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Your Observer

The amendment would allow the seasonal use of RVs as accessory units.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • January 30, 2020
County considers RV amendment to Pinecraft overlay

he amendment would allow the seasonal use of recreational vehicles as an accessory to single-family homes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 30, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: January 30

Vince Cavell captured the sun just setting on the horizon at Whitney Beach on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 30, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: January 30

Jeannie Sparks photographed these parakeets enjoying some lunch in Celery Fields.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 30, 2020
East County weather page photo: January 30

Gordon Silver captured this bumblebee collecting nectar in Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County had a 75% return rate for questionnaires during the 2010 Census.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 30, 2020
Census work begins in March

First contact with local residents comes in the form of a letter.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • January 30, 2020
Sailor Circus showcases how science meets the circus

The Circus Arts Conservatory welcomed 2,500 elementary students to watch is Circus Science Machine.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota High's Cheyenne Stubbs wore a Kobe Bryant jersey in warm-ups on Monday to honor her hero.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 30, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Remembering the Mamba

Sarasota High star pays homage to Kobe Bryant

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Nicola Piras, Makena Winch and Braxton Bowdell are three senior leaders on the Sailors.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 30, 2020
Sailors boys soccer heads into playoffs undefeated

Sarasota isn't satisfied with their level of play, though.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Madison Smithers.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 30, 2020
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Madison Smithers

The Cardinal Mooney sophomore talks working on her mid-range game and controlling her on-court emotions.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Crossing guards were stationed on St. Armands Circle the weekend of Jan. 25 during the St. Armands Circle Art Festival.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 30, 2020
Crossing guards could return to St. Armands

Officials hope pedestrian managers can help improve the flow of traffic through the commercial district.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 30, 2020
Selby Gardens shares revised master plan details

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens unveiled images showcasing its proposed campus renovation project Sunday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Brewster's Tavern must obtain approval from the city to operate with a "nightclub" liquor license, though the business pledges it will maintain its current operating model.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 30, 2020
Main Street bars seek liquor licenses

Two downtown bars are requesting the city’s approval to shift away from regulations stating more than half their business must come from food sales.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota City Commission discusses affordable housing policy strategies with planning staff during a workshop on Monday, Jan. 27 at City Hall.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 30, 2020
Sarasota officials advance affordable housing conversation

The city continues to identify housing as a community priority. Are policymakers ready to take meaningful steps toward addressing the issue?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 30, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 1.30.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Work is underway near the intersection of Broadway Street and Gulf of Mexico Drive on the Chiles Group's parking lot/small office complex.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 29, 2020
Longboat neighborhood pushes for resident-only parking

Town leaders urge more data collection, monitoring of what's been done in previous year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Pete Cumming has been with the Longboat Key Police Department since 2008.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 29, 2020
October retirement will close 40-year career for Longboat police chief

Pete Cumming, always fascinated by law enforcement, launched his career as a Sarasota County deputy.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Caleb Jameson created his turtle safe toy box in 2017.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • January 29, 2020
SeaWorld rewards teen

Caleb Jameson, creator of Turtle Safe Toy Box, was awarded with the Youth Environmental Excellence Award.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 29, 2020
Longboat plans for long-term fix for Canal 1A

More immediate, short-term, project also under consideration.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dr. Miguel Pelayo said Dave Norris had "fire in his eyes" during his treatment, and his wife, Bobbi, was always there by his side. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 29, 2020
Lakewood Ranch couple receive cancer foundation honor

Lakewood Ranch couple to be honored at annual Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation event

  • East County
  • News
Residents hold up "No Fish Farm" and "Not here" signs as supporters of the project speak.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • January 29, 2020
Residents weigh in on proposed fish farm off Sarasota coast

The project would allow Kampachi Farms to place 20,000 Almaco jack in a pen suspended in the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ladies in the Lakewood Ranch Women's Club provided checks to benefiting charities. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 29, 2020
Lakewood Ranch women raise $47,000 for charity

Lakewood Ranch Women's Club celebrates yearlong fundraising efforts

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden Jacobsen, a second grader at Freedom Elementary School, carefully cuts the eyes for his paper mouse sculpture. Jacobsen says he likes the mouse sculpture because it's something he can put in his room.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 29, 2020
Picture of generosity in East County

East County teachers overwhelmed by donation for art programs

  • East County
  • News
Finley Phillips. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 29, 2020
Gene Witt student raises cane

Gene Witt student raises cane

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 29, 2020
Discussion brings new members and social hour to Temple Beth Israel

Longboat Key's Jewish community center sees increase in education programs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Martha Stroup, senior school secretary at Freedom Elementary School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 29, 2020
East County school employees earn support honors

East County school employees finalists for Support Employee of the Year

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • January 29, 2020
John A. Isaacs III

John A. Isaacs lived a long, joyous and prosperous life surrounded by a close knit family and friends in his hometown of St. Louis and Longboat Key, FL where he resided in the winter for more than 25 years. 

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Lakewood Ranch senior forward Jacob Jordan (8) goes for a header against Manatee High. He had two goals in the game.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 29, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Mustangs appear poised for playoff run

Lakewood Ranch boys soccer is a threat yet again.

  • East County
  • Sports
Work has largely focused along Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 29, 2020
Segments of Longboat's underground project could wrap up this year

Longboat Key resets schedule for $49.1 million project in more compact form.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Myakka's Charlene and Jim Michaels opposed the zoning request at State Road 70 and County Road 675 because they did not feel it was compatible with the area.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 29, 2020
Lakewood Ranch apartment project advances

Manatee County commission also denies commercial project at State 70 and County Road 675.

  • East County
  • News
Dr. John Ratey said studies show a direct correlation between fitness and improved academic performance, as well as conditions such as depression, anxiety and ADHD.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 29, 2020
Lakewood Ranch residents ready for work out for their brains

Brain Health Initiative offers brain health lecture series in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Monaka Oberer and Rebekah Boudrie join Grayson Tullio (center) at the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 29, 2020
Doggies for Duchenne returns in Lakewood Ranch for its fifth run

Doggies for Duchenne Run has its fifth run in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Krista Francies, assistant principal, calls out students' names as their parents arrive to pick students up after school.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 29, 2020
Law causes change to student pick-up at Braden River Elementary

New law causes Braden River Elementary to adjust dismissal procedures.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 29, 2020
Islanders to city: Fix 41-bridge backups now

Call city commissioners, and demand they do more to eliminate the backups. Their inaction is hurting the economy.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 29, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Out of nowhere . . .

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Cresswind at Lakewood Ranch Community Sales Manager Rhonda Fleming-Hill adds another "sold" home icon to a map of the community displayed in its information center.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 29, 2020
Census data provides growth tally in Lakewood Ranch

Census data provides growth tally in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
Bikes are stationed in the ground floor of the St. Armands parking garage for rental on an hourly or daily basis. Photo courtesy city of Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 28, 2020
City tests bike-share program on St. Armands

The city has partnered with a local rental company to place bikes at the St. Armands garage as part of a pilot program.

  • 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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