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Your Observer

Men behaving badly on Main Street
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 28, 2025
Men behaving badly on Main Street

Officers investigate assaults on a bathroom, tables at a women's march and a restaurant's planters occur over a four-day period. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Jessica Polk, Jake Hartvigsen, Colleen Thayer and Beth Walters of Nami prepare to accept the check from Sara Winer.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 28, 2025
Impact100 awards $876,000 in grants to local nonprofits

The women's giving circle offered grants of $109,500 each to eight local nonprofits.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Brista Commons on Longboat Key is expected to finish construction in fall 2025.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 28, 2025
Brista Commons likely to finish construction this fall

The 14,000 square feet of commercial space will take about a year to complete construction, which started in November 2024.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Loggerhead hatchlings emerge from the sand in August 2016.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 28, 2025
Concern about sea turtle disorientation increases with lack of dunes

Without the dunes acting as a natural barrier, Mote Marine Laboratory and Longboat Key Turtle Watch wonder what the impact will be this upcoming nesting season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Breast cancer survivor Nadia McConville of Washington state (back), steers the Water Warriors boat. McConville made the switch from paddling to steering after undergoing shoulder and hip replacement surgeries as a result of her cancer.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 28, 2025
Nathan Benderson Park hosts unique dragon boat festival

Hundreds of cancer survivors gathered at Nathan Benderson Park for Unleash the Dragons.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kid Dutch and company lead a raucously fun night of music.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 28, 2025
All that Jazz: NOLA comes to Longboat Key

Kid Dutch and fellow jazz artists brought the smooth sounds of the classic New Orleans music scene to Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Cloud, a Myakka 16-year-old mare who went missing last week, was known as a snuggler when giving rides in the bay for Florida Beach Horses.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 28, 2025
Search continues for Myakka City horse

Cloud is a 16-year-old grey mare that's been missing since Jan. 10.

  • East County
  • News
The Center of Anna Maria Island Executive Director Chris Culhane, Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn and Anna Maria Oyster Bar owner John Horne helped get the rock band to play a benefit concert in Manatee County.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • January 28, 2025
Local groups pull together to pull off big-time benefit concert

Rock concerts, especially ones produced on short notice, can be rife with challenges and obstacles. This one, to raise money for local hospitality workers battered by storms, came together nicely.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Resident reports dog on the loose, results in meeting the neighbor
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 28, 2025
Resident reports dog on the loose, results in meeting the neighbor

A woman was worried about a big dog on the loose, and the police call ended in her meeting a new neighbor who owned the dog. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
This Concession home sold for $3,400,000. It has three bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,351 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 28, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 13-17 in Lakewood Ranch

A Concession home on Newlane Place tops the week's sales at $3.4 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Lydia Zorzi, who recently authored her first book of poetry, chats with visitor Debra Garret at the Art on the Gulf showcase on Jan. 22.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 27, 2025
Up-and-coming artists featured at showcase

This week's "Art on the Gulf" showcase highlighted the works of six local artists, ranging from jewelry design to poetry to painting.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Gallery Director Colin Thomsen and Regan Dunnick
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 27, 2025
Palm Avenue Fine Art unveils artwork formerly displayed in Sarasota airport

The gallery's exhibit "Echoes of Sarasota: A Historical Preservation" features the work of Frank Hopper and Regan Dunnick.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Charlie Mopps' promotion to Public Works Director was announced by Town Manager Howard Tipton on Jan. 17.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 27, 2025
Charlie Mopps promoted to Longboat Key Public Works Director

Mopps was previously the Project Manager and Assistant Public Works Director, then served as interim director for the past three months.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Artist Michael George chats with visitors at the St. Armands Circle Art Festival.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 27, 2025
St. Armands Circle Art Festival returns in full force

According to organizers, the long-running St. Armands Circle Art Festival is back in full swing since the hurricanes hit Longboat Key at the end of last year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The new Seaside Market is open in Concourse B at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 27, 2025
Big changes on tap for SRQ Concourse B

The new Concourse A at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport offers enhanced options for passenger comfort, but big upgrades are underway for the original gate areas.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manufactured homes in East County and their carports were no match for Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 27, 2025
County seeks input for Resilient SRQ II

Sarasota County residents can provide input to storm recovery effort funding via survey or one of four public meetings.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A cold and rainy day didn't deter participants of a ceremeonial groundbreaking of the Celery Fields Quad Parcels re-wilding project.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 27, 2025
Re-wilding of Celery Fields project gets underway

A groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of Phase 1 of bringing nature back to the Quad Parcels of the county's Celery Fields site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Celebrants cut the ribbon for the official opening of Café on St. Armands.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 27, 2025
Revamped St. Armands restaurant blends new, classic styles

Owners of the newly opened Café on St. Armands blended the familiar feeling of the 100-year-old building with an updated aesthetic, hoping to help revamp St. Armands Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lifeline Productions adds Atomica Arts co-founders to its management team
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 27, 2025
Lifeline Productions adds Atomica Arts co-founders to its management team

Will Luera and Maria Schaedler-Luera join arts nonprofit founded by Joel Ehrenpreis.

  • Arts + Culture
Judy Thomas has spent her career in the world of ice skating, on and off the ice.
    By
  • Emily Leinfuss
  • January 27, 2025
Hall-of-famer Judy Thomas reflects on a career spent on the ice

The celebrated ice skater and show recruiter looks back on five decades of career spins, flips and jumps. "It’s not designer brands or Olympic medals that define you," she says. "It’s your experiences, relationships and work ethic."

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Navigator Sierra Inabnett balances the carriage in a turn as driver Amy Cross, a 2024 national champion in Single Pony, works through a water hazard during the Combined Driving at TerraNova event Saturday in Myakka City.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 26, 2025
TerraNova hosts its first Combined Driving event in Myakka City

World champion driver Misdee Wrigley Miller of Lakewood Ranch was among the competitors.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ringling College of Art and Design film students Ella Satterfield, Beau Agrawal and Almendra Kovac worked on the documentaries.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • January 26, 2025
Documentaries chronicling Longboat environment set to make waves

Buzz is percolating over a unique program that paired local college film students with a Rotary Club to document some Longboat Key-centric ecology success stories.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Students work their muscles with weights and with laughing at Jazzercise.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 26, 2025
Jazzercise studio opens in Lakewood Ranch

Former "gym rat' brings her passion to the Lakewood Ranch enterprise.

  • East County
  • Business
Kristen Kruger and Shannon Hunt carry a vibroacoustic bed out of the space.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 26, 2025
Conscious Cause looks ahead amid closure of wellness lounge

The nonprofit looks to a supportive community as it seeks a new space for its wellness lounge and cacao cafe.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
City proclamation honors the life of employee Clifford Smith
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 25, 2025
City proclamation honors the life of employee Clifford Smith

Clifford Smith, who joined the city of Sarasota as historic preservation planner in 2007, died late last year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering of the new dining room at the Bird Key Yacht Club.
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • January 25, 2025
Bird Key Yacht Club forges ahead on rebuild

The Bird Key Yacht Club is setting a resiliency example by rebuilding its historic clubhouse to be better prepared for stronger hurricanes and more flooding.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bradenton man gets 13 years for 2020 fatal crash
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 24, 2025
Bradenton man gets 13 years for 2020 fatal crash

The car was traveling 126 mph moments before the crash, prosecutors said.

  • East County
  • News
Louise Patton Schultz (1945-2025)
    In Memoriam |
  • January 24, 2025
Louise Patton Schultz

Louise Patton Schultz, 79, of Siesta Key, FL, passed away on January 14, 2025.

  • Siesta Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Cirque St. Armands, a circus-themed project, will be unveiled in March.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 24, 2025
Two new luxury developments take root on Lido Key

Two over-the-top projects — one a circus-fancy hotel, another a condo complex with uber-luxury hotel-like amenities and service — are primed to give Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key a new look.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Anthony Pescatello (1935-2025)
    In Memoriam |
  • January 23, 2025
Anthony Pescatello

Anthony (Tony) Pescatello, 89, of Bradenton, FL, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Fire crews from Sarasota County and Longboat Key work to put out a fire at Rochelle's Boutique on St. Armands Circle Jan. 23.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 23, 2025
Fire damages St. Armands boutique

No injuries were reported in the two-alarm blaze.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 23, 2025
Another suspect in River Club home invasion arrested

Vail, Colorado, police arrest the fleeing suspect, who was headed for Mexico.

  • East County
  • News
A person bundled against the cold and rain lies on the sidewalk across the street from the Salvation Army in Sarasota Wednesday, Jan. 22. The county is working with the organization to open a cold weather shelter for the next two nights.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 23, 2025
Sarasota County opens downtown cold weather shelter

The Salvation Army will open at 5 p.m. Thursday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Purple Ribbon Committee has until June 30, 2025 to submit its report on suggestions for repurposing the Van Wezel Peforming Arts Hall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 23, 2025
Cost to keep the Van Wezel going estimated at $17 million

The draft Karins Engineering report to the city's Purple Ribbon Committee includes systems upgrades and flood proofing the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, but not expanding or reconfiguring seating.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota Surge Rugby Club gather together during halftime of its home match against the Lakeland Lancers on Jan. 18. Sarasota won 17-7.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 23, 2025
Popularity growth of rugby has attracted strong local response

The Sarasota Rugby Club is back in 2025 with a new home in Ridge Wood Heights.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The former S.H. Kress store in downtown Sarasota is an example of a property that would be eligible to transfer its by-right developable height and density to a developer of a receiving site.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 23, 2025
Program aimed at preserving historic structures approved by city

The Sarasota City Commission OKs an ordinance to permit owners of historic buildings to sell by-right density to other owners of downtown property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Hunter Eichhorn watches his approach shot fly on the ninth hole. He already has four top-10 finishes this season on the Korn Ferry Tour, and leads the LECOM Suncoast Classic after round one at nine under par.
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