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Your Observer

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent released sample ballots today ahead of the Aug. 30 primary.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • July 26, 2016
County shares sample ballots for August primary

Sarasota County voters can now find sample ballots for the upcoming primary election online.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • July 26, 2016
Longboat Key: Your Calendar

Longboat Key: Your Calendar

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
File photo. Patriot Plaza welcomes crowds during the June 2014 dedication ceremony.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 26, 2016
Patriot Plaza honored for architecture

The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects People’s Choice Competition for 2016 recognizes Patriot Plaza.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Owners Kyle and Lydia Lawton and Jason Collins have invested in a $4 million, 32,000 square foot athletic facility in Manatee County.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2016
Kids activities in county take vault forward

EVO Athletics tumbles on scene with a massive presence.

  • East County
  • News
Madelaine Ruhl gets close to photograph the corpse flower Seymour.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 25, 2016
Crowds line up to smell corpse flower in bloom

Seymour the corpse flower is in bloom at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and Audrey is due to bloom soon.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 25, 2016
Unicorp to make Colony announcement Thursday

The firm behind plans to redevelop the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort aims to start the first phase of the project this week.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a found body in Lakewood Ranch. Detectives quickly realized the case had ties to Lee County.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 25, 2016
Third suspect charged with murder

Authorities in Lee County arrested Lavaya May, 16.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County is holding a public meeting Tuesday at 1980 Landings Blvd. to allow for public comment on the proposed budget.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • July 25, 2016
School Board set to talk budget

The Sarasota County School Board is holding a public meeting to discuss the district’s budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 24, 2016
Country Club home tops sales at $960,000

Residential real estate transactions July 8 through July 14

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Composer Thomas Pasatieri will see his opera, Signor Deluso, performed July 29-30 at Palm Aire Country Club.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 23, 2016
Palm Aire presents opportunity to experience opera

Thomas Pasatieri's work featured during Opera for Animals program.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 23, 2016
Campers take swing at baseball camp

Bible Baptist Church hosts annual baseball camp.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 23, 2016
Chabad camp offers fun, culture

Chabad of Bradenton hosted its annual Camp Gan Israel summer camp last week.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Fortson Homes is planning 18 workforce homes on Old Bradenton Road in the city of Sarasota.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 22, 2016
Workforce housing slated for north Sarasota

Developer Fortson Homes aims to build 18 homes on Old Bradenton Road.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • July 22, 2016
Campers sail through summer days

Sarasota Youth Sailing hosts the camp for 10 weeks during the summer

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort may be closer to redevelopment.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 22, 2016
Judge May rules on Colony issues

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge K. Rodney May this week ordered Colony Lender LLC and Unicorp to pay more than $60,000 for allegedly violating an automatic bankruptcy stay.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A temporary sign marking Church of the Palms' entrance stands among construction materials sit in a closed lane on Bee Ridge Road. The signs were placed when construction began on the road in January.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • July 22, 2016
County commissioners respond to Bee Ridge construction complaint

The Church of Palms was faced with closing its preschool for the second time this month before the county adjusted construction plans.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • July 22, 2016
Sea Sleuths snorkel through the bay

Mote Campers searched for marine wildlife during a recent day at camp.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Food collections are down for the summer months. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 22, 2016
Food Bank in critical need

Donations have dropped 73% compared with January totals.

  • East County
  • News
Dr. J. Albert Avila, right, and his wife, Dr. Janet Bailey Avila, cut the ribbon to officially open The Center for Urgent Care. Their son, Kyle Bailey, lends a hand.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 21, 2016
New Lakewood Ranch urgent care facility hosts grand opening

Dr. J. Albert Avila is ready to serve the east county area.

  • East County
  • News
Elena Tomeo Cassella is the new executive director for The Foundation for Dreams.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 21, 2016
New executive director provides strength at Foundation for Dreams

Education, fundraising top goals for new director Elena Tomeo Cassella.

  • East County
  • News
Willis Smith Vice President Kim French and Project Manager David Otterness were all smiles as they talked about their new project at the South Florida Museum. They are standing in front of a photo of a previous project at The Ringling.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 21, 2016
Willis Smith's impact on community still under construction

Side of Ranch: Jay Heater

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • July 21, 2016
Mote campers make a splash in the bay

The Coast Counts Camp finished its session with hands-on exploration.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Audrey and Seymour the two corpse flowers at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 21, 2016
What’s the stink at Selby Gardens?

Corpse flowers “Seymour” and “Audrey” are set to bloom releasing a putrid scent.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Melissa Tucker of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission presents a mockup of the signs that would be posted around the Roberts Bay Islands if they were designated as a critical wildlife area.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • July 21, 2016
State agency seeks enhanced protection for Roberts Bay Islands

Roberts Bay islands could become a critical wildlife area — effectively closing the islands to the public — if a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission proposal is passed.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Phil Esposito founded the Tampa Bay Lightning. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 21, 2016
Hockey legend to attend business luncheon

The Tampa Bay Lightning's Phil Esposito will visit Lakewood Ranch next week.

  • East County
  • Business
Jeff Hradek opens the cabinet that holds the more than 50 Sarasota High School shirts he's leaving behind for the next principal.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 21, 2016
Hradek leaves big shoes and shirts to fill

Jeff Hradek will retire after 13 years as Sarasota High School's principal.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Shantal Norman of Jah Movement will be performing with the group during the July 29 Friday Fest.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 21, 2016
Sarasota Calendar 7.21.16

Sarasota and Siesta Key events for the week of July 21.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Neptune
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 21, 2016
Neptune statue feels the love

The statue at St. Armands Circle has a kiss mark on the marble.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Although at least one resident is concerned about the intersection of Hyde Park Street and Clematis Place, the Sarasota Police Department hadn't witnessed any problems with people running stop signs.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 21, 2016
Arlington Park raises concerns about speeders

The Arlington Park neighborhood has a growing problem with drivers speeding down residential streets.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Message boards along Osprey Avenue direct northbound drivers to head to U.S. 41 because of the bridge closure.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 21, 2016
Southside Village businesses protest traffic plans

The Osprey Avenue bridge is closing for a year. As officials address resident concerns, are businesses bearing the brunt of the impact?

  • Sarasota
  • News
An excavator digs through the rubble of what used to be a gas station car wash next to CB’s Island Outfitters. The new Daiquiri Deck plans to open next to the store in spring 2017.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • July 21, 2016
South Siesta businesses question parking capacity

As construction begins on the new Daiquiri Deck location on south Siesta Key, how much room does the commercial district have to grow?

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Shell Road is now over grown with grass, unable to be identified from a property owner’s lawn. Shell Road was formally vacated in 1981 and, 35 years later, Siesta Key residents fear they are losing access to beaches.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • July 21, 2016
Shell Road history illustrates fight for beach access on Siesta

A Siesta Key resident’s decision to sue the county over the vacation of a waterfront road has prompted debate over public beach access, but this is not the first time the subject has been hoisted into the spotlight.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 21, 2016
Cops Corner: Sarasota 07.21.16

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Luis Figo
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 20, 2016
International soccer star heads for Lakewood Ranch

Portuguese legend will host tournament at Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Florida Power and Light line specialist Johnny Allison has the automated lateral switch he is about to install on the 4100 block of 45th Street East in Bradenton.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 20, 2016
Florida Power and Light switch should power improvements

New Smart Grid technology installed for William H. Bashaw and surrounding community.

  • East County
  • News
Courtesy photo. David Jones will transition from the position of principal at North Port High School to principal at Sarasota High School.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 20, 2016
New principal named for Sarasota High School

North Port High School principal David Jones will transition to the leadership role at Sarasota High School.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
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Latest News

1
A rendering of the Mira Mar building set against the backdrop of Mira Mar Residences, the project that will provide revenue to fund the $25 million to $30 million restoration of the historic structure.
  • April 7, 2026
Construction permit issued for downtown Sarasota historic restoration project
2
From left to right, Maya Carpentiere, Amanda Gonzalez, Christiana Allison, Grayson Buchanan, Sheila Wallis and Ryan Duga star in Florida Studio Theatre's children's production, "The Pirate Ship and the Sea Monster and Other Winning Plays."
  • April 7, 2026
Three Sarasota theaters jump on the trolley
3
Florida Statute 1001.42(4)(f)2 will require high schools, including Braden River High (pictured) and Lakewood Ranch High, to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. unless the district submits paperwork and gets accepted to keep the current start times.
  • April 7, 2026
Manatee County School District might fight starting time mandate
4
The Broadway revival of Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall April 10-11.
  • April 7, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for April 9-15
5
The cast of Asolo Rep's "Fiddler on the Roof" poses with instruments.
  • April 7, 2026
Asolo Rep's production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' plays a timeless tune

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