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Your Observer

Sheriff Kurt Hoffman, County Administrator Jonathan Lewis, Emergency Management Director Ed McCrane and Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen address the media during a news conference Monday.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 26, 2022
Sarasota County orders evacuation of most-vulnerable zone

County and city leaders have declared a local state of emergency.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Residents fill sandbags at the town's site at the Broadway Street beach parking area. (File photo)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 26, 2022
County could cut Longboat water supply before storm, chief says

The town urges residents to prepare before the likely order to evacuate.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Ken Shelin
  • September 26, 2022
My View: New performance hall critical for city

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall does not work for the future.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Manatee County issues mandatory evacuation orders for those living in Zone A beginning Tuesday at 8 a.m.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 26, 2022
Manatee County issues evacuation orders

Manatee County issues mandatory and voluntary evacuations, effective 8 a.m. Tuesday, and proceeds with county closures.

  • East County
  • News
A private home being built along Gulf of Mexico Drive across from Bayfront Park. (Photo by Lauren Tronstad)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 26, 2022
Town Commission passes new and reduced building fees

The new fees for required permits will take effect Oct. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Monica Quimby says Team USA sled hockey celebrated its gold medal win at the Women's World Challenge with Chinese food and karaoke. (Courtesy photo.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 26, 2022
Lakewood Ranch area sled hockey player wins gold with Team USA at Women's World Challenge

The event was the first women's sled hockey event sanctioned by World Para Ice Hockey, which in turn is the first step in getting the sport to the Paralympics.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High will be open along with other School District of Manatee County Schools on Monday. (File photo)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 25, 2022
Manatee County schools to remain open Monday

With expected soon-to-be Hurricane Ian approaching, the school district will alert parents through mass emails and phone calls on possible cancellations.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 25, 2022
The UPS Store in Lakewood Ranch celebrates grand opening

The UPS Store on Lorraine Road and State Road 70 completed its opening Sept. 24 with puppies from Nate's Honor Animal Rescue greeting customers.

  • East County
  • Business
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 25, 2022
Sarasota, Manatee men support American Cancer Society with fashion show

Real Men Wear Pink models hit the runway to spread awareness and raise money for the American Cancer Society.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Marti Wood and Starr Shafer work together to fill sandbags ahead of hurricane. (Photo by Lauren Tronstad)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 25, 2022
Longboat Key residents fill sandbags preparing for Ian

Residents were provided up to 10 bags to fill for free from the town's Public Works Department.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dozens of people shovel sand into bags at one of three Sarasota County sites for sandbags at Ed Smith Stadium. (Eric Garwood)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 24, 2022
Sarasota County urges attention, weighs decisions on Ian

The Longboat Key fire chief tells residents to heed orders if evacuations are needed for Tropical Storm Ian.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Commissioners Reggie Bellamy, County Administrator Scott Hopes and Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge listen to Commissioner Vanessa Baugh's comments. (Photo by Ian Swaby)
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 24, 2022
Manatee County declares state of emergency for Tropical Storm Ian

The County Commission rapidly chose to convene for an emergency vote Saturday afternoon.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 24, 2022
JFCS relies on strong arms to raise money for mental health

Push for Mental Health attracts dozens to do hundreds of pushups for raise money to help youth, teens, adults and seniors.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Advanced Life Support services would offer parmedic-certified firefighters on East Manatee fire trucks. (Photo by Ian Swaby)
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 24, 2022
East Manatee Fire Rescue declines paramedic funding

The budget for fiscal year 2023 focuses on hiring three firefighters and the replacement of Station 11 while delaying funding for Advanced Life Support services.

  • East County
  • News
High school football roundup: Week five
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 24, 2022
High school football roundup: Week five

East County teams went undefeated while Sarasota teams had less stellar results.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 23, 2022
Braden River football outlasts Booker in shootout

The teams traded blows before the Pirates pulled away for a 42-28 home win.

  • East County
  • Sports
Issued 5 p.m. Sept. 23 via National Weather Service
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2022
Region keeps eye on gathering storm; DeSantis adds Sarasota, Manatee to emergency list

The storm could grow into Ian, and forecasts point it toward Florida by next week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County residents fill sandbags at Ed Smith Stadium ahead of Hurricane Ian.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 23, 2022
Manatee, Sarasota counties, Longboat Key set sandbag stations

Some locations in Manatee open Saturday, others open on Sunday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Masonry work on area A of the five-story hotel building was recently completed. (Eric Garwood)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2022
Progress rolls on at Longboat Key St. Regis construction site

Residential and hotel spaces aim to open in 2024.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Jacqueline Weathers plays cornhole with Heritage Harbour's Jeff Aumiller. MVP Sports and Social's cornhole league will have 124 teams this season. (File photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2022
Ranch Nite Wednesdays returns to Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch

The Wednesday evening event returns earlier this year with a bigger cornhole league, a new mobile bar and the night market every week.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
David Rathbun, a 32-year veteran of Orange County Fire Rescue, has been named chief of Sarasota County Fire Department. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 23, 2022
Sarasota County names new fire chief

After a nine-month search, retired Orange County Deputy Chief David Rathbun has been named new chief of the Sarasota County Fire Department.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Clive Daniel Home opened in September in Fruitville Commons (Photo by Eric Garwood)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2022
Upscale home store aims to satisfy Sarasota style sensibilities

Clive Daniel Home opens in Fruitville Commons as the company's third showroom.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
School Board member James Golden, Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, Lakewood Ranch High School's mascot and Lakewood Ranch High Principal Dustin Dahlquist move dirt for the groundbreaking. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 22, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High, Freedom Elementary break ground on new additions

The new additions to the Manatee County schools will help address growth in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2022
East County weather page photo: September 22

Marvin Crepea captured this alligator in the pond behind his house on Thornhill Court in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: September 22

Becky Edwards took this close up photo of a flower in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 22, 2022
Longboat Key weather page photo: September 22

Diane Suner captured this image of a white egret in the mangrove tunnels of Lido Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rumble founder and CEO Chris Pavlovsk and prominent Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick on a screenshot from a Rumble video where they talked about the SPAC merger.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • September 22, 2022
Longboat Key video-sharing firm reels in $400M from merger

"We have only scratched the surface of what this business could be," Rumble officials say.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Rams senior Lauriel "Scoota" Trotman rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown against Lehigh High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 22, 2022
Riverview football still has plenty at stake

After a 31-28 win over Lehigh High on Sept. 16, Riverview has a chance to make noise in 2022, even after a slow start.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 22, 2022
Bashaw Elementary hosts Hispanic Heritage Festival

Students have fun dancing, doing arts and crafts and presenting projects on famous Latinos.

  • East County
  • Schools
Unit 1405 at 401 Quay Commons has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,647 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 22, 2022
Quay property tops sales at $6.1 million

A Quay waterfront condo tops the week's sales at $6.1 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The new Bayfront Park splash pad is designed with uplighting for nighttime use. (Courtesy image)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 22, 2022
City approves $3.2 million Bayfront Park splash pad

With a $300,000 shade structure included, the Sarasota City Commission gives the go-ahead for the Bayfront Park splash pad and playground replacement.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rosedale Golf and Country Club resident Fred Booth said Rosedale maintains 87th Street East and residents would be upset if cement trucks use the entrance to get to State Road 70. (File photo)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 22, 2022
Rosedale residents struggle with Lena Road extension

Manatee County is planning to connect the two lengths of Lena Road, but residents worry that turning Lena into a frontage road is going to greatly increase traffic overall, especially truck traffic.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Exterior rendering of the new ground boarding facility under development at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. (Rendering courtesy of SRQ)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 22, 2022
Site work is underway for SRQ airport expansion, upgrade projects

Completion of the new ground boarding facility at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is scheduled for early 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 21, 2022
Braden River High students host 'Night of Magic' cabaret show

The student-led cabaret show dazzles the crowd with a little magic.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 21, 2022
It’s all ‘Planned Chaos’

If the White House wizards and congressional Democrats knew anything about history, they would know all of their policies will bring economic and social chaos and are doomed to fail.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Cardinal Mooney High senior Jordyn Byrd is the reigning Gatorade Florida Volleyball Player of the Year. (File photo.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 21, 2022
Prose and Kohn: The Sarasota fall sports season's under-the-radar athletes

These athletes have given strong individual performances, even when their teams have been up and down.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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