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Your Observer

Brigette Kubin cut the ribbon for her business, Three Island Monkeys, on Jan. 8.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 11, 2025
Three Island Monkeys celebrates Longboat opening with ribbon-cutting

The gift shop offering unique gifts and from local artists opened in November 2024 but had a ceremony to celebrate the opening with the local community.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Workers install Poly in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street on Wednesday night.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 10, 2025
Poly sculpture installed at 14th Street roundabout

The long-awaited $208,000 sculpture was placed Wednesday night as part of Sarasota's Art in the Roundabouts program.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch doctor charged with soliciting porn from minor
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 10, 2025
Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch doctor charged with soliciting porn from minor

Investigators say the chat took place on the social media platform Reddit.

  • East County
  • News
Salvation Army Captain, Jim Curry, speaks to the Longboat Key Kiwanis on Thursday Jan. 9, 2025.
    By
  • Michael Harris
  • January 10, 2025
Longboat Key reaches new heights in Salvation Army donations

Despite the hurricanes that hit the Key, Longboaters continued to give for the cause.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Toasted Yolk Cafe is at 6562 University Pkwy., Suite 150.
    By
  • Elizabeth King, Jay Heater
  • January 10, 2025
Toasted Yolk Cafe opens in Lakewood Ranch

The breakfast and lunch cafe opened its doors in the Center Point development on University Parkway.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The 7,700-yard Miakka Golf Club course will be mostly topped with zoysiagrass, which is used more in Asia. No opening date has been set.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 9, 2025
Miakka Golf Club built to be secret garden, 'environmental win'

Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design created the newest Myakka City golf club to extraordinary environmental standards.

  • East County
  • News
Scot Ruberg
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 9, 2025
Scooter of the Beach reflects on over 30 years as a lifeguard

Scot Ruberg, also known as Scooter of the Beach, has become Siesta Key's most celebrated lifeguard.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Barbara Ford-Coates is leaving the Tax Collector's Office after a career that spans more than 50 years.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 9, 2025
Barbara Ford-Coates recalls a career of fun in Sarasota tax office

Losing her husband and her first election over a span of two months, long-time Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates looks toward "the next celebration around the corner."

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Memorial opens a free standing emergency room at 7250 University Parkway on Jan. 7.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 9, 2025
Freestanding emergency room opens in Lakewood Ranch

Sarasota Memorial opened the ER at 7250 University Parkway.

  • East County
  • News
A flamingo by Peggy Roberts
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 9, 2025
Artist of palm frond creations to hold exhibition at Art Ovation Hotel

Peggy Roberts started creating animals from palm fronds in her retirement, as a showcase of upcycling.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bronwyn Leggett is a sophomore goalkeeper for the Riverview High girls varsity soccer team.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 9, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Bronwyn Leggett

The Riverview High sophomore goalkeeper has been a force for the Rams this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A rendering of a completed expansion and upgrade of Sarasota County's Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 9, 2025
Water treatment project earns environmental award

The expansion and upgrade of the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility has earned top recognition from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 931 Norsota Way has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,154 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 9, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 16-27 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Bay Island home on Norsota Way tops the week's sales at $5 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
  • By Florida Power & Light Company
  • January 9, 2025
FPL’s storm-resilient power grid prevents more than 800,000 outages during active 2024 hurricane season

2024 was a historic hurricane season. In fact, it was the sixth year since 1871 that Florida experienced three landfalling hurricanes in the same year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Two indicted in Sarasota jury duty fine scam
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2025
Two indicted in Sarasota jury duty fine scam

The victim reportedly sent $12,000 to a woman impersonating a Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputy.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A session of The Y: HIIT Fitness class is held at The Bay.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 8, 2025
How to stick to your fitness goals for the New Year

Local fitness professionals offer advice on retaining your desire to stay fit throughout the year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Blues artist Dylan Triplett ventures into the crowd to perform at the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 8, 2025
Readers sound off about Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival

The price, length of concert and name recognition were all concerns noted by the residents.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Riverview High junior Josh Harris rises up for a three pointer during practice.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 8, 2025
Rams charging ahead with a full combo effort

The Riverview High boys basketball team looks to find its identity under first-year head coach Jeff Harris.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Still No. 1 in sales, Lakewood Ranch will see more infrastructure built in 2025
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 8, 2025
Still No. 1 in sales, Lakewood Ranch will see more infrastructure built in 2025

SMR CEO and President Rex Jensen cites well-planned infrastructure as key to Lakewood Ranch's sales success and says focus will continue in 2025 with 16 new roundabouts.

  • East County
  • News
Destroyed landscape outside a home on North Washington Drive on St. Armands.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 8, 2025
Garden Club teaches best practices for post-storm landscape restoration

The Longboat Key Garden Club brought local coastal experts to inform residents about the importance of Florida-friendly vegetation when restoring landscaping after the hurricanes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Tiernan George is a senior captain on the Out-of-Door Academy girls varsity soccer team.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 8, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Tiernan George

The Out-of-Door Academy senior is the defensive lynchpin on the girls varsity soccer team.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota city logo will remain the same for now
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 8, 2025
Sarasota city logo will remain the same for now

Citing higher spending priorities, the Sarasota City Commission tabled further discussion of a complete rebrand.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Follow the law when it comes to pickups in driveways
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • January 8, 2025
Follow the law when it comes to pickups in driveways

Nightclub noise will have negative impact in Lakewood Ranch, readers say.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The home at 6877 Gulf of Mexico Drive has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,820 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 8, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 16- 27 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home in Tramonto Estates tops the week's sales at $8.7 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 8, 2025
Sarasota finalizes agreement with police union

A ratified amendment of the collective bargaining agreement with the union that represents Sarasota Police Department personnel increases salaries across the board.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Roommates get into altercation over body lotion scandal
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2025
Roommates get into altercation over body lotion scandal

One man accused another of using his body lotion, which resulted in an alleged physical assault. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Ute Vela competes in the Observer Challenge held Feb. 3-5, 2023. She and her husband, Enrique, have won the tournament four times.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 8, 2025
Observer Challenge hopes different format will attract more players

The beloved Longboat Key tennis tournament is back for its 25th year with a new format and surprise criteria for its grand prize.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Arhaus, a furniture store, is expected to open at Center Point in March.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 8, 2025
Center Point at Waterside construction will finish in 2025

Brett Hutchens, president of commercial real estate firm CASTO, anticipates the development will have its final grand openings in March.

  • East County
  • News
SafeHaven AI helps people aged 65+ better understand their fall risks and how to manage them using doctor-approved questions and image recognition of potential hazards.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 8, 2025
Out-of-Door Academy student wins Congressional App Challenge

Manav Pulluru's app, SafeHaven AI, helps the elderly avoid falls

  • East County
  • Schools
Temple Beth Israel Music Director and Organist Ann Stephenson-Moe and Choir Soloist Kei Sulhi
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 8, 2025
Temple Beth Israel plans to honor its music director and soloist

At its annual gala on Jan. 26, Temple Beth Israel Music Director and Organist Ann Stephenson-Moe and Choir Soloist Kei Sulhi will be honored after almost 30 years of dedication.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch High student Yulia Morales hosted her first-ever 'Science Stars' lesson on Friday, Jan. 3 at the Lakewood Ranch Library.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 8, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High student creates 'Science Stars' to inspire tweens

Yulia Morales hopes to show kids how science can be fun with monthly experiments.

  • East County
  • Schools
Manatee County is gearing up for the RUN Manatee 5K Series in 2025. Three races will be held across the county at different locations from April through November.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 8, 2025
Manatee County gears up for new 5K series

The races will take place at Tom Bennett Park, Coquina Beach and Rye Preserve from April through November.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Andejla Radojicic takes part in tennis lessons at Lakewood Ranch Park to help improve her game.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 8, 2025
Manatee County serves its youth with parks upgrades

Pickleball, sand volleyball and youth travel leagues are among the hot trends for Manatee County in 2025.

  • East County
  • News
A beachfront house badly damaged by Hurricane Helene's storm surge.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 8, 2025
Extra staff help with Longboat permit surge

The state is supplying Longboat Key’s Planning, Zoning and Building Department with additional staff to help with an influx in storm-related permitting.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Don’t fret; growth slowing
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 8, 2025
Don’t fret; growth slowing

For those who chafe at the so-called ‘out of control’ growth, take a breath. Florida’s and the local growth rates are slowing for good.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Members of Flanigan's family with the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department when the family delivered the beach wheelchairs in honor of Jean Flanigan.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 7, 2025
Longboat Fire Department adds two accessible beach wheelchairs

In honor of Jean Flanigan, her family donated the accessible beach wheelchairs to the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department for the public to use.

  • 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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