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Your Observer | All

Braden River senior Matthew Ireland is all smiles before his match against George Jenkins High's Everett Smith Jan. 18. Ireland won the match by pin and went on to win the 122-pound title of the Ricky Gullet Invitational at Bayshore High.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 22, 2025
Wrestler reaches elite level by being a gym rat at Braden River High

Senior wrestler Matthew Ireland looks to be a medal contender at the 2A state tournament in Kissimmee.

  • East County
  • Sports
Patric Robinson stars in August Wilson's "Fences" at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe through Feb. 23.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • January 22, 2025
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe swings for the 'Fences'

WBTT's production of August Wilson's Pulitzer-winning play knocks it out of the park.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Those who hire Myakka City's Casey Kantenwein to shoe their horses say his creativity sets him apart from other farriers.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 22, 2025
When it comes to TerraNova's horses, this farrier nails it

If the shoe fits, it's probably Casey Kantenwein doing the work.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Crew Head Coach Casey Galvanek brings a gold-medal pedigree to his coaching at the youth level. Galvanek coached the U.S. men's four boat to gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 22, 2025
Casey Galvanek is more than just a high school coach

Sarasota Crew Head Coach Casey Galvanek overcame chemistry issues with his crew en route to coaching the U.S. men's four boat to a historic gold medal in the 2024 Olympic Games.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Students at William H. Bashaw Elementary School planted a new garden last week with the help from Supervisor of Student Nutrition Skye Grundy (left), EBD self-contain teacher Ms. Bratton, EarthBox representative Will Carlton and Principal James Dougherty.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 22, 2025
Bashaw Elementary plants garden to further campus improvement project

The school garden will be used for cooking, math, science lessons — and lunch.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board's Jan. 17 agenda included a discussion on boat dock and lift heights after a recommendation from the town commission.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 22, 2025
Ordinance to raise max boat dock, lift height passed by planning board

With final approval from the Longboat Key Town Commission, the ordinance would allow homeowners to raise boats higher for protection from high surges.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 3140 Bayou Sound has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,312 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 22, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 6-10 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Bay Isles home on Bayou Sound tops the week's sales at $1.4 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Meet the two candidates for Longboat's at-large commission seat
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 22, 2025
Meet the two candidates for Longboat's at-large commission seat

Deborah Murphy and Steve Branham are up for election for one of the Town Commission's at-large seats, which will be left vacant.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Eleanor Maxim plays a hand a bridge.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 22, 2025
Beloved card game helps bridge social gaps

The popularity of bridge clubs on Longboat Key has soared, nearly topping out capacity at The Paradise Center in recent weeks.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Officers don't take social media bait
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 22, 2025
Officers don't take social media bait

Two males streaming videos to a popular social media site fail to draw officers into compromising scene. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The Gulf of America: Yes!
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 22, 2025
The Gulf of America: Yes!

Given what Mexico has done to the United States, Mexico doesn’t deserve to have that wonderful body of water named after it.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The new Bridge includes Dan Sullivan, Domini Wood, Renee Nadiv, Lois McKenzie David Siesel, commander Barbara Warshaw, Dennis Holly, Sam Doak and Perry Page
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 21, 2025
Sarasota Power and Sail Squadron holds annual change of watch

The organization, which is dedicated to boating safety, welcomed its new officers including Commander Barbara Warshaw.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Irene Langlois races to the ball during her match.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 21, 2025
Observer Challenge tennis tournament players praise new format

Participants in the 25th annual Observer Challenge tennis tournament widely praised the new format of brackets, which eliminated singles matches.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Francesca Bisordi is a sophomore wrestler on the Lakewood Ranch High girls wrestling team. Last season, wrestling in the 170-pound weight class, she was named the Girls 1A District 11 Champion when she pinned Bayshore High's Alexandra Lopez in the tournament last February.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 21, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Francesca Bisordi

The Lakewood Ranch sophomore wrestler is thriving in her second year in the sport.

  • East County
  • Sports
The National Weather Service predicts the cold weather will persist through the weekend.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • January 21, 2025
Bundle up: Series of cold fronts hit Southwest Florida this week

Lows will be in the low 40s for most of the week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
2
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy
3
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
4
Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
Longboat Goodwill officially celebrates grand opening
5
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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