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Your Observer

From left, Braden River Middle School sixth-graders Ehab Bakhet, 11, Kyle Page, 11, and Peyton Lyn, 11, eat lunch in the cafeteria. Enlarging the cafeteria is one of the proposed renovations for the middle school.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 4, 2019
Board considers Braden River Middle renovations

School Board of Manatee County to consider renovations at Braden River Middle

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • September 4, 2019
Owen Bloom

BLOOM, Owen of Longboat Key, FL, entered into rest on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at the age of 89.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 4, 2019
Atkins again running for Sarasota County Commission

Atkins will run for the District 1 seat, a position currently held by Michael Moran.

  • Sarasota
  • News
From left, Wendy Orlando with The Mark Wandall Foundation, Dan Sidler and Erik Hanson with the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and Alicia Chalmers with Manatee Community Foundation talk before an event to educate nonprofits.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 4, 2019
Nonprofits learn expansion techniques

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance helps nonprofits struggling to find volunteers

  • East County
  • News
Riverview sophomore James Simmons (5) and senior Matt Garcia (23) take down Pirates sophomore runner Jay'Den Thibodeau.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 4, 2019
Prose and Kohn: Pirates football enters uncharted territory

Braden River is 0-2 for the first time since 2012.

  • East County
  • Sports
Ballroom dancing instructor Colton Gannon leads Dynasty Stars Program dancers, including Bryanna Schmidt (back right) and Sophia Slaughter (front right) in the tango.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 4, 2019
Lakewood Ranch dance studio makes dancers stars

Ballroom dance program for special needs kids and young adults opens in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Tara Golf and Country Club resident holds a sign to protest the proposed settlement agreement at a public hearing on the settlement agreement in March 2019. Manatee County commissioners delayed the decision. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 4, 2019
Tara development case still unsettled in Manatee County

Manatee County commissioners consider land regulation changes.

  • East County
  • News
University Park Recreation District Supervisor Michael Smith says a "win-win" deal is one that chaffs all parties, but is one they live with.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 4, 2019
Compromise reached in University Park dispute

Settlement clears path for University Park Country Club purchase by Recreation District.

  • East County
  • News
Rachel Weeks and Plum take a break on the Southeastern Guide Dog campus.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 4, 2019
Lakewood Ranch woman lands key position with Southeastern Guide Dogs

Lakewood Ranch woman lands key position with Southeastern Guide Dogs.

  • East County
  • News
Keiser University nursing instructor Christine Malloy said today's nurses need to be prepared for disasters such as 9/11.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 4, 2019
Keiser University nursing instructor continues to teach lessons from 9/11 in her Lakewood Ranch classes

Keiser University nursing instructor continues to teach lessons from 9/11 in her Lakewood Ranch classes

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 4, 2019
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Your destination is ahead

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Larissa Green and Ann Green West take shelter at Booker High School during Hurricane Irma.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 3, 2019
Hurricane Dorian serves as reminder to register for Sarasota County program

Currently, there are just over 1,350 registered for the county's medically dependent program.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Youth Sailing's Green Fleet awaits instruction.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 3, 2019
Sarasota sailors keep the wind in their sails

Despite the looming weather, the Sarasota Sailing Squadron had a great day for sailing.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 2, 2019
Manatee, Sarasota leaders confirm classes open on Tuesday

Weather likely to be similar to typical summertime.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bridge work at Longboat Pass has been underway since June.
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • September 2, 2019
Longboat Pass bridge work means schedule changes for boaters

The state project rehabbing the bridge is trying to limit closures.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Stan Horwich flips through the letters.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 2, 2019
Call leads to a connection with Longboat Key man's wartime past

Longboater Stan Horwich gets a call that brings him back to Australia . . . in 1942.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lt. Brian Carr and firefighter/paramedic Brian Kolesa listen to a briefing Monday morning before heading out to the Orange County Convention Center.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 2, 2019
Longboat firefighters volunteer to help with Hurricane Dorian rescues

Pair will be stationed in Orlando, awaiting hurricane's arrival on Florida's Atlantic coast.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
East Manatee firefighters Steve Ryckman, Daniel Dunkum, Mike Hamilton and Shawn Battick all volunteered to respond to Hurricane Dorian's potential catastrophic impact on Florida's east coast.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 2, 2019
Manatee County firefighters respond to Dorian's fury

Manatee County firefighters sent to help in case Hurricane Dorian devastates east coast of Florida.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County's Emergency Operations Center has been de-escalated as Hurricane Dorian's path is expected to shift it northward.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 31, 2019
Manatee County scales down hurricane watch

Manatee County scales down hurricane watch as Hurricane Dorian's path is expected to take it northward.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • August 31, 2019
Fatality reported in Longboat Key crash

The incident closed Gulf of Mexico Drive for hours Friday night.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 30, 2019
Riverview football rumbles past Braden River

Tackling issues plagued the Pirates defense all night.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota football roundup: 08.30.19
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 30, 2019
Sarasota football roundup: 08.30.19

Two area teams win, two area teams fall in week two.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
East County football roundup: 08.30.19.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 30, 2019
East County football roundup: 08.30.19

It was a victorious weekend for two area teams.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Shore announced on social media it was conducting a soft-opening this weekend at its new Longboat Key location.
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • August 30, 2019
Shore restaurant in Longboat Key holds soft opening

The restaurant still hasn't received its certificate of occupancy, but the town amended its temporary certificate to allow the eatery to serve food.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • August 30, 2019
Doris Franklin Stelzer

It is with much sadness that the family of Doris Stelzer announces her passing on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. She was 96 years old.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    In Memoriam |
  • August 30, 2019
Bruce Allen Grassfield

Bruce Allen “Blue” Grassfield, of Longboat Key passed away on August 21, 2019 at a hospice facility in Bradenton Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    In Memoriam |
  • August 30, 2019
Bradley “Brad” Ashman

Bradley “Brad” Ashman, passed peacefully on August 17th, 2019 at the age of 71, surrounded by his loving family.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 30, 2019
As Hurricane Dorian nears, Sarasota County opens sandbag stations

Officials have set up three locations where residents can fill sandbags ahead of the approaching storm.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • August 30, 2019
Twist and paint: Healthy Start Sarasota holds annual fundraiser

The nonprofit held its annual Painting with a Purpose fundraiser Aug. 29.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • August 30, 2019
Sarasota County redistricting sparks questions, concern

Residents and officials wonder how the redistricting will effect the 2020 election.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • August 30, 2019
Sarasota's city, county officials declare state of emergency

The city of Sarasota also declared a state of emergency. Officials encourage residents to prepare their homes and plan an evacuation route, if necessary.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manatee County is making sandbags available at four locations. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 30, 2019
Manatee County officials declare state of emergency

Officials have made sandbags available and they encourage the public to make preparations now.

  • East County
  • News
Three tennis center courts are undergoing work to upgrade the irrigation system. Photos taken Aug. 29, 2019 by Nat Kaemmerer.
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • August 30, 2019
Longboat Key overhauls three tennis courts

The project should be done within the next 3-4 weeks.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Mustangs take the field for the first time in the 2019 season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 29, 2019
Lakewood Ranch wins first game under Rashad West

The Mustangs beat Lemon Bay High 19-9 at Veterans Stadium in Englewood.

  • East County
  • Sports
Photos taken by Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies on scene on June 4, 2019. All photos courtesy of MCSO.
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • August 29, 2019
Longboat Key Fire's marine rescue team covers other towns, all hours of night

The Medical Emergency Response Team is made up of area fire departments who work together on marine rescues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The address reads "443 1/2."
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • August 29, 2019
Look out below

Tiny painted doors are a playful mystery

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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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
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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
3
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
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Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
Longboat Goodwill officially celebrates grand opening
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Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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