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Your Observer

With tax revenues, Manatee County proposes removing and replacing the tennis courts at Lakewood Ranch District Park.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 15, 2016
Does sales tax make cents?

Half cent tax would lead to a new East County library, park improvements and other needs.

  • East County
  • News
Sixth-grade teacher, David Barcena, guidance counselor Lannette Gillen and consumer science teacher Jill Bergeron are in the 25-year club. All of them have been with the school since it opened.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • June 15, 2016
Great way to spend a quarter

Braden River Middle School celebrates 25 years of teaching.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The brew crew, Steve Cieszynski, Joe and Diana Eibler, Anthony Martin, Judy and Eric Keller and Anthony Eibler. The team brews in the Eibler's garage.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • June 15, 2016
Lakewood Ranch's first brewery hopes to become ingrained locally

Group of friends take their beer-making to a larger scale production.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • June 15, 2016
Cops Corner 6.16.2016

Comical crime reports from around the area.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Mark Smith architects shared this rendering of the plans for the new building. The owners hope to have a tenant moved in by the beginning of 2017.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • June 14, 2016
Sandal shop may take over former Siesta 7-Eleven

After a sale earlier this year, the former convenience store is slated for retail development, with the Key West Sandal Factory leading the list of potential tenants.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Formerly a Best Western and currently a Baymont Inn & Suites, a developer wants to refurbish the Tamiami Trail hotel as a Four Points by Sheraton.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 14, 2016
Floyd Street residents seek benefit from Sheraton hotel

At a community workshop Monday, the neighbors of a proposed hotel project shared their thoughts on how the development could enhance the surrounding area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Authorities believe the home was targeted.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 14, 2016
Authorities have leads in home invasion robbery

Authorities have leads in the case and believe it was a targeted incident.

  • East County
  • News
One man was pronounced dead on scene.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 14, 2016
Myakka man killed by lightning

Two others were injured at Falkner Farms.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • June 13, 2016
Sarasota shows solidarity for Orlando shooting victims

Thousands gather for candlelight vigil at Five Points Park to honor

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Officials and community members tossed sand on Turtle Beach to commemorate the completion of the county's Siesta Key beach renourishment efforts.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • June 13, 2016
Sarasota County commemorates completion of south Siesta renourishment

Community members and County officials gathered at Turtle Beach today to celebrate the completion of the second phase of the county’s beach renourishment efforts.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 13, 2016
Sarasota vigil to honor victims of Orlando shooting

The Harvey Milk Festival organizers have planned a candlelight vigil in Five Points Park following the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Kathryn Parks opens the entertainment portion of a fundraiser for The Players Centre for the Performing Arts by captivating the crowd with a song.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 10, 2016
The Players get acquainted with their new community of Lakewood Ranch

Kickoff fundraiser draws backers of The Players Centre for the Performing Arts.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 10, 2016
Longboat Key may save $1.5 million on dredging

Town staff are currently reviewing three bids for the dredging of Longboat Pass and New Pass.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The city of Sarasota shared this photo of Neighborhood & Development Services Director Tim Litchet, right, and Marie Louise Sikorski at Thursday's code compliance hearing.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 10, 2016
City settles controversial code compliance case

A viral story that drew widespread outrage has come to an end after the city waived all fines against a 90-year-old widow who owned a property deemed to be derelict.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 10, 2016
Tropical Storm Colin prompts big turnout at hurricane seminar

More than 130 residents, business leaders and town leaders attended the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce’s 14th annual Disaster Preparedness Seminar Thursday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sheriff's Office reports a home invasion robbery on Thursday night in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 10, 2016
Home invasion robbery in Lakewood Ranch

Victims were assaulted as they sat around the pool.

  • East County
  • News
Siesta Hardware has been a Siesta Key Village staple since Wally Von Atzinger and his business partner, Bill Podewitz, opened the store in 1972. The store will shut its doors July 31.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • June 10, 2016
Siesta Key Hardware to close, Morton's set to move in

The hardware store will close its doors July 31, with Morton’s Siesta Market tabbed to fill the space and expand its presence on the Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Chamber members and guests tested their luck with games of Texas Hold'em poker.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • June 9, 2016
Siesta Key Chamber bets on poker tournament

Annual poker tournament deals in chamber members and guests to fundraise for fireworks.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Director of Development Todd Mathes showed attendees of Siesta Key Association’s June 2 meeting renderings of the future Siesta Promenade development.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • June 9, 2016
Traffic worries create bumpy road for Siesta Promenade

Would the addition of 600 residential units equal traffic trouble for the Stickney Point Road property?

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • June 9, 2016
Summer starts with a storm on Siesta Key

Tropical Storm Colin brought wind, rain and flooding — but no major damage — to the Sarasota area

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • June 9, 2016
Sarasota County gets its first Wawa store

Sarasota residents and community leaders came out for the grand opening of Wawa’s new location.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ricky Perrone captured this shot of ruffled feathers along the downtown Sarasota bayfront.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 9, 2016
Sarasota weather page photo: June 9

Ricky Perrone captured this shot of ruffled feathers along the downtown Sarasota bayfront.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jeannie Sparks captured this shot of a bee getting ready to land on a flower in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 9, 2016
East County weather page photo: June 9

Jeannie Sparks captured this shot of a bee getting ready to land on a flower in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Eddie Bengston captured this photo while relaxing on the beach on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 9, 2016
Longboat Key weather page photo: June 9

Eddie Bengston captured this photo while relaxing on the beach on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 9, 2016
Paid parking is our friend

Although Sarasota has tried and failed to charge for parking, it needs to persevere: It is needed to create a vibrant environment for businesses, residents and visitors.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Riverview rising senior Vince Sellers was one of several area players who walked away with scholarship offers this spring.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 9, 2016
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Recruiting heats up across Sarasota as summer approaches.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • June 9, 2016
Cat Depot: The lucky 13

Families who took in 13 cats known as the Baker’s Dozen come full circle for a reunion on National Doughnut Day.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Escape Room Sarasota owners Luis Montanez and Jennifer Seavey were inspired to start their business after experiencing the adrenaline of escape rooms for themselves.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • June 9, 2016
Social experiment: Escape Rooms Sarasota

Puzzles and teamwork determine success rate of players at Escape Rooms Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
City Manager Mark Lyons believes a citizen-led initiative can help the city smoothly implement paid parking.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 9, 2016
Citizen committee drives city parking policy

After the city signed off on a new parking philosophy in May, officials are relying on residents to guide the implementation of paid parking and other regulations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ron Soto is helping to lead an initiative to discourage panhandling in downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 9, 2016
Merchants launch new anti-panhandling campaign

For the second time in two years, Ron Soto is leading an initiative to discourage panhandling in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Preliminary documents filed with the city outline plans for 133 residential units on an 8.7-acre site across from Payne Park.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 9, 2016
Developer revives plans for Payne Park Village

Despite concerns surrounding the original plans for the School Avenue property, residents are optimistic that the revised development will be a better fit for its surroundings.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Following a denied plan for expansion, it's unclear what the future holds for the Woman's Exchange on Orange Avenue.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 9, 2016
Woman’s Exchange plans remain in limbo

After the city rejected plans for expansion, the consignment shop is still weighing its legal options.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Courtesy photo. The night blooming cactus, Selena cereus.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • June 9, 2016
When the moon hits your cacti...

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens takes the night shift to capture the night-blooming cactus, Selenicereus.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota resident Johan Lindstrom, partner and CEO of EliteTrax Inc., and his team have been constructing the 1,400-foot state-of-the-art track since last November.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 9, 2016
Racing to the finish

Construction on the new state-of-the-art BMX track is expected to be completed next month.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 9, 2016
Downtown Sarasota condominium unit sells for $2,275,000

The following residential real estate transactions took place between May 23 and May 27.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Shayna and Elli Watterson with a manatee statue made by Copper Creations on display at the 2015 St. Armands Craft Festival.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • June 9, 2016
Sarasota Calendar 6.9.16

Sarasota and Siesta Key events for the week of June 2.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

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Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
All games in the 2027 Sarasota College Softball Classic will be played on the championship field (lower left) at the new 17th Street Park Regional Sports Complex.
  • December 18, 2025
New north Sarasota park draws major collegiate softball tournament

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