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Your Observer

Although Siesta Key Village businesses have expressed a desire to add more parking, residents are concerned about the prospect of adding angled spaces near an entry point for the commercial district.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 27, 2020
Siesta Village parking proposal draws concern

Although businesses are interested in adding parking spaces, condo residents are concerned about safety and aesthetics.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime has used outdoor markets, rum tastings, food trucks and more to attract visitors. Now, businesses are discussing strategies to do the same across the Limelight District. Photo courtesy Kim Livengood.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 27, 2020
City plans Limelight District zoning changes

Officials are working with businesses on a proposal to permit more commercial activity on industrial-zoned property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
"Ballet in Space," Photographed by Suzanne Havens, Best in Show
  • By Selby Gardens
  • August 27, 2020
40th Annual Selby Gardens Juried Photographic Exhibition

Enjoy the winners of the 40th annual juried photography exhibition and sale. 

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Tracy Gapin has written his first book, "MALE 2.0: Cracking the Code to Limitless Health and Vitality."
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 26, 2020
Lakewood Ranch doctor delves into men's health with his first book

Lakewood Ranch doctor's first book, "Male 2.0: Cracking the Code to Limitless Health and Vitality" now available.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 26, 2020
It won’t be a ‘V’ recovery

The $8.3 billion going to Florida counties for COVID-19 relief will do little to trigger a quick recovery. Visitors will need to know Florida is safe again.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Earlier this year, leaders pointed to the temporary closure of a left turn lane at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue as a source for some of the traffic congestion.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • August 26, 2020
Shuttle service proposed between downtown Sarasota and St. Armands

The proposal calls for the shuttle service to begin for the 2021 peak season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
April Tcherneshoff hopes the neighboring home will be rebuilt because it is too close to her home. The standard in Rosedale is a 12-foot minimum. The house is 7.6 feet away.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 26, 2020
Measure of concern in Rosedale

Builders might have to tear down homes built too close to their Rosedale neighbors.

  • East County
  • News
Stacy McKee, development director of HOPE Family Services, accepts backpacks for the children at the shelter and a donation check from the Lakewood Ranch Women's Club. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 26, 2020
East County clubs serve the community

Supply drives held by Cascades, Lakewood Ranch women.

  • East County
  • News
First-grader Tyler Sweeting tests out the school's adaptive learning program with teacher Leslie Ruben. Courtesy Photo
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • August 26, 2020
Community Day School implements Google program for hybrid learning

The program has a mix of online and in-person learning.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Snowy egrets breed and nest in colonies, called rookeries, with other wading birds such as herons, egrets and ibises. (Miri Hardy photo)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • August 26, 2020
Bird of the week: Snowy egret

Their feathers once sold at a price higher than that of gold.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Shawna Hicks-Cranston. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 26, 2020
Reconnection a welcome gift in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance hosts first in-person meeting.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Palm Aire resident Leon Sickles spoke in favor of the project, adding the changes create the upscale community he and others desired.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 26, 2020
Palm Aire apartments approved in Manatee County

Site will have 315 luxury apartments instead of affordable housing.

  • East County
  • News
Katie Kandel, a fourth grade teacher at Freedom Elementary School, is shocked to receive so many donations. She received 11 packages just two days after posting her list to the Adopt a Manatee County Teacher page. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 26, 2020
Lakewood Ranch community donates supplies to teachers

Community shows support for teachers with donations of classroom and cleaning supplies.

  • East County
  • News
Hope Tudor, a freshman, uses the Bitmoji app to create an illustration showing the different hobbies she enjoys and things she loves like her three dogs, Belle, Rocket and Minnie.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 26, 2020
Braden River High School students share a bit of their lives

Students create animated environments to introduce themselves.

  • East County
  • News
Minta, Will and Jim Getzen were overjoyed at Will's new Eagle Scout status.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • August 26, 2020
Sarasota scouts receive Eagle Scout awards at ceremony

Scouts from Troop 895 received the honors.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 26, 2020
Appreciation in the bag for Manatee County deputies

Manatee County Sheriff's Office accepts 300 gift bags from a group of thankful Lakewood Ranch women.

  • East County
  • News
Brilliant Harvest installs 705 solar panels on the arts center, new middle school building and Fox Field House at The Out-of-Door Academy. The school is expected to save $100,000 annually. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 26, 2020
ODA explores the solar system

Lakewood Ranch school installs its first round of solar panels.

  • East County
  • News
Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbour residents John Overstreet and Jan Lane review preliminary plans for a disc golf course at Heritage Harbour's Central Park.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 26, 2020
Heritage Harbour targets disc golf

CDD considers adding the amenity at Central Park at Heritage Harbour.

  • East County
  • News
Addison Riesen at her desk with Ruby nearby.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • August 26, 2020
Longboat Key families navigate back to school amid a pandemic

Longboat kids head back to school, but it's not quite as simple as in years past.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Chemotherapy doesn't keep Lakewood Ranch's Weston Hermann, center, from being an impact player for the Gulf Coast Flames of Ellenton.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 25, 2020
Lakewood Ranch teen fights cancer with ice in his veins

Lakewood Ranch teen fights cancer with Ice in his veins, motivates Dick Vitale to raise more money for the V Foundation.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Erin Clay, Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library Manager, is excited to see the exhibit finally on display.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • August 25, 2020
Sarasota North Public Library hosts Smithsonian exhibit

The Voices & Votes: Democracy in America” exhibition is on display through October.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • August 25, 2020
Siesta Beach again ranked No. 1

Tripadvisor's annual Travelers Choice Awards ranked the beach No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 11 in the world.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Michelle Giannico (left) wore her mask as she paid for her clothing at Longboat Resort Wear. Store owner Harvinder Mahesh Mirchandani (right) also wore a mask.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • August 25, 2020
Mask policy renewal gets a vote Monday

The Longboat Key Town Commission is set to vote on whether to renew the town's mandatory mask policy on Aug. 31.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
East Manatee Fire Rescue District most recently opened a new station on Covenant Way in Lakewood Ranch. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 25, 2020
Manatee County commissioners approve proposed fire merger

East Manatee, Myakka District merger takes next step in its merger.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • August 25, 2020
Mote researcher leaves

Tracy Fanara recently accepted a position with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Town Manager Tom Harmer is set to re-evaluate his latest executive order on or before Sept. 8.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • August 24, 2020
Longboat Key's COVID-19 closures remain

The town plans to re-evaluate after Labor Day.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A student at the Suncoast Science Center Faulhaber Fab Lab uses the COVIDucation site.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • August 24, 2020
Fab Lab students create site to help elementary kids learn about COVID-19

The site, created to be a storybook, follows Arthur the Knight as he explains COVID-19 to students.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • August 24, 2020
Squeaky clean

The Lazy Lobster received an award for sanitation and cleanliness.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
D'Arcy and Ray Arpke in "the only spot in the restaurant (they've) never been photographed."
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • August 24, 2020
Euphemia Haye, Longboat Key landmark, celebrates 40 years

Ray and D’Arcy Arpke started small, but Euphemia Haye is the talk of the town 40 years later.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Education Center.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • August 24, 2020
Longboat Key Education Center readies for season in multiple forms

Like many universities, the education center is planning on a blend of in-person, Zoom and hybrid classes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Crews began water-sample testing on July 1 near the site of the sewage spill. Photo courtesy of www.rustychinnis.com.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • August 24, 2020
Bay testing finds low impact of Longboat sewage spill

Longboat Key is still investigating the cause of the break.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
High school football teams in Manatee County can begin playing regular season games on Sept. 18.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 24, 2020
Manatee County sets regular-season dates for high school football and volleyball

Fans of those sports will see their teams play in less than four weeks.

  • East County
  • Sports
The home at 1775 Cherokee Lane was built in 2018 with three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,793 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 24, 2020
Cherokee Park properties sell for $4.2 million

Residential real estate transactions for Aug. 10-14.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Built in 1995, the home at 3307 Sabal Cove Circle has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,193 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 24, 2020
Sabal Cove Circle home sells for $1.3 million

Residential real estate transactions for Aug.10-14.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Following the City Commission's approval last week, the Sarasota County Commission could finalize plans for a rental assistance program on Wednesday.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 24, 2020
Housing funds slated for rental assistance

Sarasota has received more than $770,000 in federal funds to help those who have been affected by COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 21, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Alarming weather

Police reports from around the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
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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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