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Your Observer

Osprey make their nests at the tops of dead trees, atop power poles and on manmade nesting platforms.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 19, 2020
Town not planning to remove existing osprey-nest poles

FPL is removing its power poles, but not the free-standing osprey-nest poles.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
If they win, Mote will use the funds for nesting survey supplies like stakes for marking nests.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 19, 2020
Vote for Mote

Because it rhymes! And to help sea turtles.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • May 19, 2020
Jonathan Brinton Detwiler

Jonathan Brinton Detwiler, 88, passed away May 11, 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 18, 2020
County prepares for potential hurricane evacuations amid COVID-19

Officials are considering additional measures such as more space between people, masks and extra sanitation.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This Harbour Walk home at 557 Fore Drive sold for $1.16 million. It has six bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,691 square feet of living area.  Photo courtesy of listing agent Jonnie Buffaline.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 18, 2020
Residential Real Estate Transactions May 4-8

Lake Club home tops sales at $1.55 million

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The city had kept the beach closed as it awaited additional COVID-19 testing data.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 18, 2020
Lido Beach to reopen

Beginning Tuesday morning, the public can once again visit the beach.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 18, 2020
Bayou neighborhood entrance matures in its second year

The design is eye-catching, but there are no native plants in the display.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key commissioners participate in Monday's virtual special budget workshop meeting.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 18, 2020
Town takes cautious look at budgets on the horizon

Fiscal year 2021 begins in October for the town of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 18, 2020
Sarasota teen is Florida's youth of the year

It's the third year in a row a Sarasota area youth has won the award.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Freya Robbins, CDFA™
  • May 18, 2020
Time To Trade In Or Restore?

Time To Trade In Or Restore?

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The twin murals, of a surgical masked man and a woman, were undertaken on April 28. An official unveiling took place May 15.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 18, 2020
Downtown Sarasota murals tell heroic story

Health care workers honored with pair of paintings downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 17, 2020
Lakewood Ranch church's parade uplifting for members

Oasis Church of Lakewood Ranch hosts small parade to share messages of love and hope.

  • East County
  • News
Karen Pashkow rattles a noisemaker to attract attention from drivers.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 15, 2020
Longboat Island Chapel hosts food drive

May 15 marked the first day of a two-day food drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Courtesy. Staff members are back at work at Mattison's Riverwalk Grille in Bradenton.
    By
  • Brian Hartz
  • May 15, 2020
Restaurant chews on ways to survive, make it through summer

A longtime industry leader learns that sometimes not doing something — say takeout in the pandemic — can be a long-term benefit.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 15, 2020
Sarasota schools plan special celebrations for seniors

Booker High School and Pine View School will host events at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall to honor the senior class.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Unit 5 at 378 Golden Gate Point  was built in 1993 with three bedrooms, three baths and 3,098 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 15, 2020
Condo at The Renaissance sells for $1.9 million

Residential real estate transactions for May 4-8.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 15, 2020
Wildlife advocates urge beach caution

Several nests on Siesta Key Beach have been disturbed by those walking dogs on the beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The home at 561 Harbor Cove Circle  was built in 1983 with three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,357 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 15, 2020
Bay Isles home sells for $2.74 million

Residential real estate transactions for May 4-8.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 15, 2020
Demolition begins on Siesta Key fire station

The station will be built at the same location, 1170 Beach Road, and will be completed by summer 2021.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 15, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: The smell of something dangerous

Police reports from around the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The City Commission unanimously authorized the creation of the grant program earlier this month.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 15, 2020
Applications open next week for city business assistance grants

Small businesses in the city of Sarasota can seek up to $5,000 beginning Tuesday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Although gyms were excluded from the state's initial reopening plans, they will be allowed to open as long as the businesses maintain social distancing and follow other health guidelines. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 15, 2020
DeSantis expands reopening to include gyms, more

Beginning Monday, restaurants, stores, museums and libraries will be allowed to open at 50% capacity.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 15, 2020
Air Force flyover thrills Sarasota Memorial Hospital staff

MacDill-based aerial tanker banks low over Sarasota to honor medical professionals and first-responders.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Danae, Nash and Chris Koeper
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 15, 2020
On Longboat Key, town wishes young resident happy birthday

A fire truck, police vehicle and public works vehicle drove by on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Paradise Center held physically distant exercise classes until mid-March.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 14, 2020
Longboat Key Paradise Center to reopen in a modified capacity

Exercise classes and discussion groups of 10 or fewer will be held outdoors beginning May 18.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 14, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: May 14

Cindy Leder captured this colorful sunset from Beachplace on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 14, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: May 14

Stephen Jordan captured this photo just before sunset on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 14, 2020
East County weather page photo: May 14

Bill Turnbull captured these eagles on White Eagle Boulevard.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Scenic Production intern Justin Allan works on the floor of the Gompertz Theatre. Photo courtesy Sarah Haley.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 14, 2020
Relief bill allows local theaters to rehire employees

Florida Studio Theatre and Asolo Repertory Theatre were able to hire back nearly 100 local artists and theater employees.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The proposed 43-space public lot would be located on the old sheriff's office site. File photo
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 14, 2020
New public parking lot may be added to south Siesta Key

Sarasota County Planning Commissioners approved a plan to turn county-owned property into 43 public parking spaces.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Fifth grader Jackson Bitsoff recreates “Portrait of the Artist’s son Jorge Mandel Theotokopoulos” by El Greco. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 14, 2020
Out-of-Door students get creative for annual arts tradition

Out of Door Academy students participate in the Getty art challenge and virtual lessons for Arts Day.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 14, 2020
County truck hits, injures jogger on Bahia Vista

Jogger taken to Sarasota Memorial with critical injuries.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • May 14, 2020
Michael L. Gurchiek

Michael L. Gurchiek, 82, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, May 8, at his home on Longboat Key, Fla.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
As restaurants like C’est La Vie rely on sidewalk cafes to generate business during the first phase of reopening, the city is debating the merits of expanding outdoor dining options.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 14, 2020
City considers street closures for outdoor dining, pedestrian space

The city could temporarily close streets to cars as a COVID-19 response measure, but it's unclear if and when changes may actually take place.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The commission declined to move forward with a maintenance proposal that would have eradicated the grass on portions of the Bobby Jones property, holding off on that step until renovation plans are finalized.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 14, 2020
Bobby Jones overhaul not yet final

Although the city continues to move towards renovating the municipal golf course next year, officials are leaving room to reconsider the plans.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Two of the top three transportation projects in city staff's proposed master plan involve trails, including connections to an extended Legacy Trail in Payne Park. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 14, 2020
Trails still top city transportation priorities

After gathering public input, staff is going to the commission for guidance on the Sarasota in Motion master plan.

  • Sarasota
  • 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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