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Your Observer

    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 2, 2019
Light up Longboat kicks off a merry and bright season

The event was the first of its kind for the community and appeared to be a success.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Part of the service involves lighting individual candles for personal concerns as well as four Advent candles with different names and meanings.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 2, 2019
Blue Christmas offers nontraditional service of the season

The service is an answer for those who do not feel the joy of Christmastime.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bikes await riders in the transition area.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 2, 2019
Longboat Key Triathlon covers it all

Racers had a pick of several different distances on the island race.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • December 2, 2019
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium gets festive with Santa mascot

Gilly the Shark dressed as Santa for an afternoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • December 1, 2019
Siesta Key spreads holiday cheer through annual parade

Siesta Key Village hosted its annual holiday parade Nov. 30.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The trees will remain illuminated until Christmas.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 1, 2019
With one button, Longboat illuminates Town Center's future

Tree-lighting kicks off chamber events as leaders continue to discuss what's next.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Martin Hyde outside of City Hall, a building he now says he will never step foot in again.
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 30, 2019
UPDATE: Hyde reconsiders commission candidacy after tennis club altercation

In a video posted online, Hispanic teenage tennis players accused Martin Hyde of making a racist comment toward them, an accusation he strongly denied.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ken Schneier
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 29, 2019
Longboat Key elections 2020: Five questions with Ken Schneier

Chatting with the candidates.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The radar sign was set up this week on Broadway Street.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 29, 2019
Longboat leaders plan to discuss parking regulations

Longbeach Village residents have told town leaders of trouble with speeding, parking.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Russ Callahan, Linn Torres and Heidi Thomas.
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • November 29, 2019
Community comes together for Interfaith Thanksgiving service

Longboat Key and St. Armands residents gathered at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Although The Bay’s master plan calls for the preservation of the Van Wezel building, it also includes a new performing arts venue on the north end of the bayfront site.
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 29, 2019
Van Wezel to share update on plans for new venue

The City Commission will hear a presentation regarding a new bayfront performing arts center, which could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota's Keith Page might have not won the Florida Turkey Trot but he was the first one to finish wearing a turkey on his head. "It was no picnic," he said.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 28, 2019
Great spot for a trot

Florida Turkey Trot draws almost 3,000 to Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 28, 2019
Sarasota weather page photo: November 28

Stephen Jordan captured this majestic sunset from Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 28, 2019
East County weather page photo: November 28

Wild turkeys were on the move along the side of Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch, as photographed by Gordon Silver.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 28, 2019
Longboat Key weather page photo: November 28

Michael Cohen captured this image of a feeding great egret at South Lido Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mario Mendoza. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 27, 2019
Bashaw Elementary principal turns fry cook

Bashaw Elementary principal turns fry cook

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Tiffany Rock, a seventh grader, works through a few measures with sixth graders Kiera Woefel and Coltin Cramer. "It’s pretty cool to imagine I was them last year," Rock said.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 27, 2019
Light shines on job shadowing at Haile Middle

Haile Middle School students learn what it takes to be a teacher by shadowing their teachers

  • East County
  • News
Beth Grogan, a Lakewood Ranch resident who started Magic of Mittens, works with Stefani Heidenthal, Nolan's FBLA adviser, to collect items for families in need.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 27, 2019
Nolan Middle School students warm hearts with mittens project

Nolan Middle FBLA students warm hearts with Magic of Mittens project in Manatee County

  • East County
  • News
Community leaders hope to turn the portions of the Quads that received conservation easements into woodland habitat. Eric Garwood
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • November 27, 2019
Sarasota organizations hope for greener area around Celery Fields

Conservation Foundation of Gulf Coast and Sarasota Audubon Society share their hopes for the Quads.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • November 27, 2019
School board considering policy to allow administration of medical marijuana

The policy would make the school board compliant with state law.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Residents are eager to see improvements to the intersection of Siesta Drive and Higel Avenue.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • November 27, 2019
Siesta residents hope for improvements with road swap

Sarasota County will swap control of River Road and roads on Siesta Key with Florida Department of Transportation.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Orioles relief pitcher Richard Bleier signs autographs for fans at Ed Smith Stadium.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 27, 2019
Prose and Kohn: Giving back

In the spirit of the holiday week, a "thank you" to readers.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
New head coach Kevin Corwin believes big things are in store for the Sailors girls basketball program.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 27, 2019
New coach has Sailors girls basketball going the right direction

Kevin Corwin is making the most of his first varsity head coaching opportunity

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Julia Rodriguez (32) gets a hug from Ellie DiGiacomo after getting fouled, as Aaliyah Capers (25) and Bella Patterson (13) jog up the court.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 27, 2019
Braden River girls basketball adds top talent

Star guard O'Mariah Gordon will have more assistance in 2019-2020.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch junior Lauren Beck started singing in sixth grade, and started playing soccer when she was 5.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 27, 2019
Prose and Kohn: Pitch just perfect for Mustangs soccer player

Lakewood Ranch junior defender sings as well as she slide tackles.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 27, 2019
Three-peat for Braden River's Marching Band of Pirates

Braden River High School takes top prize in 3A state band championship, Lakewood Ranch High places third in 4A

  • East County
  • News
Christian Perez.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 27, 2019
East County Athlete of the Week: Christian Perez

The Mustangs senior talks his favorite memory and defending taller players.

  • East County
  • Sports
Cheyenne Stubbs.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 27, 2019
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Cheyenne Stubbs

The Sarasota High junior talks her start in basketball and her desire to visit Paris.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Driveways would allow access from Palm Drive and Cedar Street but not from Gulf of Mexico Drive, plans show.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 27, 2019
Longboat planning board to hear proposal for office, parking lot

Operator of Mar Vista wants clearance for 98-spot lot, 300-square-foot office near Broadway and GMD.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Graham Ellis, a Navy veteran and member of VFW Post 12055, slowly takes the cloth off the seal in honor of the Navy. Ellis' daughter, Carly McCarthy, was an executive officer in Braden River High School's JROTC program in 2016.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 27, 2019
Wall of Honor dedicated at Braden River High

Braden River High School's new Wall of Honor to recognize veterans

  • East County
  • News
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School registrar Patty Lee said the school had choice available to incoming kindergarten students for the 2019-2020 school year.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 27, 2019
As Manatee Schools approaches open school choice, parents still worry

Open enrollment for all ages opens Dec. 2, but joining siblings not a guarantee.

  • East County
  • Schools
Animal Network Inc. President Pam Freni and Kassandra Zess-Pagel, vice president of Friends of Manatee County Animal Services, are pictured with 13-year-old Oreo. They say the current Animal Services building is in disrepair.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 27, 2019
A funding drive begins for Animal Network, with help from Manatee Community Foundation

The Manatee County nonprofit hopes to help the county fund a new animal shelter.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Wynn Watson and Hartley Aultman pull pasta, sauce, soup, stuffing, canned vegetables and other items from their cart after a busy morning of shopping. They found everything on their lists.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 27, 2019
Primrose students turn their labor into a Thanksgiving dinner for those in need

Kindergartners shop for Mayors Feed the Hungry program.

  • East County
  • Schools
Property investor and Realtor Howard Sadwin and partners with Duck Dog II are looking to sell their 15-acre site at the southwest corner of Lorraine Road and State Road 64 for about $3 million.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 27, 2019
Area developers, investors say timing is ripe for more business in East County

Commercial interests gobble up land from interstate to Lorraine Road.

  • East County
  • News
Vehicles waiting in line to pick up children as school lets out at B.D. Gullett Elementary School spill onto Wood Fern Terrace. Stopping in traffic lanes there now will be prohibited.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 27, 2019
Parking restrictions tighten in Manatee County school zones

Commissioners add areas around three Lakewood Ranch schools to an existing no stopping or standing ordinance.

  • East County
  • News
Golden Gate Point residents critical of the new lights say the bridge's columns have become a canvas for ill-fitting bright colors, though there are some supporters of the new setup.
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 27, 2019
Residents seek changes to Ringling Bridge lights

Colorful lights on the John Ringling Causeway have drawn criticism from some residents, who are optimistic improvements can be made.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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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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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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