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Your Observer

The home at 3464 Mistletoe Lane has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,367 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 15, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 30 to Jan. 3 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Corey’s Landing home on Mistletoe Lane tops the week's sales at $3.3 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Olivia Hadad has elevated her game in her senior season with the Lakewood Ranch High girls varsity soccer team.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 15, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Olivia Hadad

The senior forward has been the offensive engine of the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team.

  • East County
  • Sports
Site Plan for the Canal District in The Bay Park. The shown site of the performing arts center, not part of the Bay Park Conservancy's purview, has been moved to along U.S. 41 and crossing the canal.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 15, 2025
Day docks near final approval for Sarasota's Centennial Park

The Bay Park Conservancy must now appear before the City Commission for approval of waivers to build 18 slips on a floating dock in the canal at Centennial Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The front entrance of Manatee County's leased space at Whitney Plaza.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 15, 2025
County finds obstacles with Whitney Plaza community center space

Manatee County will still try to create a community space on the north end of Longboat Key, but where to put that space may be in question.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key's Town Commission election on March 19, 1979.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 15, 2025
Unlike recent years, Longboat will have a contested commission race in 2025

The last contested Town Commission race was in 2018, and since then, the island has lacked campaigning and competition for the town's most powerful board.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lo’ Key Island Grille opened Jan. 6, 2025.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 15, 2025
Lo' Key Island Grille now open on Longboat Key

The island's newest restaurant, Lo' Key Island Grille, is now open for business.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Woman discards suitcase with $22,000 check inside
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 15, 2025
Woman discards suitcase with $22,000 check inside

Angry over stolen money, a woman threw out her boyfriend's suitcase full of clothing and a check he had to deliver to his boss. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Nolan Middle School student Danni Hammond poses with her cow ahead of the Manatee County Fair.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 15, 2025
Don't miss these events at the Manatee County Fair

Key information as the Manatee County Fair begins its 2025 run in Palmetto.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Florida shines fiscally
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • January 15, 2025
Florida shines fiscally

Measured against all states, Florida’s total liabilities per capita are among the lowest, thanks to Gov. DeSantis and the Legislature paying down debt. But local governments’ debt is another story.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
P1 Offshore has announced that Sarasota has been dropped from its 2025 schedule of races.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • January 14, 2025
Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix canceled for 2025

Finances and uncertainty about construction around Sarasota Bay have sunk the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix for this year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Instructor Terri Noyes talks with Pete Clausen about the basics of scoring in pickleball.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 14, 2025
Pickleball clinic teaches newcomers basics of the growing sport

The Jan. 13 clinic hosted at The Paradise Center on Longboat Key gave people the opportunity to learn from two certified instructors.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This Pomello home sold for $2,825,000. It has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,943 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 14, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 30-Jan. 3 in Lakewood Ranch

A Pomello home on 77th Avenue East tops the week's sales at $2.83 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Shannon Hunt
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 14, 2025
Wellness lounge, cacao cafe opens in Rosemary District

The space, established by nonprofits Conscious Cause and Streets of Paradise Inc., is intended to foster contributions from the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Town staffer finds balance with tiring work and passion for weightlifting
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 14, 2025
Town staffer finds balance with tiring work and passion for weightlifting

Matthew Ballew's busy days working for Longboat Key Public Works are paired with a lifestyle of weightlifting and bodybuilding, which has taught him important life lessons.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Kevin Van Ostenbridge sits through one of his last meetings as commissioner on Oct. 22, 2024. He's since filed two lawsuits claiming defamation.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 14, 2025
Former Manatee commissioner sues another commissioner for defamation

Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who was the District 3 commissioner in Manatee County, is suing former at-large Commissioner Betsy Benac.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch junior midfielders Paolo Morales (front) and Ryan Johnson have been essential in helping transform the Mustangs' offensive strategy this season.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch boys soccer charges toward the postseason

The Mustangs look to rectify last season's loss to North Port High in the district tournament later this month.

  • East County
  • Sports
Couple found enjoying 'snuggle time' in business lot after hours
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 14, 2025
Couple found enjoying 'snuggle time' in business lot after hours

An officer investigated a suspicious vehicle parked in a business lot after hours and found a couple enjoying some quality time. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
A proposed cross-section of 10th Street between Central and Lemon avenues.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 14, 2025
City wins federal grant for Complete Streets projects

A $12 million RAISE grant will provide the bulk of the funding to convert several blocks of 10th Street and Boulevard of the Arts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Don O'Leary and East Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Lee Whitehurst celebrate O'Leary's 2019 retirement as fire commissioner.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch's No. 1 ambassador dies at 90

Don O'Leary was a pillar of the community who advocated for more fire stations.

  • East County
  • News
The upcoming project with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program will focus on 300 feet of seawall at Longboat Key's Bayfront Park.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 14, 2025
Future seawall panels at Bayfront Park will improve marine ecosystem

The town of Longboat Key and Sarasota Bay Estuary Program hope this seawall addition will start construction by the end of 2025.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Weston Schurr, 8, and his brother Parker Schurr, 6, build a snowman.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 13, 2025
Snow comes to First Sarasota

The church's third annual "Snow Day" drew many attendees from outside the church for snowball fights, snow slides and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Marcus Walfridson, team owner of the Sarasota Paradise, hopes that 2025 will be the team's most successful year to date in its new home at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 13, 2025
The Sarasota Paradise will call Lakewood Ranch home

The soccer team will begin playing home games at Premier Sports Campus in 2025.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota's Zack and Greta Hamric sit in their 1956 Jaguar XK 140MC Roadster formerly owned by Hollywood star Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 13, 2025
Jaguar Festival d’Elegance brings luxury vehicles to St. Armands Circle

The free-to-the-public event showcased Jaguar sports cars from across Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
While Birdie McClaine plays his accordion, his companion Lady Haha sits and waits to perform tricks.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 13, 2025
An old clown and his clever dog steal the show on St. Armands Circle

The afternoon of Dec. 14 was busy on the circle, but a random street performer with a Ringling Bros. history stood out the most.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
GCCF accepts annual scholarship program applications
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 13, 2025
GCCF accepts annual scholarship program applications

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded more than $11.5 million in scholarships to local students since 1997.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The new Manatee County Board of County Commissioners is pursuing "extraordinary circumstances" to increase impact fees beyond the state's maximum allowance.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 13, 2025
New commissioners prepare to 'fight' for higher impact fees

The increase could garner millions more in fees for Manatee County by the end of 2025 if passed.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County expects an additional $210 million in federal funding for storm recovery efforts.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 13, 2025
Sarasota County expects $210M in federal storm recovery funding

A new round of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant funds will be allocated in accordance Sarasota County's Resilient SRQ program model.

  • Sarasota
  • News
ThunderBug amps up the crowd just before the first puck drop between the Lightning and Devils at a watch party held on Lakewood Ranch Main Street on Saturday, Jan. 11.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch shows its hockey pride at Tampa Bay Lightning Watch Party

People of all ages enjoyed a ball hockey tournament and a Lightning vs. Devils game.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Linda, Lisa and Lindsey Mullins
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 12, 2025
Sarasota Bay Seafood & Music Festival fills ears and stomachs

The event was held in its new location of the Sarasota Fairgrounds for the first time.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cesar Lopez of The Danny Bub Combo plays the trumpet.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 12, 2025
Fresh Fridays block party helps kicks off the new year

“New Year on the Block” ushered in the year 2025 while offering the signature sights and sounds of Fresh Fridays.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Many Siesta Key neighborhood streets are included in the resurfacing program.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 12, 2025
Siesta Key road resurfacing project resumes Monday

Suspended in the aftermath of a busy hurricane season, the project to resurface much of the roadway on Siesta Key will resume on Jan. 13.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Sand is dredged from the Longboat Pass channel to be utilized in the Gulfside Road beach nourishment project.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 12, 2025
Gulfside Road beach nourishment to finish by end of January

While the temporary sand placement will save the beach in the short term, Longboat Key's coastal engineer will start the permitting process for a long-term solution.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Star Farms residents Barbara Malta and Lynette Cahill attend the expo to explore medical services because they're new to town.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 11, 2025
Sarasota wellness expo showcases local medical services

The annual New Year, New You Health & Wellness Expo was held at the Mall at University Town Center.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Brian Dryfhout, director of marketing and communications for SunCoast Blood Centers, stands in front of the nearly empty cooler at the Lakewood Ranch location. SunCoast is asking the community for donations due to a shortage of blood.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch blood center needs donations to stock shelves

SunCoast Blood Centers provides blood to area hospitals and the Sarasota Fire Department.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A rendering by MHK Architecture of Amara from Sarasota Bay at the east side of Golden Gate Point.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 11, 2025
2 luxury condo towers to replace Pier 550 on Golden Gate Point

The Sarasota Planning Board has approved Amara, a two-tower, 54-unit luxury condominium project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Students, including Emma Green and Cora Gerdes (center), celebrate during the moment of graduation.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 11, 2025
Sarasota County Schools broke record graduation rate in 2023-24

The district had a graduation rate of 92.5% for the 2023-2024 school year, the highest in its recorded history.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
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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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