• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Mother's Day Gift Guide
  • 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
  • Mother's Day Gift Guide
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County | Trending

Hollis Morantes was arrested at 10:52 p.m. Nov. 4.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 5, 2015
Lakewood Ranch High School physics teacher arrested on drug charges

Hollis Morantes was charged with possession of Methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and child neglect.

  • East County
  • News
Dieter Zoellner, now 71, once trained as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. He was prohibited from being deployed to Vietnam because he was not yet an American citizen. He became an American citizen and enlisted in 1963. Photo by Jessica
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 5, 2015
East County veteran remembers his 'career in the air'

A paratrooper of the 101st Airborne Division, Dieter Zoellner spent weekends jumping from 900 feet.

  • East County
  • News
File photo
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 5, 2015
East County u-pick farms open for season

More options will be available as the month passes.

  • East County
  • News
Michelle Crabtree, of University Park, submitted this photo of the sun setting over the Braden River.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 5, 2015
East County photo contest winner: Nov. 5

Michelle Crabtree, of University Park, submitted this photo of the sun setting over the Braden River.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Corrine Wagner, an employee of Coldwell Banker in Lakewood Ranch, gets instruction from martial arts instructor Jessie Vi.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 4, 2015
Realtors knock out plan for safety

Lakewood Ranch martial arts instructor donates time to instruct those who show homes.

  • East County
  • News
Stephen Suau, who said the Fruitville Initiative was his brainchild in 2002, and Wade Matthews, the conservation chair for Sarasota Audubon Society, discuss Sarasota County commissioners denying an amendment to the Fruitville Initiative on Oct. 28.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 4, 2015
Side of Ranch column: Jay Heater

Political menu offers two sides, ends with bad taste

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 4, 2015
Cops Corner 11.04.2015

Crime reports from around the area.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
More soccer fields at Braden River Soccer Club will soon have lighting.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 4, 2015
Manatee County Commission approves additional lighting for Braden River Soccer Club fields

The East County soccer club is paying $45,000 to install lights on more playing fields.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch quarterback Justin Curtis threw three touchown passes. (courtesy Dan Miller)
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 4, 2015
East County Football Friday: Week 10

Lakewood Ranch ends six-game losing streak with win against North Port.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 4, 2015
ODA girls soccer strikes past Sarasota Christian

The Thunder beat the Blazers 6-0 Nov. 3.

  • East County
  • Sports
Culverts sit on Benderson's 42-acre parcel just off Coburn and Fruitville roads.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 4, 2015
Commissioners' roadblock slows Fruitville Initiative project

Benderson expected to submit a revised plan for its 42-acre parcel inside the Fruitville Initiative area

  • East County
  • News
Residents say this pond, which is used to catch drainage from Tara Boulevard, smells bad and collects trash.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 4, 2015
Living next to pond scum

Tara Preserve CDD considers filling a dysfunctional drainage pond.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 4, 2015
CDDs to hold public meeting on roadshare agreement

CDDs 2, 5 and 6 have been working for a year to find a way to split maintenance costs on shared gates and roads.

  • East County
  • News
Supervisors Alan Haibach and Chris Hogan spoke up about the litigation with the Shores homeowners during the Oct. 26 Community Development District meeting.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • November 4, 2015
Waterlefe litigation with Shores residents inches toward resolution

After almost a decade of dispute, the issue of additional assessment fees may be put to rest.

  • East County
  • News
Layla Lockaby enjoys the hunt for candy.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • November 4, 2015
Stoneybrook hosts Trunk or Treat

Residents gathered to dish out candy, dress in their Halloween garb.

  • East County
  • News
« 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 »
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
Bradenton's Trey Johnson finishes his swing during the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation Golf Tournament, which raises funds for local nonprofits.
  • May 11, 2026
Lakewood Ranch rallies to support golf tournament fundraiser
2
Pastitsio ($25) made with Greek macaroni with ground beef, fresh herbs topped with a creamy béchamel sauce.
  • May 11, 2026
Make it a Mediterranean (meal) May
3
Sunday morning crash kills 18-year-old on Interstate 75
  • May 11, 2026
Sunday morning crash kills 18-year-old on Interstate 75
4
Brooks Bartram improved his fastball velocity from 84 miles per hour in September 2025 to 94 mph by February. Now, he'll play NCAA Division II baseball in the fall.
  • May 11, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Brooks Bartram
5
Officer Jorge Castro had his badge pinned onto his uniform by his wife, Melissa Castro, after he was sworn in as the newest Longboat Key Police Department officer Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
  • May 11, 2026
New Longboat Key police officer brings force to 19

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