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Your Observer

  • By World Class Dentistry
  • October 23, 2025
World Class Dentistry: Four Decades of Innovation. One Family. One Mission.

In a world of corporate dentistry, World Class Dentistry stands apart as a family-owned, patient-focused practice guided by decades of excellence. Discover how one Sarasota family is redefining what it means to care for a smile.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Flooding in Pinecraft during 2024's Hurricane Debby prompted an emergency response.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 22, 2025
Phillippi Creek dredging will begin soon to alleviate flood threats

With permits and contracts finalized, work smoothing the flow of drainage is soon to start.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Paige Hernandez leads students.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 22, 2025
Tuttle Elementary gets moving with hip-hop educational theater

Performing artists and educator Paige Hernandez, the current artist in residence with Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, visited the school.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Children will have two free Halloween-themed events they can attend this week hosted by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and East Manatee Fire Rescue.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 22, 2025
Sheriff's Office, East Manatee Fire Rescue to host Halloween events

The two free events, at the Sheriff's Operations Center in Bradenton and Station 1 in Lakewood Ranch, will have goodies and activities for kids.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Recently completed at The Bay is the pedestrian promenade along North Tamiami Trail.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 22, 2025
The Bay moves ahead with Phase 3 of park developments

The Bay Park Conservancy has secured a funding plan with the Sarasota City Commission and County Commission to proceed with design and construction on the third phase.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Despite choppy conditions, the Sarasota Ski-A-Rees finished last Sunday's show with a grand finale three-tier pyramid.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 22, 2025
Catch the Ski-A-Rees before winter break

The family tradition continues with third-generation performers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Solid dosage medications, (prescription and over the counter) such as tablets and capsules, are accepted. Liquids and needles will not qualify.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 22, 2025
Medication drop-off set Saturday at Sarasota Sheriff's Office, Police Department

The events are aimed at raising awareness of properly disposing of unwanted medications.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Junior Max Taken and sophomore Carter Atwood of Berkeley Prep are on the tail of senior Tyren Wortham of Booker High School.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 22, 2025
More than just talent has produced winning Booker football

The Tornadoes have hit their stride at 7-1 entering Week 10 by embodying "mutuality."

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Darian Sanders uses his passion and experience of performing to inspire students at Lakewood Ranch High School.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 22, 2025
'Lion King' star inspires Lakewood Ranch High students

Darian Sanders spent five years traveling on the Broadway tour of "The Lion King" and uses his experience to inspire students.

  • East County
  • Schools
Woman wants HOA to leave her bamboo alone
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 22, 2025
Woman wants HOA to leave her bamboo alone

Calling them emotional support plants a woman says her HOA is damaging bamboo. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Dave Tomasko, outgoing executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, has always appreciated maintaining a close connection with the area's waterways. Now, he is returning to the private sector.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 22, 2025
Outgoing estuary program director proud of work on waterways

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director Dave Tomasko is proud of how he's helped improve local waterways and now looks to make broader systemic changes.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A car carrier sits in the median of Gulf of Mexico Drive Tuesday, Oct. 14. Many seasonal residents fly down and have their cars shipped on carriers to Longboat Key, and the return of the car transporters has become known as one of the first signs of the more busy winter season.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 22, 2025
Longboat businesses optimistic for better season from visitors

The snowbirds are returning, and their dollars extend a lifeline for businesses that rely on the season to make up for a summer lull.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Brooke Pavek (left) and Xochitl Napoles (right) skate down the path at Nathan Benderson Park on Oct. 18. Both will be active in this year's marathon.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 22, 2025
Florida Inline Skating Marathon celebrates fifth anniversary in Sarasota

The Nov. 8 event at Nathan Benderson Park will be the largest marathon of its kind in the state.

  • East County
  • Sports
The new pavilion and restrooms at Greenbrook Adventure Park are open to the public.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 22, 2025
Pavilion, restrooms open at Greenbrook Adventure Park

More than two years after smoldering fireworks caused the original structure to burn, the replacement is complete.

  • East County
  • News
Mallory Park embraces all things eerie in October.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 22, 2025
Mallory Park of Lakewood Ranch turns creepy — in a good way

The normally quaint neighborhood turns haunted for Halloween.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
District 5 Commissioner Bob McCann votes against approving Manatee County's FY2026 budget.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 22, 2025
Manatee County commissioner calls DOGE audit 'accurate'

Commissioner Bob McCann said it's time to "tighten the belt and cut some people loose."

  • East County
  • News
Two properties at 601 Tyler Drive sold for a combined $3.5 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 22, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 6-10 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in Residences at Longboat Key on Gulf of Mexico Drive tops the week’s sales at $6 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
U.S. Recycling is a construction and demolition recycling facility which borders the Central Cocoanut neighborhood. Suncoast Waterkeeper has filed a notice of intent to sue U.S. Recycling for allegedly polluting Hog Creek via stormwater runoff.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 22, 2025
Recycling facility may be sued for allegedly polluting Sarasota Bay

Suncoast Waterkeeper alleges that U.S. Recycling is violating the Clean Water Act by not abiding by Florida Department of Environmental Protection requirements.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Pepper shrimp is just one of many cross-cultural dishes popular in Trinidad and Tobago and available on the menu at Flambo, the newest restaurant to open on St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 22, 2025
Trinidadian cuisine on the menu at new St. Armands spot

A new family-run Caribbean restaurant called Flambo quietly opened on St. Armands Circle and looks forward to bringing energy to its new home.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Rex Jensen will have his name added to the C. John A. Clark Humanitarian Award plaque at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch as the 2025 honoree.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 22, 2025
Developing Lakewood Ranch with a humanitarian's touch

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch's Rex Jensen honored for creating an environment that leads to giving.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
State Senator Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) receives a round of applause at a ceremony where he was unanimously picked to serve as Senate President for the 2026-28 legislative term.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 22, 2025
Bradenton State Senator Jim Boyd picked as FL Senate president

In his address to the Florida Senate Caucus, Boyd said he has a vision for Florida where “every person has the chance to prosper,” “families feel safe in their neighborhoods” and businesses are empowered to grow.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A rendering of Florida Studio Theatre's McGillicuddy Arts Plaza.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 22, 2025
FST Arts Plaza to break ground Oct. 29

Florida Studio Theatre will celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking of it new McGillicuddy Arts Plaza on Oct. 29.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jasmine France poses for a photo before a team practice on Oct. 21 at Sarasota High School. The junior nearly broke 20 minutes in her three-mile race last weekend to pace the Sailors.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 21, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Jasmine France

The junior for Sarasota girls' cross country placed third in the Out-of-Door Invitational as the Sailors took top honors.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Town Hall commission chambers were at capacity for a workshop meeting to discuss whether or not to rename Gulf of Mexico Drive, and monitors with additional seating were set up outside for an overflow crowd.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 21, 2025
Gulf of Mexico Drive will remain the name of Longboat's main road

Residents shared opinions on a road name change with the Longboat Key Town Commission, with over 500 emails flowing in, more than 80% advocating to not change.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Trey Bowlin, Zach Schield, Tyler Brunton and Jamison Urch hoist the 25th Morton's Firehouse Chili Cook-Off trophy high as they take home first place for the Longboat Fire Rescue team.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 21, 2025
Longboat Fire smokes competition in chili cook-off

At the 25th annual Morton's Chili Cook-Off with other local first responders, Longboat Fire Rescue took home the top prize.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Circle Chiropractic's Zoey Young, Greg Hengel, Ben Duke and Alex Scholz welcomed clients for the first time at their new location in Lakewood Ranch on Oct. 6.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 21, 2025
Chiropractic office opens in Lakewood Ranch

Their own injuries prompted Circle Chiropractic Owner Ben Duke and Clinic Director Greg Hengel to pursue careers in chiropractic care.

  • East County
  • Business
Joe Rendace and Amber Nelson are eager to read and critique each other's work through the Novel and Screenplay Critique Group in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 21, 2025
Lakewood Ranch writers come together to critique one another's work

The Novel and Screenplay Critique Group is led by Joe Rendace, who says feedback is important to create successful stories.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Man claiming to know Trump threatens to throw a party
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 21, 2025
Man claiming to know Trump threatens to throw a party

A man claiming to know the president was using his famous punchline at a golf club resort prompted a call to Longboat police this week. This and other Longboat Key police reports in this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The new aquatics complex at Premier Sports Campus is expected to open in the fall of 2026.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 21, 2025
Premier aquatics complex construction stirs excitement among local swim clubs

The Lakewood Ranch Swim Association Lightning and Sarasota Tsunami are hoping to find a home at the new competition pool.

  • East County
  • Sports
This Lake Club home at 8532 Pavia Way sold for $3.15 million. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,162 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 21, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 6-10 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in Lake Club topped the week’s sales at $3.15 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Monique, a loggerhead sea turtle, crawls into the ocean off Lido Beach.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 21, 2025
Boating safety tips shared after struck sea turtle recovered off Longboat

While sea turtles are hard to spot, and often get hit without boaters realizing it, a Mote official said there are easy steps boaters can take.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kenny DeStefano poses for a photo before an Oct. 20 team practice. The junior was one of three Mustangs to place in the top five at the Out-of-Door Invitational on Oct. 18, and one of five to crack the top 10.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 20, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Kenny DeStefano

The junior for Lakewood Ranch boys' cross-country posted the best time among all Mustangs to finish second individually at the Out-of-Door Invitational.

  • East County
  • Sports
One of Intercoastal Medical Groups offices at 965 Beneva Road in Sarasota. Aetna is dropping Intercoastal Medical Group from its Medicare Advantage plan coverage.
    By
  • Michael Harris
  • October 20, 2025
Intercoastal patients lose Aetna Medicare Advantage coverage

After Nov. 30, patients who have an Aetna plan and use Intercoastal Medical Group will have to change doctors or get new coverage.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Choir member Nick Masiello brings congregants to tears with his rendition of "Bring Him Home" from "Les Misérables" at a special Shabbat service on Oct. 17, recognizing hostages of the Gaza-Israel conflict.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 20, 2025
Longboat temple lights candles for war hostages

Members of Temple Beth Israel offered a musical tribute to the survivors and victims of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tara Piedra, and Ariel Betancourt and Michael Matheis of Station 9, prepare chili.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 20, 2025
Firefighters turn up the heat at chili cook-off

The 25th annual Morton's Firehouse Chili Cook-Off brought together various fire departments for chili-making competition and camaraderie.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Prep Band Director Jay Belmont has not only given the new Big Band a place to play, but he has joined the band as well.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 20, 2025
Those who want to join the Lakewood Ranch Big Band need to sound off

Polo Run's Chuck Huffine is seeking interested musicians.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Colin Montgomery, a two-time winner of the Senior PGA Championship, is in the 135-player field committed to play April 16-19.
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