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Your Observer

Ian Desmond, a Sarasota High graduate, was selected in the third round of the 2004 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 21, 2025
Lakewood Ranch hires former MLB player Ian Desmond as its baseball coach

Desmond will take over a Mustangs team that went 6-18 in 2025.

  • East County
  • Sports
The view of the first hole from behind the fairway bunkers at The Concession.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 21, 2025
The Concession lands Senior PGA Championship for 3 years, starting in 2026

The Lakewood Ranch course has played host to previous high-profile events.

  • East County
  • Sports
  • By Michael Saunders & Company
  • May 21, 2025
For Sale: 7921 Waterton Ln., Lakewood Ranch

This lakeside home offers a magnificent lot within The Lake Club.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Sponsored Content
Dave Bullock has been hired as the new interim city manager by the Sarasota City Commission.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 21, 2025
Sarasota names new interim manager, relaunches search for permanent one

Veteran local government executive Dave Bullock will succeed Doug Jeffcoat in the city's top temp job as City Commission seeks a new batch of candidates.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota softball junior Ashlan Guengerich had five hits and five RBIs across two regional playoff wins last week.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 21, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Ashlan Guengerich

The RBI machine has helped power the Sailors to the final four

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
'Save the Mira Mar' is inappropriate form of horse trading
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 21, 2025
'Save the Mira Mar' is inappropriate form of horse trading

Seaward's development plan rests on two shaky pillars that lacks an economic need and historic preservation, a reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Vincent Contino and Craig Miller mentor Parrish Williford through the Money Talks Program at Harbor 58. They have helped him get a part time job and learn how to save and manage finances.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 21, 2025
Nonprofit provides financial literacy tips to youth aging out of foster care

Harbor58's Money Talks program has a meeting once a month at Oasis Church in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
As she celebrates her 90th birthday, Longboat Key resident Merle Nelson says it is important to maintain a generous spirit.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 21, 2025
Longboat nonagenarian reflects on accomplishments

Merle Nelson shares stories of her storied career and life advice on her 90th birthday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Science and Technology Society hosts student workshops.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 21, 2025
Manatee County nonprofit promotes science and technology for all

The Science and Technology Society is open to individuals and families of all levels of understanding.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden River is in a better spot this spring following a year of coach and player turnover.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 21, 2025
Braden River football hopes to become a winning program in 2025

The Pirates are owning a bounce-back mentality coming off a 2-7 season.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Longbeach home has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,148 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 21, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 5-9 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Longboat home on Broadway tops the week’s sales at $1.6 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Gardeners Out East members Carolyn Lowry-Nation, Nancy Schneider and Melodie Friedebach stand by the Gold Star Memorial installed by the club at the Lakewood Ranch Library.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 21, 2025
A Memorial Day service in Lakewood Ranch would warrant a gold star

Move of Tribute to Heroes Parade to November leaves a void.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Tim Solomon, Jan Solomon, Lindy Hipsher, Cindy Peachey, Lois Kain and Cynthia Frank
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 21, 2025
Key Sailing offers free charters to fellow 1975 Sarasota High graduates

Jan and Tim Solomon, graduates of the Sarasota High School class of 1975, invited their fellow sailors along for boat charters.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Street dancer disrupts traffic flow on Main Street
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 21, 2025
Street dancer disrupts traffic flow on Main Street

High on more than life, a man is removed from Main Street where he was putting on a one-man flashmob. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Bay Isles Parkway is a common access road for drivers to get to Publix and the surrounding shops.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 21, 2025
Town considers ownership of Bay Isles Parkway, pedestrian tunnel

With the Bay Isles Association wanting to divest ownership and maintenance of these assets, the town of Longboat Key is considering an agreement to take over ownership.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The town commission's May 19 budget workshop discussion focused on capital requests from departments over the next five years.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 21, 2025
Upcoming capital projects frame town's first 2026 budget discussion

Longboat Key's first fiscal year 2026 budget discussion focused on $166.8 million in capital improvement projects over the next five years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The big bins are just 4 inches taller than the recycling bins and 1 inch wider.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 21, 2025
Pending changes to Manatee County's trash collection raises questions

Manatee County moves toward the "Big Bin Advantage" with 96-gallon trash cans, but some residents say the coming change just stinks.

  • East County
  • News
How to boost affordability
  • By Adrian Moore, Eliza Terziev
  • May 21, 2025
How to boost affordability

There are some simple steps Sarasota city and county can take to relieve the lack of housing that is affordable — and it’s not requiring public subsidies.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
How we compare
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 21, 2025
How we compare

Living in a capitalistic, competitive society, we all like to know how we compare. Are we best? Worst? First? Last?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Former School District of Manatee County Superintendent Jason Wysong
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 20, 2025
Manatee School Board fires superintendent

Mainly citing concerns over communication, the Manatee County School Board on Tuesday fired Superintendent Jason Wysong with just over 13 months remaining on his contract.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jackson Foscolos, 12, poses with his mother Jennifer Foscolos, brother Mason Foscolos, 9, and grandparents Hans and Leslie Rode.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 20, 2025
Fire department open house showcases the tools behind rescues

The open house a Station 4 on Old Bradenton Road followed the fire department's receipt of international recognition for its cardiac care.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Miami men charged in 2023 Sarasota burglary, fatal traffic collision
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 20, 2025
Miami men charged in 2023 Sarasota burglary, fatal traffic collision

The April 2023 crash killed a motorcyclist from Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Connie Schindewolf and Caleb Jameson finish walking their zone by marking two nests next to each other. They both have a long history of volunteering with Longboat Key Turtle Watch.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 20, 2025
Turtle Watch group shares insights into early season obstacles

Sea turtles face natural obstacles like a changing beach topography and artificial lights, but the organization said, recently, humans have disturbed nesting stakes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch High School Music Department has received the "Support Music Merit Award" from The NAMM Foundation in honor of its outstanding commitment to music education. The music department staff includes orchestra director Thomas Durante, band director John Wilkerson and choir director Rebekah Lester.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 20, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High honored with Support Music Merit Award

The award from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional achievement.

  • East County
  • Schools
A group of Tara residents dons red shirts and takes a tour bus to Manatee County's Administration Building May 8 to oppose a development project.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 20, 2025
Organized Manatee resident group wins out over builder again

County commissioners voted 5-2 to deny a proposal for one of the last parcels in the Tara community.

  • East County
  • News
Suspicious box of rotten fruit delivered to resident
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 20, 2025
Suspicious box of rotten fruit delivered to resident

No motive was discovered during the police investigation into the suspicious incident. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Jewel Kerr (middle) was supported at her signing day by her brother, Amir Kyles, mother Jacqueline Pearson, sister Kasi Pearson, grandmother Wanda Pearson and coach Carlos Woods.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 20, 2025
Booker senior becomes first flag football signee in Sarasota County

Jewel Kerr signed a scholarship to play flag football at Bethel College on May 14.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A Lake Club home at 16010 Topsail Terrace sold for $3 million. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,738 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 20, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 5-9 in Lakewood Ranch

A home on Taylor Drive tops the week's sales at $3.564 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Cindy Gordon, board chair of the Florida West Coast Avian Society, says pet birds such as parrots have special needs, but the upside of ownership is well worth it. Chewy and Chester obviously think so.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 20, 2025
Florida West Coast Avian Society takes flight at Music on Main

Those who attend can learn about the responsibilities of having a pet bird.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sisters Stephanie and Samantha Esposito, grandchildren of longtime Longboaters Anthony and Mabel Esposito, both recently graduated from medical school.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 20, 2025
Longboat Key residents celebrate two granddaughters' med school graduations

Class of 2025 includes two graduates from medical school hailing from the Longboat Esposito family.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Pirates senior Nick Curbelo celebrates scoring the first run of a 9-3 win over Manatee on a triple by senior Camden Pope in a regional semifinal game on May 1 at Braden River High School.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 20, 2025
Braden River's baseball run one of top stories of year in East County

Record-breaking runs, championships and breakthroughs make this spring special.

  • East County
  • Sports
Katherine Lo, a seventh grader in digital art, created a piece inspired by video games and titled the game she created "Knight's Revenge." She generated the background using artificial intelligence.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 19, 2025
Mona Jain Middle of Lakewood Ranch hosts its second annual Art Show

Digital and traditional art pieces were featured at the show using different mediums.

  • East County
  • Schools
  • By Chris Moss with Edward Jones
  • May 19, 2025
How Should You Respond to Tariffs?

How should you respond to tariffs - as a consumer and an investor?

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Co-owners Zach Zeller and Chef Evan Percoco design their latest restaurant to feel like a backyard.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 19, 2025
Twisted Pit BBQ opens on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch

The Twisted Pit is Zach Zeller and Chef Evan Percoco's third establishment to open on Main Street.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
A rendering by DSDG Architects of the entry court at Sarasota Yacht Club.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 19, 2025
Planning Board advances Sarasota Yacht Club expansion

The Sarasota Yacht Club is planning to add 12,691 square feet of space, including a new three-story building.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A wealth of new home construction throughout the metropolitan area is contributing to its nation-leading percentage of home ownership.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 19, 2025
Sarasota metro has highest home ownership rate in the country

At 82.3%, the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota area was rated No. 1 by financial services website SmartAsset among all metros across the country in residents who own their homes.

  • Sarasota
  • 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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