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Your Observer

Kassie Cross was an innings eater for Riverview High softball.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 19, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Recognizing hard work

A tribute to the athletes whose seasons may be cut short.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The first phase of The Bay Sarasota project would be largely located north of Boulevard of the Arts, though a segment of the public park property would be located on the south end of the street.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 19, 2020
The Bay criticizes resident opponents of park project

As condo residents argue against elements of the bayfront proposal, the planning group is rejecting the merit of the critiques.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Shamrock Pub hosted customers for one last afternoon Tuesday, March 17 before closing to comply with a state order.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 19, 2020
Restaurants, bars face uneasy future during COVID-19 response

Businesses and workers are facing a daunting question: How do you balance public health concerns with the need to continue to earn a livelihood?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Plymouth Harbor’s COVID-19 leadership team meets Monday, March 16 to discuss the latest plans related to combatting the spread of the disease.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 19, 2020
Retirement communities work to protect residents

Screening visitors and halting group activities are two of the steps Plymouth Harbor leadership has taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 19, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 3.19.20

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 19, 2020
Longboat Key's Publix store puts customer limit on water, toilet paper

Longboat Key's Publix store uses a third-party service called Instacart to deliver groceries to customers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Brian Jones sorts cows to demonstrate a talent featured in the Ranch Rodeo.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 18, 2020
Coronavirus postpones Ranch Rodeo in Palmetto

Manatee County Cattlemen's Association sees its Ranch Rodeo postponed.

  • East County
  • News
A Life Story Foundation founder Kevin Swan was amazed by the generosity exhibited at Cirque to Cure to support ALS research.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 18, 2020
Coronavirus affects health of nonprofits in Lakewood Ranch area

Coronavirus affects health of nonprofits in Lakewood Ranch area.

  • East County
  • News
No more spring sports? It is a possibility.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 18, 2020
FHSAA postpones all Florida High School athletic events until further notice

FHSAA postpones all Florida High School athletic events until further notice

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Wednesday has confirmed a death from the coronavirus.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 18, 2020
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center confirms patient who died tested positive for coronavirus

Patient who died at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center tested positive for coronavirus.

  • East County
  • News
Pets have become colleagues many of those who are working from home.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • March 18, 2020
Staying busy: Tell us how you social distance

Staying home doesn't mean staying bored.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 18, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Loud guy in a truck

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Chamber president Gail Loefgren
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 18, 2020
Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce closed to walk-in visitors

Beginning March 18, the Chamber will not accept walk-in visitors.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Seniors Sabrina Herrera, Benjamin French, Justin Feroze, Tess Zambella, Nicolas Wiggington, Marina Herrera and Marribel Contreras enjoy their final JROTC regional championship. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 18, 2020
Pirates build on winning legacy

Braden River High's JROTC drill team wins fourth consecutive regional championship

  • East County
  • News
Braden River Elementary School nurse Nicole Wells and her daughter Penny, a kindergartner, sing a hand washing song to the tune of "Wheels on the Bus" while washing their hands. The Wells will not return to school until April 15.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 18, 2020
Lakewood Ranch area will get education in the online world due to the coronavirus

Coronavirus sends schools, businesses, social events to the online world.

  • East County
  • News
William H. Bashaw Elementary School third graders Evan Michel, Tyson Kelsey and Margaret Westlake pet Dorothy the heifer.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 18, 2020
FFA members butter up students in East County

Bashaw Elementary students receive agriculture lessons from Braden River High's FFA

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High softball senior Avery Goelz said she does not believe there is enough contact in softball to make it a COVID-19 risk.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 18, 2020
Area athletes hope coronavirus doesn't wipe out their seasons

Seniors may have played their last high school game.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 18, 2020
Longboat voters dig plan to finance beach projects

Gulfside and Bayside voters in both counties approve borrowing plan to launch renourishment, groins and more.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Girl Scouts Reese Gurski, Talia Giangrante, Riley Duncan, Kylee Francies and Alice Barr worked with others in their troop on a beautification project at Braden River Elementary School to earn their Bronze Award.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 18, 2020
Girl Scout project brightens school in Lakewood Ranch

Girl Scout Troop 701 to earn Bronze Award for beautification project at Braden River Elementary

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 18, 2020
Support local businesses

Great advice: ‘Calm breeds calm.’ But one of the best ways we can help beat COVID-19 is to do what Americans always do — fight back. Do what you can to keep our local economy healthy.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Alyssa Otterness and Allison Rothhaar of Girl Scout Troop 524 and Lauren Otterness of Troop 504 are selling their last batch of cookies. Booth sales were canceled due to the coronavirus causing them to be creative in their sales.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 18, 2020
Fight disease's impact with Girl Scout cookies

East County Girl Scouts get creative to sell last cookies

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department deputy chief Sandi Drake walks ashore after rescuing a man and his teenage son from a rip current March 6 near Longboat Key Club. (Photo courtesy of the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 18, 2020
Water rescue highlights need for rip current awareness

Longboat deputy fire chief Sandi Drake rescued a man and his teenage son from a rip current earlier this month.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota's Brian Levasseur enjoys a drink at Linksters Tap Room before the Governor's closer of bars hit at 5 p.m. Tuesday. In the background is the hand sanitizer he brought with him.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2020
Coronavirus updates for Lakewood Ranch and East County

Bar closures in Florida top list of coronavirus events effecting Lakewood Ranch area.

  • East County
  • News
During spring break, Mike Clark, a custodian at Ida M. Stewart Elementary School, helps clean the school. Students won't return to school until April 15.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2020
School District of Manatee County to close until April 15

School District of Manatee County to close until April 15

  • East County
  • News
The directive to close schools came from the Florida Department of Education. Sarasota County schools are currently on spring break.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 17, 2020
Sarasota, Manatee schools to close through April 15

The state of Florida is ordering schools to close until at least the middle of next month. Statewide K-12 testing has been canceled.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall and Town Hall North will be closed to the public until March 31.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2020
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall and Town Hall North to close

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall and Town Hall North to close

  • East County
  • News
Bars such as Shamrock Pub had already canceled St. Patrick’s Day events, but a state order will now force their closure for the next 30 days.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 17, 2020
Governor orders closure of bars statewide

At a press conference today, Gov. Ron DeSantis also said the state is taking steps to limit crowds at restaurants and on beaches in Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Libraries will be closed through April 12 as the county responds to the spread of COVID-19.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • March 17, 2020
Sarasota County libraries to close through April 12

As COVID-19 continues to spread, the county's library system will switch to digital-based services only.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • March 17, 2020
Robert Gray

Robert Gray, 82, of Weems, Virginia, formerly of Longboat Key, Florida, passed away March 15, 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
The April 6 City Commission is canceled because of concerns related to COVID-19.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 16, 2020
City to close recreational facilities

The City Commission agreed to close the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, Bobby Jones Golf Club and more as part of a coronavirus response effort. Action on bars and restaurants could be forthcoming.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Four confirmed coronavirus cases are undergoing treatment at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 16, 2020
Longboat resident tests positive for COVID-19, undergoing treatment at SMH

A man who lives at the Privateer condo building in Longboat Key has tested positive for coronavirus, according to an email sent to condo owners and guests.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 16, 2020
Longboat Key Town Hall showcases local artists

For many years, the town of Longboat Key has provided a space for local artists to shine.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Memorial Hospital facilities remain open, but visiting policies have been adjusted after for patients there have tested positive for COVID-19.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 16, 2020
Two more Sarasota Memorial patients test positive for COVID-19

An 87-year-old man and an 80-year-old man are hospitalized and isolated after testing positive for the coronavirus March 13 and 14.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ed Chiles and Barron Schimberg are teaming up with artisan Dale Rieke of Wood Street Studios to create furniture from cut down Australian pines.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 16, 2020
Chiles and partners aim to make furniture from Australian pines

Invasive trees on parking lot land will be milled, dried and turned into custom tables and benches.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • March 16, 2020
John Oliver Summers

John Oliver Summers, 81, of Longboat Key, peacefully passed away Saturday, February 29th at his residence surrounded by his family.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • March 16, 2020
Longboat Key Club takes precautions after possible virus exposure to staffer

All Longboat Key Club activities, meetings and lessons are suspended for at least two weeks after a person working at the club's outdoor golf facility may be have been exposed to coronavirus.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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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
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Work proceeds on the fields at 17th Street Park in northeastern Sarasota County. Completion is expected late this year
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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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