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Your Observer

Carlos E. Haile Middle School eighth grader Isabella Castro-Cardona, seventh grader Alyssa Babyak and eighth grader Kaleb Guy spend time reading. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2021
New All Access Pass allows students to reach Manatee County public library resources

School District of Manatee County students can access Manatee County library resources from home through All Access Pass.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 23, 2021
Siesta Key group fleshes out vision for local government

Organizers leading a push to turn Siesta Key into its own town have finished the first stage of their campaign. Next up: convincing state officials to buy into their cause.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2021
Cops Corner: Sarasota 9.23.21

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
  • By Badger Bob's Services
  • September 23, 2021
Let's Break the Ice

What causes your A/C to freeze up?

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
City officials indicated additional funding for the trolley would instead come from the city’s economic development fund.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 22, 2021
Sarasota reverses course on trolley funding

Responding to objections from property owners, the City Commission scaled back its plans for spending money from downtown and St. Armands business districts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota County has more than 6,600 ponds, of which more than 4,500 are classified retention ponds.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 22, 2021
Barancik Foundation grant donates $250,000 to Healthy Pond Collaborative

START is due to receive the money over a three-year period.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A ShredQuick truck shredded paper documents at the town of Longboat Key's community open house in March 2020. Photo: Nat Kaemmerer
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 22, 2021
Longboat Key plans to host free shredding event

The event is set for 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 20.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Myakka Fire Protection District and East Manatee Fire Rescue District firefighters gather with Manatee County Commissioners to celebrate the merger of the two departments. Photo by Scott Lockwood.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • September 22, 2021
East Manatee fire departments aim for seamless transition

Commission approves East Manatee Fire Rescue's takeover of the Myakka City Fire Control District.

  • East County
  • News
Wyatt Plattner.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 22, 2021
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Wyatt Plattner

The Cardinal Mooney senior boys golfer took medalist honors at the Crutchfield/Hawkins Invitational.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Jacob's dad goofs off with a Joker toy while his son plays Fortnite.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 22, 2021
Sarasota Mom's TikTok message inspires safe gaming space for bullied kids

Linda Espada took to TikTok to decry the bullying her son Jacob experienced on Fortnite, and it spawned something positive.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 22, 2021
The silencing of dissent

Rattled by the citizenry’s outrage this summer, the Sarasota School Board majority responds, showing its disdain for the people it serves.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The Cougars players had an on-court chat following their three-set loss to Calvary Christian on Tuesday.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 22, 2021
Mooney volleyball is learning from its stumbles

The Cougars had too many hitting errors to beat Calvary Christian on Tuesday, but the match can be a learning moment

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
R. Dan Nolan Middle School eighth graders Payton Gee and Alexa Dziubek talk to Pam Rahn, a pre-medical program teacher, about what they've learned by using the Anatomage Table.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 22, 2021
Manatee School District 1-mill property tax provides funding for hands-on learning in STEM

East County teachers say equipment they've purchased with the additional millage ignites students' passion.

  • East County
  • Schools
Members of the city’s ad-hoc committee on the penny tax extension shared information with the public and solicited feedback at a Sept. 16 meeting at Arlington Park.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 22, 2021
Sarasota city, county leaders out to sell voters on optional sales tax

Officials are conducting public outreach as a precursor to a planned referendum on a 15-year extension of Sarasota’s infrastructure sales tax.

  • Sarasota
  • News
If the state certifies tabulation software for ranked choice voting, the city would overhaul its election process within two years. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 21, 2021
UPDATE: City pauses legal pursuit of ranked-choice voting

The city is considering partnering with an outside group on a challenge that would facilitate a change to instant runoff balloting for local elections.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School fifth and fourth graders work work together to donate 57 bags filled with clothing, stuffed animals and blankets to Afghan children who are refugees. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 21, 2021
McNeal Elementary students collect donations for Afghan refugees

McNeal Elementary students work together to collect blankets, stuffed animals and clothing for Afghan refugees.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 21, 2021
Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch raises money on the red carpet

Dozens gather to support the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch during Corks for Canines and Cats.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bryan Kearse.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 21, 2021
East County Athlete of the Week: Bryan Kearse

The Braden River High wide receiver had a huge game against Southeast High

  • East County
  • Sports
Anya Studebaker spends hours each week filming and editing her show in her dad's studio.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • September 21, 2021
Sarasota High School student parodies her own school's news

Sarasota High senior's parody news program fulfills her search for absurdities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 20, 2021
Sarasota Arts Live plays through rain

The Sol of the Circle event wrapped up the summer on St. Armands Circle

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 20, 2021
Writer Wilma Davidson and savant Diana de Avila team up for book

"Soldier, Sister, Savant" tells de Avila's story and the arrival of acquired savant syndrome.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
SunCoast Blood Center's Diana Vitale prepares John Butzko, with Grapevine Communications, so he can donate blood.
    By
  • Scott Lockwood
  • September 20, 2021
Lakewood Ranch blood drive helps close the gap on critical shortage

Grapevine Communications and SunCoast Blood Centers work to increase local blood donations.

  • East County
  • News
Firefighter-paramedic William Lewis and firefighter-parameic Ron Koper sit inside one of Fire Station 91's bedrooms.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 20, 2021
Longboat's north-end fire station renovations get completed

Many of the same features that went into the rebuilding of the south-end station were part of $800,000 project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Pending approval from the Town Commission, Unicorp is scheduled to break ground Oct. 25 on the St. Regis development.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 19, 2021
Longboat Key's planning board advances St. Regis revisions

Town Commissioners in October will have final say on a series of changes Unicorp wants for condo, resort plan.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 19, 2021
Home in the Landings sells for $1.6 million

The home at 4808 Peregrine Point Circle West was the real estate sale for the week of Sept. 6-10 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Nokomis and Osprey.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 19, 2021
Lido Key condo sells for $3.6 million

The condominium at 1300 Ben Franklin Drive was the top seller on Longboat Key, Lido Key and Bird Key for the week of Sept. 6-10

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Beverly and Bill Smock loved their life involved with the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association. Beverly Smock died Sept. 13 at 62.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 19, 2021
Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry executive dies of COVID-19

Longtime Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association executive dies at 62.

  • East County
  • News
At least eight fire-rescue units were sent to the crash Friday night of two vehicles at Myrtle Street and U.S. 301 north of downtown. (Sheriff's Office photo)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 18, 2021
Sarasota man killed in crash on U.S. 301

Fatal crash took place around 10:43 p.m. at Myrtle Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
East County football roundup: 09.17.21
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 18, 2021
East County football roundup: 09.17.21

Braden River High moves to 2-0 while Lakewood Ranch High stumbles at home

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 17, 2021
Rams football extends winning streak to three games

Riverview defeated Sebring High with a long fourth-quarter touchdown run

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Don Bickel, Doreen Clyne, Beth Turconi and Angela Long were named to the 2021 Team USA dragon boat rosters. Fellow NBP Dragons paddler Mandy Kendall Boyers was also named to Team USA.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 17, 2021
Prose and Kohn: Paddlers named to Team USA feel honored despite event cancellation

The paddlers are also excited for the Club Crew Championships in October.

  • East County
  • Sports
A foraging specialist, Whimbrels have a long, thin, down-curved bill, which allows them to reach into crab burrows and extract their prey. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • September 17, 2021
Bird of the week: Whimbrel

Migratory sandpiper makes a stop on local shores as it travels from the arctic to South America.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a Lakewood Ranch man Thursday. The man was charged with attempted murder.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 17, 2021
78-year-old Lakewood Ranch man hospitalized after attack

Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies arrest 42-year-old man, who is charged with attempted homicide.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 17, 2021
Sarasota Chamber celebrates 101st annual meeting

About 400 members of the chamber met at the Hyatt Regency for lunch.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Greenbrook's Sheila White takes notes while learning about how to grow a garden in Florida.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 17, 2021
Lakewood Ranch Community Activities' Intro to Gardening sprouts interest

Lakewood Ranch residents learn tips on how to grow a vegetable garden in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 17, 2021
Longboat Key Cops Corner: No time like the present . . . or is there?

Police reports from around Longboat Key, Sept. 10-17.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
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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.
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Once again, what's the best bridge?
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