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Your Observer

Elks essay chairwoman Kathy Dattilo hands an American flag, certificate and gift card to Freedom Elementary School's Ashley Black, who won first in the fourth-fifth grade division.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 22, 2018
Lakewood Ranch Elks honor patriotism

Six students recognized for essays on veterans.

  • East County
  • News
Cary Campagna said removing this tree could cost him up to $5,800.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • March 22, 2018
Six seek tree bounties for invasive Australians

Six applicants have requests the town reimburse them for a total of 11 trees, part of Longboat Key's program to ride the island of Australian Pines

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • March 22, 2018
Deputies planned for Sarasota elementary schools in April

A more permanent solution is planned for the 2018-2019 school year, but the School Board and sheriff are at odds on how to fund it.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The project to renourish the Lido shoreline would take up to 1.3 million cubic yards of sand from Big Pass, which has not been dredged before.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 22, 2018
End in sight for dispute over Big Pass dredging

Both sides have until April 2 to submit their recommendations to the judge, who will issue a decision after reviewing all the materials.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Shane Donglasan
  • March 22, 2018
Greater Sarasota Chamber parties in the park

Members of the Greater Sarasota Chamber mix and mingle at Phillippi Estate Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The new overly district adjusts regulations on things like bike rentals, street-yard setbacks and parking requirements.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • March 22, 2018
Pinecraft Overlay District approved

The new overlay district adjusts regulations to fit the residents' unique way of life.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Inspired by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High following the mass shooting at the school Feb. 14, Sarasota students joined a national conversation on how to change the way we handle school security.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 22, 2018
Fact: More guns, less crime

Under the pressure of the moment, state lawmakers had to act. To their credit, they addressed mental health and school safety. The one flaw: banning the under-21s.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
McKenzie Clark takes her batting stance at Blazers practice.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 22, 2018
Sarasota Christian sophomore owns the diamond

The softball player makes everything look easy as Pie.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Orioles head groundskeeper of Florida operations Dan Thomas stands on the field he maintains.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 22, 2018
Field day: Orioles' Florida groundskeeper shares secrets of the trade

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 22, 2018
Longboat Key weather page photo: March 22

Joseph Brunory photographed driftwood decorated with seashells on Beer Can Island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 22, 2018
East County weather page photo: March 22

Jeannie Sparks photographed this young bald eagle in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 22, 2018
Sarasota weather page photo: March 22

Neil Oldham photographed this American bittern at Celery Fields in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Brown vegetative debris on curbs was a common sight in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which left more than 300,000 cubic yards of debris throughout the county.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • March 22, 2018
County seeks local solution to debris-collection delay

After out-of-area contractors leave Sarasota area piles by the curbside for weeks, leaders lean toward teams based closer to home.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 680 Beach Road on Sarasota Beach recently sold for $2,525,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 22, 2018
Sarasota Beach home sells for $2,525,000

Residential real estate transactions for March 5-9.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The Arlington Park neighborhood offered its support for the redeveloped hotel, depicted in this rendering.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 22, 2018
City OKs Tamiami Trail hotel plans

Developers say the renovated hotel property will be designed to capitalize on the proximity to the hospital.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Supporters of the resident activist group STOP wore red to a March 15 commission meeting, urging the city to hold more public hearings on new development. It’s unclear how the commission will handle the issue.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 22, 2018
Under review: City debates development approval process

Commissioners are divided on development regulations that have drawn criticism from residents and defense from planners.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Stacy Spann discusses effective tools for providing affordable housing during a March 15 meeting at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 22, 2018
Sarasota Housing Authority talks affordability

The Sarasota Housing Authority hopes an outside expert can spark a more serious community conversation about affordable housing.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 22, 2018
Cops Corner: Sarasota 3.22.18

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 22, 2018
Cops Corner: A lot of foot traffic at the Colony

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Temple Director Isaac Azerad, Rabbi Stephen Sniderman and Stuart Sinai
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • March 21, 2018
Temple Beth Israel sings to Florence Katz

The second annual Florence Katz Memorial Concert honors the late temple choir director who died in 2015.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Party planning committee members Susan Pariseau, Peggy Jelinek, Marge Nuzzo, Gloria Long, Mary Delpup, Kathy Neudorfer and Pat Stusek
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • March 21, 2018
Seaplace flocks for flamingo fling

About 80 residents gathered for the monthly party that included a visit from the Polpo Pizza Co. truck.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • March 21, 2018
All Angels walks the runway

The church's annual fashion show, which took place on March 21, benefited Children First.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The magazine's readers ranked Sarasota as the prettiest Southern city in Florida.
    By
  • David Conway
  • March 21, 2018
Sarasota earns honors as top Southern city

The readers of Southern Living magazine voted Sarasota one of the best — and most beautiful — cities in the South.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Rev. Caleb Free says the build-out of the church expands usable space by two-thirds. He hopes Risen Savior can do more community outreach now.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 21, 2018
Risen Savior opens expansion, plans for future.

Church will hold grand opening celebration this weekend.

  • East County
  • News
    In Memoriam |
  • March 21, 2018
Sarah Joyce Friedmann Young

Sarah Joyce Friedmann Young, affectionately known as Joycie, was born in Brownsville, Texas, on June 27, 1929, to her beloved parents Sarah Champion and Ralph John Friedmann.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Neighbors can work together so dogs, like these Shelties, don't become public enemy No. 1.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 21, 2018
Dog potty problems in East County

Side of Ranch: Jay Heater

  • East County
  • News
Cops Corner
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 21, 2018
Strange jaywalker tops Cops Corner reports in Manatee County

Cops Corner

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
A condominium in L’Ambiance at Longboat Key Club tops all transactions in this week’s real estate, selling for $1,837,500.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 21, 2018
L'Ambiance condo tops sales at $1,837,500

Residential real estate transactions for March 5-9.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
This home at 7336 Barclay Court recently sold for $1 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 21, 2018
Knightsbridge home sells for $1 million

Residential real estate transactions for March 5-9.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Andy Adams owns 74 Colony units. He has turned down offers from Unicorp National Developments’ Chuck Whittall for $22 million.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 21, 2018
The next Colony obstacles

In this match, Whittall has a strong hand, but then again, Fleetwood pledges to fight on.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Jim Brown, the longest-tenured golf coach in Ohio State University history, was announced as the guest speaker at the Sarasota-Manatee Ohio State Alumni Club’s 16th-annual Golf Outing.Â
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 21, 2018
Legendary Ohio State golf coach to speak at local tournament

The Buckeyes won 17 Big Ten titles under his tutelage.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
TableSeide Restaurant Group’s Ryan Hill and Brittany Havener work with the Salvation Army’s chef to discuss options for food prep dinner service.
    By
  • Shane Donglasan
  • March 21, 2018
An unexpected opportunity of giving

JFCS Suncoast still finds a way to give back after annual Celebrity Chefs event is canceled due to bad weather.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lauren McMahan and Anastasia Osborne with SMA's Senior JROTC Instructor Col. Michael Ryan. 2017 graduate Davis Ullrich also was accepted to West Point this year.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • March 21, 2018
Students make history at Sarasota Military Academy

For the first time ever, three students were accepted to West Point in one year, and one was recruited with a four-year scholarship for a college's rifle team.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Gail Melville Shumway's picture of a firefly is one of the images featured in the USPS's Bioluminescent Life Forever stamps.
    By
  • Shane Donglasan
  • March 21, 2018
Sarasota photographer's work dazzles on Forever stamp

Wildlife photographer Gail Melville Shumway's photo is part of USPS's Bioluminescent Life Forever stamps

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Diane Creasy said rugs can add a bold accent to a room.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 21, 2018
Six tips to spruce up your home's design

Interior designer Diane Creasy shares some pointers on how to make your home's interior pop.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Branding on the new shuttle is meant to intrigue shoppers and generate ridership.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 21, 2018
Trolley services launches at UTC

Electric shuttle charges up convenience for UTC shoppers.

  • East County
  • 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
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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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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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