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Your Observer

Mollie Cardamone was a Sarasota city commissioner and mayor when the current downtown master plan was developed.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 19, 2025
Former Sarasota mayor laments some aspects of downtown master plan

Mollie Cardamone, who was among the city leaders when the current downtown master plan was developed, tells the update committee of the current plan's self-inflicted flaws.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota home at 1718 Prospect St. sold for $3,462,500. It was built in 2020.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 19, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for June 2-6 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A condominium in Block 6 on Quay Commons tops the week’s sales at $6.9 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Cardinal Mooney receiver Kymistrii Young had a breakout performance in last year's Kickoff Classic preseason game against Booker with three touchdowns.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 19, 2025
Naturally gifted Cardinal Mooney receiver commits to Purdue

Kymistrii Young overcame a lack of football experience to become a D-I recruit.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Aerial straps specialist Aidan Bryant will perform during the Circus Arts Conservatory performance at Star-Spangled Spectacular July 4 at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 19, 2025
The flag is up! Waterside Place hosts July 4 Spectacular

Star-Spangled Spectacular is Lakewood Ranch's initial foray into July 4 entertainment.

  • East County
  • Opinion
St. Armands Circle was several feet underwater following hurricanes Helene and Milton.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 19, 2025
Resilience to floods may be on the way to St. Armands Key

The city of Sarasota has expressed interest in applying for Resilient SRQ funding to address four flood mitigation projects totaling $42 million, including $10 million for St. Armands Circle.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor
  • June 19, 2025
FINANCIAL FOCUS: Work toward your own financial independence day.

Your first step is to define what financial independence signifies to you.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The last day the Mote Aquarium on City Island will be open to visitors will be July 6th. Mote is planning to open its new facility soon near Benderson Park.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 18, 2025
Mote Marine begins its process of moving aquarium

July 6 will be the last day the public can visit the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium facility on City Island.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Luis Guevara.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2025
Orioles minor leaguer dies in Sarasota personal watercraft crash

Luis Guevara, 19, was killed in a head-on collision off Lido Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Members of the Indian Association of Manasota, led by president Megha Vaid, dance at this year's Diverse Fest at The Harvest Sarasota on June 14.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 18, 2025
Sarasota church The Harvest encourages community unity at Diverse Fest

Residents of all ages turned out for the third annual Diverse Fest at The Harvest Sarasota, which aims to uplift community members from all walks of life.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Heather Kasten is President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2025
Sarasota Chamber earns top national accreditation

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce has been awarded 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Seaplace is one of the island's largest condominium complexes with 461 units.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 18, 2025
St. Regis looks for parking at neighboring Seaplace complex

The Longboat Key resort approached the Seaplace condominium board to ask for use of 50 parking spaces in exchange for monetary compensation and perks for condominium owners.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Maximus Bedell, Elena Skretas, Drew Townson and Chase Devore are four of the eight house band members from School of Rock to go on tour and play the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in July.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 18, 2025
Local School of Rock musicians to perform at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame venue

The School of Rock House Band in Lakewood Ranch is going on a six-city tour with the last stop at a historic music venue.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Irate man strips down in the middle of the street
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2025
Irate man strips down in the middle of the street

After being asked to move along, a man exposed himself in the middle of the road while shouting at everyone in the area. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
East Manatee Firefighter Larry Haymore practices cutting with a torch during his Technician Level for Structural Collapse training.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 18, 2025
East Manatee firefighters get the spark to train for disaster situations

The firefighters from East Manatee Fire Rescue went through two weeks of intense drills to earn their Rescue Specialist Certification.

  • East County
  • News
Myakka City's Diane and Rich Bartoszek collect flags from each state they visit.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 18, 2025
Myakka City couple on the road to all 50 states

Rich and Diane Bartoszek will have visited all 50 states together by September.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The county's plan is to widen Lorraine Road from two lanes to four from State Road 64 to 59th Avenue East. The project would also include improvements, such as lighting and bike lanes.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 18, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Library upgrades, Lorraine Road prioritized for 2026

Manatee County commissioners started the budget process, but the final budget won't be approved until September.

  • East County
  • News
Ryan Neuzil signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with $6.5 million in guaranteed money on May 28.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 18, 2025
Former Braden River player inks 2-year deal with Falcons

Falcons center Ryan Neuzil has earned job security with his excellent play.

  • East County
  • Sports
Incoming Bird Key Yacht Club Commodore Tony Britt and outgoing Commodore Michael Landis swap memories and advice in anticipation of the Change of Watch on June 21.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 18, 2025
Outgoing Bird Key Yacht Club commodore reflects on tenure

Commodore Michael Landis shares words of advice for incoming Commodore Tony Britt, who assumes the role June 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Longbeach home was built in 2000 and has four bedrooms and two baths.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 18, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for June 2-6 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in L’Ambiance at Longboat Key Club on L’Ambiance Drive tops the week’s sales at $3.2 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The site plan for the proposed apartments at Temple Beth Sholom shows the apartments on the right nearly two-thirds of the site. The temple would remain to the left.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 18, 2025
Temple Beth Sholom apartments rejected by Planning Board

The century-old synagogue wants to sell 6 acres of property for a multifamily development.

  • Sarasota
  • News
On weekends and holidays, the Jewfish Key sandbar is a popular place for boaters.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 18, 2025
Sound issues persist on Jewfish Key sandbar and surrounding waters

Nearby residents say the sandbar has increased in popularity and the loud noises can be heard throughout north-end communities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Fascist kings behead you
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 18, 2025
Fascist kings behead you

Calling Trump a fascist, dictator king is the Democrats’ new mantra to get you to hate Trump even more. The gullible protesters have no clue what a real king does.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Florida State has managed The Ringling since 2000 on 66 bayfront acres, including the Ca' d'Zan (the Ringling mansion), the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, the Historic Asolo Theater, Bayfront Gardens, and other buildings and grounds.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 17, 2025
Ringling Museum remains under auspices of FSU

A local group hails failure of the proposal to transfer control to New College of Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manatee seeks applicants interested in DOGE-style committee
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 17, 2025
Manatee seeks applicants interested in DOGE-style committee

The five-member group would work with statewide effort.

  • East County
  • News
Eboni Rome and owner Natasha Milhouse run the NHome Taste of Soul booth at a Juneteenth festival on June 14.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 17, 2025
Juneteenth celebration brings together entrepreneurs

The sixth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way street fair celebrated some of Newton's best food and craft pop-ups.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
WEDU PBS isn't a luxury. It's a necessity.
  • By Paul Grove
  • June 17, 2025
WEDU PBS isn't a luxury. It's a necessity.

If you're skeptical of funding media with taxpayer dollars, you're not alone. In fact, you're asking the right question: Should the federal government be in the business of funding media at all?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Jonathan Farthing and his daughter, Julianna, turn the top deck of The Oval into a dance floor as they celebrate Father's Day with a special Sundays at the Bay show.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 17, 2025
The Bay Sarasota celebrates Father's Day

Families packed The Oval for a special Father's Day edition of Sundays at The Bay last weekend.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Sharks swimmer David Melnychuk placed 12th in the 200-meter long course backstroke at the USA Swimming National Championships.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 17, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: David Melnychuk

Former Riverview swimmer went to the USA Swimming National Championships.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The home at 696 Regatta Way has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 5,368 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 17, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for June 2-6 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in Riverdale Revised on Regatta Way topped the week’s sales at $3,175,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Seventh grader Bronx Hanratty and digital art teacher Katelyn Reyes went to the Dalí Museum Student Surrealist Art Exhibit where Hanratty received the Award of Excellence.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 17, 2025
Mona Jain Middle art student receives Dalí exhibit's Award of Excellence

Bronx Hanratty, a 13-year-old artist, created a piece in Photoshop to project his view on mental health.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Lund family relocated from Wisconsin so they could more easily play in pickleball tournaments and for Matt, the new CEO, to take on running The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 17, 2025
The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch reopens under new leadership

Matt Lund, who had worked under the previous ownership, says the business model has it right this time.

  • East County
  • Business
Business wanted attack bird removed from premises
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 17, 2025
Business wanted attack bird removed from premises

Staff attempted to block off a safe entry to deal with a bird that continued attacking customers. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The group that traveled with the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce for last year's trip to Italy pose for a photo. This year, participants are heading to Ireland.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 17, 2025
Longboat Chamber launches new travel club

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce recently launched a new community travel club as it gears up for an upcoming trip to Ireland.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Drivers on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard will continue to experience delays through at least October.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Boulevard inches toward improvements

The road is anticipated to be rebuilt by October, depending on the weather.

  • East County
  • News
The Sarasota Crew Women's U16 Eight boat of Addison Wilson, Brooke Wilson, Gabrielle Davis, Maya Jewell, Lillian Teague, Megan Murdock, Isabella De Liz, Sydney Soboleski and Rose Ottaviano won their class at the 2025 US Rowing Youth National Championships on June 15 at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 17, 2025
Sarasota Crew U16 Women's Eight wins national championship

Sarasota Crew's Women's U16 Eight boat gifted their fathers with a national championship on Father's Day.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Traffic often backs up from the Cortez Bridge intersection onto Longboat Key during peak season.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 17, 2025
New plan gives regional organization direction to address barrier island traffic

Some of the possible solutions, such as an extended turn lane at the Cortez Road intersection, could provide higher-level fixes to the barrier island traffic congestion in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

  • 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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