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Your Observer

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells advocates for a countywide curfew.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 21, 2025
Curfew in effect for Manatee kids under 16

County Commission approves nighttime limits, though some parents question the potential effects.

  • East County
  • News
The Buccaneer Restaurant is planned to take the spot of the former site of Pattigeorge’s.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 21, 2025
Buccaneer Restaurant 'alive and well,' town manager says

The Longboat Key project may resume after a yearslong pause. The lot has sat untouched since the 2018 demolition of Pattigeorge's.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Allegiant is one of the top airlines at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 20, 2025
Allegiant adds service between SRQ and Toledo

A new Allegiant Air route to Toledo, Ohio brings to 69 the total of nonstop destinations offered from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Missy Weishaar and Rev. Fausto Stampiglia
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 20, 2025
Sarasota parishioners celebrate priest's 65th year of service

Rev. Fausto Stampiglia was the face of St. Martha Catholic Church for 31 years before retiring in 2022, and was ordained as a priest in Rome in 1960.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Co-owners Jason Klamson, Sam Ray and Jeffrey Karasawa
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 20, 2025
Sarasota's Tsunami Sushi prepares to reopen under new name

With its new spot in the Rosemary District, Hanami Sushi Cocktails & Grill will fuse Japanese culture with Sarasota history.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Members of Riverview girls' swimming put up five fingers representing their number of state titles since 2021. For the first time in program history, they've won five in a row.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • November 20, 2025
Riverview girls swimming wins another state title

The Rams collected 12 medals en route to their fifth straight FHSAA Class 4A state championship.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The first phase of Cypress Square apartments, legally Amaryllis Park Place Phase 2. Future phases of Cypress Square will replace The Courts.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 20, 2025
Cypress Square project final phase wins approval

The final phase of the Sarasota Housing Authority apartments wins approval by the Sarasota City Commission, bringing 61 more affordable housing units.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Unit 1017 condominium at 988 Blvd. of the Arts was built in 1982 and has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,315 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 20, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 3-7 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A home in Siesta Bayside tops the week's sales at $4.7 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Vicky Henderson and Tory Delaney at Allswell
    By
  • Marty Fugate, Su Byron
  • November 20, 2025
New Lakewood Ranch restaurants serve up fresh culinary offerings for every taste

With innovation on the menu, these five eateries bring a whole host of dining options to town.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
"Jiggs is a community asset in every sense," Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department Director Charlie Hunsicker says. "We’ve preserved a wonderful river and lake environment for this generation and the next."
    By
  • Emily Leinfuss
  • November 20, 2025
Jiggs Landing preserves the best of Old Florida for the next generation

At Jiggs Landing Preserve and Outpost in Manatee County, fishing, food and live music come together on the banks of the Braden River.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bill Schmeising, John Stryhn and Al Knezevich display their radio-controlled Soling 1-Meter yachts at Nathan Benderson Park’s Green Parrot Lake.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • November 20, 2025
Camaraderie trumps competition for the members of this racing club

Meet the members of the Sarasota Model Yacht Club, who find purpose, rivalry and plenty of laughter steering their "toy boats" across Benderson Park's Green Parrot Lake.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The formal living room boasts a striking painting of a rhino, acquired during a recent safari in South Africa.
  • By Robert Plunket
  • November 20, 2025
Drama and luxury characterize this estate-size home in The Lake Club

This Lake Club home balances timeless design with contemporary comfort — and the distinctive artistry of its owners.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith uses a table to illustrate a beachfront lot and a box to illustrate building size and height to argue for a Comprehensive Plan change for voluntary redevelopment.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 20, 2025
Siesta Key condo replacement measure denied by county

A proposed county Comprehensive Plan amendment would have permitted older, nonconforming condo communities to voluntarily rebuild at outdated density and other standards.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
  • By Observer Advertising Content Staff
  • November 20, 2025
RA Sarasota: Lifting Homes & Spirits

A couple’s response to flooding on LBK becomes a much-needed community solution.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By Anti Aging & Ketamine Center
  • November 20, 2025
Restoring Vitality to Patients with Hormone Replacement Therapy

How one clinic is restoring lives with Bioidentical Hormone Therapy.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates delivers the central sermon at the 45th interfaith Thanksgiving service hosted by St. Armands Key Lutheran Church on Nov. 18. She was joined by SAKLC's Rev. Kenneth Blyth, Longboat Island Chapel's Rev. Brock Patterson, Christ Church of Longboat Key's Rev. Julia Piermont, All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church's Rev. David Marshall and St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church's Fr. Robert Dziedziak.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • November 19, 2025
Religious leaders across faiths celebrate unity for Thanksgiving

Leaders on Longboat and St. Armands keys have been working to unite community members at Thanksgiving for 45 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Michael Saunders & Company
  • November 19, 2025
For Sale: 13635 Legends Walk Ter., Lakewood Ranch

This stunning custom-built Peregrine home is perfectly positioned on one of the most sought-after homesites in Lakewood Ranch Golf & CC!

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Sponsored Content
Fourth grade students Liam Aikin, Tate Brase, Raymond Burdick and Madden Dabek will be fifth graders next year and will only have one class above them when sixth grade opens at Lake Manatee K-8.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 19, 2025
Lake Manatee K-8 to open middle school in phases

With the new rezoning maps comes the decision to open only sixth grade in August instead of sixth, seventh and eighth all at once.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sarasota boys' swimming poses for a photo on Nov. 14 at Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training in Ocala after winning the title. From left: Cy Matteson, Jackson Irwin, Adam Malaj, Bogdan Zverev, Daniil Siutsou, Daniel Keegan, Jack Sallee and Andrew Malaj (Charles Shoemaker not pictured).
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • November 19, 2025
Sarasota High boys swimming returns to glory by winning state title

The Sailors overcame a coaching change to claim their fifth FHSAA state title in six years.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Child-neglect charges filed against Sarasota man
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 19, 2025
Child-neglect charges filed against Sarasota man

The home had cockroaches and little food, and the children missed extended periods of school, Sarasota Police say.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Town Commission meets at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 19, 2025
Longboat Key Town Commission election will be uncontested

The three seats will go to incumbents Gary Coffin and Sarah Karon, while Nick Gladding will assume District 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Penny Robinson, a member of Fiber Friends, has knitted a couple of bears, a rhinoceros and a hedgehog after being inspired by other artists to do so. Fiber Friends is made up of 28 members who come together to knit, crochet, sew and more.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 19, 2025
Fiber Friends of Lakewood Ranch will give you the needle

Whether it is knitting, crocheting or sewing, these club members can spin a yarn that will keep you interested.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ryan Waldschmidt runs the bases during a spring training game with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was selected No. 31 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Kentucky, and now ranks as the organization's No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • November 19, 2025
Braden River High graduate blazes a path toward MLB

Ryan Waldschmidt, a 23-year-old outfielder, was named the Arizona Diamondbacks' Minor League Player of the Year.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota Ski-A-Rees sound technician Madison Ditmars demonstrates how she makes the crab figurines she offers by donation to support the group in its ongoing recovery from last year's hurricanes.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • November 19, 2025
Craftswoman fabricates marine critters to support ski group

The Ski-A-Rees sound technician has a talent for crafting miniature crabs, which she offers by donation to support the City Island-based group.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Steve Postle and Tom Walrath are changing the way ponds are maintained in Lakewood Ranch's Central Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 19, 2025
Grant funding flows to Lakewood Ranch community ponds

Central Park has 29 ponds, five of which are being supplied with plants thanks to the Healthy Pond Collaborative.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies are stationed at the exit of Cars and Coffee Nov. 8.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 19, 2025
Cars & Coffee cuts the gas on revving engines

Organizers of the Sarasota event warned motorists to quiet down or be banned from all future events.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 531 Ranger Lane sold for $3.7 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 19, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 3-7 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home in Yonker on Gulf of Mexico Drive tops the week’s sales at $17.5 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Sheena Works, Sebastian Works, 7, Alissa Silvers, and Isabella Coulton, 7, pose together in front of the mural.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 19, 2025
Community unites to paint mural at Arlington Park

The project, led by Alissa Silvers, brought a tropical-themed mural to the park's lifeguard building.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kendra Simpkins has been working in brain-based health with military veterans for nearly a decade.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 19, 2025
Ambitious nonprofit resolves to help more military veterans

With new space at the ready, Kendra Simpkins has big plans for Operation Warrior Resolution — dedicated to providing holistic mental health services for the region's veterans.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bird Key Yacht Club General Manager Tammy Hackney and Commodore Tony Britt donned the hard hats for the official groundbreaking of the new clubhouse on Nov. 13 at the site of the former facility.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • November 19, 2025
Bird Key leaders break ground on new yacht club facilities

During early fall, the old building came down, and on Nov. 13, the first shovels of dirt were turned over on the site of the future clubhouse.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Eric Nuxol, the championship director for the Senior PGA Championship, says community involvement will be a huge key to success for the tourney.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 19, 2025
Sarasota, Manatee community involvement key to Senior PGA Championship success

Championship Director Eric Nuxol stimulates interest as ticket sales and volunteer registration has begun.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Plymouth Harbor on Coon Key opened in 1966, at the time the 25-story residential tower the tallest in Florida.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 19, 2025
Sarasota approves property sale to Plymouth Harbor

The Sarasota City Commission approved the sale of a 650-square-foot pieced of unused city property that presented an obstacle to Plymouth Harbor's expansion plans on Coon Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Man's dreadlocks cut goes unresolved
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2025
Man's dreadlocks cut goes unresolved

A man accuses his cousin of cutting his dreads while he slept and gaslighting him to believe he cut them himself. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Gladys Delgado with Chuck Sidlow (Chucko the All American Clown).
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 18, 2025
Fundraiser event in Sarasota spotlights babies in need

Baby Basics of Sarasota County brought a circus theme to its annual fundraiser, held at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
SPD closed traffic outside Sarasota Military Academy Tuesday after a suspicious package was reported.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 18, 2025
Inert explosive devices investigated at Sarasota Military Academy

Sarasota police and outside bomb squad respond after a backpack with hollowed grenades are brought to the Sarasota Military Academy campus.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ella Javier and Paityn Carr, sophomores who plays flute in the Braden River High School Marching Band, didn't let their nerves get the best of them at the FFCC Outdoor Championships, where they earned the title of Grand Champion.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 18, 2025
More marching band championships for Braden River High School

The Pirates were named the FFCC Grand Champion overall, the 3A Class Champion and the Best in Class for color guard and percussion.

  • East County
  • Schools
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  • December 14, 2025
Eat, drink and be merry like you're in a 'Home Alone' movie
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Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
3
Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
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