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Your Observer

Rod Warner believed a series of roundabouts along U.S. 41 would, among other benefits, improve the connectivity between the North Trail, downtown and the bayfront.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 13, 2015
Roundabout advocate Rod Warner dies

Known as "Mr. Roundabout" in Sarasota, Warner discovered a new passion for the roadway features late in life — and dedicated himself to it fully.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 13, 2015
Ian Black to move out of Rosemary

Longtime Rosemary District Realtor Ian Black will move his firm's headquarters into a 10-story building east of downtown Sarasota next year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A lionfish captured during the Lionfish Derby and the many small fish found in its stomach (courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory)
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 13, 2015
Mote goes lionfishing

Mote Marine Laboratory's second annual Lionfish Derby aimed to reduce the invasive lionfish populations in the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 13, 2015
Wolves Head launches eating contest

How many hot dogs can you eat?

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo. LeLu Coffee Lounge will host an open-mic to remember employee Carly Lanea Cogan who died Sunday morning.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 13, 2015
LeLu Coffee Lounge mourns employee

Staff members and customers of LeLu Coffee Lounge in Siesta Key Village are showing an outpour of support for the death employee Carly Lanea Cogan.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 13, 2015
County seeks plans for Main Street property

Sarasota County has released another invitation to negotiate to buy the county-owned parcel at the intersection of North Washington Boulevard and Main Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The town of Longboat Key’s piece of the BP Gulf oil spill settlement will be $1.2 million.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 13, 2015
Town nets $1.2 million in BP settlement money

Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock said the town will net $967,931.82 that will be incorporated into the town’s general fund within the next 60 to 90 days.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Chris Hill and his 10-year-old son, Drew, have a baseball hat from each of the stadium's they've visited.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 13, 2015
All-American adventure

For the past three years, The Out-of-Door Academy fifth-grader Drew Hill and his father, Chris, have spent a week during the summer visiting America’s Major League ballparks.

  • East County
  • Sports
Dr. Mary Cantrell spent nearly 50 years as an educator.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 13, 2015
Manatee County School Board member dies

Manatee County School Board member Dr. Mary Cantrell died July 12.

  • East County
  • News
Lynn Barrie fills her plate with Louisiana-themed cuisine.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 12, 2015
East County serves up Cajun cuisine

The eighth annual Spyder Broussard Low Country, East County Fish Fry and Shrimp Boil offered attendees a night of Louisiana culture, July 11, at Polo Grill and Bar.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Randy Ristic prepares to serve the ball during a match.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 11, 2015
Athletes dig deep for volleyball tournament

Dig the Beach Volleyball Tournament series hits Siesta Key for weekend competition.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Former Lakewood Ranch High boys golf coach Dave Frantz held a Champions Golf Camp July 6 through July 10 for junior players of all skill levels.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 11, 2015
Junior golfers hit the Links

Former Lakewood Ranch High boys golf coach Dave Frantz hosted a Champions Golf Camp July 6 through July 10, at The Links at Greenfield Plantation.

  • East County
  • Sports
Fourteen-year-old Joe Kelley plays basketball for Sarasota Christian.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 11, 2015
ODA scores with hoops camp

Former NBA player and The Out-of-Door Academy basketball coach Marcus Liberty hosted the Liberty Edge basketball camp July 6 through July 9.

  • East County
  • Sports
Challah bread is distinguished by its braided pattern.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 10, 2015
Children learn culture and tradition during Camp Gan Israel

Chabad of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch held its annual summer camp for three weeks.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 10, 2015
FYI Friday: Darwin's on 4th closes

This week's FYI Friday features news about the closure of the award-winning Darwin's on 4th and Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant, an update on Benderson Development's UTC plans and more!

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rosenda Calloway and Mary LeMay
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • July 10, 2015
Little Black Dress Fashion Show and Luncheon

Goodwill Manasota and the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida partnered together for the Little Black Dress Fashion Show and Luncheon on Friday, July 10, at Michael’s on East.

  • Black Tie
Kim Betts sings along with the Gamble Creek Band Friday evening at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 10, 2015
Friday Fest brings out country music fans

Music fans filled the lawn along the bay front for the free monthly concert Friday Fest at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Friday, July 10.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Chin tucks
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • July 10, 2015
Correct forward head posture with exercises

Keep your head up and improve posture by trying these moves.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 10, 2015
School Board candidates kick off campaigns

Incumbent Sarasota County School Board District 2 candidate Caroline Zucker has filed to run for re-election, while District 3 candidate Eric Robinson jumpstarts fundraising with $9,700 worth of contributions.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cade Strom warms up for the 2014 Dig the Beach Volleyball Tournament on Siesta Key Beach.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 10, 2015
Weekend Best Bet: Dig the Beach Volleyball Tournament

Residents prepare to dig deep for the annual volleyball tournament on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The plaza at 3170 Gulf of Mexico Drive has 3,200 square feet of living space and houses the mid Longboat Key real estate office of Michael Saunders & Co.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 10, 2015
Michael Saunders sells mid-Key plaza for $800,000

The Saunders Family Limited Partnership, a Florida limited partnership of Michael Saunders & Company Inc., sold the commercial plaza at 3170 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Fox 41 July 6.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Palm Aire Women's Club raises money annually to later donate to scholarship funds and local charities.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 10, 2015
East County club celebrates fundraising achievement

The Palm Aire Women's Club raised more than $17,000 during the 2014-2015 year.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 10, 2015
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center names COO

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center has named Chris Loftus as its new chief operating officer.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 9, 2015
A puppy homecoming for Palmer Ranch resident

Linda Becker has helped raise 13 puppies that have become service animals.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 9, 2015
What we pay is none of Obama’s business

The president’s new rules for overtime will be another unnecessary intrusion into the relationship between employer and employee. Enough of this dictatorship.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Three acres of the West Lake property will be used for storm water mitigation.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 9, 2015
Manatee County Planning Commission approves site plan for Lockwood Ridge Road plaza

The site, which formerly hosted a Winn Dixie, will be home to a Walmart and WaWa.

  • East County
  • News
Former Sand Cay manager Judy Paul was ordered Tuesday to begin serving a three-year prison sentence.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 9, 2015
Former Key condo manager ordered to begin three-year sentence

Former Sand Cay manager Judy Paul was ordered Tuesday to begin a prison sentence after being convicted of stealing more than $200,000 in association funds.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Torch bearer Rosemarie Hermann passes the Olumpic flame to Hal Hedley.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 9, 2015
This week in history 7.9.15

A glimpse of the way things were from the archives.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Officer Larry McQueen shares a moment with his daughter before his promotion ceremony.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 9, 2015
Swearing-in Celebration

Larry McQueen waited with his fellow officers to be inducted as the newest members of the Sarasota Police Department.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lauren Van Nostrand crawls through a tunnel for an obstacle course.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 9, 2015
Suncoast Science campers explore engineering

Summer camps offer robotics, electronics and engineering courses.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota architect Brent Parker, who designed the Ringling Bridge, is planning a 33-unit affordable housing project on North Tamiami Trail.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 9, 2015
North Trail remains on the the edge of revitalization

While advocates of revitalizing the northern gateway to Sarasota are bullish on a new residential project, they remain wary of tricky zoning issues.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bill Cornelius, owner of the building that housed Darwin's on 4th, agreed the city needs to take action to address homelessness issues.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 9, 2015
Rosemary leaders react to Darwin's departure

Stakeholders in a neighborhood that has been clamoring for redevelopment are still optimistic following the closing of Darwin’s on 4th, an anchor in the area for three years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
SPD Deputy Chief Pat Robinson brings 15 years of experience with the department — and an even more extensive knowledge of the community — to his new position.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 9, 2015
Conversation with Pat Robinson

The Sarasota Police Department's new deputy chief talks about his local roots, the evolution of the department and his relationship with the chief.

  • Sarasota
  • News
At least one city commissioner believes Thunder by the Bay has outgrown its home in downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 9, 2015
City debates future of special events and street closures

If you're an organizer who hopes to hold an event on Main Street within the next year, you may be out of luck, as the city continues to debate how to manage its special events .

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Farmers Market Manager Phil Pagano, left, wants to make sure the event isn't jeopardized by a loss of space as construction continues downtown.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 9, 2015
Farmers Market makes plea to save Pineapple Park

Organizers of the Sarasota Farmers Market gathered more than 500 signatures urging the city not to sell a piece of land adjacent to the public space downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Scullers rower Andy LeRoux, second from the right, competed in the 2014 World Rowing Junior Championships, in Germany.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 9, 2015
Rowing to Rio

Sarasota Scullers rower Andy LeRoux was selected to compete in the men’s quadruple sculls at the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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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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