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Your Observer

Deena King says the Lakewood Ranch market is full of buyers who don't care if their art matches the sofa and the drapes.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 9, 2025
Fine arts gallery tests the waters in Lakewood Ranch area

Expressionist painter Deena King brings her brand of art to the border of Waterside.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Northern portions of Longboat Key are typically more prone to flooding. However, the town has other portions of the island that are also low lying like the Sleepy Lagoon and Buttonwood Harbour neighborhoods.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 9, 2025
Road-raising timeline extends on Longboat

Because of low financing, what was a two-year plan could take five years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Manatee County Tax Collector's Office east branch at 10705 Technology Terrace, Bradenton.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 9, 2025
Tax collector charges Manatee County schools $1.5M

The Manatee County tax collector decides to take a $1.5 million commission from the school district's referendum funds.

  • East County
  • Schools
Three days after moving to Lakewood Ranch, Waterside resident Erin Mason found the LWR Girls Who Walk club, which was started by Paige Venuto of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 9, 2025
LWR Girls Who Walk creates a sense of community through fitness

The Lakewood Ranch club began in March and has 140 members.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Melody Reedy is one of several Manatee County residents to hold up signs during the land use meeting Oct. 5, 2023 in an attempt to stop commissioners from cutting wetland protections out of the Comprehensive Plan.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 9, 2025
Senate Bill 180 handcuffs Manatee County commissioners

Florida legislators' actions might have stripped commissioners' attempts to make voter-supported changes.

  • East County
  • News
Woman reports frequent visitor outside her bedroom window
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 9, 2025
Woman reports frequent visitor outside her bedroom window

On multiple occasions a man is spotted outside a woman's apartment engaging in a lewd act with an audience of dolls. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The Bird Key home has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,933 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 9, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for June 23-27 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home on Bird Key on Robin Drive tops the week’s sales at $3 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
East County resident Sean Laureano will play for Puerto Rico's U20 Men's Lacrosse team in the World Lacrosse Championship in South Korea from Aug. 15-24.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 9, 2025
East County lacrosse player hopes for spot on Puerto Rican Olympic team

Cardinal Mooney alum Sean Laureano hopes to bolster his chances at playing in the Olympics with a good performance at the 2025 World Lacrosse Men's U20 Championship.

  • East County
  • Sports
The real estate market on Longboat Key continues to evolve, including in residential areas like the Village.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 9, 2025
5 issues to keep an eye on this summer in Longboat Key

Although Town Commission meetings are on hiatus, here's a few topics that will continue to bubble.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Visitors and volunteers alike took a moment to enjoy the view at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium before it closed to facilitate a move to East County.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 9, 2025
Mote's final public days bring forward warm memories

City Island's Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium officially held its final day of being open to the public on July 6 as it prepares for its move to the new Mote Science Education Aquarium facility.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Volunteers are given an introduction by co-founder Mark Coates before heading into the workshop to build.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 9, 2025
Lakewood Ranch nonprofit offers a sound night's sleep

Beds for Kids delivers up to 50 beds a month throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Flooding in the area of Celery Fields caused by Tropical Storm Debby in 2024.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 9, 2025
Sarasota County hires new Stormwater Department director

Former Sarasota County employee Ben Quartermaine has been selected to head the county's new Stormwater Department.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Booker High rising senior Chauncey Kennon announced his commitment to Florida State University on July 6 at the Desoto Boys and Girls Club in Bradenton.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 9, 2025
Chauncey Kennon lives out a dream with commitment to Florida State

The Booker High senior has wanted to play for FSU since he was little.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Housing plan falls short
  • By Jeffrey Brandes, Adrian Moore, Edward Pinto
  • July 9, 2025
Housing plan falls short

The affordability crisis is not a market failure. Sarasota needs to remove barriers. Other cities have done so and are seeing meaningful results.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
We’re all sea turtles. Rise to the occasion.
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • July 8, 2025
We’re all sea turtles. Rise to the occasion.

We go the extra mile for sea turtles. We should do the same for other people.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Nicole Rissler is director of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 8, 2025
Sarasota County parks department wins national recognition

Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources has earned a conservation award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch resident Regina Morris has kept medals and running bibs from each of the marathons she's run in all 50 states.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 8, 2025
Lakewood Ranch resident shows resolve in 50-state marathon quest

Regina Morris hasn't let injury, travel or age stop her from reaching the finish line.

  • East County
  • Sports
A Shoreview home at 7717 Mainsail Lane sold for $1.82 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,968 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 8, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for June 23-27 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club home on Palmers Creek Terrace topped the week’s sales at $2.85 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Commissioners Tal Siddique, Jason Bearden, Amanda Ballard and George Kruse visit the House of Representatives in Tallahassee in March to discuss Manatee County's legislative priorities.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 8, 2025
Manatee County hit hard by governor's appropriation vetoes

Gov. Ron DeSantis' vetoes total $1.35 billion across the state, including $576 million in line-item vetoes.

  • East County
  • News
Taylor and Sydney Nichols, co-founders of Le Shop, opening soon on St. Armands Circle, said they are excited to bring high-end espresso and wine to shoppers.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 8, 2025
High-end espresso and wine shop coming to St. Armands Circle

The owners aim to bring a little something special to the area, providing provisions for the perfect beach picnic and a go-to spot for high-quality beverages.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Eric Konovalov of The Goal Guide accepts the Volunteer of the Year award, the top award at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's Sandies.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 8, 2025
LWRBA sets up Small Business Bootcamp to teach important business skills

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance sets up a series of seminars to boost business skills.

  • East County
  • Business
Contractors at almost the right address in wrong town set off alarm
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 8, 2025
Contractors at almost the right address in wrong town set off alarm

Officers responding to an alarm found two flooring contractors with a valid work order — for a home in Holmes Beach. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Chris Udermann captured pictures of flooding in the Village following a weather event in April 2024.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 8, 2025
Money moves ahead for flood resilience project in Longboat neighborhood

The Longbeach Village plan includes raising some roads.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Sharks swimmer Emma Lynch, 11, won three gold medals at the Shark Open from June 19-22.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 8, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Emma Lynch

Lynch is one of the 12 fastest 11- to 12-year-old swimmers in Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
  • By Florida Power & Light Company
  • July 8, 2025
FPL Announces Planned Upgrades for Sarasota County to Continue Building a Stronger, Smarter Grid

Florida Power & Light’s smart grid technology prevented more than 800,000 outages during the active 2024 hurricane season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Suzanne Berry Bissell (1926-2025)
    In Memoriam |
  • July 7, 2025
Suzanne Berry Bissell

Suzanne Berry Bissell died in Sarasota surrounded by her family on Monday, June 23, 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Emma Bailey Gaddy and Vivienne Hansen carefully line up their potato race car at Bird Key Yacht Club's Fourth of July festivities.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 7, 2025
Bird Key Yacht Club holds annual potato car races

Bird Key Yacht Club hosted its annual Fourth of July festivities, including the highly anticipated potato car races.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch rising senior Caua Magno de Almeida is spending his summer days balancing football, basketball, soccer and working out.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 7, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Caua Magno de Almeida

The rising senior is a three-sport athlete in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Grady family, including Jackson, Drake, Freya and Tina, join the Longboat Key Garden Club's butterfly release for the Fourth of July weekend at Bicentennial Park.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 7, 2025
July Fourth Longboat Key butterfly release continues post-storm

Freedom Fest might have been canceled, but community members joined in a butterfly release after the Fourth of July.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Unincorporated Manatee County residents can now file some police reports online without having to wait on a deputy.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 7, 2025
Unincorporated Manatee County residents can file police reports online

In the first two weeks of service, about 200 online reports were filed through the Manatee County Sheriff's Office website.

  • East County
  • News
Everyone is lined up for Hamlet's Eatery hot dogs, for their fifth annual Hot Dog Day.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • July 6, 2025
Hamlet's Eatery celebrates Hot Dog Day with furry friends

The fifth annual Hot Dog Day was celebrated at Hamlet's Eatery with a hot dog topping bar, free beer samples and furry friends.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The next SRQ Women's Expo will be held at The Grove July 26-27.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 6, 2025
SRQ Women's Expo headed to The Grove

The last expo attracted more than 500 attendees.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Gabriella Brinceanu, 14, and her sister Alaina Brinceanu, 3, work together to pop the bubbles.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 5, 2025
Community enjoys barbecue, bubbles at Selby Gardens' Fourth of July

Selby Gardens hosted its annual Fourth of July All-American Cookout.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Stephen Schlabach and his wife Jennifer Schlabach watch the grand finale of the fireworks.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 5, 2025
Fourth of July fireworks light up the Sarasota skies

The public once again had the chance to enjoy fireworks on Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Members of Church of the Redeemer all stand together to sing American Classics led by Choralmaster, Sam Nelson.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • July 5, 2025
Sarasota church celebrates Fourth of July with special gathering

The Church of the Redeemer celebrates Independence Day with barbeque, music, prayer and fireworks.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Roller skating sensation Anita Zeman manages to keep smiling, even as her husband Karoly Zeman launches her into the air under the Waterside Place Pavilion July 4 during Star-Spangled Spectacular.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 5, 2025
Star-Spangled Spectacular lights up Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch's first July 4 festival is a smashing success at Waterside Place.

  • East County
  • 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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