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Your Observer

Responsibilities of a coastal engineer include project design, working the the Department of Environmental Protection, permitting, construction oversight and multi-year monitoring.
    By
  • John McGuire
  • August 23, 2017
Longboat selects new coastal engineers

Town manager OKs recommendation for the town to negotiate with four engineering firms to oversee coastal issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Warren Simonds outside of the former Amore restaurant property, which the town purchased this year as part of the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, Culture and Education site.
    By
  • John McGuire
  • August 23, 2017
Longboat cultural center fundraising ready to roll

The Longboat Key Foundation leads the effort to make the facility happen.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner!
    By
  • John McGuire
  • August 23, 2017
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 8.24.17

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner!

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Barrier island residents and officials hope adding another left-turn lane on eastbound Gulfstream will move more traffic along U.S. 41.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 22, 2017
City OKs U.S. 41 design changes

Despite city administration’s concerns, the Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved adding a third northbound lane on U.S. 41 at Gulfstream Avenue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Art Ovation Hotel an Autograph Collection by Marriott, on the corner of Palm and Cocoanut avenues, is one of many new hotels under construction in Downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 22, 2017
Checking in: Sarasota's visitor numbers are still rising

Since 2011, Sarasota County’s hotel visitor numbers have climbed, and more hotels are coming to the county. Is there a point where there will be too many?

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Berkley Mason
  • August 22, 2017
Lemur reserve in Myakka seeking help during hurricane season

The Myakka City Lemur Reserve has created a wish list.

  • East County
  • News
Jesse Biter, FSF President Angela Suggs and FSF Board Vice Chair Jeff Mielke. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 22, 2017
Sarasota man named chairman of Florida Sports Foundation board

The FSF is the state's lead sports promotion and development organization.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport improvements should make guests more comfortable as they board aircraft. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 22, 2017
Sarasota airport plans facility improvements

$7 million grant helps complete terminal upgrades

  • East County
  • News
Greta the Great White will be one of the eight sculptures on display at Mote starting in December. Photo courtesy of WashedAshore.org.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • August 22, 2017
Artistic sea debris headed to Mote

In December, “Sea Debris: Awareness through Art” featuring “Washed Ashore" will go on display at Mote.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The tax on public utilities would be new for residents in unincorporated areas of the county, and raise almost $11 million a year after fiscal year 2018.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 21, 2017
County Commission considering tax on public utilities

Although commissioners set out to rebuild the county's reserves, a reluctance to raise taxes is making it hard to add money to the economic uncertainty funds.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Southside Elementary Student Kyle Kenny watches the eclipse through solar eclipse viewing glasses.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • August 21, 2017
Southside catches glimpse of solar eclipse

Students, faculty and parents spent the end of the school day outside on Aug. 21.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Carol and Bob Erker gaze up at the solar eclipse.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • August 21, 2017
All Angels by the Sea gathers for solar eclipse

Church members brought chairs, food and friends to Ken Thompson Park on Aug. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jennifer Black (left) and Helen Harrington use special shaded sunglasses to observer the eclipse.
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • August 21, 2017
Eclipse draws workers outside in downtown Sarasota

Crowds lined Main Street to witness the eclipse.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Out-of-Door Academy students were able to view the solar eclipse at its zenith of 83%.
    By
  • Berkley Mason
  • August 21, 2017
Science eclipses fashion in Lakewood Ranch

The Out-of-Door Academy students well-equipped to learn about the solar eclipse.

  • East County
  • News
Anderson Miller uses a planting pot and paper plate to view the solar eclipse on Aug. 21 at Hershorin Schiff Community Day School.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • August 21, 2017
Community Day ditches glasses in favor of DIY viewing

After learning that its glasses may not be authentic, Hershorin Schiff Community Day School decided to get crafty.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jonathan Lewis will replace Tom Harmer, who starts work as the town manager of Longboat Key in January.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 21, 2017
Commission votes unanimously on interim county administrator

Commissioners all agreed that Jonathan Lewis, who has been the assistant county administrator for about four months, is the best person for the job.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • August 21, 2017
Temple Sinai celebrates a new year of religious school

Temple Sinai celebrated the end of summer and the kick off of temple religious school classes on Aug. 20.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Confederate statue sits in from of the Manatee County Courthouse in downtown Bradenton.
    By
  • Berkley Mason
  • August 20, 2017
Manatee County Clerk's office closes early in anticipation of Confederate statue protests

County Clerk, Historic Records Library will close at 1 p.m. before protests concerned Confederate statue.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • August 20, 2017
Sarasota Farmers Market gets groovy

Things took a turn for the psychedelic on Aug. 19 during the Sarasota Farmer's Market tribute to Woodstock.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ali Boyce gets the handoff from Arthur Brantley.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 18, 2017
Sarasota football roundup: 08.18.17

Two area teams up, two down in preseason games.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch quarterback Justin Curtis runs over a defender.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 18, 2017
East County football roundup: 08.18.17

Braden River was the only area team to win its preseason game.

  • East County
  • Sports
A proposed recycling plant outside the Celery Fields has united residents, bird-lovers and the environmentally minded against the planned facility.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 18, 2017
Opponents hopeful County Commission will deny recycling facility outside Celery Fields

Residents are pitted against business owners, and say they're all for recycling facilities — just not right outside the Celery Fields.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Boneyard BBQ will be serving East County.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 18, 2017
Donuts, BBQ restaurant come to Bradenton

Shipley Do-Nuts makes it Florida debut on State Road 70 in East County.

  • East County
  • News
The renovations will reduce the number of the screens at the theater from 20 to 11.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 18, 2017
Main Plaza owners announce 'luxury' makeover for Hollywood 20

Regal Cinemas agreed to a new lease on Main Street, with $3 million in improvements planned to transform Hollywood 20 into a high-end movie theater.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Golden is a 4-year-old retriever-mastiff mix available at Nate's. (Courtesy image)
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 18, 2017
Animal rescue hosts 'clear the shelter' event

Local rescue groups are participating in a nationwide campaign to find homes for pets.

  • East County
  • News
Both women were arrested after a Crimestoppers tip and an undercover operation revealed illegal activity in a Bay Street home.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 18, 2017
Mother and daughter arrested after tip about possible prostitution

Undercover officers were offered sexual favors and given an unlicensed massage at a Bay Street home.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2017
Bus tour shows off Lakewood Ranch's economic power

Business professionals learned about more than 30 local businesses during a daylong road trip.

  • East County
  • News
City staff will present the master plan to the City Commission at a September meeting.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 17, 2017
City presents Paul Thorpe Park improvement plans

Residents asked the city to move quickly in implementing plans to improve the downtown park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jason Russ, program consultant for Wells Fargo, with Samantha Valentin, community engagement manager for Goodwill Manasota.
    By
  • Berkley Mason
  • August 17, 2017
Wells Fargo, Goodwill offer college prep workshops

Wells Fargo representatives to begin offering free public workshops at local Goodwill locations.

  • East County
  • News
Texas-based Black Walnut Cafe, known for its breakfast foods and array of hamburgers, announced it was no longer expanding to Lakewood Ranch. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2017
Cafe bows out of Lakewood Ranch location

Black Walnut Cafe will not develop its first Florida eatery in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Peachtree Hotel Group is proposing the 93-room, four-story hotel on about 2.4 acres in the 6100 block of South Tamiami Trail.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 17, 2017
Density a problem for new hotel proposed on South Tamiami Trail

The developer can either get a special exception to increase the density, or buy more land to get the number of rooms it's hoping for.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 17, 2017
Siesta Key road reopens after minor fire

There were no injuries, but Higel Avenue is closed until the state fire marshal can confirm the cause.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2017
Sarasota weather page photo: August 17

Judith Bell photographed this wood stork outside her front door one morning in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2017
East County weather page photo: August 17

Jeanette Foster photographed these deer in the early morning mist in Greenbrook in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2017
Longboat Key weather page photo: August 17

Sergio Albuquerque captured this photograph of birds taking off from the beach on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Daniele Daddario, Katie Marques and Lynette Claude
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • August 17, 2017
ODA celebrates new facilities

Out-of-Door Academy’s lower school celebrated the renovation of its marine science laboratory and the addition of 730 solar panels to the campus.

  • Sarasota
  • 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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