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Your Observer

A Starbucks is planned to come to Longboat Key sometime in 2025 or 2026, depending on permitting and construction.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 4, 2025
Starbucks still planned for Longboat Key plaza

Despite common beliefs, Longboat Key has no prohibition on franchises or chains, but the property would need a special exception from the Planning and Zoning Board to put in a restaurant.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Downtown Sarasota has developed into a mix of historic one- and two-story buildings along Main Street set against the backdrop of towering condo buildings in accordance with the current Downtown Master Plan 2020.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 4, 2025
Sarasota downtown plan committee gets a history crash course

The Sarasota Downtown Master Plan 2020 Update Committee heard from five presenters who played key roles in the development of the current guide.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Actually, we're in safe zone
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 4, 2025
Actually, we're in safe zone

Over a 125-year period, Manatee and Sarasota counties have been among the safest coastal counties in Florida when it comes to hurricanes.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Graduate Jayvian Johnson (second from left), his girlfriend Alyssa Harris, brother Will Johnson and father Terrence Johnson
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 3, 2025
Booker High School celebrates 2025 graduates

Some 340 graduates of Booker High School walked the stage on May 31.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Mary Bilkie and Clay Wakefield have been long-time volunteers with Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies, which recently received a $40,000 grant from Christ Church of Longboat Key to built a permanent facility.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 3, 2025
Longboat church gives major boost to fight childhood hunger

Christ Church of Longboat Key selected Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies to receive a $40,000 grant.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Graduate Ninabella Worhacz, her sister Rosemary Worhacz, her father Robert Worhacz, and her mother Josephine Worhacz.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 3, 2025
Riverview High School graduates take the next step

Some 470 graduates took to the stage at Robarts Arena.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The Concession Golf Club has been working to land the Senior PGA Championship for the past three years, General Manager Brian Weimann said.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 3, 2025
Sarasota commits $4.5 million to promote Senior PGA Championship

The major tournament is coming to The Concession for three years, beginning in 2026.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Haile Middle School teacher arrested on charge of lewd contact
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 3, 2025
Haile Middle School teacher arrested on charge of lewd contact

The student told deputies that the teacher sent an explicit photo.

  • East County
  • News
Man claims found powdery white substance is not his
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 3, 2025
Man claims found powdery white substance is not his

When police returned the found belongings, the man claimed the bag of white powder found with the wallet was not his. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Sandra Smith and Ziggy, the firm's official public relations specialist, get settled after Secur-All Insurance's relocation to 510 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 3, 2025
Secur-All Insurance returns to Longboat Key's Bay Isles area

Having served Longboat Key residents for 15 years, the insurance agency explains how close community ties have led to its longtime success on the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Gordon Silver took this photo of a male and female bald eagle in a nest in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 3, 2025
Eagles’ nest delays construction on 44th Avenue East extension

Manatee County staff made several accommodations for wildlife during the planning and construction of the roadway.

  • East County
  • News
A Country Club Village home at 6809 Belmont Court sold for $2.2 million. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,701 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 3, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 19-23 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Baycross Drive topped the week’s sales at $4.8 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The first phase of Cypress Square apartments, legally Amaryllis Park Place Phase 2. Future phases of Cypress Square will replace The Courts.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 3, 2025
Housing Authority project sails through development review

The Sarasota Housing Authority's final phases of Amaryllis Park Place wins partial sign-off from the city's Development Review Committee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch area soccer player Sky Commissar will represent Great Britain at the 2025 Maccabiah Games.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 3, 2025
Lakewood Ranch soccer player selected to 'Jewish Olympics'

Sky Commissar will represent Great Britain at the 2025 Maccabiah Games.

  • East County
  • Sports
The main observation deck of Quick Point Nature Preserve offered guests a prime view of Sarasota Bay. The structure disappeared after the hurricanes.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 3, 2025
After Longboat nature parks receive cost-saving bid, staff prep for construction

The repairs were originally slated to cost $2 million but will now cost around $700,000. Bids for other projects, like the town docks, are still pending.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Booker High rising senior Chauncey Kennon is being recruited by many of the best college football programs.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 3, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Chauncey Kennon

Kennon, a top football recruit, scored in Booker's spring game.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Carole Salmon (1943-2025)
    In Memoriam |
  • June 2, 2025
Carole Salmon

Carole Salmon, A longtime resident of Longboat Key, FL and Active Member of the Sarasota/Longboat Key community, passed away on May 31, at the age of 82.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Brandy Britton of Bringman Roofing and Monica Carruth snap a photo during the Longboat Chamber of Commerce's latest "Off the Clock" networking event at Zota Beach Resort.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 2, 2025
Zota Beach Resort sets the scene for local business connections

Longboat Key businesspeople visited Zota Beach Resort for the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce's latest networking event.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Killdeer are dedicated parents known for their 'broken-wing' display, feigning injury to lure intruders away from their chicks or nest.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • June 2, 2025
Myakka River thrives with restored floodplain

New life embraces Myakka’s habitat restoration zone.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Eddy Thomas, Kylie West, Kylah Scheetz and Charlotte Humlicek are among the 34 seventh grade students that will skip the eighth grade and start taking high school level classes next school year through the SOAR program.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 2, 2025
Students begin high school early with Lakewood Ranch Prep Soar program

Students in the Soar program have the opportunity to earn as many as 60 college credits during their five-year high school career.

  • East County
  • Schools
Willow and Winnie take a rest in the shade.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 2, 2025
Myakka City welcomes two baby warthogs

Willow and Winnie are 7 weeks old sisters who now live at the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch rising senior Aiden Getschow made eight tackles including three for a loss of yards in the Mustangs' 27-14 win over George Jenkins on May 15.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 2, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Aiden Getschow

Linebacker Aiden Getschow helped Lakewood Ranch football win its spring game with eight tackles.

  • East County
  • Sports
Mary Oquendo, the recycling coordinator for Manatee County, shows off the "big bin."
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 1, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Farmers' Market offers produce and information

The Farmers Market is a year round event held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Pine Island is located near the mouth of the Braden River.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 1, 2025
Manatee buys 13 acres to complete its ownership of a Braden River island

The county already held the deed to 66 acres of Pine Island.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota City Hall.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 1, 2025
Sarasota wins Smart City award

The city of Sarasota has been recognized for its smart city initiatives by Smart Cities Connect.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct. 9, 2024.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 31, 2025
What to know for the 2025 hurricane season

In previous seminars to prepare the community, Longboat Key officials and others emphasized the importance of staying prepared and heeding directions.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Alexsandra Santos and Jeffrey Zamarripa
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 30, 2025
Graduates walk the stage in record numbers at Sarasota High School

The class looked back at a time of both positivity and challenges during the school's 111th graduation.

  • Graduation
This is the first of this project’s three phases.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 30, 2025
Sarasota city sewer project will prompt lane closures on South Osprey Avenue

Work begins June 3 replacing sewer lines that have approached their useful lifetimes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office Dive Team takes a celebratory photo after pulling a sunken minivan out of the Manatee River.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 30, 2025
Dive team extracts stubborn minivan from the Manatee River

The vehicle was so heavy with sand, three prior attempts by the Manatee Sheriff's Office divers failed.

  • East County
  • News
Daniel Bryan-Beachler and Bryan Thomas both grew up in Indiana and have each taught for 38 years. Bryan-Beachler has been a teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School since 2001 and Thomas has been a teacher there since the school opened in 1998.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 30, 2025
Two Lakewood Ranch High teachers retire after 38-year careers

Bryan Thomas has taught at LWRHS since its opening while Daniel Bryan-Beachler has taught at the school since 2001.

  • East County
  • Schools
"The seamless transition to outdoor living is where this estate truly shines," the listing says. "Expansive balconies and terraces provide uninterrupted views of the turquoise Gulf waters."
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 30, 2025
$15.5 million estate listed for sale on Siesta Key

The Gulf-front property features balconies with each of its five bedrooms.

  • Sarasota
  • News
From left to right, Bruce Udell, Howard Kilman, Mark Gordon and David Fried outside Leket Israel, the country's largest food bank.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 30, 2025
Israel: A Love story

Lots of people told me going to Israel would be a life-changing trip. They were right.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A rendering by Humphreys & Partners Architects of Fruitville Gateway.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 30, 2025
More downtown Sarasota apartments advance toward approval

Three projects totaling 435 units, 48 priced affordable and attainable, receive partial signoff from the city's Development Review Committee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Although the wave off tradition has occured since 2015, this is Board Member Heather Felton's first time.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 30, 2025
Manatee school district leaders thank bus drivers the last day of the school year

The bus drivers' "wave-off" has been a tradition since 2015 in the School District of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Schools
Red drum would be raised in an underwater pen, about 40 miles from area beaches.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 29, 2025
EPA approves aquaculture operation offshore Sarasota

Red drum would be raised in an underwater pen, about 40 miles from area beaches.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Don Roberts, left, and Bob Rosinsky worked together at Goodwill Manasota for decades. (Photo is from 2012.)
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 29, 2025
Longtime Goodwill CEO, prominent pastor dies at 82

Don Roberts leaves a large legacy not only in growing a nonprofit, but in giving people a job — and ‘human dignity and a sense of hope when no one else would give it to them.’

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Louisen Desinor posted an 81.8% completion rate in Braden River's jamboree May 22 against Charlotte and Sarasota.
  • June 1, 2026
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2
Cyclist killed on Sarasota causeway
  • June 1, 2026
Cyclist killed on Sarasota causeway
3
The pools are waiting on water, and the shaded pickleball structure behind them is waiting on paint for the courts.
  • June 1, 2026
Pool, pickleball facilities close to opening at Premier Sports Campus North
4
The home on Jewfish Key opposite Longboat Key is listed at $5.995 million.
  • June 1, 2026
Selling the island life on Longboat Key takes a big step to boat-only enclave
5
Lakewood Ranch's Cole Mule and Bodie Hogan, both 3 years old, explore the bee-themed magnet activity.
  • May 31, 2026
Literacy lessons a hot summer topic at Lakewood Ranch Library

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