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Your Observer

This Florida softshell turtle found itself crossing traffic on White Eagle Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 27, 2020
Turtle tries the fast lane in Lakewood Ranch

Florida softshell turtle survives trip in the Lakewood Ranch fast lane.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Manatee County YMCA Interim CEO Frank Frey says he is planning for the "worst case scenario" to make sure the YMCA remains viable.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 27, 2020
Pandemic puts Manatee County YMCA at risk

After the Manatee County YMCA was making financial gains, COVID-19 cut the Y's membership in half.

  • East County
  • News
Maj. Aaron Traver flies a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 27, 2020
Lakewood Ranch resident OK working in obscurity as an Air Force major

Major Aaron Traver comes home to Lakewood Ranch after his 11th deployment.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center nurse Danielle Ford accepts a cake from MTC. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 27, 2020
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center nurses receive sweet gift

MTC shows its appreciation for Lakewood Ranch Medical Center nurses with a sweet gift.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dozens of cars circled the school.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • May 27, 2020
Bay Haven School of Basics Plus bids farewell to students with parade

The parade for graduating fifth grade students was held May 27.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Manatee County Director of Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Geri Lopez said she expects the county to have multiple phases of business assistance, but the first will focus on reopening under COVID-19 related restrictions.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 27, 2020
Manatee County researches ways it can help local businesses after pandemic

Manatee County researches ways it can help local businesses after pandemic

  • East County
  • News
Cyndee Vanderford of Send Me Cyndee Travel loves helping people plan their dream vacation and advocating for her clients.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 27, 2020
A trip through the unknown for Lakewood Ranch-area travel agents

Some people are eager to travel again while others are more hesitant

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 27, 2020
Cheers to the Lakewood Ranch graduates

Parents, teachers and staff members celebrate seniors as they pick up caps and gowns for July graduation

  • East County
  • News
Jessica Kobetitsch, a freshman at Lakewood Ranch High, said the tour has helped take the craziness of the world off her mind.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 27, 2020
Chipping in: Local organizer scrambled to make youth golf tour happen

Boys and girls golfers from East County participate in the tour.

  • East County
  • Sports
Conner and Spencer Young bond over their passion for cars.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 27, 2020
Altered ceremony, same vows for East County couple

Couple adjusts to wedding plans changed by pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 27, 2020
Barrier islands be alert

Sarasota’s new transportation plan includes projects that will affect the residents of the keys. Now is the time to assure the islands are heard.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 27, 2020
Bittersweet farewells for Lakewood Ranch-area students

Mona Jain Middle and Freedom Elementary have parades to celebrate students as they move onto new schools.

  • East County
  • News
Florence and Milton Harr celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on Tuesday.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 26, 2020
Happy 75th anniversary

Florence and Milton Harr have been in Longboat Key for about 25 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • May 26, 2020
Lucille Orzach

Lucille Orzach died peacefully at home in Rhinebeck, NY on May 7.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
The home at 1131 Horizon View Drive was built in 1987 with five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,989 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 26, 2020
Tortoise Estates home sells for $870,000

Real estate transactions for May 11-15.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Braden River High School nurse Dayna Grella, receptionist Avis Boldin and school counselor Kirsten Lawlor wave and cheer for seniors as they drive by to pick up their caps and gowns.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 26, 2020
Braden River High celebrates Class of 2020

Braden River High School honors seniors with a parade of teachers, staff members and families.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 26, 2020
Condo in The Beach Residences sells for $2.47 million

Residential real estate transactions for May 11-15.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
NeuMorris presented several renderings of the proposed 2,254-square-foot, two-story office building for Grant's Gardens.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 26, 2020
Grant's Gardens gets approval for new building on Longboat

The two-story building at 524 Gulf Bay Road will be 2,254 square feet and will have 10 parking spaces.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The city said it has worked to communicate with residents in the area ahead of the extended Osprey Avenue closure. Image courtesy city of Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 26, 2020
City closes Osprey Avenue for construction

For the second time in four years, work on the Lift Station 87 project will close a portion of the road near the Hudson Bayou for several months.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 26, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: He's fine, he just looks unconscious

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Terri Ruebusch created this piece while at home during the pandemic.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 26, 2020
Ikebana artists keep creating in isolation

Terri Ruebusch, a Longboat Key-based ikebana artist, created with what she could find.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 25, 2020
Girl dies after rescue from surf at Siesta Key's public beach

10-year-old girl was from Lake Wales, police said.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • May 25, 2020
Memorial Day Observance honors fallen heroes at Chaplain J.D. Hamel Park

Sarasota residents braved the weather for the patriotic observance on May 25.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This Country Club at Lakewood Ranch home at 12539 Highfield Circle sold for $2.25 million. It has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,535 square feet. Photo courtesy of listing agents Jim and Donna So
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 25, 2020
Residential Real Estate Transactions May 11-15

Country Club home tops sales at $2.25 million in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Keith Pandeloglou puts out a poster at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch honoring the 205 Lakewood Ranch veterans who are buried at the Sarasota National Cemetery.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 25, 2020
Lakewood Ranch area residents asked to help honor veterans

Virtual event planned today by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities to honor our fallen heroes

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 23, 2020
Bobby Jones opens as nature trail

Municipal golf course, closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, opens its trails to cyclists, walkers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
nvestigators from Sarasota Police Department and Longboat Police Department at the scene of Saturday morning's crash.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 23, 2020
Man dies, another injured in GMD bike crash

No motor vehicles were involved in Saturday crash that closed the road.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sand Cay Beach Resort is located at 4725 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The resort was allowed to reopen on Thursday.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 22, 2020
Longboat vacation rental managers celebrate new ruling

On Thursday, the state approved Sarasota County's plan to resume the short-term rentals.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Couples sit next to each other and far from friends at Longboat Island Chapel's lunches.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 22, 2020
Centers of worship keep Longboat Key socialization alive

As virtually every other area of social interaction shut down over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, churches continued to dole out socialization in whatever ways they could.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 22, 2020
Sarasota County Schools sticks with remote learning plans

Although Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted restrictions on youth activities, the school district will conduct its academic programming virtually this summer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
On Friday, the town rescinded a boil-water order for a neighborhood in Country Club Shores.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 22, 2020
Longboat rescinds boil-water order

Precautionary order had been in place since water-main break on Tuesday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Avery Goelz.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 22, 2020
Lakewood Ranch softball player and coach pick up honors

The Florida Athletic Coaches Association gave the honors despite the shortened season.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 22, 2020
Longboat Key preps for hurricane season during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised several questions about hurricane preparations to keep people safe.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Michael Saunders & Company
  • May 22, 2020
Architectural enchantment: 4 homes with unique structure and vibrancy

Architectural enchantment: 4 homes with unique structure and vibrancy

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Sponsored Content
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 22, 2020
Group exercise begins again on Longboat Key

Socializing and social distancing are finding a way to go hand-in-hand.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Manasota Veterans Inc. and the Manatee County Veterans' Council will host a Memorial Day event May 25. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 22, 2020
Manatee, Sarasota veterans honor fallen military members

A Facebook Live ceremony will offer a time to honor military on Memorial Day.

  • 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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