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Your Observer

The tornado watch expires at 11 a.m.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 24, 2020
Tornado watch in effect for Sarasota, Manatee

While watch expires at 11 a.m., storms arriving from offshore will likely continue throughout day.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manatee County will have a second drive-through collection site at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 23, 2020
Manatee County makes 800 COVID-19 test kits available

Manatee County makes 800 COVID-19 test kits available.

  • East County
  • News
"Revival" follows a group of four older New York choreographers as they teach dance to senior citizens for the first time.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 23, 2020
Sarasota Film Festival releases full lineup

The festival will be held online April 27 through May 3.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Senior Jordan Post receives his sign.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 23, 2020
Cardinal Mooney surprises seniors with signs

Staff members delivered yard signs to all 133 seniors.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 23, 2020
Sarasota High teachers cheer on seniors as they pick up graduation garb

Sarasota High School teachers lined the parking lot with signs to celebrate seniors.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
  • By Gulf Coast Community Foundation
  • April 23, 2020
Transform Together: COVID-19 Response Initiative

Transform Together: COVID-19 Response Initiative

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 23, 2020
Deputies, police officers take motorcyclist into custody

Man detained on Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Chris Robinson turned his son's nursery into his studio for his YouTube channel lessons. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 23, 2020
Modern take on history for Lakewood Ranch students

YouTube channel helps Nolan Middle School teacher bring lessons to life for his class.

  • East County
  • News
Betsy Benac
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 23, 2020
Manatee County Commissioner announces she won't seek reelection

Betsy Benac, the current Manatee County Commission board chair, decides eight years is enough.

  • East County
  • News
Access to a Longboat Key beach.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 23, 2020
Longboat stays the course on beaches despite county decision

Sarasota County public beaches are set to reopen next week, but with several restrictions.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Ski-A-Rees opened their 2020 show season on Jan. 26.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 23, 2020
Sarasota Ski-A-Rees will donate all Giving Challenge proceeds

All money brought in by the Ski-A-Rees will go to All Faiths Food Bank.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Meditation expert Trish Hart leads the online Keep Calm and Carry On social offering by SMR in conjunction with the Brain Health Initiative.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 23, 2020
Schroeder-Manatee Ranch offers a 'time to breathe' in Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch lifestyle remains alive with opportunities despite COVID-19 crisis.

  • East County
  • News
A Life Story Foundation's Shaina and Kevin Swan delivered lunch from the Granary to firefighter Jesse Reasoner, firefighter Joe Koehler, firefighter Jordan Rogers and Lt. Adam McDaniel.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 23, 2020
A Life Story lunch in Lakewood Ranch

East Manatee Fire Rescue workers benefit from a free lunch from A Life Story Foundation.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Cardinal Mooney High senior Ruby McGregor posed in her prom dress April 20. Photo courtesy Ruby McGregor.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 23, 2020
High school seniors lament lost experiences

Sarasota high school seniors come to terms with potentially missing key events.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Paramedics prepare to respond to a COVID-19 suspected call wearing additional protective gear. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 23, 2020
Manatee County fire and EMS forces face COVID-19 with unified plan

Manatee County fire and EMS forces face COVID-19 with unified plan

  • East County
  • News
Jaxon, ridden by Manatee County Sheriff's Office Deputy Zach Bradley, is one of the newest horses on the Mounted Patrol Unit. Behind them is Deputy Kevin Vreeland on Gunny.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 23, 2020
Saddled up for public safety in Lakewood Ranch

When the crowds return, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office wants to have its Mounted Patrol horses ready.

  • East County
  • News
After weeks of tension with the Sarasota Farmers Market board of directors, Phil Pagano said he will resign his position and focus his energy on his popcorn business instead.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 23, 2020
Longtime farmers market director steps down

A dispute between Phil Pagano and the board of directors had led to a change in leadership for the Sarasota Farmers Market.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city is forecasting declining revenues for funds that generate income from user fees. That includes the St. Armands parking fund, which was created to pay off a 20-year bond for a garage facility near the Circle.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 23, 2020
Coronavirus takes toll on city budget

City officials are debating short-term spending priorities and bracing for long-term financial impacts associated with COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 23, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 4.23.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Lakewood Ranch community development district supervisors hope going to a partially automated gate system for the Country Club will save money and solve entry problems.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 22, 2020
Gateway access might change at the Country Club in Lakewood Ranch

Country Club in Lakewood Ranch studying possible change to its gate security system.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 22, 2020
Sarasota schools plan to honor senior class, host postponed graduation

COVID-19 caused the district to close schools and cancel many end-of-the-year events, but the district hopes to host graduations and dances in July.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Dakin Dairy Farms owner Jerry Dakin said he does not want to waste the milk his 2,200 cows are producing.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 22, 2020
Dakin Dairy in Myakka City seeks funding so it can donate its excess milk to those in need

Myakka City dairy seems bottling funds that would allow it to donate surplus milk.

  • East County
  • News
Built in 2005, Unit A501 has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,242 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 22, 2020
Orchid Beach Club condo sells for $2.2 million

Residential real estate transactions for April 6-10.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 22, 2020
County to open beaches with restrictions

Sarasota County beaches will be open for essential activities, though the parking lots will remain closed.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Evan Bates loves participating in his weekly virtual playdates with his kindergarten class. "It's really fun," he says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 22, 2020
Time to play the virtual game in Lakewood Ranch

Gullett Elementary teachers host virtual playdates for their classes

  • East County
  • News
Blake and Hailey Richards are excited to make homemade ice cream. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 22, 2020
Scientific method for fun in Lakewood Ranch

East County science teachers share experiments that can be done at home.

  • East County
  • News
Jim and Deb Kehoe, Rosedale head golf professional Matthew Pivko and Kathi and John Skelton hope the community will rally to beat last year's fundraising total of $157,945.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 22, 2020
Rosedale women's undaunted effort yields funds for Homes for Our Troops

Despite their 2020 event being canceled, "little old ladies" pile up funds for disabled veterans.

  • East County
  • News
Michael Levitan, 71, said he plays golf at University Park Country Club three times a week, sometimes four, and it has kept him from going nuts.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 22, 2020
Golf offers 'safe haven' for East County athletes

Golfers say the sport keeps them mentally and physically healthy during COVID-19.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • April 22, 2020
We did it again: spent, spent, spent

We wasted a 10-year economic boom and didn’t save. Now we are really going to pay.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 22, 2020
Media make it far worse

The daily death scores in the media and politicians’ decrees fueled people’s fears. How do we bring back trust and sanity?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Food Bank of Manatee Director Cindy Sloan weighs bags pallets of rice ready for distribution. Wheels on Meals Plus of Manatee is seeing an increase in needs due to COVID-19. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 22, 2020
Can't mask the spirit of giving in Lakewood Ranch

Can't mask the spirit of giving in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 22, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: This dog has his own set of wheels

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Sarasota Cycle owner David Holm leads a team repairing bicycles.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 22, 2020
Back to the Bike

Local bike shops report an uptick in sales during pandemic.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo Courtesy Samantha Ponzillo Media
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 21, 2020
Change of Plans

Amy and Scott Carrington were married under some unusual circumstances.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 21, 2020
Commissioners agree to delay vote on mental health care special district

Amid COVID-19 concerns, commissioners said it "wasn't the right time" for the referendum.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manatee Memorial Hospital
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 21, 2020
Manatee Memorial Hospital joins government COVID-19 clinical trial

Manatee Memorial Hospital joins government COVID-19 clinical trial.

  • 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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