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Your Observer

  • By All Faiths Food Bank
  • October 1, 2020
Turning Empty Plates into ThankFULL Tummies and Hearts

Turning Empty Plates into ThankFULL Tummies and Hearts

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
If approved, 20,000 Almaco jack would be placed in an anchored pen. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 30, 2020
Sarasota residents again express opposition for fish farm

A proposed fish farm would place 20,000 fish in a pen 45 miles off the coast of Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
County staff hopes new stormwater projects can improve the quality of water in the county's watersheds and Sarasota Bay. File photo
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 30, 2020
Commissioners hope to improve water quality

County staff hopes to implement a new stormwater rate system by fiscal year 2022.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sloane Ziegler, 4, works with blocks that help her learn additives of 10. Brynn Mechem
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 30, 2020
Montessori school opens on Main Street

Kathy Lindaman started the school in First Baptist Church to help families have another option during COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Property overlooking Beach Road could be home to a 170-unit hotel.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 30, 2020
Siesta hotel developers seeks density changes

One proposal seeks to eliminate the counting of hotel rooms in residential density calculations while the other would halve the count.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 30, 2020
Longboat Key Chamber meets once more for Networking @ Noon

The group met in person for the first time since February.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Manatee County is purchasing two new Braun Super Chief ambulances in October. Each will cost $328,277.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 30, 2020
Manatee County to add ambulances in east Bradenton and Myakka City

The additions, which were recently approved for the 2020-21 fiscal year, will increase Manatee's fleet to 21 units and provide Myakka City with its first ambulance.

  • East County
  • News
Bradenton-based ET MacKenzie completed repair work after the town of Longboat Key's June's sewage break. Photo courtesy of the town of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 30, 2020
State seeks $242,000 over Longboat sewage spill

The Longboat Key Town Commission voted to schedule a second private meeting with lawyers to determine what to do next.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The scam website was located at www.manatee-sheriff.org. The actual Manatee County Sheriff's Office website can be found at https://manateesheriff.com.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 30, 2020
Fake Manatee County Sheriff's Office website raises red flag on scams

The website was pulled down within a week, but Manatee County Sheriff's Office is still raising awareness about this scam and others.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • September 30, 2020
John M. Blume

John M. Blume, died peacefully on September 20, 2020 at Tidewell Hospice House in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife, Myrna, by his side.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Cathy Laird, branch manager of the Braden River Library, shows off the main portion of the current young adult section. The revamped young adult section will be centered around a makerspace.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 30, 2020
Bradenton's Braden River Library expansion construction to begin before 2021

Manatee County expects the project, which centers around a revamped young adult section, to finish by Sept. 2021.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 30, 2020
Peace prevails at McNeal Elementary in Lakewood Ranch

McNeal Elementary School celebrates Peace Day by making projects for essential workers in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Jazz stands still while Terri Arnold, a volunteer for Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, scrubs Jazz's head.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 30, 2020
SMART adopts a plan in east Bradenton

People can donate to nonprofit to adopt a horse as their own.

  • East County
  • News
The Out-of-Door volleyball team isn't playing many matches in 2020, but they're still working hard.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 30, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Thunder volleyball makes most of unique 2020 season

ODA isn't playing many matches, but they're working as hard as ever.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kaylen Rivers, a senior at The Out-of-Door Academy, is honored to be a part of the inaugural class of Brain Health Scholars.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 30, 2020
Lakewood Ranch research project requires student scholars from east Bradenton

Lakewood Ranch-area students are honored with their selection to the Brain Health Initiative's Scholars program.

  • East County
  • News
Second graders Ella Baas and Aubri Darpino spend time reading in second grade teacher Laurie Rahn's nautical themed classroom. The seafoam color of the classroom adds to Rahn's theme, Rahn says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 30, 2020
Willis Elementary teachers love new space

Addition provides six new classrooms for Lakewood Ranch elementary school.

  • East County
  • News
Cars are parked on the street on June 6 along Broadway in the Longbeach Village neighborhood.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 29, 2020
Longboat Key commissioners to consider resident-permit parking proposal in November

Parking issues have plagued the Longbeach Village neighborhood for years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Manatee County resolution requiring face coverings in public when people can't social distance has been revoked.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 29, 2020
Manatee County repeals mask resolution

Manatee County repeals mask resolution.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 29, 2020
2020 Election Recommendations: The amendments

As always, many of the proposed constitutional amendments sound good, but they aren’t.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting death in Lakewood Ranch that occurred Sunday in Central Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 29, 2020
UPDATE: Suspect named in domestic shooting in Lakewood Ranch

Manatee County Sheriff's Office names suspect in shooting death of Lakewood Ranch man.

  • East County
  • News
The town of Longboat Key's mandatory mask policy runs through the end of November.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 29, 2020
Longboat Key takes steps toward in-person meetings

It's unclear which four commissioners will meet in person.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 28, 2020
School district considers two days off for students

Superintendent Brennan Asplen proposed Oct. 12 and Nov. 18 as two planning days for teachers.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The flag-less flag pole. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 28, 2020
Missing flag

Have you seen the Twin Shores flag?

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tim, Sophia, Jorie and Addison Riesen, Mildren Clark and Carol and Phil Miglioratti.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 28, 2020
Four generations do life on Longboat Key

Two streets and 87 years separate this Country Club Shores.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
John Ryan, Ryan Schitea and Jack Ryan
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 28, 2020
Sarasota Bay Watch resumes clam distribution

The organization is beginning monthly clam deployments to help the bay.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Great Egrets are named after their wispy breeding plumes, called aigrettes, for which they were nearly hunted to extinction in the 1880s. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • September 28, 2020
Bird of the week: Great egret

Activism for their protection led to formation of the Audubon Society and federal wildlife laws.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 28, 2020
Temple Beth Israel hosts Yom Kippur food drive

Members went one way for meal pick-up and another to drop off donations.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Gail Loefgren said she is planning to hold a “Zoominar” to help people understand the CARES Act.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 28, 2020
Town awaits calculations on CARES reimbursements

The town of Longboat Key is tracking it's COVID-19-related expenses.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 1208 Northport Drive was built in 2005. It has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,980 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 27, 2020
Royal Palm Harbor home sells for $2.975 million

Residential real estate transactions for Sept. 14-18.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Unit G-601 of L'Ambiance Longboat Key Club was built with three bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths and 3,220 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 27, 2020
L'Ambiance condo sells for $2.7 million

Residential real estate transactions for Sept. 14-18.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 27, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Not welcome

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Sarasota football roundup: 09.25.20
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 25, 2020
Sarasota football roundup: 09.25.20

Sarasota football roundup: 09.25.20

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
East County football roundup: 09.25.20
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 25, 2020
East County football roundup: 09.25.20

East County football roundup: 09.25.20

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 25, 2020
Lakewood Ranch High football bowls over Booker High

The Mustangs beat the Tornadoes 27-7.

  • East County
  • Sports
Charlotte Graver and Sandy Wood in 2013.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 25, 2020
Temple receives grants from Charlotte P. Graver Fund

$55,000 will be dispersed to the temple through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 25, 2020
Sarasota Charter Review Board District 2: Doreen Dupont

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • 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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