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Your Observer

The properties Floridays Develop Co. seeks to turn into a hotel encompasses approximately 1.5 acres of land between Whitney Beach Plaza and the vacant bank building on Gulf of Mexico Drive at 6960 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 23, 2015
Floridays eyes Longboat Key hotel

Sarasota-based Floridays Development Co. seeks to build a hotel on the north end of the island if it can get referendum approval to change the zoning of six parcels.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Photo: Dutchman Hospitality, Inc.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • November 23, 2015
Developer proposes four-story hotel in Pinecraft community

The hotel will serve the Amish and Mennonite community, as well as midwestern tourists and sports tourists.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 23, 2015
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office investigates two armed robberies

Both alleged incidents occurred Monday on University Parkway.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 23, 2015
Manatee County released holiday closures and schedules

County buildings and services will be shut down on Thanksgiving Day.

  • East County
  • News
Trey MacDougall follows along with the performance at First Presbyterian Church Monday morning.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • November 23, 2015
Preschoolers gives thanks at First Presbyterian

Students perform for parents and share a meal with classmates in anticipation of Thanksgiving.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 23, 2015
St. Armands decks its halls

St. Armands Circle decorated its 51-foot Christmas tree on Monday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • November 23, 2015
Caragiulo to open new restaurant in Southside Village

Local restaurateur Mark Caragiulo plans to open Veronica Fish & Oyster in the space formerly occupied by Sam Snead’s American Grill.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mike Otis, of Bradenton, shows off his 2013 Mustang GT California Special.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 23, 2015
Lakewood Ranch Main Street roars with Mustangs

Ponies Under the Palms featured a range of Mustang models and year.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Regina Jenkins and Meadow Walker conclude the Interfaith Service on a high note with the Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Gospel Choir.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • November 23, 2015
Congregations gather in harmony for Interfaith Service

Sixteen congregations from varying faiths and denominations joined in fellowship at First Presbyterian Church Sunday night.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The sculpture title "The Guardian" by Nnamdi Okonkwo watches as festival goers pass by.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • November 22, 2015
Fall festival brings fine arts to the bayfront

The Sarasota Fall Fine Art Festival hosted artists from across the country for the weekend of Nov. 21.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
ODA sophomore Chase Maasdorp drives to the basket in the first half.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 22, 2015
Thunder roll in season opener

The ODA boys basketball team beat SMA 66-48 Nov. 16.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Tai and Ava Cholakian, of Sarasota, go take a ride to the groves.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 22, 2015
Mixon Fruit Farms serves up harvest fun

Harvest Festival attendees enjoyed games and fun at annual Harvest Festival.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 22, 2015
Bird Key Yacht Club honors its commodore

Members of Bird Key Yacht Club donned their best evening attire at the Commodore’s Ball on Nov. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 22, 2015
The Sanctuary welcomes back its residents

Residents of The Sanctuary welcomed back their neighbors on Nov. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 22, 2015
Riverdale home tops local sales list at $1.6 million

Robert and Barbara Mehmel, of Bernardsville, N.J., sold their home at 3911 Hawk Island Drive to Robert Carretta, trustee, of Richfield, Ohio, for $1,605,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Sarasota Young Professionals Group member and lead singer for Jah Movement Shantal Norman.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • November 22, 2015
Bands turn up the music at Rock for a Cause

The second Rock for a Cause and Battle of the Bands takes over Payne Park Saturday, Nov. 21.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dentists at the Remote Area Medical clinic worked quickly, usually turning over each patient in about 35 minutes.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 21, 2015
'A life-changing experience'

Just under 1,000 people receive medical treatment during a Remote Area Medical clinic on Saturday.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 21, 2015
Save Our Seabirds takes flight

Bird and music lovers flocked to Save Our Seabirds’ third annual Arias In Flight Nov. 21, at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 21, 2015
St. Mary kicks off the holiday season

Christmas came a month early at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church at the annual St. Mary Christmas Bazaar Nov. 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Braden River running back DeShaun Fenwick and offensive lineman Alex Salguero celebrate following Fenwick's touchdown run in the second quarter.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 20, 2015
Pirates continue historic run

The Braden River High football team will travel to Plant City for the Class 7A-Region 3 finals Nov. 27.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 20, 2015
Dan Rather will lead mental health panel

The discussion will feature interesting tie-ins to the community dialog on homelessness and the state mental hospital crisis.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Chef Andrea Pisano doesn't eat turkey, but he loves cooking it, even the giblets.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 20, 2015
It takes heart to eat giblets

Should the naturally gnarly innards of a gobbler feed a gigantic gala at the Thanksgiving table?

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 20, 2015
Manatee County School Board seeks input on start times

Data shows later start times benefit middle, high school students

  • East County
  • News
One of a Kind winner Janet Arena of Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall walks to the stage to accept her award from Manatee County Commissioner Betsy Benac.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 20, 2015
The Sandies connect for a grand slam event

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance packs them into Polo Grill for annual members' choice awards.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • November 20, 2015
Three Things: Holiday getaways

Three Sarasota and Longboat Key properties that make for great escapes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Town Manager Dave Bullock blames strong easterly winds for the arrival of thousands of dead fish floating in Key canals.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 20, 2015
Red tide fish cleanup is underway

A town contractor is cleaning up dead fish floating on the top of Country Club Shores canals and in other waterways this morning.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • November 20, 2015
INTERACTIVE: Sarasota’s unemployment rate continues decline

The unemployment rate in Sarasota County fell to 4.8% in October, which is the lowest the economic indicator has been since June 2007.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Julie and Tom Ciesielski of Summerfield have had a rough five months since Tom was diagnosed with leukemia. Julie now raises funds for leukemia research.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 20, 2015
Donations do make a difference

Husband's leukemia prompts wife to begin fundraising efforts.

  • East County
  • News
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has chosen Sarasota for his Florida office.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • November 19, 2015
Donald Trump to speak in Sarasota

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump will hold a rally at Robarts Arena Saturday, Nov. 28.

  • Sarasota
  • News
"Please don't give up control of our gate for 10 years," said Country Club West resident Tom Willson. "We need the flexibility to address our safety issue at Balmoral."
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 19, 2015
Lakewood Ranch CDDs approve roadshare agreement

The three districts will share the costs of communal roads and gates maintenance.

  • East County
  • News
Pinellas Safe Harbor
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
Failed model in Pinellas

The data from Pinellas County’s come-as-you-are homeless shelter doesn’t bode well for Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Charles Preston Rawls, of Sarasota, submitted this photo of sailboats at sunrise in the bay at Island Park.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
Sarasota weather page photo: Nov. 19

Charles Preston Rawls, of Sarasota, submitted this photo of sailboats at sunrise in the bay at Island Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
John Smith submitted this photo of a snowy egret and its reflection as it glides inches above a lake in Bradenton.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
East County weather page photo: Nov. 19

John Smith submitted this photo of a snowy egret and its reflection as it glides inches above a lake in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Brando Cuyuch, Napier Hale, Destinee Guel and Araceli Cervantes show off their holiday-themed head wear.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 19, 2015
Bashaw Elementary serves up Thanksgiving meal

Students enjoyed ham, turkey and other holiday staples during a Thanksgiving Feast lunch Nov. 19.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Belinda Russell submitted this photo from Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2015
Longboat Key weather page photo: Nov. 19

Belinda Russell submitted this photo from Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This North American river otter, found in Melbourne, will be one of the otters featured at “Otters & Their Waters.” Credit: Tracy Frampton, of Florida Wildlife Hospital
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 19, 2015
Mote to showcase otters

"Otters & Their Waters" will be on display beginning in early 2016.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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