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Your Observer

On a recent trip to Cuba, Mestel strayed from tourists attractions to photograph authentic areas. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • September 5, 2018
Longboat photographer captures decisive moments in studio and out

Allan Mestel, who has a studio in Whitney Beach Plaza, is versatile in his work, photographing portraits, head shots, real estate and also street art.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
File photo
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • September 5, 2018
Restaurants on lunch break

Multiple Longboat Key restaurants are temporarily closed or holding adjusted hours until October.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lake Club's Susan Beck volunteers at the Tot Shabbat program with her daughter, Josie, as they prepare for High Holy Days.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 5, 2018
Jewish holidays spark rededication for Lakewood Ranch residents

Jewish holidays spark rededication for Lakewood Ranch residents.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • September 5, 2018
The Short Academy keeps ball moving

Tennis enthusiast keeps Dick Eagan’s brainchild going, making it easy for fellow fans of the game to find matches and a bit of fellowship.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sophie Fedder.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 5, 2018
East County Athlete of the Week: 09.06.18

East County Athlete of the Week: 09.06.18

  • East County
  • Sports
On Sept., 3, Keith Kitchner, an assistant store manager at another store, helps stock products for the new Lakewood Ranch location.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 5, 2018
Publix opens new Lakewood Ranch location

More tenants in the University Corner shopping center should open in the first quarter of 2019.

  • East County
  • News
LECOM dental student Mary Moore completes a dental exam on U.S. Coast Guard veteran Eric Davis as fellow student Phennatda Polpornvitoon, behind, documents findings.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 5, 2018
Goodwill, LECOM partner for dental awareness

Outreach clinics will make affordable dental care available to the community.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 5, 2018
Cops Corner: What a pretty boat . . . ooops

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
High tides have eroded the beach to the point that the enscarpment – a steep embankment left in the sand dune by beach erosion – has eroded to the base of the southernmost groin.
    By
  • Suzanne Elliott
  • September 4, 2018
30,000 tons of sand being used for beach renourishment in Longboat

Longboat starts north end beach renourishment

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Gretchen Lovewell, manager of Mote’s Stranding Investigation’s Program, said the whale was found on the beach near 2605 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • September 4, 2018
Pygmy killer whale found on Longboat Key taken to Mote

This whale marks the third that is now undergoing rehab at Mote Marine Laboratory.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Downtown Improvement District originally envisioned a sign extending over Main Street as an entry point into downtown, though the group is now interested in considering a variety of options for the scale of any project.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 4, 2018
Downtown group talks signs, wayfinding

The Downtown Improvement District is considering a contest to find a design for gateway sign at a key entry point to the city’s center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Suzanne Elliott
  • September 4, 2018
Longboat to hold budget hearing

Commission returns from summer break and will hold budget hearing

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission held a workshop on coyotes on Longboat Key last week.
    By
  • Columnist .
  • September 4, 2018
Letters to the editor: Get rid of the island's coyotes

Longboat readers sound off.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
David Hobbs, Debby Lenehan, Steve McCormack and Joe Pratico
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • September 3, 2018
Sarasota Sailing Squadron grills out red tide

Even though the red tide caused the Labor Day Regatta to be canceled, squadron members still gathered Sept. 1 .

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bradenton man dies in hit-and-run crash.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 2, 2018
Pedestrian killed on S.R. 64 in eastern Manatee County

Pedestrian killed on S.R. 64 in eastern Manatee County. A hit-and-run driver fled the scene.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Shane Donglasan
  • September 1, 2018
Beauty, Brains and Business empowers female leaders of tomorrow

Truly Valued launched its free workshop series for high school girls to gain confidence and career knowledge.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
East County football roundup: 08.31.18
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 31, 2018
East County football roundup: 08.31.18

A blowout, a close win and a tough loss for East County's three high school teams

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota football roundup: 08.31.18
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 31, 2018
Sarasota football roundup: 08.31.18

Sarasota football roundup: 08.31.18

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 31, 2018
Riverview football falls to Venice

The defending state champion Indians handed the Rams a 19-2 loss

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Manatee County's administration building is located at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 31, 2018
Manatee County Government offices close

Closures planned for Labor Day holiday.

  • East County
  • News
City and county government administration buildings will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 3.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 31, 2018
City, county closures scheduled for Labor Day

Government buildings in Sarasota County will be closed and trash collection schedules will be adjusted for the Sept. 3 holiday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jah Movement will perform at Music on Main on Sept. 7. File photo.
    By
  • Amelia Hanks
  • August 31, 2018
Calendar

Calendar

  • East County
  • News
Two pygmy killer whales were brought to Mote on Aug. 30. Photo courtesy of Conor Goulding / Mote Marine Laboratory
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • August 31, 2018
Two pygmy killer whales undergoing treatment at Mote

Currently, the whales have shown no behavioral signs of exposure to red tide neurotoxins, which has been in the area since late July.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A coyote was spotted in the dunes.
    By
  • Suzanne Elliott
  • August 31, 2018
Longboat residents concerned for pets after coyote sightings

Residents learn at workshop island might be home to two mating pairs.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2018
East County weather page photo: Aug. 30

Jim Kunert photographed this sunset after a summer thunderstorm at Highfield Circle looking toward King’s Dunes Course at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2018
Sarasota weather page photo: Aug. 30

Stephen Jordan captured this sunset over the Gulf of Mexico from Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mote President and CEO Michael Crosby explains the difference between red tide and blue-green algal blooms on Aug. 30 at an Argus Foundation lunch.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • August 30, 2018
Red tide bloom is unusual, not unprecedented, Mote experts say

Mote Marine Laboratory scientists discussed red tide blooms, blue-green algal blooms and research at the Meet the Minds lunch Aug. 30.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 30, 2018
Longboat Key's fire marshal says farewell

Friends, family and co-workers laugh and celebrate with Gagliardi.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 30, 2018
No Swim advisory dropped for Longboat beaches

Water samples return to acceptable levels of background bacteria.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Natalie Almeter sings a solo in "Marriage of Figaro" at the Sarasota Opera in 2015.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 30, 2018
East County soprano heads toward the world of professional opera.

Natalie Almeter has bright future.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 30, 2018
State orders catch-and-release only for snook, redfish because of red tide

Order extends from Anna Maria Island south to Collier County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Beach Bazaar's general manager Wendall Jacobsen opens the doors to the store.
    By
  • Shane Donglasan
  • August 30, 2018
Siesta Key businesses feel the financial toll from red tide

As customers stay away, driven by beach conditions, cutbacks in operating hours and staff layoffs begin to mount.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The home Siesta Bayside home at 506 Venice Lane recently sold for $3.3 million. Built in 2008, it has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,336 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 30, 2018
Siesta Bayside home sells for $3.3 million

Residential real estate transactions for Au. 13-17.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Commissioners said the move to require signatures from 10% of the county’s registered voters is in line with other charter-rule counties.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 30, 2018
County floats higher standards for amendments

In November, voters will consider a commission-initiated charter amendment that would create more stringent rules for citizen-initiated charter amendments.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The preliminary design plan calls for an extension of the brick-paved Lemon Avenue mall, left, south past Main Street to Pineapple Avenue near Paul Thorpe Park, right.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 30, 2018
City plans downtown streetscape, park improvements

The city is moving forward with design work on a $3.7 million project to redesign Lemon Avenue and Paul Thorpe Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dale Orlando and her dog, Shadow, are excited about the ability to let dogs run off-leash in a neighborhood park.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 30, 2018
Resident lauded for dogged efforts to build pet park

When the city opens a dog park in Gillespie Park next month, Dale Orlando will get special recognition.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Drugs, cash and a rifle bullet were among the items found by Sarasota Police in a search of a 31st Way home, resulting in the arrest of Demarius R. Jones, of Sarasota.
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Longboat Key Turtle Watch members presented a nearly $12,000 donation to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium to support rehabilitating sea turtles like Ellie, one of the current residents.
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