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Your Observer

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
Racelle Weiman led a panel discussion from the Miracle on the Key project.
  • By Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 16, 2021
Republican Club of Longboat Key meets for December

The club heard from a panel from Miracle on the Key members.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2021
Longboat Key weather page photo: December 16

Diane Suner captured this photo of some driftwood along the shore on Lido Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2021
East County weather page photo: December 16

David Ginsberg captured this photo of a curious raccoon on a palm tree in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: December 16

Darlene Edelman stopped to take this photo of lily pads floating in a lake at UTC Mall in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 16, 2021
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key meets post-Lawn Party

The club took the time to recap the efforts from the event and look at their bell ringing efforts.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 16, 2021
Seaplace celebrates the holidays on Longboat Key

The condo association has recently gotten back into hosting parties.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 15, 2021
Siesta Key home in Sanderling Place sells for $14 million

Property sold for $10.5 million in 2020.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The town is planning to start its third annual citizen satisfaction survey on Jan. 10.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 15, 2021
Longboat Key finalizing questions for third annual citizen survey

The survey gives owners an opportunity to provide feedback, and express their opinions on services and policy issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Doron Rozen goes to Israel and Belgium every two weeks to pick up more diamond inventory.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 15, 2021
Doron Rozen brings his diamond expertise to Lakewood Ranch

Diamonds by Doron owner brings a wealth of experience to Lakewood Ranch's San Marco Plaza.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mason Wroe rips a shot during last season's action. The new season opens Dec. 19.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 15, 2021
All aboard for the Sarasota Polo Club's opening day in Lakewood Ranch

The Sarasota Polo Club opens its season Dec. 19 in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 15, 2021
Longboat Harbour Condominium hosts annual Lighting of the Docks ceremony

Longboat Harbour raised raised $5,280 for Toys for Tots, according to condo commodore Bill Coughlin.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 15, 2021
Spend it on infrastructure

Local governments have so much money politicians say they don’t know what to do with it. The most effective use of these windfalls is to invest in long-term infrastructure touching the most people.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 15, 2021
Sarasota Cops Corner: Dude, where's my car.

Police reports from around Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Manatee County has accepted the donation of the Bishop Animal Shelter from the Bishop-Parker Foundation.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • December 15, 2021
Manatee County accepts donation of Bishop Animal Shelter

Manatee County Commissioners unanimously approve the donation of the $10 million Bishop Animal Shelter from the Bishop-Parker Foundation to the county.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 15, 2021
Prominent Sarasota eye surgeon dies at 53

Dr. Bill Lahners helped grow Center for Sight into one of the largest eye care practices in the region.

  • Sarasota
  • News
La Villa Mexican Restaurant will open in the coming months at 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive Suite No. 5.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 14, 2021
Mexican restaurant coming to Longboat Key

Town also will consider in the new year another proposal for a restaurant at the site of a former hair salon.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Angie Blanco, Ann Harris and Trevor Harris surprised dad Chris Sachs with a bell-ringing appearance. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 14, 2021
Longboat Key bell ringers get into the spirit

Bell ringing has been full of surprises this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A rendering of the Owen's Fish Camp restaurant that is being constructed at Center Point in Lakewood Ranch. The restaurant has a targeted opening date of August-September 2022.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • December 14, 2021
Owens Fish Camp breaks ground at Center Point development in Lakewood Ranch

Owens Fish Camp begins vertical construction in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 14, 2021
Sarasota man gets five months in jail for anti-Semitic graffiti

Arrest dates back to incidents from April and July 2020.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A family ran to cross Gulf of Mexico near Broadway Street on Saturday morning.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 13, 2021
Manatee County to consider $150K contribution for Broadway roundabout design

Design work is underway for a roundabout at Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway Street.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Ohana property at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive extends well out into the Gulf of Mexico. The property is pictured here from the south end.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 13, 2021
Solutions hard to come by for Longboat beach access question

As community tries to find a way around seawall issue, property owners propose an easement that would cost the town $880,000 to $1.3 million a year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
5142 Bunyan Street — This house brings a slide full of penguins and reindeer.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • December 13, 2021
Sarasota's sidewalk spectacles sparkle for the holidays

Homes make the season twinkle with electricity and creativity.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Small cell poles have been erected around the city and Sarasota and surrounding unincorporated areas.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 13, 2021
Town Commission could assume role in deciding on cell poles

If Longboat Key's rules change, the Town Commission would consider Verizon's proposal to build nine small cell poles and antennas to improve cell signal on the north end of the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 13, 2021
Longboat Key Democratic Club meets for December lunch

The club met for one last time in 2021 before breaking until the new year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • December 13, 2021
Ann Bateman

At 6:26 pm, December 2nd, Ann Bateman died. She was born May 10th 1941 in Ames, Iowa making her 80 years old.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
The top selling property in Sarasota was the Unit 408 condominium at 1255 N. Gulfstream Ave. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,055 square feet.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 13, 2021
Point of Rocks property sells for $4.85 million

Siesta Key home is the top seller for the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 3 in the Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch area.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Built in 1973, the home at 465 E. Royal Flamingo Drive has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,383 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 13, 2021
Bird Key property sells for $2.5 million

Waterfront home on East Royal Flamingo Drive is the top seller for the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 3 in the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands, Bird Key areas .

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • December 13, 2021
Sarasota Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival brings cheer to J.D. Hamel Park

The art festival went through the weekend from Dec. 11-12.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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