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Your Observer

The School District of Manatee County wants to know how school is going for your students.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 15, 2020
School District of Manatee County creates "Family Back-to-School Opinion Poll"

The School District of Manatee County wants to know how its doing in terms of providing a safe learning environment during the pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • September 15, 2020
John Francis Short

JOHN FRANCIS SHORT, Sarasota, FL, passed away on September 12, 2020, at the age of 76, after a valiant battle with metastatic cancer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Robert Heron puts the books together all from his computer.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • September 15, 2020
Author, illustrator tells tales of beloved Scottish cat

Robert Lewis Heron enjoys spinning new yarns about Hamish McHamish, a real-life St. Andrews kitty who died in 2014.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • September 15, 2020
Out-of-Door Academy welcomes students on Siesta Key

The school's students all returned to the school on Sept. 14.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Boris Miksic and Ines Tendler stand in front of their home at 640 Halyard Lane in Country Club Shores IV North. The couple is hoping commissioners approve a height exception for the lightning rods on top of their home.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 15, 2020
Longboat revises proposed lightning-rod restrictions

Longboat Key town commissioners will vote on the proposal in October.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The new site plan for the Bath and Racquet Fitness Club property concentrates the residential buildings on the north end of the site to create more distance from single-family homes to the south. Image via Halflants + Pichette.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 15, 2020
Bath and Racquet Club shares new redevelopment plan

After failing to earn the city’s approval earlier this year, the owners of the fitness center property have prepared another proposal to build 207 residential units on the site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Impact100 SRQ co-founders Tilly Valls McFadden and Jane Watt, Impact100 founder Wendy H. Steele, Violeta Huesman and Deborah M. Johnson met at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida building.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • September 15, 2020
Impact100 and Girl Scouts Gulf Coast Florida host suffragist celebration

The Equalitea event celebrated 100 year's of the fight for women's right to vote.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The town has closed lots of parking along Broadway in the Longbeach Village neighborhood. The town is also considering a resident-permit parking program for the neighborhood.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 14, 2020
Longboat moves forward with proposed parking fine increase

Longboat Key town commissioners are set to vote on Oct. 5 on whether to increase the town's illegal parking fines from $30 to $75.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A $157 upgrade to the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility continues to weigh on the county's budget.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 14, 2020
County considers $1.3 billion budget

The county will consider a millage rate of 3.46 and a general fund budget of $323 million at its final budget hearing Sept. 23.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dick Vitale Gala sets record fundraising total for 2020 event
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 14, 2020
2020 Dick Vitale Gala sets record fundraising total

The event has now raised $37 million over 15 years

  • East County
  • Sports
Sections of Morgan Johnson Road were closed Sept. 10. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 14, 2020
Morgan Johnson Road partial closure still in effect in Bradenton

Road repairs expected to last into October.

  • East County
  • News
The town of Longboat Key's public beach parking has been closed since June 30.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 14, 2020
COVID closings draw mixed reviews in Longboat

Longboat Key's public beach parking has been closed since June 30.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jim Larson, Jim Burmeister, Andrew Vac and John Wild
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 14, 2020
Longboat Key clubs navigate a spectrum of gathering methods

Whether all in-person, all virtual or somewhere in the middle, Longboat clubs are finding a way to come back together.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • September 14, 2020
Roger Lee Holz

Roger Lee Holz, 91, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 7, 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
The home at 1352 Harbor Drive was built in 2009 with has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,373 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 14, 2020
Harbor Acres home sells for $3 million

Residential real estate transactions for Aug. 31-Sept. 4.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Temple Emanu-El Associate Rabbi Michael Shefrin welcomed Temple Emanu-El members with the sound of the shofar.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • September 13, 2020
Temple Emanu-El plans online High Holy Day worship services

The online services will start in mid September.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 13, 2020
Longboat Key first responders treated to pizza

A few neighbors decided to send lunch to the first responders of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tonya Atchison, Small Business Person of the Year (11+ employees) winner Michael Garey and Emily Walsh at the 2019 event.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 13, 2020
Longboat Chamber announces Small Business Week nominees

It's unclear exactly what format Small Business Week will take, but the nominees are waiting in the wings.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The planned St. Regis Hotel and Residences would offer 166 hotel rooms and 78 residential condominium units.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 13, 2020
Unicorp closes deals on more Colony units

Five units sold for more than $783,000 records show.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 1199 Westway Drive was built in 2000 with four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,640 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 13, 2020
Waterfront Lido home sells for $6.8 million

Residential real estate transactions for Aug. 31-Sept. 4.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Sarasota football roundup: 09.11.20
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 11, 2020
Sarasota football roundup: 09.11.20

Two local teams win; one falls.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 11, 2020
Cardinal Mooney football flies part North Port

Coach Jared Clark picks up his first win as the Cougars head coach.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Jeffrey, a first grade student at Emma E. Booker Elementary, works through his school day at the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota County. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 11, 2020
Boys & Girls Clubs launch remote learning program

The program will provide support to about 252 remote learners.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 11, 2020
Siesta Key's Crystal Classic canceled

The annual sand sculpting competition was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Ross Toussaint is pictured near the bioswale between his property and Christ Church of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 11, 2020
Longboat Key church submits plan to state to address drainage issues

Christ Church hired Claybrooke Engineering Associates, Inc. to try to resolve the matter.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lisa Fulk of Sunshine Canning sells goods at The Market at Lakewood Ranch. The Market will return in November. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 11, 2020
The Market at Lakewood Ranch will open in November

About 40 vendors will be selling goods at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center's parking lot.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key firefighters extinguished a fire in a trash-collection truck in October, 2019. (file)
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 11, 2020
Longboat Key Fire Rescue begins strategic planning process

The five-year plan will help the department improve its service, Fire Chief Paul Dezzi said.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Even with about 7,100 people living permanently in town, it's often easy to have the beach to yourself.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 11, 2020
On the rise

Longboat Key population sees small increase.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 10, 2020
Longboat Key plants American flags along Gulf of Mexico Drive to honor 9/11 victims

Friday marks 19 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • September 10, 2020
Betty L. Suarez

Betty L. Suarez, nee Olson, 87, of Rolling Meadows IL, longtime seasonal resident of Longboat Key FL, passed away September 8, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family and loved ones.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Eileen Parker with the School District of Manatee County's Food and Nutrition Services hands out lunches during the summer food program. All students can receive free breakfast and lunch no matter their modality. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 10, 2020
East County students can get free meals through Manatee County schools

Manatee County students 18 years old and younger can receive free breakfast and lunch every day through Dec. 31.

  • East County
  • News
Shawn McLoughlin paints a mural welcoming people to Siesta Key. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 10, 2020
Siesta Key artist sells lifetime of work

After learning he has Stage 3 pancreatic cancer, Siesta Key artist Shawn McLoughlin sold more than 160 pieces of art.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Kelly McWilliams welcomes families to Alta Vista Elementary School. Harry Sayer
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 10, 2020
Sarasota teachers adjust to concurrent learning

Most teachers now have to cater to half their students on campus and another half online.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The height of the landfill in Phase 2 and Phase 3 could increase to 200 feet.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 10, 2020
County landfill height could increase to 200 feet

Portions of the county landfill could increase to 200 feet in height, which some property owners say could decrease the value of their land.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 10, 2020
East County weather page photo: September 10

Gordon Silver captured this magnolia tree in bloom in Lakewood Ranch’s Del Webb community.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 10, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: September 10

Tom Connor captured this image of a bee hard at work in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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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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