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Your Observer

    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 20, 2016
Town staff navigate disaster drill

Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock led department heads through a hurricane exercise at Sarasota County’s emergency operations center today.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Catcher Maddie Biggs and pitcher Kailey Christian helped Lakewood Ranch capture the Academic Team Championship for softball.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 20, 2016
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Lakewood Ranch wins sixth-consecutive FHSAA Academic Team Championship.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jaylynn Garber, Allie Garber and Kelly Sportsman build a castle.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 19, 2016
Bashaw Elementary goes full STEAM ahead

Students explored science, art and engineering themed activites.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sutter Roofing was founded in 1902, and opened a Florida operation in 1979. It’s now one of the largest commercial roofers in the state. Company president Doug Sutter is on the right.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 19, 2016
Local firms protest economic development grant

‘Project Mulligan’ could provide more than $1 million for a national roofing company.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Contractors are building new outside lanes for University Parkway between Market Street and Cooper Creek Boulevard. Some time over the summer, traffic will shift to those lanes as construction crews build new inside lanes on University Parkway.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 19, 2016
Project completion still set in concrete

I-75-University Parkway project running on time and budget.

  • East County
  • News
Each fallen law enforcement representative has a plaque at the Manatee County Law Enforcement Memorial in front of the courthouse.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 19, 2016
Community honors fallen law enforcement officers

Manatee County Courthouse hosts annual service.

  • East County
  • News
In addition to XAC Developers, partners on the DeMarcay project include Voller Construction, Jones Development Company, Parker Walter Group and JKL Design Group.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 19, 2016
DeMarcay developer shares construction plans

After a judge ruled against residents attempting to block the project, the developer of the high-rise DeMarcay project on Palm Avenue will begin construction in June.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch girls basketball coach Tina Hadley guided the Mustangs to the Class 7A state championship this season.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 19, 2016
LRHS receives FHSAA sanctions

Sanctions handed down as a result of self-reported violations related to girls basketball.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River High School Assistant Principal Don French. File photo.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 19, 2016
Braden River High School students protest administrator move

Assistant Principal Don French has been at Braden River since it opened in 2005.

  • East County
  • News
Contractors start setting auger-cast piles to form the sound wall barrier on the west side of Interstate 75, just north of Fruitville.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 19, 2016
Sound wall goes up

The project is part of the diverging diamond project at University Parkway and I-75.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 19, 2016
LBO Cops Corner 05.19.16

Cops Corner

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Sarasota senior third baseman SarahBeth Wengerd was chosen to represent the West in the Florida High School Coaches Association 27th All-Star Softball Classic May 20-21.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 19, 2016
Sarasota High 5 Moments: 05.19.16

Sarasota High 5 Moments: 05.19.16

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
File photo. Take Stock in Children hosts Sailors & Sandals on May 28 at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • May 19, 2016
Sarasota Calendar 5.19.16

Sarasota and Siesta Key events for the week of May 19.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
After representing Sarasota in the Mrs. Florida pageant, Rachael Neudecker prepares for the Mrs. America pageant in August.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • May 19, 2016
Here she comes: Mrs. Florida

Sarasotan Rachael Neudecker was crowned Mrs. Florida for the Mrs. America Pageant in August.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A Siesta Key home tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 19, 2016
Siesta Key home sells for $2.89 million

The following residential real estate transactions took place between May 2 and May 6.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Jack Bates helps tie up packages of books to be delivered to Emma Booker Elementary School.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • May 19, 2016
Ashton Elementary helps combat summer slide at Emma Booker

Emma Booker Elementary School will receive more than 5,000 books for students to take home during summer break.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Large-scale events like the New Year’s Eve pineapple drop could be subject to increased scrutiny when the city revisits regulations regarding downtown special events.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 19, 2016
City prepares to revisit downtown event rules

For a third straight year, the city has instituted a one-year moratorium on street closures for events in the heart of the city — but a long-term plan is still lacking.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bill Santamaria, Nicole Leffler and Jill Whittemore are three of the Gulf Gate Village business owners who want to foster a collaborative spirit among merchants within the district.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 19, 2016
Gulf Gate merchants plot new association

There have been many failed efforts to form a merchant association in Gulf Gate Village, but businesses aren’t letting the past haunt the latest push to unite.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Downtown leaders credit Norm Gollub for helping residents and businesses keep track of ongoing projects in the heart of the city.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 19, 2016
Downtown economic leader departs post

Downtown Economic Development Coordinator Norm Gollub is leaving Sarasota. How will the organizations that fund the position follow up on his work?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cask and Ale is proposed for the space west of Evie’s Tavern.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 19, 2016
City regulations on downtown bars prove flexible

Despite resident opposition, officials have endorsed a Main Street business’ application for a liquor license. How does the city gauge the proper cutoff point for downtown bars?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Farmers Market Executive Director Phil Pagano wants to relocate vendors north of Main Street due to future construction plans.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 19, 2016
Farmers Market targets new home during impending construction

As three private developments plan to break ground along State Street and Lemon Avenue, the Sarasota Farmers Market is discussing relocating a number of vendors.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 19, 2016
Cops Corner: Sarasota 05.19.16

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Harvey Vengroff's affordable housing plan is back on track.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 19, 2016
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Vengroff housing, St. Armands garage and fighting summer hunger

The city moved ahead with two big projects this week, and All Faiths Food Bank is continuing its food drive and fundraising campaign.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota residents Marc and Dawn Bukaty prepare homemade chipotle bowls for roughly 180 Sarasota Crew rowers.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 19, 2016
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Food team keeps Sarasota Crew fueled on race day.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Ten-year-old Andrew Salu has been playing tennis for the past three years and has a pair of national titles to his credit.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 19, 2016
Serving up success

Ten-year-old Andrew Salu is the No. 1 ranked played in the nation for the Class of 2024.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota freshman quarterback Bryan Gagg will help lead the Sailors versus Naples Gulf Coast May 19.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 19, 2016
That's the ticket ...

Check out this week's top Sarasota area sporting events.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
In the last seven years, the town of Longboat Key has only expended $300,000 in surtax funding on beach projects.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 18, 2016
Town may erode surtax beach funding

The Longboat Key Town Commission will consider changing how it spends Sarasota County’s sales tax during budget discussions this summer.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 18, 2016
Competitive soccer registration underway

The Chargers Soccer Club at Lakewood Ranch competitive program is open to players, ages 7-18.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 18, 2016
SR 70's time to adapt

Manatee County, FDOT install new signal lights for better traffic flow.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 18, 2016
Siesta Key estate tops 2016 island sales

A real estate investment firm this month bought lots at the north end of the Key for $5.6 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Manatee Technical student Dylan Strand receives a lesson from instructor Vic Accurso
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 18, 2016
Growth in Manatee County sparks need for firefighters

MTC Fire Science Academy steps up to the challenge.

  • East County
  • News
Declan Hudson, second, Eva Bouchard, first, and Jarom Su'a, third, were the top three in the Tropicana Speech Contest at Gene Witt Elementary.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 18, 2016
Gene Witt students show off their public speaking skills

Side of Ranch: Jay Heater

  • East County
  • News
The chorus's routines all include some kind of actions to go with the song. "We love entertaining," said Ellen Linsley, president.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 18, 2016
These Manatee County women live in harmony

Magic of Manatee singers are vocal about their love of performing.

  • East County
  • News
Holly Wright and Ruth Brown spoke together at a luncheon in Venice. Photo courtesy of Candice McElyea.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 18, 2016
Lakewood Ranch business lights the way

Local marketing firm raises money for Payton Wright Foundation.

  • East County
  • News
Christina Hacker and Debbie Graves, neighbors in Braden Woods, say they love the low prices they saw at Aldi and plan to make the store part of their regular shopping excursions.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 18, 2016
Aldi opens East County location

Lockwood Ridge/SR 70 intersection now features three grocery stores.

  • East County
  • News
Assistant Branch Supervisor Judy Mullen, Friends of the Braden River Library President Martha Crabb, library Branch Supervisor Cathy Laird and Friends' Vice President Judy Harris show off the symbolic check.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 18, 2016
Library expansion may be overdue

Library volunteers hope a $20,000 donation to country will be a catalyst for improvements.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
St. Lucie County Administrator George Landry has been recommended by Howard Tipton to replace him as town manager as Tipton prepares to retire.
  • June 19, 2026
New town manager recommended for Longboat Key
2
Attendees were impressed by the fireworks across Sarasota Bay.
  • June 19, 2026
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Woman charged in three high-profile Sarasota burglaries
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Tony Barrett speaks at a candidate forum in April at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
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Manatee County Commission candidate charged with domestic battery
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The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
  • June 18, 2026
Driver dies of injuries in blowout-triggered crash in Sarasota

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