• 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

Maddie Baehr was hesitant to join Braden River flag football as a freshman. Now, she's a member of the Ireland Flag Football Women's National Team with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics just over two years away.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 3, 2026
Braden River High graduate takes her dual athleticism overseas

Although she is headed toward Division I soccer, Maddie Baehr played in May for the Ireland Flag Football Women's National Team.

  • East County
  • Sports
Collin Purcell, Katie Blackwell and Brian Ott bring back the feel-good era of folk music in "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 3, 2026
Cool off this summer with Florida Studio Theatre's cabaret shows

FST music shows provide a welcome respite from summer in the city.

  • Arts + Culture
The home at 6161 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for $8 million. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,224 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 3, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for May 18-22 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Sleepy Lagoon home on Gulf of Mexico Drive tops the week's sales at $8 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Plastic bottles have been separated from other recyclables as they travel along a conveyor line at the Circular Services materials recovery facility in Sarasota.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 3, 2026
From shelf to floor: A plastic bottle's journey

After your recycling is picked up from the curb, what happens to it? One potential landing spot may be right under your feet.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The title-winning U16 Women's Eight for Sarasota Crew at the 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships. From left to right: Addison Wilson, Brooke Wilson, Gabrielle Davis, Maya Jewell, Lillian Teague, Megan Murdock, Isabella De Liz, Sydney Soboleski and Rose Ottaviano.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 3, 2026
Sarasota Crew's success started with a change in culture

The youth rowing club has become a household name nationally thanks to its focus on individual development above all else.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A proposal that could eliminate property taxes in the state of Florida, would damage the funding of Longboat Key police and fire departments.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 3, 2026
Longboat Key pushes against Gov. DeSantis property tax reform proposal

A letter from the town to the state delegation described the governor's method of introducing property tax reform as political theater.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
An American flag flies on Gulf of Mexico Drive, the town’s main thoroughfare that will soon see much more red, white and blue as the town prepares to install 56 light pole banners.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 3, 2026
Town works to unveil patriotic banners ahead of July 4

A banner depicting the American flag that can be reused was picked for Longboat Key’s Gulf of Mexico Drive over one that featured recognition of the country’s 250th birthday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Beach chair bandits shocked at police response
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 3, 2026
Beach chair bandits shocked at police response

Four users of rental beach chairs refused to pay for the afternoon's use or vacate the seaside seats, until the cops arrived. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Longboat Key Tennis Center members and friends of Dolores Levy honored her memory with the unveiling of a new plaque at the center last weekend.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 2, 2026
LBK Tennis Center honors Rombo founder

Community members shared stories about Dolorers Levy at a May 30 unveiling of a plaque in her memory.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Municipalities across the region limit fertilizer use during the summer to protect local waterways.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 2, 2026
Fertilizer restrictions in place on Longboat Key

Residents are prohibited from using certain types of fertilizers during the rainy summer seasons to protect the waterways.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Squeaky Wheel Fringe runs June 2-7.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 2, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for June 4-10

Don't miss these arts and entertainment events around Sarasota and Manatee counties this week.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
This is not how to 'cut' taxes
  • By Jeff Brandes
  • June 2, 2026
This is not how to 'cut' taxes

The governor’s property tax plan won’t eliminate taxes. It will just shift them. Your city will become increasingly dependent on the state.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
'Jesus lizard' rescued on Longboat Key
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 2, 2026
'Jesus lizard' rescued on Longboat Key

Backup was called to help free a large lizard from a fence. This and other Longboat Key police reports in this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
As a junior last season, Jayla Griffin led the Cougars in points, rebounds and assists per game en route to the FHSAA Class 3A-Region 2 semifinals.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 2, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Jayla Griffin

With multiple Div. I offers, the rising senior guard for Cardinal Mooney girls basketball has much to consider.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The U.S. Soccer U17 Men's National Team prepares to face Brazil in the 2011 Nike International Friendlies at Premier Sports Campus. Lakewood Ranch won't play host to any games in the upcoming men's FIFA World Cup, but is home to no shortage of soccer enthusiasts.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 2, 2026
Approaching men's FIFA World Cup brings back memories in Lakewood Ranch area

The global soccer tournament, which will run from June 11 through July 19, is the first to be co-hosted by the U.S. since it hosted solo in 1994.

  • East County
  • Sports
« 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 »
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
The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus has steadily grown over the past 20 years on Tamiami Trail.
  • July 21, 2026
USF names new Sarasota-Manatee leader for New College transition
2
Multiple species of starfish have found a home on the "Living Wall" at Longboat Key's Bayfront Park. The innovative project uses 3D-printed concrete slabs modeled after mangrove roots to provide better habitat for aquatic animals.
  • July 21, 2026
Longboat's living seawall recognized for creativity
3
Tania Vergara Dance Theater will stage a free performance of "HuMangrove" on Saturday, July 25, at Selby LIbrary.
  • July 21, 2026
The best things to do this weekend in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat
4
Bob Bowling (left) chews out his son, Matt Bowling (right), while coaching football at Palmetto High. Before Braden River, he worked at Palmetto from 1993-2004.
  • July 21, 2026
Family, friends remember longtime coach, athletic director Bob Bowling
5
Melinda Zarzycki-Harris, founder and executive director of Bring on the Ministry, and Pastor Julia Wharff Piermont of Christ Church of Longboat Key are all smiles with their new ministry partnership.
  • July 21, 2026
Christ Church gets new charitable partner

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