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Your Observer

Andre Herke serves a point. File photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 20, 2021
Observer Challenge returns on Longboat Key after year away

The tournament took a break in 2021 due to the pandemic, but will return from Jan. 7-9.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Declan Hudson, an All-American cheerleader from Braden River High School, is thrilled to visit Hawaii for the first time to honor veterans. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 20, 2021
Braden River High cheerleader performs in 80th anniversary Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade

After being named an All-American Cheerleader, Declan Hudson participated in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade.

  • East County
  • Schools
The main house was built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths, two pools and 6,480 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 19, 2021
Home in private Siesta Key enclave sells for $14.1 million

Property on Sanderling Road is the top seller of the Dec. 6-10 week in the Sarasota, Siesta Key area.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Unit 101 condominium at 4955 Gulf of Mexico Drive was built in 2007. It has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,122 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 19, 2021
Positano condo unit sells for $4.1 million

Built in 2007, the condo is the top seller in the Longboat Key area for the week of Dec. 6-10.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Phillip Hartl stands outside of the entrance to the Linger Lodge restaurant on Dec. 13. His family purchased the property in 2016 and have overseen an extensive remodel of the property over the last year and a half.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • December 18, 2021
Linger Lodge Restaurant & RV Campground moves closer to reopening in Lakewood Ranch

Owners completing major renovation of the property's RV Park and parking lot in February. AND Owners say Old Florida appeal will remain at Linger Lodge.

  • East County
  • News
Replacing the Coon Key Bridge is a key portion of a plan to connect the islands and mainland with a multi-use trail.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 18, 2021
Sarasota leaders will rank road priorities Jan. 3

At first commission meeting of the new year, road and transportation projects will be discussed.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Duane Oakes
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 18, 2021
Sarasota school district names new police chief

Oakes joined department as a sergeant when school board formed new security service.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • December 17, 2021
Runners jingle around Lakewood Ranch

More than 1,000 runners took part in the 10th Anniversary Jingle Run 5K run/walk to benefit the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Auxiliary Nursing Scholarship Program on Dec. 17.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Scott Hopes, Vanessa Baugh, George Kruse, Sue Ann Miller, Reggie Bellamy, James Satcher and Charlie Bishop break ground on the new East County Library.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • December 17, 2021
Construction of the new East County library in Lakewood Ranch officially breaks ground

The new, 50,000-square-foot facility in Lakewood Ranch is scheduled to open mid-2023.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes has received positive reviews from Manatee County Commissioners for his first eight months of work.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • December 17, 2021
Hopes draws positive reviews from Manatee County commissioners

Commissioners asked to evaluate administrator's first seven months and all were favorable.

  • East County
  • News
Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens addresses the groundbreaking crowd in June. Among those attending, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, state Sen. Joe Gruters and then-Mayor Hagen Brody.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 17, 2021
Selby names Turner Chief Advancement Officer

Work on downtown-adjacent campus' renovation is underway.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy will be located on White Eagle Boulevard near Rangeland Parkway.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 16, 2021
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy finds a home

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, a future K-12 charter school, will be located on White Eagle Boulevard.

  • East County
  • Schools
Racelle Weiman led a panel discussion from the Miracle on the Key project.
  • By Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 16, 2021
Republican Club of Longboat Key meets for December

The club heard from a panel from Miracle on the Key members.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2021
Longboat Key weather page photo: December 16

Diane Suner captured this photo of some driftwood along the shore on Lido Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2021
East County weather page photo: December 16

David Ginsberg captured this photo of a curious raccoon on a palm tree in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: December 16

Darlene Edelman stopped to take this photo of lily pads floating in a lake at UTC Mall in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 16, 2021
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key meets post-Lawn Party

The club took the time to recap the efforts from the event and look at their bell ringing efforts.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 16, 2021
Seaplace celebrates the holidays on Longboat Key

The condo association has recently gotten back into hosting parties.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 15, 2021
Siesta Key home in Sanderling Place sells for $14 million

Property sold for $10.5 million in 2020.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The town is planning to start its third annual citizen satisfaction survey on Jan. 10.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 15, 2021
Longboat Key finalizing questions for third annual citizen survey

The survey gives owners an opportunity to provide feedback, and express their opinions on services and policy issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Doron Rozen goes to Israel and Belgium every two weeks to pick up more diamond inventory.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 15, 2021
Doron Rozen brings his diamond expertise to Lakewood Ranch

Diamonds by Doron owner brings a wealth of experience to Lakewood Ranch's San Marco Plaza.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mason Wroe rips a shot during last season's action. The new season opens Dec. 19.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 15, 2021
All aboard for the Sarasota Polo Club's opening day in Lakewood Ranch

The Sarasota Polo Club opens its season Dec. 19 in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 15, 2021
Longboat Harbour Condominium hosts annual Lighting of the Docks ceremony

Longboat Harbour raised raised $5,280 for Toys for Tots, according to condo commodore Bill Coughlin.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 15, 2021
Spend it on infrastructure

Local governments have so much money politicians say they don’t know what to do with it. The most effective use of these windfalls is to invest in long-term infrastructure touching the most people.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 15, 2021
Sarasota Cops Corner: Dude, where's my car.

Police reports from around Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Manatee County has accepted the donation of the Bishop Animal Shelter from the Bishop-Parker Foundation.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • December 15, 2021
Manatee County accepts donation of Bishop Animal Shelter

Manatee County Commissioners unanimously approve the donation of the $10 million Bishop Animal Shelter from the Bishop-Parker Foundation to the county.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 15, 2021
Prominent Sarasota eye surgeon dies at 53

Dr. Bill Lahners helped grow Center for Sight into one of the largest eye care practices in the region.

  • Sarasota
  • News
La Villa Mexican Restaurant will open in the coming months at 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive Suite No. 5.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 14, 2021
Mexican restaurant coming to Longboat Key

Town also will consider in the new year another proposal for a restaurant at the site of a former hair salon.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Angie Blanco, Ann Harris and Trevor Harris surprised dad Chris Sachs with a bell-ringing appearance. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 14, 2021
Longboat Key bell ringers get into the spirit

Bell ringing has been full of surprises this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A rendering of the Owen's Fish Camp restaurant that is being constructed at Center Point in Lakewood Ranch. The restaurant has a targeted opening date of August-September 2022.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • December 14, 2021
Owens Fish Camp breaks ground at Center Point development in Lakewood Ranch

Owens Fish Camp begins vertical construction in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 14, 2021
Sarasota man gets five months in jail for anti-Semitic graffiti

Arrest dates back to incidents from April and July 2020.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A family ran to cross Gulf of Mexico near Broadway Street on Saturday morning.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 13, 2021
Manatee County to consider $150K contribution for Broadway roundabout design

Design work is underway for a roundabout at Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway Street.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Ohana property at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive extends well out into the Gulf of Mexico. The property is pictured here from the south end.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 13, 2021
Solutions hard to come by for Longboat beach access question

As community tries to find a way around seawall issue, property owners propose an easement that would cost the town $880,000 to $1.3 million a year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
5142 Bunyan Street — This house brings a slide full of penguins and reindeer.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • December 13, 2021
Sarasota's sidewalk spectacles sparkle for the holidays

Homes make the season twinkle with electricity and creativity.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Small cell poles have been erected around the city and Sarasota and surrounding unincorporated areas.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 13, 2021
Town Commission could assume role in deciding on cell poles

If Longboat Key's rules change, the Town Commission would consider Verizon's proposal to build nine small cell poles and antennas to improve cell signal on the north end of the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 13, 2021
Longboat Key Democratic Club meets for December lunch

The club met for one last time in 2021 before breaking until the new year.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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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