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Your Observer

    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 7, 2021
Prelude to Piney Point

No doubt there will be plenty of political blaming in the wake of the Piney Point leak that Manatee County commissioners were negligent. For the truth, just watch their Jan. 26 meeting.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 7, 2021
The long road ahead

It just so happens we’re living here when the 50-year-old roads and bridges need updating. Still better than New York.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 7, 2021
The long road ahead

It just so happens we’re living here when the 50-year-old roads and bridges need updating. Still better than New York.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Elijah Weaver talks to his team after an April 1 practice. Weaver said his hope is for flag football to be taken as seriously as other sports at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 7, 2021
Flagship program at Lakewood Ranch High

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 7, 2021
Flick of the wrist at Lakewood Ranch disc golf

Lakewood Ranch residents learn disc golf basics at Bob Gardner Community Park

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Cheryl Bulfin, a third grade teacher, guides her students through a lesson. All teachers receive a $5,201 supplement from the millage. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
School District of Manatee County officials — 1 mill made huge difference

School District of Manatee County says 2018 1-mill property tax referendum was crucial.

  • East County
  • News
Senior Miles Stephens (right) completes the final stretch of the boys 4x100 race. The Pirates would win the race and set a new school record (43.23).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 7, 2021
Pirates have record day on new rubber track

Braden River High hosted its first-ever track and field meet last week.

  • East County
  • Sports
Conner Whittaker.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 7, 2021
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Conner Whittaker

The Sarasota High senior pitcher talks his curveball and wanting to read minds.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Senior Kora Turner and junior Matthew Boudreau celebrate the orienteering's first state championship. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
Run to victory for Lakewood Ranch High

Lakewood Ranch High School JROTC's orienteering team takes home its first state championship.

  • East County
  • News
Dave Miner, a former member of the School Board of Manatee County, and Scott Hopes, a member of the board, celebrate the opening of Dr. Mona Jain Middle School. Hopes says part of a school member's job is attending school events.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
What's next for School Board of Manatee County?

Gov. Ron DeSantis will appoint a Manatee County resident to replace Scott Hopes, the District 4 representative for the School Board of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County School Board member Scott Hopes was selected as interim administrator April 1. Commissioners say the county needs some stability before searching for a permanent administrator.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 7, 2021
Piney Point spills into Manatee County administrator search

Commissioners say Manatee County needs stability before searching for permanent administrator

  • East County
  • News
Pynelopee Redmond, who is 1 year old, snatches an egg to add to her collection.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
Easter egg scramble in Lakewood Ranch

Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch celebrates Easter with a visit from the Easter bunny and an egg hunt.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 7, 2021
Mixon Fruit Farms a crafty pick

Regular customers and out-of-state visitors enjoy Mixon Fruit Farms Orange Blossom Arts & Crafts Fair

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 7, 2021
Spirits rise at ODA

The Out-of-Door Academy celebrates school spirit through a day of competitions.

  • East County
  • News
The popularity of the Siesta Key Breeze service was one factor that motivated the City Commission’s interest in an open-air trolley, rather than a bus. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 6, 2021
City favors open-air trolley for islands transit

The City Commission is interested in spending additional money to expand a transportation service between downtown and Lido Key, though it’s unclear how the route may be funded.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 6, 2021
Public Works, public service

Town employee saves dog from Bayfront Park fall.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Father Edward Pick. File photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 6, 2021
St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church founder, gentle giant Father Edward Pick, dies

Pick leaves behind a looming legacy at the Longboat Key church, one that is remembered fondly by congregants.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Architect Dan Lear developed concept images showcasing what three- and four-story structures on St. Armands Circle could look like. Image via city of Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 6, 2021
St. Armands group advances pursuit of hotel zoning

The St. Armands Business Improvement District is working with Sarasota city staff and other stakeholders on options for changing the building regulations on the Circle.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 5, 2021
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key hears from Gold, Linkogle

Members learn more about underground project, new commissioner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key town commissioners heard from Michael Warnstedt during a Meet and Greet event on Monday morning.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 5, 2021
Longboat Key appoints three new P&Z Board members

Paul Hylbert and Margaret Nuzzo are set to hold three-year terms while Michael Warnstedt is set to hold a one-year term.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
David Pilston. Photo courtesy of Save Our Seabirds.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 5, 2021
Save Our Seabirds hires first-ever vet

The organization is hosting a virtual fundraiser event to reintroduce people to the facility.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
About 69.4% of the survey respondents chose there overall quality of life in Longboat Key as “excellent.”
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 5, 2021
Survey finds high quality of life in Longboat Key

Nearly 99% of the survey respondents described the quality of life in Longboat Key as either “excellent” or “good.”

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 5, 2021
Town leaders move ahead with environmental projects

The town of Longboat Key considered several environmental projects to satisfy the FDEP consent order following the June 2020 sewage spill.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kelli Smith is due to start on May 3 as the police chief of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 5, 2021
Longboat Key to begin search for new police chief

Current Longboat Key Police Chief Kelli Smith's resignation is effective as of April 30.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
King Michael picked a basket laden with toy cars.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 5, 2021
Longboat Key hunts for normalcy on Easter

People attended services in person this year and saw family, a huge difference from 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Marilyn and Jim May have committed this year to adding more Easter decorations to their mailbox.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 5, 2021
Neighborhood celebrates Easter with decorative mailboxes

The Cottages of Rivendell has started sprucing up their mailboxes for each Easter.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The larger of the two homes at 7340 Point of Rocks was built in 1936. It has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 4,268 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 4, 2021
Point of Rocks Road property sells for $3.8 million

Residential real estate transaction for March 22-26.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The home at 111 N. Warbler Lane was built in 1976 . It has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,251 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 4, 2021
Bird Key home sells for $3.5 million

Residential real estate transactions for March 22-26.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
No Toreador Crimson carpet for GMD.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 4, 2021
April Fool's strikes again in the Observer

Wacky sources, paper-thin premises, ludicrously misshapen story angles add up to our annual festival of foolishness.

  • April Fools
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 3, 2021
Families search for eggs at annual Siesta Key Easter Egg Hunt

The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce-hosted event had hundreds of children hunting for eggs April 3.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 3, 2021
Sarasota Ministerial Association takes supporters on Good Friday pilgrimage

Church leaders and followers walked the 14 stations of the cross April 2.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 3, 2021
Whitney Plaza owner seeks residential density referendum

10 units proposed in letter to mayor seeking special election.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 2, 2021
You Observed: Rotary Club of Longboat Key hosts Walk for Water

The club put together a walk to raise money for a community in Peru.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 2, 2021
Booker student documentary to air on Tampa area PBS channel

"Into the Storm" highlights the desegregation of Sarasota County schools as it follows the 1966-67 Booker Tornadoes basketball team.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    In Memoriam |
  • April 2, 2021
Father Edward G. Pick

Father Edward G. Pick, founder and Pastor of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Church on Longboat Key, died March 27, 2021, at the age of 86.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Bill Waddill leads the tour.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 1, 2021
DreamLarge hosts 2021 BLVD Bike Rides event

Locals biked across town on March 27.

  • 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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