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Your Observer

From left to right: Nick Williams, Donna Portaro and Nicole Bocdin are keeping volunteers energized with healthy snacks.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 16, 2025
All smiles no trash at Mote's Sea to Shore: Clean and Explore Event

Volunteers of all different ages and organizations came together to celebrate World Ocean Week 2025 and learn more from Mote's Homeschool Students Program.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch wide receiver Viktor Monoki has been training with former NFL receiver Richie James to prepare for his senior season.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 16, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Viktor Monoki

The Lakewood Ranch rising senior has scheduled a summer full of college football camps.

  • East County
  • Sports
Elevations for DR Horton's Sage Park townhomes off North Beneva Road.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 16, 2025
Beneva Road townhome project clears Planning Board scrutiny

In a split decision, the Sarasota Planning Board recommended approval of Sage Park townhomes planned for the old Circus City site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Kim Verreault (right) speaks at the June 9 town commission meeting alongside Diane Lopez, board chair.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 15, 2025
Longboat approves one-time increase in Chamber of Commerce grant

The town of Longobat Key usually makes a $7,500 annual contribution to the Chamber of Commerce, but Mayor Ken Schneier suggested an increase to help with hurricane relief.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Memorial Hospital has been ranked among the nation's best by Newsweek.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 15, 2025
SMH makes Newsweek's list of top hospitals

Newsweek has rated Sarasota Memorial Hospital among the nation's best in five categories of specialty care.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The site of a planned 10-story, 50-unit residential building at the corner of Ringling Boulevard and South Osprey Avenue.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 14, 2025
10-story residential building, pizza restaurant planned for Ringling Boulevard

A 50-unit residential tower and a new pizza restaurant have pre-application conferences with the Sarasota Development Review Committee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Shelton Quarles poses for a photo with Rowan, 4, Madison, 3, and Grayson Izaguirre, 6. If they were superheroes, Rowan would be the Hulk, Madison would be a unicorn and Grayson would be Spiderman.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 14, 2025
Dad's Day Block Party attracts sports fans and superheroes

Meet and greets with former Buccaneers player Shelton Quarles and former Lightning player Jassen Cullimore were the main attractions.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jordan Arcari, 33, is the owner, operator and chef of Eatalia Market at Waterside. The products are imported from Italy and they offer fresh grab and go meals. Customers can also purchase other products such as wine, cheese and meats to cook authentic Italian cuisine themselves.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 14, 2025
Eatalia Market offers goods imported from Italy in Lakewood Ranch

Owner Jordan Arcari wanted to bring Italian culture to Waterside Place.

  • East County
  • Business
Liz Yerkes, attendee at The Paradise Center's seminar on acupressure, demonstrates how to a tool from AcuMed can be used with the aim of relieving stress.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 13, 2025
How to mentally prepare for storm season

Local acupressure expert offers tips for managing storm-related stress as new hurricane season gets underway.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Construction for the Country Club Shores turn lane project began in mid-February.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 13, 2025
Country Club Shores turn lane construction ahead of schedule

The project is on track to be 60% complete by the end of June, meaning the contractors are ahead of schedule based on the Dec. 31 deadline.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Travel + Leisure has ranked Siesta Beach as No. 42 in the world and the best beach in the U.S.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2025
Siesta Beach again ranked among the world's best

Travel + Leisure has named Siesta Beach on its list of the world's top 50 and the best in the U.S.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Star Farms' Cooper Roy, 4, is front and center during storytime and enjoying every word.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 12, 2025
Mini crafters convene at Bob Gardner Park for summer camp

Demand was so big that the camp is being held at a new Lakewood Ranch site this summer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The house at 845 Longboat Club Road spans nearly 20,000 square feet.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 12, 2025
Longboat Key mansion listed for $35 million

The Serenissima property spans nearly 20,000 square feet and has 145 feet of beach frontage.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Volunteers including Sally Werner combed the entire area near Overlook Park, from the roadside to the water's edge, at the adopt-a-highway cleanup.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 12, 2025
Manasota Track Club volunteers clean up near Overlook Park

Volunteers at the Manasota Track Club community cleanup near Overlook Park spied a manatee in the water nearby Sunday morning.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Palmer Ranch home at 5376 Trails Bend Court sold for $1,328,400.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 12, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 26-30 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Bayso Sarasota condominium tops the week's sales at $2,495,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Susan Phillips and Town Manager Howard Tipton.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 12, 2025
Town of Longboat Key receives communication excellence awards

The Florida Municipal Communicators Association recognized the town of Longboat Key and Susan Phillips, assistant to the town manager and public information officer, for exemplary work in local government communications.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mary Bensel will mark her 18th season as executive director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in the 2025-26 season.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 12, 2025
Study committee leans toward no reuse for Van Wezel

Repurposing of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall appearing less of an option as the Purple Ribbon Committee works through a preliminary draft of its report to the City Commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Emma Thrift, a former indoor and beach volleyball player at Riverview, is the new head indoor volleyball coach at Sarasota.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 12, 2025
New Sarasota High volleyball coach wants to change Sailors direction

Former Riverview volleyball player Emma Thrift has joined longtime rival Sarasota High School.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A customer hauls in a catch aboard Capt. AJ Grande's charter boat.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 12, 2025
Sarasota County pauses commercial boat licensing plan

Hurricane damage to both water access Sarasota County parks and the charter fishing and sightseeing industry prompts a delay in implementing a permit program for use of public docks and launches.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Manasota Flooring
  • June 12, 2025
Rising Together When Storms Strike

When disaster strikes, families often focus on roofing, windows, and structural repairs—but flooring plays a major role in recovery too.

  • Hurricane Season
Sponsored Content
New CEO of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, Sarah Firstenberger, comes over from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County where she was director of marketing and events.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 11, 2025
Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce names CEO

Sarah Firstenberger has been named CEO of the nonprofit that promotes businesses and organizations on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Nate Jacobs and members of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will host the third annual Juneteenth Arts Festival on June 22.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 11, 2025
Saturday celebration kicks off Juneteenth observance

Most government offices in the region will close.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Heather Hackett, the founder of Local Relief, Inc., points to the slat that bears her name as the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award recipient.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 11, 2025
Local relief nonprofit continues to draw attention in Lakewood Ranch

The weather disaster app grows into a third hurricane season.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch graduate Parker Severs won a six-man playoff at Waterlefe Golf & River Club on May 8 to advance to the final round of qualifying for the 125th U.S. Open.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 11, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Parker Severs

Severs competed at the final round of U.S. Open qualifying on June 2.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jeff Toale took over as president of the board of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation June 1.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 11, 2025
New leader takes over at Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation

Jeff Toale becomes president of the board June 1.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch resident Tim Carnahan self published his book “Under Development: A Commonsense Approach to Being Your Best (A Young Professional's Guide),” which gives advice to young professionals seeking guidance to make the most out of their careers.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch author shares advice for young professionals

Tim Carnahan shares his life experience as a business employee and mentor through his book, "Under Development: A Commonsense Approach to Being Your Best (A Young Professional's Guide)."

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Graham Rueping, Nico Villanueva and Lane Tamberino were among the campers who learned all about plant science, animal science, environmental science and leadership at the Junior Ranchers camp.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Junior Ranchers learn about agriculture through camp

Counselors help the kids learn hands-on lessons about cows, snakes and insects.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jacob Kalua (second from right) celebrates with his sister Regan Kalua, father Shelton Kalua and mother Regina Kalua after graduating Sarasota High School.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 11, 2025
Years of hard work pay off for local high school graduate

Despite dealing with the hurricanes, Sarasota High School graduate Jacob Kalua of Lido Key celebrates his consistent academic record as a scholarship recipient.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Homeowner hassling construction crew brings law enforcement response
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 11, 2025
Homeowner hassling construction crew brings law enforcement response

Frustrated over construction activity on Golden Gate Point, a resident flails profanity at workers over parking and other issues. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Sarasota County Director of Community and Intergovernmental Relations of Government Rob Lewis addresses the County Commission.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 11, 2025
EDC contract with Sarasota County 'due' for an extension

The Sarasota County Commission has granted an extension of its agreement with the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County so it can clear up some language in the contract for the coming year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Investors are not hurting the housing market
  • By Eliza Terziev, Adrian Moore
  • June 11, 2025
Investors are not hurting the housing market

The lack of supply is the biggest culprit in housing climbing to unaffordable levels in the area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The cottage needs to be stripped. The $100,000 grant is just the start to getting it camper-ready.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 11, 2025
Foundation for Dreams receives $100,000 grant from Bishop-Parker Foundation

The grant will go toward rehabbing one of the cottages at the foundation's new campus near Rye Preserve.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Special Olympics athlete Jeremy Thompson won a bronze medal in bocce at the Florida Special Olympic Summer Games in May.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Special Olympics athlete has won more than medals

Jeremy Thompson has won friends, life skills and gold medals.

  • East County
  • Sports
The condo at 535 Sanctuary Drive, Unit A-202 sold for $1.95 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 11, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 26-30 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Queen's Harbour home on Fair Oaks Place tops the week's sales at $2.5 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Longboat Key commissioners continue to meet about a fair canal maintenance tax for town residents.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 11, 2025
Commission finds consensus on canal maintenance tax method

Although it's still not finalized, the method would combine ad valorem and non-ad valorem assessments to fund Longboat Key's canal dredging program.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee school board fires teacher accused of sexting student
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 10, 2025
Manatee school board fires teacher accused of sexting student

Oliver Fell was charged with lewd conduct against a student by an authority figure and transmission of harmful material to a minor.

  • East County
  • 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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