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Your Observer

Colleen Blumenthal says she doesn't know if Blumenberry Farms will survive if Sarasota County commissioners allow light industrial uses on her section of Lorraine Road.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 20, 2022
Rezone vote due for section of Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch

Blumenberry Farms owner says allowing light industrial would be a blow to agriculture.

  • East County
  • News
    A time to celebrate |
  • October 19, 2022
Piper Anne Dawson

Longboat Key has a NEW (youngest) resident!

  • Longboat Key
  • Celebrations
Willis Smith Construction CEO David Sessions says his company has had a more than 40-year relationship with Bill North's HBK CPAs firm.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 19, 2022
Willis Smith Construction celebrates 50 years of excellence

Clients, partners join with Willis Smith to celebrate the milestone at Waterside Place.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Rickie Fowler, who has won five career PGA Tour events, will team with Paula Creamer to form the Tour Pro Team in the $25K Showdown, the final competition of the PopStroke Tour Championship. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 19, 2022
PopStroke Tour Championship will bring PGA, LPGA stars to UTC

PopStroke founder Greg Bartoli explains why the event was conceived and the impact bringing Rickie Fowler and Paula Creamer to the event will have.

  • East County
  • Sports
This year, Main Street Market will extend beyond the area pictured, to the area of Ed's Tavern and The Fish Hole. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 19, 2022
Main Street Market returns to Lakewood Ranch with expanded offerings

Bigger version of the Main Street Market begins Oct. 22 at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County Public Works Fleet Services employee Christopher Brooks unloads containers of bottled water.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 19, 2022
Manatee County continues to serve Myakka residents who have contaminated water

Drinking water, water testing provided to Myakka residents by Manatee County following Ian.

  • East County
  • News
Nico Bencomo takes his second shot on the No. 9 hole at Laurel Oak Country Club's Jones course. Bencomo is one of Cardinal Mooney's top boys golfers in 2022. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 19, 2022
Prose and Kohn: Mooney boys golf wants a top-five finish at states

The Cougars believe they have both the top-end talent and the depth to get it done.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Previously, administrative approval for development has been restricted to the downtown core. (Eric Garwood)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 19, 2022
Sarasota City Commission builds new set of development rules with 4-1 votes

City approves batch of changes aimed at moving quicker on attainable housing, though critics say public comment is cut out of the process.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Helena Hebda. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 18, 2022
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: 10.20.22

Sarasota Athlete of the Week: 10.20.22

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 18, 2022
Lots of love shown at Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch's Putts Fore Mutts tourney

Putts Fore Mutts and Racquets for Rescues fundraisers are crucial for the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
JFCS of the Suncoast recently held its own food truck fundraiser event for groups on Oct. 13. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 18, 2022
Sarasota nonprofits raise funds for hurricane victims

The nonprofit community has been active in collecting funds and passing along supplies to people in need.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarah Cirone, left, Annie Glennon and Kathleen Eidson tout privacy of the Key's beaches. (Photo by Lauren Tronstad)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 18, 2022
Minimal damages noted on Longboat beaches following Hurricane Ian

Town's recently renourished beaches stood up to Hurricane Ian, town says.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dr. Michael O'Neil in front of the POD in the Publix parking lot on Bay Isles Road. (courtesy photo)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 18, 2022
Longboat Key trio launch a community-wide hurricane relief effort

The PODS storage unit put in the Publix parking lot on Bay Isles Road was filled with supplies in under two days.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The CEO's dad Dennis Virgin helps clean up the facility following Hurricane Ian. (Lesley Dwyer)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 18, 2022
Save Our Seabirds rebuilds aviaries, raises money after Hurricane Ian

Without insurance to cover the damaged aviaries, Save Our Seabirds is raising $125,000 themselves.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Though damage was minimal, some mobile homes were damaged in Ian's winds, that peaked with gusts to near hurricane strength.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 17, 2022
Harmer provides report on town status following Hurricane Ian

The town is said to have not experienced sustained hurricane force winds.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 17, 2022
Sarasota Cops Corner: Meter beater

Police reports from around Sarasota

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 17, 2022
"A little off the top''

Spooky scene plays out at a Sarasota hair salon.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A smoking station stands at the Broadway beach access point Monday morning. (Photo by Lauren Tronstad)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 17, 2022
Longboat Key adds to list of municipalities passing smoking bans in parks and on beaches

The ban was approved on first reading Sept. 12.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 17, 2022
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Special delivery

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 17, 2022
Casey Key properties sell for $5.75 million

Main house, guest house on Casey Key Road are the top sellers for the week of Oct. 3-7.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 17, 2022
The Bay Park opens with 10 days of celebration

Locals flocked to the new park for a We The Kings concert, a food festival and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sanctuary at Longboat Key Club was built in 1989. (file)
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 17, 2022
Sanctuary condo unit sells for $2.7 million

Property within Longboat Key Club is the top seller on Longboat Key for the week of Oct. 3-7.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 17, 2022
Rain can't dampen Pumpkin Festival fun at Hunsader Farms

Those who attend the annual Bradenton event don't mind a little mud.

  • East County
  • News
Discuss "Surviving in a Ruthless World: Bob Dylan's Voyage to Infidels" with Terry Gans on Oct. 22 at Bookstore1. (courtesy photo)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 16, 2022
Former Longboat mayor dives deep into Dylan's iconic album

Terry Gans will be appearing at a local author book fair on Oct. 22.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 16, 2022
Newtown hosts Big Mama's Collard Greens Festival

The annual festival made its return on Oct. 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lissette Estevez, an English to Speakers of Other Languages teacher, helps guide third grader Daniel Perez-Martinez through a math lesson. Teachers are not only there for students educationally but also socially and emotionally.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 15, 2022
Myakka City Elementary School works to support its students and staff after Hurricane Ian

Myakka Elementary provides a return to normalcy for many students traumatized by Hurricane Ian.

  • East County
  • Schools
High school football roundup: Week eight
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 15, 2022
High school football roundup: Week eight

Several Sarasota-Bradenton area teams suffered important losses, but The Out-of-Door Academy remained undefeated.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 14, 2022
ODA football beats Cocoa Beach 54-10 to remain undefeated

Senior running back Griffin DeRusso led the Thunder with four total touchdowns.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bird Key Park is along Ringling Causeway. (file)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 14, 2022
No-swim advisory lifted for Bird Key Park

Results of follow-up testing expected on Friday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
From left, Sarasota Commission candidates Dan Lobeck, incumbent Jen Ahearn-Koch and Debbie Trice at a form co-hosted by the Downtown Sarasota Alliance and Downtown Sarasota Condo Association. (Andrew Warfield)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 14, 2022
City Commission candidates address questions of downtown residents' groups

In agreement on many key issues, the three candidates for two Sarasota City Commission seats tried to separate themselves from the rest before two downtown groups.

  • Sarasota
  • News
In addition to 256 new apartments, the redeveloped Bath & Racquet Club will be a private club featuring tennis and pickleball courts. (Courtesy image)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 14, 2022
Effects of Hurricane Ian force Planning Board delays on three apartment projects

Hurricane Ian kept city staff from putting rezoning hearing signs at properties when required, forcing the Planning Board to continue applications of three apartment communities until November.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Shannon Boyce, 15, is the youngest hockey referee at Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex, and one of just six female officials in Florida. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 14, 2022
Lakewood Ranch teen is one of six female youth hockey officials in Florida

Shannon Boyce, 15, is the youngest official refereeing at Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 14, 2022
Observer recommends: State constitutional amendments

A key measure for voters to consider: do the amendments limit your freedom?

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
By SCAT or by Uber? A pair of Observer reporters put each to the test on a race from Longboat Key to Downtown Sarasota. (Lesley Dwyer)
  • By Lesley Dwyer and Lauren Tronstad
  • October 14, 2022
OnDemand versus Uber: Worth it or a waste of time between downtown and Longboat?

OnDemand by Sarasota County is akin to hiring an Uber but is much less expensive and sometimes requires additional stops.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 13, 2022
Sisterhood for Good of Lakewood Ranch hosts Designer Bag Bingo

The fundraising event at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing brings together 199 people to play Bingo.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Briggs is enjoying his first day back at Bayfront Park's dog park. (Photo by Lauren Tronstad)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 13, 2022
Longboat's Bayfront dog park reopens after artificial turf installation

The park's reopening date was pushed back due to Hurricane Ian preparation and recovery.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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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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