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Your Observer

Then Manatee County Sheriff' s Office Sheriff-elect Rick Wells throws the opening pitch for the Cal Ripken baseball league' s opening day in September 2016. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 2, 2017
Manatee swears in new sheriff

Rick Wells replaces retiring sheriff Brad Steube.

  • East County
  • News
The county is preparing to study the impact of a 24-acre development proposed for Stickney Point Road that has already triggered significant public concern.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 2, 2017
Top Story — December: Residents remain opposed to Siesta Promenade plans

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Colony Beach & Tennis Resort developer Chuck Whittall pledged to buy the town of Longboat Key a ferry to soften traffic concerns during the first pitch of his redevelopment plans.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 2, 2017
Top Story — December: Colony Resort promoter makes big promises

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
DID board member Eileen Hampshire believes advertising can help all downtown busiensses.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 2, 2017
DID considers downtown promotional push

Can the various groups within downtown Sarasota team up to promote business in the heart of the city?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lido Key resident David Riedlinger believes the Lido pavilion can be improved and remain a public asset.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 2, 2017
Lido residents resist pavilion privatization

The city will make a decision regarding the future of the Lido Pavilion this month. David Riedlinger is working to ensure it remains a publicly run facility.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A special magistrate on Thursday heard the first arguments of a lawsuit filed by former Sarasota Military Academy Prep Head of School Phillip Eddy against his former employer.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 1, 2017
Top Story — November: Sarasota Military Academy lawsuit heads to court

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 1, 2017
Top Story — November: Donald Trump draws thousands to Sarasota rally

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
One voting machine malfunctioned Tuesday morning at Precinct 309 in Manatee County and was replaced. Terry O'Connor
    By
  • Terry O’Connor
  • January 1, 2017
Top Story — November: Longboat Key voters trump density referenda

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 31, 2016
Sarasota families celebrate New Year's Eve downtown

Residents and visitors soak up the remaining hours of 2016 before the Pineapple Drop in Downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Daily code enforcement fines for noncompliance add up to more than $49,000 for a Longboat Key homeowner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2016
Top Story — October: Longboat homeowner faces $49,106 fine for code violations

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The 18-story Jewel is more than a year behind schedule, as the developer and contractor trade lawsuits.
    By
  • Kevin McQuaid
  • December 31, 2016
Top Story — October: Downtown Sarasota condo sidelined by lawsuits

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
After being banned from building on Anna Maria Island, Shawn Kaleta has started generating concerns from Siesta Key property owners.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 31, 2016
Top Story — October: Controversial builder draws complaints on Siesta

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Seven days after the ten-year anniversary of her father’s death, Cardinal Mooney volleyball’s Annie Shaw walked onto the court for her Senior Night celebration.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 31, 2016
Top Story — October: Cardinal Mooney volleyball player's Senior Night is made unforgettable

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 30, 2016
Top Story — September: Hurricane Hermine draws out Sarasota surfers

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Following complaints from downtown Sarasota merchants and residents, the motorcycle festival is moving almost entirely out of the city and expanding its presence elsewhere in the region.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 30, 2016
Top Story — September: Thunder by the Bay relocates to Lakewood Ranch

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
Town staff has outlined three major courses the commission could take to address concerns about underground utility funding.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 30, 2016
Top Story — September: Longboat navigates undergrounding crossroads

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 29, 2016
3 words to live by for 2017

Last year at this time, wisdom was our word — that Americans would have wisdom in the voting booth

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A fire tore through storage sheds at the gulf front property Sunday night, causing two propane tanks to explode.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 29, 2016
Top Story — August: Explosions rock Sandpiper Inn on Longboat Key

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Motion might have been prompted by family housing four Bayside College students.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 29, 2016
Top Story — August: Mill Creek homeowners vote down regulations

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
Riders test out the "rhythm section" of the renovated BMX track at the Youth Athletic Complex.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 29, 2016
Top Sarasota sports moments of the year

The area had plenty of sports highlights during 2016.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Renovations are underway for Michael’s On the Bay event venue within Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 29, 2016
Top Story — August: Michael’s On East expands in Selby Gardens

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 29, 2016
The year in Sarasota sports photos

A look back on 2016.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Braden River graduate earns spot on Dolphins' cheerleading squad.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 28, 2016
Top Story — July: Braden River graduate makes Dolphins cheerleading squad

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
Kim Kessler’s family has lived in the house at 690 Fox St. for more than four decades.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 28, 2016
Top Story — July: Village residents cry fowl following peacock removal

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Business owners leaving St. Armands Circle think the character of the tourist district is changing. What does that mean for shops in the area?
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 28, 2016
Top Story — July: St. Armands Circle merchants question restaurant ratio

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 28, 2016
Longboat Key Obituaries

William Wipperfurth, Barry Bakal and James Hamilton died.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Becky Sirigotis of Michael Saunders and Co., Chamber Board Chairman Tammy Halstead and Georgina Clamage of Michael Saunders and Co. at August' s Networking at Noon.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 28, 2016
Your Calendar: Networking at Noon

Check out upcoming events on Longboat Key and surrounding areas.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Photo by Corey Cagle Photography
    A time to celebrate |
  • December 28, 2016
Just Married: Ashley Levine and J.P. Clayton

The couple was married at the Biltmore Estate on Oct. 28.

  • Sarasota
  • Celebrations
The Lakewood Ranch boys soccer team four-peats. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 28, 2016
Top East County sports moments of the year

The area had plenty of sports highlights during 2016.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota entrepreneur Jesse Biter may have been painted as the villain in the Bravo TV show, but he insists reality TV isn’t necessarily real.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 28, 2016
Top Story — July: Jesse Biter reflects on ‘Below Deck’ appearance

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Richard Gonzmart says the successor to Pattigeorge’s ‘won’t be anything we do now.’ He envisions patrons dining on a glass floor and watching fish.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 27, 2016
Top Story — June: Pattigeorge’s new owner: ‘It’s my destiny’

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Schroeder-Manatee Ranch files suit to evict fledgling professional football league.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 27, 2016
Top Story — June: Lakewood Ranch developer sues Major League Football

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
Following a lengthy legal clash, L.A. Fitness is slated to open in the former Dillard’s department store at Westfield Southgate Mall.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 27, 2016
Top Story — June: Westfield, Benderson and Dillard’s settle lawsuit

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 26, 2016
Top Story — May: Players Theatre announces move from Sarasota to Lakewood Ranch

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 26, 2016
Top Story — May: Siesta Key lures Darwin Santa Maria

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 26, 2016
Top Story — May: Group organizes to oppose Floridays project

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
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
2
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
3
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
4
Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
Longboat Goodwill officially celebrates grand opening
5
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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