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Your Observer

Meg West hopes to move to the Sarasota area one day, but for now, she uses the local beaches as the backdrops for her new series. Photo Courtesy of Meg West
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • August 9, 2017
'Love on Longboat Key' brings romance to local beaches

Meg West's debut novel came out on July 17. She's writing a second book, 'Love on Lido Key.'

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tim Brewer fires up the team.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 9, 2017
ODA football's culture coordinator instills uplifting spirit

The team is using positive psychology to get a mental edge.

  • East County
  • Sports
Clinton Whitelaw.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 9, 2017
How to put the 'go' in golf and start playing

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn

  • East County
  • Sports
This pictures shows the Myara property from the western end of Clubhouse Drive. The road currently dead ends at the property.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 9, 2017
Vote may block future road on Myara property

Commissioners vote 4-3 to have proposed road removed from future plans.

  • East County
  • News
Meals on Wheels PLUS Vice President of Development Diana Dill helps carry an emergency food box to be delivered to a family in need.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 9, 2017
Nonprofit fills 'critical' position with Lakewood Ranch resident

Fundraiser hopes to steer Meals on Wheels PLUS in right direction.

  • East County
  • News
Heritage Harbour South Community Development District Supervisor Michelle Patterson said building reserves for road repairs will prevent larger assessments for those repairs in future years.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 9, 2017
Heritage Harbour votes to build reserves

Supervisors raise fees to cover future road, irrigation repairs

  • East County
  • News
Tom Johnson is the new marketing and leasing manager for Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty. An 8-acre park, the island in the background, will connect to the future Waterside Place destination.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 9, 2017
Waterside at Lakewood Ranch may be restaurants' meal ticket

Sales exec hired to spark new community hub's leasing.

  • East County
  • News
Saraiah Walkes.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 9, 2017
East County High 5 Moments: 08.09.17

East County High 5 Moments: 08.09.17

  • East County
  • Sports
Mike Hein resigned from his position as Longboat Key's assistant town manager, effective Aug. 5.
    By
  • John McGuire
  • August 9, 2017
Mike Hein resigns as Longboat's assistant town manager

Hein began his tenure with the town in January 2016.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner!
    By
  • John McGuire
  • August 9, 2017
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 8.10.17

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner!

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A years-long legal dispute involving the former Colony Beach & Tennis Resort has come to an end.
    By
  • John McGuire
  • August 9, 2017
Unicorp and Colony Association end litigation

The two parties have been involved in legal disputes since 2010.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County Schools’ A rating could bring more out-of-county students to the area in the next few years.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 8, 2017
Sarasota schools see small influx of out-of-county students

A new law allows parents to choose any school in the state for their children, if it’s not already at capacity.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
A hearing on the Big Pass dredge was originally set for August, but a judge approved an eight-week delay.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 8, 2017
Judge delays Big Pass dredge appeal hearing

A hearing regarding a challenge to the proposed Lido Key shoreline renourishment project will wait at least another two months.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The free app is available now for Apple and Android devices.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 8, 2017
Sarasota County Schools launches new app for parents

Using the app, parents can follow schools, see their students' grades and attendance and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
This map of Main Street at Lakewood Ranch shows areas to be repaved by section. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 8, 2017
Lakewood Ranch Main Street advises patrons of parking lot improvements

Repaving work will continue through early September.

  • East County
  • News
Tropical Storm Emily wasn't as bad as it could have been, but emergency officials used it as a chance to practice what they'd do in the event of a bad storm.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 8, 2017
Surprise storm works as test-run for emergency managers

Emergency staff use smaller storms as test runs to prepare for bigger storms, and suggest you do the same.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 7, 2017
It's rare, but serious crimes do take place on Longboat.

Four murders since the mid-1960s.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Zota Beach Resort has re-opened following a suspected double murder on Aug. 4.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2017
Longboat, Zota look to return to normal

The Zota Beach Resort has re-opened following suspected homicide.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A video posted to Alex Kompothecras' Instagram page, which has since been deleted, depicts a man holding a shark on a line and shooting it several times in its side.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 7, 2017
'Siesta Key' cast under fire again for newly surfaced shark-shooting video

The video was posted on "Siesta Key" star Alex Kompothecras' Instagram, and surfaced just days after he told People Magazine he was "horrified" by the shark-dragging video.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The police are investigating a possible connection to a double homicide in Manatee County.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 7, 2017
Sarasota police investigate death after body found

The Sarasota Police Department has disclosed few details regarding a body found at Bahia Vista Street and Yale Avenue on Saturday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Clark Dean, Zack Skypeck, Andrew Leroux and David Orner row at the 2016 World Rowing Junior Championships. Photo courtesy USRowing.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 7, 2017
Sarasota Crew rowers take gold, silver at World Rowing Junior Championships

Clark Dean makes history with a first-place 1x finish.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
An inmate was found dead in police custody after he was in the Sarasota County Jail for less than 24 hours.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 4, 2017
Inmate found dead in Sarasota County Jail

No official cause of death has been released, but a statement from the Sheriff's Office said it could have been "medical in nature."

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Eric Garwood
  • August 4, 2017
Longboat Key police investigate double homicide at resort; victims were workers

Suspect has not been identified in what police call an attempted robbery.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
East County sports roundup: 08.04.17
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 4, 2017
East County sports roundup: 08.04.17

East County sports roundup: 08.04.17

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 4, 2017
Lakewood Ranch campers dive in to last week of summer camp

This week's YMCA camp program included a trip to Mote Marine Laboratory.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key Fire Rescue has earned new recognition in operationality.
    By
  • John McGuire
  • August 4, 2017
Longboat Fire Rescue earns second highest rating with ISO

The department is one of 1,324 in the nation with a Class 2 rating.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This photo shows the Myara project looking west from the western end of Clubhouse Drive. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 3, 2017
Manatee County may scrap roadway connection

The fate of Myara property is still in limbo, but the state now will weigh in whether a road should run through it.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2017
Sarasota weather page photo: August 3

Tom McGee captured these black skimmers in flight over Siesta Key Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2017
East County weather page photo: August 3

Richard Bottorff captured storm clouds rolling in recently as he walked on the Bradenton Riverwalk.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2017
Longboat Key weather page photo: August 3

Nicole Graziano photographed her children on the beach at sunset on the north end of Longboat.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The suspects took the cash drawer from the register and fled the area, the police said.
    By
  • David Conway
  • August 3, 2017
Police seek help identifying North Trail robbery suspects

The Sarasota Police Department is searching for two suspects in conjunction with a Wednesday night armed robbery at a Tamiami Trail Walgreens.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Now that county staff has asked to see more information, the earliest that Benderson Development could bring their application to the County Commission would be January.
    By
  • Cassidy Alexander
  • August 3, 2017
County staff says Siesta Promenade plans are 'incomplete'

It's back to the drawing board for Benderson Development. Now, the earliest the County Commission could vote to increase the property's density would be in December.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • August 3, 2017
Kiwanis Club honors local students

The club held its annual scholarship breakfast on Aug. 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The new fees will go into effect Nov. 13, 2017.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 3, 2017
Manatee County school impact fees set to increase

The new figure actually is less than what would have gone into effect automatically in April 2018.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota Police Department detective Ross Revill and civilian investigator Melody Shimmell speak at a news conference Aug. 2 after Tiffani Donovan was charged with stealing from the Southside Elementary School PTO.
    By
  • Ryan Butler
  • August 3, 2017
Southside Elementary PTO volunteer charged with stealing checks

Tiffani Donovan is charged with 11 counts of uttering a forged check taken from the PTO.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Isaac Brownman worked for Sarasota County for 17 years, most recently as public works director and county engineer.
    By
  • John McGuire
  • August 3, 2017
New Longboat public works director will start next week

Town Manager Dave Bullock hired Isaac Brownman for the job in May.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
St. Lucie County Administrator George Landry has been recommended by Howard Tipton to replace him as town manager as Tipton prepares to retire.
  • June 19, 2026
New town manager recommended for Longboat Key
2
Attendees were impressed by the fireworks across Sarasota Bay.
  • June 19, 2026
Fourth of July 2026 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch
3
Woman charged in three high-profile Sarasota burglaries
  • June 18, 2026
Woman charged in three high-profile Sarasota burglaries
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Tony Barrett speaks at a candidate forum in April at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
  • June 18, 2026
Manatee County Commission candidate charged with domestic battery
5
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
  • June 18, 2026
Driver dies of injuries in blowout-triggered crash in Sarasota

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