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Your Observer

For art lovers, the majority of the Ringling Museum art collection can be found on its website.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • March 19, 2020
Sarasota attractions switch to online presence

Many locations have closed amid the coronavirus outbreak. Here's what they recommend to stay busy.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • March 19, 2020
Sarasota organizations to feed families amid school closures

What coronavirus school closures means for Sarasota students.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Melissa Leduc
  • March 19, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: March 19

Mark Dimitroff captured this brown pelican skimming the surface on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 19, 2020
East County weather page photo: March 19

Gordon Silver captured this white pelican swimming with a group of double crested cormorants off Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • March 19, 2020
Sarasota gardeners open yards to community

The Sarasota Garden Club hosted the seventh annual Gardens in Paradise tour on March 14.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • March 19, 2020
St. Mary, Star of the Sea celebrates St. Patrick's Day

Attendees enjoyed a classic Irish dinner and music.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The service at Christ Church was live streamed on March 15 and will be for the foreseeable future.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 19, 2020
Longboaters make adjustments

Residents, businesses and town leaders gear up to face coronavirus' changes and challenges.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Crew senior Megan Caron said she would still race if it was an option, as she does not want to miss the chance to make memories. Photo courtesy Megan Caron.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 19, 2020
High school seniors talk potentially losing final season

The FHSAA has suspended all athletic events indefinitely.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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
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Reclaimed water systems run separately from drinking-water systems.
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Mia Busser's recruitment opened June 15 following the USA Gymnastics Women's Development Program National Championships. There, she placed fourth in the all-around, second on floor and fourth on vault.
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A visitor to Sarasota Art Museum takes a photo of David Hockney's "Inside It Opens Up As Well," which collector Stanton Storer loaned to the museum for "Something Borrowed, Something New."
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