• 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

Mike Harrison and Amish, one of several horses of his on the Florida Cracker Trail Association’s Annual Cross-State Ride, a trek from Bradenton to Fort Pierce.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • February 18, 2025
Cracker Trail lures riders to a vanishing Old Florida

The Cracker Trail Ride "either gets on you or in you."

  • East County
  • Neighbors
John Neal, with Neal Land & Neighborhoods, is building North River Ranch in Parrish.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • February 18, 2025
Big projects to keep an eye on in Parrish

With bulldozers and (lots of) building permits in tow, a pair of communities a short car ride away from Lakewood Ranch are in boom mode. "Coming soon" signs dot the landscape.

  • East County
  • News
The Urban Air Adventure Park location in Lakewood Ranch will be its largest in the country.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 17, 2025
Urban Air Adventure Park flies into Lakewood Ranch this summer

The 60,000-square-foot indoor adventure park is anticipated to open July 25 on Professional Parkway.

  • East County
  • Business
Olivia Hadad, right, has led the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team to the state semifinals with 35 goals in her senior season.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch girls soccer vies for first state championship

The Mustangs will play the state's No. 4 overall team in state semifinal round

  • East County
  • Sports
Ilee Finocchiaro and Danielle Curtis met in 2023 and began to formulate a plan to merge the two nonprofits they helped run.
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • February 17, 2025
SMART joins forces with a similar nonprofit

Two nonprofits with a similar focus — helping people through horse therapy — have merged into one organization.

  • East County
  • News
Rich and Blakely Williams are camping with their four children: 4-year-old Blake, 3-year-old Briley, 9-year-old Brayden and 7-year-old Blaine.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 16, 2025
Have S'more fun at Lakewood Ranch Community Campout

About 130 people pitched tents in Greenbrook Adventure Park for the annual campout.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This year is the 25th year for Art in the Park, set for March 14-16 at the University Park Country Club.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • February 16, 2025
Art in the Park set to celebrate 25 years of community talent

The 25th annual juried show showcases creativity within University Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jon Mast’s Buck Shot Chili gets a stir at the Suncoast Builder’s Association’s third annual Chili Cook-off Feb. 13.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • February 14, 2025
Spicy showdown at Suncoast Builders Association Chili Cook-off

The annual event in Lakewood Ranch is increasing in popularity with more entries.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Drywall is removed in Nicole Eveloff's River Club home after Hurricane Debby flooded the home Aug. 5, 2024. At the time, Eveloff was told it could be four to five months before her family could return home.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 14, 2025
Deadline approaches for 2024 catastrophic property tax refund

Residents can now report property damage and file applications through the Manatee County Property Appraiser's website.

  • East County
  • News
Allegiant Air celebrates the opening of Concourse A at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport with a custom wrap on one of its aircraft.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 13, 2025
Allegiant embarks on seven new routes from SRQ this week

Allegiant Air adds seven new routes from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airports following the airline's opening of five new gates in Concourse A.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Top nature photos from around Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County in 2025-26
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 13, 2025
Top nature photos from around Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County in 2025-26

Readers from across the region submit their photos to the Observer's 2025-26 Weather and Nature Photo Contest.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lidar data shows a 3- to 4-foot difference in a portion of the embankment underneath the bridge on River Club Boulevard.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch's response to Hurricane Debby flooding was immediate

Engineers identified and fixed issues inside Lakewood Ranch within months, but problems still exist beyond its boundaries.

  • East County
  • News
Blues artist Dylan Triplett gets up close and personal with the fans during the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 12, 2025
Local promoter plans next Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival

Morgan Bettes Angell is considering tweaks to better serve the community.

  • East County
  • Opinion
A speed detecting camera sits in front of Tara Elementary School.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 12, 2025
School zone speeding cameras rev up criticism in Manatee County

Commissioners limited the ticketing hours and made the speed limits uniform following complaints.

  • East County
  • News
From left to right, these are the newly installed leaders of the Women's Club: Kathy Matheson, Joanne Byrne, Sue Pace, Stefanie Fine, Shirley Driskill, Susan Braunstein, Kathy Stewart and Susan Francisco.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 12, 2025
Women's club mixes fun with philanthropy

The Women's Club at Cascades of Sarasota fosters camaraderie by raising money for local nonprofits.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 »
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
Woman smells a scam with fake nude photos threat
  • May 6, 2026
Woman smells a scam with fake nude photos threat
2
This fall will be Scott Paravicini's fourth season as the Lakewood Ranch football coach. He's posted a 14-17 record since taking over the program.
  • May 6, 2026
Despite cancer, Lakewood Ranch High coach remains committed to his players
3
Janet and Dean Mixon are retiring. The couple sold their food truck to Polk Sheriff Charities, Inc.
  • May 6, 2026
Mixon Swirl food truck finds a new home in Polk County
4
Rod Brogan and Rachel Moulton star in Florida Studio Theatre's "Birthday Candles."
  • May 6, 2026
Florida Studio Theatre actor is a woman for all seasons
5
The home at 5910 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for $4.9 million. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,272 square feet of living area.
  • May 6, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for April 20-24 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

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