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Your Observer

Carlos E. Haile Middle School students will have new classrooms when an addition is built on the campus. The addition will have 10 classrooms, adding 220 student stations. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 27, 2021
East Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch area schools prepare for population growth

School District of Manatee County, private and speciality schools plan expansions and new schools.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 27, 2021
Top Sarasota-area real estate sales of 2021

Here are the real estate sales that made the headlines in 2021.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Puppies wait to be vaccinated in Nate's Honor Animal Rescue's new intake building.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 26, 2021
Expansion at Nate's Honor in Lakewood Ranch nears completion

Nate's Honor Animal Rescue of Lakewood Ranch completes construction on intake building and training center.

  • East County
  • News
Santa collected the mail and headed toward the Lakewood Ranch area.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 24, 2021
Dear Santa, don't forget Lakewood Ranch and east Bradenton area

Lakewood Ranch and east Bradenton area students send their Christmas wishes to Santa.

  • East County
  • Schools
DeRice has plenty of guests filling up her guest room.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • December 23, 2021
Casey Key woman's toy run goes into overdrive

Julie DeRice organizes the Casey Key Toy Drive each year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 23, 2021
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Well, it was dark

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Skip Dyrda painted the security bollards in the form of a globe.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 23, 2021
Sarasota residents' good deeds land them on The Nice List

Charitable acts around the holidays worth mentioning.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: December 23

Chris Boothroyd captured this monarch butterfly on a patch of milkweed at North Water Tower Park in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2021
Longboat Key weather page photo: December 23

Mary Lou Johnson captured this photo of a picturesque sunset on Longboat Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Members of Longboat Key Turtle Watch presented checks to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and Save Our Seabirds.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 23, 2021
Longboaters on the Nice List think of others

Longboat Key residents earned their spots this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Melissa Leduc
  • December 23, 2021
East County weather page photo: December 23

Karen Goodman captured this photo of a deer grazing at dusk in the Country Club community of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch sophomore Sophie Lemus traces a ball in the air against Venice High. Lemus leads the Mustangs with eight goals as of Dec. 15.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 23, 2021
Mustangs girls soccer off to best start in six years

The Lakewood Ranch girls soccer team has raced to an 8-0-2 record

  • East County
  • Sports
Former Sarasota High running back Brian Battie was named a Consensus All-American on Dec. 16, becoming just the second South Florida player given the honor. Photo courtesy USF Athletics.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 23, 2021
Prose and Kohn: Former Sailor Battie gets accolades for stellar season

Brian Battie, a sophomore at South Florida, was named a Consensus All-American kick returner on Dec. 16

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Mooney junior guard Olivia Davis leads the team in scoring through nine games.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 23, 2021
Cougars girls basketball welcomes all challengers

After a run to the state title game in 2020, Cardinal Mooney wants everyone's best shot

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Ross Johnson says enjoying Sarasota's hidden gems and meeting new friends at the local hangouts are my favorite treasures.
    By
  • Abby Weingarten
  • December 23, 2021
Gifts from the heart: Sarasotans reflect on the meaning of giving

Residents reflect on the greatest and most meaningful gifts they’ve ever received during the holidays.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 22, 2021
Home for the holidays on Longboat Key

Churches plan for a return to some normalcy, though things are forever changed by the pandemic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Cyndi Seamon, Karey Kaine and Sam Digiammarino attended the annual Light Up Longboat event. File photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2021
Longboat residents recall the greatest gifts

During this holiday season, Longboaters offer their take on what's really important.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Nikki and Kim Williams experienced their own Christmas miracle, a kidney donation from Nikki to her mom.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 22, 2021
Lakewood Ranch woman's kidney the perfect Christmas gift for her mom

A year after a Lakewood Ranch mom receives a kidney from her daughter, both are doing fine.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • December 22, 2021
A James Freeman

A James Freeman 93, passed away on December 16, 2021, from Alzheimer’s, with his wife, Angela of 51 years by his side.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 22, 2021
Cops Corner: Up on the rooftop. . .

Police reports from around Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The skinny but jolly old elf's T-shirt  wishes everyone would "Spread Joy, Not Germs''
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 22, 2021
Skeleton at medical office wishes everyone merry Christmas

Message is clear: spread joy, not germs

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A self-guided tour of Historic Spanish Gardens is included, along with access to Selby Gardens' downtown campus.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 21, 2021
Selby Gardens plans to launch boat tour in January

Full-day tour will take visitors from downtown location to Historic Spanish Point and back.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Turtle Watch President Tim Thurman spot checks a nest towards the end of turtle season. Photo courtesy of Nat Kaemmerer.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 20, 2021
Longboat Key's new sea turtle regulations take effect in 2022

The rules officially take effect on Jan. 2, 2022, but are applicable during sea turtle season from May 1 - Oct. 31.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Longboat Pass Bridge currently has a 17-foot clearance. The state plans to raise the new bridge to be between 30-40 feet.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 20, 2021
Built to last 50 years (in 1957), Longboat Pass Bridge needs replacing — eventually

The state's $2,125,000 study will evaluate options for the bridge that links Longboat Key to Anna Maria Island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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
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Latest News

1
Ernie Els reads the green at The Concession during the 2023 World Champions Cup. He's No. 6 on the PGA Tour Champions money standings, as of April 6, and will be active at the Senior PGA Championship.
  • April 7, 2026
The PGA Tour Champions could use a jolt of charisma
2
The Tingley Library in Bradenton Beach, pictured in October 2025, is in need of repairs estimated at $230,000.
  • April 7, 2026
Tingley Library makes plea to community
3
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
4
Once again, what's the best bridge?
  • April 7, 2026
Once again, what's the best bridge?
5
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

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