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Your Observer | All

Sophia Wiley makes her way down the row to shake hands after she receives her Lakewood Ranch High School diploma at Lecom Park May 18.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 19, 2026
Lakewood Ranch High graduates eager for what's ahead

LRHS graduation

  • East County
  • Schools
Work is winding down in the first phase of the Phillippi Creek dredging project.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 19, 2026
Work wraps up on first segment of Phillippi Creek dredging

More digging in the crucial waterway is under way and planned for 2027.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The oval median at Bay Isles Road will be refreshed in a landscaping project that will uproot the unkempt plants in the median.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 19, 2026
Bay Isles landscaping project begins

The medians along Bay Isles Road should be refreshed in time for an Independence Day parade.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Reece McCabe concluded his high school weightlifting career with success on the state level in both Traditional and Olympic style.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 19, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Reece McCabe

The Lakewood Ranch High senior brought home a pair of medals from the FHSAA Class 3A boys weightlifting state championship.

  • East County
  • Sports
A camper explores hands-on marine science during Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s Mote SEA STEM Camp.
    By
  • Su Byron
  • May 19, 2026
Let the kids blossom creatively this summer at one of these art camps

These summer camps for children and teens open the door to self-expression, skill-building and the joy of discovery.

  • Arts + Culture
Cady Jones (left), Sarai Castro (center) and Kaydence Evans (right) celebrate Braden River High softball's first state semifinals berth since 2016. The Pirates are now two wins away from their first state title.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 19, 2026
Tremendous turnaround for Braden River High softball

The Pirates struggled mightily in 2025, but this season has been a much different story.

  • East County
  • Sports
Judge Hillary Ellis is a new addition to the Manatee County Court.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 19, 2026
Lakewood Ranch attorney appointed to Manatee County Court

Hillary Ellis will fill a seat created by Senate Bill 2508.

  • East County
  • News
ABC 7 Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan speaks at the Longboat Key Disaster Preparedness Seminar organized by the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Thursday, May 14.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 19, 2026
Panel gives tips to prep for the worst on Longboat Key

Just before the start of hurricane season, disaster preparedness seminar included misconceptions addressed, forecasts shared and serious warnings.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Daniel Sanchez, Christopher Schrum and Griffin Shay head onto the field.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 19, 2026
Another record graduation rate at Sarasota High School

Students headed to Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field to turn their tassels and toss their caps on May 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Students toss their caps as the status of graduation is conferred.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 19, 2026
Riverview High School students take the next step

Graduates of Riverview High School filled Robarts Arena on May 16 to bid farewell to high school and welcome their continuing path.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Anesha Green (center) celebrates with her mother, Shemere Green, and father, Cedric Green.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 19, 2026
Booker High School celebrates hundreds of seniors

Families and students filled Robarts Arena on May 16 with a record graduation rate as students prepare for their next chapter.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
A woman approached by her ex at a beach an hour away from home calls Longboat Police
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 18, 2026
A woman approached by her ex at a beach an hour away from home calls Longboat Police

Months after the two broke up, and with suspicions of being followed, a woman called police on her ex boyfriend. This and other Longboat Key police reports in this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
School Board Member Heather Felton took off her blazer during the May 5 workshop to show her sleeveless shirt is appropriate for students in the Florida heat.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 18, 2026
Manatee Schools to re-evaluate dress code guidelines

School board members and school community members debate what the dress code should be and whether school uniforms are an option.

  • East County
  • Schools
An aerial view of Sarasota Orchestra's future Music Center, a 32-acre campus that will be located at 5701 Fruitville Road, near Interstate 75.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • May 18, 2026
Sarasota Orchestra announces anonymous $12 million Music Center donation

Close to $87 million in donations have been publicly announced toward the Fruitville Road campus.

  • Arts + Culture
Tyre Smith is in his second year with Sarasota Rugby Club. He switched over from football after competing with Riverview High School and Wittenberg University.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 18, 2026
Sarasota Rugby Club hits the sand

Stepping away from its grass pitch, the club held its first annual 'Siesta 7s' beach rugby tournament.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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Latest News

1
The Lakewood Ranch Library will open an hour later starting Aug. 1 due to a hiring freeze that was implemented in February. Commissioner George Kruse says hours could be further reduced if the property tax referendum passes in November.
  • July 22, 2026
Property tax cuts will cause 'new normal' in Manatee County
2
Front porch rug drying sparks a boarding house fight
  • July 22, 2026
Front porch rug drying sparks a boarding house fight
3
Defender Declan Watters (left) is one of several Sarasota Paradise players learning from lead assistant Trevor Sinclair (right). The Paradise are 5-10-3 in USL League One and 6-13-3 overall, as of July 16.
  • July 22, 2026
Assistant coach brings wealth of experience to Sarasota Paradise
4
"Reflection-Venice, 1894," a photogravure print taken by Alfred Stieglitz, and Clarence Hudson White's photogravure print, "Edge of Woods-Evening, (1900)," were gifts of Warren J. and Margot Coville to The Ringling.
  • July 22, 2026
The Ringling goes back to black-and-white photography
5
A Flock camera takes pictures of vehicles that drive on Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key.
  • July 22, 2026
Flock cameras photograph every car that enters Longboat Key

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