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Your Observer

The School Board of Manatee County unanimously approved salary increases for teachers and raises for paraprofessionals for the 2020-2021 school year during the board's meeting Jan. 12.Â
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2021
School Board of Manatee County approves salary increases

School District of Manatee County increases starting teacher salary to $51,630.

  • East County
  • News
Horticulture students Samuel Jones, Evan England, Saige Freitag and Savannah Cannon admire their harvest from the community garden. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2021
Agriculture program grows in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch High School begins a community garden.

  • East County
  • News
  • By Adrian Moore and Vittorio Natasi
  • January 13, 2021
Florida’s response to COVID-19 could help address the looming physician shortage

Hospital staffing shortages and burnout are cause for concern.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Sophomore Ryann Hilyer will be exhibiting the Lakewood Ranch High School's Future Farmers of America chapter steer, Bill. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2021
Show time for east Bradenton FFA students

Lakewood Ranch High's FFA creates Ranch Buyers Club to promote students' projects at Manatee County Fair.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 13, 2021
Longboat Key Historical Society cottage moves to Town Center site

The cottage was among the original structures of Whitney’s Beach Resort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Toni Muirhead and Jamie Reagan, members of Peace Presbyterian Church, create dozens of natural art pieces displayed throughout the Peaceful Path.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2021
Path to serenity in east Bradenton

East Bradenton's Peace Presbyterian Church creates pathway with natural art.

  • East County
  • News
Christine Culp, the youth services librarian at the Braden River Library, uses her storytimes and Reading in Our Town virtual segment to show her viewers different places in Manatee County before reading them a book.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2021
Creatively connected at Braden River Library

Manatee County libraries shift to a focus on virtual programming.

  • East County
  • News
Before October 2020, Longboat Key had its last reported coyote sighting in 2018.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 12, 2021
FWC holds coyote safety meeting after Longboat Key sightings

The FWC recommends hazing a coyote to scare it away.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The commission will begin holding its regular meetings exclusively at night in February.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 12, 2021
City reschedules commission meetings for evenings

A majority of the City Commission is hoping to improve the efficiency of board meetings, but not everyone is supportive of the changes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Alex Teicheira leads the Run SRQ group.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • January 12, 2021
Sarasota locals find new hobbies in pandemic

Everyone found something new to do in 2020 — here's how Sarasotans managed the pandemic with new activities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Nanday parakeets and 25 other non-native parrot species, have thriving breeding populations in Florida. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • January 12, 2021
Bird of the week: Nanday parakeet

Brightly colored birds are all either released by owners or their relatives.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 12, 2021
Longboat Key Cops Corner: A contested 180

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Johnson & Son, Inc. crews are set to begin the move of the smaller cottage around 6 a.m. Wednesday. The cottage will move to the Town Center site.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 12, 2021
Historic cottage set to move through Longboat Key on Wednesday

Crews are set to begin the move of the smaller cottage around 6 a.m. Wednesday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee County seniors who are selected will receive a call from 742-4300 on Tuesday for a COVID-19 vaccination.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • January 12, 2021
Manatee County receives 1,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses

Manatee County will schedule 900 vaccination appointments with seniors who have signed up for the standby pool. The other 100 will go to healthcare workers.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 12, 2021
Braden River High boys basketball game canceled

The Pirates were scheduled to play Riverview Tuesday at home.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 11, 2021
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key improves on 2020 Red Kettle drive

Income was up but St. Armands Circle kettle grabs top spot.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Improvements to the asphalt and signage are planned at the intersection of Higel Avenue and Siesta Drive.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • January 11, 2021
Major road projects starting on Siesta Key in 2021

Construction on projects along Higel Avenue, Siesta Drive and Stickney Point road are set to begin this year.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Patricia and Ward Maxson at a Longboat Key event in 2016.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 11, 2021
Circle of life: Hospice nurse cares for doctor who delivered her

Kelly McFarland was born prematurely at 2 pounds, 4 ounces. Four decades later, she provided care to the doctor who delivered her.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 1575 Bay Point Drive was built in 2013. It has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,407 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 11, 2021
Casey Key home sells for just over $7 million

Residential real estate transactions for Dec. 21-Jan. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County said it was not certain why it did not receive an additional supply of the vaccine or whether the state would supply more doses next week. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 11, 2021
Sarasota health department out of COVID-19 vaccines

Although local officials did not expect to receive additional vaccines this week, the state said it is shipping more doses to Sarasota and Manatee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Masters winners Tom Mitchell, left and Linda Bayne, right with organizer Stacey Monroe, center.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 11, 2021
Eighth annual Andrew Monroe 5K races on Siesta Key

The race kicked off 2021 as normal, albeit with some COVID-19 protocols.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Manatee County doesn't expect new shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine this week.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 11, 2021
No new shipments of COVID-19 vaccine expected this week in Manatee County

Administrator Cheri Coryea asks Manatee County residents to remain patient awaiting the COVID-19 vaccine.

  • East County
  • News
Susan Goldfarb at the Longboat Key Education Center. In the background is a popcorn machine that Goldfarb typically uses to liven up movie classes.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 11, 2021
Longboat Key Education Center celebrates 35 years of learning

Longboat Key Education Center, at 35, grows with the passion of its executive director.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2021
Calling all pets!

Have cute pics of your pets? Of course you do — and The Observer wants to see them!

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tamiami Trail was closed from Hillview Street to Datura Street on Saturday afternoon.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2021
Report of suspicious package leads to Saturday road closure

Investigators discover nothing dangerous in a package delivered to shipping company.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Over the weekend, medical personnel administered COVID-19 vaccines at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital clinic. (Sarasota Memorial Hospital photo)
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 11, 2021
COVID-19 vaccine frustration rises in Longboat Key

Difficulties with the sign-up process for COVID-19 vaccinations prompted Manatee County to change to a lottery system.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key residents are asked to complete the online survey between Jan. 11 — Feb. 3.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 11, 2021
Longboat Key citizen survey begins arriving this week

Longboat Key residents have from Jan. 11 — Feb. 3 to complete the survey.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    A time to celebrate |
  • January 11, 2021
Sandy Skierkowski

Cheers to 80 Years!

  • Longboat Key
  • Celebrations
Built in 1936, the home at 139 S. Washington Dr. offers five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 7,817 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 10, 2021
Lido home sells for $10.6 million

Residential real estate sales for Dec. 21-Jan. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Beverly Sutton spoke at the 2019 Christmas party. File photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 8, 2021
Longboat Key church makes holiday bright for families

Christ Church of Longboat Key quadruples its fund-raising goal of $8,500 for Bradenton's 13th Avenue Dream Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Savanna resident Israel Arteaga is one of about a dozen of residents who opposed the proposed rezone because of concerns about traffic, road maintenance and loss of green space, among other concerns.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • January 7, 2021
Proposal to add commercial space in front of Savanna of Lakewood Ranch fails

Manatee County commissioners voted against Savanna commercial development, turning down rezone 5-2.

  • East County
  • News
Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) commended Manatee County health and safety personnel on the COVID-19 vaccination program for seniors Thursday at Tom Bennett Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 7, 2021
Governor commends Manatee County's COVID-19 vaccination program

Manatee County begins preregistration pool signups for COVID-19 vaccine Thursday night.

  • East County
  • News
Henry the Heron. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 7, 2021
Heron about town

A blue heron has captured Longboat Key's attention.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • January 7, 2021
Conversation with school board newcomer Karen Rose

Rose was elected to the District 2 school board seat.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • January 7, 2021
A conversation with School Board newcomer Tom Edwards

Edwards was elected to the District 3 seat.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Roger Pettingell ranked as the number-one individual sales associate in Sarasota County in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, according to Coldwell Banker Realty.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • January 7, 2021
Pettingell again the top Sarasota-area Realtor in 2020

The Sarasota-Coldwell Banker realtor finished last year with more than $175 million in closed sales.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Students in Kirsten Hazelton's 2nd-grade class at Southside Elementary School used their magnifying glasses to watch their freshly released ladybugs get to work patrolling their vegetable garden at the school.
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Angelina Goesch and her mom, Ana Goesch, founder of Dogs of Lakewood Ranch, pose with Ana's 4-year-old Golden retriever, Maple.
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This year the Sarasota Opera House is turning 100. To celebrate, the Sarasota Opera is holding a special concert and dinner on April 11.
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Sarasota Opera fetes Opera House on its centennial
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The original Owen's Fish Camp in Burns Court defines the quintessential "cottage."
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Local cottage-core cafes offer a cozy escape

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