Observer Media Group

Longboat Key's town commissioners might not get paid, but they do get recognized. Most recently, the Florida League of Cities awarded Vice Mayor Penny Gold and Commissioner BJ Bishop with gold certificates of excellence and Commissioner Sarah Karon with a bronze certificate of merit.

The Out-of-Door Academy (4-0) def. Saint Stephen's (2-2), 28-0 Senior quarterback Jaxon Lawhun: 10-for-24 passing, 175 yards and three touchdowns. Braden River (3-0) def. Lakewood Ranch (2-1), 39-28 Senior running back David Louis: two touchdowns and 2-point conversion. Senior quarterback Louisen Desinor: 117 passing yards, 97 rushing yards, one touchdown and one interception. Sarasota (2-1) def. Hudson (0-3), 42-0 Senior running back Connail Jackson: five touchdowns.

The Broadway roundabout is stopped at a red light. Originally scheduled to go out to bid in July, the project has instead been shelved for at least another year. Florida Department of Transportation District One Director of Public Information Janella Newsome wrote in an email that budget constraints have led to a rescheduled timeframe on the project. The new target for project letting is July 2027.

A home that sits at the mouth of New Pass in Sarasota has hit the market for $7.99 million. At 1475 John Ringling Parkway, the property provides Gulf access with no bridges between its private dock and the open water. “John Ringling Parkway is one of those Sarasota addresses where opportunities simply do not come along often,” David Liberatore of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Downtown Sarasota office, who is marketing the property, says in a statement.

Sarasota Chief Transportation Planner Corinne Arriaga was elected as the new vice president of membership of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association, a non-profit professional organization. APA Florida supports urban and regional planners, students and community officials across the state.

Members of the local business community can now register for the next installment of Let's Talk Business. The open forum, hosted by the town of Longboat Key and Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, is a space for the public to share any concerns and ideas for the future development of the key directly with local leaders. Attendance is free, but registration is highly requested. The roundtable begins at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 16 at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.

While your social media feeds may be filled with friends traveling across the globe, there is no need for you to go far to make unforgettable memories with your family. Hop aboard the Gulf Islands Ferry and turn a regular day into a mini escape. Operating Wednesdays through Sundays, this ferry ride connects the Bradenton Riverwalk with the Historic Bridge Street Pier on Anna Maria and now, Coquina Beach too! The breezy boat-side getaway is your new favorite way to island-hop.

Summer is winding down, and Longboat Key events are ramping up. September marks the return of Town Commission meetings and the adoption of the 2027 fiscal year budget. Two informal community meetings are also planned. At 3 p.m. Sept. 15, residents are invited to the Bayfront Park Recreation Center for Let’s Talk Longboat. Incoming Town Manager George Landry will be in attendance on his second day of the job. Landry replaces Howard Tipton, who has served as town manager since 2023 and is retiring.

Bruce Patneaude came to Nathan Benderson Park as chief operating officer three years ago from IMG Academy for one primary reason — to build a boathouse and indoor sports and recreation complex. On Aug. 26, he told the Sarasota County Commission the Nathan Benderson Park Multi-Sport Complex and Boathouse will be completed by summer 2028.

The much-hyped and controversial statewide Live Local Act is living in court, at least in Sarasota County. Four Live Local developers filed lawsuits recently against the county for blocking their projects. The act allows developers to bypass ordinary developmental review procedures in areas zoned for commercial, industrial and mixed-use to create affordable and workforce housing. To qualify, 40% of units must be for those earning at or below 120% the area median income.