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Your Observer

Second-year Sarasota football coach Anthony 'Amp' Campbell said he wants the Sailors to be competing for district championships in the coming seasons.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 1, 2025
Sarasota High football believes it's ready to win again

The Sailors are hopeful they can have a winning season for the first time in four years.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Heroes' Village in Newtown expects to begin welcoming tenants this summer.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 1, 2025
Affordable apartments for veterans are nearly completed

Heroes' Village, a 10-apartment development dedicated to affordable veterans housing, will welcome its first residents this summer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
96-gallon trash bins are rolling off the assembly line, bound for Manatee County.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 1, 2025
Manatee County begins distributing 96-gallon trash bins

New trash bins will coincide with addition of automated trucks in October.

  • East County
  • News
Former School District of Manatee County Superintendent Jason Wysong
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 30, 2025
Manatee County teacher accused of inappropriate behavior resigns

A parent of a child at B.D. Gullett Elementary urged the school board to terminate the fifth grade teacher instead of accepting his resignation.

  • East County
  • Schools
The DME Academy National boys select team played in the Northern Ireland Super Cup in 2024, one of three trips DME Academy players in Sarasota have had the chance to take in the past year.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 30, 2025
DME Academy takes soccer seriously

The Sarasota soccer club takes trips abroad and plans for a soccer school.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Maria Swirczyuski, 10 showcases her artwork from Lina Rincon Art Studio. She also created the painting of the heron to the left.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 30, 2025
Creative Kids SRQ hosts first block party event with Youth Art Fest

The nonprofit, which aims to empower young artists, expanded its Youth Art Fest into the streets.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alitza Trumpler leads a Q&A with Katie Moulton and Winfred van Workum at Pierre Condominiums about the transition from The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort to St. Regis Longboat Key Resort.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • April 30, 2025
Leaders of Longboat Key's resorts reflect on evolution

From hurricane devastation to hitting the top 100 hotels, St. Regis Longboat Key Resort has undergone a transformative journey.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jennifer Alokeh and Barbara Najmy lead The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle with passion and compassion.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 30, 2025
Lake Club Women's Giving Circle grows into an important community resource

The circle started with 10 members over 10 years ago and has since doled out over $220,000 worth of grants.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Courtney Warner of Longboat Key started her career in entertainment through dancing but transitioned to acting, and she looks forward to the release of several upcoming films.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • April 30, 2025
Longboat actor reflects on films and future goals

Courtney Warner has acted in films ranging from romance to thriller, and now she looks forward to a new challenge.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Stillpoint Mission's Marge Slepica, Gene Tischer, Linda Burman, Gary Scott and Jim Keiner and Annual Appeal fundraisers Bob Smith, Diane Brune, Judy Balmer and Bob Keehn celebrate the record $84,017 raised.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 30, 2025
Stillpoint Mission Appeal sets another record for Bob Smith and friends

Time to celebrate charity, and to get some swim lessons, in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Convenience store scuffle involves assault by fruit
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 30, 2025
Convenience store scuffle involves assault by fruit

A dispute between a clerk and two customers involves unconventional weapons, including bananas. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Rob Anderson is the new chief executive officer of the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 30, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center welcomes new CEO

Robbert Anderson replaces former CEO Andy Guz after a seven-month search.

  • East County
  • News
Former City Commissioner Erik Arroyo is seeking reimbursement of more than $10,000 in legal expenses from the city.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 30, 2025
Busy agenda kicks off active month for Sarasota City Commission

May is promising to be hectic as a month of contentious issues begins with revisiting Hyatt redevelopment decision and another request to cover commissioner legal expenses.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A ribbon-cutting marked the April 23 unveiling of the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute at Sarasota Memorial's downtown campus.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • April 30, 2025
Sarasota Memorial Hospital unveils $75M research, education center

The Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute will provide space for medical and clinical innovation.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The John Ringling Estates home has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,794 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 30, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for April 14-18 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A John Ringling Estates home on North Washington Drive tops the week's sales at $9.75 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Julie Fanning and Brittany Lamont from the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance stand with guest speakers Laura Cole, vice president of Lakewood Ranch, and Philip Reber, COO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 30, 2025
Lakewood Ranch vice president offers development forecast

The community sits on 55 square miles and accounts for $15 billion in assessed property values.

  • East County
  • News
Camden Tippett, 12, lays out to tackle a tackling wheel during a drill at a Nextlevelz clinic in Lakewood Ranch on April 26.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 30, 2025
Nextlevelz tackles football concerns with local clinic

The developmental program teaches 100 youth football players how to tackle.

  • East County
  • Sports
Temporary street signs will soon be replaced with new backlit street signs along Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 30, 2025
Street sign replacement begins on Longboat Key

The new signs will be installed throughout the next month and match the new street light aesthetics of the undergrounding project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kaitlyn Will has been a go-to pitcher and first baseman for a young Cardinal Mooney softball team.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 30, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Kaitlyn Will

The Cardinal Mooney sophomore has been a top player in her debut season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Tyranny of Trump's tariffs
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 30, 2025
Tyranny of Trump's tariffs

Who is ripping off whom in international trade. How can Donald Trump know more about tariffs than 250 years of economic evidence? Tariffs punish everyone.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
In truth, our trade deficits benefit Americans
  • By Randall G. Holcombe
  • April 30, 2025
In truth, our trade deficits benefit Americans

While the Trump administration’s economic policies are aimed at least partly toward eliminating the nation’s balance of payments deficits, Americans should understand that they benefit from those deficits.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Noted economists past and present on tariffs and free trade
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 30, 2025
Noted economists past and present on tariffs and free trade

In any discussion to understand free trade, protectionism and tariffs, there is no debate among credible economists: Free trade: good; protectionism and tariffs: bad.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Euphemia Haye would have celebrated 50 years this year, but instead, the doors are shut on the iconic Longboat Key restaurant.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 29, 2025
Longboat Key fine dining institution Euphemia Haye closed

Euphemia Haye and The Haye Loft closed abruptly last week with little notice or detail.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The operator of this 26-foot boat fell overboard, prompting police to chase and eventually leap aboard the moving craft.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 29, 2025
Sarasota Police officer leaps aboard speeding runaway boat

The operator of a 26-foot vessel fell overboard, prompting multi-agency response.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Recipients of this year's grants from the Longboat Key Garden Club shared stories of how the funds will bolster their environmental educational efforts.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • April 29, 2025
Garden club focuses on youth education with grants

The Longboat Key Garden Club spent Arbor Day awarding $35,750 in grants.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mason Manahan, 5, and Juniper Hassler, 6, dig in a compost pile.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 29, 2025
Families celebrate Earth Day outdoors at The Bay

The event brought together various community organizations, and was hosted alongside a city tree giveaway.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kyle Schauenberg and Maria Luedeke are the cofounders of The Wellness Space and quickly connected after they met as they share similar careers and views on wellness.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 29, 2025
Self-care enthusiasts open The Wellness Space at Waterside

The Wellness Space, founded by internationally experienced practitioners Maria Luedeke and Kyle Schauenberg, will provide classes to nourish, explore, soothe and thrive.

  • East County
  • Business
Alex Benson says the current mural is much more detailed and will take more time than previous projects. His goal is to have it complete over the summer, ready for the 2025-2026 school year.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 29, 2025
Local mural artist volunteers his talent to beautify McNeal Elementary

Alex Benson has painted three murals at the Lakewood Ranch school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Saddened guitar player found on church steps after hours
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 29, 2025
Saddened guitar player found on church steps after hours

The man told police he stopped during a late-night drive to play guitar at the church, but did not have permission to be there. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The home at 7045 Portmarnock Place in the Lakewood Ranch Country Club sold for one of the highest prices ever in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 29, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for April 12-16 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club Village home on Portmarnock Place tops the week's sales at $5.9 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
A united effort is needed
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 29, 2025
A united effort is needed

There's a short time left to raise the necessary funds for Longboat Key's new civic space and library.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Storm damage from the 2024 hurricane season has cost the City of Sarasota $17.2 million wih an estimated $17.4 million remaining.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 29, 2025
Recovery costs leave city in a fund balance crunch

Entering budget season, the city of Sarasota is down to $19.2 million in its general fund balance while still facing $17.4 million more in 2024 storm recovery.

  • Sarasota
  • News
An aerial view of Quick Point Nature Preserve.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • April 29, 2025
Longboat Key earns high marks in 2025 Citizen Survey

Residents continue to express high satisfaction with the quality of life, and insights show town communications remained strong throughout Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Emily Storm won in her first American Junior Golf Association event on April 13 at Shalimar Pointe Golf Club.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 29, 2025
LRHS golfer wins in American Junior Golf Association debut

Emily Storm is breaking through in her golf game at the right time.

  • East County
  • Sports
Acting Bishop Robert Rose, Rev. Eric Wogen, Rev. Kenneth Blyth and Rev. Robert Zimmer celebrate the rededication of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church on April 27.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • April 29, 2025
Rising from ruin, St. Armands church celebrates rededication

Last year's hurricanes swept through St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, but nothing could keep this congregation down.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Medge Jaspan and John Nash host an open house to share their insights on energy-based healing on April 23.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • April 29, 2025
Open house aims to open minds to biophoton energy healing

Medge Jaspan promotes biophoton energy healing practices at Longboat Key open house.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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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