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Your Observer

Stacey Monroe, Samuel Monroe, Madelyn Halperin, Allison Kukanza, Caroline Reilly, Christie Gianoplus, Samantha Bickel, Barbara Anne Harper, Joseph St. Onge, Tyler Hockett and Nicholas Coelho. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 27, 2021
On their way

Proceeds from the Andrew Monroe Memorial 5K funded local scholarships.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Medical personnel have administered COVID-19 vaccines at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital clinic. (Sarasota Memorial Hospital photo)
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 27, 2021
Pop-up vaccine site coming to Longboat

The Florida Department of Health is planning to hold the event on May 11 at the Paradise Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Scott Van Pelt will be honored at the 2021 Dick Vitale Gala, to be held May 7 at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Photo courtesy ESPN.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 27, 2021
ESPN's Van Pelt ready to help with Vitale Gala fundraising

Popular anchor among those to be honored at May 7 event.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A dredging pipe stretches along the beach.
  • By Nat Kaemmerer and Mark Bergin
  • April 26, 2021
You asked (kind of). We answered questions about Longboat beach work

The schedule is tentative with June 1 marking the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
One of the winners, taken by Renee Odell, shows the swan Greta.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 26, 2021
Facebook photo finish

Longboat Key Life Facebook page hosted a photo contest.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The town rejected the possibility of a 150-foot town on the north end of the island, portrayed in this simulation.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 26, 2021
Longboat Key leaders discuss ways to improve cell service

Town leaders have met with AT&T and Verizon in the past few weeks.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 26, 2021
Firehouse Subs grant provides Longboat Key extrication equipment

Municipal Emergency Services trained Longboat Key Fire Rescue personnel how to use the new equipment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Built in 2002, the home at 6675 Peacock Road has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 5,271 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 25, 2021
Siesta Key home sells for $4.45 million

Residential real estate transactions for April 12-16.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Dan and Nicole Huggins
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 25, 2021
Boat lovers have fun in the sun during Suncoast Boat Show 2021

The weekend event was held April 23-25.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Vice Mayor Mike Haycock, District 4 Commissioner Debra Williams, At-Large Commissioner BJ Bishop, District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold and District 5 Commissioner Maureen Merrigan decipher which projects to prioritize.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 23, 2021
Commissioners discuss Town Center site at retreat

Longboat Key leaders discussed several projects, including the future of the Town Center site and Bayfront Park Recreational Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Catherine Rodriguez will serve as the first principal at the bilingual charter school Dreamers Academy.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 23, 2021
Dreamers Academy names first principal

Catherine Rodriguez previously served as assistant head of school at Sarasota Military Academy.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 23, 2021
Longboat Island Chapel walks the walk, talks the talk for Earth Day

The church put nature front and center during its first-ever ecological showcase.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
James Brearley accepted the award from Carla Rowan.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 23, 2021
Whitney's accepts Good Neighbor Award from LBK North

The north end neighbors association presented its first Good Neighbor award to the restaurant.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The name “merganser” is a combination of the Latin words “mergus” (diver) and “anser” (goose). (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • April 23, 2021
Bird of the week: Hooded merganser

Winter visitors to Florida are found frequently in wooded lakes or ponds.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Dick Johnson lets a butterfly rest on his hand.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 23, 2021
Senior Friendship Centers bring butterflies to members for Earth Day

The organization celebrated Earth Day with a butterfly showcase April 22.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Saturday’s Blessing of the Fleet Boat Parade at the Longboat Harbour Condominium complex featured 18 boats, 25 paddlers and the Longboat Key Police and Fire Department boats. Photo provided by Bill Coughlin.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 22, 2021
Longboat Harbour hosts Blessing of the Fleet Boat Parade

The Longboat Key Police Department's new boat was among the boats featured in Saturday's parade.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Patricia Okker, meanwhile, joined the University of Missouri as an assistant professor of English in 1990.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 22, 2021
New College names president-elect

Patricia Okker, a dean at the University of Missouri since 2017, selected to replace Donal O'Shea.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Danny Torrealba and Satchell Norman celebrate after the Sailors' win against Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 22, 2021
Prose and Kohn: Leading and learning

Sailors baseball coach Clyde Metcalf led his team to victory Tuesday the way only he can.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 22, 2021
It was meant to be

Everything has a way of working out. The Longboat Key Education Center was about to shutter, while Temple Beth Israel wants to broaden its horizons. Their coming together is great for all of Longboat.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 22, 2021
The insidious tax: Inflation

Food prices are rising 8% to 10% a month for restaurants. Don’t blame the suppliers. Blame the Washington looters for printing too much money.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
City staff believes simplifying the zoning regulations on corridors such as Fruitville Road could make it easier to attract mixed-use redevelopment.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 22, 2021
City plots potential zoning code updates

Officials are exploring opportunities to revise the city’s building regulations outside of predominantly residential areas. What could this mean for Sarasota’s future? 

  • Sarasota
  • News
An 18-acre created wetlands is part of a larger plan to renovate the 293-acre Bobby Jones Golf Club property. File image.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 22, 2021
Board rejects grant request for Bobby Jones wetlands

A vocal critic of local government played a key role in denying the request, an outcome city officials described as highly unusual.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Artspace's previous developments include the Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts in Fort Lauderdale. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 22, 2021
Artist housing project fails to secure city funding

Although the city rejected the Arts and Cultural Alliance’s proposed partnership, the nonprofit still intends to bring affordable live-work space to the North Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Although food trucks have appeared at events in Sarasota for years, the businesses were not permitted to operate without the city issuing a site-specific temporary permit.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 22, 2021
New regulations could legalize food trucks

Despite some concerns about potential issues with brick-and-mortar restaurants, the city offered an initial endorsement for mobile food businesses.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Badger Bob's Services Team
  • April 22, 2021
Is it Time to Spring for a New A/C?

4 signs that say it is.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The home at 6877 Gulf of Mexico Drive has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,820 square feet of living area. It was built in 1998.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 21, 2021
North end beachfront home sells for $4.8 million

Residential real estate transactions for April 5-9.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The property at 7300 Gulf of Mexico Drive has been in Drayton Saunders' family for several generations.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 21, 2021
Pass time for Longboat Key bridge

The bridge connecting Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach was built in 1957.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Gene Savar steps aside and acknowledges Janet Savar as she rides her bicycle through Del Webb. Some cyclists say it's important for pedestrians to acknowledge they heard a cyclist's bell or shout so the cyclist knows she can pass.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 21, 2021
Lakewood Ranch sidewalk debate runs in cycles

What is the most effective way for East County cyclists and pedestrians to share the sidewalk?

  • East County
  • News
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Ambassador Gaby Tovar holds a waffle cone filled with brambleberry crisp ice cream, one of Jeni's signature flavors. Others include gooey butter cake and brown butter almond brittle.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 21, 2021
EYE ON BUSINESS: Splendid opportunity

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams comes to East County area

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • April 21, 2021
Eileen R. Meehan

Entered her Heavenly Home on April 15, 2021, at the age of 91.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Jeanette Wirz and Larry Naddeo. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 21, 2021
Sharing experience

Two Lakewood Ranch fishers want to share their knowledge with the community.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 21, 2021
Just another Nite at the Ranch

Tenured residents and Lakewood Ranch newbies enjoyed the food, games and company provided by Ranch Nite

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 21, 2021
Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce crosses the bridge to Anna Maria Island

The chamber hosted a Bridge Connection event on the north end of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key’s contractor has started removing driftwood and vegetation from Greer Island.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 21, 2021
Disappearing driftwood prompts photographer to branch out

The driftwood removal is part of the town's multi-million dollar plan to prevent beach erosion.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 21, 2021
Fine ride at Elks Lodge

From 1930s Fords to young sports cars, the Elks Lodge Car Show & Vendor Fair had them all

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden River Middle School eighth grader Stephen Althoff pours water to be filtered as Griffin Hart holds the flask. Middle school students have an opportunity for credit recovery in core classes like science. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 21, 2021
In-person summer school returns

School District of Manatee County will offer summer programs June 7-July 15.

  • East County
  • News
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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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