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Your Observer

Traffic flows at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 5, 2021
Sarasota roundabout construction set to begin in February 2021

Longboat Key leaders have expressed their concerns about how mainland traffic impacts the barrier islands.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Co-Chairs Marci and Michael Klein at 2019's Avant Garde: A Magical Evening
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 5, 2021
Black Tie in 2021

Take a look at fun Black Tie events coming up this year.

  • Black Tie
The proposed height of a parking garage was a central issue during public meetings about the Selby Gardens master plan proposal. The City Commission voted to approve a site plan that included a four-story, 450-space garage.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 5, 2021
City approves Selby Gardens master plan

More than three years after Selby’s proposal first became public, the City Commission approved a site plan for the initial phase of a campus renovation project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nati Shabbat of SRQ Beats put on music for the crowd.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 4, 2021
Dancing on NYE

The NYE event had plenty of pizza and dancing.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 4, 2021
Longboat Key's new fire truck is officially in use

The town of Longboat Key paid $850,000 for the new fire truck.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee County is taking online appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations beginning at 2 p.m. today (Jan. 4).
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 4, 2021
Manatee County makes 1,200 more COVID-19 vaccinations available to those 65 and over

Online appointments in Manatee County for COVID-19 vaccinations begins at 2 p.m. today (Jan. 4).

  • East County
  • News
Tito Vitorino
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 4, 2021
Amore Restaurant to reopen in downtown Sarasota

Tito Vitorino and wife Liana, showrunners since Amore's beginnings on Longboat Key, now own the restaurant.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Grand Living Staff
  • January 4, 2021
Does happiness have an expiration date?

Does happiness have an expiration date?

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Jordan Sawmiller gave birth to Messiah Mays at 1:39 a.m. on New Year's Day. Courtesy Photo
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 3, 2021
The first baby of 2021

Messiah Mays was born at SMH on Jan. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
2613 Casey Key Road was built in 1980. It has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,865 square feet.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 3, 2021
Casey Key home sells for $6.8 million

Sarasota area residential real estate transactions for Dec. 14-18.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Unit 1203 at 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive was built in 2005. It has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,872 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 3, 2021
Lido Key condo sells for $4.8 million

Longboat Key residential real estate transactions for Dec. 14-18.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
A male suspect fleeing a Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputy died in a one-car crash late Jan. 1.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 2, 2021
Domestic battery suspect dies in Bradenton crash after fleeing Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies

A 26-year-old woman and her 1-year-old son escaped serious injuries after a 30-year-old man threatened to kill them at a Bradenton home.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County will have more time to distribute CARES ACT funding.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 2, 2021
Manatee County gets more time to disburse CARES Act funding

The COVID-19 Relief and Omnibus Spending Package allows CARES Act funding to be disbursed through Dec. 31.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 1, 2021
Sarasota celebrates 2020 New Year's Eve

Sarasota locals celebrated the new year on Main Street.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Meals on Wheels Sarasota
  • January 1, 2021
Meals on Wheels Sarasota

Meals on Wheels Sarasota

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 31, 2020
See ya, 2020

Here are the most popular libations to say goodbye forever to 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
David Novak and Dan Wade. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 31, 2020
Swan snapshot

The Longboat Key Club now immortalizes an iconic swan photo.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 31, 2020
Best of Cops Corner: 2020

Some of the most memorable police reports of 2020.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 31, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Anchors aweigh . . . er . . . away!

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 31, 2020
A shot at winning: Sarasota's year in sports photos

A lot took place on the courses, fields and courts in 2020.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 30, 2020
Word for 2021: Anthem

Taken from Ayn Rand’s 1937 novella, it’s a warning to reject the spread of collectivism and the state and fight for the principles that made the U.S. exceptional.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 30, 2020
May we quote you? The Sarasota Observer news quiz

See what kind of 2020 newshound you were. Like you had somewhere better to go or something better to do.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 30, 2020
May we quote you? The Longboat Observer news quiz

You're not going to a New Year's Eve party, so why not play our little game?

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Eric Garwood
  • December 30, 2020
Sarasota's year in pictures 2020

A look back at photos that gave us pause during a most unusual year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • December 30, 2020
Walter Maurice Harold Budde Jr, PhD

Walter Maurice Harold Budde, Jr. PhD succumbed to COVID – 19 on December 4, 2020 in Sarasota, Florida after a valiant battle.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
JANUARY — Lakewood Ranch High senior boys soccer forward Jacob Jordan goes for a header against Manatee High on Jan. 15. Jordan had two goals in the game.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 30, 2020
The best East County sports photos of 2020

These were the views from the top of the sports mountain.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bella Patterson.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 30, 2020
East County Athlete of the Week: Isabella Patterson

The Braden River junior talks getting her own points and her love of reading.

  • East County
  • Sports
Chef Danny Barbos slides a pizza into what he calls the Lamborghini of pizza ovens, a Marana.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 30, 2020
Put down your dough on this pizza in Lakewood Ranch

Legacy Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch introduces a pizzeria within its clubhouse.

  • East County
  • News
The property at 7712 Sanderling Road was built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 6,480 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 29, 2020
2020: Sarasota's top real estate transactions

Siesta Key home was the area's top seller.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 29, 2020
Best of Longboat Key Cops Corner: 2020

A look back at a year of protecting, serving.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The Moderna vaccine was administered to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center employees last week. Now Manatee County is distributing the vaccine to those 65 and over.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 29, 2020
Manatee County makes Moderna vaccine available for those 65 and over

Manatee County registration filling up quickly for the first 3,500 available Moderna vaccinations, more on the way.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 29, 2020
2020 through the lens on Longboat Key

The year started out like most do, with us complaining about traffic and marveling at where we live. Then . . .

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 29, 2020
2020 Digital Year in Review

The Observer stayed busy online in 2020. Here are the top stories of the year from YourObserver.com.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    A time to celebrate |
  • December 28, 2020
Rookie and Jordan Shifrin

Rookie and Jordan Shifrin of Lakewood Ranch celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a drive-by party consisting of friends and relatives.

  • East County
  • Celebrations
    A time to celebrate |
  • December 28, 2020
Dan Lobeck and Xin Akawi

Dan Lobeck and Xin Akawi of Sarasota became husband and wife December 19, 2020, in a lovely garden ceremony at Suncoast Community Church.

  • Sarasota
  • Celebrations
845 Longboat Club Road
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 28, 2020
2020: Top 10 real estate transactions on Longboat

It was a busy year for property sales on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
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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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