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Your Observer

Marina Prybylski, 7, and her brother Tristan Prybylski, 5, prepare to head onto the course.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 3, 2025
Bike Rodeo event highlights bike safety as school year approaches

The event, held at the Sarasota City YMCA, donated 32 bikes and some 40 helmets.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Brandy Britton is a member of the Bradenton Woman's Club. She was recruited at a Music on Main event last year.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 2, 2025
Music on Main is a place to connect in Lakewood Ranch

The monthly event features music, vendors and information about clubs and activities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Suncoast Waterkeepers provides weekly water quality testing of coastal waters and publishes results for the public.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 2, 2025
Waterkeeper monitoring expands to south Sarasota County

Suncoast Waterkeeper has added a new water quality specialist for its bacteria indicator testing program.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Yacht Club philanthropy and special projects coordinator Stephania Feltz, center, joins Nicki Martin, Don Ellis, Roy Grossman and Mark Padgett, who are the board members leading SYC Cares. The charitable arm of the yacht club recently became an official 501c3.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 1, 2025
SYC Cares becomes 501(c)(3) foundation

With 20 members on the committee, the Sarasota Yacht Club will continue its fundraising faction.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Heather Kasten is President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2025
Sarasota chamber leader wins global recognition

Heather Kasten, president and CEO of Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, has earned the highest certification of the chamber profession.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Parishioner's gift keeps Church of the Redeemer's music program going
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 1, 2025
Parishioner's gift keeps Church of the Redeemer's music program going

The Sarasota church is known for its commitment to music.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The house at 845 Longboat Club Road spans nearly 20,000 square feet.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 31, 2025
Record home sale at $30.3 million closes for Longboat Key property

The property called "Serenissima" previously broke sales-price record in 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Christ Church of Longboat Key is set to host a fundraiser lunch on Aug. 3 at 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 31, 2025
Christ Church of Longboat Key to host flooding fundraiser

Christ Church of Longboat Key is assisting Texas flood survivors with a community buffet fundraiser.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Save Sarasota Historic Properties Inc. plans to restore the historic Colson Hotel into the Colson Collective business incubator.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 31, 2025
Colson Hotel to be restored as a business incubator

With a goal of providing business startup space across all demographics, the group preserving the Colson Hotel plans to renovate it as the Colson Collective.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Irene Hryniewicki plays Taps every night on her balcony.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 31, 2025
Siesta Key resident turns 100 as she carries on decadeslong tradition

Irene Hryniewicki carries on the tradition of playing Taps on the balcony of her residence at Casa Blanca Vacation Rentals, which she started with her late husband, Buster.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The two properties at 1910 Datura St. were built in 2013. The first has three bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths, a pool and 5,234 square feet of living area. The second has one bedroom, one bath and 426 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 31, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for July 14-18 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A two-home property in Desota Park on Datura Street to tops the week's sales at $3.8 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch (left) supported Commissioner Kathy Kelley Ohlrich's motion to set the citywide max millage rate at 3.3 in hopes of setting the final rate at 3.273 for fiscal year 2026.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 31, 2025
Sarasota citywide max property millage rate is set at 3.3

Interim City Manager Dave Bullock told city commissioners an increase over the current fiscal year's property tax rate is necessary to rebuild the general fund balance.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Erik Deubler used to shake until he cried from lifting his partners in gymnastics, but has stuck with the sport to become a national champion alongside partner Arina Kosakovskyy.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 31, 2025
Local gymnasts add circus flair to win national gold medals

Erik Deubler and Arina Kosakovskyy brought home four gold medals this summer.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The School Board of Sarasota County at a July 2025 meeting.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 31, 2025
Sarasota School Board votes to change discrimination policy language

The changes to the student code of conduct remove specifically enumerated protections for categories that include race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Incoming Longboat Key Chief of Police Russ Mager speaks during a ceremony in 2022 when he was Delray Beach's chief.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 31, 2025
Longboat Key gets a new police chief on Aug. 4

Public is invited to morning swearing-in ceremony of Russ Mager.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
With the gravy train about to crash, now is the time for county officials to start a diet
  • By Tom Knight | District 3 Sarasota County Commissioner
  • July 30, 2025
With the gravy train about to crash, now is the time for county officials to start a diet

Sarasota County’s budget has grown 56% in the last four years. As revenue growth slows, spending needs to be trimmed to prepare for the future.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Booker High junior receivers Dylan Wester and Tyren Wortham (2) chest bump after a Wester touchdown against Cardinal Mooney High.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 30, 2025
The top 12 Sarasota prep football players to watch in 2025

The Sarasota area is loaded with gridiron stars this fall.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Robbin Haynes and Tara Maffei of Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 30, 2025
Legal Aid of Manasota aims to equip the community at hurricane expo

The event in Newtown offered information on how to prepare for a storm and brought together local vendors offering services.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Traffic often backs up from the Cortez Bridge intersection onto Longboat Key during peak season.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 30, 2025
Longboat seeks input on traffic congestion

As summer begins to wind down, town officials are seeking public input on the best strategies to improve traffic congestion.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A flyover of Interstate 75 is planned near the water tower to relieve traffic congestion at UTC, but the project continues to drag along.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 30, 2025
Is a traffic apocalypse nearing at UTC?

Officials need to speed up steps to increase access to the popular area.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Sara Geary, the head of schools at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, and Patty Scerbo, a mother to two students who attend the school, look forward to potential improvements that may be funded by their share of the half penny tax.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 30, 2025
Charter schools eager to make use of sales tax dollars

Starting in the 2025-26 school year, Manatee County charters will receive 50% of their proportionate share of anticipated revenue from the half-penny sales tax.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sarasota Yacht Club Executive Chef Bruce Bailey adds the finishing touches to his signature steak dish.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 30, 2025
Leaders at Sarasota Yacht Club share insight into 100 years of success

Get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating a menu at this club that has served the community for 100 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A bulldozer moves trash at the Lena Road Landfill.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 30, 2025
Lena Road landfill's lifespan changed by slope strategies

Manatee County says reconfiguring the way waste is packed into cells will add two decades to the landfill.

  • East County
  • News
Curtis Marxen drives a disc down Hole 3 at Bob Gardner Community Park July 21.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 30, 2025
Lakewood Ranch nonprofit promotes disc golf

The East Manatee Disc Golf Club plays Monday nights at Bob Gardner Community Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Boat engine damaged by water in the fuel tank
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 30, 2025
Boat engine damaged by water in the fuel tank

A couple discovered their sluggish boat engine resulted from someone putting nine gallons of water in their gas tank. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Samuel Jackson played in the United Football League with the Houston Roughnecks this spring.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 30, 2025
Jets sign former Lakewood Ranch High offensive lineman Samuel Jackson

There's more to the former Mustangs star than a familiar name.

  • East County
  • Sports
The home at 671 Emerald Harbor Drive, built in 1964, sold for $1.15 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 30, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for July 14-18 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home in John Ringling Estates on North Washington Drive tops the week's sales at $5.8 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Sarasota Director of Finance Kelly Strickland talks fiscal year 2026 budget with the Sarasota City Commission as Budget Manager Tyler Harris looks on.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 30, 2025
Hurricane recovery depletes city's general fund balance

Having spent some $20 million for hurricane recovery, with tens of millions more to go, Sarasota's fund balance safety net is now far below the city's policy and must be replenished.

  • Sarasota
  • News
One 'Mighty Banyan'
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 30, 2025
One 'Mighty Banyan'

It's a wonderful story of college spirit and pride — how one of Sarasota's own, Anna Lazzara, created the new mascot for New College.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Julie Busa (Janet Mixon's daughter), Janet Mixon, Commissioner Amanda Ballard and Dean Mixon are all smiles on July 29. Manatee County commissioners voted unanimously to purchase Mixon Fruit Farms.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 29, 2025
Manatee County purchases Mixon Fruit Farms for $13.5 million

Commissioners voted unanimously to purchase the citrus farm that operated in Manatee County for 84 years.

  • East County
  • News
Brendon Letarte, 8, writers on his project with a marker.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 29, 2025
Kids learn how to build home decor at Nailed It DIY Studio summer camp

The camp teaches kids skills that center on making objects out of wood.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Allegiant is one of the top airlines at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 29, 2025
Allegiant to begin service from SRQ to Toledo

Allegiant's new service between Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and Toledo, Ohio is one of several new routes available from Southwest Florida airports.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mary Ann Kiger and Helen Rogers from Sarasota help with the sea oat replanting at Katie Pierola Sunset Park. They were among the 300 volunteers from all over the region who helped plant 12,000 seedlings on July 26.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 29, 2025
Volunteers come from all over to help protect local shores

More than 400 signed up to help plant 12,000 sea oats on Anna Maria, giving the dunes both physical and regulatory protection.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Courtney Rossler, general manager of Lo' Key Island Grille, shares a laugh with Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key president and Lazy Lobster owner Michael Garey at the club's July social hour.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 29, 2025
Lo' Key Island Grille owner reflects with Kiwanians

The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key held its monthly social at the north end restaurant, uniting Longboat restaurateurs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A Country Club Village home at 7011 Belmont Court tops this week's sales at $3,499,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,652 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 29, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for July 14-18 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in the Country Club topped the week’s sales at $3,499,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Jeremy Whatmough poses with Virginia Sanders in this 2013 photo. Whatmough, a former town commissioner and mayor, died on July 21.
    By
  • Michael Harris
  • July 29, 2025
Former Longboat Key mayor and community statesman dies

Jeremy Whatmough was involved with Town Commission, Kiwanis and Longboat Key Garden Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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