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Your Observer

Nancy’s Bar-B-Q isn’t packing up its downtown Sarasota location, but it is moving to the east side.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 22, 2015
Top Story — February: Nancy's Bar-B-Q coming to Main Street

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County deputies arrested an 18-year-old high school student suspected of dealing drugs in a Crunch gym parking lot after 7 p.m. Tuesday.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 22, 2015
Top Story — February: Teen busted with six pounds of pot

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Gift and Gaffes
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2015
Longboat Key Gifts and Gaffes

Holiday memories: Some warm the heart, and others send chills down the spine. We’ve compiled some of your fondest holiday memories, along with your most memorable mishaps. Cheers to a holiday season that you’ll never forget.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota Police Department recovered the body of a man who jumped from the Ringling Bridge just before 9:30 a.m. Monday.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 22, 2015
Top Story — February: Police recover body after plunge from Ringling Bridge

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
During the summer, the Village Idiots organize rides Wednesday nights and Saturday morning. When daylight saving time is in effect, they only ride Saturday mornings.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 21, 2015
County's spin: More research needed

Commissioners took no action on an ordinance to ban cyclists, hoping to come up with an alternative solution.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 21, 2015
Cops Corner 12.24.2015

Crime reports from around the area.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Amari Sielaff gets a hug from Tim Hyden after she picks out a bicycle.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 21, 2015
The cycle of love

Local couple count their blessings by donating 20 bicycles to children in the 'Grandparents as Parents' program.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 21, 2015
Longboat Key resident finds her missing diamond bracelet

Holly Hennessy lost her diamond bracelet Dec. 11 and got it back thanks to the Longboat Key Police and a kind snowbird.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Elks Lodge 2855 members Jack Ogren, Phyllis Stolteben, Chuck Stolteben, Mary Bilkie, Pat Marrocco and Kay Ogren visited veterans at the Bay Pines Medical Center.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 21, 2015
Salute to the veterans

Local Elks Lodge shows its support of veterans in December.

  • East County
  • News
One of five available home designs, courtesy of Taylor Morrison.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 21, 2015
Bayside development in Osprey selling homes

Land for the Taylor Morrison Development just one of a string of major acquisitions since the recovery.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This nativity scene is a serene pond-side display at the corner of Clubhouse Drive and Pine Meadow Way.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 21, 2015
East County holiday lights you don't want to miss

If touring neighborhood lights is your holiday tradition, here's a few in East County you should be sure to check off your list.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Manatee County students are on winter break from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3, and return to school Jan. 4.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 21, 2015
Manatee County schools, offices closed for holidays

County schools will reopen Jan. 4.

  • East County
  • News
Chloe Wass has a blast going down the snow slide.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 21, 2015
Residents delight in cooler temperatures for Snow Fest

Carnival foods, rides and attractions bring out families during cold weekend for Snow Fest.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A Savor the Sounds concert event planned for Jan. 23 at Bayfront Park will include a fireworks display.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 21, 2015
Fireworks celebration rescheduled for January

A Savor the Sounds concert event planned for Jan. 23 at Bayfront Park will include a fireworks display.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
None of the vehicles were locked.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 21, 2015
Three arrested in Heritage Harbour car burglaries

A fourth suspect is being interviewed.

  • East County
  • News
Dylan Cameron and Hunter Reed both went 8-0 at the Southside Duals Dec. 18 and Dec. 19.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 21, 2015
Lakewood grapplers post third-place finish

The Lakewood Ranch High wrestling team had three individuals winners at the Southside Duals.

  • East County
  • Sports
Entrepreneur Mike Evanoff recently revamped storefronts on Main Street in downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 21, 2015
Top Story — January: White Buffalo owner mulls plans for nearby property

Entrepreneur Mike Evanoff is considering an upscale gun range or gun shop near the successful White Buffalo Saloon.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Madelyn Kumar doesn’t want to wait until she graduates from college to experience life in the “real world.” So, she didn’t.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 21, 2015
Top Story — January: Students take on real world connections

The Future Problem Solving Program International program promotes critical and creative thinking in students in grades fourth through 12th.

  • East County
  • News
A fire at the Lido Beach Holiday Inn forced an evacuation this morning, but didn’t cause major structural damage or leave anyone injured.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 21, 2015
Top Story — January: Lido Beach resort fire forces evacuation

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Great Lawn is covered in larger-than-life butterflies.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 19, 2015
Selby comes to light with Lights In Bloom

Families stroll Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for 12th annual Lights In Bloom exhibit.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 18, 2015
Runners jingle in Lakewood Ranch

More than 2,000 runners participated.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
CDD 1 supervisors hope friends of the boys who died will place flowers and other memorabilia at an alternative site.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 18, 2015
Lakewood Ranch CDD 1 has new plan for memorial site

Supervisors hope a bench can serve as a new, safer memorial location.

  • East County
  • News
Jose Escobar, of Bradenton, shows off his early Christmas present.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 18, 2015
Salvation Army of Manatee County distributes gifts to families

The organization collected thousands of toys through its Angel Tree program.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Growth in the healthcare and education sectors has helped drive the unemployment rate down, and actually served to buoy the local economy during the recession, according to local metro area data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 18, 2015
INTERACTIVE: Sarasota’s unemployment rate continues to fall

With about 1,600 fewer unemployed residents in November than the same month in 2014, the local jobless rate continues its decline to 4.5%.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 18, 2015
Siesta Key Condominium Council announces lighting contest winners

The annual contest decides the best and brightest of the council's members.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
CEO Richard Fletcher, COO Chris Loftus and Chief Nursing Officer Judy Young judged the entrees. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 18, 2015
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center staff sweeten up hospital café

Twelve departments participated in a gingerbread house contest this week.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 18, 2015
The Rev. Michael Mansperger celebrates 25 years

The Rev. Michael Mansperger celebrated 25 years of service to the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant Dec. 17, at Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
There is light rain and cloudy skies this morning on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 18, 2015
Cold front passes through the area today

Light rain and cloudy skies this morning is part of a cold front passing through that's bringing cooler temperatures to the area.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 18, 2015
Planning Commission moves Whole Foods, Wawa forward

Sarasota county commissioners will decide in January whether to allow developers to remove wetlands to build a commercial center.

  • East County
  • News
Mykayla Graham's first glance at the present room where children were able to take their pick of three gifts to bring home.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 18, 2015
Boys & Girls Club gifts holiday party to students

Children played games, met Santa Claus and picked out presents at the Lee Wetherington branch Boys & Girls Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Runners will start the 3.1 mile run around 7 p.m.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 18, 2015
Jingle 5K/Walk hits Lakewood Ranch

More than 2,000 runners are expected to participate.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • December 17, 2015
Siesta Key leaders judge Condo Lighting Contest

This year's contest had lights, egg nog, and holiday cheer to spare.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The chorus, grades three through five, performed for the school Thursday morning.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 17, 2015
Bashaw Elementary chorus sing holiday tunes

The chorus performed for the school Thursday morning.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Bee Ridge Road improvement project will temporarily close down some side streets and a lane of traffic. File photo.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 17, 2015
FDOT to launch $17 million Bee Ridge project

The project begins in January and will last two years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Brianna Duff is frozen while she plays a doll in a toy store.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 17, 2015
Gullett Elementary students visit toy land

The East County school put its own spin on life through a toy's eyes in 'Toys in Storage.'

  • East County
  • Neighbors
New Longboat Key crosswalks aren’t completely operational yet.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 17, 2015
Crosswalk lighting malfunction being addressed

Longboat Key crosswalk signs are covered this week while a contractor works to solve an electrical issue.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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