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Your Observer

Mason Ondercin, Lucy Crisp, Alex Hornacek and Ginny Harrison fill in for the Sarasota County commissioners.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • April 28, 2016
County administration brings their children to work

Daughters and sons of Sarasota County employees spend the day learning about different departments.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
John and Sandra Chrzczonowski with their grandson and Sarasota High School junior Austin.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • April 28, 2016
Sarasota County Schools awards most improved students

Students who improved academically and in behavior are rewarded for their efforts.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Paul Blackketter
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 28, 2016
SANCA president and CEO resigns

Paul Blackketter steps down after seven years developing Nathan Benderson Park into top rowing facility.

  • East County
  • News
Neil Oldham captured this shot of a northern flicker in a Sarasota palm tree.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 28, 2016
Sarasota weather page photo: April 28

Neil Oldham captured this shot of a northern flicker in a Sarasota palm tree.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Roxana Walters, of Lakewood Ranch, captured this shot of a bald eagle at its nest near State Road 70.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 28, 2016
East County weather page photo: April 28

Roxana Walters, of Lakewood Ranch, captured this shot of a bald eagle at its nest near State Road 70.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Donna Harrison submitted this photo of a peaceful evening at Beer Can Island.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 28, 2016
Longboat Key weather page photo: April 28

Donna Harrison submitted this photo of a peaceful evening at Beer Can Island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tara Boulevard currently dead-ends in the River Place community at the Braden River.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • April 28, 2016
Tara Boulevard residents gather support for bridge over Braden River

Members say residents shouldn’t be using I-75 for local travel.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • April 28, 2016
Moore’s Stone Crab demolition begins on Longboat

Owners of the Shore on Longboat Key have contractors tearing apart the restaurant, making way for a new name on the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 28, 2016
Another test on housing

The Sarasota City Commission is expected to vote Monday on Harvey Vengroff’s affordable apartment project. An independent study sees it as a national model.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Although the downtown CRA Advisory Board wants to prioritize Fruitville Road improvements, Chief Planner Steve Stancel is still working with consultants on plans for the project.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 28, 2016
City ponders final downtown CRA priorities

As the city and county continue to squabble over the end of the downtown CRA, officials discuss how to spend the remaining funds.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Siesta bike safety advocates say the narrow streets and crowded sidewalks in the Village pose a challenge for cyclists.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 28, 2016
Siesta Key cyclists push for safer rides

Considering the volume of bicycle activity on Siesta Key, a group of residents wants to help people bike smarter — and perhaps improve the biking conditions on the island.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 28, 2016
Development advocates lure employers downtown

As Sarasota leaders work to recruit and grow businesses in the region, filling offices downtown could lead to a boost in commercial activity, too.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Parking Manager Mark Lyons hopes the city is better prepared to implement paid parking today — and that residents will be more accepting of parking strategy changes.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 28, 2016
City revisits paid parking strategy

Mark Lyons and the city’s Parking Advisory Committee have spent nearly four years preparing residents for a new parking paradigm — yes, including meters. Will it pay off?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo by Dex Honea. The Observer Media Group staff helps Paint the Town Blue for the Child Protection Center.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 28, 2016
WHAT'S HAPPENING: "Paint the Town Blue" and affordable apartment proposals

Last week, Observer employees wore blue to help support child abuse prevention. Also, the City Commission is preparing to weigh in on a high-density housing project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lawrence and Rachel Zweibel, of Smithtown, N.Y., sold their Unit 9 condominium at 1549 Oak St. to Jie and Tracey Li, of Gatlinburg, Tenn., for $1,162,500.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 28, 2016
Southbay Yacht home sells for $1.5 million

The following residential real estate transactions took place between April 11 and April 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Temple Sinai Rabbi Geoff Huntting will retire in June after almost 23 years.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • April 28, 2016
Goodwill Huntting: Rabbi Geoff Huntting retires with legacy of acceptance

Rabbi Geoff Huntting is retiring after more than 20 years at Temple Sinai.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
File photo. William Pratesi and Mike Bradley work on “Mickey’s Castle” last year that was inspired by family members who work at Disney.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • April 28, 2016
Sarasota Calendar 4.28.16

Sarasota and Siesta Key events for the week of April 28.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo. Deb Kabinoff and graduate Beth Curtis with 2014 Ava.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • April 28, 2016
Congrats, grad

Southeastern Guide Dogs graduate Beth Curtis crosses stage with dog Ava.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Teacher Alice Fox Stahlschmidt teaches an adult ballet class every Monday and Wednesday at Soul Studios.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • April 28, 2016
Adult ballet classes give students balance, grace

Adult ballet classes at Soul Studios offer an alternative exercise for seniors seeking flexibility and balance.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Urban Design Studio Director Karin Murphy is working intently on gathering input and synthesizing it into a final draft for the new form-based zoning code.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 28, 2016
Urban Design Studio solicits feedback on new code

The authors of the city’s forthcoming form-based zoning code are beginning to circulate parts of the document to various stakeholders for review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The downtown circulator service would be designed to operate with about a five-minute headway time for riders.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 28, 2016
City fast-tracks transportation improvement efforts

City Manager Tom Barwin says officials are keenly aware of the area’s seasonal traffic issues, and he wants to be proactive before the next deluge.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 28, 2016
Cops Corner: Sarasota 04.28.16

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Twelve-year-old Nikki Yanez earned an all-expense paid trip to Paris to compete in the Longines' 16-player international event May 26 through May 29.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 28, 2016
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

A rising Sarasota tennis player has landed a trip to Paris for an international tournament.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota senior Vaun Brown drove in a pair of runs and scored a run to help lead the Sailors to a 10-0 victory against Lakewood Ranch in the Class 8A-District 8 championship April 21.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 28, 2016
Sarasota High 5 Moments: 04.28.16

Sarasota High 5 Moments: 04.28.16

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Riverview sophomore Aliyah Cunningham won a district championship in the 100-meter dash to advance to the regional meet April 30.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 28, 2016
That's the ticket ...

Check out these top Sarasota area sporting events.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The United States' Margaux Isaksen will vie for one of 33 Olympic qualification spots during the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final May 5 through May 8.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 27, 2016
Sarasota marks Modern Pentathlon's final stop

The Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final will be held May 5 through May 8.

  • East County
  • Sports
An online petition aims to stop a proposed heliport at The Concession Golf Club.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 27, 2016
Online helistop petition gains momentum

Petition opposes a planned helistop at The Concession Golf Club

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • April 27, 2016
Chamber members network @ noon

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce hosted a Networking @ Noon luncheon April 27, at Harry’s Continental Kitchens.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Michelle Jett owns Baja Boys Grill, a longtime food truck in Sarasota County.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • April 27, 2016
Sarasota County may change food truck rules

The county will host two workshops to present potential changes to mobile vendor rules.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota Surge faces off against the Gainesville Hogs during a scrum. (courtesy photo)
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 27, 2016
Surge wins state championship

The Sarasota Surge rugby team will advance to the USA South Regionals April 30.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 27, 2016
GCFOA seeks officials

The Gulf Coast Football Officials Association will hold informational meetings May 2 and May 16.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 27, 2016
It’s not a growth issue

When things go wrong, businesses immediately adjust. Government officials should be taking the same approach to traffic. We can’t let next season be like this one.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 27, 2016
Why the Vue is so close to the road and the 5-year plan

We have some answers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • April 27, 2016
Manatee County School Board prioritizes half-cent sales tax

The majority of board members wanted to focus on its sales tax renewal.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 27, 2016
VOTING FORMS: Part-time Longboaters prepare for referendum

Click here to download vote-by-mail forms for the Aug. 30 referendum.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • April 27, 2016
Persistent peacock population peeves Longbeach Village residents

As a contractor continues rounding up the local peafowl, Longbeach Village residents think the problem may be bigger than town officials originally thought.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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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
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2
District 5 representative Ron Cutsinger will be the 2026 chairman of the Sarasota County Commission.
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Sarasota County commissioners pick chair, vice chair
3
Locations of the new St. Armands speed tables are marked in red.
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St. Armands speed humps will be replaced with permanent speed tables
4
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.
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New north Sarasota park draws major collegiate softball tournament
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Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man
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Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man

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