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Your Observer

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
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • February 24, 2022
Sarasota Cops Corner: A surprise Valentine's guest

Police reports from around Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Cardinal Mooney is headed to the Class 3A state championship game on Friday.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 23, 2022
Cardinal Mooney girls basketball advances to state title game

The Cougars defeated King's Academy 50-42 in Lakeland on Wednesday

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 23, 2022
The will to end inflation

Inflation is not the act of businesses raising prices. Inflation is the act of increasing the supply of dollars faster than the economy is growing.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 23, 2022
‘Yes’ on the March 8 votes

Studies show that you get the same government with single-member districts as countywide elections. But with the latter, you get less self-serving political dealmaking.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Booker senior Jaydn Lattimore, senior Ty'anna Ash and junior Chariot Johnson are key contributors on the girls basketball team.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 23, 2022
Tornadoes girls basketball whirls into Final Four

Booker High beat Port Charlotte to earn a trip to Lakeland.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 23, 2022
Lakewood Ranch's B. D. Gullett Elementary hosts annual walkathon

B.D. Gullett Elementary School students have fun running in the walkathon and sliming the principal.

  • East County
  • Schools
A conceptual carousel for St. Armands Circle Park from a February 2021 presentation. File image.
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • February 23, 2022
Proposed St. Armands carousel receives mixed opinions

Ride Entertainment has proposed adding a circus-themed carousel to St. Armands Circle Park. No decision has made on the project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cardinal Mooney is headed to the Final Four for the second consecutive season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 23, 2022
Mooney girls basketball heads to second-straight Final Four

The Cougars reached the championship game in 2021 before falling to Miami Country Day.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota County has approved funding to widen a 1.5-mile stretch of Legacy Trail with a bifurcated path.
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • February 23, 2022
Donations lead to possibility of new lanes for Legacy Trail

A $250,000 donation from Friends of Legacy Trail will help construct a second lane on trail's most urban stretch. A new trailhead and an extension to North Port will also be added to the trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 23, 2022
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Namaste, by the book

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Heritage Harbor's Rhegan Duncombe, who is a junior at Out-of-Door Academy, started Gymnast to Gymnast to donate gymnastics clothing and new equipment to gymnasts in the Bahamas.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 23, 2022
East Bradenton student creates nonprofit to support gymnasts in the Bahamas

ODA junior Rhegan Duncombe founds Gymnast to Gymnast to benefit athletes in the Bahamas.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 23, 2022
Siesta Key home sells for $5.4 million

A Siesta Key home on Roberts Point Road was the top sale for $5.4 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport puts some flights on hold while its main runway is out of commission.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2022
SRQ Airport closes runway after problematic landing

The main runway at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport remains closed, causing flight delays.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 6211 Gulf of Mexico Drive has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,980 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 22, 2022
Sleepy Lagoon home sells for more than $10 million

A Sleepy Lagoon home was the top sale at more than $10 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Stokely Browne, a fourth grader at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School, talks to Doug Wagner, the deputy superintendent of operations for the School District of Manatee County, about becoming a neurosurgeon. File photo
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 22, 2022
Manatee chamber and school district partner for Project TEACH

School District of Manatee County fourth graders learn the importance of first impressions while exploring different careers.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest News

1
A rendering of the Mira Mar building set against the backdrop of Mira Mar Residences, the project that will provide revenue to fund the $25 million to $30 million restoration of the historic structure.
  • April 7, 2026
Construction permit issued for downtown Sarasota historic restoration project
2
From left to right, Maya Carpentiere, Amanda Gonzalez, Christiana Allison, Grayson Buchanan, Sheila Wallis and Ryan Duga star in Florida Studio Theatre's children's production, "The Pirate Ship and the Sea Monster and Other Winning Plays."
  • April 7, 2026
Three Sarasota theaters jump on the trolley
3
Florida Statute 1001.42(4)(f)2 will require high schools, including Braden River High (pictured) and Lakewood Ranch High, to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. unless the district submits paperwork and gets accepted to keep the current start times.
  • April 7, 2026
Manatee County School District might fight starting time mandate
4
The Broadway revival of Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall April 10-11.
  • April 7, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for April 9-15
5
The cast of Asolo Rep's "Fiddler on the Roof" poses with instruments.
  • April 7, 2026
Asolo Rep's production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' plays a timeless tune

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