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

Your Observer | All

Melinda Zarzycki-Harris, founder and executive director of Bring on the Ministry, and Pastor Julia Wharriff Piermont of Christ Church of Longboat Key are all smiles with their new ministry partnership.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • July 21, 2026
Christ Church gets new charitable partner

Christ Church of Longboat Key and Bring on the Ministry are now working together.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tom Bleakley's "The Preacher" follows a young Detroit lawyer who takes on the defense of a woman charged with the killing of her husband. It is co-authored by Marcia Krajewski, another Lakewood Ranch resident.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 21, 2026
Lakewood Ranch author uses 50-year law career to write fiction novels

Eighty-five-year-old Tom Bleakley released his novel "The Preacher" in February.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Natalia Lesniewska raked in a meet-high 11 medals — 10 gold, one bronze — among all girls at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 21, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Natalia Lesniewska

Before starting high school at Cardinal Mooney, the Sarasota Sharks swimmer dominated the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The playground is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 21, 2026
Manatee County moves forward with Mixon Farms makeover

In the year since the farm's purchase, the county installed a playground and launched several public events.

  • East County
  • News
Shirtless, shoeless teenager walking in bike lane visited by police
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 21, 2026
Shirtless, shoeless teenager walking in bike lane visited by police

Police on patrol stopped to speak with a shoeless teen walking in the bike lane in the dark. This and other Longboat Key police reports in this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Linda R. McKee, retired chief librarian of The Ringling, and Deborah W. Walk, retired chief circus curator, have written a book about a mysterious painting known as the "Greta Garbo Vermeer."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 20, 2026
Two sleuths track the mystery of the 'Greta Garbo Vermeer'

A retired curator and a librarian at The Ringling have written a new book about the elusive painting.

  • Arts + Culture
About 50 local, state and federal candidates attended "Meet the Candidates" at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing July 16.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 20, 2026
Meet the candidates event draws hundreds to Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance was one of the sponsors of the event at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.

  • East County
  • News
Gunfire reported at youth football event in Sarasota
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 20, 2026
Gunfire reported at youth football event in Sarasota

No injuries were reported in the Saturday incident at Booker High, police say.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A cownose ray waves a wingtip at onlookers from the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort lagoon on Friday after caretakers introduced half a dozen pups to the enclosure. Resident rays had the babies in December, and experts released the adolescents into the Under the Sea Lagoon.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 20, 2026
Half-dozen baby rays debut at St. Regis lagoon

The aquatic care team introduced the adolescent cownose rays to the Longboat resort's outdoor enclosure and shared another surprise.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Swimming is a sport Izzy DiPasquale got into because of her older sister, Ava DiPasquale. She's now assembling a career of her own.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 20, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Izzy DiPasquale

The rising seventh grader and Mill Creek resident made multiple trips to the podium at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
A conceptual rendering of Swing in the courtyard at Payne Park Tennis Center.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 20, 2026
Payne Park public art reveal set for July 30

The public will get its first look at "Swing" by New York artist Michael DiCarlo later this month.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mike Mullen, the new principal of Lakewood Ranch High School, is ready to take on the role he applied for in 2019.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 19, 2026
Educator returns to area as principal of Lakewood Ranch High

Mike Mullen, who has served as principal at Martha B. King Middle School for the past four years, is eager to return to the school where he previously served as assistant principal.

  • East County
  • Schools
A rendering of the planned Shore restaurant, boutique, cafe and residential space as viewed from Boulevard of the Presidents on St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 19, 2026
Planning staff questions new Shore restaurant design on St. Armands

Sarasota's Development Review Committee are asking for more details about plans for the Shore restaurant building's third floor and parking strategy.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Longboat Key Police Department has four vessels in its marine fleet, including a 26-foot Boston Whaler that is out of commission awaiting repairs to its canopy.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 19, 2026
LBK Foundation asks for community help with police boat repair fundraiser

A $7,000 donation by a Longboat family will cover about half of the repairs, and the Longboat Key Foundation is asking for donations to bridge the remaining gap.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Toby reaches up to greet a new helping of foam.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2026
Dog Bar Sarasota celebrates one-year anniversary

The beloved dog bar celebrated its one-year anniversary after reopening with a foam party benefiting Donte's Den.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
1 2 3 4 5 »
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
Melinda Zarzycki-Harris, founder and executive director of Bring on the Ministry, and Pastor Julia Wharriff Piermont of Christ Church of Longboat Key are all smiles with their new ministry partnership.
  • July 21, 2026
Christ Church gets new charitable partner
2
Tom Bleakley's "The Preacher" follows a young Detroit lawyer who takes on the defense of a woman charged with the killing of her husband. It is co-authored by Marcia Krajewski, another Lakewood Ranch resident.
  • July 21, 2026
Lakewood Ranch author uses 50-year law career to write fiction novels
3
Natalia Lesniewska raked in a meet-high 11 medals — 10 gold, one bronze — among all girls at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.
  • July 21, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Natalia Lesniewska
4
The playground is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
  • July 21, 2026
Manatee County moves forward with Mixon Farms makeover
5
Shirtless, shoeless teenager walking in bike lane visited by police
  • July 21, 2026
Shirtless, shoeless teenager walking in bike lane visited by police

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