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Your Observer

Ashlyn McCarty of Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton was the Volunteer of the Year for the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliances.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 15, 2019
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance presents the Sandies awards

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance presents the Sandies awards to its top volunteers.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 15, 2019
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Hit, run and caught

Police reports from around the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Jessica Hays and Sidney Turner chat at the tent.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • November 14, 2019
Scramble for SPARCC raises money for local organization

The golf event brought in money for domestic and sexual violence survivors.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
After his tenure as board chairman, Carlyle Luer continued to work with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and was a prolific orchid research taxonomist. File photo.
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 14, 2019
Selby Gardens co-founder Carlyle Luer dies

The botanist and former board chairman helped make orchid and epiphyte research a central focus for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Marissa Dobbert is Sarasota County Middle School Teacher of the Year.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • November 14, 2019
Sarasota Schools celebrate Teacher of the Year finalists

School district staff joined Education Foundation representatives in surprising the three finalists at their schools.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarah Darling lost her engagement ring while on vacation at Siesta Key Beach.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • November 14, 2019
Have you seen this ring?

The custom-made gold engagement ring is believed to be around the Hyatt on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The world's first telephone box was opened in 1881 in Berlin.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • November 14, 2019
The 20th century is calling

Selby Library is home to two pay phones.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Vicki Dworski, Don Walker and Melliss Kenworthy Swenson rehearse "The Prize" by Arthur Keyser.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • November 14, 2019
Senior Friendship Center to hold Holiday Extravaganza performance

The "Holiday Extravaganza" will run from Nov. 19-22.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 14, 2019
Sarasota weather page photo: November 14

Stephen Jordan captured a beautiful sunset from Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 14, 2019
East County weather page photo: November 14

Bruce Silverman captured a colorful sunset over Rosedale in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 14, 2019
Longboat Key weather page photo: November 14

Michael Cohen caught this orange butterfly resting on Lido Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota civil engineer Steve Suau has come up with the engineering to perfect a reclaimed water treatment program that reduces nutrients and will be tested in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2019
Sarasota civil engineer close to a biochar breakthrough in treating reclaimed water

Sarasota civil engineer close to a biochar breakthrough in treating reclaimed water

  • East County
  • News
Jay Jaudon said he believes pickleball will continue to grow in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2019
Pickleball continues to explode as a sport in Lakewood Ranch

Pickleball continues to explode as a sport in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • November 14, 2019
Community calls for action as Bowden agrees to step down

The school board will vote on a "mutual separation agreement" that would terminate Bowden's contract Dec. 31.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Booker High Students interact in the new ILA classroom for the first time.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • November 14, 2019
New classrooms help three high schools focus on reading

The classrooms were made possible thanks to grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation and The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The work of River Club's Carole Lewis will be featured at the 18th annual Fall Show and Sale Nov. 16 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2019
Artist's collage work featured at annual Fall Show and Sale in Lakewood Ranch

River Club's Carol Lewis will be one of the many artists featured Nov. 16 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.

  • East County
  • News
Norman Love's artistry will be on display when his Chocolate Salon opens in the UTC area early in 2020.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2019
Norman Love makes sweet debut in Sarasota

Renowned chocolatier brings Norman Love Confections to UTC area.

  • East County
  • News
Cops Corner reports from the Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2019
Aggressive arm chops visitor in Lakewood Ranch

Cops Corner: Interesting police reports in Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton areas.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
John Troup and Keith O'Connor.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • November 14, 2019
Longboat Harbour residents gather for barbecue

Despite wind, many made it to the social event.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Cougars, including Mary Page, Madison Brown, Alex Lopez and Sophia Hritz, here defending the court, are headed to the state title game against Westminster Christian.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 14, 2019
Prose and Kohn: Rock-ing and rolling

Cougars volleyball heads into state title game inspired by a classic franchise.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Michaela Mattes won state gold as a freshman, but she has bigger goals than that.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 14, 2019
Mooney swimmer chasing more than gold

A state title is nice, but Cougars freshman Michaela Mattes has more on her mind.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Longboat Library is open seven hours a day during season.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • November 14, 2019
Longboat Library open for extended winter hours

Longboat Library will be open longer and hold more events as season picks up on the island. It's kicking things off with a welcome back party Friday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • November 14, 2019
Fall Frolic serves up the return Longboat Key Club Tennis Association

Members mingled and caught up while also getting to know newcomers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Riverview cornerback Sambo Ung had three interceptions against Lake Nona. Photo by Brendan Lavell.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 14, 2019
Riverview defense to be tested again

It passed challenge No. 1, intercepting Lake Nona six times Nov. 8. Can it repeat the performance?

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Gene Witt Elementary Principal David Marshall
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 14, 2019
School Board of Manatee County votes to renovate Gene Witt

Gene Witt Elementary School will undergo a complete renovation rather than replacement.

  • East County
  • News
The Florida Department of Transportation is inspecting the severity of the damage to the overpass.
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 13, 2019
Southbound I-75 closes after truck strikes overpass

A portion of Interstate 75 is closed at the Proctor Road overpass as crews inspect the bridge and assess the damage.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Residents of Longboat Key have overfilled the Toys for Tots donation bin in previous years. (Courtesy of the Town of Longboat Key Police Department)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • November 13, 2019
Toys for Tots drive now accepting donations

Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be brought to the Longboat Key police station at any time of day.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • November 13, 2019
Founders Garden Club blooms at annual luncheon

The annual Flower Talk was held on Nov. 13 at Art Ovation.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gerardo Velez's group Hendrix X Hendrix is the headliner on Saturday. Velez, a percussionist, played with Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 13, 2019
Hunger burns for Hendrix at the Sarasota Polo Club in Lakewood Ranch

Giving Hunger the Blues music festival celebrates Woodstock's 50th anniversary at the Sarasota Polo Club.

  • East County
  • News
Unicorp National Development's rendering of what the St. Regis Hotel and Residences is designed to look like.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 13, 2019
Both sides file for judgments in Colony case

Three unit owners agree to deal with Unicorp, leaving Breakpointe LLC to push ahead with case aimed at public auction.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 13, 2019
City announces temporary closure for Payne Park skate park

The skate park will close beginning Nov. 15 as the city considers two options for the future management of the facility.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dr. Brian Harrington and Dr. Jennifer Pfeiffer will provide free dental services at Creekwood Dental Nov. 22.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 13, 2019
Creekwood Dental offers free dental services

East County's Creekwood Dental to offer free dental services

  • East County
  • News
Regina Morris and John Annis celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary while in Hawaii. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 13, 2019
Lakewood Ranch residents celebrate milestones

Lakewood Ranch residents celebrate milestone anniversaries.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Eric Holt aims a thermometer at his egg to measure its temperature.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 13, 2019
Can't beat these lessons at Braden River Middle School

Braden River Middle School students learn about thermal energy through eggstronaut experiment

  • East County
  • News
Pirates junior wideout Josh Thomas takes the ball upfield on a kickoff return against Palmetto.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 13, 2019
Pirates football can't wait to set sail again in 2020

Braden River coach confident his team will bounce back from 4-7 season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Elizabeth Mosqueda (center) dances with her teammates after claiming victory over Stella Ultimate.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 13, 2019
Prose and Kohn: Frisbee tournament tosses in surprises

Frisbee tournament tosses in surprises

  • East County
  • Sports
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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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