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Your Observer

Deputy Election Official Lucille Cirrintano helped Cheryl Stade fill out information at the First Presbytarian Church polling location at 2050 Oak St.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2020
Voting turnout in Sarasota climbs above 2016 primary

By noon, county turnout stood at 27% with seven hours of in-person voting remaining.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall now is slated to reopen Nov. 4. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 18, 2020
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall extends closure

Services are still offered by appointment only.

  • East County
  • News
Matthew and Gina Messenger celebrate after Gina retained her District 1 seat on the School District of Manatee County board.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 18, 2020
Voting totals final for key Lakewood Ranch area and East County races

The final results

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 17, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here

Police reports from around the town.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Executive director Isaac Azerad.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • August 17, 2020
"My Jewish Journey" furthers friendships

Members are taking a deep dive into life before Longboat.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Shade provides a bit of relief from the sun at Harry's.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • August 17, 2020
Longboat restaurants get creative in normally slow summer season

The end of the summer season also tends to be slower for many of Longboat Key's restaurants.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Although the parade was scheduled for December, event organizers said group prep work typically begins in August and September.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 17, 2020
Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade canceled

The organizers of the annual holiday celebration are postponing the 25th anniversary of the event until 2021 because of COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Stop and read the plaque that gives visitors a little more context to Longboat history.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • August 17, 2020
The essential guide to Longboat Key

From longtime Longboaters, the can’t-miss spots on this sandy strip of serenity.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Amy Lowrance drops off her daughter Sophie at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School for her first day of third grade.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 17, 2020
Students return to school in Lakewood Ranch area

School District of Manatee County opens its campuses to students for the start of a new school year.

  • East County
  • News
A grant will help pay for supplies and other needs for girls in the Girl Scouts Fully Funded Troops Program. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2020
Sarasota, Manatee Girl Scouts program secures $10,000 grant

Donation by Wison-Wood Foundation will support Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida's Fully Funded Troops program.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • August 17, 2020
In conversation with Brad Marner, Rotary Club of Longboat Key president

Marner has not yet held a face-to-face meeting with his club as he navigates presidency in a pandemic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Guest Author
  • August 17, 2020
Letters to the editor: readers sound off on beach parking

Letter writers ask for public lots to reopen .

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lou Newman photo///Black skimmers spread out over Lido Beach.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • August 17, 2020
Shorebird season lasts long on Lido

The area's nesting shorebirds flocked to Lido Beach this year, where their season has been successful.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Six months after every March municipal election, the town audits its population of registered voters to ensure a balance remains in the districts from which five of seven commissioners are elected.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 17, 2020
With balanced population, no district redrawing needed

Variation between smallest and largest stands below charter threshold for required action.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2020
Mall at UTC celebrates start of school

Back to School Bash a success in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • News
This home at 15125 Waterline Road sold for $1,275,000. It has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,040 square feet of living area. Photo courtesy of listing agent Argelia Vidal.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 16, 2020
Waterline Road home tops local sales at $1,275,000

Residential real estate transactions for Aug. 3-7 remain strong.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 14, 2020
Chase ends in arrest Friday on State Road 64 in Bradenton

Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies arrest attempted murder suspect Friday in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Built in 2011, the home at 3701 White Lane has six bedrooms, three-and-three-half baths, a pool and 7,376 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 14, 2020
Siesta Key home sells for $4.55 million

Residential real estate transactions for Aug. 3-7.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Steven Zickafoose, an assistant principal at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, and Angela Lindsey, principal of the school, wear masks while on campus. All students and employees will be required to wear masks at school. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 14, 2020
School District of Manatee County provides clarity on mask policy

Cloth masks will be required on school property with exceptions.

  • East County
  • News
Built in 2002, the home at 15 Lighthouse Point Drive has five bedrooms, seven-and-a-half baths, a pool and 9,157 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 14, 2020
Lighthouse Point home sells for $7.9 million

Residential real estate transactions for Aug. 3-7.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 14, 2020
Veterans mark 75th anniversary of World War II's end

Gathering at the base of Unconditional Surrender recalls sacrifices, makes clear support for bayfront location of statue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The FHSAA Board of Directors has decided to keep Aug. 24 as the starting date for fall sports.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 14, 2020
FHSAA votes to keep Aug. 24 as fall sports starting date

The date had previously been pushed back from July 27.

  • East County
  • Sports
Science teacher Jennifer Hall cracks open an egg to see if it's cooked during an experiment. The science labs will be reconfigured for new technology during the renovation. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 14, 2020
Braden River Middle expansion moves forward

The $26 million renovation and addition will include a cafeteria expansion, remodeled administration area and a six-classroom addition.

  • East County
  • News
(Miri Hardy) If you hook a pelican while fishing, don't cut the line. Reel. Remove. Release.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • August 14, 2020
Bird of the week: Brown pelican

Like many coastal birds, mankind's effects put pelicans in peril.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Crews from Quinn Construction, Inc. are scheduled to begin work in September on New Pass Bridge.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • August 13, 2020
New Pass Bridge repair work delayed until September

The 14-part project on the link to Longboat Key from St. Armands Key will cost $2.77 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 13, 2020
East County weather page photo: August 13

Richard Bottorff captured these deer in Rye Wilderness in East County.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 13, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: August 13

Alexis Pletcher captured this photo of a Siesta Key sunset.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The City Commission will convene Aug. 19 to discuss the discrimination complaints.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 13, 2020
City leaders to discuss discrimination complaints

Since late 2019, employees have accused the city’s finance director and auditoriums manager of improper workplace conduct.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The 2021 Club Crew National Championships will be held July 9-11, 2021 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 13, 2020
National dragon boat event headed to Sarasota

National dragon boat event headed to Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • News
As of Thursday morning, Longboat Key has a self-response rate of 36.9% for the 2020 U.S. Census. In 2010, the town had a response rate of 43.7%.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • August 13, 2020
Longboat Key leaders encourage residents to fill out census forms before Sept. 30 deadline

Longboat Key’s self-response rate of 36.9% ranks 370th out of 409 cities and towns in Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner said there has been a significant increase in interest for voting by mail in this year's election.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 13, 2020
Sarasota’s primary elections: What you need to know

Between the effects of COVID-19 and a switch to new election formats in the city and county, the Aug. 18 primary will be a new experience for voters.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Although the City Commission planned to move Unconditional Surrender into storage during construction of a nearby roundabout, the city's Public Art Committee is recommending a permanent relocation off the bayfront.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 13, 2020
Art committee recommends moving Unconditional Surrender

As city leaders consider the long-term future of the bayfront artwork, there’s a push to move the sculpture to the Sahib Shriners property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City planners are centering safety in conversations about transportation in Sarasota, particularly when it comes to pedestrians and cyclists.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 13, 2020
City planners consider traffic safety strategies

A partnership with the University of South Florida is one prong in a multifaceted plan for improving pedestrian and cycling safety in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 13, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 8.13.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 12, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: August 13

Eric Leininger captured this swan and cygnet at the Longboat Key Club’s Harbourside golf course.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lorenzo Liberti hand carves one of the 13 strips that will make the stripes of a 3-foot flag.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 12, 2020
Star spangled tribute from Lakewood Ranch teen

Lakewood Ranch student wants to put a hand carved flag in a hospital in every state in the country to show support for healthcare heroes.

  • 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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