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Your Observer

Erika Cain will be teaching yoga once a month in front of the lions and tigers at Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary in Sarasota.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 24, 2019
Wild workout at Big Cat Habitat in Sarasota

Wild yoga workout at Big Cat Habitat in Sarasota

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 24, 2019
A walk in the park: Quick Point Nature Preserve

If nature you seek, and can do without playgrounds, pavilions and bathrooms, Quick Point Nature Preserve on Longboat Key is your place.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bubba and Susie are the mating pair on Islandside. File photo.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 24, 2019
No cygnets for Longboat Key this year

After heavy rainfall, the incubation period for the eggs came to a halt.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
(Sarasota Police Photo) Firefighters work to extinguish the flames of a recyclable-collection truck in the Fire Points area of downtown this morning.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 24, 2019
Authorities reopen streets downtown after morning truck fire

Fire involves recyclable-collection truck.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • May 23, 2019
Riverview High School graduates 'say one last thank you'

The ceremony will filled with speeches from students thanking friends, family and teachers for their support.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 23, 2019
Sarasota community gathers for vigil for Roman Miller

The vigil was held at Brentwood Elementary, Miller's school.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High softball is title-game bound.Â
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 23, 2019
Lakewood Ranch softball advances to state title game

The Mustangs beat Cooper City High 12-2 in the semifinals.

  • East County
  • Sports
Registration for the event is free and can be found online on Sarasota County's website
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • May 23, 2019
County announces presenters, session times for Water Quality Summit

The event is free and will be held from 1 to 6:30 p.m. on June 5 in Riverview High School’s auditorium.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A hatchling will make its way toward the brightest surface on the horizon.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 23, 2019
May brings turtle nesting, citations to Sarasota County

There were more than 100 citations issued in Sarasota County in 2018.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Previously, the county has considered outsourcing SCAT operations to one of three contractors: TransDev, Keolis or First Transit
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • May 23, 2019
SCAT consultant points to potential partnership with Uber

Sarasota County officials want to make SCAT a more efficient but less costly system. One way to do that, according to an adviser, is to partner with Uber.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Left to right: Jamie Molina, Ben Southerland, Emma Barishman, James McCormack, Erin Paxton, Liam Tanner and Liv. J Wilson are Florida Studio Theatre's acting apprentices.
    By
  • Whitney Elfstrom
  • May 23, 2019
‘Just write it’: FST holds 28th annual Young Playwrights Festival

Sarasota’s Florida Studio Theatre encourages the creativity of young playwrights from around the world with Write a Play program.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 23, 2019
Sarasota weather page photo: May 23

Sherry Packard captured this pretty bird at South Brohard Beach in Venice.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 23, 2019
East County weather page photo: May 23

Gordon Silver captured this photo of a turtle crossing the road in Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 23, 2019
Longboat Key weather page photo: May 23

Michael Cohen caught this sight of some resting manatees off Lido Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 23, 2019
The crime of Bobby Jones Golf Club

Reading the city consultant's business plan for the golf course is like reading a prospectus of a company with a bad idea trying to make money in a declining industry.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 23, 2019
Who pays to dredge Longboat canals?

Having to mitigate damaged sea grasses raises the cost of dredging canals exponentially. It's looking as though Longboat Key needs a pay plan similar to beach renourishment.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The Senior Level 2 EVO Athletics cheer team that finished 16th at The D2 Summit (national championships).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 23, 2019
SSAS student helps cheer squad finish 16th at national championships

Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences student Ava Custer helped her EVO Athletics cheer squad finish 16th at The D2 Summit national championships.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A Cardinal Mooney player gets smothered by three Sailors, including Terrell Pack (1).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 23, 2019
Spring football gives programs hope heading into summer break

Spring football gives programs like Sarasota High, which beat Cardinal Mooney High 34-21, hope heading into summer break.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Chuck Brantley.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 23, 2019
Sarasota High 5 Moments: 05.23.19

Sarasota High 5 Moments: 05.23.19

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Dominic Bennett.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 23, 2019
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Dominic Bennett

Sarasota High running back Dominic Bennett talks goals for next football season and his taco preferences.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    A time to celebrate |
  • May 23, 2019
John Vorel’s 90th Birthday

Longboat Key resident John Vorel celebrated his 90th birthday on May 19th!

  • Longboat Key
  • Celebrations
The issue of poles, pole height, aesthetics and cell-phone service have been front and center in town this year.
    By
  • Guest Author
  • May 23, 2019
Letters to the editor: Getting cell-service right

Island residents sound off on Key topics.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
This preliminary conceptual rendering shows the city's vision for redesigning Lemon Avenue with brick pavers and no curbs.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 23, 2019
City schedules Main Street intersection closure

The city has delayed the start of a Lemon Avenue streetscape project until May 28, at which point a segment of the downtown road will be closed for about a month.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mote has said county financial support is essential for making the five-story, 110,000-square-foot aquarium project a reality.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 23, 2019
County analysis of Mote project raises questions

A consultant challenged projections associated with a proposed aquarium project, but Mote officials remain optimistic about receiving county support.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Bay's proposal for a TIF district could steer $100 million in city and county property tax revenue into the construction of a waterfront park and a new performing arts center.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 23, 2019
Bayfront group works on public funding

The Bay Park Conservancy must navigate different priorities from city and county officials as it attempts to finance a waterfront park project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
According to Swezey, his motivation and flexibility are what set him apart from other educators
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • May 23, 2019
Teaching-award finalist helps pupils find a voice

Shane Swezey, a Sarasota educator and board-certified music therapist, uses music as more than just an instrument for fun.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City Commissioners rejected a plan to explore Payne Park as a possible site for the Sarasota Orchestra.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 23, 2019
Vote on Sarasota Orchestra sends a message

The city seems at a turning point, as it was in the late 1960s when forward-thinking commissioners shaped a lasting vision.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The Day 1 crew on the building site. Includes Stock Signature Homes and Lake Club volunteers as well as Habitat volunteers and staff.
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • May 22, 2019
Getting their hands dirty

Residents of Lakewood Ranch's Lake Club community come together to build for Habitat for Humanity.

  • LWR Life
The county aims to revisit the topic of redistricting next month
    By
  • Samantha Chaney
  • May 22, 2019
County to hire consultant for potential redistricting process

After reviewing a variety of options to base new district lines off of, commissioners directed staff to hire a consultant within the next month.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Pearl and Don Constantino say they enjoy playing pickleball at Bayfront Park, but they’re always prepared in case the court is in use.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 22, 2019
Pickleball plans firm up with consultant report

Town study shows where courts could be added, and for how much.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 22, 2019
Longboaters trade briefcases for putters

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce held its Business After Hours event at The Fish Hole.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tamlyn Leatt pet Benny enthusiastically while her peers watched.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • May 22, 2019
Thunder strikes for mounted patrol

Nolan Middle School students name the Manatee County Sheriff's Office Mounted Patrol Unit logo.

  • East County
  • Schools
Doug Wagner talked with Stokely Browne about her dreams and career goal of becoming a neurosurgeon or neuroscientist.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • May 22, 2019
Manatee County students explore horizons through Project TEACH

"How do you spell neurosurgeon?"

  • East County
  • Schools
The Lakewood Ranch softball team is headed to the final four for the second year in a row.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 22, 2019
Lakewood Ranch softball heads to second-straight final four

Lakewood Ranch softball heads to its second-straight final four in Vero Beach.

  • East County
  • Sports
Former Lakewood Ranch High outfielder Logan Newton is hitting .427 on the season, 16th in the country, for James Madison. Photo courtesy JMU Athletics Communications.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 22, 2019
Local star now softball royalty with Dukes

Lakewood Ranch star Logan Newton now softball royalty with James Madison Dukes.

  • East County
  • Sports
Joby Smith, the Bay County Emergency Management division chief, will be the keynote speaker and will discuss Hurricane Michael.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • May 22, 2019
Town, Chamber to host disaster preparedness seminar

The seminar will run from 3:15 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 30 in the Harbourside Ballroom.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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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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