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Your Observer

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
Sarasota football roundup: 09.18.20
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 18, 2020
Sarasota football roundup: 09.18.20

Sarasota football roundup: 09.18.20

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 18, 2020
Braden River football falls in season opener

The Pirates lost 35-21 to Charlotte High.

  • East County
  • Sports
The city has produced images depicting Unconditional Surrender at a variety of sites, including the Municipal Auditorium, the Sahib Shriners property, J.D. Hamel Park and Hart’s Landing. Images courtesy city of Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 18, 2020
City launches Unconditional Surrender survey

Through next Friday, members of the public have the opportunity to select their favored location for the bayfront artwork from a list of nine options.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bradenton-based ET MacKenzie completed repair work after the town of Longboat Key's June's sewage break. Photo courtesy of the town of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 18, 2020
Longboat Key seeks permitting for dry line piping after June's sewage break

The town of Longboat Key is looking into opportunities to advance its redundant piping project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
In May, the town transitioned from Longboat Code Red to Alert Longboat Key.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 17, 2020
Don't expect emergency sirens anytime soon in Longboat Key

Commissioners discussed the town's emergency notification system on Monday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Freya Robbins, CDFA™
  • September 17, 2020
Who Makes the First Move?

Who Makes the First Move?

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 17, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: September 17

Pat Lundy captured an evening tide off of Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 17, 2020
East County weather page photo: September 17

Stuart Schwartz came to the rescue of this hummingbird stuck on his lanai in River Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 17, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: September 17

Beau Ciel captured this sunset overlooking Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 17, 2020
It’s not who; it’s what

Voters should know what they are voting for in November. The candidates are only facades.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team won the 33rd-annual Manatee County Boys HS Golf Championship on Wednesday at Tara Golf and Country Club. Photo courtesy Bryan Veith.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 17, 2020
Lakewood Ranch High golf takes Manatee County Boys Championship

Braden River High took second place.

  • East County
  • Sports
    A time to celebrate |
  • September 17, 2020
Les and Nora Ivell

Cheers to 70 Years of Happiness

  • East County
  • Celebrations
Jared Clark picked up his first win as the head coach at Cardinal Mooney against North Port.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 17, 2020
Cardinal Mooney football coach has a successful homecoming

Mooney defeated North Port 42-7 in a family affair.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Cross country senior Orlando Cicilioni is primed for a big year at Sarasota High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 17, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Sarasota High runner has chance at top-five finish

Cross country senior Orlando Cicilioni has been working hard to get his times down.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    A time to celebrate |
  • September 17, 2020
Bryan and Sylva Langton

in honor of their 60th wedding anniversary

  • Longboat Key
  • Celebrations
In 2018, the county stopped operating parks including Arlington Park, giving oversight to the city. With county transitional funding set to expire next year, officials are concerned about a forthcoming budget crunch. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 17, 2020
Finalizing budget, city considers future parks needs

A proposal to allow the use of emergency funds for park operations drew support from a majority of the commission but concern from multiple officials.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Accessory dwelling units such as the Laurel Park residence pictured here are already allowed in certain neighborhoods, but the Florida Housing Coalition recommended permitting the structures by-right citywide.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 17, 2020
Planning Board endorses limited expansion of accessory dwellings

The city hopes allowing a small second unit on some single-family lots will help add affordable housing, though proposed changes fall short of consultant recommendations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 17, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 9.17.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 16, 2020
Longboat Key man's sailboat washes ashore

Mark Sternal had recently purchased the boat in Punta Gorda.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jason Toale is the vice president of operations for Robert Toale & Sons. He is the son of Robert Toale.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 16, 2020
Funeral home planned for Lakewood Ranch

Robert Toale and Sons is in the permitting stage for a Lakewood Ranch Boulevard/44th Avenue location.

  • East County
  • News
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  • June 25, 2026
Florida Power & Light brings 2026 infrastructure upgrades to Sarasota County, Manatee County and Longboat Key
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Roadway cameras help identify park-damaging suspect
  • June 24, 2026
Roadway cameras help identify park-damaging suspect
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This house in Plantation Oaks is advertised on several booking platforms as sleeping up to 32 guests.
  • June 24, 2026
Manatee County commissioners consider regulating vacation rentals

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