• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Graduation
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Graduation
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Study committee leans toward no reuse for Van Wezel

Repurposing of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall appearing less of an option as the Purple Ribbon Committee works through a preliminary draft of its report to the City Commission.

thumb

Latest News

1
  • June 15, 2025
Longboat approves one-time increase in Chamber of Commerce grant
2
  • June 15, 2025
SMH makes Newsweek's list of top hospitals
3
  • June 14, 2025
10-story residential building, pizza restaurant planned for Ringling Boulevard
4
  • June 14, 2025
Eatalia Market offers goods imported from Italy in Lakewood Ranch
5
  • June 13, 2025
Country Club Shores turn lane construction ahead of schedule

Neighbors

  • June 12, 2025
Manasota Track Club volunteers clean up near Overlook Park
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch author shares advice for young professionals
  • June 11, 2025
Years of hard work pay off for local high school graduate
  • June 11, 2025
Foundation for Dreams receives $100,000 grant from Bishop-Parker Foundation

Arts + Culture

  • June 12, 2025
Hermitage Artist Retreat hires new development director
  • June 12, 2025
Sarasota Opera hires new marketing and events officer
  • June 6, 2025
Former Broadway star Ann Morrison is back on top
  • June 4, 2025
Come one, come all to the Summer Circus Spectacular

Cops Corner

  • June 11, 2025
Homeowner hassling construction crew brings law enforcement response

Frustrated over construction activity on Golden Gate Point, a resident flails profanity at workers over parking and other issues. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • June 10, 2025
Man found taking quick nap on roadside after work

An officer stopped to check on the man, who said he was just hoping to rest before biking home. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

Eat + Drink

  • June 7, 2025
Bottoms up on the best bourbon toasts in Sarasota and Manatee counties

Celebrate National Bourbon Day neat, on the rocks or crafted into cocktail magic.

  • June 6, 2025
New owners of Euphemia Haye excited to save 50-year-old restaurant

Preserving and celebrating this Longboat Key staple is personal for Rachel Ghormley's family.

  • May 29, 2025
Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week celebrates its 20th anniversary

From June 1-20, local eateries offer $25 specials for lunch and $45 for dinner.

  • May 25, 2025
Dough not miss the best donuts in Sarasota and Bradenton

Celebrate National Donut Day with crispy, creamy circular creations that will sprinkle you with happiness.

Schools

  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Junior Ranchers learn about agriculture through camp

Counselors help the kids learn hands-on lessons about cows, snakes and insects.

  • June 11, 2025
Years of hard work pay off for local high school graduate
  • June 10, 2025
Manatee school board fires teacher accused of sexting student
  • June 5, 2025
Riverview High graduate sets up healthy vending machine business
  • June 4, 2025
Manatee school board will vote to give charters a cut of half-penny tax

Sports

  • June 12, 2025
New Sarasota High volleyball coach wants to change Sailors direction

Former Riverview volleyball player Emma Thrift has joined longtime rival Sarasota High School.

  • June 11, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Parker Severs
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Special Olympics athlete has won more than medals
  • June 10, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Nicholas Brown
  • June 9, 2025
Local paddlers to represent Team USA in dragon boat championships

Newsletter

Sign up to receive our news in your inbox!
Click to Sign Up

Things To Do

  • June 10, 2025
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for June 12-18
  • June 10, 2025
All aboard for Father's Day weekend fun at RealRail in Bradenton
  • June 9, 2025
Run club at local craft beer bar grows to hundreds in size

More Sections

  • Eat + Drink
  • Things To Do
  • Red Tide
  • Real Estate
  • Health
  • Black Tie

Opinion

1
  • June 11, 2025
  • By Jay Heater
Local relief nonprofit continues to draw attention in Lakewood Ranch
2
  • June 11, 2025
  • By Eliza Terziev, Adrian Moore
Investors are not hurting the housing market
3
  • June 4, 2025
  • By Letter to the Editor
Republicans against Trump must stand up

Real Estate

  • June 12, 2025
Longboat Key mansion listed for $35 million
  • June 12, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 26-30 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis
  • June 11, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 26-30 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key
  • June 10, 2025
Landmark Siesta Key property on the market for $5.3 million

Photo Galleries

  • June 10, 2025
Sarasota seniors ring in Pride Month
  • June 10, 2025
Heroes, villains and cartoon characters come to life at SRQCon 2025
  • June 10, 2025
All aboard for Father's Day weekend fun at RealRail in Bradenton
  • June 9, 2025
Keeping 'America's best beach' sharp for World Ocean Day
  • June 9, 2025
From aluminum to acrylic, St. Armands gets crafty
  • June 5, 2025
One voice as lifetime puppeteer performs at Lakewood Ranch Library
  • June 4, 2025
Sarasota City YMCA branch kicks off summer camp with pancake breakfast
  • June 3, 2025
Booker High School celebrates 2025 graduates
  • June 3, 2025
Riverview High School graduates take the next step
  • June 2, 2025
Zota Beach Resort sets the scene for local business connections
  • June 1, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Farmers' Market offers produce and information
  • May 30, 2025
Graduates walk the stage in record numbers at Sarasota High School
  • May 30, 2025
Manatee school district leaders thank bus drivers the last day of the school year
  • May 26, 2025
Memorial Day Parade carries on a tradition of remembrance
  • May 26, 2025
Bird Key honors fallen heroes Memorial Day weekend
  • May 25, 2025
Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School celebrates 2025 graduates
  • May 25, 2025
Memorial Day hike crosses Ringling Bridge in honor of the fallen
  • May 24, 2025
Work on Butterfly Garden restoration gets underway
  • May 22, 2025
Lakewood Ranch YMCA hosts senior fair
  • May 22, 2025
Ranch Nite Wednesdays nears summer hiatus
  • May 20, 2025
Fire department open house showcases the tools behind rescues

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Observer Local News

  • e-Newspaper App

  • Accessibility Options

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe

Newsletter

Sign up to receive our news in your inbox!

Click to Sign Up

Verified Audit

FPN Verified
  • 1101 Fifth Ave. Ste 270
  • San Rafael, CA 94901
  • (415) 461-6006
  • www.verifiedaudit.com
  • Auditor's Certification
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now