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Your Observer

Lee Blons coordinates suggestions on how to address affordable housing issues during the Helpful Hopeful Housing Summit.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 20, 2020
Residents push for action on affordable housing

Frustrated by what they see as a lack of progress on affordable housing, citizen groups hope banding together can lead to meaningful change.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city of Sarasota and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are teaming up on a project that will dredge Big Pass for the first time.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 20, 2020
Lido Key awaits renourishment project

The city could be facing some additional expenses to support the planned dredging of Big Pass to replenish the Lido shoreline.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The 27-hole plan maintains the original Donald Ross golf course while emphasizing natural park features. A designer who worked on the plan compared the parkland to the Celery Fields.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 20, 2020
City picks 27-hole plan for Bobby Jones

In a 3-2 vote, the City Commission selected a redesign proposal that will reduce the golf course footprint to create 130 acres of public parkland.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 20, 2020
Cops Corner: Sarasota 2.21.19

Enjoy this week’s edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • February 19, 2020
Meet, Greet, Eat brings businesses and Longboat Key residents together

The event acts as a social trade show.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • February 19, 2020
New pickleball courts open at Bayfront Park, some players say more needed

Two pickleball-only courts were completed at Bayfront Park last week. Players are grateful, but say it may not be enough.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Debby McClung (right foreground) leads Longboat Key firefighters in a yoga pose Jan. 30.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • February 19, 2020
Firefighters try yoga, with help of experts, to reduce stress at work

participants on average recorded lower levels of stress, less work missed due to physical health or stress and said they felt healthier

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Library volunteer librarian Bonney Libman reads "The Associate" by John Grisham during her shift Friday.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • February 19, 2020
Library staff read a lot into new books

Three librarians provide their takes on some of the library's most popular selections and give their own favorites.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Gulf Coast Community Foundation
  • February 19, 2020
Dr. Sylvia Earle headlines Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s annual Better Together

Dr. Sylvia Earle, founder and president of Mission Blue and a National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence since 1999, will headline Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s annual Better Together

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 19, 2020
Gullett Elementary principal dons wings of love

Gullett Elementary principal dons wings of love

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Traffic backups have become common at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 19, 2020
Longboat sets plan to keep watch on traffic effects

Advocacy and teamwork also stressed in town proposal for traffic mitigation.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ellise Elmore, an Art Association of Palm Aire member, loves painting landscapes and foliage.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 19, 2020
Palm Aire art on display

Art Association of Palm Aire's art show gives residents an opportunity to showcase their creativity.

  • East County
  • News
Tyler and Amy Clites, team "The Newlyweds," showed good skill, time management and adaptability — all skills needed to become a Lego master. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 19, 2020
Myakka couple follows the Lego brick road

Myakka's Tyler and Amy Clites compete on 'Lego Masters.'

  • East County
  • News
Troopers Ryan Dwyer and Alec Ritter of the Florida Highway Patrol's Central Region Honor Guard lead the casket of Trooper Joseph Bullock into Bayside Community Church Feb. 13.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 19, 2020
Trooper's funeral in Lakewood Ranch stirs emotions, thoughts

Bayside Community Church in Lakewood Ranch hosts trooper's funeral.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Laila Ward, an eighth grader at Mona Jain Middle School, and Nick Stanley, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, are given the School Board of Manatee County's Black History Month proclamation.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 19, 2020
Lakewood Ranch-area students win essay contest

Martin Luther King essay contest awards go to Lakewood Ranch High, Mona Jain Middle students.

  • East County
  • Schools
Parking on Broadway Street remains a contentious issue in Longbeach Village.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 19, 2020
Zunz pushes for resident-only Village parking

Residents say the time has come to make a decision on their neighborhood.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
GreyHawk Landing resident Rex Cowden, with John Rhodes, said they have tailored their presentation to the Manatee County Commission based on the Planning Commission meeting last month. They shared details of their plan Feb. 12.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 19, 2020
Manatee County commissioners consider car lot's fate

Residents who oppose a possible Cox Chevrolet lot want their concerns heard at land-use hearing in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Country Club's Michele Campbell, Summerfield's Lisa Cushman and Country Club East's Jacqeline Wezeman were instant friends. Cushman just moved to the area in August.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 19, 2020
Lakewood Ranch woman promotes friendship

New group celebrates women of the '60s in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Paul, Mark and Rob Caragiulo, owners of Owen's Fish Camp, look forward to the new opportunities a restaurant in Lakewood Ranch will bring for them and the community.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 19, 2020
Lakewood Ranch lands big Fish Camp

Lakewood Ranch's new Owen's Fish Camp to recapture atmosphere of Sarasota location

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch sophomore Jay'den Clarke-Jones drives to the basket in the team's loss to Riverview. Photo courtesy Hannah Russo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 19, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Despite loss, Mustangs remain serious playoff threat

Lakewood Ranch boys basketball will look to follow the 2005 girls team's path to the title game.

  • East County
  • Sports
Victor Marcano-Santos.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 19, 2020
East County Athlete of the Week: Victor Marcano-Santos

The ODA senior talks winning districts and eating mofongo.

  • East County
  • Sports
The entrance to En Provence.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 19, 2020
Report: Equipment on Gulf of Mexico Drive blocked view in crash that killed Baranciks

Employees and residents had complained about visibility issues, report says.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee County Project Manager Eric Shroyer and Deputy Director of the Engineering Services Division Sia Mollanazar Manatee County acquired the 40 parcels needed to build 44th Avenue East across Braden River. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 19, 2020
44th Avenue project moves forward in Manatee County

Construction set to begin on the most expensive 44th Avenue segment, which crosses the Braden River, in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Lenora Galeziowski, a junior at Braden River High School, performs a small solo with the school's wind ensemble. She'll perform a solo with the Sarasota Orchestra at a concert Feb. 29.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 19, 2020
A musical dream come true in Sarasota

Sarasota Orchestra will allow East County student to perform a solo with it.

  • East County
  • News
City officials say bicycle storage infrastructure around St. Armands Circle is lacking, but they have identified a series of locations where they want to install new racks.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 19, 2020
Sarasota plots bike upgrades on islands

New bicycle racks on St. Armands Circle could be the latest in a series of changes designed to promote cycling on Sarasota’s barrier islands.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 19, 2020
How not to make law

Although the idea of merging FSU and New College came as a shock, it is worth exploring. That should have been done before drafting a bill. Lawmakers often forget they are the servants, not kings.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 19, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: Sliding into a more secure home

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Bill Vogel
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • February 18, 2020
School board highlights superintendent search priorities

School board members highlighted qualities they'd like to see in a candidate and what steps they'd like to see in a search.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Erin Hurter, Police Chief Bernadette DiPino and Ray Collins
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • February 18, 2020
Sarasota Chamber and Baltimore Orioles dive into spring training

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce cheers on the home team at reception for the Baltimore Orioles.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
New College has become a top producer of students who earn prestigious fellowships. They have awarded 74 Fulbright Fellowships to their students over the past 15 years.
  • By Sen. Joe Gruters and Reps.Wengay “Newt” Newton, Will Robinson, Margaret Good, Tommy Gregory and James Buchanan
  • February 18, 2020
My View: New College is a premier institution, let's not break it

Bill in Tallahassee would make Sarasota college part of FSU system.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Players sing in French before the tournament begins.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • February 17, 2020
Language barrier: Club Longboat tennis and French fans enjoy a day of both

Le Club Longboat profite d'une journée de tennis et de Français, pour l'amour du jeu et de la langue. (er, Club Longboat enjoys a day of tennis and French, for the love of the game and the language.)

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The city has been working since 2014 on a plan to renovate Bobby Jones Golf Club after the course depleted its reserves and began to draw hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in general fund subsidies.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 17, 2020
Final decision looms on future of Bobby Jones

Ahead of a discussion at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin has procured outside recommendations to shrink the golf course to 27 holes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • February 17, 2020
Ambassador Wendy Sherman talks climate change, technology

The former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs was the third keynote speaker during the RCLA Town Hall series.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Chip and Pat Mack share a kiss before the ceremony.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • February 17, 2020
Couples say 'I do' all over again

Sarasota County has held the Say 'I Do' Again ceremony for more than 30 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Patty Stutz, Dale Stutz, Julie Murphy, Rich Meyers, Joyce Robinson and Mark Curtis
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • February 17, 2020
Motorcycle lovers roll into Thunder by the Bay

The motorcylce and music festival took over the Sarasota County Fairgrounds from Feb. 14-16.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • February 17, 2020
Pepper Choplin gets Longboat Island Chapel laughing

The musician and humorist wowed his audience with a concert on Feb. 9.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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