• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County

Kelly,  Olivia and Callum Gessner hold their ferrets: Rufus, Shirley, Teddy and Flatso. All four ferrets escaped, but Teddy survived two days outside in the rain and cold alone, before returning home. Photos by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2014
Lost ferret returns home after scare

The Gessner family says they are lucky their ferret, Teddy, survived two cold nights and some rainy weather.

  • East County
  • News
This is Cheryl Lee's first year as a Salvation Army bell ringer. Her post is the Publix at the intersection of State Road 64 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 16, 2014
Salvation Army volunteer rings for bigger picture

A former child abuse investigator, Cheryl Lee is now having 'the time of her life' ringing her bell in retirement while helping kids.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club Manager Wayne Piazza stands among its Toys for Tots donations. The club collected more than $15,000 worth of toys this year. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2014
Presents break record

After a golf outing one day, Rick Shaw and more than 20 other men were sitting around at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club when manager Wayne Piazza approached them about helping with the club's annual Toys for Tots toy drive.

  • East County
  • News
Freshmen and juniors compete on the football field.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 15, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Filly Football

Dec. 16, the ladies of Lakewood Ranch High School hit the school's football field for the annual Filly Football game. Freshmen through seniors battled throughout the evening, as teenage boys coached the girls through the football games from the sidelines.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County will designate a portion of the $7.5 million toward the design of the overpass.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 15, 2014
Sarasota moves forward with I-75 overpass idea

SMR President and CEO Rex Jensen said he is preparing to hire an engineer for the project.

  • East County
  • News
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Head of School Dr. Jan Pullen and Harvest United Methodist Church Co-Pastors Rev. Catherine Fluck Price and Rev. Steve Price announced a new East County Saint Stephen's campus Tuesday. (courtesy)
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 15, 2014
St. Stephen's announces East County expansion

St. Stephen's is opening a new school called St. Stephen's East Campus K/1 School in Lakewood Ranch with Harvest United Methodist Church.

  • East County
  • News
The Observer wants you to share your favorite holiday memory or mishap in about 300 words or less.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 14, 2014
Observer seeks holiday memories stories

The Observer is collecting holiday stories that center around a great holiday memory or a holiday mishaps for our Dec. 25 issue.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ranch CDD meetings for December start at 8 a.m. Thursday at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 14, 2014
Ranch CDDs debate gator policy this week

Community Development Districts 2, 5 and 6 attorney Andy Cohen doesn't believe the CDDs should set a gator policy.

  • East County
  • News
Observer Challenge Division four champions Jim Purcell, Roger Blair, Kristin Beeman and Angie Eason display their trophy.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 14, 2014
MONDAY EVENT MASHUP: Weekend photo events

Observer Challenge; Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade; Living Nativity; and MORE!

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jake Roman, 8, is all smiles during "The 12 Days of Christmas."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 13, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Bashaw Chorus

Students in the Bashaw Elementary School Chorus showcased the holiday spirit with a special Christmas music show for parents Dec. 11. The children joined students from Miller Elementary Dec. 14, to sing in the Manatee Village Historical Park during its special Christmas open house event.

  • East County
  • News
Gavin, Cynthia, Kyla and Billy Swales enjoy time together.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Supper with Santa

Braden River Elementary School's Parent Teacher Organization welcomed more than 600 people to the school's annual Supper with Santa event Dec. 11.

  • East County
  • News
Alayna Montgomery and Caleb Jordan, as Mary and Joseph, hold the newborn baby Jesus, played by 2-month-old Daniel Lawson.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Living Nativity

Performance of the Living Nativity, at the Tabernacle Church in Sarasota, run at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. through Dec. 14.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Santa listens to Carter Ebling's Christmas list.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 11, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Holidays Around the Ranch

Christmas music and cookies, Santa Claus and carolers took over the Holidays Around the Ranch celebration, Dec. 12, on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

  • East County
  • News
This week's FYI Friday features two stories about teen criminals, an update from SRQ Airport, alligator news and more!
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 11, 2014
FYI Friday - Your weekly news roundup

Catch up on the week's most important and most interesting news stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County with FYI Friday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Three snowmen — Vincent Vanacore, Garrett Brooks and Jordan Janeck — show off their costumes.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 11, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Snow Jubilee

Robert E. Willis Elementary third-grade students sang and danced their way across the stage during the Snow Jubilee play Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • News
« 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in East County

1
Attendees were impressed by the fireworks across Sarasota Bay.
  • June 19, 2026
Fourth of July 2026 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch
2
Tony Barrett speaks at a candidate forum in April at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
  • June 18, 2026
Manatee County Commission candidate charged with domestic battery
3
Boston's Simeon John of Community Rowing celebrates his title in the USRowing Junior National Championships Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. Would Nathan Benderson Park be around if Sarasota County didn't have access to property taxes?
  • June 17, 2026
Will Sarasota, Manatee counties lose their luxury living with reduced property taxes?
4
Audubon Society members say doves aren't the smartest birds when it comes to choosing a place to build a nest.
  • June 17, 2026
Couple hatches plan to protect doves that nested in front door wreath
5
Ashley Avellan-Knutson (left) will lead Braden River girls weightlifting into a new era following the departure of former coach Jordan Borges (right).
  • June 17, 2026
New head coach takes over the Braden River High girls weightlifting program

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

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

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 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.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free