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Your Observer

Since being hired in 2012, City Manager Tom Barwin has not been formally evaluated by the City Commission.
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 25, 2015
Sarasota officials go without evaluations from commissioners

The city charter requires a formal assessment of three key officials on an annual basis, but the City Commission hasn’t conducted a review since 2011.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Eric Baird and Jesse Biter are part of BBC Main, a group of investors who purchased the Main Plaza property for $18.1 million Nov. 12.
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 25, 2015
Main Plaza sale spotlights east end of downtown

Following the $18.1 million sale of Main Plaza, how might the new owners redevelop the property — and how will that impact the eastern end of downtown Sarasota?

  • Sarasota
  • News
The proposal would replace the current concession area at the pavilion with a restaurant.
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 25, 2015
Could a mini golf course come to Lido Beach?

Could a mini golf course come to Lido Beach?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jasmine Mendez is part of the Culinary Arts Program at the Boys & Girls Club Lee Wetherington Branch.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • November 25, 2015
Career Resource Center to fill gaps in labor force

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County seeks to better prepare children for college and beyond.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    A time to celebrate |
  • November 25, 2015
Just Married: Ashley and Patrick

Ashley and Patrick Thomas were married Saturday, Oct. 24, under a custom-built canopy near the water on the lawn of New College of Florida in Sarasota, Fla.

  • Sarasota
  • Celebrations
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 25, 2015
Cops Corner: Sarasota 11.25.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Lynda Nixon ties coastal design into her Christmas decorations at her shop on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 25, 2015
Holiday hassle: Lakewood Ranch designer decorates homes for Christmas

Too stressed to decorate? No problem.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 24, 2015
Longboaters give thanks

Longboat residents of all religions gathered for the 35th annual Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Nov. 24.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Starwood Hotel proposal comes from HAAD/ARCADD Inc., a New York and Boston-based design and development firm.
    By
  • David Conway
  • November 24, 2015
County receives two hotel proposals for downtown land

In addition to older plans for a Kimpton Hotel, a new proposal calls for the creation of an 8-story mixed use project with a three-floor Starwood Hotel.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • November 24, 2015
Bee Ridge Marathon may get Korean barbecue from street vendor

A food trailer could bring Bulgogi, Kimchi and potato noodles to the Marathon gas station at 2791 Bee Ridge Rd.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • November 24, 2015
Bands rock out at Payne Park

Rock for a Cause returns for the 2nd year with a battle of the bands.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
J.R. Leach of Palm Aire removes a pair of carnival glass bowls from his display case at home. He is the vice-president of the Tampa Bay Carnival Glass Club.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 24, 2015
Heater: Collecting turns into his personal carnival

When I met Palm Aire's J.R. Leach, I thought he was going to be another in a long line of treasure hunters. He is the vice president of the Tampa Bay Carnival Glass Club so I couldn't wait to ask him about his biggest score.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River senior Ryan Walker won the Class 3A state title in the 100-yard breaststroke Nov. 14.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 24, 2015
The perfect time to improve

Pirates' first state swim champ looks toward higher goals.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch's Caitlyn Klein and Braden River's Joanne Gigliotti battle for possession.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 24, 2015
East County Sports Spotlight: 11.26.15

That's the ticket ...

  • East County
  • Sports
The Lakewood Ranch High cheerleading squad won its first competition of the season Nov. 14.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 24, 2015
East County High 5 Moments: 11.26.15

East County High 5 Moments: 11.26.15

  • East County
  • Sports
Waterlefe resident Bill Quigley has been a golf course member for one year.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 24, 2015
Waterlefe seeks green players

A new membership category could get course on par.

  • East County
  • News
Jackson was a foster failure for Heike Caspary, who adopted him. He's a 6 year old Harlequin Great Dane.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 24, 2015
Great dogs, big problems

Local Great Dane rescue educates adopters about the breed.

  • East County
  • News
ODA sophomore Chase Maasdorp drives to the basket during the Thunder's season opener versus Sarasota Military Academy Nov. 16.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 24, 2015
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

YMCA swimmers no longer riding the Wave

  • East County
  • Sports
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 24, 2015
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 11.26.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Suzanne Tomlin submitted this photo of Beer Can Island, which won this year’s Weather and Nature Photo Contest.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • November 24, 2015
Meet this year’s weather photo contest winner

Suzanne Tomlin’s picture at Beer Can Island in Longboat Key is this year’s contest winner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The home at 3550 Mistletoe Lane has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,725 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 24, 2015
Corey's Landing home sells for $3.55 million

The home at 3550 Mistletoe Lane has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,725 square feet of living area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
A debris contractor cleans Country Club Shores canals Nov. 20,, scooping up dead fish and depositing them at Bayfront Park for transport to a Bradenton landfill.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 24, 2015
Town nets relief from red tide cleanup

What’s that smell? For many residents, it’s relief, after Town Manager Dave Bullock authorizes a cleanup of dead fish.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
More than half of East County schools are at or over capacity.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 24, 2015
East County schools see continual increase in student population

Seven of 13 schools out east are over capacity as the area continues to grow.

  • East County
  • News
Children of migrant workers received backpacks and other school supplies.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 24, 2015
Your Town

Gullett defeats McNeal in canned food drive; MTC donates school supplies to migrant children; Meals on Wheels PLUS seeks shoeboxes

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longbeach Café currently has 45 approved indoor dining seats. The approval gives the restaurant 24 additional seats outside, for a total of 69 seats.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 24, 2015
Longbeach Café will take dining outside

The Whitney Beach restaurant will become the eighth eatery on the Key where outdoor dining is allowed.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 24, 2015
Cops Corner 11.26.2015

Crime reports from around the area.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
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
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Latest News

1
Diane DelloRusso, who has worked in the jewelry business for 36 years and been a longtime manager at Jewelry by Cole, said she believes customers will appreciate the new St. Armands Jewelry store with its blend of classic and contemporary styles. She came out of retirement to assist with the transition and can't wait for longtime patrons to see the boutique's new look.
  • June 16, 2026
Two new shops coming to St. Armands Circle
2
Jolanta Bremer received the award of the 2026 Queen Helen.
  • June 16, 2026
Attendees get into costume as Mrs. Roper at The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime
3
JP Soars and the Red Hots will perform a free Father's Day concert at The Bay on Sunday, June 21.
  • June 16, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for June 18-24
4
The pickleball courts and basketball courts at Longboat Key’s Bayfront Park will be renovated over the summer.
  • June 16, 2026
Pickleball courts closed for major renovations
5
Elliott Mathes grew up watching his older brother, Will Mathes, compete for Sarasota Crew at the USRowing Youth National Championships. From June 11-14, he himself rowed with a junior national title on the line.
  • June 16, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Elliott Mathes

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