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Your Observer

Sugar, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, is being rehabilitated at Mote before being released on the east coast of Florida.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 11, 2017
Mote takes in New England sea turtles

Ten turtles from New England Aquarium arrived at Mote on Dec. 8 in banana boxes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Linzie Hamilton masters her speaking part.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 11, 2017
Freedom students ring in holiday spirit

Sing-a-long show adds Christmas cheer to Bradenton school.

  • East County
  • Schools
Seaward Development Vice President of Operations Anna Chesanek laughs as she puts on her gold hard hat for the groundbreaking.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 11, 2017
Seaward Development breaks ground on Palm Avenue property

Stakeholders held a ceremonial groundbreaking at the future site of the 7 One One Palm development on Dec. 8.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Keri Porter rides the parade on golf cart with her Lee Elzey.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 10, 2017
Santa rides into Heritage Harbour

Bradenton community celebrates holiday season.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Dezzi and Dee and Tom Harmer, incoming Longboat Key town manager.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 10, 2017
Country Club Shores toasts to the season

Residents of the five associations gathered Dec. 10 for their annual holiday party.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 10, 2017
Santa brings holiday cheer to Old Salty Dog

The Old Salty Dog hosted breakfast with Santa on Dec. 10 complete with a hot chocolate bar and carriage rides.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 9, 2017
Longboat Harbour rings in the holidays

Residents were asked to bring a gift to be donated to Toys for Tots.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 9, 2017
St. Mary parish picnics through rain

The parish didn't let the bad weather ruin their day Dec. 9.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight cuts the ribbon on the agency's new facility.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 9, 2017
Sheriff cuts ribbon on new facility

Community leaders gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new Sarasota County Sheriff's Office facility on Dec. 9.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
East County's Eva Abraham, 9, enjoys the real snow at Holidays Around the Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 9, 2017
Main Street wonderland in Lakewood Ranch

Storm slides past until after Holidays Around the Ranch

  • East County
  • News
The 32nd annual boat parade will not be rescheduled.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • December 8, 2017
Boat parade canceled thanks to inclement weather; Officials urging caution

A cold front is expected to move in Saturday, bringing a drop in temperatures and cold winds.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Berkley Mason
  • December 8, 2017
Third-graders present Elvis Presley as 'Elfis' in holiday extravaganza

Willis Elementary School students believed Elfis to be an elf impersonator.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 8, 2017
Southside Village hosts annual Holiday Stroll

The event benefits Girls Inc. of Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Nancy Detert was elected to the Sarasota County Commission in 2016.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 8, 2017
Sarasota commissioners pick Detert as 2018 chair

Hines chosen as vice chair; Moran will be 2018's Pro Tem

  • Sarasota
  • News
Arist Lucy Sparrow speaks at the 2017 PINC conference.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 8, 2017
Sarasota hosts annual PINC conference

Sarasota residents and visitors gathered at the Sarasota Opera House for the annual People, Ideas, Creativity and Nature conference on Dec. 7 .

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mental Health Community Centers Chairman of the Board David Fawkes welcomes guests to the annual High Hopes Breakfast on Dec. 7 at Michael's On East.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 8, 2017
Mental Health Community Centers share hope with breakfast

Mental Health Community Centers discussed to future of mental illness treatment Dec. 7 at Michael's On East.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Commissioners are sad to see Harmer go, as he is one of many county employees that now work for the town of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • December 8, 2017
Harmer says goodbye to county

Tom Harmer starts working for the town of Longboat Key on Dec. 11.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 8, 2017
Ringling rings in the holidays

The Ringling welcomed a host of festive performances during its Holiday Splendor event on Dec. 7.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 7, 2017
Cops Corner: Hit and run car wipes out pedestrian-crossing sign

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Ann Garberding and Victoria Buckler
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 7, 2017
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church celebrates the advent

Congregants gathered to toast to the season on Dec. 6 at Sarasota Yacht Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Greta the Great White Shark is one of seven marine-debris sculptures in Mote's newest exhibit.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 7, 2017
Mote ready to talk trash with new exhibit

Mote's newest exhibit, 'Sea Debris: Awareness through Art,' opens to the public Saturday, Dec. 9.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bailey went before the Board of Zoning Appeals earlier this year, but they upheld the zoning administrator's interpretation. Now he and his clients are asking for an amendment to the code.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • December 7, 2017
Siesta Key setback requirements up for debate again

Gary Kompothecras and his attorney have been working to reduce the setback requirements on Siesta Key all summer, as part of Kompothecras' efforts to build a hotel on the Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Samantha Castro and Savana Durr, who play for the Real So Cal club team, look at the 1991 Women's World Cup trophy on Thursday at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 7, 2017
U.S women's soccer faces England at Premier Sports Campus

Match will be played at 6:30 p.m. Thursday as part of Winter Showcase.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 7, 2017
L'Ambiance dresses up for the holidays

L'Ambiance employees and residents challenge other Longboat Key condominium communities to collect toys and donations for local charities.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
September: Scott Veix captured this photo after Hurricane Irma dropped the top of a Cook pine, giving an up-close look at something not normally seen in Braden Woods.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2017
Scroll through your monthly weather and nature photo contest winners for Fall

See your September through December winners here!

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
With an operational capacity of 867, things at the jail on Main Street are already tight.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • December 7, 2017
County examines ideas to reduce jail population

It's the same conversation the county had ten years ago, when several programs were implemented or revamped. It's time to do it again.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The county-owned parcels at the corner of Palmer Boulevard and Apex Road have been disputed all year. Now residents have a chance to tell commissioners exactly what they’d like to see done with the land.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • December 7, 2017
Residents to give commission ideas for future of county-owned land

A group of homeowners united under an initiative called Fresh Start want to offer ideas on what the county should do with two parcels of surplus land outside the Celery Fields.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Premier Sports Campus is 127 acres and has 22 fields for soccer and other sports.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2017
Manatee County approves Premier Sports Campus purchase

The deal also includes an option for additional acreage.

  • East County
  • News
Siesta Key residents contend the dredging of Big Pass could harm their popular beach.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • December 7, 2017
Siesta, Lido sides prepare for Big Pass court hearing

Fundraising efforts are ongoing for all parties as they try to cover mounting legal costs.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cardinal Mooney coach Mike Urban asks a referee about a non-call against Sarasota Christian.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 7, 2017
New coach has Cougars boys basketball on the prowl

Cardinal Mooney is 3-0 after winning five games last season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Malachi Wideman dunks against North Port High last season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 7, 2017
Riverview star's offseason injury puts talent in perspective

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Dante Pascarella.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 7, 2017
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Dante Pascarella

The Cardinal Mooney boys basketball senior talks injuries and never giving up on anything.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The home at 7462 Cove Terrace recently sold for $2,995,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 7, 2017
Cove Terrace home sells for $2,995,000

Residential real estate transactions for Nov. 20-24.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Residents have reported issues with downtown construction on Palm Avenue and elsewhere.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 7, 2017
Residents press for action on construction issues

City officials say their options are limited for addressing safety problems associated with downtown construction sites.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A plaque near the entrance to Marina Jack explains the significance of the daily playing of taps.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 7, 2017
Taps at Marina Jack honors fallen heroes

A partnership between the marina’s parent company and a military nonprofit has created a daily ritual along the waterfront.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Downtown Improvement proposed a gateway sign modeled after the old Hover Arcade on the bayfront.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 7, 2017
City defers decision on downtown gateway sign

As city staff plots a comprehensive wayfinding system, downtown stakeholders are hoping for quick action.

  • 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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