• 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

Participants of the Citizens Academy visit the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department for one of the sessions.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 7, 2025
Longboat Key readies for 2025 Citizens Academy class

The town of Longboat Key still has seats open for the upcoming Citizens Academy starting on Jan. 15.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Former champion Ron Orlando hands Debra Quinn the 2024 YMCA Bridge Club trophy on Dec. 19 at the annual potluck luncheon.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 7, 2025
Bridge Club stimulates mental exercise at Lakewood Ranch YMCA

Members of the Lakewood Ranch YMCA Bridge Club say the game is challenging and fun.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden River senior Alisson Gonzalez was a state meet qualifier last season in the 129-pound weight class.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 7, 2025
Braden River High has state title contenders in girls weightlifting

The Pirates look to defend their regional title in 2025.

  • East County
  • Sports
Local artist Trevor Bystrom and musical partner Peter Mawanga, from Malawi, Africa, performed their music for Lakewood Ranch on Dec. 18 at Ranch Nite Wednesday at Waterside Place.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 7, 2025
Two musicians bridge gap between US and Africa

Regular Lakewood Ranch performer Trevor Bystrom unites with Malawian musician Peter Mawanga for a Waterside show.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Resident reports loud music and screams from New Year's Eve partiers
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 7, 2025
Resident reports loud music and screams from New Year's Eve partiers

The responding officer heard some laughter, but no suspicious activity. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
MLS Commissioner Don Garber (right) speaks at the Bird Key Yacht Club with Gene Goldberg (left). Garber owns a property on Lido Key and has been coming to the area for decades.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 7, 2025
MLS Commissioner Don Garber speaks at Bird Key Yacht Club

Garber joined his old friend Gene Goldberg on stage as a part of the club's Seafarer's Speakers series.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Rev. Julia Piermont's installation service was held on Feb. 4 at Christ Church of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 7, 2025
Christ Church of Longboat Key celebrates 20 years

Started by 25 Longboaters in 2004, the church will host a service on Jan. 12 to reminisce on all their progress throughout the years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Longboat Key Police Department.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 7, 2025
Town manager 'confident' about upcoming transition with Longboat PD

Following the departure of Chief of Police George Turner, Town Manager Howard Tipton said the town will stick with the interim chief until setting priorities for the new chief.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Debutante Callaway Johnson with escorts Noah Johnson and Addison Wiggins.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • January 7, 2025
Tips to get your new year started right

Don't wash your hair, but do wear red or yellow underwear to bring health, love, luck and happiness to 2025.

  • Black Tie
The rehabilitation hospital will be on Lake Osprey Drive.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 6, 2025
$30M rehab hospital breaks ground in Lakewood Ranch

The 40-bed rehabilitation facility is expected to open in 2026.

  • East County
  • News
Sheldon and Jo Meingarten shopping at Market on the Key.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • January 6, 2025
Market on the Key open for the season

From suncatchers to clothes to lunch, Markets By Nancy hosts a variety of vendors to appeal to everyone.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Terri Weagant starts in "Spaceman," which runs through Feb. 16 at Urbanite Theatre.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • January 6, 2025
Urbanite's 'Spaceman' is out of this world

Summer Dawn Wallace directs a human story in a science-fiction universe.

  • Arts + Culture
Our priority: Developers, people?
  • By Jon Thaxton
  • January 6, 2025
Our priority: Developers, people?

Former Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton responds to Matt Walsh's Dec. 24 column regarding the possible development near the Celery Fields.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Jim Roberts and Kasey Ray of Florida Suncoast Orchids in Myakka City, represented one of the more local vendors.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 6, 2025
Orchid show and sale ushers in the new year in colorful fashion

Orchid Delirium: Sarasota Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale allowed the public to take home new plants, and knowledge.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Joe Di Bartolomeo is starting a resident volunteer board to connect communities in District 5.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 6, 2025
Former commission candidate finds new way to be involved in Manatee County

Joe Di Bartolomeo is starting a volunteer group for Manatee County residents living in District 5.

  • East County
  • News
« 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 »
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 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
2
  • July 24, 2026
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

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