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Your Observer

    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 9, 2020
Longboat Key dragon boat team wins weekend race

Town Hall staffers paddle to victory over neighboring towns to the north.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 7, 2020
Gulf View home sells for $2.85 million

Residential real estate transactions for Feb. 24-28.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 6, 2020
Royal Rummage early bird sale a massive shopping day on Longboat Key

The St. Mary, Star of the Sea event brought hundreds to the church to shop bargains for a good cause.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 6, 2020
Manatee County Health Department sets up coronavirus call line

Officials say call the department before seeing a healthcare provider.

  • East County
  • News
O'Mariah Gordon was named the 2019-2020 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year on Friday.Â
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 6, 2020
Braden River's O'Mariah Gordon repeats as Florida Gatorade Player of the Year

The Pirates girls basketball junior guard is a top-25 recruit nationally.

  • East County
  • Sports
Traffic is gridlocked on I-75 near Fruitville Road in Sarasota. Photo courtesy Sarasota Sheriff's Department
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 5, 2020
UPDATE: All lanes of I-75 near the Fruitville Road exit now open following four-vehicle accident

Significant crash on I-75 snarls traffic for hours near Fruitville Road exit in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • News
The 287th graduating from Southeastern Guide Dogs.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • March 5, 2020
Southeastern Guide Dogs brings renewed hope to graduates

Southeastern Guide Dogs hosted its 287th graduation Feb. 28 and brought a sense of independence to nine clients.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The majority of the Kress Building, including the ground floor space, is currently vacant. Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
    By
  • Grier Ferguson
  • March 5, 2020
Historic Main Street building sold for $5.8 million

The Kress Building in downtown Sarasota was built in 1932. New ownership plans to target high-end retail tenants.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Kerry Kirschner’s colleagues and family said his willingness to work with people with varied philosophies and personal backgrounds contributed to his professional success.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 5, 2020
Kerry Kirschner, former Argus leader and mayor, dies at 73

Kirschner’s decades-long career bridged the public and private sectors, but always emphasized coalition-building and civic improvement.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 5, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: May 5

Patricia Muller captured this stunning sunset from the north end of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 5, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: March 5

Ian Glazer captured this snowy egret watching over the bay near Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County Commissioners Alan Maio and Christian Ziegler stand on both sides of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch President and CEO Rex Jensen, who cuts the ribbon to open the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard extension March 2.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 5, 2020
Extension vision finally realized between Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota

Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch gain another connection as the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard extension opens Monday.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 5, 2020
East County weather page photo: March 5

Gordon Silver captured this female eagle enjoying a shady spot under the wings of her mate on Lorraine Road.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Siesta Key Breeze Trolley serviced more than 350,000 riders in 2019, but residents hope to see improvements on the line. File photo
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 5, 2020
Siesta Trolley is No. 1 route, residents hope for improvements

The trolley had more than 350,000 riders in 2019, making it the No. 1 line in Sarasota County.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Sarasota County Sustainability Program Supervisor Sara Kane speaks during the opening portion of a sustainable living workshop Friday morning at Longboat Key Town Hall.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 5, 2020
Longboat-hosted workshop provides strategies for green living

The class, which addresses topics from red tide to LED light bulbs, will be taught once more Friday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Oar Bust, a dragon boat team made up of Town of Longboat Key employees, leaves the shore with the help of their instructor during practice Saturday morning at Palma Sola Causeway Park.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 5, 2020
Longboat town employees practice for dragon boat race vs. local rivals

Longboat Oar Bust will compete against Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach on Saturday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Library president Mary Baker (standing, wearing pink) speaks to members of the Rotary Club of Longboat Key during a social event Tuesday evening at Longboat Library.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 5, 2020
Rotary Club members explore Longboat Library — some for first time

The Rotary Club of Longboat Key held a social event at Longboat Library on Tuesday evening.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • March 5, 2020
Reusable fashion is all the rage at annual fashion show

The Longboat Island Chapel hosted its Lord's Warehouse Fashion Show on March 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 5, 2020
You Observed: All Angels Episcopal Church hosts Mardi Gras

The party had jazz, great food and plenty of green and purple feathers ands sequins.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Former Sailor star Alexis Johns is hitting .400 for Florida Atlantic as of March 2. Photo courtesy FIU Athletics.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 5, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Going big, not home

Local alumni are tearing up the collegiate sports scene.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Cougars senior Molly Donaghy is the team's leading scorer. She had seven goals against Saint Stephen's on March 3.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 5, 2020
Cougars girls lacrosse on pace to smash 2019 record

Cardinal Mooney is in the first year under head coach Brooke Eisenacher.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Gail Gilvey, Heidi Berry, Janice Doherty and Mary Drugan. Photo courtesy of Gail Gilvey.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 5, 2020
You Observed: Longboat Harbour residents get on their dancing shoes for Motown party

The themed party was a success among residents as they swung to the music.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    A time to celebrate |
  • March 5, 2020
Schmitt - Moore ENGAGEMENT

Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt of Lakewood Ranch and Ms. Moore of Bradenton would like to announce the engagement of Derek Schmitt & Stephanie Moore.

  • East County
  • Celebrations
The newsstand near Mattison’s City Grille on Main Street has generated concern from some downtown business owners, but the publications in the stand want it to remain.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 5, 2020
Downtown merchants take aim at newsstands

A group of business owners wants to remove a newsstand from Main Street and Lemon Avenue, but the city is still considering alternative options.

  • Sarasota
  • News
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan appears alongside Sarasota Memorial Hospital officials to discuss the local response to COVID-19 at a press conference Tuesday, March 3.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 5, 2020
Officials mobilize local response to coronavirus

As a confirmed case of COVID-19 is being treated at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, medical and governmental leaders are coordinating their efforts to deal with the disease.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Feb. 24 Community Transforum event was held to update the public on the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization’s long-range transportation planning effort.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 5, 2020
Planners present long-term vision for regional transportation

The Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization is working with residents and officials to produce community-backed goals for the future of the area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 5, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 3.5.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 4, 2020
Sarasota County School Board sets superintendent timeline

The board plans to have a new superintendent hired by June 22.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    In Memoriam |
  • March 4, 2020
Donna L. Schlorf

Donna L. Schlorf (Anderson) passed away Ash Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at home with her husband of 59 years at her side at the age of 86.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Carmen Valenti, Jack Hanley, Richard Duda, Bob Teiken and Mike Gilbert all were Air Force veterans who tracked nuclear bomb tests during the Vietnam War era.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 4, 2020
Sarasota veterans enjoy life after their nuclear bomb tracking days.

Veterans reunion in Sarasota rekindles memories of their Air Force days tracking nuclear bomb tests.

  • East County
  • News
Matt Talaska, a captain for East Manatee Fire Rescue, keeps a close eye on his team during a drill Feb. 29.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 4, 2020
A rung higher on the ladder in Lakewood Ranch

Top firefighters honored by East Manatee Fire Rescue

  • East County
  • News
Second graders Hayden Laning, Charlotte Eldridge and Jullian Riley play different characters in their group's readers' theater about presidents.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 4, 2020
Students play historic roles in Lakewood Ranch

McNeal Elementary teacher uses readers' theater to teach students about historic figures.

  • East County
  • News
Brooke and Hayley Obando show off their national championship jackets and medals.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 4, 2020
Lakewood Ranch cheerleaders stick landing at national championship

New Lakewood Ranch cheerleading team sticks landing at national championship

  • East County
  • News
Some commissioners suggested using the current Longboat Library site as the location for a new county-run library. File Photo
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 4, 2020
Sarasota County library could be added on Longboat

Longboat and Sarasota County commissioners discussed the possibility of adding a permanent Sarasota County Library on the key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Demolition of Pattigeorge's took place in June 2018.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 4, 2020
Town moves ahead on new rules for restaurant parking

Buccaneer owners submit plans for 8,600 square foot bayfront spot.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The new maps were issued Dec. 31, 2019, updating flood zones throughout the area.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 4, 2020
Flood map open house is March 5

Residents can view new FEMA maps, ask questions and make comments at event set for Suncoast Technical College.

  • 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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