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Your Observer

Carson Smith braces for a water attack in the pool.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 28, 2015
Gullett students make a splash

B.D. Gullett Elementary's early pre-kindergarten students enjoyed Water Day at the East County school

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Fire Rescue received an excellent score on a surprise inspection visit from a state inspector Wednesday.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 28, 2015
Fire Rescue aces surprise inspection

A surprise inspection from a Florida Department of Health inspector rated the Longboat Key Fire Rescue department an excellent rating for all aspects of its operations and equipment Wednesday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 28, 2015
First Watch buys 114-­location chain

First Watch, a leading breakfast, brunch and lunch chain will now have more than 250 locations after buying The Egg & I.

  • East County
  • News
Unit 501 at 35 Watergate Drive in Tower Residences sold for $1.95million. It has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,751 square feet of living area. File photo
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 28, 2015
Tower Residences condo sells for $1.95 million

A condominium in Tower Residences tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • May 28, 2015
Tiny treasure

An elegant cottage in Southside Village has a surprising past.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Frank Decker submitted this photo of a young bobcat sitting on a tree stump, taken near Conservatory Park, in Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 28, 2015
Sarasota photo contest winner: May 28

Visit YourObserver.com to submit your local weather or nature-related photos.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This early conceptual rendering shows the goal of the project — to integrate the housing with the HuB to form one cohesive campus.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 28, 2015
Biter plans residential HuB

The HuB’s founder has a new housing project aimed at those who can’t currently afford to live downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By David Conway and Alex Mahadevan
  • May 28, 2015
Tracing the history of the city-county rift

Today, the city of Sarasota and Sarasota County frequently find themselves unable to work together on major issues. How did they get to this point? Can they get past it?

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 28, 2015
Wish granted

Make-A-Wish of Northern and Central Florida granted the wish of 18-year-old Hunter Hill.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Calendars featuring pet photography by Paulette Braun.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • May 28, 2015
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY 5.28.2015

A glimpse of the way things were from the Pelican Press archives.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 28, 2015
Cops Corner: Sarasota 5.28.2015

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
File photoLeadoff hitter Skylar Frey went 4-for-7 with a double, a stolen base, an RBI and two runs scored during the Class 7A Final Four.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 28, 2015
Sidelines

Sailors come up short in title game; SCSC wins Venue of the Year award; Golf Tourney to benefit Team Tony

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota Christian guard Heidi Miller will play in the League this summer.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 28, 2015
Hitting the hardwood

The Sarasota Recreation Women’s Basketball League opens its nine-game summer season May 28, at the Sarasota YMCA.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota Christian midfielder Justis Mejia-Slattery battles a Sarasota Military Academy opponent for possession during a regular season match. File photo
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 28, 2015
Senior blazes a new path

Sarasota Christian senior Justis Mejia-Slattery will play soccer for Ave Maria University this fall.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 28, 2015
OUR VIEW | You want affordable housing?

Like many relatively wealthy and desirable communities, Sarasota is not a place where affordable housing is easy to find. Of course, that depends on your definition of affordable.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Phil Pagano has managed the Sarasota Farmers Market since 2009. Now, he’s beginning a conversation about what the future of the market will look like. Photo by David Conway
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 28, 2015
Q+A with Phil Pagano

Thanks to the success of the Sarasota Farmers Market, manager Phil Pagano is now looking toward the future.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A black-bellied plover roams the remaining beach left near south Siesta Key. Photo by Alex Mahadevan
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 28, 2015
Erosion places south Siesta on the rocks

Walking from south Siesta Key to Casey Key? The walk is getting tougher due to sand loss and a new rock structure.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Little remains of two trees at this lot on Hawthorne Street, which Hudson Bayou Neighborhood Association President Rob Patten says exemplifies an ongoing issue in the area. Photo by David Conway
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 28, 2015
Tree troubles take root in Hudson Bayou

As bigger houses sprout up in the neighborhood, trees are disappearing.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Before the city agreed to remove the concrete tables from the pavilion, Gillespie Park resident Linda Holland regularly helped clean them in preparation for the children’s reading program hosted in the park. Photo by David Conway
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 28, 2015
Homeless discussion leads to Gillespie Park upgrades

After the city decided to move tables at the Gillespie Park pavilion, residents and staff were able to determine other avenues for improving the park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Margaret Roth submitted this photo of the Harbourside swan family.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Longboat Key photo contest winner: May 28

Longboat Key photo contest winner: May 28

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rita Zuchelli submitted this photo of birds taking flight at sunrise, taken near Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Sarasota photo contest winner: May 28

Sarasota photo contest winner: May 28

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Christina Mohr leads the graduates into the classroom for the ceremony.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 27, 2015
Lakewood Ranch Mini-Mustangs gallop to graduation

Fifteen students graduated from the Lakewood Ranch High School preschool program in which high school students assist kids in learning and interacting.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 27, 2015
Sarasota County appoints permanent fire chief

Interim Sarasota County Fire Chief Mike Regnier has accepted a conditional offer for the full-time position.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 27, 2015
Bashaw Elementary explores America for art and music festival

Artwork and music filled the halls during the festival Thursday, May 21.

  • East County
  • Schools
Although the city of Sarasota issued a permit for the $11 million Sansara condominium, and downtown seemed in the midst of a building boom, residential construction lagged in the first quarter.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 27, 2015
Building rebounds in Sarasota metro area

The North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metropolitan area saw more than 540 building permits approved in April, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released today.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Major League Football officials say Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch, with its 22 fields, nine of which are lighted, are enticing for a future headquarters site. File photo
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 27, 2015
New football league eyes Ranch for headquarters

Major League Football is scouting the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch for its headquarters and training facilities.

  • East County
  • Sports
Dr. Diana Greene will be the superintendent of the Manatee County School District for at least one year.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 27, 2015
Manatee County School Board hires new superintendent

The Manatee County School Board, Manatee County School District chose Dr. Diana Greene as its interim, full-time superintendent May 26.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
We want your stories for our Fourth of July tribute!

The Observer is preparing a tribute to the Greatest Generation for the Fourth of July in observance of the 70-year anniversary of the end of World War II.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Branham with his new granddaughter, Emerson. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Branham falls in love with his new cadet

Steve Branham might be a two-star retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral, but his new granddaughter Emerson Whitney Branham of Virginia Beach, Va., already outranks him.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sheila Weiser
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Act of kindness prevails at Longboat Harbour

On May 23, Sheila Weiser fell while walking on the beach outside her Longboat Harbour residence, and a man and his wife came to her aid.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Diane and Terry Gans
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Gans celebrates anniversary...with commission date

Longboat Key Vice Mayor Terry Gans celebrated his 46th wedding anniversary May 18 — at a commission workshop. But he gave his wife, Diane, a shout-out from the dais.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
OBITUARY | Jean Foley McGillis

Jean Foley McGillis, 81, of Longboat Key, died May 20.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
OBITUARY | Madelyn Humpert

Madelyn Humpert, 93, of Longboat Key and Lakeside Park, Ky., died May 17.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 27, 2015
OUR VIEW | More Medicaid: Federal ransom

The call of media editorialists, state senators and altruists for expanding Obamacare’s Medicaid program in Florida remains a cacophonous drumbeat of pots and pans.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 27, 2015
Budget breakdown: 2015-16 capital projects

Fiscal year 2015-16 is a big year for capital projects, which include $22.5 million worth of beach projects.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • May 27, 2015
Go out on a limb: Do you know your royal poincianas?

During the months of May and June, royal poinciana trees paint the town red.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

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Jeremy Gandon tees off on the first hole of the Commander Course at Lakewood National Golf Club. The 29-year-old Frenchman carded six under par in the third round.
  • April 4, 2026
Race tightens in third round of 2026 LECOM Suncoast Classic
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Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President Danielle Gladding welcomes guest speaker Longboat Police Chief Russ Mager to update members about his approach to leadership since he assumed the role last autumn at the April 2 meeting.
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Lakewood Ranch's Jerry and Marilyn Schneider, who have been married for 63 years, enjoy the live music at Music on Main April 3.
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