider light industrial and office uses for Lorraine Road in southern Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
The new Sarasota County Administration Center, shaded in blue, will be located in Fruitville Farms just south of Fruitville Road. (Courtesy of Sarasota County)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 30, 2022
Sarasota County's new headquarters projected to cost $72M-$74M

The new building next to Celery Fields will be 50,000 square feet smaller than the current administration building in downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtney Kawcak (Photo by Ryan Kohn)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 30, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Courtney Kawcak

The Braden River High senior is an impact setter on the volleyball team.

  • East County
  • Sports
Summerfield Park is among the areas maintained by Community Development District 1. (Photo by Ian Swaby)
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 30, 2022
Lakewood Ranch CDDs aim to keep budgets steady amid inflation

All but one Community Development District saw increases below 2% in residents’ fees.

  • East County
  • News
Waves is ready to get back into the gulf after having surgery to remove tumors. (Photo by Lesley Dwyer)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 30, 2022
Injured green sea turtle treated and released back to the Gulf

Mote rescued the sea turtle found tangled in fishing wire near Cortez in May and took it to its rehab hospital for treatment.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This Lake Club home at 7928 Matera Court sold for $1,785,000. It has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,727 square feet of living area. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 30, 2022
Lake Club home tops sales at $2.7 million

A Lake Club home on Baycross Drive tops the week's sales at $2.7 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 30, 2022
Longboat Key Cops Corner: It came from the sky

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Fiddler crabs skitter across the boardwalk on City Island regularly. (Photo by Lesley Dwyer)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 30, 2022
Tour a hidden gem on a City Island trail

Learn about estuaries on City Island, one of the 40 stops along a watershed audio tour through Sarasota and Manatee counties.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
(Photo via the city of Sarasota)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 29, 2022
Sewer-line break in Sarasota spills 340,000 gallons, city says

Water testing near Whitaker Bayou shows levels returning to normal after the break Friday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • August 29, 2022
Vera H. Freeman

Vera H. Freeman 91, of Longboat Key passed peacefully on Aug. 11, 2022.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    In Memoriam |
  • August 29, 2022
Patricia Kirkpatrick Walsh Hunziker

Patricia Kirkpatrick Walsh Hunziker died on July 3, 2022 in St. Petersburg, Florida where she had lived for a number of years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
New housing stock increased by 10.9% between 2010 and 2020 in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metro area. Over that same decade, population grew by 18.2%. (File photo)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 29, 2022
Sarasota region housing stock grew 10.9% from 2010 to 2020

Far outpaced by population growth, new housing stock in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton area grew more than the national average in the decade between the 2008 recession and COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office personnel on the scene of a deputy-involved shooting on Sunday. (Sarasota County Sheriff's Office photo)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 29, 2022
Sarasota deputies fatally shoot man who pulled a gun

47-year-old man reportedly pulled weapon from behind his back and chambered a bullet.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Instructors Ilee Finocchiaro, Lisa Morningstar and Terri Arnold are equine specialists in mental health and learning. (File photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 29, 2022
Equine therapy nonprofit adds more horsepower to its Myakka facility

With news horses on the way, Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy can make a greater impact providing equine therapy to the community.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
As president and CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch since 2005, Rex Jensen heads up one of the most recognizable and sought-after land management, agricultural and development companies in the nation. (Photo by Lori Sax)
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 28, 2022
Lakewood Ranch pioneer shares insights on building a community

After 20 years at the helm, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch CEO Rex Jensen sounds off on what makes a community.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch High senior running back Kevin Everhart moves a pile of Lemon Bay tackles to score a touchdown. The Mustangs' game against the Manta Rays would be canceled because of lightning. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 28, 2022
Lakewood Ranch running back ready to roll, if lightning doesn't get in the way

Running back Kevin Everhart scores for Lakewood Ranch before season-opener cancelled by lightning in first quarter.

  • East County
  • Sports
High school football roundup: Week one. (File photo.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 28, 2022
High school football roundup: Week one

Cardinal Mooney High and Booker High played a tight game while other area schools were involved in blowouts.

  • East County
  • Sports
Numerous residents turned out to protest the possible rezoning of a stretch of Lorraine Road between University Parkway and Fruitville Road to allow light industrial and office uses. (Photo by Ian Swaby)
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 27, 2022
Lakewood Ranch residents protest possible light industrial and office use along Lorraine Road

The Aug. 27 protest proceeded an Aug. 30 Sarasota County Commission meeting about the possible Business Corridor overlay.

  • East County
  • News
A sampling of books written by Scribes’ members (Photo by Harry Sayer)
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • August 27, 2022
Scribes club prides itself on giving writers good feedback — the kind way

A Lakewood Ranch writers’ club meets twice monthly to critique each other’s work and build lifetime bonds.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Penny Gold, who was elected in 2021, will join the program. (File photo)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 27, 2022
New Florida program trains local commissioners on state, federal issues

Elected municipal officials with a limited background in local government can earn certificates for continuing their education through the Florida League of Cities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 26, 2022
Cardinal Mooney football wins defensive slugfest against Booker

The Cougars took an early 10-0 lead on the Tornadoes and held on to win 10-9 at home.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 26, 2022
Longboat Key weather page photo: August 25

John Uwins captured this cloudless photo of a calm day at the beach at Bay Isles.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 26, 2022
East County weather page photo: August 25

Laura Beck took a photo of this hibiscus in bloom in The Isles in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Sarasota Art Museum Senior Curator Rangsook Yoon poses in front of an unnamed piece in Judy Pfaff's exhibition, "Picking Up the Pieces."
  • April 6, 2026
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John Atanassov and Joel King, co-owners of Blu Kouzina, are eager to serve and get to know new customers at their new location at University Town Center.
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The Citizen Tax Oversight Committee meets once a year to review expenditures of revenue brought in from the infrastructure surtax. The 2026 meeting lasted about 15 minutes on Thursday, April 2.
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4
Bella Toscano is one of two Mustangs, as of April 3, hitting over .450, but also boasts the lowest ERA among her teammates.
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  • April 6, 2026
Pine View grad solves for 'Gamma' in his latest music composition

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