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Your Observer

Guests of the 2019 Taste of Downtown mingle on the main stage of the Sarasota Opera House.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2020
Taste of Downtown goes digital for 2020

Annual event benefits Sarasota Opera's Youth Opera.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Annemarie Graff of Bank OZK and former LWRBA CEO Heather Kasten volunteer at the first annual Alliance Gives Back Volunteer Days in 2018.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 23, 2020
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's altruistic event survives

The third annual Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Gives Back Volunteer Days will be a hybrid of in-person, virtual sessions.

  • East County
  • News
Tim Hornung stands by the Polo Ranches' gate at Deer Drive and Cow Camp Lane on Thursday before it went live. Hornung is the president of the Polo Ranches HOA.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 23, 2020
New gates installed at Sarasota Polo Ranches in Lakewood Ranch

The five gates at Sarasota Polo Ranches were installed mostly for the safety of residents and their horses.

  • East County
  • News
(From left)Gene Gelpke, Harry Benas, RC Bartley and Brian Biery discuss Central Park's e-voting system at an outdoor pavilion in the community. Bartley and Biery are board directors. Gelpke and Benas are subcommittee volunteers.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 23, 2020
Central Park HOA in Lakewood Ranch switches to e-voting

An HOA in Lakewood Ranch finds that 45% of households have opted in to e-voting, higher than any previous rate of voter participation

  • East County
  • News
Guests will have fun trying to find their way through the maze. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2020
Pumpkin Festival will be held in East County

Hunsader Farms will host its 29th annual Pumpkin Festival with COVID-19 precautions in place.

  • East County
  • News
Amy Jones, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2020
Lakewood Ranch High senior earns academic award

Amy Jones is one of three School District of Manatee County students to be named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.

  • East County
  • News
Carson Goda catches a first-drive touchdown pass from Shawqi Itraish.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 23, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Football's back, and it just feels right

Being on the gridiron acts as a balm for the soul.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lavontae Youmans rolls through a Charlotte tackle attempt.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 23, 2020
Pirates football still finding its way

Braden River lost its first game, but there's reasons not to panic.

  • East County
  • Sports
Andrea Dietz.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 23, 2020
East County Athlete of the Week: Andrea Dietz

The Lakewood Ranch sophomore talks starting in volleyball and overcoming mental blocks.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
Florida Senate District 23: Robert Kaplan

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
U.S. House of Representatives District 16: Margaret Good

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to an armed robbery at the S.R. 64 Walmart Tuesday night.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 23, 2020
Bradenton Walmart manager shot while defying two armed robbers

Armed robbery in Bradenton leads to shooting of Walmart manager.

  • East County
  • News
Jeanne Klein and Sue Seuell, residents of Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living, laugh while talking to each other. "I'm happy I can be outside and get fresh air," Klein says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2020
East County seniors say hello again

Lakewood Ranch-area seniors embrace fewer restrictions in assisted living facilities and retirement homes.

  • East County
  • News
Fans will have plenty of space at Lakewood National, but the bleachers behind No. 18 likely won't be used in 2021.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 22, 2020
LECOM Suncoast Classic director optimistic fans will be allowed to 2021 Lakewood Ranch event.

LECOM Suncoast Classic hopes pandemic eases to allow fans back into Korn Ferry event in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Commissioner Nancy Detert was against the change, saying it does do enough to encourage affordable housing in the county.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 22, 2020
Sarasota County could relax affordable housing requirements

Following a state directive, commissioners could get rid of an affordable housing mandate that requires developers to include affordable housing units in their plans.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 22, 2020
Bolts from the blue

The Lazy Lobster is celebrating the Tampa Bay Lightning's Stanley Cup run.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The town of Longboat Key’s public beach parking is set to reopen Oct. 1. It has been closed since June 30.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 22, 2020
Longboat Key's public beach parking set to reopen in October

The public restrooms at Bayfront Park and Joan Durante Park are also set to reopen.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Pete Cumming (left)
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 22, 2020
Chief gets an award

Before his retirement, the Rotarians want to honor their police chief.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 22, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: No day at the park

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 22, 2020
23 Sarasota students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

Finalists for the program will be announced in February.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Manatee County passed its $740 million budget on Monday night.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 22, 2020
Manatee County approves 2020-21 budget

The $740 million budget decreased 2.2% over last year's because of losses projected from the effects of COVID-19

  • East County
  • News
Artists Paul Lee and Julie Kanapaux paint a mural at the Lido pavilion honoring the wade-in protests against segregation at Sarasota’s beaches.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 22, 2020
Murals depict history of Lido Beach

Artwork going up at the Lido pavilion showcases the fight for desegregation in Sarasota and a former architectural landmark.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Mustangs (1-0) went on the road Monday and defeated North Port High (0-3) 23-6.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 21, 2020
Lakewood Ranch High football wins opener

The Mustangs went on the road to defeat North Port High 23-6 on Monday.

  • East County
  • Sports
A video featured on the third-party site BrainPop features the Black Lives Matter Movement.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 21, 2020
Parents protest after Black Lives Matter video shown to students

The video was featured in the current events section on BrainPOP, a third-party vendor.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 21, 2020
County launches dashboard to monitor federal relief assistance

As of Monday, one business application had been approved, removing $20,000 from the county's $14.5 million.

  • Sarasota
  • News
FitnessQuest Physical Therapy has a wide space at 540 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 21, 2020
Paradise Center medical suite opens for appointments

A few providers are taking appointments when they can.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jim Purcell, John Kurgan, Bill Upton and John Short in 2018.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 21, 2020
Tennis staple John Short dies at age 76

Short is best known for organizing group play with the Short Academy.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County opened a new fire station on Apex Road.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 21, 2020
Sarasota County opens Apex fire station

The station, which is located adjacent to Celery Fields, is one of three new stations the county has planned.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Judy Polivy sits with the many donations collected at Temple Sinai.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 21, 2020
Temple Sinai collects clothes during Rosh Hashanah

The temple's women's group Women of Sinai holds a collection of clothes each year in support of local agencies.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 21, 2020
Longboat Key Turtle Watch has a bash with trash

The group participated in International Coastal Cleanup and removed 370 pounds of refuse from the beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Eight people were aboard the 27-foot powerboat that hit the concrete groin on Saturday.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 21, 2020
Longboat Key boat crash sends two to hospital

Powerboat strikes sand-saving groin along Longboat Key's gulf beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courts five and six.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 21, 2020
Longboat Key Tennis Center courts updated

This maintenance is a precursor to bigger work to come in 2021.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 21, 2020
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church bell ringers meet again

The bells and chimes musicians gathered (wearing masks) for the first time since March.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Town commissioners unanimously appointed S. Jay Plager to become the seventh member of the P&Z Board.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 20, 2020
Newest P&Z Board member has broad experience

The vacancy on the P&Z Board sat vacant since March.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 1405 Flower Drive was built in 1953 with four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,368 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 20, 2020
Harbor Acres home sells for $2.4 million

Residential real estate transactions for Sept. 7-11.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The property at 6301 Gulf of Mexico Drive was built in 1987 with three bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,571 square feet of living area. (courtesy photo)
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 20, 2020
Sleepy Lagoon home sells for $7.5 million

Residential real estate transactions for Sept. 7-11.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
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  • April 9, 2026
Tax reform could mean 41% hit to city revenue fund
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The home at 3621 San Remo Terrace was built in 2025 and has five bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 5,461 square feet of living area.
  • April 9, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for March 23-27 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis
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Saravela and the Sports Club at TPC Prestancia are pertnering for the mutual benefit of condo owners and club members.
  • April 9, 2026
Condo development partners with country club for shared benefits
4
Drew Smith (left) and Chase Smith (right) are a sophomore and senior, respectively, at The Out-of-Door Academy. They lost their father, Scott Smith, to esophageal cancer in October of 2023.
  • April 9, 2026
Brothers fundraise in their father's memory
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“I felt genuinely cared for during all phases of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum.” Aubrey Robertson, Maternity Patient
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