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Your Observer

Dorian, Samantha and Steve Drouin at Braden River's graduation.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 5, 2019
Braden River High School graduate earns invitation to U.S. Naval Academy

Samantha Drouin wants to make a difference at the U.S. Naval Academy, and perhaps someday as a politician.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch 5-year-old Charlotte Wells has her toenails painted by cosmetologist Aubrie Stevens.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 5, 2019
Sirius primping at Sunshine Kids event in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch spa owner Karen Medford provides a special pampering event for the Sunshine Kids at Sirius Spa

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 5, 2019
Cops Corner: Pipe down, the cops are here

Police reports from around the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
James and Misdee Miller put their hard work and money into keeping the Sarasota Polo Club alive in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 5, 2019
Owners have more goals at Sarasota Polo Club

James and Misdee Miller thrilled with public's support after first season keeping the Sarasota Polo Club alive in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • June 4, 2019
Kids' Summer Beach Run returns to Siesta Beach

More than 300 children participated in the June 4 run.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Commissioners also noted that, the longer the project is put off, the harder it would be to rally commissioner support following the implementation of single-member voting districts
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • June 4, 2019
County asks city to narrow bayfront funding request

If the county is going to aid in funding the Bayfront, commissioners said, they would prefer the money to be used only for that particular project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Seaward Development said it met with residents and altered the Epoch site plan to try to address the comments it received, but a group of residents remains opposed to the project.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 4, 2019
Hearing set for downtown development appeal

Today, the city’s Planning Board will consider a resident-initiated challenge of an approved Gulfstream Avenue condominium project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The speed limit along Broadway Street has been reduced to 20 mph from 25 mph. Street parking rules elsewhere in Longbeach Village have also been changed.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 4, 2019
Commission OKs final changes to Village parking rules

Residents and town have been discussing street parking, speed limits for months.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 537 Schooner Lane.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 4, 2019
Longboat OKs lawsuit in short-term rental case

Out of state companies ignored more than a dozen fines over Country Club Shores home, town says.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Public Works Director Isaac Brownman, center in the blue shirt, explains to commissioners and members of the public about the plot of city owned land on which they stand.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 4, 2019
Tour shows possibilities of Longboat's outdoor venue site

Commissioners, staff, public take a walk to see the three-dimensional reality of on-paper proposals.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Traffic Advisory Council originally scheduled its meeting on Shell Road for June 3. However, they will not be able to revisit the topic until Sept. 9
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • June 3, 2019
Potential parking prohibition on Shell Road renews outcries over public beach access

Shell Beach, which sits on the north portion of Siesta Key, is well-regarded among residents for its secluded but public stretch of sand.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Phillippi Estate Park is located at 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Flyer courtesy of Sarasota County.
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • June 3, 2019
County to honor four historical Sarasota women in new exhibit

The exhibit will feature guest speakers who “address the period in which the women lived, impacts on their lives, troubles they faced and a review of their family heritages.”

  • Sarasota
  • News
Larry and Roberta Straff smile for the camera after Larry was awarded the 2016 Robert T. Ruff Award.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • June 3, 2019
Larry Straff laughed his way through life

The tennis-loving Longboat Key resident died June 1. He was 78.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jake Krug, 16, won an ITF event in El Salvador. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 3, 2019
Lakewood Ranch youth tennis player wins ITF tournament in El Salvador

His sister was the runner-up in the girls division.

  • East County
  • Sports
    In Memoriam |
  • June 3, 2019
Bernard Martin Fishman

Bernard Fishman, 95, of Aventura, Florida passed away peacefully on May 24, 2019.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Siesta Key Beach, ranked one of the top beaches in the nation, attracts many tourists from across the country
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • June 3, 2019
Sarasota's tourism tax collections slow to recover after red tide outbreak

Red tide has proved a longstanding, all-encompassing problem for Sarasota County. How has it affected one of the county's primary streams of revenue?

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • June 2, 2019
Temple Emanu-El honors pets at Blessing of the Animals

The ceremony was held June 2 at the Temple Emanu-El.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 2, 2019
A Walk in the Park: Bayfront Park

Remodeled through cooperation with the town and Sarasota County, Bayfront Park offers plenty to do and see.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Valedictorian Adelaide Mahler told the graduates, "I plead with you to never limit yourself to a single narrative."
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 1, 2019
Out-of-Door graduates honored in Lakewood Ranch

Out of Door graduates honored in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • News
David Wolff prepares to submerge 10 Mini-Reefs.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 31, 2019
'A manmade solution to a manmade problem'

Non-profit installs 10 Mini Reefs at MarVista in Longboat Key, with hopes of making the ecosystem a little bit better.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Since 2017, the city has been developing a parks and recreation master plan, a process that has included community outreach sessions to identify public priorities.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 31, 2019
City to discuss parks master plan

Implementing the first phase of a parks improvement initiative would cost $50 million over the next decade.

  • Sarasota
  • News
As the Sarasota Orchestra's search for a new venue expands, city officials say finding a home for the organization within the city is a priority. Photo courtesy Sarasota Orchestra.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 30, 2019
Orchestra expands venue search beyond city limits

After the City Commission rejected a proposal to construct a music hall in Payne Park, the Sarasota Orchestra announced it will look outside of the city for a new home.

  • Sarasota
  • News
SRQ began flights to Philadelphia in January
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • May 30, 2019
Sarasota airport announces more frequent flights to Philadelphia

Next year, American Airlines will provide daily flights to Charlotte, NC, Washington, DC, Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA from Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2019
Sarasota weather page photo: May 30

Claire Savreux shares her lunch time with a cardinal on a chair in her back yard in the Southgate neighborhood of Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lea and James Buchanan
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 30, 2019
Rep. Buchanan's choice: me or thee

First-term Republican is expected to vote against a Bradenton colleague to designate a House speaker for 2024-25.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2019
East County weather page photo: May 30

Larry Davenport captures a pelican coming in to roost at Jiggs Landing.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2019
Longboat Key weather page photo: May 30

Michael Cohen captured a photo of this roseate spoonbill and tricolor heron feeding together on South Lido Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 30, 2019
Public park, public funding

It's exciting to envision a $100 million park on Sarasota Bay. But then there's the issue of money. From where will it come? Now, the hard part has begun — figuring which taxpayers will pay.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Shawn Rauch found a necklace engraved with “Mom” on Siesta Beach.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • May 30, 2019
Is this your necklace? Sarasota man finds necklace, ashes on Siesta Beach

Shawn Rauch found the urn necklace on May 26.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alls Faith Food Bank aims to feed 40,000 Sarasota children this summer with its Campaign Against Summer Hunger.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • May 30, 2019
‘Hunger Begins:’All Faiths Food Bank to feed 40,000 children this summer

All Faiths Food Bank works to end Sarasota child hunger with summer program.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Joan Partridge learned how to make hand blown glass pieces after moving to Longboat Key about 25 years ago.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • May 30, 2019
Longboat artist has passion for paint

From hand blown glass to pastel paintings, Joan Partridge has always been artistic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Brooks Tracey and Kim Farrell want to bring positivity to Sarasota Middle School through the Inspirational Art and Quotes Project.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • May 30, 2019
Positivity through art: Sarasota Middle School project promotes acceptance

Sarasota Middle School students and teachers work to bring positivity into each day with project.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ruth Fraizer was selected as chief development officer for the Friendship Center, a local nonprofit.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • May 30, 2019
Friendship Center welcomes new teammate

The nonprofit filled the position with MBJ Group, a talent management company.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
In the event of a catastrophic hurricane, Sarasota County has regional evacuation plan with Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Manatee counties
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • May 30, 2019
Sarasota County re-evaluates approach to hurricane shelters

Following Hurricane Irma, Sarasota County officials have made organizational and structural changes to how they will approach the 2019 hurricane season.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 30, 2019
Red tide bills see mixed results in legislature

$3 million will be given every year for five years to Mote Marine Laboratory, but critics say more focus needs to be put on improving the county's water quality.

  • Sarasota
  • News
BJ Ivey is headed to Florida Gulf Coast to be the director of basketball operations.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 30, 2019
Riverview boys basketball coach takes position at FGCU

Riverview High boys basketball coach BJ Ivey has accepted the director of basketball operations position at Florida Gulf Coast University.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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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.
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