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Your Observer

Robert Marbut, the executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, speaks at a Nov. 24 town hall meeting on homelessness at the Ken Clark Auditorium. Courtesy image.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 3, 2020
Arroyo town hall stirs homelessness conversation

The return of a controversial homelessness expert included some harsh assessments of Sarasota's response strategies — and pushback from local service providers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
In addition to ensuring all the downtown lighting works, Mayor Hagen Brody wanted the city to explore expanding tree lights onto branches.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 3, 2020
Holiday decor falls flat for mayor

Property owners are working with the city on a strategy to make downtown more festive.

  • Sarasota
  • News
As a cost-saving measure, the St. Armands BID could eliminate some design features from its original restroom plans.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 3, 2020
St. Armands bathroom plans remain in flux

In response to rising costs, officials are considering scrapping the favored design and housing the restrooms in shipping containers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
After the city rejected the first proposal, Selby Gardens revised the proposed height of the parking garage by more than 40%.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 3, 2020
Selby Gardens project set for City Commission review

Last year, the City Commission turned away Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ proposed master plan. Will a revised pitch produce a different outcome this month?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 12.3.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
A rendering of the 88,000-square foot facility that will include clinical services, an ambulatory surgery center and administrative offices. (Courtesy of Coastal Orthopedics)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • December 2, 2020
Coastal Orthopedics planning new Lakewood Ranch facility

Coastal Orthopedics is planning an 88,000-square foot expansion in Lakewood Ranch that will include clinical services, an ambulatory surgery center and administrative offices.

  • East County
  • News
Floyd C. Johnson and Flo Singer Johnson Preserve at Braden River protects a 44.5-acre parcel of land.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • December 2, 2020
Long-established committee hopes to advise Manatee County on environmental land fund

Manatee County environmental committee could play big role in protecting more land

  • East County
  • News
Hannah Marco and Sophia Gambrell. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 2, 2020
Students gobble up donations in Lakewood Ranch

Primrose School at Lakewood Ranch Town Center and Lakewood Ranch North donate food items to Hungers End.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Eagle Trace resident Patricia McHugh (left) shows her concern about the Cox dealership, largely flooding issues in her case, in this Jan. 25 photo.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • December 2, 2020
Planned Cox Chevrolet lot challenged by appeal from east Bradenton residents

Appeal of east Bradenton dealership say plans violate county code

  • East County
  • News
Edward Goltsman is one local business owner who said he did not hear about the CARES Act program in time to apply. Goltsman runs a DJ service called sarasotaparty.com and owns Bottom Line Records. (courtesy of Edward Goltsman)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • December 2, 2020
Manatee County asks for CARES Act extension

Some Manatee County businesses may lose out on CARES Act grants

  • East County
  • News
This image of Lakewood Ranch High School was taken by a Manatee County drone while it was documenting irrigation infrastructure. (Courtesy of Manatee County)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • December 2, 2020
Manatee County drone program takes off

Manatee County uses drones to inspect roofs, count infrastructure

  • East County
  • News
Braden River Soccer Club's U11 boys team is currently ranked 60th in the U.S.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 2, 2020
Skills, accountability the soccer goal for Braden River SC

The U11 club is ranked nationally by GotSoccer.

  • East County
  • Sports
Omer Danenberg-Lerner and Ashlynn Voorhees are off to college on gymnastics and acrobat and tumbling scholarships, respectively.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 2, 2020
Two Lakewood Ranch gymnasts persevere to earn scholarships

The pair fought through injuries and fears to find success

  • East County
  • Sports
(From left) Sharie Kelly, Jennifer Ramsey and Nabil Rezkalla. Kelly and Rezkalla co-own Riviera Mediterranean Grille, while Rezkalla and Ramsey are both chefs at the restaurant.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • December 2, 2020
EYE ON BUSINESS: Restauranteur's passion on menu at Mediterranean-Italian eatery in Lakewood Ranch

EYE ON BUSINESS: Chef, designer open authentic Mediterranean-Italian restaurant in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
Mike Newhams, a science teacher, explains how to separate the layers of an onion to his students. Newhams loves having his class outdoors and at the center of campus so he can connect with other students and staff members.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 2, 2020
Sky's the limit in outdoor classes in Lakewood Ranch

ODA allows teachers to host their classes in outdoor spaces during pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River High School sophomore Christian Bell, freshman Nathan Walmsley and seniors Alex Bustillo and Phil Staffiles practice for their rifle competition. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 2, 2020
Lessons in leadership in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools' JROTC programs adjust to the pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 2, 2020
Longboat Key communities of faith hold Thanksgiving service

The religious leaders of the island came together to share the message that the act of thanksgiving isn't impossible, even in 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 2, 2020
Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce hosts second annual Light Up Longboat

Longboat Key's tree lighting went off without a hitch, even without activities and refreshments due to the pandemic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 2, 2020
Accolades for Jordan

Longboat Key's Michael Jordan wins Gold Award for Unpublished Thriller.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Marjorie Klotz and daughter Marjorie Sonstrom
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 2, 2020
Ringing strong

Marjorie Klotz, 104, rings the bell for St. Armands Key Lutheran Church.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 2, 2020
Temple Beth Israel collects items for JFCS

The little gifts will be repackaged and given as holiday presents to seniors served by JFCS.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • December 1, 2020
County survey finds upbeat attitudes

The 2020 Citizen Survey found that 96% of residents say they are happy with the quality of life in Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • December 1, 2020
County OKs Siesta parking spaces

22 spaces will be added along Ocean Boulevard at the entrance to Siesta Village.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • December 1, 2020
Ruth A. Beliles

Ruth Dearing Beliles, born March 11, 1929, in Urbana, Ill., passed away peacefully on November 24, 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    In Memoriam |
  • December 1, 2020
Charles Reeder Savidge

Charles Reeder Savidge, known to many as Chuck, passed away on November 19, 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Flori Roberts had decades of successful business experience well before she arrived in Sarasota.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • December 1, 2020
Flori Roberts remembered for charity, business acumen

The philanthropist and pioneer in the cosmetics industry passed away Nov. 23.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cheri Coryea's future as Manatee County Administrator could be decided Jan. 6 at a Commission meeting.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 30, 2020
Manatee County Commission strife demands public input

Public needs to provide feedback to Manatee County Commission as it plots a new course for the future.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The Longboat Key Historical Society accepted bids until Nov. 11 on the larger L-shaped cottage.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • November 30, 2020
Chiles Group moves forward with purchase of historic cottage

The Longboat Key Historical Society is planning to purchase a historic cottage from the Longboat Key Historical Society.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 30, 2020
Serenissima estate sells for record price

845 Longboat Club Road home sells for $16.5 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 30, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Smell that?

Police reports from around the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Manatee County Sheriff's Office finds 17-year-old male dead and 14-year-old male injured after shooting on Verna Bethany Road and State Road 64 East. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 30, 2020
17-year-old male dies after east Bradenton shooting

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office finds a 17-year-old male dead and a 15-year-old male injured after a shooting.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • November 30, 2020
Rotary Club of Longboat Key donates to Children's Guardian Fund

Over a dozen families received Thanksgiving bundles.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The home at 6701 Peacock Road was built in 2008 and features five bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 7,489 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 29, 2020
Peacock Road home sells for $7.8 million

Sarasota and Siesta Key area residential real estate transactions for Nov. 16-20.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
6525 Gulf of Mexico Drive was recently built with four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,980 square feet of living space.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 29, 2020
Sleepy Lagoon home sells for nearly $4 million

Longboat Key residential real estate transactions for Nov. 16-20.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • November 28, 2020
Siesta Key embraces holiday cheer with Christmas tree lighting

The tree lighting was held Nov. 28.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • November 28, 2020
Small Business Saturday a big hit for St. Armands shops

Local stores welcomed customers in with hope for a strong holiday season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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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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