• 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
  • 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
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Your Observer | All

Teachers and student winners of the fifth grade essay content pose for a photo Feb. 25 at Robert Willis Elementary School in Lakewood Ranch. The contest was held by the Manatee County Retired Educators Association.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • March 5, 2025
Willis Elementary students recall grandparents' love in essay contest

Willis Elementary gets top two spots in Manatee County Retried Educators' Association contest.

  • East County
  • Schools
Liam St. John had never picked up a javelin until last year. Now, he's nearing the school record and he wants to pursue the sport in college.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • March 5, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High sophomore eyes school javelin record

Liam St. John placed first at last year's district meet one month after he first picked up a javelin.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sand sculptor Patrick Harsch, who crafted the castle currently on display at Zota Beach Resort, works on his latest St. Patrick's Day-themed outdoor piece at The Mall at University Town Center, near Ford's Garage.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • March 5, 2025
Behind the castle gates: Florida sand sculptor gives a glimpse of his craft

Visitors to Zota Beach Resort can see one of Patrick Harsch's latest creations, a sneak preview of what's to come with next month's sand sculpting competitions.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The courtyard area at Sarasota City Hall will be renovated, the fountain repaired and the entire area fenced in.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 5, 2025
City Hall fountain and courtyard to be fenced

Sarasota city commissioners determine an outdoor patio space at City Hall does not constitute a public park in deciding to secure the area as part of a $625,000 repair and renovation contract.

  • Sarasota
  • News
After a career in coporate, Peggy Kronus is her own boss now.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 5, 2025
Lakewood Ranch resident plans a new path

Event planning makes Peggy Kronus' heart happy, and now she's doing it for herself with a new business, PK Events & Services.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Neighborhood watchman rams pickup truck with golf cart
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 5, 2025
Neighborhood watchman rams pickup truck with golf cart

A resident accuses a repairman of speeding through his neighborhood and, to make a point, strikes his vehicle with a golf cart. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Robert Rauschenberg's "Preview," from the "Hoarfrosts Editions," 1974.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • March 5, 2025
The Ringling honors Rauschenberg on the 100th anniversary of his birth

It joins museums around the world in celebrating the revolutionary artist, who spent the last half of his life in Florida.

  • Arts + Culture
Like in previous elections, the town clerk's office will offer treats to early voters.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 5, 2025
Longboat Key early voting has begun

Early voting takes place at Longboat Key Town Hall for the town election that includes a commission race, a referendum and charter amendments.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A 1,500-foot driveway divides the forest at Triple Oak Preserve, Manatee County's latest acquisition through its Environmental Lands Program.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 5, 2025
Manatee's environmental lands program continues tedious process

After purchasing three properties in four years, the ELMAC program is currently negotiating 11 purchases and two easements.

  • East County
  • News
Barbara May and Fred Sassen sold the Bird Key home at $7.25 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 5, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 17-21 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Bird Key home on West Royal Flamingo Drive tops the week’s sales at $7.25 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Brad Schalk is the owner of Vinyl Vault
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 5, 2025
Record collector turns passion into retail with Vinyl Vault

The vintage record store held its grand opening March 2, inviting The Garbage-Men band for a performance.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Country Club's Nancy Opresnick says she loves creating a work of art out of a lump of clay.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 5, 2025
Lakewood Ranch potter throws herself into her work

Nancy Opresnick puts her talent on display at the annual Spring Art Show and Sale.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The center turn lane would benefit drivers entering Country Club Shores.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 5, 2025
Country Club Shores voice concerns over planned turn lanes

Residents of Longboat Key neighborhoods Country Club Shores have mixed feelings about the addition of raised, curbed medians to some of the lanes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
It's an unconvincing case
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 5, 2025
It's an unconvincing case

Each side of The Ringling-New College question can make a case. But it’s difficult to be convinced that New College is ready.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A speed detecting camera sits in front of Tara Elementary School.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 4, 2025
Speed cameras turned off in Manatee County school zones

Commissioners voted 5-2 to terminate the program that issued over 55,000 citations since August.

  • East County
  • News
« 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 »
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 Crystal Waters estate at 8501 Midnight Pass Road has re-entered the market at nearly $30 million.
  • June 9, 2026
Siesta estate returns to the market at nearly $30 million
2
Members of the public curious to learn more about Longboat Key's sea turtle population ask questions of the experts at the first Turtle Walk of the nesting season on June 6 beside the newly staked nest.
  • June 9, 2026
Following record year, turtle nesting season off to strong start on Longboat
3
Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager (right) presents Lee Smith with a plaque recognizing his years with the police department at the June 1 Town Commission meeting. Smith retired from his position as sergeant on May 29.
  • June 9, 2026
Sgt. Smith retires from Longboat Key Police Department
4
Alexandra Melrose, Hailie Lucille and Hannah Taylor star in Florida Studio Theatre's "Honky Tonk Angels."
  • June 9, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for June 11-17
5
From left, City Commission at-large candidates Jen Ahearn-Koch, Flo Entler, John Harshman, Jaime Loomis and Rob Rominiecki at the CCNA candidate forum.
  • June 9, 2026
Neighborhood association forum highlights City Commission candidates

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