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Your Observer

(From left to right) A. G. Lafley, Ed DeMarco and Bridget Ziegler are among the Sarasota residents poised to leave their mark on 2018.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 4, 2018
Sarasota newsmakers enter new year with lots on their minds

A. G. Lafley, Ed DeMarco and Bridget Ziegler are set up to lead their community in 2018.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jack and Lily Bennett watch as Marielle Hessels and Sue McGrew work on their submission to the 2017 Crystal Classic.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • January 4, 2018
10 Sarasota events you don't want to miss in 2018

Pencil these dates in now.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This map shows the property in question outlined in blue. It is at the northwest corner of Lockwood Ridge Road and 63rd Avenue East in Bradenton. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 4, 2018
Manatee Planning board recommends infill project

More than half the project would remain wetlands.

  • East County
  • News
East County sports roundup: 01.04.18
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 4, 2018
East County sports roundup: 01.04.18

East County sports roundup: 01.04.18

  • East County
  • Sports
Members of the Longboat Key Fire Association visited Oak Park School to pass out teddy bears. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 4, 2018
Fire Association tops nice list

The Longboat Key Fire Association adopted Oak Park School this year, and even paid a visit with fireman Santa Claus.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The winter season at the Longboat Key Education Center starts Jan. 4.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 4, 2018
Longboat Key Education center announces winter course load

With workshops, classes, field trips and performing arts and lecture series, the winter season is going to be busy one.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jaasiel Torres, boys high jumper, Sarasota High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 4, 2018
The top Sarasota athletes to watch in 2018

The area has plenty of phenoms in the making.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Youth Baseball Day was a highlight of 2017 for this columnist.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 4, 2018
An open letter to 2018 on the state of area sports

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
  • By Larry Eger | Chair of Decide the Date Sarasota
  • January 4, 2018
City voters should decide when city elections are held

Off-year voting dilutes minority and young voter influence.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Two properties at 1505 Hillview Drive recently sold for $4.55 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 4, 2018
Harbor Acres properties sell for $4.55 million

Residential real estate transactions for Dec. 11-22.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 4, 2018
Cops Corner: A life jacket for the dog, not the human

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 4, 2018
Cops Corner: Gifted clothes hangers spark argument

A weekly roundup of Sarasota's most interesting police reports.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Duo KVAS Volodymyr Kostenko, below, and Anton Savchenko, above, will perform in this year's circus. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 3, 2018
New year brings excitement to Lakewood Ranch area

Here's a list of must-attend events in 2018 in the Sarasota-Manatee area.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jessica Cary sings the National Anthem on March 10, 2017 at LECOM Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 3, 2018
Pittsburgh Pirates offer star spangled opportunity in Bradenton

Auditions being held at LECOM Park for those who want to sing the National Anthem during Spring Training.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 560 Chipping Lane on Longboat Key recently sold for $1.65 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 3, 2018
Country Club Shores home sells for $1.65 million

Residential real estate transactions for Dec. 11-22.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
This home at 6012 Lorraine Road recently sold for $950,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 3, 2018
Lorraine Road home tops sales at $950,000

Residential real estate transactions for Dec. 11-22.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 3, 2018
THE WORD: 20-GREAT-TEEN!

Despite the World of Trump, Washington and the national media, we can continue to turn the tide with our own decorum and the push for economic freedom and prosperity.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Reynolds become a senior scientist at Mote in 2001, and led the Manatee Research Program.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • January 3, 2018
Influential Mote scientist Dr. John Reynolds III dies at 65

Reynolds was an advocate of marine mammal conservation and did work that impacted scientists and marine mammals around the world.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • January 3, 2018
School Board hires Orlando attorney to investigate complaint against superintendent

The attorney, who has previous experience working with Florida school boards, is working at a rate of $180 an hour.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Abbi Geiger with Denise Pope. Photo by Pam Eubanks.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 3, 2018
Girl Scouts offer sweet treat for holidays

MTC students spread holiday cheer through song.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 3, 2018
Driver killed in Sarasota roundabout crash

Sarasota man's SUV hits tree, FHP reports.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Florida Department of Transportation started construction on the $39.1 million reconfiguration of the State Road 64-Interstate 75 interchange in June 2017. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 3, 2018
New year offers growing pains for Manatee's transportation grid

Major East County transportation projects won't finish in 2018.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 3, 2018
Longboat Key Obituaries: Jan. 4, 2018

William Bruckner, Thomas Buffett, Edward Fenton and Lola Hoenig died.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
(From left to right): Isaac Brownman, Allen Parsons and Tom Harmer.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 3, 2018
Longboat leaders set to make waves in 2018

A crop of new government officials and non-profit volunteers are among those best poised to impact the island in the upcoming year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
County commissioners are faced with tough decisions as they look to cut $11 million from the next fiscal year.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • January 3, 2018
Issue to watch 2018: Budget

Although this year's budget is taken care of, commissioners are now identifying places to cut $11 million from next year's budget.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Porter Osuch, a third-grader, colors on the first day of school in August at Willis Elementary. Willis is one of several East County schools at which the School District plans to add more classrooms. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 3, 2018
Growth fuels need for more teachers in Manatee County

Superintendent says district needs more money to lengthen school day, increase teacher pay.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River High freshman point guard O'Mariah Gordon is one of the best players in the country, regardless of position, per ESPN and analyst Dan Olson.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 3, 2018
10 area athletes to watch in 2018

East County is home to heaps of talent.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River quarterback Bryan Gagg and running back/wide receiver Knowledge McDaniel will be seniors in 2018. They'll try to break a four-game losing streak to Venice High.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 3, 2018
Columnist ready for 2018's opening tip

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • East County
  • Sports
Longboat Key was the site of bombing practice in the 1940s, leaving ordinance that has yet to be cleaned up.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • January 3, 2018
Former Longboat bombing range not scheduled for clean up until 2047

Bombs, rockets and bullets peppered the Key in the 1940s — it could take the Department of Defense more than 100 years from then to clean it up.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Gator Grading and Paving will repair and repave Legacy Boulevard from University north to The Masters Avenue. The project likely will take at least 30 days.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 3, 2018
Country Club at Lakewood Ranch roadwork begins

Contractor asks motorists to 'be patient.'

  • East County
  • News
Dagmar Mootz-Beavers and Andreas Funk at last year's Circus Ring of Fame induction.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 3, 2018
Top 10 events for Longboaters in 2018

2018 is bringing with it some of Longboat's best events, including one that's back after a year hiatus.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The county will continue to explore its options for addressing parking and traffic issues on Siesta Key.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 3, 2018
Issues to Watch 2018: Parking

The city and county are trying to answer two questions: Where will people park, and how do we pay for it?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Urban Design Studio Director Karin Murphy.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 3, 2018
Issues to watch 2018: Zoning codes

The city and county will both review proposed changes to development regulations this year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sandra Shepherd admitted she new she hit something while driving this Lexus last week — police believe it was their cruiser.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • January 2, 2018
Longboat driver charged in hit-and-run crash that damaged police cruiser

A part-time resident hit and injured Longboat Key police officer Ray Bergeron last week then left the scene, a third degree felony.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The current schedule calls for project completion by 2021.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • January 2, 2018
Stories to watch in 2018: Burying utility cables

After years of laying groundwork, the town is ready to put wires underground.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Salvation Army's Center of Hope, which will house those taking shelter, has a "front porch" located near the intersection of 9th Street and Central Avenue in Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 2, 2018
Sarasota County announces cold-weather shelter opening

Temperatures near freezing are possible later this week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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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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