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Your Observer

The town of Longboat Key has put up signage, barriers and temporary fencing at 6399 Gulfside Road.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 19, 2021
Gulfside Road beach access temporarily closed

The beach access point at 6399 Gulfside Road will remain closed until mid-April.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A COVID-19 vaccination is given at the Manatee County drive-thru vaccination operation at Tom Bennett Park. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Health-Manatee County)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 19, 2021
All Manatee County adults now eligible to register for vaccine

Manatee County opens registration to Florida residents 18 and older

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 19, 2021
Christ Church of Longboat Key presents checks to supported organizations

An anonymous donation from a church member made four large grants possible.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Thanks to their special feathers, barred owls can fly nearly silently and their plumage colors help them blend in with their natural environment. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • March 19, 2021
Bird of the week: barred owl

One of five owl species in Florida, they hunt and hoot day and night.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 18, 2021
The bill that can save the housing market

Rising property insurance rates are on the verge of popping Florida’s housing bubble and the economy — all because of lawsuits. SB 76 can save the state.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 18, 2021
St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church hosts parish picnic

The church hosted its first social event in about a year and invited parishioners to pack a picnic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 18, 2021
Sarasota weather page photo: March 18

Curtis Bean captured this photo of a sunset at North Bridge Outlook Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 18, 2021
Longboat Key weather page photo: March 18

Doug Blunt captured this full moon rising over the harbor at the Shore Restaurant on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 18, 2021
East County weather page photo: March 18

Bruce Silverman took this photo of a Christmas cactus in bloom in Rosedale.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 18, 2021
Longboat Key police gets new boat

A WCIND grant worth $215,000 paid for the new 32-foot Yellowfin Offshore boat.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Heather Rippy
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 18, 2021
Driftwood Beach Home and Garden creates community space

The new space is more than a store and offers gardening and cooking classes out back.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Freya Robbins, Supreme Court Certified Mediator & Certified Divorce Financial Analyst ®
  • March 18, 2021
When Business Gets Personal

When Business Gets Personal

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
A COVID-19 vaccination is given at the Manatee County drive-thru vaccination operation at Tom Bennett Park. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Health-Manatee County)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 18, 2021
Manatee County expands registration to residents 55 and up

Manatee County residents 55 and up can now register for vaccine, must wait to receive it

  • East County
  • News
You'll easily spot rufa red knots during breeding season, when they develop their distinctive red plumage. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • March 18, 2021
Bird of the week: Rufa red knot

World travelers visit our shores.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Although City Commissioner Liz Alpert said she supported the extension, she encouraged the developer to consider updating its preliminary site design, depicted in this concept image.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
Developer revisits affordable housing project

With a deadline extension from the city, developers renew plans to build 393 workforce apartments.

  • Sarasota
  • News
After producing concept plans for a parklet, depicted in the rendering above, the St. Armands Business Improvement District received construction quotes that were more than four times over budget, so the group is scaling back.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
St. Armands landowners eye streetscape upgrades

Circle stakeholders are considering refreshed landscaping, improved lighting and reworked signage as they pursue a plan for enhancing the area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Downtown Improvement District and St. Armands Business Improvement District are responsible for projects such as the lightpole flower baskets in downtown Sarasota. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
New faces join improvement district boards

A majority of the City Commission indicated a desire to bring fresh perspectives to downtown and St. Armands Circle property owner groups.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city altered plans for a multi-use recreational trail along U.S. 41 in an effort to complement the nearby Sarasota Art Museum, the former Sarasota High School building.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
City, school board discuss U.S. 41 trail plans

Plans are moving forward for a new pedestrian and cyclist route near Sarasota High School, albeit with a few trees relocated from the initial proposal.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Under the terms of a negotiated agreement with neighbors, noise violations at Raffurty’s Bar and Grill could lead to the revocation of the business’s liquor license.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 18, 2021
Main Street bar brokers liquor license compromise

The owner of Raffurty’s Bar and Grill worked with neighbors to establish noise restrictions and other guidelines for the downtown business.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Students at Fruitville Elementary had a reading visit from the Barancik Foundation's John Annis.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 17, 2021
District prepares for new $5.7 million book adoption

The district is attempting to keep up with new state standards and book adoptions despite a lack in state funding.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Ed Zunz served on the Longboat Key Town Commission from 2016-2021.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 17, 2021
Ed Zunz discusses having to resign early, tenure on Town Commission

Since March 2016, Ed Zunz has served as a Longboat Key town commissioner.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Robert Turner, Ben Guth, Trevor Garofalo, Ray Sullivan and J.T. Bacigalupi are Myakka City Fire Control District firefighters. Guth, Garofalo and Sullivan are leading the effort to introduce East Manatee firefighters to the area.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 17, 2021
Caution ... merge ahead for East Manatee, Myakka fire districts

Myakka City-East Manatee fire merger preparations underway

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 17, 2021
Longboat Island Chapel hosts St. Patrick's Day lunch

A few chapel members gathered in the Friendship Garden for the holiday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Impact fees are one-time fees charged to developers after the completion of construction projects to help cover the cost of increased stress placed on county infrastructure. File photo.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 17, 2021
Manatee County Planning Commission roundup: impact fee debate

Manatee County Planning Commission members discuss impact fees, rezone requests

  • East County
  • News
Commissioner Nancy Detert said the provision allows residents who don't live near a property have a say on what will happen to it.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 17, 2021
Commission moves to eliminate citizen-initiated reviews

The current provision allows 20 or more registered voters to request a comprehensive plan amendment.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Michelle Leahy, a Manatee County volunteer specialist for Parks and Natural Resources, works on a headstone during the Rye Cemetery Preservation and Beautification project.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 17, 2021
Manatee County won't bury its history during Heritage Days.

Rye cemetery cleanup just one of the activities during Manatee Heritage Days.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Ribbon cutting held at Botanic Waterside

New Lakewood Ranch apartment complex celebrates grand opening.

  • East County
  • News
Myakka residents Elizabeth Arnold and Carol Felts are concerned about development encroaching on the area surrounding their homes.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 17, 2021
Time to push development east in Manatee County?

Manatee County Commissioners to decide urban boundary amendment

  • East County
  • News
Shamar Beatty points to his family in the stands while walking across the field with his diploma. His sash and mask has photos of memories from his time at Lakewood Ranch High School. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Venue change alters graduation dates for Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools

School District of Manatee County high schools push back graduation dates after switch to LECOM Park.

  • East County
  • News
Country Meadows' Michelle Noel has gone from jobless due to the pandemic to the owner of Wicked Awesome Ice Cream Emporium in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 17, 2021
Pandemic planted seeds for Wicked Awesome Ice Cream Emporium in Lakewood Ranch

New ice cream emporium in Lakewood Ranch melts together fun and whimsy.

  • East County
  • News
Todd Richardson. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Leprechaun on the loose in Lakewood Ranch

B.D. Gullett Elementary principal dresses as leprechaun to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 17, 2021
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Upon further review . . .

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Ed Furtado.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 17, 2021
East County Athlete of the Week: Ed Furtado

The golfer talks hole-in-ones and his origins in the sport.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kevin McDowell, a Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, won the men's elite division of the 2021 Sarasota-Bradenton Triathlon in 49:15.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 17, 2021
Elite dedication on display at Benderson Park

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn

  • East County
  • Sports
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the town of Longboat Key to hold its IntroLBK 2021 class on Zoom instead of having the Citizens Academy in person.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 17, 2021
Virtual IntroLBK 2021 class offered to residents

The free classes about the Longboat Key town government are offered from March 23-25 on Zoom.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Olivya Johns, Jacsyn Hockenbury and Emily Garcia kick off the start of "Little Shop of Horrors."
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Little shop of funding horrors in east Bradenton

Braden River and Lakewood Ranch high school theater programs struggle to stay afloat financially during pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

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No good deed goes unpunished
  • May 28, 2026
No good deed goes unpunished
2
Cash grab in Manatee, too
  • May 28, 2026
Cash grab in Manatee, too
3
Benderson Development is wrapping up its latest phase of construction at the business and industrial park off Toledo Blade Boulevard.
  • May 28, 2026
County economic development agency contract approved for 2027
4
A Kobi Karp Architecture rendering of the 18-story Adagio luxury condo tower as viewed at the northwest corner of South Palm Avenue and Ringling Boulevard.
  • May 28, 2026
Adagio receives partial staff sign-off; adjustments still required
5
James Bacigalupi and Trevor Garofalo give Harry Noordzy a lift, just as they did five years ago at Station 12.
  • May 28, 2026
Myakka's Station 12 remains a part of Harry's world

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