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Your Observer

  • By Adrian Moore and Guy Bentley
  • May 5, 2021
Florida setting the example on vaping regulations

Misinformation around vaping continues to plague much of the media, state legislatures and the general public.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Steven Zickafoose, an assistant principal at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, and Angela Lindsey, principal of the school, wear masks while on campus. The administrators might not have to wear masks next year. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 5, 2021
School District of Manatee County considers letting masks down

School Board of Manatee County considers a voluntary mask policy for summer school and the 2021-22 school year.

  • East County
  • News
Max Yan balances at the front of class.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 5, 2021
Paradise Center tai chi students learn from a master

Chen tai chi master Max G. Yan taught one class at the Paradise Center to a crowd of 25 students.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Volunteer coaches and athletes.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 5, 2021
Aptly named Tennis for Fun program starts at Longboat Key Public Tennis Center

Tennis for Fun program is part of the Special Olympics, and the Longboat site already has three athletes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Donna Sharp-Blaney and her daughters Chelsea and Chloe. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 5, 2021
Longboat Key moms on moms

Mothers have a keen sense of what parenthood is all about.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 5, 2021
St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church hosts clam bake

The men's club put on the event, a sign they're ramping up activities.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Myles Summerlin, Dillon Smith and Zionna Williams graduating from Booker High School.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • May 4, 2021
Laptops on the way

The organization is providing 175 laptops to students in need.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Amy McKinlay and Luca Giunta
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • May 4, 2021
Moms on motherhood

New mothers and empty nesters alike say there is nothing pre-packaged about life as a parent.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Structures at Bobby Jones Golf Club will be removed this spring and early summer.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 4, 2021
Bobby Jones nature trails closing next week

Work begins to demolish buildings in preparation for renovation of property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A city ordinance requiring a face mask when social distancing was not possible in public expired earlier this year after state regulations nullified enforcement options. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 4, 2021
City scraps plans for mask ordinance

An executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis rendered consideration of a mask mandate moot, the city attorney said.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 4, 2021
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Too slow, not furious

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Bridgette Clark, Heather Sellers and Tim Thurman. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 4, 2021
Longboat's first turtle nest of the season is found

The first sea turtle nest has showed up on Longboat beaches.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Chuck Palmeri received a Silver Star medal for his time fighting in World War II.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • May 4, 2021
Memories of service remain strong for World War II Silver Star recipient

Chuck Palmeri reflects on his time in the war on the eve of V-E day.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Horseback riders from Panther Ridge and the Concession show their opposition to a land use amendment that would add 15 single-family homes near the entrance to the Concession.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • May 4, 2021
Concession and Panther Ridge residents protest pending development in east Manatee County

About 25 people protested a pending amendment to add homes near the entrance to the Concession in east Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key's stop in the watershed audio tour is located on Bay Side Drive just south of Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 4, 2021
Sister Keys in spotlight

Longboat Key's stop tells how citizens came together to protect the Sister Keys.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
One of few meat-eating passerines (aka songbirds) their habit of impaling their prey earned loggerhead shrikes the nickname “butcher-bird”. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • May 4, 2021
Bird of the week: Loggerhead shrike

"Butcher Bbrd" lacks a raptor's talons, but makes up for it with strong, sharp beak.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • May 3, 2021
Karin’s Causes organization to put on 14th annual Estate Sale

The annual sale will offer up plenty of eclectic oddities May 13 to 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Shepard Englander is 57.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • May 3, 2021
Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee takes on new CEO

Shepard Englander is making his way to Sarasota this September.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Garden Club President Susan Phillips, center, and LBKGC grants committee chair Linda Ulrich, right, present a check to Paradise Center executive director, Suzy Brenner, left. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 3, 2021
Paradise Center to start edible garden

Thanks to a Longboat Key Garden Club grant, the center will soon plant herbs and vegetables.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 3, 2021
Virtual public forum planned about Vamo Drive Park

Participants can ask questions, make comments.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 2, 2021
Garden Club hosts Arbor Day picnic

The picnic was the club's first significant in-person event since the pandemic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office received reports Saturday evening about an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles on Cattlemen Road in Sarasota near University Town Center.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 2, 2021
Shots fired Saturday night in University Town Center area in Sarasota.

Those riding in two sedans exchanged gunfire on Cattlemen Road in Sarasota on Saturday night but no injuries were reported.

  • East County
  • News
Built in 2019, the home at 2905 Casey Key Road has five bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,188 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 2, 2021
Casey Key home sells for $6.49 million

Residential real estate transactions for April 19-23.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Built in 2020, the home at 220 Coolidge Drive has seven bedrooms, seven-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,514 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 2, 2021
Ringling Estates home sells for $3.15 million

Residential real estate transactions for April 19-23.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • May 2, 2021
Satchel's Last Resort and Our Y unite for first dog wellness expo

The first annual dog walk and wellness expo was held May 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A bullet hole is in the window above the garage at 6706 Oakmont Way after a shooting early Sunday morning in Bradenton.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 2, 2021
UPDATE — Shooting erupts after River Club party in Bradenton

Two suffer non life-threatening injuries trying to flee the scene at River Club in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 30, 2021
Temple Beth Israel hosts food, book drive

Donors dropped off food on one side of the parking lot and books on the other.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Students play on the playground at the Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 30, 2021
Temple Emanu-El reopening early learning center

After a year of closures due to COVID-19, the Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center will reopen for summer school and fall classes.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Interim Longboat Key Police Chief George Turner began his tenure at 5 p.m. ET Friday, April 30.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 30, 2021
Former captain begins tenure as interim police chief

Turner previously served the Longboat Key Police Department from December 2001 through October 2007.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • April 30, 2021
Paul H. Achre

Paul H. Achre died on April 26, 2021 in Bradenton, Florida. He was 91.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 29, 2021
East County weather page photo: April 29

Gordon Silver captured this pelican having a bass lunch along White Eagle Boulevard.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 29, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: April 29

Sheryl Vieira captured this dowtown Sarasota sunset over the Palm Avenue parking garage.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 29, 2021
Longboat Key weather page photo: April 29

Janet Krueger captured this breezy day on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 29, 2021
East County weather page photo: April 22

Scott Veix captured this pair of bald eagles fixing up their nest for their young eaglet on White Eagle Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Barriers physically separate town commissioners on the dais inside Town Hall.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 29, 2021
Longboat Key to continue hybrid meetings until summer

As long as there is a physical quorum, Longboat Key town commissioners can use Zoom to watch and participate in commission meetings through June 26.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 29, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: April 22

Judith Horn captured this photo of a great blue heron at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Students in Kirsten Hazelton's 2nd-grade class at Southside Elementary School used their magnifying glasses to watch their freshly released ladybugs get to work patrolling their vegetable garden at the school.
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