• 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

Among the topics of discussion by the Purple Ribbon Committee is converting the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall into convention and event space.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 16, 2024
Multipurpose convention space is one possibility for Van Wezel

Visit Sarasota County's Erin Duggan tells Purple Ribbon Committee a hybrid convention center/performance space is an option.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Customers can enjoy the poke bowls atop tables made from the colorful skimboards at Zap Skimboards in Venice.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 16, 2024
Siesta Pokè brings its specialty to Siesta Key

The restaurant, opened Aug. 30, differentiates itself with a range of house-made sauces.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Lakewood Ranch seniors Jamarrion Roden (19) and Cullen McRae II (2) celebrate after McRae's second touchdown of the game against Braden River.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 16, 2024
High school football takeaways for East County teams

As the season nears the halfway point, here's how the area's teams stand.

  • East County
  • Sports
Wetlands provide essential wildlife habitat, buffers for excess rain and filter impurities that would otherwise degrade our waterways.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • September 16, 2024
Myakka wetlands showcase a filtration system at work

By removing impurities, filtration by wetlands improves downstream water quality.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Nancy Goodheart Matthews was able to establish the plaque at the fountain with the help of City of Sarasota public art lead Mary Davis Wallace.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 15, 2024
Sarasota celebrates its Mermaid Fountain

The fountain was honored by the Smithsonian Institution’s inventory of public art sculptures in 1995.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Planning Board does an about-face on Fruitville Road development
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 15, 2024
Planning Board does an about-face on Fruitville Road development

Sent back to the board by the Sarasota City Commission after changes, a previously rejected residential project between Fruitville Road and Fourth Street wins approval.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sallie West joined her close friend Donna Powell in making suncatchers at the Paradise Center.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 14, 2024
The Paradise Center in Longboat Key hosts 'Do-It-Yourself' art class

Debbie Lemieux repurposed old jewelry and trinkets to make sun catchers with Paradise Center regulars.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Penler is proposing 125-foot setbacks on the western and southern boundaries of the property where it abuts Eagle Trace.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 14, 2024
Eagle Trace residents say flood risk should be considered for SR 64 proposal

The proposed project in East County will be a mixed-use development.

  • East County
  • News
High school football roundup.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 14, 2024
High school football roundup: Sept. 13

Six Sarasota and East County teams were victorious Friday night.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Booker junior wide receiver Tyren Wortham celebrates catching a 60-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Joel Morris against Carrollwood Day.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 13, 2024
Booker High football recovers from blown lead, beats Carrollwood Day

The Tornadoes almost let a 37-7 first-half lead slip away, but recovered in the second half to win 70-43.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
CFO Sheila McLean presents the tentative budget and millage to commissioners on Sept. 12.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 13, 2024
Commissioners propose tax cut for Manatee County residents

If the proposal is approved at the Sept. 24 Commission meeting, the millage will be reduced by .15 mills.

  • East County
  • News
Ninth grader arrested after Manatee schools shooting threat
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • September 13, 2024
Ninth grader arrested after Manatee schools shooting threat

Manatee County Sheriff's Office reports threats were found on social media.

  • East County
  • News
Upgrades to the pickleball courts at Lakewood Ranch Park cost approximately $250,000.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 13, 2024
Pickleball courts upgraded at Lakewood Ranch Park

Upgrades include a hitting wall, shade structure and lighting.

  • East County
  • News
Third graders Ryan Burchett, Addison Delazzer and Eliana Gabriel show the progress of an oyster rag pot. It starts as a spike with a wooden square covered by a white rag. Then it is covered in cement and placed at the bottom of a river. Oysters attach to the pot and begin filtering water.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 12, 2024
Braden River Elementary students celebrate Everglades Week

Students make oyster rag pots for Oyster River Ecology Inc to help the environment.

  • East County
  • Schools
A rendering of one of two buildings planned for affordable and workforce rental housing in Sarasota Station.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 12, 2024
Sarasota Station appears finally to be on track

The attainable housing project has faced 18 years of roadblocks but now will provide 202 workforce housing units and 72 single-family townhomes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
« 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 »
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