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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2020
Sarasota City Commission District 2: Martin Hyde

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2020
Sarasota City Commission District 2: Jerry Wells

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2020
Sarasota City Commission District 2: Don Patterson

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mary Holmes honks her horn in protest of returning to schools.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 15, 2020
Sarasota schools shift back to school plans

Board members push back start of school date and mandate face coverings.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Bradenton Lynx shortstop Devyn Flaherty, who attends Florida State, is an alumna of Sarasota's Riverview High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 15, 2020
Local college softball summer league is a hit

College softball-level program rises in East County despite the pandemic.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2020
Sarasota County Sheriff: Kurt Hoffman

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2020
Sarasota County Sheriff: Paul Fern

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2020
Sarasota County Commission District 1: Mike Hutchinson

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Donna and Robert Masters enjoy their hobby of raising butterflies while being able to help the environment.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 15, 2020
Grace takes flight in Bradenton due to 'Butterfly Lady'

Bradenton's "Butterfly Lady" brings beauty to the Sabal Harbour neighborhood.

  • East County
  • News
Edward Alley with his late wife, June LeBell
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 14, 2020
Edward Alley remembered for passion for music, people

The music conductor, critic, advocate and leader was 85.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 14, 2020
Myakka City woman dies in head-on collision on S.R. 64

Two-car accident on State Road 64 leaves a Myakka City woman dead, two children in critical and a Zolfo Springs man in serious condition.

  • East County
  • News
Cynthia Saunders, superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, adjusts her recommendation for opening schools to allow all grade levels to return full time in person, participate in a hybrid schedule or do e-learning.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 14, 2020
School Board of Manatee County approves new start date

First day to now be Aug. 17, and all students can choose to return full time, participate in a hybrid schedule or do e-learning.

  • East County
  • News
The Sarasota School Board plans to delay the start of the school year to Aug. 31.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 14, 2020
Sarasota School Board plans to push back start date, mandate face coverings

Sarasota School Board members said pushing the start of school to Aug. 31 would give the district time to deal with COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Brennan Asplen is currently deputy superintendent in charge of academic and student services in the St. Johns County School District.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 14, 2020
Sarasota County Schools selects new superintendent

The Sarasota County School Board picked Brennan Asplen, a deputy superintendent in St. Johns County, to lead the district.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nicole McKenna, Emma Fabec, Emily Haywood, Jacob Meyer, Anthony Habas, Evan Schultz and Michael Burton all worked on the short film.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 14, 2020
Sarasota Military Academy students win Sarasota Film Festival award

A Sarasota Military Academy student group's short film won a new award at the Sarasota Film Festival.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ahead of budget workshops later this month, some city officials have said they want to prepare for the worst-case scenario economically because of the uncertainty associated with COVID-19.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 14, 2020
City budget attempts to forecast an unclear future

Although the city is preparing to reduce spending and generate less revenue because of COVID-19, staff’s budget proposal attempts to stave off personnel cuts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 13, 2020
Sarasota Chamber of Commerce launches small business initiative

The "SouRQ" initiative looks to help small retail and restaurant businesses.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The memorial at State Road 64 and Pope Road was moved to begin construction of a roundabout.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 13, 2020
Fortitude prevails after Lakewood Ranch tragedy

Road work to build a roundabout begins at the site of fatal Lakewood Ranch accident.

  • East County
  • Opinion
County Administrator Jonathan Lewis said the county is pausing some positions to help save money.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • July 13, 2020
County officials project millions in general fund losses due to COVID-19

Sarasota County leaders have proposed a budget of $323 million and a millage rate of 3.46 for fiscal year 2021.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The town of Longboat Key is continuing sampling and testing of Sarasota Bay waters.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 13, 2020
Longboat Key seeks to advance new sewage pipe project

Town Manager Tom Harmer wrote that the town’s Public Works Department believes the 25.8 million gallon discharge is a “high estimate.”

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    A time to celebrate |
  • July 13, 2020
Burke-McGuire Engagement

Cindy Burke and Jason McGuire, who live on Siesta Key, happily announce their engagement.

  • Siesta Key
  • Celebrations
    In Memoriam |
  • July 13, 2020
Carol Winkel

Carol Winkel passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at home on July 4, 2020. She was 94 years young.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Karen and Duane Compton are getting used to the Florida summer.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • July 13, 2020
The season that never ended

Travel became tricky as season was ending on Longboat Key, so a new demographic appeared: The summer snowbird.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Suzy Brenner
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • July 13, 2020
Paradise Center gains partnerships, inches toward opening

The island's medical center is on schedule to open in September.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 13, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: A pyrotechnic preview

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The town of Longboat Key's public beach parking is expected to remain closed until at least July 27.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 13, 2020
Longboat Key to keep public beach parking closed

Town Manager Tom Harmer is set to re-evaluate his executive order by July 27.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • July 13, 2020
Cygnet scare

The baby swan has had recent medical issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bill Wartinbee
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • July 13, 2020
It didn't grow on him

Bill Wartinbee tried the quarantine beard, but it never stuck.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The town of Longboat Key has posted several of these "wear a mask" signs throughout the island. Photo courtesy of Nat Kaemmerer.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 10, 2020
Longboat mask policy reveals enforcement challenges

The Longboat Key Police Department has received a calls about violations to the town's mandatory mask policy.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Blue Heirloom volunteer Martin Sperber stands next to the Elvis statue that stands outside of the thrift store at 5650 Swift Road in Sarasota, Florida.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 10, 2020
All shook up about COVID, Elvis statue dons a mask

The statue is located outside of the Blue Heirloom in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Unit 532 at 544 Beach Road was built in 198 with three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,611 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 10, 2020
Beach Road condominium sells for $1.5 million

Residential real estate transactions for June 29-July 3.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Longboat Key's new online mapping tool debuted this week. It allows users to see how a property is zoned.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 10, 2020
Longboat Key launches new online zoning map

Senior planner Maika Arnold worked for several months to create the interactive map.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Unit B at 363 Benjamin Franklin Drive was built in 2010 with four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 10, 2020
Palazzi Al Mare condo sells for $3.5 million

Residential real estate transactions for June 29 and July 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The device was discovered this morning near a trash can. (From Sarasota PD video)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 10, 2020
Lido Beach reopens following removal of device

Sarasota Police call in experts from MacDill AFB following the discovery this morning.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cynthia Saunders, superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, shares the recommendation to offer e-learning, a hybrid schedule for middle and high school students or have students return five days per week.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 9, 2020
School District of Manatee County adjusts reopening recommendation

Students will have the option to return to school full time, participate in a hybrid schedule for middle and high school or continue e-learning.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key firefighters put out a fire on July 4 at the Portobello condominium at 3235 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Photo courtesy of Dean Congbalay.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • July 9, 2020
Longboat Key resident thanks firefighters for putting out Fourth of July dumpster fire

Dean Congbalay sent an email to Fire Chief Paul Dezzi to thank him for firefighters' quick action.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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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