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Your Observer

Whole Foods will open at University station Jan. 31. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 2, 2018
Second Whole Foods to open this month in Sarasota

Other tenants in the new University Station plaza already are open.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • January 2, 2018
Stories to watch in 2018: Elections arrive at a pivotal moment

At least one new decision maker will join the ranks of the Town Commission.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Traffic circles, like this one envisioned in a rendering on Gulf of Mexico Drive, are among the possible solutions to mitigate traffic.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 2, 2018
Stories to watch in 2018: Traffic study should materialize in coming year

Single solution is unlikely, though effect of several ideas might add up to smoother travel.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Buccaneer is schedule to open in 2019.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 2, 2018
Stories to watch in 2018: Menu of restaurants is growing

The Columbia Restaurant Group, The Chiles Restaurant Group and The Shore are all making moves in 2018.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 2, 2018
Cops Corner: Fake call for bail isn't convincing

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Unicorp National Development Inc.'s plan for the site of the former Colony Beach and Tennis Resort.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • January 2, 2018
Stories to Watch in 2018: Colony makes progress

The Planning and Zoning board gave Unicorp National Development Inc. its first nod at the end of 2017

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The former Pattigeroge's property will be torn down.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 1, 2018
Top Story - December: The Buccaneer to open at former Pattigeorge's property

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The 32nd annual boat parade was not rescheduled.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 1, 2018
Top Story - December: Boat parade canceled thanks to inclement weather

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival sculptors pose for a photo near the entrance of the festival.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2017
Top Story - November: Siesta Key Crystal Classic returns, this time with lights

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • December 31, 2017
Sarasota celebrates New Year's at Pineapple Drop

More than 25,000 people flocked downtown to take part in the downtown New Year's tradition.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2017
Top Story - November: Lakewood Ranch lands hot air balloon festival

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
Jellyfish float in along a groin on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2017
Top Story - November: Longboat beaches swarmed by jellyfish

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Southeast High School band braved a steady rain to help Lake Club's Kevin Swan ask Shaina Frisch a very important question on Oct 28 at the Mandeville Beer Garden in Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 30, 2017
Top Story - October: A different kind of wedding band in Sarasota

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 30, 2017
Top Story - October: Residents worry a proposed home may limit Siesta Key public beach access

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Wayne Natt, left, with his attorney, Michael Gelety.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 30, 2017
Top Story - October: Longboat police seek tenants, pursue property in video voyeurism case

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Fred Lugano, Carol Miller and Rudy Schippers test out the waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Longboat Key. The trio did not evacuate Longboat Key during Hurricane Irma.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 29, 2017
Top Story - September: Siesta Key, barrier islands emerge largely unscathed from Irma

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Cars waited in line to re-enter the island.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 29, 2017
Top Story - September: Longboat Key reopens to residents after Irma

Catch up on the top news stories of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 29, 2017
Top Story - September: Sarasota, Manatee teams assess Irma damage

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A man driving over a flooded roadway drove his car into a drainage ditch, according to officials with the Sarasota Police Department. Officers were able to pull him from the water, but he later died on his way to the hospital.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 28, 2017
Top Story - August: Sarasota man dies in flood-related crash

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A home in Lake Club earned the top honors for biggest sale of 2017 in East County at $4.6 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 28, 2017
Lake Club home gets top honor at $4.6 million

2017: Top real estate transactions

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 28, 2017
2017: Longboat Year in Review

From triumph to tragedy, Longboat Key saw it all in 2017.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 28, 2017
2017: Sarasota Year in Review

From triumph to tragedy, Sarasota saw it all in 2017.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 28, 2017
Top Story - August: Longboat rocked by double homicide

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Blue Oyster Cult was the headline act at Thunder by the Bay in January, which was one and done in Lakewood Ranch before deciding to return to Sarasota in 2018.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 28, 2017
2017 Snapshots of East County

Review highlights of the past year through pictures.

  • East County
  • News
Daily updates on Hurricane Irma, including forecast projects and sand bag distribution centers, were among the most-viewed stories ever on yourobserver.com.
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • December 28, 2017
Digital year in review

The Observer stayed busy online in 2017, bringing you content that was only available through the web.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jan. 12: Then-third grader Max Miville hits a side kick during a Clark's Self-Defense class at Philippi Shores Elementary, taught by Derrick Clark. The class also promotes non-violent ways to deal with bullying at school.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 28, 2017
Picture this: Top sports pics of the year

Photos from wild and wonderful sports stories in 2017.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Riverview High boys swimming team holds aloft its fourth-consecutive state swimming title.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 28, 2017
Memories of grandeur

Counting down the top Sarasota sports moments of 2017.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 28, 2017
Best of Cops Corners 2017

The East County Observer highlights the best and strangest Cops Corners of 2017.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 28, 2017
Best of Longboat Key Cops Corner for 2017

Enjoy the best of Longboat Key Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
280 GGP LLC sold the Unit 4 condominium at 280 Golden Gate Point to Richard Perlman and Ellen Hanson, of Sarasota, for $7.79 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 28, 2017
Aqua condo leads Sarasota's real estate transactions in 2017

Top transactions in the city and county from throughout the year.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 28, 2017
Best of Cops Corner: 2017

Enjoy the year-end edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Alex Kompothecras, one of the show's main cast members, was criticized for his relationship with men show on video tape dragging a shark behind a boat. Kompothecras was not charged in the incident.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 27, 2017
Top Story - June: ‘Siesta Key’ premiere event canceled after outrage over animal cruelty allegations

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Year in Review.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The latest proposal in the ongoing saga calls for a major reduction in the original plan: a five-star 166-room hotel, operated by St. Regis, and 102 residential condominiums.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 27, 2017
Top Story - July: Colony developer unveils new plan for the shuttered Longboat resort property

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A rendering shows the completed store.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 27, 2017
Top Story - July: Whole Foods' plaza fully leased

Catch up on the top news items of 2017 with the Observer's Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 27, 2017
We’re Main Street; not ‘mainstream’

The national news media have smeared all of journalism, while the media tech giants admit they ‘are destroying how society works.’ Whom can you trust? Some of us still place a high value on credibility, reliability and trustworthiness.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
This gingerbread house replica of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center won and in-house contest. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 27, 2017
'Love-filled' cookies on menu at Sarasota bakery program

Lakewood Ranch hospital replica earns delicious reviews

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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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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