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Your Observer

Braden River High senior Isaiah Cress lifts weights in preparation for the state weightlifting meet, to be held April 29-30 in St. Cloud.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 21, 2021
Pirate lifts performance to new levels

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn

  • East County
  • Sports
The portion of Manatee County's Future Development Area Boundary that is south of State Road 64 is located on Bourneside Boulevard. The land east of the line (pictured across the street) is protected from urban sprawl. File photo.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 21, 2021
Will Manatee County development cross the line?

Manatee County Commissioners will hold workshop about Future Development Area Boundary

  • East County
  • News
Registered Nurse Debbie Bottiger prepares a vaccine for a School District of Manatee County employee. Although people ages 16 and older are eligible, some high schoolers have mixed feelings about getting vaccinated. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 21, 2021
Some east Bradenton students not in rush to be vaccinated

Lakewood Ranch-area students have mixed feelings about being vaccinated.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 21, 2021
Lakewood Ranch market results in solid return

St. Clare Women's Guild holds Arts and Crafts Market

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Students from Cypress Ridge Elementary School talk with Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School students at the regional competition. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 21, 2021
Robotics on rise in Lakewood Ranch

Five Lakewood Ranch elementary school teams compete at regional VEX robotics competition.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 21, 2021
New Lakewood Ranch fire station opens

Lakewood Ranch fire station dedicated to former fire commissioner O'Leary

  • East County
  • News
Myakka City's "triangle" is located at State Road 70 and County Road 675. Manatee County commissioners denied a request to rezone the property from general agriculture to neighborhood commercial small.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 21, 2021
Myakka 'Triangle' rezone denied

Manatee County Commissioners deny Myakka City "triangle" rezone over safety concerns

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 20, 2021
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Peace!

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Law enforcement agencies are looking for two men suspected of burglarizing a Longboat Key home. Photo courtesy of Manatee County Crime Stoppers.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 20, 2021
Longboat Key police looking for two burglary suspects

The men are accused of burglarizing a home on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • April 20, 2021
Joseph Asher Nowicki

Sarasota - Joseph Asher Nowicki, Age 22, passed away peacefully on Monday March 29, 2021 at Bethesda East Hospital in Boynton Beach, FL.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Lily, Mason and Cassidy Berg show off their masks before heading into Southside Elementary School in August 2020.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 20, 2021
Sarasota Schools considering optional face mask policy for 2021-22 school year

Following directives from the state, district leaders will consider a policy that would not make face masks mandatory for the new school year.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 20, 2021
County to disperse $13 million in rental assistance

Those eligible will be able to receive up to 12 months of rental assistance.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ashley McIntyre and Monaca Onstad with the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund enjoy Polo with a Purpose with Lake Club's Marybeth Traverso and her husband, Jay Traverso.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 20, 2021
Polo for a cause in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Community Fund shares its mission during Polo with a Purpose at Sarasota Polo Club.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 20, 2021
Playground party in Lakewood Ranch

Mommy and Me Play Dates provides opportunities for children and their mothers to socialize in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
The town is in discussions with the Florida Department of Transportation about improving its crosswalks.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 19, 2021
Commissioners hear from the town on future projects

Topics that came up included maintaining the beach, improving roadways and mitigating flooding.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A baby turtle from Longboat Key was rehabbing in summer 2020 after it disoriented and ended up in a pool. Photo Credit: Nat Kaemmerer
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 19, 2021
Town Commission to consider ordinance for sea turtle protections

Longboat Key has higher sea turtle disorientation rates than many surrounding areas, according to FWC data.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 19, 2021
Turtle walks begin ahead of Longboat Key turtle season

Sometimes, turtles arrive before May 1, but that may not happen this year with chillier Gulf waters.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
In some areas of the county, fixed routes will be replaced with a mobility-on-demand service.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 19, 2021
SCAT's mobility-on-demand service to start in June

As part of the Sarasota County Area Transit overhaul, a new rideshare service will begin in June.

  • Sarasota
  • News
George Turner has more than 40 years of law enforcement experience.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 19, 2021
Former Brooksville chief to fill in as interim Longboat Key police chief

George Turner served as a captain for the Longboat Key Police Department from December 2001 through October 2007.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A fourth hotel is proposed for 5810 Midnight Pass Road, which currently serves as paid beach parking.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 19, 2021
Fourth hotel proposal submitted for Siesta Key

A 100-room hotel on 2.15 acres is proposed for a parcel located near Siesta Key Beach at 5810 Midnight Pass Road.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Newly-appointed District 5 commissioner Maureen Merrigan’s term runs through March 2022. She fills the vacancy left by Ed Zunz.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 19, 2021
Merrigan appointed to fill Longboat commission vacancy

Longboat Key town commissioners also considered Gene Jaleski and Christopher Carman.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Lazy Lobster's tree brings some festivity to summer.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 19, 2021
Wait, it's not Christmas

Lazy Lobster keeps Christmas tree up no matter the season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
List of objects used in the turtle shell. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 19, 2021
Earth Day play

Longboat Key turtle watchers watch for trash too.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Dave Thomas with a model ship he donated to the club.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 19, 2021
Bird Key Yacht Club welcomes new commodore

Dave Thomas is the board's leader, but he knows he couldn't do it without a team of volunteers and staff.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Maurice Overholt at Longboat Island Chapel
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 19, 2021
Longboat Island Chapel welcomes new music director

Maurice Overholt took over Sunday services at Longboat Island Chapel.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Juliette and Lily Arce sit with some treats.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 18, 2021
Families play at Food Truck Festival

The outdoor event had games, animals and 30 food trucks for families to enjoy.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 17, 2021
Ringling celebrates World Circus Day

The Ringling celebrated the annual event with performances from the Circus Ats Conservatory.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Susan Goldfarb and TBI executive director Isaac Azerad will begin their new arrangement June 1.
  • By Nat Kaemmerer and Mark Bergin
  • April 16, 2021
Longboat Key Education Center merges with Temple Beth Israel

The Longboat institution will now be known as the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel once the merge is official.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The male wild turkey, also known as a gobbler or tom, will strut, fan out its tail and gobble to attract hens. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • April 16, 2021
Bird of the week: Wild turkey

Hunted to near extinction, their resurgence is a conservation success story.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A land amendment that would allow development beyond the Future Development Area Boundary line under limited circumstances was approved for transmittal by the Manatee County Commission on Thursday.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 15, 2021
Manatee County sends development boundary line amendment request to state

After the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reviews the development request, Manatee Commission will decide whether development will be allowed east of the development boundary line.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 15, 2021
Tests show elevated red tide levels in Sarasota waters

The red tide present in the Gulf of Mexico is affecting beaches including Siesta, Lido and Longboat Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Christine Rothberg will continue as a marketing consultant for the Sand Cay Beach Resort in addition to her new role with the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 15, 2021
Chamber hires director of marketing and communications

Christine Rothberg has 17 years of marketing experience.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Collin Morikawa won the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession in February. Tournament officials announced Thursday that more than $400,000 charitable funds had been raised by the event.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 15, 2021
PGA Tour announces charitable impact of Workday Championship

The event was held at The Concession Golf Club in the Lakewood Ranch area in February.

  • East County
  • News
Since Longboat Key did not spend more than $750,000 of federal expenditures or state financial assistance, it is not required to undergo a federal or state audit.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 15, 2021
Third party completes audit of Longboat Key

Mauldin & Jenkins conducted the audit.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 15, 2021
East County weather page photo: April 15

Gordon Silver captured these sandhill cranes checking out the view in Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 15, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: April 15

Jessica Ross captured this seagull at sunset over Sarasota bay.

  • Sarasota
  • 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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