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Your Observer

  • By Thomas J. McLaughlin
  • January 1, 2020
You and Your Business Idea Need a Succession Plan

Succession planning allows you to define your business’s legacy, while encouraging the leaders of your business to support the growth of your business’s employees.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • January 1, 2020
Fantastic financiers

The Town of Longboat Key's finance department outdid themselves again.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 1, 2020
Two killed in separate Sarasota crashes

Identity of one victim, an Osprey man, has been released. The other victim remains unidentified, pending family notification.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 1, 2020
Sarasota celebrates new year with a street party downtown

Revelers of all ages enjoy fun, games, food at the city's annual Pineapple Drop festivities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mark Hubbard won the inaugural LECOM Suncoast Classic in 2019. Who will win in 2020?
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 1, 2020
Prose and Kohn: More sports thrills headed our way in 2020

Our columnist looks ahead to the biggest questions and events of the new year.

  • East County
  • Sports
1. Braden River High sophomore O'Mariah Gordon won the Gatorade Florida Player of the Year award in 2019.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 1, 2020
For this East County 10, it's showtime

Ten local high school athletes have served notice they will have a big year.

  • East County
  • Sports
Contractors for the Florida Department of Transportation construct new bridges across the Braden River as part of an improvement project to widen a section of I-75 and reconfigure the interchange of I-75 and State Road 70.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 1, 2020
Growth spurs roadway projects in Manatee County

Growth spurs roadway projects in Manatee County

  • East County
  • News
East Manatee Fire Rescue firefighter Larry Haymore connects a hose from the hydrant to a 1,000-gallon fire truck during a training exercise. He and other new hires will work at the district's new Station 7 on Covenant Way.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 1, 2020
Safety agencies plan for rapid growth in Lakewood Ranch area over next decade

Safety agencies plan for rapid growth in Lakewood Ranch area over next decade

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Stan Pearlman said he believes the future Manatee County park by Premier Sports Campus can be a "mecca" for Lakewood Ranch area residents.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 1, 2020
2020s vision: Multi-sports complex should be a hit by 2030

Manatee County says 10 years should be right to finish its regional park in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 1, 2020
2020 word of the year: Make it a ‘Golden’ year

Given the past three years of strife in Washington, one word that comes to mind is ‘stop’ — as ‘Stop it!’ But a better approach is to take the high road: the Golden Rule.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A Bradenton woman dies in a one-car crash in Manatee County.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 31, 2019
Bradenton woman dies in one-car accident

Accident on State Road 64 claims the life of a 41-year-old Bradenton woman.

  • East County
  • News
Tim Novak, the dean of the School of Health Services, and Mark Kauffman, the associate dean of academic affairs, said LECOM's success goes hand-in-hand with Lakewood Ranch's growth.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 31, 2019
LECOM just one example of positive growth in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch community reflects the number of primary care physicians who remain after graduating from LECOM.

  • East County
  • News
Audrey Modglin, Andrew Vac and Gail Loefgren.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 31, 2019
Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce celebrates the end of a decade

Members gathered for a low-key lunch.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Ellen Parker and Steve Jackson were among the more than 30 people who took part in the 2019 edition of Citizens Academy.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 31, 2019
Signups still open for Longboat's Citizens Academy

Weekly sessions begin Jan. 8 for series of presentations on how government works.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Florida Highway Patrol will have an increased presence on Manatee County roads tonight (New Year's Eve.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 31, 2019
Florida Highway Patrol increases road presence tonight on New Year's Eve in Manatee County.

Manatee County Sheriff's Office increases road presence tonight on New Year's Eve.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key's swan population has had bad luck in increasing its numbers over the past two years.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2019
2019 Digital Year in Review

The observer stayed busy online in 2019. Here are the top stories of the year from YourObserver.com.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Andy Guz, the CEO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, said the hospital will expand its services to keep up with the growth of the community it serves.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 30, 2019
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center hopes to expand in the 2020s

CEO Andy Guz predicts hospital will continue to expand in the 2020s to serve rapidly growing Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Months of discussions, recommendations, demonstrations and more came down to a 3-2 vote by the City Commission to deny a key portion of Selby Gardens’ proposed master plan, rejecting the attraction’s plan to redevelop its campus.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 30, 2019
Sarasota year in review 2019

From the serious to the whimsical, a lot happened in the past year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 29, 2019
Best of Longboat Key Cops Corner: 2019

Here are some Cops Corner items that made us look twice.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Hurricane Dorian ended up missing us on the gulf coast, much to the relief of beachgoers who still had to contend with summer showers.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 29, 2019
Longboat Key Year in Review: 2019

Take a look back through the past year of news, features and fun.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Amani Carter poses for a picture with Santa at the 2018 Breakfast with Santa event.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • December 28, 2019
Sarasota shoots to the top of Santa's nice list

Who better to be on Santa's Nice List than Sarasotans?

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Myakka City's Olissio Zoppe brings his Cirque Ma'Ceo to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 28, 2019
Cirque Ma'Ceo comes to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota

Cirque Ma'Ceo comes to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota

  • East County
  • News
Get your e-books at the Sarasota County Library kiosk.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 27, 2019
Quick reads

The Sarasota County Library is now accessible from Town Hall.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    In Memoriam |
  • December 27, 2019
Kenny Soderblom

Husband, father, Veteran, musician and friend; who had a love for life, his country and his beautiful wife Leah and wonderful daughter Siri.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    In Memoriam |
  • December 27, 2019
David Edell

David Edell, an entrepreneur and builder of businesses died on Sunday at 2.50 AM at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
1. The Cougars show off their volleyball state championship trophy.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 26, 2019
The top-10 Sarasota sports moments of 2019

It was the year Sarasota became a city of champions.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Aaaron Dhanhai, Mallory Albritton, Allyson Galvin and Cooper Flerlage.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • December 26, 2019
Students lead community service numbers

Four Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School students go above the call of 100 community service hours.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alice Jones and Dee Webber
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • December 26, 2019
Woman sews 2,000 stockings

Dee Webber sewed 2,000 stockings to hand out to children this holiday season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2019
Best of Sarasota Cops Corner: 2019

The funniest and most puzzling police reports from Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Toys for Tots at Longboat Harbour, accompanied by Santa Claus (Liam Wood) and Bill Coughlin.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 25, 2019
The Nice List: Longboat's giving spirit brings cheer to those beyond the island

The Nice List is crowded with Longboaters who went above and beyond this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Enjoy our Letters to Santa
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 25, 2019
Letters to Santa bring children's Christmas wishes to life in Lakewood Ranch area

Letters to Santa bring children's Christmas wishes to life in Lakewood Ranch area.

  • East County
  • News
Dr. Avantika Mishra says individuals without gluten allergies or sensitivities should not avoid it.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 24, 2019
Debunking the gluten-free mantra: Is gluten-free better?

Debunking the gluten-free mantra: Is gluten-free better?

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • December 24, 2019
'What Christmas mean to me'

Sarasota Christian School third graders share what Christmas means to them.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Longboat Harbour's 50 docks were all decorated this year.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 23, 2019
Island lights: Not a filament of the imagination

See "watt" we're talking about with Longboat Key's magical Christmas lights.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The front of 5134 Bunyan St. is a neon tree wonderland.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • December 23, 2019
Sarasota shines through the holiday season

Sarasota has no shortage of festival holiday homes, here are some of our favorites.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Twins Connor and Jake Krug committed to Duke for tennis. Photo courtesy Dick Vitale.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 23, 2019
Krug twins commit to Duke for tennis

The juniors had offers from numerous elite programs.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Latest News

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Drugs, cash and a rifle bullet were among the items found by Sarasota Police in a search of a 31st Way home, resulting in the arrest of Demarius R. Jones, of Sarasota.
  • April 10, 2026
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Hanami Sushi Cocktails & Grill is at 1525 Fourth St., Suite C, in Sarasota.
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Sushi restaurant opens in Sarasota's Rosemary District
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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
Restaurant collab supports Longboat Key Turtle Watch

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