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Your Observer

Scott Cooper, the new principal at R. Dan Nolan Middle School, settles into his new office. He hopes to expand the performing arts and career and technical education programs at the school in the future.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 17, 2020
New principal thrilled to lead Nolan Middle

Scott Cooper, the new principal of R. Dan Nolan Middle School, is confident he'll transition smoothly to his new role.

  • East County
  • News
Panther Ridge's Olga Ways, on Phillipe, rides through a trail. She and other equestrians can ride more than 14 miles of continuous trails. "We definitely moved here because of the equestrian trains and the length of the trails," s
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 17, 2020
Proposed homes draw criticism in eastern Manatee County

Compatibility with surrounding neighborhood creates concern for Concession project.

  • East County
  • News
Eric Holt, a seventh grader at Braden River Middle School, participates in an experiment. Students like Holt could be back in the classroom come fall or at home with virtual learning or both. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 17, 2020
School District of Manatee County seeks reopening input

Share your thoughts on reopening schools during a June 25 School Board of Manatee County workshop.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 17, 2020
Good plan for schools

Gov. DeSantis and Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s school reopening plan is a model. It delegates to the local level.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Rob and Luke Rominiecki often play music together.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 17, 2020
Families reminisce for Fathers Day

Sarasota dads and children talk about their favorite memories together.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The first day back to school, which is normally filled with hugs, could look drastically different in August.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • June 16, 2020
School board takes closer look at first day options

Following state directives, district leaders have reworked the back to school plan.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 16, 2020
State plan for reopening schools

DeSantis and Corcoran released a 143-page document.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nathan Benderson Park's Fireworks on the Lake will be a drive-in celebration with limited parking to abide by social distancing. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 16, 2020
Nathan Benderson Park's fireworks show in Sarasota to be held with restrictions

Tickets to the Nathan Benderson Park fireworks show will be sold starting June 24.

  • East County
  • News
David Wolff Jr. secures the devices to the dock.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • June 16, 2020
Mar Vista sees 'beautiful growth' on Mini Reefs

The Mini Reefs are designed with hopes of improving the ecosystem.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Thomas Desmond, a music teacher at Braden River High School, has been selected for a Congressional Teacher Award.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 16, 2020
Braden River High School teacher receives Congressional Teacher Award

East County teacher is one of eight in Manatee, Sarasota and Hillsborough counties to receive the award from Congressman Vern Buchanan.

  • East County
  • News
Courtesy photo. The irregular marks surrounding the crawl indicate the chair stuck to the animal.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • June 16, 2020
Turtle Watch volunteers find evidence of a tangled turtle

A turtle seeking a nesting place was caught in a beach lounge chair.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This River Club home at 6808 Pinehurst Place soldfor $900,000. It has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,105 square feet of living area. Photo courtesy of listing agent Nicole Ryskamp.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 16, 2020
Lakewood Ranch area residential real estate June 1-5

River Club home tops sales at $900,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 15, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Job done

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Cars are parked on the street on June 6 along Broadway in the Longbeach Village neighborhood.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • June 15, 2020
Longboat moves forward with resident-permit parking proposal for neighborhood

Longboat Key town commissioners are expected to consider the proposal in September.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The meeting will be held at the Bradenton Area Convention Center to allow for social distancing.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 15, 2020
Manatee County commissioners to discuss business recovery plan

Compression braking might be banned in section of Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
The La Norma statue will not be restored.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • June 15, 2020
Missing no longer

The missing chef statue at La Norma raised intrigue.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Initial site work at Town Center Green started in April and is scheduled to finish in late summer.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • June 15, 2020
Longboat Key property values projected to decrease in 2021

About 75% of the town of Longboat Key's general fund comes from property taxes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courts at Bayfront Park have been marked as closed and their gates locked.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 15, 2020
Longboat sets June 22 date to reopen more facilities

Restrictions will apply to courts' use in Bayfront Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A sample of the thank you cards Linda Mitchell has received. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • June 15, 2020
Key Club members raise thousands for furloughed employees

The "Members Who Care" GoFundMe ran for a short time, but made a huge impact.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Makena, Ethan, Joseph, Andrew and Peter M'mwirichia
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • June 15, 2020
Happy Father's Day, Longboat Key

Longboat's little ones give us an overview of their fathers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch 8-year-old Bella Bassett capped her art project with this message to her dad, Tony Bassett.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 15, 2020
Glad for dad in Lakewood Ranch

Kids honor dads with project at Lakewood Ranch's Let's Create Art.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 13, 2020
Nik Wallenda brings thrills to Benderson Park with stunt show

The daredevil rally had its first show on June 12.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 13, 2020
PRIDE car parade rolls through downtown

About two dozen decorated cars paraded down Main Street on Saturday.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Clayton Rosaire says Big Cat Habitat added several improvements to its facility during its down time.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 13, 2020
Big Cat Habitat open again in Sarasota

Exotic animals on display again as Big Cat Habitat in Sarasota reopens.

  • East County
  • News
Barnes & Noble is slated to open its new Sarasota location June 17. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 12, 2020
Sarasota Barnes & Noble almost ready to open

Opening date set for new book store location in UTC plazas.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 12, 2020
SMA instructor named to national honor

ROTC instructor and cadet commandant is a retired Army lieutenant colonel.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A one-car crash in Myakka City on Thursday night led to the death of a 23-year-old male passenger who has not been identified by the Florida Highway Patrol.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 12, 2020
Myakka City crash results in death of 23-year-old man

Male passenger, 23, killed in one-car Myakka City crash caused when the driver attempted to avoid hitting an alligator.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 4101 Gulf of Mexico Drive was built in 1956 with three bedrooms, three baths and 2,918 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 11, 2020
Gulf of Mexico Drive property sells for $3.4 million

Residential real estate transactions for June 1-5.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The property at 7712 was built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 6,480 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 11, 2020
Siesta Key property sells for $10.5 million

Residential real estate transactions for June 1-5.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
A look at one of Longboat Key's 12 public beach access points. Each of the access points has a four-digit code that corresponds to Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • June 11, 2020
Longboat Key Fire Rescue warns beachgoers of rip currents

Longboat Key does not have lifeguards like Cortez Beach or Lido Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
County Commissioners approved plans for a parking lot at 6647 S. Midnight Pass Road.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • June 11, 2020
Parking lot on South Siesta Key approved

Commissioners approved the lot, though they suggested leasing it to business owners for employee parking rather than designating it as public parking.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The first day back to school may look different as the district considers two plans that would implement social distancing and other safety protocols. File photo
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • June 11, 2020
Sarasota County school leaders consider back to school options

School district lays out two distinct paths for the new school year, but emphasize nothing will be settled for weeks.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Gerri Chaffee hosts Por Nuestros Niños.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • June 11, 2020
Spanish radio station hopes to educate Sarasota families on distance learning

The radio show Por Nuestros Niños is a Spanish language show about issues associated with distance learning and education.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota attorney Dan Lobeck spoke on behalf of the Foxwood at Panther Ridge Homeowners Association. He said the proposal violates the county's land development codes.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 11, 2020
Manatee County Planning Commission won't recommend Concession-area project.

Some Manatee County Planning Commission members say they could not support the application.

  • East County
  • News
Irina LaRose and Steve Howard at the 2019 Freedom Fest.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • June 11, 2020
Longboat Key's Freedom Fest canceled

The fest's fate had been iffy, but the cancellation is now official.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 11, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: June 11

Patricia Muller took this photo of a floral-looking fungus on North Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

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  • April 9, 2026
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3
Longboat Key Turtle Watch members presented a nearly $12,000 donation to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium to support rehabilitating sea turtles like Ellie, one of the current residents.
  • April 9, 2026
Restaurant collab supports Longboat Key Turtle Watch
4
Work proceeds on the fields at 17th Street Park in northeastern Sarasota County. Completion is expected late this year
  • April 9, 2026
Multistate softball tournament coming to 17th Street Park
5
The expansion of McCown Towers would surround the parking structure that would include 160 public parking spaces owned by the city.
  • April 9, 2026
Senior public housing expansion remains $4 million short

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