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Your Observer

The home at 1500 Hillview Drive was sold in 1991 for $800,000. (Photo by Eric Garwood)
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 18, 2022
Harbor Acres property sells for $12 million

A Harbor Acres home on Hillview Drive tops the week's sales at $12 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
  • By Jay Derr and Adrian Moore
  • August 17, 2022
Traffic and pedestrian safety require realism, not slogans

Although the Vision Zero program sounds like a good idea to make roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, governments should still measure its trade-offs.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 17, 2022
Manatee seeks volunteers to serve on environmental lands committee

The Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee will make recommendations on environmental land acquisition and management issues.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High senior receiver Isaac Ashley is primed for a big 2022 after catching 38 passes for 587 yards and four touchdowns in 2021. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 17, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High hopes 2022 season a turning point in football

With Head Coach Rashad West's system fully in place, the Mustangs look to turn the corner.

  • East County
  • Sports
Brandon Thrift created the artistic crosswalk for the Community Day School. (Courtesy photo Karina Herrera)
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • August 17, 2022
Local artist paints 3D crosswalk for Community Day School

Brandon Thrift, known for the "Spread Love" art around town, created a 3D crosswalk for the school.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Next Gen Conservation Program received a $10,000 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 17, 2022
Next Gen Conservation Program receives grant

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation gave a $10,000 grant to the Conservation Foundation that will go toward youth education.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 17, 2022
Retired NASA scientist talks telescopes at Rotary

The Webb Space Telescope cost about $10 million to build and operate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 17, 2022
Country Club Shores home sells for $3.1 million

A Country Club Shores home on Schooner Lane tops the week's sales at $3.1 million .

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Elling Eide's former Sarasota estate has become a leading regional research library and capitol of Chinese studies. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Gamma)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • August 17, 2022
Elling Eide Center brings a unique focus on Chinese culture

It's more than 7,000 miles away from Beijing, but because of the passions of its former resident, a Sarasota research library and nature preserve has become a leader of China studies.

  • Arts + Culture
Although SRQ averages between five and six commercial aircraft operations an hour, it has approximately 160,000 operations a year — about 18.5 takeoffs and landings per hour, including private aircraft.  (Eric Garwood)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 17, 2022
Apartments at former Sarasota Kennel Club approach approval

The Sarasota City Commission approves first reading of ordinances to help pave the way for apartment developer Aventon to build a multifamily community at the site of the former dog track.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Individual garden plots thrived at the Lakewood Ranch community garden in 2018. (File photo)
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 17, 2022
Lakewood Ranch residents show renewed interest in community garden

Green thumbs are wanted to replant the community garden in Greenbrook's Adventure Park, expected to open early next year.

  • East County
  • News
Honeycomb pulled from a soffit on Tarawitt Drive. (Photo by Lesley Dwyer)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 17, 2022
Busy bees move hive found on the underside of a home eave

Tarawitt Drive on Longboat Key was abuzz when a beehive took over a soffit. So the neighborhood experts were called.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 17, 2022
Sarasota Cops Corner: Vacation altercation

Police reports from around Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Alex Benson (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 17, 2022
McNeal Elementary reveals mural for 'trust' theme

Alex Benson had students build trust — literally — in his mural on the Lakewood Ranch school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Elliot Vasquez puts all of his effort into rowing during the PR1 Men's Masters 1x Final at the 2022 USRowing Masters National Championships. Vasquez won a gold medal in the race (8:11.99). (Photo courtesy of Nathan Benderson Park)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 16, 2022
USRowing Masters Nationals showcase competitors' perseverance, longevity

The event was held Aug. 11-14 at Nathan Benderson Park and featured more than 775 rowers from 96 clubs across the country.

  • East County
  • Sports
Tony Barrett (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 16, 2022
East Manatee Fire Rescue, Seat 3: Tony Barrett

Meet the candidate.

  • East County
  • News
Barbara Linden (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 16, 2022
Tara Preserve CDD, Seat 3: Barbara Linden

Meet the candidate.

  • East County
  • News
Olivia Sharkoski (Photo by Ryan Kohn)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 16, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Olivia Sharkoski

The Lakewood Ranch-based hockey player won the Fastest Skater award at a Liberty University development camp in July.

  • East County
  • Sports
Joe Martinez started Friends of Lakewood Ranch Performing Arts Center to promote interest in building a theater. (Photo by Jay Heater)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 16, 2022
Is performing arts center in Lakewood Ranch just a dream?

The organization Friends of Lakewood Ranch Performing Arts Center forms to stir up support to build a theater.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The crash took place on southbound Interstate 75 just north of Fruitville Road. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 16, 2022
Interstate 75 lanes reopen after deadly crash in Sarasota County

Two killed in the fiery rollover incident that prompted a traffic diversion for nearly three hours.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ted Lindenberg launched the Books for Kids initiative as part of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch. (Photo by Lori Sax)
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • August 16, 2022
Lakewood Ranch Rotarians ensure every kid gets the chance to love reading

A retired educator who moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2010, Ted Lindenberg is a fervent advocator for childhood literacy — one book and one child at a time.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This Country Club home at 13207 Palmers Creek Terrace sold for $3 million. It has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 5,581 square feet of living area. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 16, 2022
Country Club home tops sales at $3 million

A Country Club home on Palmers Creek Terrace tops the week's sales at $3 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
One of the pictures that attracted over 100,000 followers to Loccisano's Instagram page. (Photo courtesy of Sheila Loccisano)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 16, 2022
Instagram followers turn a shelling passion into a part-time job

Follow Me to Longboat Key, run by Sheila Loccisano, has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Ethan Conner, a Freedom Elementary School fourth grader, works with Melanie Stern, a Project TEACH volunteer. More Freedom Elementary students will be able to participate in Project TEACH once an addition is built. (File photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 16, 2022
Manatee School Board considers borrowing more money for capital projects

Inflation leads the School District of Manatee County to plot a borrow-and-build-now strategy.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 16, 2022
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Bad day on the water

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Charlie Mopps says he looks forward to continuing work that aligns with his background and passion in coastal engineering and coastal projects as the town frequently works on projects on the island’s beaches. (File photo)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 16, 2022
Longboat program manager returns for coastal projects, town staff

Charlie Mopps returned to the Public Works Department on Aug. 10 after seven months as Venice's public works director.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 15, 2022
Sarasota County Schools sets clear bag policy for athletic events

Small purses are allowed, along with transparent larger carrying bags.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The Longboat Library has a book sale on August 10. (Photo by Lesley Dwyer)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 15, 2022
The Longboat Library has a new collection of books

Many books from the remaining overstock will be donates to Little Free Library boxes around town.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Former Sarasota High Head Coach Brody Wiseman is now the offensive coordinator at Riverview High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 15, 2022
Sailors football believes togetherness, improved line play will lead to more wins

Sarasota Head Coach Brody Wiseman believes 2022 is the season the program can turn the corner and reach the postseason.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 15, 2022
Summer concert series attracts fans to St. Armands Circle

JAC of All Trades played jazz in St. Armands Circle Park for the second of three concerts in a summer series.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Plans are underway to expand SMH-Venice. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 15, 2022
New 100-bed hospital in North Port to relieve pressure at SMH-Sarasota

Sarasota Memorial Health Care is planning a new hospital in south county. Paired with SMH-Venice, they will serve the fast-growing communities and relieve pressure on SMH-Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Joe Di Bartolomeo
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 15, 2022
Tara CDD, Seat 1: Joe Di Bartolomeo

Meet the candidate.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • August 15, 2022
William James Gallagher

William James Gallagher, 88, of Quechee, Vermont and Longboat Key, Florida passed away peacefully July 29th, 2022 accompanied by one of his sons.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • August 14, 2022
Locals get down at Van Wezel Friday Fest

The monthly event was again held on Aug. 12.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 14, 2022
Car enthusiasts pack Luxe Dream Garage groundbreaking in Lakewood Ranch

Sixty-five garage condos due in 2023 with another 64 in 2024.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 14, 2022
Sofia's opens as Mediterranean-themed restaurant in Lakewood Ranch

Invitation-only event Aug. 13 preps Chef Angelo DiFiore's business for Aug. 16 opening to general public.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
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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."
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