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Your Observer

Siesta Key's beach is a popular destination throughout the year, but its popularity peaks in spring break.
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • January 25, 2022
Siesta Key's new deputies prepare for spring break crowds

Two full-time deputies were hired specifically for Siesta Key in October. With a few months in their new positions, they are preparing for spring break crowds.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Robbie Hubbell aims his compound bow at a Sarasota Archers meeting. File photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 25, 2022
Prose and Kohn: Off-beat sports abound in Sarasota

If you're bored with basketball and soccer, try one of these sports instead.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Van Wezel Foundation has announced next steps in it plan to build a performing arts center to replace the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • January 25, 2022
Funding push begins anew for Sarasota performing arts center project

If everything goes according to plan, the new Sarasota performing arts center could be completed in about six years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Before concrete got poured on Monday, a portion of the sidewalk on Gulf of Mexico Drive directly in front of the Twin Shores Mobile Home Park was closed. File photo
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 25, 2022
‘We have concrete!’ Sidewalk repaired along Gulf of Mexico Drive

A portion of the sidewalk will soon reopen on Gulf of Mexico Drive directly in front of the Twin Shores Mobile Home Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Members grabbed brunch foods after their early tee times.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 25, 2022
Women's Golf Association on Longboat Key welcomes new members

The group is now at 175 members and welcomed several newcomers during a brunch event.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jim Soda was one of the leading Realtors in Lakewood Ranch for years.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 25, 2022
Top Lakewood Ranch Realtor dies at 73

Jim Soda, who died at 73, had been one of the leading Realtors in Lakewood Ranch for two decades.

  • East County
  • News
Traffic began flowing through the traffic circle at Fruitville Road and Tamiami Trail in late 2020.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 25, 2022
See the artwork finalists for the Fruitville Road roundabout

Final installation is likely more than a year away.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city of Sarasota has similar poles that the town of Longboat Key is considering for wireless carriers to properly install their infrastructure. File photo
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 25, 2022
Longboat Commission takes over decision for Verizon pole locations

The Longboat Key Town Commission is scheduled to hold a special meeting on Feb. 28 to consider Verizon’s proposal.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Built in 2005, Unit 1201 of the Beach Residences offers three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 4,189 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 25, 2022
Beachfront Lido condo is week's top seller at $5.4 million

A condo in Beachfront Lido topped area sales at $5.4 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • January 25, 2022
Cops Corner: When dogs attack…

Police reports from around Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 24, 2022
Hope Seeds at Christ Church of Longboat Key sows friendship among volunteers

The church brings volunteers in several Mondays a year to pack seeds for the local ministry.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Ohana seawall extends well into the Gulf of Mexico. File photo
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 24, 2022
Longboat leaders discuss difficulties of walking around Ohana seawall

Longboat Key staff will not continue negotiations with the Ohana property owners for a lease or easement agreement.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jimmy Bonner and Kelli Spring hold the ribbon for Jenni Kopelman
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 24, 2022
La Vita Zen, a Mediterranean lifestyle business, opens on Longboat Key

Jenni Kopelman, who has traveled extensively in Italy, will use the Italian lifestyle as a starting point.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Students who attended kindergarten through 12th grade with an additional 30 minutes of instructional time would have been in class about an extra year at graduation.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 24, 2022
Millions in Sarasota school funding on March ballot

Continuation of voter-approved 1-mill tax rate would deliver an estimated $71.6 million.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jenny Casch, Beth Miller, Debbie Fulton
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 24, 2022
Savor the Sounds attendees brave chilly Longboat Key night

Despite the wind and drizzle of earlier in the day, about 100 people turned up for the concert.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rachel Scharbo and Amanda Gates, who are library assistants, love working with the 3D printers in Studio 70.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 24, 2022
Braden River Library expansion offers new opportunities in east Bradenton

The library's new Makerspace, meeting room and three study rooms help visitors explore their creative side.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 23, 2022
RADD Night market kicks off PINCfest

The RADD Night Market was held Jan. 20.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This Harbour Walk home at 553 Fore Drive sold for $1.61 million. It has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,701 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 23, 2022
Harbour Walk home tops sales in the Lakewood Ranch and east Bradenton areas at $1.61 million.

Pomello Park home in east Manatee County more than doubles in value to $1.3 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Phyl Smith toasts Robert Burns at the Burns Supper at Palm Aire Country Club.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 22, 2022
St. Andrew's Society of Sarasota hosts Burns Supper

Annual Burns Supper held at Palm Aire Country Club by St. Andrew's Society of Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
CERT event organizer Karen Emanuelson, Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer and CERT President Jim Emanuelson get together before the start of the event.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 22, 2022
Lakewood Ranch hosts community event to attract emergency response volunteers.

Emergency response group in Lakewood Ranch hosts "touch-a-truck" event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jamie Springstead is Saint Stephen's Episcopal's leading scorer in basketball, boys and girls, with 1,485 points.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 22, 2022
Saint Stephen's senior shatters the Bradenton school's all-time scoring mark

Lakewood Ranch's Jamie Springstead sets the basketball scoring record, for boys or girls, at Saint Stephens.

  • East County
  • Sports
Coach B.J. Ivey gives directions to his ODA boys basketball players against Cardinal Mooney. Ivey is in his second season at the school.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 22, 2022
Coach B.J. Ivey says Lakewood Ranch's ODA boys basketball on the right track despite losses

ODA's boys basketball program of Lakewood Ranch continues to grow under Coach B.J. Ivey.

  • East County
  • Sports
The School District of Manatee County is considering the addition of electric buses to its fleet of regular buses, such as this one.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 22, 2022
Manatee School District plans to test electric buses late this year.

The School District of Manatee County will purchase 3-5 electric buses if the program is approved by the board this spring.

  • East County
  • Schools
While median prices rose throughout the area, the average price of a home rose faster, indicating growth in the upper end of the price range.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 22, 2022
Manatee, Sarasota real estate market ends 2021 in record fashion

Region wraps up year near the top of the state.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A new grant being presented by Sarasota officials. From left to right: Jennifer Ahearn-Koch, AG Lafley, Erik Arroyo, Jennifer Compton, Jeannie Perales, Bill Waddill, Marlon Brown, Rob Lane, Hagen Brody
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • January 21, 2022
DeSantis presents $10 million for The Bay environmental projects

Governor stops in Sarasota on Friday morning where he presented the grant to the city for The Bay environmental projects. The grant will be used for environmental restoration and storm-resistant infrastructure.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Motorists turning left at the US-41 and University Parkway intersection on Monday afternoon.
    By
  • Blake Fussell
  • January 21, 2022
County moves ahead with transportation priority plan

Transit solutions big and small work their way from proposals to nearly finished projects.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The town of Longboat Key is due to spend $120,000 to update the fencing at the Public Tennis Center. (Photo by Nat Kaemmerer)
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 21, 2022
Longboat Key adjusts plan to move up capital projects

Longboat Key is due to spend $120,000 this year to replace fencing at the Public Tennis Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
After making repairs to their seawall following Hurricane Eta, Ohana owners put signage on their private property to prevent people from trespassing. File photo
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 21, 2022
Longboat leaders to discuss solutions to navigate around Ohana seawall

Town Attorney Maggie Mooney is expected to provide an update Monday afternoon on the town of Longboat Key's negotiations with the Ohana property owners.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A curving pergola with bougainvillea features shaded benches.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 21, 2022
City rejects proposal to build food court alongside Paul Thorpe Park

Commissioners were told the proposal would serve to activate small plaza at Pineapple and Lemon avenues.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Doug Deming. (Photo courtesy of Jon Pearson)
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 21, 2022
Savor the Sounds concert series returns on Longboat Key

Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones will play at Town Center Green on Saturday, Jan. 22.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 20, 2022
Ruth's Chris Steak House announces new Lakewood Ranch restaurant

Ruth's Chris Steak House will build a new restaurant on University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Maureen Geary, a third grade teacher at Myakka City Elementary School, teachers a vocabulary lesson to Katherine Millan-Pureco and America Carranza-Vazquez. Schools have changed COVID-19 protocols. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 20, 2022
School District of Manatee County updates its quarantine protocols

School District of Manatee County is dealing with more positive COVID-19 cases.

  • East County
  • Schools
Chris Sachs, Glenda Leonard and Ed Krepela
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 20, 2022
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key hears bell ringing totals

The club brought in more than $25,000 for their Salvation Army efforts.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 20, 2022
East County weather page photo: January 20

Gordon Silver captured this photo of a buck along Masters Avenue in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 20, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: January 20

Diane Suner captured this photo of a snowy egret on Lido Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 20, 2022
Longboat Key weather page photo: January 20

Patricia Muller captured this sunrise from the north end of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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1
A giant American flag has flown above Sarasota Ford since the 1970s.
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2
Mike and Jenny Schenk have closed their Pineapple Kitchen location on Lena Road and are now marketing their products on Amazon.
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An aerial rendering of Premier Park's upcoming racket and aquatic center.
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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.
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