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Your Observer

Some of the Meadow Sweet Circle mailboxes featured faces to go with an Easter bonnet. Photo courtesy Deb Holton-Smith.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 15, 2020
Osprey neighborhood hops for joy over Easter decorations

Bonnets, eggs and bunnies were just some of the things put on display.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Brad Moyer and his niece Julia Devecchio, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, have a quarantine-style prom since Devecchio's actual prom was canceled. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 15, 2020
Lakewood Ranch area seniors miss final important high school moments

Lakewood Ranch area high school seniors share disappointment over school event cancellations.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High senior Zack Weston said his video game time has increased since social distancing began.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 15, 2020
East County high school athletes turn to esports while stuck at home.

Do video games come close to the thrill of real sports?

  • East County
  • Sports
Tara Preserve Golf Club offers 18 holes of golf.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 15, 2020
Tara Preserve Golf Club up for sale in Bradenton

Homeowners wonder if new owners will try to develop the land.

  • East County
  • News
The accelerated project is part of the overall $80.8 million plan to widen 6.75 miles of I-75 from north of University Parkway to south of S.R. 64 and reconstruct the S.R. 70/I-75 interchange. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 15, 2020
Florida governor expedites I-75/S.R. 70 project

Less traffic due to COVID-19 leads FDOT to speed up work on I-75/S.R. 70 interchange in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Scott Cooper will be the new principal at R. Dan Nolan Middle School starting July 1. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 14, 2020
Nolan Middle School to have new principal next year

East County schools to see some administrative changes in 2020-2021 school year.

  • East County
  • News
Director of Shelter Service Tanjee Lane is preparing herself and other staff for a possible influx of shelter residents after the quarantine.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 14, 2020
SPARCC prepares during quarantine

The abuse services nonprofit views the current shutdown as a calm before the coming storm.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Parents left a basket for children to find after the Easter Bunny made an at-a-distance appearance.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 14, 2020
Who's that out the window?

Party supplier sends Easter Bunny out to brighten kids' Easters.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Siesta Key Rum created hand sanitizer to donate to first responders and physicians. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 14, 2020
Siesta Key Rum switches from alcohol to sanitizer

The distillery began making hand sanitizer to donate to first responders and physicians.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 14, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Double points

Police reports from around the town.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The land at 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive has been vacant since November 2018 when the last building of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort was torn down.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 14, 2020
Settlement deadline passes in Colony case

Unicorp claims COVID-19 concerns made meeting March 31 date impossible.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mort Skirboll became a supporter of Compeer Sarasota, the mental health organization where his wife, Bunny, was CEO.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 13, 2020
Mort Skirboll remembered for kindness, sense of humor

The mental health advocate and nonprofit patron was 82.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Carol Erker delivers food to first responders. Photo courtesy of Carol Erker.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 13, 2020
Longboat Key organizations step up to help

First responders and food banks will be getting extra help from Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 13, 2020
Longboat's Linley Street boat ramp reopens

The town of Longboat Key decided to follow Manatee County's decision to open public boat ramps.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 13, 2020
Sarasota Film Festival to be offered online

The 22nd annual film festival will be offered online from April 27 through May 3 amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The organizer of the annual Memorial Day Parade is now focusing its attention on plans for Veterans Day.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 13, 2020
Sarasota Memorial Day Parade canceled

The Sarasota Patriotic Observance Committee decided to cancel next month’s event because of public health concerns related to COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Loccisano's sunsets can be found on her Instagram page.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 13, 2020
Longboater puts sunsets front and center for digital audience.

One Longboat Key resident is bringing the sunset to people around the world who can't get to the beach right now.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
One-year-old Niko Rossi Sharma finds Easter eggs on the No. 3 hole of the King’s Dune Course in Lakewood Ranch. He is the grandson of Gloria Bracciano and Greg Van Natter.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 13, 2020
Everybody loves a bunny on Easter in the Lakewood Ranch area

Lakewood Ranch families submit their Easter Egg hunt photos.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key fire firefighter and paramedic David Oliger is dressed in protective gear to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 13, 2020
Longboat Key first responders return to work after quarantine

Four members of the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department returned to work on April 5.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Resurfacing is being done on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard between Mallard Lane and River Club Boulevard.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 13, 2020
Manatee County resurfacing section of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard

Road construction in Lakewood Ranch should take about one week.

  • East County
  • News
The Easter bunny. Photo courtesy of Mary Del Pup.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 13, 2020
Even the Easter bunny wears a mask

The Easter bunny visited Seaplace residents while taking pandemic precautions.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Publix store at 525 Bay Isles Parkway in Longboat Key implemented curbside pickup service on Saturday, April 11.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 13, 2020
Longboat Publix launches curbside delivery

Publix has taken several steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This fish at Lake Uihlein at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch is in big trouble. It becomes a cormorant snack.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 13, 2020
At home with nature

nature

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Donna Hefner and Greg Fiore place flowers on the cross at Longboat Island Chapel
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 12, 2020
Easter on Longboat Key retains touches of normalcy amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

Longboat Key's Christian community find new ways to celebrate Easter while making plans for what comes next.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota Polo Ranch's Pippa Campbell shows the message as she rides in a makeshift Easter parade put together to entertain the residents at Grand Living at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 12, 2020
A Grand Living Easter parade

A Grand Living Easter parade brings joy to Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County commissioners extend a 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 10, 2020
Manatee County extends curfew, opens boat ramps

COVID-19 impacts on agenda for commission meeting in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Crews from Terry’s Tree Service are already ahead of schedule, according to Longboat Key town projects manager Charlie Mopps.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 10, 2020
Clearing work underway at Longboat Key Town Center Green

Crews are scheduled to finish site work by late summer, Longboat Key town projects manager Charlie Mopps said.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The city shared instructional videos with information about how to navigate the roundabouts and what the new street markings mean. Image via city of Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 10, 2020
U.S. 41 roundabouts to open next week

Sarasota officials hope instructional videos will help educate motorists about how to use roundabouts at 10th Street and 14th Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 378 Canal Road was built in 1948 with seven bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,908 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 10, 2020
Home on Canal Road sells for nearly $1.9 million

Residential real estate transactions for March 30-April 3.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The home at 443 S. Polk Drive was built in 2007, with five bedrooms, three full baths and two half-baths, a pool and 5,513 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 10, 2020
Ringling Estates home sells for $2.7 million

Residential real estate transactions for March 30-April 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Town facilities, including Town Hall, are closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 10, 2020
Longboat Key extends town closures amid COVID-19 pandemic

Town Manager Tom Harmer issued the executive order on Friday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 9, 2020
Drive-by birthday party marks the new normal on Longboat Key

In keeping with safe social distancing, and the rules of the road, Country Club Shores resident enjoys a happy 50th.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Dr. Kirk Voelker speaks during a videoconference Thursday about Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s participation in clinical trials testing COVID-19 treatments.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 9, 2020
Sarasota Memorial Hospital discusses participation in COVID-19 tests

The hospital is part of an effort to test the efficacy of two different treatments for the coronavirus.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 9, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: April 9

Brian Wamback captured this sunset from the beach on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 9, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: April 9

Chris Tarrant captured these snowy egrets in aerial combat on Siesta Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 9, 2020
Local map of COVID-19 cases adds visitors to positive-test totals

State lists account for seven cases connected to Longboat Key, local "heat map" adds five more.

  • 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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