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Your Observer

The Sarasota Polo Ranch's Pippa Campbell shows the message as she rides in a makeshift Easter parade put together to entertain the residents at Grand Living at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 12, 2020
A Grand Living Easter parade

A Grand Living Easter parade brings joy to Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County commissioners extend a 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 10, 2020
Manatee County extends curfew, opens boat ramps

COVID-19 impacts on agenda for commission meeting in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Crews from Terry’s Tree Service are already ahead of schedule, according to Longboat Key town projects manager Charlie Mopps.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 10, 2020
Clearing work underway at Longboat Key Town Center Green

Crews are scheduled to finish site work by late summer, Longboat Key town projects manager Charlie Mopps said.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The city shared instructional videos with information about how to navigate the roundabouts and what the new street markings mean. Image via city of Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 10, 2020
U.S. 41 roundabouts to open next week

Sarasota officials hope instructional videos will help educate motorists about how to use roundabouts at 10th Street and 14th Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 378 Canal Road was built in 1948 with seven bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,908 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 10, 2020
Home on Canal Road sells for nearly $1.9 million

Residential real estate transactions for March 30-April 3.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The home at 443 S. Polk Drive was built in 2007, with five bedrooms, three full baths and two half-baths, a pool and 5,513 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 10, 2020
Ringling Estates home sells for $2.7 million

Residential real estate transactions for March 30-April 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Town facilities, including Town Hall, are closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • April 10, 2020
Longboat Key extends town closures amid COVID-19 pandemic

Town Manager Tom Harmer issued the executive order on Friday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 9, 2020
Drive-by birthday party marks the new normal on Longboat Key

In keeping with safe social distancing, and the rules of the road, Country Club Shores resident enjoys a happy 50th.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Dr. Kirk Voelker speaks during a videoconference Thursday about Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s participation in clinical trials testing COVID-19 treatments.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 9, 2020
Sarasota Memorial Hospital discusses participation in COVID-19 tests

The hospital is part of an effort to test the efficacy of two different treatments for the coronavirus.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 9, 2020
Longboat Key weather page photo: April 9

Brian Wamback captured this sunset from the beach on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 9, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: April 9

Chris Tarrant captured these snowy egrets in aerial combat on Siesta Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 9, 2020
Local map of COVID-19 cases adds visitors to positive-test totals

State lists account for seven cases connected to Longboat Key, local "heat map" adds five more.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 9, 2020
East County weather page photo: April 9

Bill Turnbull captured this yellow-crowned night heron napping in Robinson Preserve.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Susan Mitchell volunteers at Suncoast Science Center. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 9, 2020
Sarasota bands together to create shields, masks

Several residents are using their sewing skills and 3-D printers to make sure community members are safe.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Renderings provided to the county by Carrfour Supportive Housing show a four story mixed unit development.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 9, 2020
Sarasota County to see start of two affordable housing projects

The projects will be built on county-owned land near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and Sarasota High School.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Parents should help their students log onto ClassDojo to help them stay connected with teachers and classmates. Harry Sayer
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 9, 2020
Sarasota teachers offer parental tips for at home learning

Fear not, parents. No one is expecting you to replace your child’s teacher, but here are some helpful hints to make at-home learning a little smoother.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office has a unit that normally makes sheets for the Manatee County Jail. Now it is helping make personal protection masks for deputies and those in the grocery industry. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 9, 2020
Manatee County jail aids in mask production for COVID-19 protection

Masks benefit first responders and grocery workers in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 9, 2020
Sarasota Schools changes free lunch delivery

Rather than passing out food daily, families can collect lunch for the week one day a week.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Bruce Schaefer leaves palms at a neighbor's door.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • April 9, 2020
Palm Sunday, delivered

Since churches aren't meeting, congregants take the church outside.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The town's beaches drew high marks in the town survey.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 9, 2020
Town survey hits high marks for quality of life

About 97% of respondents called Longboat an excellent or good place to live.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Cardinal Mooney freshman Olivia Davis practices her jump shot with coach Rico Antonio. Photo courtesy Olivia Davis.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • April 9, 2020
Pandemic won't stop Cardinal Mooney freshman from rehabbing knee injury

Olivia Davis missed her freshman season, but has three NCAA Division I offers.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Adam Matin adds in dinner rolls before the food is sealed.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • April 9, 2020
Meals on Wheels of Sarasota continues to feed hungry amid pandemic

The nonprofit feeds nearly 600 people per day.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Only City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs, Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown sat at the commission table for Monday's workshop. Image via city of Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 9, 2020
City talks COVID-19 response at workshop

Officials are bracing for a hit to the city’s budget and preparing to shift to virtual meetings for the immediate future.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City workers repair a bench in Bayfront Park on Wednesday, April 8. Parks and recreation staff members are among the Sarasotans still working essential jobs during the statewide COVID-19 shutdown.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 9, 2020
COVID-19 presents challenges for Sarasota workers

From those who lost their job to essential personnel who must work in-person during a public health crisis, coronavirus is taking its toll on local laborers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Most of the parking lot at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport sits empty during what airport officials hoped could be a record-setting month for traffic.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 9, 2020
Coronavirus takes toll on airport traffic

Although some flights are still landing, SRQ officials say they don’t have the power to screen those who arrive for COVID-19 symptoms.

  • Sarasota
  • News
In addition to instituting new safety guidelines for workers, Sarasota Memorial Hospital has announced plans to furlough some employees because of a decline in revenue linked to COVID-19.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 9, 2020
Sarasota leaders track spread of COVID-19

Nearly a month after the first diagnosed COVID-19 case in Sarasota County, health professionals and public officials are closely monitoring the growth of the disease.

  • Sarasota
  • News
"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly." — Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zhou
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 8, 2020
Inspiration at a butterfly garden in Lakewood Ranch during COVID-19

Stroll in Lakewood Ranch butterfly garden provides inspiration to fight off COVID-19 blues.

  • East County
  • News
Unit 36 at 1 Benjamin Franklin Drive was built in 1968. It has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,389 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 8, 2020
St. Armands Towers condo sells for $940,000

Residential real estate transactions for March 23-27.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
File Photo
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • April 8, 2020
Sarasota Ministerial Association to host virtual Good Friday event

The online event will stream throughout the day April 10.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Annya Hernandez picks up lunch for her children, Arianna and Alessandro, last week. Cafeteria worker Debby Shiebler hands them lunches containing corndogs, cucumbers and apples.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 8, 2020
Manatee School District provides meals to families

Provisions being made for long weekend.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch homebuilders said they have not had trouble finding subcontractors, like John Coleman, a plumber with Danny Via Plumbing, who was installing pipes for water and sewer for a new home under construction.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 8, 2020
Lakewood Ranch builders brace for COVID-19 impact

Sales fall, but builders are confident it's a short-term impact in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

  • East County
  • News
Dr. Elizabeth Callahan, the founder of SkinSmart Dermatology in Sarasota, has taken appointments online.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 8, 2020
This Sarasota doctor's in ... online

Dr. Elizabeth Callahan's SkinSmart Dermatology in Sarasota moves ahead with online appointments during COVID-19 threat.

  • East County
  • News
The School District of Manatee County has wired buses with WiFi to send out to community centers and churches throughout the county to provide internet access to students.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 8, 2020
Buses bring hotspots to students in Manatee County

School District of Manatee County buses to provide WiFi for students

  • East County
  • News
Beach Fishing Adventures proprietor Steven Herich (left) communicates with former client, now-friend Steve Nicolai while fishing Saturday on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • April 8, 2020
Outdoors-focused tourism operators struggle

Perfect weather in the height of the season can't help business, they say.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Pastor Caleb Free preaches to an empty room at Risen Savior Lutheran Church as he records a Sunday service.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 8, 2020
Prayer becomes a virtual reality in Lakewood Ranch area

East County church leaders and members adjust to online church services

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Jennifer Brigham had time to donate platelets, which takes about two hours. She came on opening day of the new facility.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 8, 2020
Blood bank opens new facility in Lakewood Ranch

SunCoast Blood Centers hopes to double its donor base in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

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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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