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Your Observer

Interim Police Chief George Turner, Fire Chief Paul Dezzi, Town Manager Tom Harmer and Making An Impact Chair Victoria Kasdan met in June. Photo courtesy of Making An Impact.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 8, 2021
Longboat Key first responders begin using resource guide

The guide helps connect people in need to special service organizations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bill and Tina Gardner (center) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with their children, Jennifer Shimkonis, Doug Gardner, Julie Warren and Billy Gardner.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 8, 2021
Lakewood Ranch couple celebrates 60th anniversary at the Country Club

Lakewood Ranch octogenarians celebrate their 60-year marriage at the Country Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 8, 2021
First segment of Legacy Trail opens

The segment extends from Proctor Road north to Bahia Vista Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Hal Porter purchased Whitney Beach Plaza for about $3.24 million. Brian Mathae purchased LBK Liquors.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 8, 2021
Whitney Beach Plaza sells for $3.24 million

Ryan Snyder had ownership of Whitney Beach Plaza since 2012.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Jim Hill performs on the cornet in preparation for American Fanfare that was held July 4 at the Sarasota Opera House.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 8, 2021
Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble ends long pandemic layoff

American Fanfare at the Sarasota Opera House was the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble first performance since the pandemic began.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 8, 2021
East County weather page photo: July 8

Marvin Crepea captured this deer behind his home on Thornhill Court in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 8, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: July 8

Niki Muller captured this photo of Sarasota Bay at dawn.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 8, 2021
Longboat Key weather page photo: July 8

Jane Novacek captured this photo of a tree-lined Longboat Key beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Crews are working on building a new home in the 6000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 8, 2021
Longboat Key property values officially rebound

The Property Appraisers Offices in Sarasota and Manatee counties provided the town with official values on July 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Michael Halflants, the architect for the planned Bath and Racquet Club redevelopment depicted in this rendering, has said adding more residences would be beneficial for a city facing housing challenges. File image
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 8, 2021
City approves revised Bath and Racquet Club proposal

Despite some opposition from residents, the City Commission authorized a change that could allow up to 277 apartments on the redeveloped site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • July 8, 2021
William R. (“Bill”) Korp

William R. ("Bill”) Korp. Born November 29, 1932; died June 25, 2021.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
More than two years after the final race at the Sarasota Kennel Club, a developer is advancing plans to build up to 380 apartments on the site.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 8, 2021
Developer outlines plans for apartments at Sarasota Kennel Club site

The prospective buyer of the Sarasota Kennel Club has plans to redevelop the property as an apartment complex with up to 380 units, which has some neighbors worried about traffic.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Charter Review Committee is scheduled to produce its recommendations to the City Commission for consideration in March 2022.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 8, 2021
Commissioners appoint residents to Charter Review Committee

For the first time in a decade, an advisory board will assemble to discuss potential changes to the city’s most significant governing document.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Water floods a sidewalk and pours onto River Club Boulevard across from Braden River Elementary School in East County. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 7, 2021
Tropical storm/hurricane Elsa packs little punch in Lakewood Ranch area

Tropical storm/hurricane Elsa only causes minor flooding in some Lakewood Ranch area neighborhoods.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • July 7, 2021
Lt. Col. John “Sean” McGrath, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Lt. Col. John “Sean” McGrath, U.S. Army (Ret.) passed away June 28, 2021.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Selia Rodriguez, a rising eighth grader, and Miriam Castrejon, a rising freshman, demonstrate how their ferris wheel works. Castrejon says building the ferris wheel was more fun than she expected.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 7, 2021
Lakewood Ranch students rise to STEM camp challenges

Summer STEM camp brings new experiences for migrant students at Nolan Middle School.

  • East County
  • Schools
Palms sway along the Sarasota bayfront on Wednesday morning.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 7, 2021
Elsa leaves minimal damage in Sarasota County

Airport resumes operations and city, county offices reopen for business.

  • Sarasota
  • News
On Wednesday morning, water sat on Bayside Drive in the Longbeach Village neighborhood after Hurricane Elsa.
  • By Mark Bergin and Nat Kaemmerer
  • July 7, 2021
Longboat Key dodges most of Elsa's wind and waves

It appears Tropical Storm Eta in November 2020 caused Longboat Key more damage than Hurricane Elsa.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jim Connor looks forward to developing relationships with students as the new interim head of schools at the Out-of-Door Academy.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 7, 2021
Out-of-Door Academy hires new interim head of school.

New ODA interim head of school uses lessons he's learned from books as inspiration for his educational career.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sarasota shooter Mary Tucker, here competing with the University of Kentucky, will participate in three Rifle events at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo courtesy NCAA Photos.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 7, 2021
Sarasota Olympic shooter's specialty, explained

A breakdown of the Olympic sport kicking off the games, plus news on another Sarasotan headed to Tokyo — in a management capacity.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Participants of the 2017 VIP Program put on a show. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 7, 2021
Florida Studio Theater to offer camp to youth on the autism spectrum

The Puzzle Project will be offered to children ages 7-12 who are on the autism spectrum.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Robert Turner, Ben Guth, Trevor Garofalo, Ray Sullivan and J.T. Bacigalupi are Myakka City Fire Department firefighters. East Manatee Fire Rescue District is discussing how their benefits will transfer post-merger. File photo.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • July 7, 2021
Governor approves East Manatee-Myakka fire rescue merger

East Manatee and Myakka City fire rescues can begin discussing how to combine buildings, vehicles and personnel.

  • East County
  • News
Lt. Josh Dillard, born and raised in Manatee County, won East Manatee Fire Rescue District's Firefighter of the Year award for his work before he was promoted from engineer.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • July 7, 2021
Born-and-raised local firefighter wins East Manatee award

Josh Dillard was awarded as East Manatee Fire Rescue District's Firefighter of the Year.

  • East County
  • News
Amy Baker, Lysette Daniels and Marisa Baker check out the beach erosion in the 3100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 7, 2021
Hurricane Elsa's peak wind gust at SRQ airport: 54 mph

A frequently updated report on the progress of Elsa.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The average price of a single-family house in Manatee County increased from $463,015 in November to $567,549 in May.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • July 7, 2021
Eastern Manatee County developers say housing market will stabilize — eventually

Developers expect supply chain to self-correct at some point, but house prices may not return to pre-pandemic levels.

  • East County
  • News
Bo Fuller
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • July 6, 2021
Q&A: Bo Fuller, a newer club member, is taking over the presidency of the Rotary Club of Longboat Key

New Rotary Club leader hopes to get the club firing on all cylinders and bring in new members as the pandemic fades.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jacob Saur and Manatee County Commissioner James Satcher speak at a press conference urging local residents to make final preparations for Tropical Storm Elsa.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • July 6, 2021
Manatee County urges final preparations for Tropical Storm Elsa

Congressman Vern Buchanan, other state and county officials said tropical storm-force wind could start as early as 6 p.m.

  • East County
  • News
Commissioner Mike Moran first proposed the special district.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 6, 2021
Talk turns to millage, other funding sources for county mental health district

Commissioners are considering whether to increase the county's millage rate by one-tenth of a mill to support the Mental Health Care Special District.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch merchants have been advised to secure all outdoor seating items until Elsa passes.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 6, 2021
Main Street at Lakewood Ranch merchants urged to take tropical storm Elsa seriously

Those businesses along Main Street at Lakewood Ranch advised to bring in all outdoor seating items.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • July 6, 2021
Chip Bella Gabrick

Surrounded by his loving family, Chippy, (15 years and 11 months) (formerly of Cincinnati, Ohio) peacefully passed away in his home with his mommy and daddy by his side.

  • East County
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • July 6, 2021
Attempt to silence social media clearly unconstitutional

Legislation to control social media flies in the face of Gov. Desantis' and the GOP's free-market values.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Former Booker High wideout Talik Keaton, a sophomore at Marshall, and other athletes can now promote brands on social media thanks to the NCAA's new Name, Image and Likeness laws, which went into effect July 1. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 6, 2021
Prose and Kohn: New NCAA laws boost Sarasota-area alumni's potential earnings

The Name, Image and Likeness laws went into effect July 1, and a former Booker High wideout has taken advantage

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Ron Lambert, the director of bands, expresses his gratitude to students and families during a band picnic to honor seniors in the band programs. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 6, 2021
Lakewood Ranch High bands director Ron Lambert will retire in August.

Lakewood Ranch High's longtime director of bands will retire

  • East County
  • Schools
Ed Krepela serves on the board of Fairway Bay III, the Atrium.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 5, 2021
Longboat Key condo owners taking precautions after Surfside collapse

The deadly Surfside collapse has many Longboat Key condo owners looking into what precautions they should take.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The National Hurricane Center's projected path as of 5 p.m. Monday shows the storm arriving in our area on Tuesday.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 5, 2021
With Tropical Storm Elsa approaching, city declares state of emergency

Because of the approaching storm, officials have decided to cancel Tuesday’s City Commission meeting and close city offices for the day.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A baby turtle that hatched in summer 2020 was held in a bucket overnight so it could go out in the dark and have a better chance against predators. Photo Credit: Nat Kaemmerer
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 5, 2021
Longboat Key's sea turtle protections to change in 2022

The new changes will take effect for next year's sea turtle nesting season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Benderson Development is wrapping up its latest phase of construction at the business and industrial park off Toledo Blade Boulevard.
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A Kobi Karp Architecture rendering of the 18-story Adagio luxury condo tower as viewed at the northwest corner of South Palm Avenue and Ringling Boulevard.
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