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Your Observer

Chuck Whittall
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • January 31, 2018
Hopeful Colony developer optimistic after zoning code change withdrawn

Unicorp National Developments President Chuck Whittall said he hopes to break ground at the site of the former Colony by the end of the year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
East Manatee Fire Rescue Training Officer Bob Mikulski watches firefighter Derek Parker perform a practice rescue. Mikulski is excited East Manatee can use the tower day or night.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 31, 2018
East Manatee Fire Rescue unveils new training tower

Training tower recreates high-rise scenarios.

  • East County
  • News
Longtime SMART volunteer Gail Clifton leads Carly, a pony in SMART's carriage therapy program, out for lessons. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 30, 2018
SMART therapy program receives grant from license plate revenues

Grant will support a therapeutic carriage driving program in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Samantha Castro and Savana Durr, who play for Real So Cal out of California, look at the 1991 Women's World Cup trophy this December at Premier Sports Campus. The facility has continual attracted top events.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 30, 2018
Don't be timid plotting Premier's future

Side of Ranch: Jay Heater

  • East County
  • News
Bradenton, Manatee County, Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate 50-year partnership.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 30, 2018
Bradenton, Manatee County, Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate 50-year partnership

A Feb. 12 exhibit opening will start a months-long celebration.

  • East County
  • Sports
A 54-year-old woman died last week of unnatural causes in a Longboat Key sauna, police say.
  • By Bret Hauff
  • January 30, 2018
UPDATE: Woman found in Longboat sauna did not die naturally, police say

Police have not determined the cause of death and therefore have not released the identity of the woman.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 29, 2018
Cops Corner: Suspect uses jury duty scheme

A roundup of this week's most interesting police reports from Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
David Gouveia, the specialty associate coordinator at Whole Foods, said Brasserie Honore will offer three wines on tap and five beers on tap.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 29, 2018
Whole new grocery experience

Whole Foods at University Station includes a French-themed restaurant and bar.

  • East County
  • News
Manager Carla Ayres and owner Bob Wright have taken over a UPS franchise in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 29, 2018
Mill Creek resident takes over UPS franchise in Lakewood Ranch

New owner looks to deliver service.

  • East County
  • Business
Ringling College is bringing its lecture series to The Paradise Center on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 29, 2018
RCLLA heads to The Paradise Center

Eight lectures through the Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy will be held at The Paradise Center this season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Senior guard Damien Gordon drives the lane against Venice High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 29, 2018
Lakewood Ranch boys basketball adds big matchup to schedule

The No. 9-ranked Mustangs will play No. 13-ranked West Oaks High on Feb. 3.

  • East County
  • Sports
Dr. Joel Morganroth explains his reasoning for giving the $15 million gift to Ringling College of Art and Design. Photo by Niki Kottmann
    By
  • Niki Kottmann
  • January 29, 2018
Ringling College receives record-breaking $15 million gift

Dr. Joel Morganroth and his wife, Gail Morrison Morganroth, gave the school its first eight-figure gift, which will help fund a new virtual reality major, among other causes.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • January 29, 2018
Jewish Food Festival brings Israeli heritage to Sarasota

Everything from kugel to matzo ball soup was available at the festival on Jan. 28.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • January 29, 2018
Growing pup: Guide dogs and handlers graduate from training

Class no. 262 celebrated the end of their training at the Southeastern Guide Dogs campus.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Orioles are partnering with Sarasota County libraries to offer a free game ticket to young readers.
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • January 29, 2018
Libraries, Orioles team up to promote reading

The Big League Reader program offers game tickets for students.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • January 28, 2018
Fundraiser benefits Healthy Start Coalition

Jan. 25 saw food, music and fun at Sarasota Architectural Salvage.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Drs. Richard Brown, Miguel Pelayo and Anjan Patel were honored as Honorary Chairs of the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 28, 2018
Party Under the Stars shines in Lakewood Ranch

Fundraiser benefits Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 27, 2018
Longboat Library hosts L'Art Festival

Local authors, painters, photographers and others showed off their work on Jan. 27.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 27, 2018
Healthy crowd attends grand opening

Earth Fare bags big crowd in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Randy McGill winds up to pitch.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 26, 2018
Fulfilling a fantasy: O's fans travel to Sarasota for week of nostalgia

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 26, 2018
ODA's middle school students bring "High School Musical" to life

Students performed at Out-of-Door Academy's Black Box Theater.

  • East County
  • News
Event chairwoman Palma Panza, Lyn Haycock, Patty Sileo and Susan Phillips
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 25, 2018
Garden Club blossoms with Taste of the Keys

The annual event sold out with more than 300 people in attendance on Jan. 25.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • January 25, 2018
Families feast on food grown at Southside Elementary

Southside Elementary students grew the food in their garden, then helped serve their families and friends.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Longboat Police found a 54-year-old woman dead Tuesday evening.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • January 25, 2018
Woman found dead in clubhouse sauna on Longboat Key

The door of the Harbourside clubhouse sauna was unlocked, police say.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 25, 2018
Sarasota weather page photo: Jan. 25

Thomas Fox captured this photograph at a Turtle Beach access point.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 25, 2018
East County weather page photo: Jan. 25

Susan DeVictor captured this snowy egret’s flight reflected in Summerfield Lake early one morning in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 25, 2018
Longboat Key weather page photo: Jan. 25

Terrie Stewart watched as this boat approached from the horizon, wondering who would be out on Longboat Key Pass on such a rough day. It was the Coast Guard, patrolling the rough sea.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 25, 2018
Mote celebrates relationship with Israel

At a lunch and learn event on Jan. 23, Mote patrons learned about Mote’s history of marine science in Israel in celebration of Israel turning 70 this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Eric Garwood and Bret Hauff | Observer Staff
  • January 25, 2018
Fewer condos, less density proposed for Colony site

Whittall's newest plan falls within boundaries of existing rules.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Harold Robinson
    In Memoriam |
  • January 25, 2018
Tributes: Harold Robinson

Harold Murrell Robinson, age 92, of Charlottesville, Va., died at home on Friday, Jan. 12.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Larry Strasser
    In Memoriam |
  • January 25, 2018
Tributes: Larry Strasser

Larry Strasser, of Bradenton, passed away on Jan. 17 with his devoted wife, Nancy, at his side.

  • East County
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Among the updates are new floors and an access ramp near the stadium's main entrance.
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • January 25, 2018
Revamped Ed Smith Stadium awaits the Orioles

The improvement comes ahead of the 2018 spring training season.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Naomi “DeLores” Sommers
    In Memoriam |
  • January 25, 2018
Tributes: Naomi "DeLores" Sommers

Naomi “DeLores” Sommers of Bradenton, formerly of Sherburne, Kentucky, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Jan. 12.

  • East County
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Ljubomir Zarkovacki
    In Memoriam |
  • January 25, 2018
Tributes: Ljubomir Zarkovacki

Ljubomir Zarkovacki, 88, peacefully finished his earthly life and went home to his eternal reward on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Elaine Marie Adkins nee Mzarek
    In Memoriam |
  • January 25, 2018
Tributes: Elaine Marie Adkins nee Mzarek

Born in Bradenton, Elaine was a lifelong resident of the area.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Jack Schroeder
    In Memoriam |
  • January 25, 2018
Tributes: Jack Schroeder

“Happy” Jack Schroeder was born Aug. 21, 1925, and passed Dec. 19, 2017.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
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Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
4
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
5
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

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