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Your Observer

Del Webb's Shellie Robin gets a laugh when a monarch butterfly lands on her face.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 1, 2022
Del Webb of Lakewood Ranch residents hail the monarch

Del Webb community of Lakewood Ranch comes together to build a butterfly garden.

  • East County
  • News
A man riding his bicycle on the Legacy Trail.
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • March 1, 2022
Legacy Trail's Segment 3 to open Wednesday after ribbon-cutting event

A ribbon-cutting will be held on Thursday at Payne Park to announce the opening of Legacy Trail's newest extension, which will stretch from Bahia Vista Street to Ringling Boulevard.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • March 1, 2022
Sarasota Cops Corner: All for $12

Police reports from around Sarasota

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Darya Fedotova and Sergiy Mykhaylov are changing their dance studio's name in support of their Ukraine homeland. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 1, 2022
School of Russian Ballet changes name amidst conflict

Ukraine natives Darya Fedotova and Sergiy Mykhaylov want nothing more than to teach ballet and to see their homeland live in peace.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • March 1, 2022
James H. Matson

Jim Matson, 81, of Longboat Key, FL, passed away February 9, 2022 from complications due to Parkinson’s disease.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • February 28, 2022
Getting away: Red Bug Slough

A pocket of old Florida can be found in the middle of some Sarasota suburbs.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Small cell facilities were installed in downtown Sarasota in 2018.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 28, 2022
Longboat leaders approve cell-pole plan for north end

Nine small-cell facilities could be working by early 2023, Verizon official tells town.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Rosemary District Association members posing for a photo after demolition began last Wednesday to make way for a new park.
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • February 28, 2022
Demolition makes way for Rosemary District's first park

The Rosemary District Association met at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and Central Avenue last Wednesday, where the area's first park is set to be built.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • February 28, 2022
Margaret A. “Marge” Corry

Formerly of Longboat Key, Florida, and a longtime resident of Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, Margaret died at age 83 on February 18, 2022.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    In Memoriam |
  • February 28, 2022
James (Jim) C. Huber

James (Jim) C. Huber, 94, of Sarasota, Florida, passed away January 21, 2022.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Jeannie Perales and Brent Campbell, who is part of the Speaker Series committee, met up after Perales' presentation.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • February 28, 2022
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church hosts The Bay's Jeannie Perales

The park conservancy's chief experience officer spoke about current goings-on and the future of the project.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Peggy Hufford says her husband, Jerry Hufford, was always helping people "behind the scenes." Jerry Hufford died Feb. 8 at 69.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 28, 2022
Del Webb of Lakewood Ranch grieves kind, selfless neighbor

Lakewood Ranch's Jerry Hufford, the head of a veterans organization in Del Webb, dies at 69.

  • East County
  • News
Residents of The Shore on Longboat Key showed solidarity for Ukraine on Saturday. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • February 28, 2022
Longboat Key residents show support for Ukraine

Anisa Mycak, a Ukrainian American, wore her country's colors to show solidarity.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
City Commissioners could discuss severing sister-city ties with a Russian municipality on March 7.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 28, 2022
Sarasota commissioner calls for end of relationship with Russian sister city

Brody seeks agenda item on March 7, suggests five Florida mayors consider the same, in "solidarity'' over invasion of Ukraine.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nancy Hart goes low for a point.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • February 28, 2022
Club Longboat group keeps Beckyball alive

One Longboater created a modified version of pickleball, which has taken root at the Club Longboat tennis courts.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Manatee County Paramedics Nicholas Barion and Chris Roshka chat with Owen Lockaby.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 28, 2022
Teen survives golf cart accident thanks to quick action of paramedics

Family holds ceremony at Lakewood Ranch EMS to show their appreciation for paramedics saving their son's life.

  • East County
  • News
Matthew Ragas and Sherwood MacDonald protest together.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • February 27, 2022
LGBTQ community protests Florida school bill

The protest rally against the controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill was held Feb. 27.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • February 27, 2022
Bay Runner trolley service launches Wednesday

The Bay Runner trolley service covering downtown Sarasota and the barrier islands will be available March. 2.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • February 26, 2022
Young entrepreneurs take over bazaar

The third annual Young Entrepreneurs Market was held Feb. 26.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota's Samaya Leger, who is 7 years old, feeds a miniature Sicilian donkey.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 26, 2022
Hunsader Farms hosts Strawberry Fields Shabbat in east Bradenton

Sarasota's Temple Emanu-El members hold Strawberry Fields Shabbat at Hunsader Farms in east Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 26, 2022
Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club hosts annual youth fishing tournament

Annual youth fishing tournament a first for many Lakewood Ranch residents.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • February 25, 2022
Bay Street Dog Park opens after county unleashing event

Sarasota County has a new dog park inside Bay Street Park. The off-leash park now has dog exercise equipment, shaded seating and water fountains made for both dogs and people.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 25, 2022
Cardinal Mooney girls basketball falls in state championship game

Mooney went cold from outside the arc in a 44-41 loss to Westminster Academy

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Traffic on Fruitville Road has backed up in recent weeks, often prompting other routes to and from the barrier islands.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 25, 2022
Longboat leaders lament spike in traffic congestion

Although immediate congestion was expected, the town is still concerned about long-term placement of pedestrian crossings.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 25, 2022
Lakewood National home tops sales at $1.15 million

A home in Lakewood National topped sales this week at $1.15 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, thanks Ted Lindenberg, the director of the Books for Kids program, for all he's done to support Manatee County students.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 25, 2022
Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch's Books for Kids program hopes to expand

Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch's Books for Kids program nears 100,000 books distributed.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 25, 2022
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Slippery snake

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Seven days from listing to contract is the median in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 25, 2022
Real estate inventory remains low in Sarasota area

Year begins with even tighter market than in 2021's first month.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Megan Dowdell.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 24, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Megan Dowdell

The ODA senior has 10 goals and seven assists through three games.

  • East County
  • Sports
So-called pedestrian-hybrid beacons, similar to those installed along Sarasota's bayfront, are proposed for two sites on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 24, 2022
FDOT pitches new crosswalk proposals for Longboat Key's main road

Proposal calls for replacing two yellow-light signals with red-light signals.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Johnson Preserve — Carl Bergstresser's "little slice of heaven" — offers Old Florida scenery
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 24, 2022
Upgrades at Johnson Preserve along the Manatee River should be finished by summer

Manatee County should finish constructing shell paths, parking lot at Johnson Preserve by summer.

  • East County
  • News
Small-cell poles dot the downtown Sarasota landscape. They were installed in 2019.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 24, 2022
Longboat Key is on the verge of approving a cell-service upgrade

Nine poles, nine questions and answers regarding the proposal up for a vote next week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High senior Johnathan Kline (14) gets dragged down by Plant junior Will Anderson (24).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 24, 2022
Prose and Kohn: Mustangs soccer eliminated thanks to missed opportunities

Lakewood Ranch High had early chances to pile on Plant High but could not execute, eventually losing 3-1 in overtime.

  • East County
  • Sports
An unidentified woman was killed early Thursday morning after she walked into the path of a patrol car, according to a Manatee County Sheriff's Office report.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 24, 2022
Pedestrian dies after walking into path of Manatee Sheriff's Office patrol car

Age unknown of woman who was killed after being hit by a Manatee County Sheriff's patrol car in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Riverview junior Jason Jackson passes to a teammate against Windermere High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 24, 2022
Prose and Kohn: Riverview boys basketball has a bright future

The Rams lost in the regional semifinals Tuesday night but days full of potential are ahead.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Bob Smith, Stillpoint treasurer James Keiner, and Stillpoint president Gene Tischer​ celebrate another successful fundraiser by Bob Smith in 2021. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 24, 2022
Lakewood Ranch man continues to be a driving force behind fundraiser

Lakewood Ranch's Bob Smith aims to raise more than $40,000 for Bradenton's Stillpoint Mission this year.

  • East County
  • 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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