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Your Observer

Impact fees are one-time fees charged to developers after the completion of construction projects to help cover the cost of increased stress placed on county infrastructure. File photo.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 17, 2021
Manatee County Planning Commission roundup: impact fee debate

Manatee County Planning Commission members discuss impact fees, rezone requests

  • East County
  • News
Commissioner Nancy Detert said the provision allows residents who don't live near a property have a say on what will happen to it.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 17, 2021
Commission moves to eliminate citizen-initiated reviews

The current provision allows 20 or more registered voters to request a comprehensive plan amendment.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Michelle Leahy, a Manatee County volunteer specialist for Parks and Natural Resources, works on a headstone during the Rye Cemetery Preservation and Beautification project.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 17, 2021
Manatee County won't bury its history during Heritage Days.

Rye cemetery cleanup just one of the activities during Manatee Heritage Days.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Ribbon cutting held at Botanic Waterside

New Lakewood Ranch apartment complex celebrates grand opening.

  • East County
  • News
Myakka residents Elizabeth Arnold and Carol Felts are concerned about development encroaching on the area surrounding their homes.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 17, 2021
Time to push development east in Manatee County?

Manatee County Commissioners to decide urban boundary amendment

  • East County
  • News
Shamar Beatty points to his family in the stands while walking across the field with his diploma. His sash and mask has photos of memories from his time at Lakewood Ranch High School. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Venue change alters graduation dates for Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools

School District of Manatee County high schools push back graduation dates after switch to LECOM Park.

  • East County
  • News
Country Meadows' Michelle Noel has gone from jobless due to the pandemic to the owner of Wicked Awesome Ice Cream Emporium in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 17, 2021
Pandemic planted seeds for Wicked Awesome Ice Cream Emporium in Lakewood Ranch

New ice cream emporium in Lakewood Ranch melts together fun and whimsy.

  • East County
  • News
Todd Richardson. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Leprechaun on the loose in Lakewood Ranch

B.D. Gullett Elementary principal dresses as leprechaun to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 17, 2021
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Upon further review . . .

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Ed Furtado.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 17, 2021
East County Athlete of the Week: Ed Furtado

The golfer talks hole-in-ones and his origins in the sport.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kevin McDowell, a Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, won the men's elite division of the 2021 Sarasota-Bradenton Triathlon in 49:15.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 17, 2021
Elite dedication on display at Benderson Park

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn

  • East County
  • Sports
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the town of Longboat Key to hold its IntroLBK 2021 class on Zoom instead of having the Citizens Academy in person.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 17, 2021
Virtual IntroLBK 2021 class offered to residents

The free classes about the Longboat Key town government are offered from March 23-25 on Zoom.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Olivya Johns, Jacsyn Hockenbury and Emily Garcia kick off the start of "Little Shop of Horrors."
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Little shop of funding horrors in east Bradenton

Braden River and Lakewood Ranch high school theater programs struggle to stay afloat financially during pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
Registered Nurse Debbie Bottiger prepares a COVID-19 vaccine for a School District of Manatee County employee. The district has worked with community partners to provide more than 5,000 vaccines to its more than 6,000 employees.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Vaccines a relief for Manatee County educators

The School District of Manatee County works with community partners to get its employees vaccinated.

  • East County
  • News
R. Dan Nolan Middle School TSA members Emma Hubley, Callum Wilford and Virginia Frisbie celebrate their first place win for Leadership Strategies. Courtesy of Nadine Anderson.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
TSA effort A-OK in east Bradenton

East Bradenton schools' TSA teams see success at state conference despite challenges due to COVID-19.

  • East County
  • News
Members of the public are required to wear a mask to attend the Town Commission meetings.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 16, 2021
Longboat to vote on mask mandate renewal

An emergency meeting is set for March 22.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Uzi Baram and Kathleen Callahan made the most out of their morning.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • March 16, 2021
Bobby Jones nature lovers clean up a bit

Sarasota groups and volunteers spend a weekend morning cleaning up the Bobby Jones Golf Club trail space.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
If approved, the project would place 20,000 almaco jack in a pen suspended in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 15, 2021
EPA to revisit offshore fish farm permit

The Environmental Appeals Board has requested the Environmental Protection Agency to provide a status report on the permit with guidance under the Biden Administration.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 15, 2021
Clean getaway

Surfrider Foundation hosts another cleanup.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
New donations will fund gym equipment and a wall separating the station and Gulf & Bay Condominium Association.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 15, 2021
Siesta fire station budget grows

Two donations will fund gym equipment and a fence between the station and a neighboring condo.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Greta on the nest. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 15, 2021
Eggciting season

Longboat Key swans lay their first eggs of the season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 15, 2021
Longboat Key planning to open new fire station in May

The Longboat Observer got a behind-the-scenes look at the project’s construction site.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dave Crawford. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 15, 2021
Longtime Longboat Key mail carrier Dave Crawford dies at 58

Crawford delivered mail along Longboat Key for 33 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • March 15, 2021
Families search for treasure at Children's Garden's Leprechaun Hunt

The family event was held March 13.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarena Miller and Max
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • March 15, 2021
The Bazaar goes to the dogs with weekend event

The Barking Bazaar event was held March. 13

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 15, 2021
County opens COVID-19 vaccine registration to all adults

Anyone over the age of 18 can register for a COVID-19, but appointments will be scheduled based on eligibility.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lyons Lane is an area of Longboat Key that is prone to flooding whenever there is rain, a tropical storm or hurricane. In 2016, Longboat Key native Max Moneuse and his girlfriend Tabitha Bingham kayak down a flooded Lyons Lane.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 15, 2021
Longboat street improvement planned to mitigate flooding

Lyons Lane is one of the lowest roads in Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • March 15, 2021
Suzette Keenan

Suzette Keenan a long time resident of Longboat Key, originally from Eastchester NY passed on February 20, 2021 at the age of 72.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 15, 2021
Lots of options at Lakewood Ranch Fine Art Festival

Art from across the country on display in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 15, 2021
Patrons enjoy Outdoor Spring Market's return at UTC

Locals celebrate new season at UTC's Outdoor Spring Market

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Wahib and Lois Habib
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 15, 2021
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church organist Lois Habib retires after 27 years

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church organist steps away after 27 years, but she won't be far from the keyboard.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Coastal Orthopedics President Dr. Arthur Valadie said Tuesday's groundbreaking was the first moment where the new headquarters felt "real." It is scheduled for completion in April 2022.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 15, 2021
Coastal Orthopedics breaks ground on Lakewood Ranch headquarters

Coastal Orthopedics celebrates incoming headquarters with Lakewood Ranch groundbreaking

  • East County
  • News
The Siesta Key home at 3500 Bayou Louise Lane was built in 2002. It has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 5,656 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 14, 2021
Siesta Key home sells for $8 million

Residential real estate transactions for March 1-5.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Built in 2003, the home at 1355 Westway Drive has four bedrooms, five-and-three-half baths, a pool and 6,326 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 14, 2021
Westway Drive home sells for $5.8 million

Residential real estate transactions for March 1-5.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Longboat Key District 4 Commissioner Jack Daly has advocated for the development of a Town Center, and on behalf of town when it comes to mainland traffic plans.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 12, 2021
Daly advocates for Town Center, traffic solutions

Jack Daly has served on the Longboat Key Town Commission since 2015.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 12, 2021
J. McLaughlin hosts Sip and Shop for Save Our Seabirds

Store manager Melanie Dale is kicking off a full month of Sip and Shops.

  • 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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