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Your Observer

    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 15, 2021
Mooney uses strong second half to beat Cambridge Christian

The Cougars outscored the Lancers 20-0 in the second half to win 27-7.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
East County football roundup: 10.15.21
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 15, 2021
East County football roundup: 10.15.21

East County football roundup: 10.15.21

  • East County
  • Sports
Norma and Tom McCarthy stand outside of their Gulfshore home. The couple has lived in Longboat Key since 2001. They made Gulfshore their full-time residence in 2009.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • October 15, 2021
Gulfshore residents oppose proposed height requirements

Owners of mobile homes worry that potential new rules on flood-elevation could make fixing up or replacing their residences difficult to live with.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
David Brooks and Matthew Jones
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 15, 2021
Firefighters prepare for Sunday chili competition

21st Morton's Firehouse Cook-off pits first-responders against each other in a culinary conflagration.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Town Projects Manager Charlie Mopps, Longboat Key Turtle Watch Vice President Cyndi Seamon, Omar Lopez of Taylor Engineering, 360 North resident Roger Field and Planning and Zoning Board member Paul Hylbert met Friday
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • October 15, 2021
Plans begin to take shape for new North Shore beach entrance

North-end residents have advocated for improvements to the beach entrance at 100 N. Shore Road.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 15, 2021
Longboat Key Cops Corner: No supply-chain crisis here

Police reports around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The blue-gray gnatcatcher is the only gnatcatcher native to Florida. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • October 15, 2021
Bird of the week: Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Tiny birds keep moving, so they are often hard to spot in the wild.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
James Badge Dale in "The Empty Man." Photo via HBO Max.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 14, 2021
Cringe Blog: "The Skeleton Key" and "The Empty Man" bring the atmospheric horror

"The Skeleton Key" is on Peacock, and "The Empty Man" is on HBO Max.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Todi Garay in Crisp Waffle Company. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • October 14, 2021
Crisp Waffle Co. opens on St. Armands Circle

Owner Todi Garay is making liege waffles out of dough rather than batter.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Michael Bodnyk and Justin Kaiser, who runs audio and video for the church. Kaiser's role has magnified in the past year and a half, and the bigger scope is here to stay. File photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • October 14, 2021
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church implements plans for post-COVID world

The church has implemented task forces whose planning is coming to fruition.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 14, 2021
East County weather page photo: October 14

Marty Franssen captured this reflective sunrise over a lake in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 14, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: October 14

Luann LaRussa captured this photo of an anhinga dockside on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 14, 2021
Longboat Key weather page photo: October 14

Patricia Muller captured this photo of a butterfly on an early Longboat Key morning.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Vintage circus posters will be on display at Selby Gardens’ annual Orchid Show that runs Oct. 9 to Nov. 28.
    By
  • Andréa Martone
  • October 14, 2021
Circus aerialists and orchids share high wire at Selby

The Ringling teams up with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to add a circus element to its annual orchid show.

  • Arts + Culture
Author Mary Walton (left) stands with Sue Ann Miller prior to the start of Wednesday's luncheon. Miller headlined the event, which was the first major fundraiser for the Friends of the East County Library. Photo by Scott Lockwood
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • October 14, 2021
Friends host fundraiser for East County Library in Lakewood Ranch

After a long delay, the Friends of the East County Library host an author's luncheon at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 14, 2021
A century of faith in Myakka City

The church was established in 1921 and has since survived hurricanes, merges and ever-changing congregations.

  • East County
  • News
This Lake Club home at 7937 Waterton Lane sold for $4.65 million. It has five bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 7,280 square feet of living area. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 14, 2021
Lake Club of Lakewood Ranch home sells for $4.65 million

Lakewood Ranch/east Bradenton area residential home sales highlighted by $4 million-plus transactions.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Arbor Grande's Joe Marino loves to show his 1981 Corvette.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 14, 2021
Classic cars roll into Our Lady of the Angels in Lakewood Ranch for show

Corvettes among the many classic cars at Knights of Columbus car show in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dr. Jim Dobies (left) and Practice Manager Janette Blanco get set to open the doors to the new Urgent Vet clinic in Lakewood Ranch on Thursday. The clinic specializes in after-hours care and emergencies. Photo by Scott Lockwood.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • October 14, 2021
Urgent Vet opens new location in Lakewood Ranch

Animal clinic specializing in after-hours care comes to Lakewood Ranch area.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 14, 2021
We know how this story will end

What we are living in the U.S. isn’t a new tragedy. It has occurred throughout history; the results always the same: misery, destruction, slavery. In the end, the socialists’ ‘utopia’ never works.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
City Manager Marlon Brown said he wants to promote internal candidates when appropriate, but he’s leaning on community input to guide his search for a new police chief. File photo
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 14, 2021
Citizen input to guide police chief search

Tasked with hiring a police chief twice in less than a year, City Manager Marlon Brown is taking a more deliberate approach to filling the vacancy the second time around.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Luxe on Tenth apartment project includes some affordable units to comply with city regulations, but a representative for the developer said the review process serves as a barrier to the production of low-cost residences.
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 14, 2021
City’s development approval process under review

Officials are once again searching for opportunities to improve the development review process, though previous proposals have proven divisive.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Former City Commissioner Willie Shaw spoke in favor of maintaining the city’s council-manager government at Monday’s Charter Review Committee meeting.
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 14, 2021
Charter committee gears up for strong mayor discussion

On several occasions in the past 25 years, the city has debated the merits of having an elected mayor. Will the outcome of the latest conversation be any different than the last half-dozen?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Although visitors can currently find short-term bookings in Sarasota on sites such as Airbnb, some of those rentals may not be legal — though Mayor Hagen Brody wants the city to reconsider its regulations. Image via Airbnb
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 14, 2021
Commission to discuss hosted rental policy

After a yearlong delay, city officials will consider legalizing short-term rentals when the homeowner remains on the property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 13, 2021
Tower Residences condo is week's top seller at $5.3 million

18th floor unit on Watergate Drive tops the sales list in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey and Nokomis for Sept. 27-Oct. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 13, 2021
3 votes affecting quality of life

All three, if approved, will contribute benefits to the quality of life on Longboat Key and, in one case, in Manatee County and the region at large.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
ResClubs CEO Craig Williamson and Heritage Harbour Golf Club & Eatery's Mark Bruce and Rick Nelson talked to the public about resort opportunities.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 13, 2021
Plans revealed for Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge in east Bradenton

ResClubs joins with Heritage Harbour Golf Club and Eatery to create a golf resort in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Senior quarterback Tayven Clark has been solid through the air and on the ground for Cardinal Mooney.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 13, 2021
Cardinal Mooney football back on track after earlier skid

The Cougars have won two games in a row after dropping two in a row.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Charlie Kennedy, a member of the School Board of Manatee County, debates Bradenton's Garin Hoover when the School District of Manatee County's 1-mill property tax referendum was being voted on in 2018. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 13, 2021
Some Manatee County residents ready to oppose school district's tax referendum

Opposition says taxpayers will enable wasteful school district by approving referendum.

  • East County
  • Schools
Pierre Folliard and Linda Britt-Smith. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 13, 2021
Dressed tastefully for Oktoberfest in Lakewood Ranch

Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living celebrates Oktoberfest.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Riverview High volleyball Coach Nickie Halbert returned to the court Sept. 20 after having a baby, Niko Alexander Cristiani, on Aug. 30.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 13, 2021
Prose and Kohn: Riveview volleyball coach returns to the bench as a mother

Nickie Halbert missed approximately three weeks after the birth of her son, Niko Alexander Cristiani

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Chris McComas, the owner of MVP Sports and Social, and Mike Tuohy, a head golf professional, look forward to MVP's golf tournament to raise money for the MVP Feel Good Fund.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 13, 2021
Lakewood Ranch's MVP Sports and Social creates charity to help strangers

The MVP Feel Good Fund of Lakewood Ranch provides monetary donations to random people to spread kindness.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key residents Sheila and Jack Marks say they wait for cars to stop to safely cross Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • October 13, 2021
FDOT plans pilot program for Gulf of Mexico Drive crosswalk improvements

The proposal calls for updated crosswalks along Gulf of Mexico Drive in front of the Country Club Shores neighborhood and near Bayfront Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 231 Robin Drive includes five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,819 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 13, 2021
Bird Key home is week's top seller at $6.5 million

Property on Robin Drive tops the sales list for Sept. 27-Oct. 1 in the Longboat Key, Bird Key and Lido Key areas.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Last year, close to 1,000 vehicles drove through the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Halloween event.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 12, 2021
Sarasota Sheriff’s Office to put on second annual Halloween drive-thru

Well-received event in 2020 prompts decision to repeat in 2021.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Longboat Key Town Commission is set to hold a public hearing about the St. Regis proposal on Oct. 20.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • October 12, 2021
Parking rules prompt St. Regis redo before final vote

The newest proposal calls for 62 mechanical lifts to the St. Regis Hotel parking garage. It would increase parking from 405 total spaces to 468.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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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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