• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • 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
  • LWR Life
  • 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
  • LWR Life
  • 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
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County | Trending

With seven goals and one assist through five games, Avery Rice has already made a winning impact for undefeated Out-of-Door Academy girls soccer.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • November 25, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Avery Rice

The sophomore has found the net early and often with Out-of-Door Academy girls soccer.

  • East County
  • Sports
Construction on the Athletics and Aquatics Center is underway at Premier Sports Campus North.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 25, 2025
No hotel at Premier Sports — yet

Another 126 acres was rezoned to build out the now 236-acre campus.

  • East County
  • News
A Lake Club home at 15904 Baycross Drive sold for $3.55 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,933 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 25, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 10-14 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in Lake Club on Baycross Drive tops the week’s sales at $3.55 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The runners all reach for their watches as the 2024 Florida Turkey Trot begins at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 24, 2025
Pass the turkey, and the thanks during a special holiday

Lakewood Ranch has so much contributors who make our home a great place to live.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Brio Italian Grille Executive Chef Josué Pabellón learned about the best Thanksgiving Day leftovers by growing up in a family of chefs in Puerto Rico.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 24, 2025
Love the Thanksgiving Day leftovers as much as the main meal

Brio Italian Grille chef says Thanksgiving Day is just round one of the annual feast.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Vinny Mercadante tosses a lacrosse ball and holds his stick at Summerfield Community Park in Lakewood Ranch. He played for Cardinal Mooney in 2016-18, Marian University in 2018-19 and Florida State in 2021-23 but has since committed to coaching.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • November 24, 2025
Cardinal Mooney grad builds his own lacrosse training school

At just 25, Vinny Mercadante is quickly becoming a premier private lacrosse coach, one of the few in the state.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch sisters Mariapaz Ritter, 7 and Analia Ritter, 12, got their faces painted by Akiko Graphics at the at Greenbrook Adventure Park. Mariapaz chose a peace sign because "paz" the last part of her name means peace in Spanish and Analia chose daisies because they are her favorite flowers.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 24, 2025
Greenbrook Adventure Park reopens with a fun day

Lakewood Ranch Community Activities hosted Party in the Park with live music, face painting and activities for families.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Marfil Trejo, the command sergeant major for the Braden River High Raiders, crosses the rope bridge at the Florida High School JROTC Raider State Championship on Nov. 15.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 22, 2025
Braden River JROTC team wins state title

The team of eight boys and five girls win four of five events.

  • East County
  • Schools
Food for thought at Thanksgiving
  • By Greg Campbell
  • November 22, 2025
Food for thought at Thanksgiving

Local Chef Greg Campbell talks about the impact of food trucks.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Instead of a ribbon, a 180-pound blue fin tuna will be cut to celebrate the grand opening of Kuro Sushi.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 22, 2025
Kuro Sushi rolls into Lakewood Ranch

Instead of a ribbon-cutting, the grand opening celebration included a tuna-cutting ceremony.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells advocates for a countywide curfew.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 21, 2025
Curfew in effect for Manatee kids under 16

County Commission approves nighttime limits, though some parents question the potential effects.

  • East County
  • News
A perfectly seared cowboy ribeye — one of B&B's signature cuts — served with a loaded baked potato and bourbon-lacquered flair.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • November 21, 2025
The story behind a refined steakhouse experience with hometown heart

B&B Chophouse & Market in Lakewood Ranch delivers classic cuts and modern flair and lets guests take the flavor home.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Sarasota arts scene serves up holiday classics, explores the modern 9-to-5
    By
  • Su Byron
  • November 21, 2025
Sarasota arts scene serves up holiday classics, explores the modern 9-to-5

Across the region, creativity is flourishing — from bold new theater and centennial celebrations to music and dance that lift the spirit.

  • Arts + Culture
Vicky Henderson and Tory Delaney at Allswell
    By
  • Marty Fugate, Su Byron
  • November 20, 2025
New Lakewood Ranch restaurants serve up fresh culinary offerings for every taste

With innovation on the menu, these five eateries bring a whole host of dining options to town.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
"Jiggs is a community asset in every sense," Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department Director Charlie Hunsicker says. "We’ve preserved a wonderful river and lake environment for this generation and the next."
    By
  • Emily Leinfuss
  • November 20, 2025
Jiggs Landing preserves the best of Old Florida for the next generation

At Jiggs Landing Preserve and Outpost in Manatee County, fishing, food and live music come together on the banks of the Braden River.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »
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 News

1
  • December 14, 2025
Eat, drink and be merry like you're in a 'Home Alone' movie
2
Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
3
Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
Sponsored Content
4
  • December 12, 2025
ANNIE
Sponsored Content
5
  • December 12, 2025
“Catskills After Dark”

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 © 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