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Your Observer

Left side: Holly Braun, Brent Piersma, Ann Quackenbush, Dennis Piermont and the Rev. Julia Piermont. Right side: Sue Wertman, Mike McCullough, Michael Gardiner and Andy Sawyer at the Christ Church food drive.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • November 4, 2024
Christ Church of Longboat Key host annual food drive for hurricane relief

Longtime volunteers of Our Daily Bread were amazed at the amount of donations church members and Longboaters brought.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The beauty of both the competitors and the course were on display in 2023 during the cross country event of The Event at TerraNova. Katie Malensek of Canada rides Cheerio.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • November 4, 2024
World-class competition set at TerraNova in Myakka

Some of the world's best riders are slated to compete.

  • East County
  • Sports
Celeste Pillan and Mariol Werner create a large flower.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 4, 2024
Hurricanes don't put a stop to the Sarasota Int'l Chalk Festival

After the storms, the festival deals with slowing ticket sales but finds art supplies in hurricane debris.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sutter Roofing came to the aid of the Ski-A-Rees water ski team recently with the company's massive crane to help lift the bleachers out of the water. The bleachers had blown into Sarasota Bay as a result of Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • November 3, 2024
Sarasota roofing firm provides pick-me-up with crane for water skiing nonprofit

Despite seeing his business multiply after the storm, the president of Sutter Roofing believes it's important to take time out to help the community.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jaclyn McCarthy makes sure Tito Toniolo Teixeira gets just the right candy during the Kiddie Academy Halloween parade.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 3, 2024
Fun for the kiddies at the Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch on Halloween

The students were treated to a parade through a sweet trunk or treat section.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Country Club West's Michele Campbell and Blythe Hanson are VIPs at this year's Suncoast Food & Wine Fest.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 3, 2024
Foodies flock to Premier Sports Campus for Suncoast Food & Wine Fest

Over 30 local restaurants prepared dishes for the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch's premier event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ed Chiles has been in the restaurant business for more than 40 years.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • November 3, 2024
Ed Chiles remains involved after the sale of his three iconic island eateries

Ed Chiles recently sold his popular Manatee County restaurants and has been spending some time outside the area: with family in Montana and on businesses in Tennessee — including cannabis bars. But his heart, and passion for sustainability, remains on Anna Maria Island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
East County's Arthur Matney was showing off his 2020 C8 Corvette at the Knights Car Show. "It's the most awesome car I've ever had," he says.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 2, 2024
Knights' car show in Lakewood Ranch benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Classic cars spark fun stories by all who attend the event at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Rhonda Sheehan and Brian Berry
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 2, 2024
Fresh Fridays combine block party energy and the arts

While featuring the Bay Kings Band and performances by The Sarasota Players, the event allowed attendees to explore work by local artists and the variety of galleries along Palm Avenue.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Culverhouse gives a half million dollars to Season of Sharing
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2024
Culverhouse gives a half million dollars to Season of Sharing

The gift from Eliza and Hugh Culverhouse Jr. to the annual campaign will help provide relief for local families impacted by this year's hurricanes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The St. Regis Longboat Key opened in August during a big celebration of the long-anticipated resort.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • November 2, 2024
St. Regis opens a new wealth of possibilities for Longboat Key

After a decade of twists and turns, the St. Regis Longboat Key introduces a different level of luxury for the island — with a nod to the noted property that preceded it.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Alyssa Entin, 10 and Victoria Haroutunian, 10, dressed as circus clowns to embrace the circus theme at the Ringling Museum.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 1, 2024
Ringling Museum offers trick-or-treating on Halloween

After the recent hurricanes left many neighborhoods damaged, the museum decided to host Halloween at The Ringling.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lido Beach will reopen to the public Saturday, Nov. 2 following significant impacts from hurricanes Helene and Milton.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • November 1, 2024
Lido Beach to reopen Saturday

Public restrooms and the concession stand will be open, and lifeguards will be on duty.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The AMC 12 movie theater was one of three businesses operating at the otherwise vacant Sarasota Square Mall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 1, 2024
AMC 12 at Sarasota Square Mall closes permanently

The theater was one of three businesses planned to survive redevelopment of the largely vacant mall.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Amber Tarbet takes 13-year-old Leah Barros through her riding lesson with the help of Martha Murphy, Lisa Hughes and Sheryl Aguilar. SMART with Heart is looking for more volunteers and instructors to serve more people.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 1, 2024
Nonprofits merge to continue providing therapeutic equine therapy

Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy has merged with Hooves with HEART to become SMART with Heart.

  • East County
  • News
Karen Holbrook, the regional chancellor of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, has announced she will retire at the end of the year.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 1, 2024
USF Sarasota-Manatee chancellor to retire

Karen Holbrook has led the campus through significant growth.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 31, 2024
Breeze Airways adds multiple routes from SRQ

The premium low-cost airline adds service to and from seven destinations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jamie Kahns and Bob Kahns with Bank of America and Tim Estep, the manager for the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, get into the western theme for the alliance's Hob Nob.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 31, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's Hob Nob BBQ brings community together

Approximately 400 people attend the BBQ at Lakewood Ranch Library.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Peter Salefsky, Barbara Bostic and Gail Duerst
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 31, 2024
Seniors get into costume at Halloween Boo Bash

The Halloween Boo Bash at Senior Friendship Centers showed there are no age limits when it comes to enjoying Halloween.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Chidsey Building is being restored as part of The Bay's Phase 2 project.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 31, 2024
The Bay undertakes restoration of historic Chidsey Building

The project is expected to be complete by summer of 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Pascal Charbonneau walks from one chess board to another as he performs the demonstration of 15 simultaneous games.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 31, 2024
Chess grandmaster recalls the challenges of the game

Sarasota resident Pascal Charbonneau played 15 simultaneous games during an exhibition at a recent Manasota Chess Center event.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
School District of Manatee County students will have to make up time due to academic time lost as a result of the hurricanes.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 31, 2024
Manatee County students to make up educational time lost from hurricanes

Changes to the academic calendar have been announced for this school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Rawn Associates designed Klarman Hall at Harvard Business School.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 31, 2024
Orchestra names architecture firm for Fruitville Road facility

William Rawn Associates of Boston will lead the design of the planned Sarasota Orchestra Music Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 1632 Floyd St. was built in 1995 and has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,338 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 31, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 14-18 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Nokomis

A Morton Terrace home on Floyd Street tops the week's sales at $2.68 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
The School District of Manatee County is making progress on its new K-8 school being built in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 30, 2024
New K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch has a name

The School Board of Manatee County unanimously voted to name the school Lake Manatee K-8.

  • East County
  • Schools
Captain Rick McCoy gives directions to the next debris collection site.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 30, 2024
Longboat Key receives additional police support from state agencies

To help with traffic control and deter looting, the Longboat Key Police Department is receiving supplemental patrols from departments from Jacksonville to Miami.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
High at Hart's Landing
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 30, 2024
High at Hart's Landing

Two men regain consciousness and walk away after denying being under the influence of narcotics. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Gecko's Grill and Pub chef Scott Kleinberg will share his passion for cooking at the Suncoast Food and Wine Fest during a cooking demonstration.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 30, 2024
Local chefs to share their passion through Food & Wine Fest demos

Pascone's Ristorante and Gecko's Pub and Grille chefs will take guests on a culinary journey.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Though Myakka’s ecosystems adapted to seasonal flooding, increased threats of pollutant runoff from outside the park is concerning.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • October 30, 2024
Hurricane's fury can benefit wetlands, such as Myakka River State Park

It can play an important role in shaping healthy, albeit dramatically changed, ecosystems.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A crew works to repair the wave attenuator on Oct. 25.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 30, 2024
Nathan Benderson Park rebounds after Hurricane Milton damage

The park's wave attenuator took the biggest hit this hurricane season, but all events are full-speed ahead.

  • East County
  • News
Cariloha Sarasota lost about 80% of its inventory due to hurricanes Helene and Milton.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 30, 2024
Longboat Key small businesses seek public's help after losing everything

After hurricanes Helene and Milton affected them greatly, local businesses ask for help from the Longboat Key community to keep their businesses from closing down.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The Unit 707 condominium at 4401 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for $1.25 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 30, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for Oct. 14-18 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home in John Ringling Estates tops the week's sales at $2 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Cindy McCollough, founder of TANKS, Inc., has a one-on-one with Marmalade. It can take months to build trust with some of the rescues. Others will never let a human handle them.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 30, 2024
Myakka City sanctuary takes in senior and special needs cats

TANKS Inc. is home to 50 cats, seven beagles and five steer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A rendering of One Park West.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 30, 2024
One Park West approval completes planning for The Quay

The construction schedule will depend on final plans for the adjacent Hyatt Regency site redevelopment, which will impact views and pricing in the 69-unit residential tower.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Midge Pescatello browses among the hand-decorated trees at St. Mary, Star of the Sea's 2020 Christmas Bazaar.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 30, 2024
Christmas Bazaar returns Nov. 9 to Longboat Key

The annual Christmas Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mary Star of the Sea for all Christmas shopping needs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Another storm for condos
  • By Adrian Moore, Jeff Brandes
  • October 30, 2024
Another storm for condos

New condo inspection and repair laws, compliance deadlines and the rising cost of insurance are on the verge of creating a catastrophe for many condo owners.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
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Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
4
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
5
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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