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Your Observer

This draft shows Manatee County’s plan for the library with 60% of the design complete. The plan is subject to change because of design tweaks and the commissioners’ budget approval process. (Courtesy of Manatee County)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • June 23, 2021
Proposed budget for Lakewood Ranch library in Manatee County skyrockets

Manatee County commissioners debate whether a $19.9 million budget is necessary for a Lakewood Ranch library.

  • East County
  • News
Ryder Wahlsmith, a rising senior at Lakewood Ranch High School and a Manatee Technical College student, wipes down the plane as he continues to work on it. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 23, 2021
MTC students have plane fun in east Bradenton

MTC automotive technology students on board for new challenge.

  • East County
  • Schools
A lower student enrollment means the district will receive less money from the state, which could cause issues when it comes time to balance the books.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • June 23, 2021
School district weighs effects of lower enrollment for 2021-22

The district is expecting about 920 fewer students than it projected, which has a direct impact on how much money the district receives.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 22, 2021
Two killed in car crash near SRQ airport

Two other serious injuries reported in three-vehicle collision on Tamiami Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cindy Burke and Jason McGuire
    A time to celebrate |
  • June 22, 2021
Cindy Burke and Jason McGuire

Cindy Burke and Jason McGuire, who both reside in Siesta Key, Florida, were married on Saturday June 19, 2021 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.

  • Siesta Key
  • Celebrations
    In Memoriam |
  • June 22, 2021
Ronald Thomas George Platt, OBE

It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Ron, a resident of Longboat Key for 30 years, passed away on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at his home surrounded by his children at the age of 94.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Jake Ilardi is a Street skater, meaning he specializes in skating rails, stairs, banks and other items you could find on a real city street.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 22, 2021
Sarasota skateboarder's Street specialty, explained

A breakdown of what skateboarding is in 2021 and how Sarasota's Jake Ilardi will be scored at the Olympics next month

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Built in 2012, the home at 223 Robin Drive on Bird Key has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 5,786 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 22, 2021
Bird Key home sells for $6.5 million

Residential real estate transactions for June 7-11.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Several boaters dock on the weekends on the north end of Longboat Key. Photo courtesy of James Haft.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • June 21, 2021
Longboat Key to consider new rules to quiet loud boat music

North-end residents have expressed their complaints for months.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Boats navigated the water on June 16 near the Longboat Pass Bridge.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • June 21, 2021
Coast Guard planning to reinstall Longboat Pass navigational markers

U.S. Coast Guard plans to replace navigation markers removed during beach work dredging.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
David Vozzolo uses a secchi disk to test water transparency after mini reefs were installed.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • June 21, 2021
Siesta Key Grand Canal project receives grants, hopes for others

A group of Siesta Key residents hopes to improve the canal’s water quality through the installation of mini reefs.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • June 21, 2021
Rudy Yessin

Rudy Yessin, 95 of Longboat Key, Florida died Friday morning, June 18, at his home in Florida with his family by his side.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Fun Life Entertainment's floating jungle gym anchored off the eastern shore of Greer Island.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • June 21, 2021
Longboat Key cites floating jungle gym owner

Fun Life Entertainment's floating playground is often docked east of the Longboat Pass Bridge.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Project PRIDE SRQ board member Arthur Boyce and artist Alissa "LISS" Silvers
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 21, 2021
Project PRIDE SRQ puts on One Love art show

The collaboration with the artist Liss was held June 19 at Sabal Palm Bank.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Isaac Perkinson, 7, is raising money for the Pin Cancer Nationals in honor of his mother, Christin Perkinson. Photo courtesy Christin Perkinson.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 21, 2021
Prose and Kohn: Lakewood Ranch wrestler working to Pin Cancer

Isaac Perkinson, 7, is raising money to fight cancer in his mother's name.

  • East County
  • Sports
Joseph Holt has shaped the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota performances for six seasons now.
  • By Harry Sayer
  • June 20, 2021
Joseph Holt stepping down from Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota leadership role

The musical director took great joy in selecting artists for musical series.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 19, 2021
Sarasota celebrates Juneteenth

Community members and vendors came together to celebrate on June 19.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 19, 2021
Art Center Sarasota teaches kids to create at summer camp

The weekly camp programs started June 14.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Manatee County Administration Building closed for the weekend after two employees died of COVID-19.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • June 19, 2021
Two Manatee County IT department employees die from COVID-19

Manatee County's administration building will be shut down and sanitized after COVID-19 deaths.

  • East County
  • News
Parrish's Samara and Joel Pineda excitedly watch as the 2020 fireworks show at Nathan Benderson Park begins to shoot across the skyline. File photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2021
Sarasota-Manatee Fourth of July 2021 calendar

From races to the classic fireworks, check out these events to help you celebrate Independence Day right.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Steve and Ann Anderson
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • June 18, 2021
Longboat Key couple's boxer wins "Best in Breed" at Westminster Dog Show

The Rummer Run Boxer won against 14 other dogs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • June 18, 2021
SCAT to resume collecting fares

Fare collection, which has been suspended due to COVID-19, will resume July 6.

  • Sarasota
  • News
An area called "Second Park" will have artificial turf, views of the lake and eventually cornhole. The stainless steel wire fence allows for views of the lake.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 18, 2021
Made in the Waterside shade at Lakewood Ranch

Landscaping ideas come to fruition at Waterside Place, which will begin to open in the coming months.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 18, 2021
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Not cool at the pool (or the beach)

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 18, 2021
Horse riders expand skills at SMART camp in east Bradenton

From grooming to riding, SMART summer camp participants learn more about horses in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Purple gallinules use their large feet and long toes to acrobatically navigate alligator flag, and other marsh vegetation, in quest of food. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • June 18, 2021
Bird of the week: purple gallinule

Aquatic species is among the most colorful in North America.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
New donut shop coming to UTC in Sarasota.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 17, 2021
Five-O Donut Company comes to Sarasota's University Town Center

Five-O Donut Company will build its fourth Sarasota location at University Town Center.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 17, 2021
East County weather page photo: June 17

Gordon Silver captured this colorful roundabout landscape in Country Club East.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 17, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: June 17

MaryAnn Parks captured this photo of a sandhill crane near her home in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 17, 2021
Longboat Key weather page photo: June 17

John Caviglia captured this image of an ibis in flight while kayaking on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Former Riverview High swimmer Emma Weyant has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the Women's 400 IM.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 17, 2021
Sarasota swimmer is Tokyo Olympics bound

Former Riverview High swimmer Emma Weyant won the Women's 400 IM at the 2021 U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The intersection of Broadway Street and Gulf of Mexico Drive has long been considered for a roundabout.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 17, 2021
North-end roundabout design spending part of new budget

Longboat Key wants to move ahead with plans with hopes FDOT can add project to its future construction list.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 16, 2021
Sarasota EDC: Take it private

Mike Moran sealed the deal by proposing to defund the economic development organization. The private sector should be in charge.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • June 16, 2021
Senior reflections

Although there were challenges, particularly amid the pandemic, students say they're grateful for their time in high school.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota Orchestra said in 2018 that it had outgrown its current facilities, including Holley Hall, and that it wanted to expediently pursue the construction of a new venue to suit its own needs. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 16, 2021
Payne Park ‘off the table,' Sarasota Orchestra says

Still searching for a new home, the orchestra believes it cannot pursue its only site of interest within city limits. Can elected officials convince the organization to reconsider?

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • June 16, 2021
Longboat Key Chamber meets again for Networking at Noon

Members took a break during the afternoon to meet up with other business owners in the area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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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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