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Your Observer

Keith Pandeloglou puts out a poster at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch honoring the 205 Lakewood Ranch veterans who are buried at the Sarasota National Cemetery.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 25, 2020
Lakewood Ranch area residents asked to help honor veterans

Virtual event planned today by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities to honor our fallen heroes

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 23, 2020
Bobby Jones opens as nature trail

Municipal golf course, closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, opens its trails to cyclists, walkers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
nvestigators from Sarasota Police Department and Longboat Police Department at the scene of Saturday morning's crash.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 23, 2020
Man dies, another injured in GMD bike crash

No motor vehicles were involved in Saturday crash that closed the road.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sand Cay Beach Resort is located at 4725 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The resort was allowed to reopen on Thursday.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 22, 2020
Longboat vacation rental managers celebrate new ruling

On Thursday, the state approved Sarasota County's plan to resume the short-term rentals.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Couples sit next to each other and far from friends at Longboat Island Chapel's lunches.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 22, 2020
Centers of worship keep Longboat Key socialization alive

As virtually every other area of social interaction shut down over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, churches continued to dole out socialization in whatever ways they could.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 22, 2020
Sarasota County Schools sticks with remote learning plans

Although Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted restrictions on youth activities, the school district will conduct its academic programming virtually this summer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
On Friday, the town rescinded a boil-water order for a neighborhood in Country Club Shores.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 22, 2020
Longboat rescinds boil-water order

Precautionary order had been in place since water-main break on Tuesday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Avery Goelz.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 22, 2020
Lakewood Ranch softball player and coach pick up honors

The Florida Athletic Coaches Association gave the honors despite the shortened season.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 22, 2020
Longboat Key preps for hurricane season during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised several questions about hurricane preparations to keep people safe.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Michael Saunders & Company
  • May 22, 2020
Architectural enchantment: 4 homes with unique structure and vibrancy

Architectural enchantment: 4 homes with unique structure and vibrancy

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Sponsored Content
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • May 22, 2020
Group exercise begins again on Longboat Key

Socializing and social distancing are finding a way to go hand-in-hand.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Manasota Veterans Inc. and the Manatee County Veterans' Council will host a Memorial Day event May 25. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 22, 2020
Manatee, Sarasota veterans honor fallen military members

A Facebook Live ceremony will offer a time to honor military on Memorial Day.

  • East County
  • News
Chris Elbon has served as the town of Longboat Key's code enforcement officer from September 2014 to May 2020.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 22, 2020
Longboat Key looks to hire new code enforcement officer

The town’s code enforcement officer is responsible for inspections to ensure adherence to town codes, ordinances and regulations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • May 22, 2020
James J. Haranzo

James J. Haranzo, 93, a longtime resident of  Longboat Key, Florida, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family at his Summer home in Darien, Connecticut on May 9, 2020 after a brief illness unrelated to Covid-19. 

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 21, 2020
Sarasota County can resume vacation rentals

A plan submitted to the state Monday was approved.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Stacey Gadeken and Alison Denboggende cheer for seniors as they drive by the school to pick up their caps and gowns. Their sons, Andrew Denboggende and Brandon Gadeken, are graduating this year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 21, 2020
Cheers for Lakewood Ranch graduates

Parents, teachers and staff members celebrate seniors as they pick up caps and gowns for July graduation

  • East County
  • News
Cancellations of mass gatherings are extending into the summer as COVID-19 continues to pose public health challenges.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 21, 2020
Fourth of July fireworks canceled on Siesta Key, Sarasota's bayfront

Organizers of the annual Independence Day fireworks shows said the decision was taken to ensure public safety and avoid the spread of COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 21, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: May 21

Brian Wamback captured this wave hitting a groin on the north end of Longboat on a windy afternoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 21, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: May 21

Danielle Dupont captured this beautiful waterfront off Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 21, 2020
East County weather page photo: May 21

Gordon Silver captured this alligator along the shoreline of a pond in Del Webb.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ty Bryant is the new girls basketball coach at Booker High. Photo courtesy Phil Helmuth.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 21, 2020
Booker girls basketball gives longtime youth and AAU coach a chance

Ty Bryant will take over the program in 2020-2021.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 21, 2020
COVID-19 creates cause to change

The Lido Beach reopening debate serves an allegory for what has ailed the city: its form of government.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
File rendering
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 21, 2020
Downtown: Time to go big and go bold

Before he died, the late Sarasota entrepreneur Gil Waters created a rendering of one of his long-sought visions: turning Main Street from Palm Avenue to Orange Avenue into a pedestrian plaza.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Fogle, left, is leading a departmental effort to reassess the scope of a 10-year parks master plan. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 21, 2020
City scales back park ambitions

Although COVID-19 will limit what city staff can do over the next year, officials are still interested in pursuing some priority park projects.

  • Sarasota
  • News
During the COVID-19 response, work has continued at Sarasota construction sites such as Epoch, a high-rise condominium project at 605 S. Gulfstream Ave. Business groups are concerned the virus could slow future construction.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 21, 2020
Business groups collaborate on COVID-19 policy advocacy

In an effort to stem the economic losses associated with the coronavirus, local organizations are lobbying for regulatory change.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 21, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 5.21.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Jan and Tim Solomon have owned Key Sailing for 14 years.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 21, 2020
Sarasota couple celebrates 45 years of smooth sailing

Jan and Tim Solomon, owners and operators of Key Sailing, have been together for 45 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Commissioners discussed the possibility of a paid beach parking program.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 21, 2020
County officials consider variety of traffic improvements on the key

Among proposed traffic improvements on Siesta Key are traffic calming measures, a bike share program and a water taxi.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Brody Rose, a fifth grade student at Out-of-Door Academy, put together videos of his classmates performing and created a concert for Bay Village residents. Photo courtesy Neal Alfano
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 21, 2020
ODA student assembles virtual concert for retirement community

Brody Rose and his classmates typically perform at Bay Village of Sarasota once a month.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Andrew Arbanas, center, is happy to be able to interact with his family after a month of intensive care for COVID-19 patients. Jaxson, Tiffany, Jude and Aryella are thrilled to be able to hug him.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 20, 2020
Not so safe at home for Lakewood Ranch area nurses

Healthcare worker isolates himself from his family to protect them.

  • East County
  • News
Jacquie McLaurin, a fifth grade teacher at Robert E. Willis Elementary, is disappointed her career ends with e-learning as she retires this year, but she has enjoyed the time with her students.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 20, 2020
New lesson in retirement for Lakewood Ranch-area teachers

Retiring teachers and staff members disappointed with the ending but happy for the memories.

  • East County
  • News
Workers pump water from the site of a 10-inch pipe break on Bogey Lane.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 20, 2020
Boil-water order set for Longboat neighborhood

The water main break may cause Country Club Shores to have little to no water pressure.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Longboat Key Club's golf courses have remained open throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • May 20, 2020
Longboat Key Club golf courses provide normalcy for members

The Key Club's Harbourside and Links golf courses have remained open throughout the coronavirus outbreak.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sheila Milazzo, Anita and Ed Hagen and Jo Fava enter Our Lady of the Angels for the first in-person Mass in two months.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 20, 2020
Cautious reopening for Lakewood Ranch-area churches

East County churches excited but cautious with reopening

  • East County
  • News
DVA Arena originally envisioned a hockey arena, construction of which began in 2005, on the site. It was demolished in 2009 by Schroeder-Manatee Ranch and now is vacant land. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 20, 2020
No longer on ice in Lakewood Ranch

After years of uncertainty, former hockey arena site headed for development in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Crystal Landkas-Coronas feeds carrots to Melman and Twiggs. The giraffes love carrots and enjoy romaine lettuce, fresh branches from trees and other foods.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 20, 2020
In Lakewood Ranch area: Here's looking at zoo, kid

Public gets a free look at Rye Road Giraffes in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
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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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