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Your Observer

    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 22, 2021
Cops Corner: A one-eyed jack on the road.

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Members of the public are required to wear a mask to attend the Longboat Key Town Commission meetings.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 22, 2021
Longboat Key votes to extend mask policy

The town of Longboat Key's policy remains in effect until May 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Susan Jones stamps a newly checked out book.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 22, 2021
Hitting the books

Longboat Library reopens to happy readers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • March 22, 2021
Nancy Marguerite Evans Hargrave

SILVER CREEK, NY - Nancy Marguerite Evans Hargrave went into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on March 11, 2021.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Penny Gold (left) and Debra Williams (right) are sworn in as Longboat Key town commissioners during Monday morning’s statutory meeting.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 22, 2021
Penny Gold, Debra Williams sworn in as Longboat commissioners

For the first time ever, the Longboat Key Town Commission is comprised of a majority of women.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 22, 2021
Temple Beth Israel hosts pre-Passover food drive

The temple set up dinner pickup, food drop-off and a modified gift shop.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Snowbirds won't be coming back to Longboat Key beaches until winter 2021.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 22, 2021
Longing for Longboat

Some snowbirds didn't fly south for the winter and are living out their first northern chill in years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 22, 2021
Great American Cleanup gets going on Longboat Key

Cleaning groups were deployed all along the Manatee County section of the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 22, 2021
15-year-old arrested in Sarasota County Fair shooting

18-year-old victim in stable condition, police said, adding the victim and suspect likely knew each other.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • March 20, 2021
Le Marche Bohemien brings open-air market goods to Downtown Sarasota

Vendors sold one-of-a-kind items at the open-air market March 20.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Built in 1951, the home at 26- N. Washington Drive has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,366 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 20, 2021
Ringling Estates home sells for $4.2 million

Residential real estate transactions for March 8-12.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The home at 1400 Harbor Drive was built in 2016 and it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,402 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 20, 2021
Harbor Acres home sells for $7.4 million

Residential real estate for March 8-12.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
MIC Insurance owner Michael Mailliard spoke to members of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key on Thursday morning at the Lazy Lobster.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 19, 2021
Agent sounds warning over rising insurance rates

MIC Insurance owner Michael Mailliard addressed his concerns to members of the Kiwanis Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The town of Longboat Key has put up signage, barriers and temporary fencing at 6399 Gulfside Road.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 19, 2021
Gulfside Road beach access temporarily closed

The beach access point at 6399 Gulfside Road will remain closed until mid-April.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A COVID-19 vaccination is given at the Manatee County drive-thru vaccination operation at Tom Bennett Park. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Health-Manatee County)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 19, 2021
All Manatee County adults now eligible to register for vaccine

Manatee County opens registration to Florida residents 18 and older

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 19, 2021
Christ Church of Longboat Key presents checks to supported organizations

An anonymous donation from a church member made four large grants possible.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Thanks to their special feathers, barred owls can fly nearly silently and their plumage colors help them blend in with their natural environment. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • March 19, 2021
Bird of the week: barred owl

One of five owl species in Florida, they hunt and hoot day and night.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 18, 2021
The bill that can save the housing market

Rising property insurance rates are on the verge of popping Florida’s housing bubble and the economy — all because of lawsuits. SB 76 can save the state.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 18, 2021
St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church hosts parish picnic

The church hosted its first social event in about a year and invited parishioners to pack a picnic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 18, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: March 18

Curtis Bean captured this photo of a sunset at North Bridge Outlook Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 18, 2021
Longboat Key weather page photo: March 18

Doug Blunt captured this full moon rising over the harbor at the Shore Restaurant on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 18, 2021
East County weather page photo: March 18

Bruce Silverman took this photo of a Christmas cactus in bloom in Rosedale.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 18, 2021
Longboat Key police gets new boat

A WCIND grant worth $215,000 paid for the new 32-foot Yellowfin Offshore boat.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Heather Rippy
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 18, 2021
Driftwood Beach Home and Garden creates community space

The new space is more than a store and offers gardening and cooking classes out back.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Freya Robbins, Supreme Court Certified Mediator & Certified Divorce Financial Analyst ®
  • March 18, 2021
When Business Gets Personal

When Business Gets Personal

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
A COVID-19 vaccination is given at the Manatee County drive-thru vaccination operation at Tom Bennett Park. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Health-Manatee County)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 18, 2021
Manatee County expands registration to residents 55 and up

Manatee County residents 55 and up can now register for vaccine, must wait to receive it

  • East County
  • News
You'll easily spot rufa red knots during breeding season, when they develop their distinctive red plumage. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • March 18, 2021
Bird of the week: Rufa red knot

World travelers visit our shores.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Although City Commissioner Liz Alpert said she supported the extension, she encouraged the developer to consider updating its preliminary site design, depicted in this concept image.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
Developer revisits affordable housing project

With a deadline extension from the city, developers renew plans to build 393 workforce apartments.

  • Sarasota
  • News
After producing concept plans for a parklet, depicted in the rendering above, the St. Armands Business Improvement District received construction quotes that were more than four times over budget, so the group is scaling back.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
St. Armands landowners eye streetscape upgrades

Circle stakeholders are considering refreshed landscaping, improved lighting and reworked signage as they pursue a plan for enhancing the area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Downtown Improvement District and St. Armands Business Improvement District are responsible for projects such as the lightpole flower baskets in downtown Sarasota. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
New faces join improvement district boards

A majority of the City Commission indicated a desire to bring fresh perspectives to downtown and St. Armands Circle property owner groups.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city altered plans for a multi-use recreational trail along U.S. 41 in an effort to complement the nearby Sarasota Art Museum, the former Sarasota High School building.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
City, school board discuss U.S. 41 trail plans

Plans are moving forward for a new pedestrian and cyclist route near Sarasota High School, albeit with a few trees relocated from the initial proposal.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Under the terms of a negotiated agreement with neighbors, noise violations at Raffurty’s Bar and Grill could lead to the revocation of the business’s liquor license.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
Main Street bar brokers liquor license compromise

The owner of Raffurty’s Bar and Grill worked with neighbors to establish noise restrictions and other guidelines for the downtown business.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Students at Fruitville Elementary had a reading visit from the Barancik Foundation's John Annis.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 17, 2021
District prepares for new $5.7 million book adoption

The district is attempting to keep up with new state standards and book adoptions despite a lack in state funding.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Ed Zunz served on the Longboat Key Town Commission from 2016-2021.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 17, 2021
Ed Zunz discusses having to resign early, tenure on Town Commission

Since March 2016, Ed Zunz has served as a Longboat Key town commissioner.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Robert Turner, Ben Guth, Trevor Garofalo, Ray Sullivan and J.T. Bacigalupi are Myakka City Fire Control District firefighters. Guth, Garofalo and Sullivan are leading the effort to introduce East Manatee firefighters to the area.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 17, 2021
Caution ... merge ahead for East Manatee, Myakka fire districts

Myakka City-East Manatee fire merger preparations underway

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 17, 2021
Longboat Island Chapel hosts St. Patrick's Day lunch

A few chapel members gathered in the Friendship Garden for the holiday.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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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