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Your Observer

The Fort Hamer Bridge was scheduled to open Oct. 18 across the Manatee River, connecting Fort Hamer Road in Parrish to Upper Manatee River Road in East County. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 18, 2017
Bridge fills transportation gap in Manatee County

Student's project helped persuade Manatee County to build the Fort Hamer Bridge.

  • East County
  • News
Isabel Traba was among three Sarasota Sharks swimmers selected to the camp.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • October 18, 2017
Three Sarasota swimmers head to Olympic Training Center

The trio will join 93 other elite athletes at the USA Swimming National Select Camp in Colorado Springs.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A condominium at The Water Club at Longboat Key recently sold for $1,425,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 18, 2017
Water Club at Longboat Key condo sells for $1,425,000

Residential real estate transactions for Oct. 2-6.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The home at 8210 Portlight Court recently sold for $1,475,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 18, 2017
Lake Club home tops sales at $1,475,000

Residential real estate transactions for Oct. 2-6.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 18, 2017
Now open: Fort Hamer Bridge

After more than a century of discussions, Manatee County opens newest bridge across the Manatee River.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 18, 2017
St. Armands makes its case for public restrooms

The project could cost more than $200,000, but stakeholders say it’s a priority for the shopping district.

  • Sarasota
  • News
State Street will close beginning Saturday. (Image courtesy Sarasota government).
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • October 18, 2017
Segment of State Street closes to vehicular traffic Saturday

The downtown Sarasota road will become pedestrian only between Lemon Avenue and Pineapple Avenue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • October 18, 2017
Longboat Key Obituaries: Oct. 19, 2017

Dorothy Cole, Jodie Grossman, Jadwiga Zofia Mues, Bettye Chumley Boyer, Roland Carroll, Neva Kelley-Paesani and Pearl Kushner died.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Karen Coltun and Alan Yaruss married on Oct. 12. Courtesy photo of The Captain's Wife Photography
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • October 18, 2017
Sweet things

Karen Coltun and Alan Yaruss got married on Oct. 12.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Seaplace planning committee members Kathy Neudorfer, Peggy Jelinek, Gloria Long, performer Marcy Downey, Susan Pariseau, Mary Del Pup and Pat Stusek pose with an Ed Sullivan cutout.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • October 18, 2017
Life of the party: Meet Longboat Key's party planners

With season upon Longboat Key, four condominium party planners weigh in on how and why they do it.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sydney Jaco and Wynna Jaco stand together on Braden River volleyball Senior Night. There has always been a Jaco on the Pirates volleyball team.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 18, 2017
Pirates volleyball family takes final voyage

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sebastian Aguirre hopes to get his 100 butterfly time under 50 seconds.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 18, 2017
Mustangs boys swimmer a state title threat in the 100 butterfly

The Lakewood Ranch junior got international experience while representing Colombia.

  • East County
  • Sports
GreyHawk Landing's Brandi Joyner and her family are eager to be some of the first residents in Waterside at Lakewood Ranch. They chose a lot in Homes by Towne's LakeHouse Cove project because of the builder's quality of work.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 18, 2017
Waterside plan excites early buyers

First buyers in Waterside are banking on their dream.

  • East County
  • News
Bradenton's Shannon Murphy, a dental hygiene student, cleans the teeth of Sarasota's Robin Salisbury during the 2016 RAM event. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 18, 2017
Volunteer healthcare providers needed for medical event

Remote Area Medical returns to MTC in November.

  • East County
  • News
Drew Angelo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 18, 2017
East County High 5 Moments: 10.19.17

East County High 5 Moments: 10.19.17

  • East County
  • Sports
Finding parking on Siesta Key can be tough, but commissioners were hoping to change that. The main problem now will be funding.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • October 17, 2017
Funding already a concern for Siesta Key parking solutions

The discussion about parking options is happening at the same time the county is looking to make budget cuts totaling millions of dollars.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • October 17, 2017
Chamber members celebrate Small Business Week

The Business After Hours showcased local businesses and award nominees on Oct. 17.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Homebuilder Carlos Beruff submitted one of two Manatee County bids to secure the new headquarters of Amazon.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 17, 2017
Lakewood Ranch among bidders for Amazon headquarters

Manatee County homebuilder Carlos Beruff also submits a bid.

  • East County
  • News
The town commission is scheduled to discuss the new sign code at its Nov. 13 regular workshop meeting.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • October 17, 2017
New Longboat sign code approved by planning and zoning

After months of debate, the Planning and Zoning Board approved the town's latest rendition of its sign code.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sailboat Bend lofts in Fort Lauderdale is Artspace's only project in Florida to date.
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 17, 2017
Arts Alliance launches housing survey Wednesday

An event Wednesday marks the beginning of a new phase of an effort to develop an affordable live-work space for Sarasota artists.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • October 17, 2017
St. Mary ladies reunite after summer apart

The Women's Guild hosted its annual welcome back luncheon on Oct. 17.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Carlos Beruff, founder of Medallion Homes, bought the 935 acres of land for the proposed Amazon HQ2 for about $5 million in 2013. (Courtesy photo).
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • October 17, 2017
Manatee County homebuilder submits Amazon headquarters bid

Amazon's HQ2 would bring up to 50,000 employees and some $5 billion in capital investments.

  • East County
  • Business
Pat Zunz presented the Charter Review Committees proposed changes to the town's foundational document Monday, Oct. 16, at the Town Commission's regular workshop meeting.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • October 17, 2017
Longboat Commission to send three charter changes to voters

Commissioners concur on changing the town charter's language about revenue bonds, term limits and town elections.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Downtown merchants point to a failed 2011-12 effort to install parking meters downtown to argue against a new paid parking system, but city staff members say they have learned a lesson from that venture.
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 16, 2017
City Commission debates downtown parking meters

Despite vocal opposition from merchants and some commissioners, the city isn’t ruling out the possibility of installing parking meters downtown next year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Henry Rodriguez, owner of the Siesta Key Palms Resort on Stickney Point Road wants the county to revive a dormant zoning category to encourage redevelopment of midcentury hotel properties like his.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • October 16, 2017
Resort owner wants to bring ‘Old Florida atmosphere’ to Siesta

The owner of the Siesta Key Palms is asking the county to restore an inactive zoning district, so he can preserve the history of his resort hotel.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Shay Lee.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 16, 2017
East County Athlete of the Week: Shay Lee

The Lakewood Ranch cross country senior talks her career and chicken nuggets.

  • East County
  • Sports
The new restaurant's menu offers pizza, snacks, salads and a variety of drinks. Photo courtesy Mellow Mushroom.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • October 16, 2017
New pizza restaurant coming to South Tamiami Trail

Mellow Mushroom, known for its stone-baked pizza and craft beer selections, is set to open in Sarasota early 2018.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • October 16, 2017
Sarasota police ask public to help find paratriathlete's bicycle

Police say the visually impaired athlete's bike was stolen Oct. 10.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The meeting will be held at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 16, 2017
Manatee commission workshops tackle health care, flooding

Two sets of workshops will be held Oct. 16.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 15, 2017
Cops Corner: Man scammed in home theater system purchase

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • October 15, 2017
Triathletes dash through Longboat Key

The annual triathlon was changed to a duathlon due to a high number of jellyfish in the water.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • October 14, 2017
Jaguars invade St. Armands Circle

The Sun Coast Jaguar Club 32nd Annual Concours d’Elegance took place on Oct. 14.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
East County football roundup: 10.13.17
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 13, 2017
East County football roundup: 10.13.17

East County football roundup: 10.13.17

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota football roundup: 10.13.17
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 13, 2017
Sarasota football roundup: 10.13.17

Sarasota football roundup: 10.13.17

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 13, 2017
Braden River High football beats Sarasota High 41-14

Two Pirates starters returned from injury in the win.

  • East County
  • Sports
East County’s Holly Doney and her dog, April, met when Doney was volunteering at the Lakewood Ranch Humane Society. Doney later adopted April.
    By
  • Berkley Mason
  • October 13, 2017
Putts Fore Mutts should generate green

Golf tournament, and now tennis tourney as well, raises money for the Lakewood Ranch Humane Society.

  • East County
  • 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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