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Your Observer

Closed to golfers since the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened in mid-2020 as a series of nature trails, Bobby Jones is in line for a restoration of its original 18 holes. (Eric Garwood)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 31, 2022
Bobby Jones trails to close to allow initial golf course restoration

Renovated golf course could be open by November, city says.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 31, 2022
Bird Key home is week's top seller at $6.23 million

A home in Bird Key topped sales this week at $6.23 million

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Albert Castiglia, a blues guitarist, will be a headliner at Giving Hunger the Blues. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 31, 2022
Giving Hunger the Blues concert returns to Nathan Benderson Park

The Jazz Club of Sarasota presents the 24th annual Giving Hunger the Blues at Nathan Benderson Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mary Ann and Kirt Bopp, who are from Missouri, still get their 5-mile walks in every day despite the cold. Kirt Bopp said he was really only bothered by the wind, but Mary Ann Bopp was cold.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 31, 2022
Longboat Key residents compare and contrast feelings on winter

Former northerners are split on how they weather the tiny winter in Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Organizers Ginny Akhoury and Bonnie Schneider
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 31, 2022
Royal Rummage planning begins for March sale

The St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church volunteers have been organizing since early January.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 30, 2022
Junior League puts on fundraiser at Big Cat Habitat

The organization held its 5th annual Jungle Jamboree on Jan. 29.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 30, 2022
St. Armands Circle hosts 19th annual art festival

Dozens of artists sold hundreds of pieces, despite the chill of the day.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 30, 2022
Gulfshore brings back community sale

The neighborhood has hosted a garage sale of sorts for more than two decades.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rocco Mangel is set to open Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar at University Town Center by December. It will be his ninth location in Florida. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • January 30, 2022
Rocco's Tacos owner aims for Dec. 1 opening at UTC

University Town Center in Sarasota will be Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar's ninth location in Florida.

  • East County
  • News
Wes, Will and Parks Robinson stand by one of five mile markers dedicated Jan. 29 to their late dad, Bill Robinson, on the Bill Robinson Lakeside Loop at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 29, 2022
Nathan Benderson Park dedicates trail to the late Bill Robinson

Big Bill Foundation 5K raises money at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota for childhood cancer survivors.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • January 28, 2022
Sarasota's rental assistance program expands, streamlines applications

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is taking new applications and recently implemented ERA2. Certain requirements have been broadened and funds will be available through 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 28, 2022
King's Brass performs at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church

Church members enjoyed an evening of immersive, booming brass music.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Construction on the new judicial parking lot on Ringling Boulevard
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • January 28, 2022
Construction underway on Ringling Boulevard parking lot

A new parking lot will be available for public use by the courthouse on Ringling Boulevard in March.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • January 28, 2022
James Soda

James “Jim” Soda, 73, of Lakewood Ranch, FL, passed away peacefully with his family by his side after a long battle with cancer.

  • East County
  • Tributes & Obituaries
The Jouley electric bus is manufactured by the Thomas Co. (Photo courtesy of Thomas)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 28, 2022
Sarasota school district looks to generate savings with electric buses

State grant helps pay about 70% of the cost using money from a federal lawsuit settlement with Volkswagen.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 27, 2022
Southside Elementary students honor Holocaust victims through Daffodil Project

Families left daffodils outside the school on Jan. 27.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 27, 2022
Longboat Key weather page photo: January 27

Diane Suner captured this photo of a cockle shell on North Lido Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sunjin Lim's Dwell.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 27, 2022
Art advisory board selects Dwell for Fruitville Road roundabout

Artwork was among three finalists considered for City Commission action.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 27, 2022
East County weather page photo: January 27

Ron Anderson captured this photo in Lakewood Ranch’s Central Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 27, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: January 27

Michele Jasen captured this bald eagle flying away from its nest on Lido Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Café L'Europe opened in 1973. Submitted
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 27, 2022
Café L’Europe announces new ownership

Ron and Julie Milton have agreed to sell Café L’Europe to John and Amanda Horne.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Kindergartener Eliana Gabriel sings and counts numbers in Spanish.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 27, 2022
Braden River Elementary dual-language programs sees success in first year in east Bradenton

The dual-language program has been successful at Braden River Elementary in east Bradenton area.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy is expected to be built by mid-July to allow time for teachers and staff to move in and prepare for the first day of school in August. Rendering courtesy of Red Apple Development.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 27, 2022
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy projected to be built by mid-July

Red Apple Development and Ryan Cos. speed forward to meet July deadline for the new Lakewood Ranch charter school.

  • East County
  • Schools
David Klein has plenty of rare coins and valuables.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 26, 2022
Sarasota coin group searches for rare coins

The group meets at Sarasota Rare Coin Gallery Inc. each month.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • January 26, 2022
Carla Plush Smith

On January 19th Sarasota lost one of its accomplished daughters when Carla Plush Smith died with her husband Peter at her side after a 25-year pitched battle with breast cancer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Karen Gardiner, Joyce Fox and Jerry Fox
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 26, 2022
Christ Church of Longboat Key celebrates 10 years

The church has been around for more than 15 years, but their building was completed in late 2011.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • January 26, 2022
Lois Wilkoff Marcus

Lois Wilkoff Marcus, 88, beloved wife of Martin for 66 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    In Memoriam |
  • January 26, 2022
Arleane Stier

Arleane Stier, formerly of Bloomfield, NJ,  beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her home in Longboat Key, Florida, on December 18, 2021.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
This year's sale is held in the Scottish Rite building.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 26, 2022
Karin Gustafson leads her 15th annual estate sale

The 15th annual Karin's Causes sales starts Jan. 27.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
East County's Emma and Mike Quindazzi say they have racing in their blood.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 26, 2022
Racing couple will provide thrills in the Bradenton Area River Regatta

East Manatee County husband-wife team prepare for Bradenton Area River Regatta.

  • East County
  • News
Booker's Sariah Bradley (11) gets fouled against Clearwater.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 26, 2022
Tornadoes girls basketball all smiles as postseason approaches

Even a Tuesday loss against Clearwater High was encouraging to Booker High head Coach Ty Bryant

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Riverview boys senior Luke Spycher kicks the ball down the field against Cardinal Mooney High. The Rams are the top seed in their district.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 26, 2022
Sarasota high school soccer district tournament preview

Boys and girls tournaments begin this week.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Unit 302 at 136 Golden Gate Point was built in 2001. It has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,785 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 26, 2022
Golden Gate Point condo sells for $3.1 million

Golden Gate Point condo tops area transactions at $3.1 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 26, 2022
How a nurse practitioner saved COVID-19 lives without vaccines

Vanessa Hamalian and her new Latitude Clinic have treated 1,092 COVID-19 patients with ivermectin and the FLCCC protocols, none with vaccines. Of those, 1,091 have recovered.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Hayden Buckley won the 2021 LECOM Suncoast Classic. LECOM announced it was extending its sponsorship of the Lakewood Ranch event through 2026.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 25, 2022
LECOM agrees to sponsor the Suncoast Classic in Lakewood Ranch through 2026

LECOM signs 3-year contract extension to sponsor Korn Ferry Tour event in Lakewood Ranch through 2026.

  • East County
  • Sports
The town anticipates outdoor stage construction could start in spring at the Town Center site. Photo courtesy of Nat Kaemmerer
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 25, 2022
Longboat Key leaders expected to develop Town Center concept plan

Town leaders publicly addressed an independent effort to build a black box theater on the Town Center Green site.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
A giant American flag has flown above Sarasota Ford since the 1970s.
  • June 4, 2026
American flag will fly high again over Sarasota Ford
2
Mike and Jenny Schenk have closed their Pineapple Kitchen location on Lena Road and are now marketing their products on Amazon.
  • June 4, 2026
Pineapple Kitchen owners close store, move to Amazon
3
An aerial rendering of Premier Park's upcoming racket and aquatic center.
  • June 4, 2026
Residents receive little warning about Premier plan detours
4
Owen Ayers played his first two seasons of minor-league baseball exclusively with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of Single-A. So far in 2026, he's spent time with the South Bend Cubs of High-A and Knoxville Smokies of Double-A.
  • June 4, 2026
Sarasota High baseball alumnus turns the corner with consistency
5
Dangers to children lurk within smartphones and other electronic devices.
  • June 4, 2026
Sexual abuse case with a minor offers a lesson in prevention

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