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Your Observer

Del Webb's Herman Martinez and his Lakewood Ranch Association of Veterans and Military Supporters want to place a flag on every lawn in his community.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 30, 2018
Veterans group at Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch shows its colors

A veterans group at Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch hopes every home in the community will fly the American flag.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kathy and Larry Goodman honeymooned on Longboat Key in 1968.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • May 30, 2018
Couple visits Longboat Key to keep honeymoon phase alive

Larry and Kathy Goodman first visited Silver Sands Gulf Beach Resort in May 1968.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Harrison Schenerlein, Gregory Jordan, Hayden Dolan Courtesy photo
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • May 30, 2018
Future turtle watchers

Three students from Anna Maria Island were awarded summer camp scholarships to Mote from the Longboat Key Turtle Watch.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bindi Schield with her dog Penny. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • May 30, 2018
Bead Bonanza

Bindi Schield and her dog competed at collecting beads at the De Soto Parade. Penny, the dog, won.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Deputy Damon Ackerman, here with Tiyon Calloway and Geland Veillard, ninth-graders, says that most students take a while to warm up with the deputy on campus.
    By
  • Amelia Hanks
  • May 30, 2018
Manatee school board moves closer to forming district security force nears reality

School board votes June 12 whether to implement 'Guardian' program.

  • East County
  • News
Superintendent Diana Greene left after serving two years on her four-year contract. John Colon, left, hopes to find a new superintendent who has innovative financial ideas.
    By
  • Amelia Hanks
  • May 30, 2018
Search for next Manatee superintendent could have local focus

School board members will covet candidates who appear to be long-term leaders.

  • East County
  • News
Tom Harmer has worked 100 days as Longboat Key's town manager.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • May 30, 2018
Q&A: 100 days with Harmer on Longboat Key

After 100 work days in office, the Longboat Observer sat down with Town Manager Tom Harmer to discuss his tenure on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Whatever solutions that can be devised to head off rising sea levels can also be applied to hurricane surge protection, Tom Freiwald said.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • May 29, 2018
Longboat group pushes for sea level rise solutions

The Revitalization Task Force sent a letter to island leaders asking for an infrastructure analysis plan about what parts of the island could be impacted by sea level rise.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • May 29, 2018
Braden River names new girls basketball coach

Stephanie Smith will lead the Pirates next season.

  • East County
  • Sports
UnidosNow students Flor Zamora, Axel Soto, Alec Lemus, Andres Monroy and Jonathan Bruzun
    By
  • Shane Donglasan
  • May 28, 2018
Sharing our journeys with UnidosNow

UnidosNow students shared their stories of hardship and triumph in a play they produced and performed at FST on May 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Today's Tribute to Heroes Parade at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch has been cancelled due to Subtropical Storm Alberto.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 27, 2018
Tribute to Heroes Parade canceled in Lakewood Ranch

Tribute to Heroes Parade in Lakewood Ranch canceled by Subtropical Storm Alberto.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kayleigh Omang
  • May 26, 2018
Longboat Key Club hosts tasty Memorial Day event

The Memorial Day Barbecue was held May 26 at the Harbourside Ballroom.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kayleigh Omang
  • May 26, 2018
Memorial Day Tribute to Fallen Troops honors local heroes

The ceremony was held May 26 at the Sarasota National Cemetery.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Luke King right before he takes off for his solo flight.
    By
  • Shane Donglasan
  • May 25, 2018
Fourth generation Sarasota pilot pursues his passion in the air

Sarasota teen Luke King makes his solo flight on his 16th birthday.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • May 25, 2018
Two suspects arrested seven weeks after Longboat armed robbery

Police have charged Travis D. Cooper and Eric D. Dudley with armed robbery with a firearm while masked and attempted carjacking. These two suspects allegedly robbed two Longboat Key visitors in April.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Shane Donglasan
  • May 25, 2018
Goodwill Manasota hosts veterans services open house

Veterans get a look at the newly renovated Veterans Services Center in Sarasota on May 25.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 25, 2018
Siesta Beach falls out of Dr. Beach's Top 10

Last year's No. 1 spot in the U.S. still ranked second by TripAdvisor.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • May 25, 2018
Longboat Key Police get new traffic cameras

New traffic cameras will give the Longboat Key Police Department access to a global database of suspects to help thwart crime.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The county put the property at 20 N. Washington Blvd. on the surplus land list last year.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • May 25, 2018
Sarasota County to designate 200 properties as surplus

Overall, the county owns $1.16 billion worth of land. More than 800 parcels are in use, but county staff identified more than 200 they could do without.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 25, 2018
Rainy weekend likely as Alberto moves north into Gulf

Hurricane season has not yet begun, but first named storm has formed.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city Memorial Day parade was scheduled to go down Main Street beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, but officials canceled the events because of inclement weather forecasts.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 25, 2018
Weather prompts city to cancel Memorial Day Parade

Sarasota's downtown parade is cancelled for the first time in 30 years. Events at Sarasota National Cemetery and Lakewood Ranch are still planned.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The grapple truck is designed to scoop up debris.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 25, 2018
Longboat's grapple truck arrives

Clean-up machine arrives just in time for beginning of hurricane season next week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The crew of Duval's took part in the event last year.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 24, 2018
Expected rainy weather prompts St. Armands festival delay

Seafood and music event reset for June 2-3.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • May 24, 2018
Alligator trapped in University Place swimming pool

The alligator will be processed for its meat and hide, according to state officials.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota city officials, construction team members and St. Armands stakeholders appeared at the garage groundbreaking. Photo courtesy city of Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 24, 2018
Ground broken on St. Armands parking garage

Construction of the 503-space structure is scheduled for completion in December.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Country Club Village home at 12307 Newcastle Place recently sold for $800,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 24, 2018
Country Club Village home tops sales at $800,000

Home in Lakewood Ranch County Club Village sells for $800,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Emma Moneuse, Alvin the dog and Jazmin Riley take a raft ride in some of Tropical Storm Hermine's 16 inches of rain on Longboat Key in September 2016. File photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 24, 2018
Ways to prevent the weather from ruining your summer

Ryan Kohn gives suggestions on ways Sarasota can fight back against Big Rain, like community river rafting and (almost) water polo.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota High freshman pitcher Conner Whittaker fires a pitch against the Lakewood Ranch Mustangs.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 24, 2018
Sarasota High baseball turns to young pitcher in the postseason

Freshman right-hander Conner Whittaker has carried the Sarasota High Sailors baseball team to the state semifinals, where it will face Strawberry Crest High on June 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 24, 2018
Longboat's Paradise Center will move on May 29

Popular island resource center will set up shop at Temple Beth Israel on Bay Isles Road.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Champion taekwondo athlete Isaac Weintraub shared his fear of geese in 2018.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 24, 2018
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Isaac Weintraub

The taekwondo gold medalist talks the feeling of walking into large stadiums and his fear of geese.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 24, 2018
Longboat Key weather page photo: May 24

Michael Cohen photographed this group of birds flying after feeding on South Lido Beach in the late afternoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 24, 2018
East County weather page photo: May 24

Fernando Ugarte captured this early morning moment in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 24, 2018
Sarasota weather page photo: May 24

This Lido Beach sunset was photographed by Lucia DeVictor and submitted by Susan DeVictor.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
J.B. Development of Sarasota LLC recently bought four properties on Siesta Key. The two properties at 89 Beach Road sold for $2,113,000. In a separate transaction, two properties at 84 Avenida Veneccia sold for $2,113,100.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 24, 2018
Development company buys four Siesta Key properties.

Four Siesta Key properties sells to Sarasota developer.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Beginning last fall, city staff held a series of public workshops to get input as it develops a parks master plan.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 24, 2018
Parks staff shares master plan update

Sarasota city staff is working with a consultant on a strategy for ensuring residents are satisfied with their parks and recreation options.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Students have cited a fear regarding potential school shootings as a reason they want School Avenue closed, but school staff says less serious intrusions are equally concerning.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 24, 2018
School district seeks street closure at Sarasota High

After successfully petitioning the city to expand the restrictions on a segment of School Avenue, Sarasota County Schools hopes the road can be closed for good.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
2
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy
3
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
4
Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
Longboat Goodwill officially celebrates grand opening
5
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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