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Your Observer

Madison Binkley.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 26, 2019
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Madison Binkley

The Riverview junior talks beach volleyball vs. indoor volleyball and her favorite subject in school.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • September 26, 2019
Longboat Key Planning & Zoning to zero in on issues related to climate change

Board Member David Green is spearheading the effort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The County Commission will continue its dialog about a mental healthcare district at a future meeting.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 26, 2019
County considers mental health funding strategy

Commissioners are researching the procedures for establishing a taxing district to support mental healthcare.

  • Sarasota
  • News
County commissioners said they'd had conversations with Mote about the importance of a request for $20 million in public funding to build a new aquarium near University Parkway and Interstate 75.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 26, 2019
Officials seek answers on Mote aquarium funding

Sarasota County is still mulling a 2018 request for $20 million toward the proposed Nathan Benderson Park project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 26, 2019
Cops Corner: Sarasota 9.26.19

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 25, 2019
Sarasota High holds third-annual Hall of Fame ceremony

Six new inductees were honored by the school for their contributions.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 25, 2019
Bashaw Elementary celebrates Hispanic Heritage Night in Bradenton

Bashaw Elementary families embrace Hispanic Heritage Night in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
The roundabout construction area, highlighted in this image the project team provided, will extend along portions of Fruitville Road and U.S. 41.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 25, 2019
Fruitville roundabout project set to begin

Next month, crews will commence construction on another U.S. 41 roundabout.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy Gregory Urbano
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • September 25, 2019
Autumn colors … for a bridge

The $178,000 lighting project started in June 2019 and is designed to reflect the bridges of other big Florida cities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Michael Cucci has seven touchdown catches on the season, including the one pictured against Lemon Bay High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 25, 2019
Lakewood Ranch senior wideout capitalizing on his opportunity

All Michael Cucci wanted was a chance to show his skills.

  • East County
  • Sports
The city has held tabletop demonstrations of how the roundabout at Fruitville Road and U.S. 41 would work.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 25, 2019
Hear and be heard on Fruitville roundabout

Sarasota plans open house on long-discussed project, about to begin.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch resident Frank Shea loves helping others learn about their Celtic heritage.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 25, 2019
Celtic fun kicks off with Kiltober in Lakewood Ranch

Celtic culture full of passion in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Chabad of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch Rabbi Mendy Bukiet demonstrates how he will use a blow torch to kosher parts of The Grove's catering kitchen.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 25, 2019
Koshering key to High Holiday success in Lakewood Ranch

Koshering key to High Holiday success in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Jeff Mayers and John Woods
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 25, 2019
Two legacies at the Longboat Key Club

General Manager, Tennis Director say their goodbyes after years of service.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The town built one regulation pickleball court in Bayfront Park and is looking for ways to add more courts.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 25, 2019
Oh, what a pickle

Longboat commissioners should not be so addlepated over giving up two tennis courts for six pickleball courts. Why do so few occasional tennis players deserve free tennis courts to begin with?

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
IT Director Jason Keen (Left) and IT Specialist Barry Gaines (Right) in the control room. All photos by Sten Spinella.
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • September 25, 2019
Longboat Key improves production quality on Town Commission videos

The Town's IT team controls camera use from a back room.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee County's Lena Road Landfill has an estimated 20 to 24 years of life left. In 2018, it accepted 335,607.40 tons of waste.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 25, 2019
Manatee County embarks in trashy conversation

Manatee County embarks in trashy conversation

  • East County
  • News
Veteran advocate Patti Katter and veterans Vladik Zalevskiy and Aaron Barnes hope Zalevskiy can take veterans deep sea fishing. They say it helps with healing from returning from combat and other issues veterans face.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 25, 2019
Lakewood Ranch woman seeks calm waters for military veterans

Lakewood Ranch woman seeks calm waters for military veterans in Sarasota, Manatee counties

  • East County
  • News
Jessica Neal.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 25, 2019
East County Athlete of the Week: Jessica Neal

The Lakewood Ranch sophomore talks how it feels to run and her love of cabbage soup.

  • East County
  • Sports
The last ladder truck the town purchased was in 2013. A typical lifespan is about 15 years.
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • September 25, 2019
Longboat Key Fire Department preparing to take a step up

Town budgets $850,000 for new ladder truck.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 25, 2019
Longboat Key Cops Corner: In through the window

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 25, 2019
Oil: villain or lifeblood?

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 248-120 on a bill to ban permanently oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Karen Stewart
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 24, 2019
Manatee County confirms new deputy administrator

Manatee County confirms Karen Stewart as new deputy administrator.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • September 24, 2019
WaterVentures makes a splash at Alta Vista

WaterVentures, a 53-foot mobile science lab, visited Alta Vista Elementary on Sept. 24.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The town of Longboat Key has been posting to Instagram since late August.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 24, 2019
Town dives into Instagram

Longboat Key adds account to social media.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Photo by Kimberly Dyer Photography, courtesy of the Longboat Key Club
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 24, 2019
Longboat Key Club's longtime Director of Tennis to retire

John Woods has been with the club since 1978.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jeff Mayers arrived at the Longboat Key Club in October, 2012.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 24, 2019
Key Club's Mayers heads off to Palm Beach Gardens

General Manager begins new job Friday as Managing Director at PGA National Resort and Spa.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 24, 2019
One lane of Gulf of Mexico Drive reopens after gas leak

First responders, utility workers initially shut down island's two-lane thoroughfare near Broadway Street.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Longboat Key Commission approved its budget on Monday.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2019
Longboat Town Commissioners OK budget with flat millage rate

Base tax rate will be unchanged for third straight fiscal year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Officer Connors with the ibis.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 23, 2019
Officer's feathery rescue saves bird

Injured ibis recovering at Save Our Seabirds.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A hat becomes the top of the turtle's head.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 23, 2019
Many people's trash is Longboat artist's treasure

The artist hopes to raise awareness on littering and what tiny throwaways can do.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • September 23, 2019
Allan John Swanson, USAF Colonel, Retired

Our dad and grandfather was born to immigrant parents from Sweden and England.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 23, 2019
Longboat Key Turtle Watch gets trashy for a good cause

Who knew trash could bring together friends on a Saturday morning?

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Chucha Barber interviews Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore at MarVista Dockside in Longboat Key. Cinematographer/editor Josh McLawhron works to get the sound and images just right.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2019
Filmmakers point cameras at oyster preservation

Shell recycling project launched by Chiles becomes part of documentary.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 22, 2019
San Gennaro Festival 'a local magnet' for food, fun and dancing in Lakewood Ranch

Tara Golf and Country Club's San Gennaro Festival draws people in with Italian cuisine, trivia and music in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • September 21, 2019
College students 'getdown' downtown

The Cross College Alliance held a five school function on Lemon Avenue Sept. 20.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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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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