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Your Observer

Lakewood Ranch's Alan Lopez Markov, 5, makes a menorah out of wood and bullet shell casings.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2017
Lakewood Ranch hosts Chabad’s annual menorah lighting ceremony

Hundreds gather at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch for Hanukkah celebration.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Suzanne Atwell and Larry Eger are leading a campaign to move election day.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 12, 2017
New campaign hopes to move city elections

The Decide the Date campaign is collecting signatures in pursuit of a referendum on moving from the spring to the fall.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 12, 2017
Longboat Key Democrats learn about climate change

Representatives from the Sierra Club shared information on the Sarasota Ready for 100 Campaign.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A three-car crash on Gulf of Mexico Drive sent one vehicle into a ditch right the southbound lane.
    By
  • Bret Hauff
  • December 12, 2017
Crash causes traffic snarl on Longboat

Three cars crashed at the corner of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Longboat Club Road.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Cheri Coryea has lived in Manatee County since 1989 and has overseen the county's neighborhood services department since 2007. Photo by Pam Eubanks.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2017
Manatee County appoints deputy county administrator

Neighborhood services director Cheri Coryea will fill the position.

  • East County
  • News
Commissioners are taking the next step to making Jonathan Lewis's interim position permanent.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • December 12, 2017
Contract negotiations begin with interim county administrator

Just two days after Tom Harmer left the position, the County Commission is eager to make Jonathan Lewis' interim position more permanent.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commission Chair Paul Caragiulo votes on board priorities for fiscal year 2019 at the County Commission retreat Dec. 8.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • December 12, 2017
County tentatively prioritizes affordable housing, municipality relationships for 2019

The County Commission identified ten tentative priorities for fiscal year 2019, as well as approved the 2018 Federal Legislative Program.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo by Ryan Joseph Photographs
    A time to celebrate |
  • December 11, 2017
Just Married: Paige Samson and David Wyant

The couple married Nov. 4 at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Sarasota
  • Celebrations
Myakka City's Denny Woodruff works in preparation for the new polo season.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 11, 2017
Sarasota Polo Club brings in thrill seekers

Side of Ranch: Jay Heater

  • East County
  • Sports
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
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Latest News

1
Work proceeds on the fields at 17th Street Park in northeastern Sarasota County. Completion is expected late this year
  • April 9, 2026
Multistate softball tournament coming to 17th Street Park
2
The expansion of McCown Towers would surround the parking structure that would include 160 public parking spaces owned by the city.
  • April 9, 2026
Senior public housing expansion remains $4 million short
3
  • April 9, 2026
Tax reform could mean 41% hit to city revenue fund
4
The home at 3621 San Remo Terrace was built in 2025 and has five bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 5,461 square feet of living area.
  • April 9, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for March 23-27 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis
5
Saravela and the Sports Club at TPC Prestancia are pertnering for the mutual benefit of condo owners and club members.
  • April 9, 2026
Condo development partners with country club for shared benefits

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