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Your Observer | All

Kay Thayer receives recognition for her 25 years of service organizing the annual Observer Challenge tennis tournament.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 20, 2025
Observer Challenge coordinator credited for invaluable 25 years

Tennis Center Manager Kay Thayer has coordinated the annual Observer Challenge tennis tournament annually since it began 25 years ago, and she recently received her flowers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Lakewood Ranch High boys varsity golf team finished the season with a cumulative team GPA of 3.254. Seniors (from left to right) Luke Wilson, Henry Burbee and Parker Severs all took pride in their academics in a season that saw the Mustangs finish second in the FHSAA Class 3A state tournament in November.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 20, 2025
East County student-athletes prove that brains go hand in hand with brawn

Sports teams at Lakewood Ranch and Parrish Community high schools finish at the top of the state rankings for team academics.

  • East County
  • Sports
Guest speaker Walter Gilbert extolls the perseverance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Friday Shabbat service at Temple Beth Israel.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 20, 2025
Shabbat service recognizes optimism of Martin Luther King Jr.

Walter Gilbert offered his interpretation of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "How Long? Not Long" speech at a Friday Shabbat service.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Observer's theater critic's picks for 2025
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • January 20, 2025
The Observer's theater critic's picks for 2025

Sarasota's live theater companies share the human stories that often remain untold.

  • Arts + Culture
Celery Fields is for both people and the environment
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • January 20, 2025
Celery Fields is for both people and the environment

A housing development on adjacent property would directly impact many programs and activities, a reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Deputy Chief Frank Rubino started with the Longboat Key Police Department in 2013.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 20, 2025
Deputy Chief Frank Rubino takes over as interim chief for LBKPD

Rubino looks forward to keeping the Longboat Key Police Department up to accreditation standards and boosting community relations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Lee and Bob Peterson Awardee Elizabeth Waters and Sunshine from Darkness President Jeffrey Peterson
    By
  • Lori Sax
  • January 20, 2025
Inspiring Hope Dinner creates a spark for Sunshine from Darkness

The annual fundraiser featured Chester Gregory as its keynote speaker.

  • Black Tie
Marine biologist Sean Patton shows the Gardeners Out East a piece of Hydrilla verticillata he plucked out of the pond next to Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 20, 2025
Garden club looks under the surface of Lakewood Ranch ponds

Gardeners Out East invited Sean Patton from Stocking Savvy to speak at its first meeting of the year.

  • East County
  • News
Poly has been installed in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 20, 2025
With Poly installed, what's next Sarasota's roundabout art program?

Now that Poly has been installed in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street, the city still faces the question of where to place sculptures originally planned for other traffic circles.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Claw was one of the most popular rides at the Manatee County Fair Saturday.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 19, 2025
Manatee County Fair begins with nonstop entertainment

The fair continues its run in Palmetto through Jan. 26.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Chamber chair Joe Hembree, Observer Media Group president and CEO Matt Walsh and Sarasota Chamber president Heather Kasten.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 19, 2025
Sarasota Chamber honors Observer CEO, hosts Florida Chamber president

The New Year's Kickoff Brunch presented Observer Media Group CEO and founder Matt Walsh with the Spirit of Sarasota Award and featured Florida Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Mark Wilson.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy eighth grader Wrenn Pevzner tested people to see whether they could distinguish the difference between a real photo and one that was generated by artificial intelligence for her science fair project.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 19, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Prep students explore science of the modern world

Projects on AI, Wi-Fi and cellphone radiation show how far science fairs have come.

  • East County
  • Schools
Garden Party to support UF/IFAS Extension sensory garden
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 19, 2025
Garden Party to support UF/IFAS Extension sensory garden

A 1960s-themed garden party to support UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County's sensory garden will be held March 29, rain or shine.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2025
Sarasota County government holding three job fairs

The county is hiring in multiple departments at job fairs in January, February and March.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This is a rendering of the outdoor patio for the proposed Backyard Social off of Professional Parkway in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 18, 2025
Late-night dining, entertainment on hold in Lakewood Ranch

Sarasota County commissioners granted a continuance instead of voting no to a request near Waterside.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
The roof of Sarasota Youth Sailing's future building is designed to direct rainwater into a cistern for washing boats.
  • July 25, 2026
Youth sailing building crests final regulatory wave
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Legacy: Motown & More
3
Bradenton 3-year-old Zy'heir Curry, a lover of "Paw Patrol," shows off his trophy from playing flag football at The Learning Experience.
  • July 24, 2026
The Learning Experience in Lakewood Ranch tackles a flag football event
4
Larry Debb of GSP Development with a scale model of Saravela at the development's sales center.
  • July 24, 2026
City staff instructed to develop condo-hotel policy
5
Danae Tran plays the violin for Longboat Island Chapel attendees of the July 19 morning service before she and fellow scholarship recipient Michelle McLeod move to greet guests at the award reception.
  • July 24, 2026
Scholars celebrated at Longboat Island Chapel award reception

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