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Your Observer

The city code has long prohibited signs advertising businesses from the public right of way, but enforcement has been lax in the past. The new regulations attempt to create a system that permits the promotion of stores and restaurants.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 10, 2015
City tests new downtown sign regulations

To allow merchants to post signs advertising their businesses on the sidewalk, the city is adopting a policy that will permit all citizens to post messages in the right of way.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo by Jack Short
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 10, 2015
Florida snowman makes appearance on Siesta Key

Sandy the sandwoman spotted on the beach and football lovers collect bicycles for Toys For Tots.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Two-year-old Aaron Lager has his first ride on the four-mile trail with his father.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 10, 2015
This week in history 11.26.15

A glimpse of the way things were from the archives.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo. Tuttle Elementary teacher, Jaymie Fey and Pine View School teacher, Margaret E. Spies show off their grants after the awards ceremony Wednesday night.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2015
School Board 12.10.15

Updates from schools throughout Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The kitchen of the 1960s home has been updated within the last four years.
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • December 10, 2015
High style from the '60s

The restored Bechtel Home has a dramatic design and history.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2015
Cops Corner: Sarasota 12.10.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Former Sarasota guard Camille Giardina now plays for Florida Southern College.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 10, 2015
Sarasota High 5 Moments: 12.10.15

Sarasota High 5 Moments: 12.10.15

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 9, 2015
Longboat Observer wins Newspaper of the Year

The Longboat Observer won the Local Media Association's Newspaper of the Year award, while the East County Observer and Sarasota Observer also won accolades.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The view from Turtle Beach looking north, which shows erosion since the beach was first renourished in 2007.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 9, 2015
$18 million contract awarded for south Siesta renourishment

Sarasota County awarded the contract for its planned south Siesta Key renourishment project to the sole bidder.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Tye Moore and Tiffany Anderson, of Bradenton, sing, "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 9, 2015
Tara Elementary performs holiday play

Fifth-graders sang 'Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer' and other classics.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 9, 2015
Cost vs. benefit of no poles

If Longboat voters approve underground lines for neighborhoods, the town’s long-term debt will go up 580%. Stunning. But in context, it’ll be worth the investment.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
County students are starting classes two weeks earlier in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 9, 2015
Manatee County School Board approves start dates

Students will return to school Aug. 10 for the next two school years.

  • East County
  • News
Polo professional Nick Johnson has been training horses at the Sarasota Polo Club for the past three years.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 9, 2015
Learning polo ... can horses stick to it?

Trainer specializes in converting thoroughbreds so they excel at a new sport.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Braden River Soccer Club 10U Maroon girls soccer team finished second in the Soccer Skills Thanksgiving Cup Nov. 28 and Nov. 29. (courtesy photo)
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 9, 2015
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Different paths lead to similar honor

  • East County
  • Sports
The exterior of the Centre Shops was completely renovated.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 9, 2015
Centre Shops has a colorful renovation

The renovations to the Centre Shops provide an increase in tenants and business.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Ursula Abplanalp
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 9, 2015
The sound of alphorn music

Ursula Abplanalp, who spends several weeks a year on Longboat Key, plays the alphorn each day on the patio of her Sleepy Lagoon home.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 9, 2015
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 12.10.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Longboat Key Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Longboat Key Deputy Police Chief Frank Rubino urges residents to call whenever they see something suspicious.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 9, 2015
Would crime watch deter burglars...or buyers?

Longboat Key Police rely on residents to be their eyes and ears in the community, but so far none of those eyes and ears has organized an official crime watch.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 9, 2015
Longboat Key Letters to the Editor 12.10.15

Readers respond to new crosswalks on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 9, 2015
News Briefs: Longboat Key 12.10.15

Unicorp seeks to prevent Colony meeting; Six Longboat Key firefighters receive life-saving award; Town collects items for Toys for Tots

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key’s registered voters will decide March 15 whether to power up or cut the power to a $20.5 million neighborhood and side street power pole and utilities undergrounding project.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 9, 2015
Neighborhood undergrounding referendum surges forward

The future of Gulf of Mexico Drive utilities is on the line for a March ballot, but some worry about the funding split.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Whitney Beach Plaza owner Ryan Snyder says the plaza as a commercial-only site "is just a temporary stop gap until something happens."
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 9, 2015
Whitney Plaza owner nixes referendum request

Owner Ryan Snyder’s decision follows the announcement of a local developer’s plans for a hotel next door.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Derian Pettitt, 12, and Michael Haynes Jr., 14, donated dolls, among other toys.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 9, 2015
Haile Middle students band together for charity

The school collected more than 300 items for Toys for Tots program.

  • East County
  • News
District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh hopes to keep Manatee County as one of the cheapest places to live in the state.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 9, 2015
Commissioners make impact with higher fees

Whether higher impact fees handle growth or harm new building sales in Manatee County remains to be seen.

  • East County
  • News
McNeal won first-place in the accuracy division of the catapult competition.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 9, 2015
Your Town

McNeal Elementary students win at TSA competition; School of Russian Ballet brings in ballerina; Sheridan at Lakewood Ranch opens Welcome Center

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Photo courtesy of Roger PettingellThe Unit 333 condominium at 3030 Grand Bay Blvd. has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,369 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 9, 2015
Grand Bay condo sells for $965,000

The Unit 333 condominium at 3030 Grand Bay Blvd. has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,369 square feet of living area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    A time to celebrate |
  • December 9, 2015
Just Married: Cathleen and Matt

Cathleen and Matt Purmort were married March 14, 2015

  • Sarasota
  • Celebrations
Kurt Schultheis The crosswalk just north of Companion Way on Gulf of Mexico Drive leads to bushes — but no sidewalk.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 9, 2015
Crosswalks: ‘They take me nowhere’

Residents say three crosswalks offer them a clear path — into grass and other vegetation.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The students from Girls Inc. of Sarasota County stare in awe of the tree.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 8, 2015
Selby flips the switch for bromeliad tree lighting

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens starts the holiday season tradition of lighting the bromeliad tree.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota's Ja'da Bennett attempts to dribble past Lakewood Ranch's Aleah Robinson.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 8, 2015
Sailors bounce back from loss

After losing to Lakewood Ranch Dec. 3, Sarasota defeated Braden River Dec. 8.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Tony Romanus walks the edge of one of Siesta Isles Association's entrances where landscape improvements wait to resume.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 8, 2015
Commission approves Siesta Isles’ tree permit appeal

Commissioners vindicated residents who were asked to stop construction for lack of a tree permit.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 8, 2015
Women’s golf associations’ holiday celebration a hole in one

The Women’s 18-Hole Golf Association and the Key Niners Women’s Golf Association held their annual Frosty Frolic Dec. 8.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A county surveyor's photo showing part of the property owned by the Ginsberg-Klemmt.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 8, 2015
Parking resolution a blow to submerged land owners

The owners of submerged lots off Siesta Circle hoped required parking for a proposed dock could be satisfied by space on the right of way.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The city removed benches from Five Points Park in 2011, a move intended to curtail problems associated with gatherings of homeless individuals in the area.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 8, 2015
City Commission OKs effort to activate Five Points Park

In addition to bringing back some form of seating to Five Points, city staff will experiment with other opportunities to increase activity at the downtown park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The future of Gulf of Mexico Drive utilities is on the line for a March ballot but some commissioners and residents worry if it’s being funded correctly.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 8, 2015
Commission flips switch on neighborhood undergrounding referendum

The future of Gulf of Mexico Drive utilities is on the line for a March ballot but some commissioners and residents worry if it’s being funded correctly.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Nolan Middle School Student Support Specialist Carrie Rainwater kissed a cow Dec. 7.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 8, 2015
Nolan Middle School faculty member smooches livestock

As a reward for collecting cans for an FFA service project, Carrie Rainwater kissed a cow.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
The World of Chucko photo-bombs Dana Dalpra, Lauren Hersh and Tami and Phillip Lanham.
  • December 14, 2025
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2
Joni Hill, Cate Douglas and Gaby Hayashi make their way across the beach.
  • December 14, 2025
Holiday spirit gets moving at Sandy Claws Beach Run
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  • December 14, 2025
Eat, drink and be merry like you're in a 'Home Alone' movie
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Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
5
Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire

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