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Your Observer

Jett Hawker of Lakewood Ranch successfully completes an inflatable obstacle course.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • June 25, 2016
Kids rock Lakewood Ranch

Spotlight Events Entertainment hosted its first children's event on Main Street.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 24, 2016
Bayside saddles up for Bible camp

Campers focused on the "The Big Trail."

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Carolyn Johnson and Isabel Norton winning the Leadership Florida Distinguished Member Award in Orlando.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 24, 2016
Carolyn Johnson, Isabel Norton honored by Leadership Florida

Carolyn Johnson and Isabel Norton are recognized with the Leadership Florida Distinguished Member Award.

  • Sarasota
  • News
MLFB Senior Executive Vice President Frank Murtha said his league is working to make rent payments to Schroeder-Manatee Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 24, 2016
Lakewood Ranch developer sues Major League Football

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch files suit to evict fledgling professional football league.

  • East County
  • News
The town of Longboat Key is nearly finished with a mid-Key truck haul that has expanded island beaches.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 24, 2016
Longboat Key reaches for federal beach money

For the first time in its history, the town may get help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to renourish its beaches.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota Police Department shared this image of the scene at Orange Avenue and Main Street following the fatal motorcycle accident Friday morning.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 24, 2016
Motorcyclist killed in Orange Avenue roundabout crash

A motorcyclist died after crashing into the roundabout at Main Street and Orange Avenue in downtown Sarasota early Friday morning.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By H. Terrell Griffin
  • June 23, 2016
Chapter 5: Trouble in Paradise

Chapter 5: Trouble in Paradise

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • June 23, 2016
Garden Club visits Mote

Members and guests of the Longboat Key Garden Club enjoyed a morning at Mote Marine Aquarium June 23.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Charles Preston Rawls captured this shot of an approaching storm over Celery Fields.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2016
Sarasota weather page photo: June 23

Charles Preston Rawls captured this shot of an approaching storm over Celery Fields.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club resident Leann Spofford snapped this photo of a rainbow.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2016
East County weather page photo: June 23

Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club resident Leann Spofford snapped this photo of a rainbow.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Shelley Barker captured this shot of a Longboat Key sunset.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2016
Longboat Key weather page photo: June 23

Shelley Barker captured this shot of a Longboat Key sunset.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Goodwill administrator Alexa Olivas talks about how Goodwill workers sort through donation bins.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 23, 2016
Goodwill's precision leads to greater bounty for community

Side of Ranch: Jay Heater

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 23, 2016
Barwin overshoots on guns

In the wake of incidents like the Orlando massacre, government officials can’t resist the urge to do something. But they always want to intervene in ways that restrict your liberty.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Although the county's regulations currently prohibit on-site transactions at Ted Sperling Park, officials are working to change that rule.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 23, 2016
County proposes allowing payments at Lido park

The county and city are working on a potential rule change at Ted Sperling Park that would allow commercial operators to accept payments on-site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Although some residents are eager to see upgrades at Arlington Park, others are concerned about the effects of growth on the surrounding neighborhood.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 23, 2016
Officials, residents talk Arlington Park improvements

With more than $2 million slated for investment in Arlington Park, the city is seeking citizen feedback on improvements — but how much is too much for nearby residents?

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city has budgeted $300,00 to replace the American course greens at Bobby Jones Golf Club, dipping into funds reserved for replacing the facility's aging clubhouse.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 23, 2016
Bobby Jones improvements raise questions about funding

Citizens and city officials agree Bobby Jones Golf Club is in need of serious upgrades. They just have a different idea of the best course to take.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 23, 2016
South Cocoanut Bayou sells for $2.4 million

Built in 2000, 4415 Mangrove Place has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,535 square feet of living area.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • June 23, 2016
Redeemer campus grows with congregation

Church of the Redeemer members met this month to discuss a three-phase plan for expansion in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Booker boys basketball coach Phil Helmuth was named the school's new Athletic Director June 20. (courtesy photo)
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 23, 2016
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Tornadoes names new AD

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
As Benderson Development advances plans for the Siesta Promenade project, a nearby resident wants the builder to consider the needs of a nearby neighborhood.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2016
Letter to the Editor: Sarasota 06.23.16

A resident takes issue with a proposed Stickney Point project — and asks a developer to give back to the neighboring community.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2016
Cops Corner: Sarasota 06.23.16

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe owner J.R. Garraus surveys the damage to the rear of his restaurant following a six-alarm fire.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2016
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Week of 06.23.16

A fire led to damage at JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe, and construction on the Coon Key Bridge is temporarily on hold.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Left to right: Sarasota Sharks swimmers Drew Clark, Austin Katz, Danny Erlenmeyer, Keanan Dols, Bethany Leap, Nancy Hu and Matthew Garcia will all compete for an opportunity to swim at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 23, 2016
Making the Cut

Sarasota Sharks send strong contingent to U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Single-car accident closes Fruitville Road east of I-75.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 22, 2016
Downed power lines close Fruitville Road

Single-car accident just east of I-75 causes closure.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • June 22, 2016
Cedars hosts youth tennis clinic

Cedars Tennis Resort hosted a tennis clinic for students from Sarasota’s Newtown June 22.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 22, 2016
Community rallies after Old Packinghouse fire

Employees have launched a GoFundMe page for repairs to JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe, and nearby businesses have offered free services to the iconic eatery.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Day camp director Beca Franca holds up the parachute as Noelle Stead runs through.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • June 22, 2016
Peace Presbyterian Church hosts traveling day camp

This year’s theme was nature.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Town Manager Dave Bullock and Town Attorney Maggie Mooney-Portale await the Manatee County Commission’s decision on the half-cent sales tax.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 22, 2016
Manatee County bucks barrier island tax request

The Manatee County Commission declined a breakdown of the proposed half-cent sales tax that would have netted more surtax money for Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Trevor Schmid, Nicholas Almeida, Alex den Boggende, Jayden Halas, Gabriel Klein, Blake Boules, Garrett Day and Jacob Crum try to form a circle without letting go of each other's hands.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • June 22, 2016
Harvest United Methodist Church campers spelunk for spirituality

The Lakewood Ranch church held its annual vacation Bible school with an underground theme.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 22, 2016
Myths about the AR-15 and bans on weapons

The editors at National Review dispelled a few AR-15 myths that everyone in Congress and all anti-gun Americans would do well to read.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 22, 2016
Concession home tops home sales at $1.6 million

Built in 2007, 19451 Beacon Park Place has four bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,462 square feet of living area.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 22, 2016
The temptations of ‘OPM’

Longboat Key’s Shakedown Fund is flush with millions of dollars for parks. Commissioners should resist the urge to splurge with OPM — other people’s money.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Twelve-year-old Ryan Sforzo has been playing attack and midfield for the Monsters Lacrosse Academy for the past six years.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 22, 2016
On the road to excellence

Out-of-Door Academy student splits his time between travel lacrosse and baseball.

  • East County
  • Sports
Joy Hawkins keeps a bookcase of her favorites in her classroom at Buffalo Creek Middle School.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • June 22, 2016
Her writing is pure Joy

East County teacher selected for three-week residency at Hermitage Artist Retreat.

  • East County
  • News
Public Works Director Juan Florensa surveys the latest portion of the island’s mid-Key truck haul.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 22, 2016
Tropical Storm Colin displaces Longboat Key sand

Although dry beaches on Longboat Key lost about 20 feet of sand on average due to Tropical Storm Colin, town officials say there’s still plenty of sand in the coastal system.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Town Manager David Bullock takes notes as the commission discusses the tax. He and mayors of the barrier islands asked that the tax revenues be allocated differently than proposed.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 22, 2016
Sales tax proposal heads toward referendum

Voters will decide in November whether to implement half-cent sales tax .

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
2
Artist JC Wayne hangs the ninth and final piece in her series "Atomic Universe," the latest installation at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church. The display will be up throughout the holiday season.
  • December 19, 2025
Artist delves into ideas of existence at Longboat exhibition
3
Charlie Shachat, a co-founder of the Foolishly Festive Christmas Parade, decided to be part of the show for the "Jaws" 50th anniversary.
  • December 19, 2025
Esplanade continues tradition of being 'foolishly festive' for parade
4
District 5 representative Ron Cutsinger will be the 2026 chairman of the Sarasota County Commission.
  • December 19, 2025
Sarasota County commissioners pick chair, vice chair
5
Locations of the new St. Armands speed tables are marked in red.
  • December 19, 2025
St. Armands speed humps will be replaced with permanent speed tables

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