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Your Observer | All

Marcus Walfridson, team owner of the Sarasota Paradise, hopes that 2025 will be the team's most successful year to date in its new home at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 13, 2025
The Sarasota Paradise will call Lakewood Ranch home

The soccer team will begin playing home games at Premier Sports Campus in 2025.

  • East County
  • Sports
Perlman Music Program founders, Itzhak and Toby Perlman
    By
  • Lori Sax
  • January 13, 2025
Perlman Music Program Celebration Dinner lauds young musicians' performances

The annual Celebration Concert and Dinner concludes the Perlman Music Program Suncoast's winter residency.

  • Black Tie
Sarasota's Zack and Greta Hamric sit in their 1956 Jaguar XK 140MC Roadster formerly owned by Hollywood star Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 13, 2025
Jaguar Festival d’Elegance brings luxury vehicles to St. Armands Circle

The free-to-the-public event showcased Jaguar sports cars from across Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
While Birdie McClaine plays his accordion, his companion Lady Haha sits and waits to perform tricks.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 13, 2025
An old clown and his clever dog steal the show on St. Armands Circle

The afternoon of Dec. 14 was busy on the circle, but a random street performer with a Ringling Bros. history stood out the most.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
GCCF accepts annual scholarship program applications
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 13, 2025
GCCF accepts annual scholarship program applications

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded more than $11.5 million in scholarships to local students since 1997.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The new Manatee County Board of County Commissioners is pursuing "extraordinary circumstances" to increase impact fees beyond the state's maximum allowance.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 13, 2025
New commissioners prepare to 'fight' for higher impact fees

The increase could garner millions more in fees for Manatee County by the end of 2025 if passed.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County expects an additional $210 million in federal funding for storm recovery efforts.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 13, 2025
Sarasota County expects $210M in federal storm recovery funding

A new round of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant funds will be allocated in accordance Sarasota County's Resilient SRQ program model.

  • Sarasota
  • News
ThunderBug amps up the crowd just before the first puck drop between the Lightning and Devils at a watch party held on Lakewood Ranch Main Street on Saturday, Jan. 11.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch shows its hockey pride at Tampa Bay Lightning Watch Party

People of all ages enjoyed a ball hockey tournament and a Lightning vs. Devils game.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Linda, Lisa and Lindsey Mullins
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 12, 2025
Sarasota Bay Seafood & Music Festival fills ears and stomachs

The event was held in its new location of the Sarasota Fairgrounds for the first time.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cesar Lopez of The Danny Bub Combo plays the trumpet.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 12, 2025
Fresh Fridays block party helps kicks off the new year

“New Year on the Block” ushered in the year 2025 while offering the signature sights and sounds of Fresh Fridays.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Many Siesta Key neighborhood streets are included in the resurfacing program.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 12, 2025
Siesta Key road resurfacing project resumes Monday

Suspended in the aftermath of a busy hurricane season, the project to resurface much of the roadway on Siesta Key will resume on Jan. 13.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Sand is dredged from the Longboat Pass channel to be utilized in the Gulfside Road beach nourishment project.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 12, 2025
Gulfside Road beach nourishment to finish by end of January

While the temporary sand placement will save the beach in the short term, Longboat Key's coastal engineer will start the permitting process for a long-term solution.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Star Farms residents Barbara Malta and Lynette Cahill attend the expo to explore medical services because they're new to town.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 11, 2025
Sarasota wellness expo showcases local medical services

The annual New Year, New You Health & Wellness Expo was held at the Mall at University Town Center.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Pulpo, patatas bravas, picanha and piquillos rellenos are on the menu at Beso.
    By
  • Emma Burke
  • January 11, 2025
These Sarasota tapas are the talk of the town

Grab a glass of sangria and prepare for a parade of tapas that’ll keep the good vibes — and your plate — overflowing.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Brian Dryfhout, director of marketing and communications for SunCoast Blood Centers, stands in front of the nearly empty cooler at the Lakewood Ranch location. SunCoast is asking the community for donations due to a shortage of blood.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch blood center needs donations to stock shelves

SunCoast Blood Centers provides blood to area hospitals and the Sarasota Fire Department.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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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
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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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