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Your Observer

    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 20, 2017
Cops Corner

Cops Corner

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
The New Zealand Women's Four team works out at Nathan Benderson Park in preparation for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 20, 2017
Side of Ranch

Take advantage of some world championship passion.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Commissioners and county staff have been working on the budget for months.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • September 20, 2017
County: No tax on public utilities

Without levying the tax that would raise $5.4 million in its first year, commissioners are planning to dip into the economic uncertainty fund until they can make departmental budget cuts in the beginning of fiscal year 2018.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo by Berkley Mason. Garrett Lindgren and Richy Evers.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 20, 2017
East County remembers 9/11

Hurricane baby brings joy

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 20, 2017
They did their jobs

We’re in the camp of high credits for Longboat Key and the region’s public officials’ performance during Irma.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Art Ball's pastureland serves as a draining area for the Manatee River when it overspills its boundaries. He is concerned a proposed development to his west may prevent his fields from draining properly.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 20, 2017
New development proposed for East County

Neighbors worry project will decrease values, cause drainage problems.

  • East County
  • News
The two ficus trees bordering the Friendship Garden of the Longboat Island Chapel spared the gazebo inside the garden.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • September 20, 2017
Toppled trees reset island ambiance

After Hurricane Irma, The Lazy Lobster and the Longboat Island Chapel are working to restore their environments.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Stone River Retirement Resort Community Relations Managers Lin and Bill Robinson are encouraging future residents to participate in the charter-resident program.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 20, 2017
New projects check into Tara

Stone River Retirement Resort already under construction.

  • East County
  • News
Michael Ballantyne, Ellen O’Day and Roger Pettingell
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • September 20, 2017
Real estate agents send hurricane relief

The Longboat office sent monetary and food donations to offices in Naples and Marco Island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • September 20, 2017
Longboat Key Obituaries: Sept. 21, 2017

Anna Kapstad and Alice Taich died.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Braden River coach Curt Bradley and captains Tyrone Collins, Travis Tobey, Brendan Bengtsson and Luke Andrews.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 20, 2017
Irma blows up prep football season

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch senior Justin Curtis threw passes with teammates on Sept. 17.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 20, 2017
Idle football players use teamwork to help community

They helped move trees and clear debris in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

  • East County
  • Sports
Morgan Skillman is the volunteer coordinator for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 20, 2017
Ready to serve

Volunteers, many of them local, will help the World Rowing Championships function.

  • East County
  • Sports
Ellen Tomek and Meghan O'Leary will represent the U.S. in the Women's Double Sculls event. Photo courtesy USRowing.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 20, 2017
World Rowing Championships calendar

World Rowing Championships calendar

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • September 20, 2017
Sarasota shines in the dark of the storm

Natural disasters bring out the best and the worst of people. In our area, we saw most of the former and little of the latter.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 20, 2017
SMR forges unique financing deal

Stewardship District will be first CDD to secure a line of credit.

  • East County
  • News
Kate Walker.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 20, 2017
East County Athlete of the Week: Kate Walker

The Braden River swimmer talks her best stroke and why she wants to visit Norway.

  • East County
  • Sports
Seth McGarry.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 20, 2017
East County High 5 Moments: 09.20.17

East County High 5 Moments: 09.20.17

  • East County
  • Sports
Cortez Bridge
    By
  • John McGuire
  • September 20, 2017
Opinions differ on future of Cortez Bridge

FDOT and Longboat officials favor a high-rise replacement for the 1950s era span. But a lot of others aren't sure that's the best choice for the area.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • September 19, 2017
YPG hosts second annual spelling bee

Can you spell tenaciously? How about myriad? Cantankerous? Sarasota's young professionals can.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Manatee Technical College received a grant from Wells Fargo to help teach financial literacy to students who speak another language.
    By
  • Berkley Mason
  • September 19, 2017
MTC receives literacy grant from Wells Fargo

This will provide financial literacy instruction to adult students who speak other languages.

  • East County
  • News
Betty Schoenbaum may be 100, but it doesn't stop her from going to events like Circus Arts Gala, pictured here. File photo
    By
  • Niki Kottmann
  • September 19, 2017
100 Years of Heart: Betty Schoenbaum joins the centenarian club

Renowned philanthropist Betty Schoenbaum reflects on her love of giving and shares her perspective after 100 years of life.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation awarded the committee $25,000 to help welcome 1,7000 rowers and support staff to Nathan Benderson Park. File photo of Scully, the WRC mascot.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 19, 2017
World Rowing Championship organizing committee receives $25,000 grant

The grant was awarded by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jabez Spann has been missing for more than two weeks, and police are still asking the community for help finding him.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • September 19, 2017
Police still looking for missing 14-year-old, asking community for information

Spann has been missing since Labor Day, and Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DePino believes people in the community have information about his disappearance.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Public works employees worked all night providing power to lift stations on the island, preventing a system failure. (Photo via Longboat Key government).
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • September 19, 2017
In hours and days after Irma, town workers kept sewage system alive

A group of town employees worked around the clock to stop a wastewater overflow.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ed Smith Stadium. File photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 19, 2017
Orioles announce Fall Instructional League schedule

The season will feature four games at Ed Smith Stadium.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Longboat Key Planning, Zoning and Building Director Alaina Ray is leaving the department after four-and-a-half years to take a similar position in Loudoun County, Virginia.
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • September 19, 2017
A conversation with Alaina Ray

Outgoing planning director talks about challenges, opportunities for Longboat's future

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Girls Inc. members made thank-you cards for first responders and local restaurants that assisted those without power in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • September 19, 2017
Girls Inc. children craft letters of gratitude to Irma responders

Girls Inc. members wrote, drew and bedazzled thank-you cards for some of Sarasota’s hurricane helpers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
ODA senior quarterback Gus Mahler throws a pass against Bradenton Christian.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 18, 2017
ODA football gets wild win against Bradenton Christian

The Thunder defense forced five turnovers in the 7-6 victory.

  • East County
  • Sports
Ed Hunzeker has been the Manatee County administrator since 2006. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 18, 2017
Manatee Commission extends administrator's contract

Ed Hunzeker will stay on as Manatee County's top manager for another year.

  • East County
  • News
Bradenton’s Valerie Marin brings food and water to her car.
    By
  • Berkley Mason
  • September 18, 2017
Hungry to help

The Food Bank of Manatee aims to aid the community during a time of need.

  • East County
  • News
Students can get free lunch and breakfast at public schools through Oct. 20, following Hurricane Irma.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • September 18, 2017
State giving free lunch and breakfast to all Sarasota County students through Oct. 20

Nearly 3,000 schools and 2.5 million students in 48 counties were given this opportunity.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The robbery-homicide at the Zota Beach Resort took place Aug. 4, 2017.
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • September 18, 2017
Off-duty Longboat officers provide Zota security

As hotel seeks new security company, town police fill in on their own time.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key town manager Dave Bullock (left) speaks with Mayor Terry Gans (center) and Vice-Mayor Ed Zunz during a Sept. 15 meeting about the town's legislative priorities for the upcoming year.
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • September 18, 2017
Concerns over beaches, vacation rentals drive priorities

Longboat leaders set list for next legislative session.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ed McCrane announced the all-clear just before the weekend on social media.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • September 18, 2017
Sarasota County issues all-clear after Hurricane Irma

It took the county almost a week after Irma's passing to decide conditions were safe enough to merit the all-clear.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Members of Longboat Key Fire-Rescue work to begin clearing roads in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 18, 2017
Longboat Observer Letters to the Editor

Hurricane Irma is on the minds of a lot of Longboat residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
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Latest News

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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
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Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
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  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
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The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
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East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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