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Your Observer

Residents protest the county's redistricting map at Phillippi Estate Park.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • February 6, 2020
Trial date set for redistricting suit

A suit contending Sarasota County discriminated against black voters with redistricting map will be heard April 27.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • February 6, 2020
Out-of-Door Academy celebrates 95 years

The school was first founded on Siesta Key in 1924.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
SYC Leadership and SYC Cares Committee.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • February 6, 2020
Sarasota Yacht Club gives back to local nonprofits

The Sarasota Yacht Club philanthropic branch is SYC Cares.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 6, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: February 6

Karen McCann captured an image of a heron fishing on Lido Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 6, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: February 6

Sara Grimm captured someone’s unusual artwork on Siesta Key Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 6, 2020
East County weather page photo: February 6

Sharon Piotrowski captured this sunrise over a lake in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • February 6, 2020
Longboat Key Democratic Club discusses media

News organizations and the changing digital landscape took the forefront at the February meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Adrienne Boynes started weightlifting two years ago, when a girls weightlifting program came to Cardinal Mooney High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 6, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Cardinal Mooney junior weightlifter carries home regional title

The girls weightlifting program has only existed at Mooney for two years.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A common sight at City Hall: residents in color-coded shirts signifying their support for or opposition to a proposed development. City officials want to find a way to limit the number of drawn-out, contentious development fights.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 6, 2020
Following Bath & Racquet Club vote, officials mull policy changes

The rejection of a contentious residential project after two years of planning has raised concerns about how the city handles development proposals.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Bay Sarasota is working to build out the $25 million first phase of the park project by the end of 2021.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 6, 2020
Bayfront planners make progress on park site

As it works with the city on plans for the first phase of the project, The Bay Sarasota has already begun some early work on the public property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Although a representative from the Tahiti Park neighborhood said residents were willing to participate in a self-funding district to buy the land, the commission wasn't interested in moving forward with the acquisition.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 6, 2020
City won’t acquire North Trail property

Despite an appeal from the Tahiti Park neighborhood, the city isn’t interested in adding commercial property on U.S. 41 into Whitaker Gateway Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • February 6, 2020
Vacation-rental regulations come down to local control versus state preemption

With so many cities going too far with regulations, state control makes sense. If you don’t like vacation rentals, form an HOA.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 6, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 2.6.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Faith Bench, a math teacher at Braden River Middle School, received an award and check for being Educator of the Year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 5, 2020
Braden River Middle teacher wins Educator of the Year

Braden River Middle School teacher wins Schools District of Manatee County's Educator of the Year

  • East County
  • News
Department liaison and public information officer Tina Adams tracks calls and reaches out to clients who might make use of the CARE Program.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • February 5, 2020
Longboat CARE Program helps chronic 911 callers find assistance

The Longboat fire department reaches out to help people do things such as find a physician or guard against fall hazards.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jared Clark is the new football coach at Cardinal Mooney.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 5, 2020
Cardinal Mooney names new football coach

The man for the job is a former Cougars quarterback.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Tom Freiwald, chair of the Longboat Key Revitalization Task Force, speaks to the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key during a December meeting at Lazy Lobster.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • February 5, 2020
Longboat Key Kiwanis Club offering free trial for interested members

Those interested in trying the service organization will only be charged for breakfast until membership dues are collected in October.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sally Fernandez (left) and her husband/editor, Joe Fernandez, stand in their "conference room" by the pool at their Sarasota home.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • February 5, 2020
Author Fernandez talks high hopes for Max Ford movie, ideas for future projects

Sally Fernandez, award-winning author of the Max Ford trilogy, enjoys working at the intersection of fact and fiction.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Queen Zabriskie, assistant professor of sociology
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • February 5, 2020
New College to host symposium

New College will hold its annual New Schools of Black Thought symposium on Feb. 8.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • February 5, 2020
Mothers Helping Mothers expands

Mothers Helping Mothers expanded into its building to 8,000 feet.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bill Vogel tells the board why Florida School Board Association is the best choice.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • February 5, 2020
Sarasota School Board selects superintendent search firm

The board selected Florida School Board Association to lead the search for a new leader.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Senior Colin Castro dressed in 1980s fashion while junior Kaylen Rivers represented the 1970s. Castro was going for a "Miami Vice" look.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 5, 2020
95 and counting for ODA

Out-of-Door Academy's campus in Lakewood Ranch celebrates 95th year on 95th day of school

  • East County
  • News
  • By Laurel Oak Country Club Staff
  • February 5, 2020
A New Year, A New Reason to Celebrate!

A New Year, A New Reason to Celebrate!

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Mike Weir, the Masters champion in 2003, is the only Canadian to win a major tournament.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 5, 2020
Catch big-time talent at the LECOM Suncoast Classic

The event will feature plenty of players who have tasted PGA Tour success, or are headed that direction.

  • East County
  • Sports
The LECOM Suncoast Classic utilizes Juan Gutierrez's leadership abilities as a volunteer.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 5, 2020
Lakewood Ranch residents score important volunteer roles with LECOM Suncoast Classic

More than 400 volunteers have helped the LECOM Suncoast Classic become a top Korn Ferry Tour event.

  • East County
  • News
Mark Hubbard won the inaugural LECOM Suncoast Classic in 2019.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 5, 2020
Will 2020 LECOM Suncoast Classic make another star?

For Mark Hubbard, the road back to the PGA Tour ran through Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lanto Griffin is fourth in the FedEx Cup standings. Photo courtesy of PGA Tour Media.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 5, 2020
From the Suncoast Classic to stardom

These five current PGA Tour contenders played in the inaugural LECOM Suncoast Classic.

  • East County
  • Sports
Seath Lauer tees off during the first round of the 2019 LECOM Suncoast Classic. Lauer missed the cut, but is back for the 2020 tournament.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 5, 2020
Another shot at the Classic

A local golfer missed the cut at the 2019 LECOM Suncoast Classic. He's approaching the 2020 event differently.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jon Bullas was named a top 50 coach by U.S. Kids Golf.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 5, 2020
Laurel Oak golf instructor named top-50 kids coach nationally

Jon Bullas believes there's a different energy in the air when coaching young golfers.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Jamal Aoudi gets on top of his opponent.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 5, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Mustangs wrestler finds a perfect match

The senior said wrestling has helped him become an all-around better person.

  • East County
  • Sports
Rucker turned 2 on Feb. 3. He is trained to identify and respond to anxiety cues, such as bouncing knees and crying.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 5, 2020
Manatee County has a hound with a heart

Therapy dog helps emergency providers deal with anxiety, stress in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Alexis Moss says she wants to focus her nursing career on psychiatric mental health.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 5, 2020
Future nurse receives lesson in bedside manner in Manatee County

Manatee Memorial Hospital nursing staff, MTC instructors help nursing student achieve dream.

  • East County
  • News
Traffic backing up on Ringling Bridge on a recent afternoon.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 5, 2020
Traffic troubles this season have Longboat leaders looking for answers

Town wants to find new ways of mitigating effects of off-island construction projects north and south, present and future.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Braden River Utilities manager Bob Simons said an effort to create metered billing for Lakewood Ranch Phase 1 irrigation also resulted in improved pressure.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 5, 2020
Meters solve uneven water billing in Lakewood Ranch

Half-million dollar investment by BRU to pay off for Lakewood Ranch community development districts.

  • East County
  • News
Jackpot, a Boston terrier, shows his owner, Kim Parks, of Lakewood Ranch, some love.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 5, 2020
Doggy obedience on display in East County

Sarasota Obedience Training Club to host American Kennel Club-sponsored Responsible Dog Ownership Day.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota mechanic Robert Phothisack works on a car at Honest1 in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 5, 2020
Honest1 Auto Care hopes to live up to its name in Lakewood Ranch

Can Honest1 Auto Care live up to its name in Lakewood Ranch?

  • East County
  • Business
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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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