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Your Observer

Kim Galway
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • July 27, 2020
Longboat Key cyclist rides for a greater cause

Kim Galway has a plan for the fitness that comes from riding all these miles.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Folks still head out to the beach at Casa Del Mar.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • July 27, 2020
Neighbors drive summer tourism

'Staycationers' have replaced the typical vacationers from all over the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The radiation oncology center features linear accelerators that precisely target tumors.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 27, 2020
Sarasota Memorial opens radiation oncology center

The center marks phase one of the hospitals Cancer Institute project.

  • East County
  • News
The town of Longboat Key's public beach parking reopened at the start of June, but then closed again on June 30.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 27, 2020
Longboat Key closures continue for at least two more weeks

Public beach parking, Longboat Key facilities and many amenities will remain closed because of concerns about COVID-19.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 6021 Gulf of Mexico Drive was built in 2015 with four bedrooms, five full baths, three half-baths and 7,174 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 27, 2020
Beachfront home sells for $13 million and a dollar

Residential real estate transactions for The following residential real estate transactions July 13-17.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
This Lake Club home at 7914 Staysail Court sold for $1.495 million. It has has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,415 square feet of living area. Photo provided by listing agents Katina and Kenneth Shanahan.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 27, 2020
Lakewood Ranch residential real estate transactions: July 13-17

Lake Club home tops sales at $1.45 million.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner
  • By Ron Turner
  • July 27, 2020
Vote-by-mail is not ‘all-mail voting’

Absentee voting — or voting by mail — has been a part of Florida’s election process since 2002. Every signature is checked for security.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 25, 2020
Grateful for graduation

Out-of-Door Academy seniors celebrate graduation with individual ceremonies.

  • East County
  • News
The water testing site nearest Longboat Key is a spot in Sarasota Bay east of Joan Durante Park.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 24, 2020
Testing reveals few traces of sewage in Sarasota Bay

The town of Longboat Key is still investigating the cause of June's sewage break.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Brennan Asplen
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 24, 2020
Superintendent contract, start date finalized

Brennan Asplen will begin Aug. 10 at a salary of $215,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The light coloration of flightless Black Skimmer chicks helps protect them from predators by allowing them to blend into the sand-scape. (Photo by Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • July 24, 2020
Bird of the week: Black skimmer

Black skimmers are hard to miss.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Gary Tibbetts at an event earlier this year.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 24, 2020
Buchanan aide dies of COVID-19

Tibbetts worked with U.S. Congressman since 2011.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 24, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: When is a party not a party?

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    In Memoriam |
  • July 24, 2020
Richard S. Neufeld

Richard S. Neufeld, 94, formerly of Illinois, Longboat Key, Sarasota, and then Bradenton, passed away on July 20, 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 24, 2020
Crash on Longboat sends driver to hospital

Thursday afternoon incident involved a vehicle heading north in the southbound lane of Gulf of Mexico Drive, police report.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Traffic is shown backed up on the John Ringling Causeway Bridge.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 24, 2020
Leaders discuss alternate transportation across Ringling Causeway

Possibilities include adding a trolley system and water taxi to alleviate traffic woes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Unit 2 of the Aqua condominium building at 280 Golden Gate Point was built in 2016 with three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,590 square feet of living space.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 24, 2020
Pair of Siesta Key properties sell for $3 million

Residential real estate transactions for July 13-17.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Three days after the Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors voted to keep the start date of fall sports as July 27, the board has changed its mind.Â
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 23, 2020
FHSAA reverses course, delays start of fall season to at least Aug. 24

The organization's board of directors will meet again no later than Aug. 17 to determine if the new start date is appropriate.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 23, 2020
Sarasota school board candidates debate back to school, charter schools

Candidates faced off in a virtual forum.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Construction will continue on the intersection but work should be complete in September. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 23, 2020
FDOT opens Rye Road roundabout on S.R. 64 in Manatee County

Construction should be complete in fall 2020.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee Technical College will welcome students back on campus with hybrid classes. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 23, 2020
Manatee Technical College to welcome students back on campus

Hybrid classes will allow for hands-on learning while limiting capacity on campus.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 23, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: July 23

Karin Shillus captured this great blue heron at sunset on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 23, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: July 23

Matthew Press captured this female rose-breasted grosbeak in a fig tree in Gulf Gate.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 23, 2020
East County weather page photo: July 23

Sherry Packard captured this magnolia flower in Summerfield Village of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
VPA director Rebecca Abrahamson and VPA Theatre Chairman Scott Keys stand where a new lobby could be added.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 23, 2020
Booker VPA seeks $22 million renovation

The $22.5 million upgrade would add a mezzanine, classroom space, a larger lobby and a black box theater.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The Innovation Station operates out of the University of Florida’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering facility located at 1468 Boulevard of the Arts.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 23, 2020
Innovation Station receives another $1.2 million

The program helps support the growth of high-tech, high-wage jobs in Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Renovations at the Bee Ridge Facility are among the county's largest expenses for the next fiscal year.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 23, 2020
Sheriff budget, project requests grow as county budget tightens

The Sheriff's Office budget is projected to grow by $3.2 million and the county will push forward on renovations to the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Here is a rendering of the new South Fire Station 92. It is scheduled to open in April 2021.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 23, 2020
Zoning Board approves variance for south fire station

The new building for Fire Station 92 at 2162 Gulf of Mexico Drive is scheduled to open in April 2021.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jammie Jordan is the new girls soccer coach at Booker High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 23, 2020
Booker girls soccer coach brings fresh approach

Jammie Jordan brings experience from football to help rebuild a program in disarray.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Although Mote has touted more than $75 million in commitments toward the project, county officials could revisit a crucial contribution because of budgetary challenges. Image courtesy Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 23, 2020
Public funds for Mote aquarium not set in stone

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium announced a September groundbreaking for a new facility in Nathan Benderson Park, but the county’s financial support isn’t fully locked in.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Starbucks offers a variety of hot and cold coffee and tea drinks. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 22, 2020
Lakewood Ranch area Starbucks see temporary closures

Two Starbucks locations in Sarasota, Manatee possibly impacted by COVID-19.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County commissioners will talk again about mask requirements July 27.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 22, 2020
Manatee County to consider mask mandate

Manatee commissioners torn between personal responsibility and need to promote public safety.

  • East County
  • News
The Granary general manager Hector Liemann adds powdered sugar to an order of French toast.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 22, 2020
Pandemic creates recipe for change in Lakewood Ranch

Restaurants adapting to new business climate in Lakewood Ranch area.

  • East County
  • News
Out-of-Door Academy rising seniors Reece Whatmore and Supawadee Surattanont explain their work to address red tide with Joaquim Goes, a Columbia University professor. Students will return for in-person classes Aug. 25. File photo
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 22, 2020
Back to campus for ODA students

Out-of-Door Academy's new middle school facility provides enough space for students to be social distanced.

  • East County
  • News
Isabella Macias, a graduating senior at Braden River High School, will sprinkle space references into her speech because of her love for space. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 22, 2020
Message of resilience to East County graduates

East County high school graduation speakers will remind classmates of their resilience through pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center CEO Andy Guz said the hospital isn't near capacity yet due to COVID-19.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 22, 2020
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center busy, but not maxed out

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center busy, but not maxed out because of COVID-19

  • East County
  • Opinion
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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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