• 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

Johnny Lackaff
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 19, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Johnny Lackaff

Sailors guard scored 30-plus in two regional playoff games.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
BJ Ivey's players said the relationships he's built with them have made it easy to buy in to his instruction.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 19, 2025
Ivey turns Sarasota boys basketball from cellar dweller to state contender

Basketball coach BJ Ivey has led the Sailors on their best run in over 50 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Observer recommends
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 19, 2025
Observer recommends

As is often the case on Longboat Key, whenever there is an election for Town Commission, Longboat Key voters have good, competent choices.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Avary Shirley
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 18, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Avary Shirley

Lakewood Ranch sophomore stepped up to help send Mustangs to states.

  • East County
  • Sports
Ella Walker, 17, Abby Duplissey, 19, Patty Foley and Lauren Taylor Nock perform with the ballet team.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 18, 2025
Sarasota Ski-A-Rees host first show since hurricanes

Although waters were rough, the waterskiing nonprofit still braved the conditions to offer its first performance since hurricanes Helene and Milton.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Rossini's humorous opera, “The Barber of Seville," runs from Feb. 22 until March 29 at the Sarasota Opera's 2025 Winter Opera Festival.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 18, 2025
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Feb. 20-26

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

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Samantha Bennett, Abraham Feder and George Nickson
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 18, 2025
enSRQ serves up Prelude Soiree as pre-concert appetizer

The cocktail event gave new music supporters a bonus performance with special guest, cellist Abe Feder.

  • Black Tie
At the 2024 gala, friends Erica Molinar and Jessica Mendez cheers to Mendez's good health and the much needed financial support she received from the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 18, 2025
Lakewood Ranch foundation to host murder mystery gala

The Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation is hosting Mystery Under the Stars on March 1 at The Ora in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Biden, Obama, Clinton: Era of great prosperity
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • February 18, 2025
Biden, Obama, Clinton: Era of great prosperity

Readers are not ecstatic over the latest election.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Men caught sleeping in Longboat park after hours
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 18, 2025
Men caught sleeping in Longboat park after hours

The two were found asleep in their car, claiming they were tired after fishing. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Sarasota's Joey Panek stars as architect Addison Mizner in freeFall Theatre's production of "Road Show," which runs through March 16 in St. Petersburg.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • February 18, 2025
Take a road trip to see Sondheim's tale of buccaneering brothers

FreeFall Theatre's "Road Show" stars Sarasota's Joey Panek as architect Addison Mizner.

  • Arts + Culture
Susan Goldfarb, program director at The Education Center, speaks with attendees at a recent showing of works by the Highwaymen Artists.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 18, 2025
The Education Center plans music, education and fun spring events

Program Director Susan Goldfarb encourages everyone to mark their calendars for their concerts and lectures coming up in March.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Van Wezel Performng Arts Hall seats 1,741 for touring performances.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 18, 2025
Commttee begins to weigh options for Van Wezel

With five months to go, the Purple Ribbon Committee shifts from research to discussion on ways to repurpose Sarasota's primary performance venue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioner's thoughts on moratoriums are misguided
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • February 18, 2025
Commissioner's thoughts on moratoriums are misguided

Please use caution when Sandhill cranes are present, a reader says.

  • East County
  • Opinion
This Lake Club home at 16913 Clearlake Avenue sold for $2.15 million. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,553 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 18, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 3-7 in Lakewood Ranch

Lake Club home tops Lakewood Ranch-area real estate sales at $2.15 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
« 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 »
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
James Satcher, a former Manatee County commissioner and supervisor of elections, is now running for Congress.
  • June 9, 2026
Former Manatee County commissioner, supervisor of elections runs for Congress
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
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

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