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Your Observer

Liz Alpert, left, will serve as Sarasota's mayor for the next year. Jen Ahearn-Koch, right, is the new vice mayor.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 11, 2018
City Commission picks Alpert as mayor

At a meeting today, the Sarasota City Commission selected outgoing Vice Mayor Liz Alpert to fill the role of mayor for the next year. Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch will serve as vice mayor.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Last year, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive brought 120,000 lbs. of food to All Faiths.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • May 11, 2018
Letter carriers to pick up donated food this Saturday

Residents can leave non-perishable food at their mailboxes on Saturday to participate in Sarasota's 26th annual Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive, to benefit All Faiths Food Bank.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The failure of the county to extend Natalie Way may have been the final straw that caused Planning Commissioner Al Horrigan to resign.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 10, 2018
Manatee County planning commissioner resigns

Al Horrigan resigns over what he perceives to be out-of-control growth.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • May 10, 2018
Sarasota County agrees to fund second helicopter for sheriff's department

The Sarasota Sheriff's Office is buying a used Bell 407GX to supplement its existing helicopter.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tony Squitieri, the vice president of land resources for Taylor Morrison's southwest Florida division, said the new Culinary Center will give Esplanade residents more options.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 10, 2018
Culinary Center will provide Esplanade residents with dining options

Residents won't have to leave their Lakewood Ranch neighborhood to experience multiple culinary choices.

  • East County
  • News
Several rooms in the house overlook the pool area.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 10, 2018
Harbor Acres home features unique space on the bay

1344 Harbor Drive home, bayfront, Sarasota real estate, Harbor Acres, top sale, Reid Murphy, Richard Saba, home sold

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Rebekah Boudrie and Monika Oberer, the co-race chairs of the event, with Another Day for Gray's Grayson Tullio and Deanna Murchie, the chair of the board at the Human Society.
    By
  • Amelia Hanks
  • May 10, 2018
Charity race raises the woof in Lakewood Ranch

Doggies 4 Duchenne presents record amount to Lakewood Ranch Humane Society and Another Day for Gray.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 10, 2018
Mom vs. mom turns to threats

Cops corner

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Cardinal Mooney huddles after scoring a goal in its regional semifinal win against Gulf Coast High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 10, 2018
Cardinal Mooney boys lacrosse is excited about the future

The Cougars' historic season ended in the regional finals, but they believe this is only the beginning.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Jaasiel Torres repeated as the Class 4A boys high jump champion at the Florida High School Athletic Association track and field championships at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 10, 2018
Sarasota High's Torres repeats as state high jump champ

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Tony Register.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 10, 2018
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Tony Register

The Booker junior talks his hustle and his dream vacation to Hollywood.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The home at 875 Siesta Key Circle recently sold for $2.05 million. Built in 1990, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 5,423 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 10, 2018
Siesta Beach home sells for $2.05 million

Siesta Beach real estate on Siesta Key in Sarasota

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Bill Waddill, managing director of The Bay Sarasota, said the bayfront redevelopment could use 15 to 20 different funding sources.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 10, 2018
County discusses bayfront financing option

The Bay Sarasota has approached Sarasota County about using property tax revenue to fund a bayfront redevelopment project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 10, 2018
Cops Corner: Sarasota 5.10.18

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Residents must wait for the way to be clear before crossing Midnight Pass Road near Bay Tree Club.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • May 9, 2018
Pedestrians, cars at odds on Siesta Key

In two neighborhoods on Siesta Key, pedestrian crossings are rising in public awareness, but no firm plans are set to meet residents' requests.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • May 9, 2018
County comfortable with proposal to end downtown CRA dispute

The city is seeking $2.63 million from the county to fund four specific projects. County commissioners are on board so far.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • May 9, 2018
Robert Ruff swings into 90th birthday

About 40 tennis friends gathered May 9 to celebrate Robert Ruff at The Resort at Longboat Key Club Tennis Gardens.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Darrel Nicholson advocated for the multi-use trail, specifically to get kids to school safely.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • May 9, 2018
Planned road in Osprey switching to multi-use trail

Bay Acres Avenue was due for a future extension, but now the land owner is asking the county for permission to put a trail there instead.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Shane Donglasan
  • May 9, 2018
Leadership Sarasota class presents community project

The 2018 Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class unveiled its community service project, a Serenity Garden at the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center .

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This home at 1219 Westway Drive recently sold for $7 million. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, six-and-two-half baths and a pool.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 9, 2018
Lido home sells for $7 million

Residential real estate transactions for April 23-27.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The home at 7516 Greystone St. recently sold for $1.25 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 9, 2018
Country Club Village home tops sales at $1.25 million

Residential real estate transactions for April 23-27

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • May 9, 2018
The opioid crisis here is real — and big

Manatee County has the highest opioid death rate in the state. Even so, local efforts to combat it are making some progress.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
GreyHawk Landing's Abigail Zion is back in the area after an educational trip to Poland and Israel.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 9, 2018
Lakewood Ranch High senior experiences 'March of the Living'

Her trips includes touring concentration camps in Poland and speaking with Holocaust survivors in Israel.

  • East County
  • News
The proposed polling precinct boundaries.
    By
  • Amelia Hanks
  • May 9, 2018
New Polling Precincts in Lakewood Ranch

With a rise in new registered voters, precincts have shifted.

  • East County
  • News
Angelique Handel, Ali McDonald and Kyle Krage, seniors at Braden River High School are all attending different colleges but are happy with the camaraderie that they found with the JROTC program.
    By
  • Amelia Hanks
  • May 9, 2018
Braden River students say isn't life grand?

Four Braden River High ROTC students receive $1,000 scholarships from the VFW.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Topher endures petting from Allisson Cruz and Asher Abelson, kindergartners at Bashaw.
    By
  • Amelia Hanks
  • May 9, 2018
'Pooh' event a major coup for Bashaw

'Winnie the Pooh and Shakespeare Too' event returns to Bashaw.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • May 9, 2018
Turtles don't love Siesta sand like people do

Siesta Beach's famous sand is a big draw for people. Turtles? Not so much, experts say.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The ladder of the new aerial truck goes 107-feet high.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 9, 2018
Another rung up the ladder for East Manatee Fire Rescue

New aerial truck arrives at Lakewood Ranch's Station 4.

  • East County
  • News
ODA freshman Saraiah Walkes waves to the crowd after winning the 1A girls 100-meter dash (12.18 seconds).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 9, 2018
ODA's Walkes battles injuries to take gold

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kathryn Metze and her daughter Brinley are celebrating their first Mother's Day together. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Amelia Hanks
  • May 9, 2018
Birth of new perspective for East County moms

Lakewood Ranch, GreyHawk Landing moms talk about their role as they celebrate Mother's Day.

  • East County
  • News
File photo
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • May 9, 2018
Turtle Tracks

Turtle nesting season on Longboat Key has begun.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Gratehouse calls the 50s the new 30s and said it's never too late to reinvent yourself. Photo courtesy of Mary Gratehouse and Jason Gentile
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • May 9, 2018
Mary Gratehouse wins Ms. Florida International title

As Ms. Florida International, Longboat Key's Mary Gratehouse will now spend the next year traveling as an ambassador for Easterseals.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Drake Theriot.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 9, 2018
East County Athlete of the Week: Drake Theriot

The Lakewood Ranch junior talks learning a new offense and his favorite food.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 9, 2018
Cops Corner: Be on the lookout . . .

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
School Resource Officer Dep. Carl McClellan chats with Angel Perez (behind) and Christian Mark (front) during their lunch. Photo by Pam Eubanks.
    By
  • Amelia Hanks
  • May 8, 2018
Manatee County Commission votes against paying for additional school security

Only Commissioner Robin DiSabatino votes to raise county's contribution.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota High Principal David Jones argues in favor of the expanded School Avenue closure at Tuesday's joint meeting of the City Commission and School Board.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 8, 2018
City Commission, School Board discuss School Avenue closure

Sarasota County Schools wants to close a segment of School Avenue that cuts through Sarasota High School, but some nearby residents in neighborhoods such as Alta Vista question the merits of the proposal.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

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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.
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5
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
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Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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