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Your Observer

This Lake Club home at 15514 Anchorage Place sold for $3.5 million. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 7,060 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 27, 2020
Lake Club home tops local sales at $3.5 million in the Lakewood Ranch and east Bradenton areas

Lake Club home tops residential real estate transactions in the Lakewood Ranch and east Bradenton areas from Dec. 7-11.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Myakka's Sarah Wiegand bakes cream wafers from scratch. The cookies are a Christmas tradition for her family.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 26, 2020
Christmas cookie tradition won't crumble in Lakewood Ranch area

Christmas cookie recipes have been passed down through generations of these Lakewood Ranch area families.

  • East County
  • News
Tara's Donna Sutton Van Riper and Gerald Van Riper used this Christmas tree topper as their wedding cake topper.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 26, 2020
Lakewood Ranch area residents tell stories of what makes their Christmas ornaments special

Lakewood Ranch area residents share stories about what makes their Christmas ornaments precious.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 25, 2020
Two fatal crashes reported in Sarasota

Sheriff's office says two killed in separate single-vehicle wrecks on 17th Street and Beach Road.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 24, 2020
Longboat Key Turtle Watch sets out on December cleanup

The club saw warm weather for their first winter beach cleanup on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 24, 2020
St. Mary, Star of the Sea hosts Christmas concert

There was plenty of social distancing and almost no socializing, but the members upheld their tradition.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Painting by Truman Adams
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 24, 2020
Open-air Christmas

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church went a different way with their display this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Photo courtesy of Cyndi Seamon.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 24, 2020
And to all a good night

Christmas on Longboat Key has a certain glow.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 24, 2020
Bird Key Yacht Club hosts annual Blessing of the Fleet

The evening serves as the club's holiday party every year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mercedes Matthews makes coffee and ice cream and may one day deliver it with the company's delivery bike.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • December 24, 2020
Coffee and ice cream shop offers work worth doing

The Rise Coffee Co. and Nye’s Cream Sandwiches business employs people with special needs.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Byron, Tatyana and Paloma Sharoubim-Stewart stay busy and happy every Christmas morning
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • December 24, 2020
Holiday memories ring true for Sarasota residents

Sarasota residents look back on their favorite holiday memories and share how they'll celebrate the season this year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
When they moved to Florida, Chris and Tammy Sachs downsized a lot of things — including their Christmas tree.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 24, 2020
Holidays past and present on Longboat Key

No holiday season has ever quite been like 2020, and many hope there's never another one.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
At a Nov. 18 meeting, Dan Lear of DSDG Architects presented a concept image depicting the proposed design of a parklet on St. Armands Circle. Amenities include a stage, rocking chairs and lighting. Image via city of Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 24, 2020
St. Armands group advances parklet plan

The St. Armands Business Improvement District also wants to work with city staff on plans to potentially allow housing and hotels in the Circle.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Michael's on the Bay at Selby Gardens is a popular venue for galas and other events. The relationship between Michael's on East and Selby Gardens is at the center of a dispute over the botanical gardnens' tax-exempt status.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 24, 2020
Selby Gardens, property appraiser remain at odds

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is preparing for a legal battle over its tax-exempt status in the beginning of the new year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 12.24.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
  • By Adam N. Phillips, D.O, Board Certified General Surgeon & Vein Specialist
  • December 24, 2020
Understanding Vein Disease

Understanding Vein Disease

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The Longboat Key Historical Society accepted bids until Nov. 11 on the larger L-shaped cottage.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 23, 2020
Longboat Key historic cottages planning to move in 2021

The cottages currently sit at 521 Broadway St. in the Longbeach Village neighborhood.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Vanessa Spingola, the emergency department clinical leader for Lakewood Ranch Medical Center receives the hospital's first Moderna COVID-19 vaccination from Derek Whitecotton, a hospital pharmacist.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 23, 2020
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center receives first shipment of Moderna vaccine

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center's healthcare workers began receiving the Moderna vaccinations Wednesday afternoon.

  • East County
  • News
Renu Ahluwalia, Gina Jordan and Rebecca Pankowski help collect donations for SPARCC. Nat Kaemmerer
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • December 23, 2020
Sarasota organizations on Santa's nice list

Holiday cheer is abundant in Sarasota even during COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Joe McElmeel and Scott Gray stand in front of gifts donated by the Republican Club of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2020
The nice list: Longboat groups turn up the cheer

Your friends and neighbors helped out a lot during this holiday season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The home at 845 Longboat Club Road was built in 2005 with six bedrooms, six full baths and two half baths, a pool and 17,714 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 23, 2020
Regents Court home sells for $16.5 million

Longboat Key residential real estate transactions for Dec. 7-11.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Florida Department of Transportation community outreach manager Brian Bollas stands on a new I-75 bridge over the Braden River. The first bridge was constructed in 1979 when I-75 was extended through Manatee and Sarasota counties.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • December 23, 2020
I-75/State Road 70 construction entering homestretch

$80.8 million project at interchange of I-75 and S.R. 70 scheduled for summer 2021 finish

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 23, 2020
Singing for Rosie in east Bradenton

Cypress Springs carolers sing to resident recovering from fall in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Father Sebastian Szczawinski said stained glass in the modern Catholic Church represent themes of light, which are common throughout the religion.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • December 23, 2020
Faith shines bright through Our Lady of the Angels' new stained glass

Our Lady of the Angels of Lakewood Ranch fills windows with stained glass, hopes to finish in 2021

  • East County
  • News
1. The Rams girls golf team won the state title after finishing third in 2019.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 23, 2020
The top-five Sarasota sports moments of 2020

These teams and athletes weathered adversity to triumph.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
3. Andrew Novak rallied to win the 2020 LECOM Suncoast Classic in February.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 23, 2020
East County's top sports moments of 2020

These athletes and teams were the talk of the town.

  • East County
  • Sports
Four Braden River High School students created an app that could save lives.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 23, 2020
East Bradenton students honored for dosage app

Four Braden River High students win 16th Congressional District App Challenge.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • December 23, 2020
Ian Willis

Ian Willis, 86, passed away on December 18, 2020 at his home on Longboat Key, Florida after a long illness.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, Faith Bench, a math teacher at Braden River Middle School, and Genelle Zoratti Yost, deputy superintendent of instructional services, honor Bench as a finalist for Educator of the Year. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 23, 2020
With contract extended, School District of Manatee County superintendent focuses on future

Superintendent of the School District of Manatee County has contract extended through June 2023.

  • East County
  • News
A time to keep our perspective
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 23, 2020
A time to keep our perspective

Caesar Augustus and Herod were all about self-centered status, power and ego. Mary and Joseph were the antithesis: humble, not materially wealthy, ordinary in all appearances. And yet they were extraordinary.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    In Memoriam |
  • December 22, 2020
Michael Petruzziello

On December 16th Michael (Mike) Petruzziello beloved husband, son, brother and friend passed away at home with his wife Debbi and their cat CoCo after a courageous battle with Cholangiocarcinoma.

  • East County
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Aileen Bermudez receives the first COVID-19 vaccination at Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Image courtesy Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 22, 2020
Sarasota Memorial Hospital begins COVID-19 vaccinations

The hospital received the Moderna vaccine today and will focus on vaccinating its workforce.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cars lined up during the first day of operations for a new COVID-19 testing site at the former Sarasota Kennel Club property.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 22, 2020
State COVID-19 testing moves to dog track site

After closing the Cattlemen Road testing center, the state is offering free drive-thru COVID-19 testing at 5400 Bradenton Road.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Murray Margolis and Ardene Chodosh have struggled since their jewelry store was robbed in 2016.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 22, 2020
Effects of Lakewood Ranch jewelry store robbery linger

Four years later after burglary, The Family Jeweler owners are out of business in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • December 22, 2020
Sarasota schools budget back on the path toward balance

Sarasota County Schools started the year with a projected deficit of $21.8 million. At the semester break, that's down to $18.3 million with more federal dollars on the way.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The new truck features a mid-mount, 75-foot ladder. The design allows the new truck to be more maneuverable.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • December 22, 2020
Longboat's new ladder truck is a step up

The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department plans to begin using the new truck in January 2021.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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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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