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Your Observer

Chuck Whittall, CEO of Unicorp National Developments Inc., was on hand in July 2018 when demolition of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort structures got underway.
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • September 5, 2019
Both sides list potential witnesses in Colony lawsuit

Longboat Key leaders could possibly be called upon for testimony.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 5, 2019
Sarasota weather page photo: September 5

Mark Williamson captured these pelicans in flight at sunrise near the Ringling Bridge.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 5, 2019
East County weather page photo: September 5

Jeannie Sparks captures this ibis in a marsh along River Club Boulevard.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 5, 2019
Longboat Key weather page photo: September 5

Mark Williamson caught this image of a young heron on the water’s edge near Bird Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Pickleball and tennis are constant sources of enjoyment on the Key.
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • September 5, 2019
Longboat Key pleases pickleball and tennis players with court solutions

The question now is, which comes first: the new pickleball courts, or the replacement tennis courts?

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Those who are nonviolent offenders and are experiencing homelessness are eligible for the program.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 5, 2019
Sarasota's Community Care Court tackles homelessness

The program gives nonviolent offenders an alternative to jail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Not only is Ringling Bridge popular with informal exercisers, but it also features prominently in the routes of several popular road races.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • September 5, 2019
Up and over: Sarasotans and the Ringling Bridge

You can walk, run or bike your way from downtown Sarasota to St. Armands Circle with help from the Ringling Bridge.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Riverview senior quarterback Sean White slices the Pirates defense for a touchdown.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 5, 2019
Riverview football's offense keeps defenses off-kilter

Head coach Josh Smithers said the Rams are more balanced than ever.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
William Hartvigsen, a freshman at Sarasota High, is following in his brother's footsteps.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 5, 2019
Prose and Kohn: Sailors runner has eyes on his brother's times

Sailors freshman William Hartvigsen started running because of his brother Ben's success.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Omari Hayes.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 5, 2019
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Omari Hayes

The Rams wideout talks his speed and working hard to see the field.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
University Park Recreation District Vice Chairman Michael Smith announces details of the plan during an Aug. 28 meeting. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 5, 2019
University Park Recreation District bond validation hearing set

University Park Recreation District bond validation hearing set

  • East County
  • News
Arlington Park residents Robert Grant and Nathan Wilson are part of a group that fears allowing more multifamily development in and around the neighborhood could lead to issues such as worsened traffic.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 5, 2019
Mixed-use zoning plans prove contentious

In addition to objections from the Arlington Park neighborhood, some city officials want to see affordable housing built on commercial properties.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city is working to install tree lights along all of Main Street ahead of the holiday season.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 5, 2019
Project to light up downtown Sarasota trees

The Downtown Improvement District hopes to add lights on Main Street, in Five Points Park and in other portions of the city center in time for the holiday season.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Part of the delay involved redesigning the lift station from an underground structure to an above-ground building as depicted in this image.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 5, 2019
Lift station costs expected to exceed $60 million

The city could end up spending eight times its original budget to construct Lift Station 87.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 5, 2019
Cops Corner: Sarasota 9.5.19

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Lakewood Ranch resident and Around the Bend Nature and Discovery Tours owner John Freeman is excited to create opportunities for children in Lakewood Ranch to be outside and learn about their environment.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 4, 2019
Lakewood Ranch man in search of discovery

Entrepreneur hopes for nature discovery in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
Michele Morley was unbothered by the possibility of a hurricane Sunday afternoon, Sept. 1. Photo by Sten Spinella.
  • By Nathalie Kaemmerer and Sten Spinella
  • September 4, 2019
Relief reigns on Longboat Key as island evades Dorian

Massive hurricane's threat put town on edge for a bit, but officials stress the season is just now reaching its peak.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Sten Spinella
  • September 4, 2019
Longboat Key Town Commissioners back from hiatus and ready to work

After a two-month recess, the Town Commission resumes regular meetings on Sept. 9.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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
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Amanda Parrish is serving as the EDC's interim CEO, and Elizabeth Cordes is the director of business recruitment and expansion.
  • April 10, 2026
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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.
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