• 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • 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

Lynda Lilley, aka Blossom, attracts a crowd outside the Ringling Museum. "I think people are too serious these days," she says. "It sounds corny, but to make somebody smile is so heartwarming."
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • March 2, 2011
Bozo behavior

Lynda Lilley has rocked white face paint and size 14 sneakers for three decades. The free-spirited "granny clown" explains why she'll never hang up her red nose.

  • Arts + Culture
Courtney Mirabella followed up her first win over Lakewood with eight more strikeouts Feb. 25.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • March 2, 2011
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Courtney Mirabella

Braden River sophomore pitcher Courtney Mirabella pitched a complete game Feb. 22, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out 17 to lead the Lady Pirates to a 1-0 victory over rival Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
This home in Lakewood Ranch features three bedrooms and three baths.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 2, 2011
Lakewood Ranch home sells for $865,000

Elia and Suzanne Sorice sold their home at 7116 Ashland Glen to G.L. Anderson and Sarah Anderson, trustees, Lakewood Ranch, for $865,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Sayward Grindley's office is home to the Sarasota Ballet School's youngest pre-trainee: Grindley's 9-month-old daughter, Parker.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • March 2, 2011
Foot notes

Sarasota Ballet's tireless education director explains how she juggles motherhood, teaching and running the company's new downtown dance studio.

  • Arts + Culture
"Personally, I love it because it's un-slick," Cynthia Sayer says of the banjo. "As a jazz musician, I think it's an amazing instrument. It's very articulate and it has a lot of power."
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • March 2, 2011
Jazz musician returns to Sarasota with a twang

Gritty and virtuosic, Cynthia Sayer blows away every hillbilly stereotype with her rock 'n' roll command of the four-string jazz banjo.

  • Arts + Culture
Sam Davidson
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • March 2, 2011
The men tell their fish stories

The topic of this month's 'Favorite Restaurants' feature is 'Where do you want to go when you want a good piece of fresh fish?'

  • Arts + Culture
Sarasota Opera's "I Lombardi" runs through March 20, at the Sarasota Opera House.
    By
  • June LeBell
  • March 2, 2011
MUSIC REVIEW: Sarasota Opera's 'I Lombardi'

Sarasota Opera's "I Lombardi" runs through March 20, at the Sarasota Opera House.

  • Arts + Culture
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Britain
    By
  • Pam Nadon
  • March 2, 2011
FILM REVIEW: 'Winston Churchill: Walking With Destiny'

Director Richard Trank's latest film will thoroughly inspire audiences.

  • Arts + Culture
John Avlon and Barbara Zdravecky
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • March 1, 2011
45th annual Dinner Celebration

45th annual Dinner Celebration

  • Black Tie
If you have information regarding how the sailboat ended up here, let us know!
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • March 1, 2011
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Smooth sailin'

This sailboat wound up on shore at the 10th Street boat ramp.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Signs warning of elevated bacteria levels will be removed from Turtle Beach.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • March 1, 2011
Officials lift Turtle Beach advisory

Beachgoers had been warned over the weekend to stay out of the water because of unsafe bacteria levels.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ronan Zeitler proudly shows off his paint-covered fingers.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • March 1, 2011
CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT: Little Sprout's Club

Selby Gardens' "Little Sprout's Club" met today for a "Tooty Fruity" themed morning. They painted Johnny Appleseed thumbprint apple trees, planted melon seeds, created watermelon slices from construction paper and snacked on yummy fruits.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Elvita Phelan, Maria Laura Jones, Debbie Smith and Cheryl McGrew attended.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 1, 2011
Local educators learn about STEM

Four Manatee County educators attended the Children's Engineering Convention in Virginia Feb. 20-26.

  • East County
  • News
Jo Jo Williams races down the line toward first base.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • March 1, 2011
Cal Ripken Little Leaguers pitch perfect Opening Day

More than 450 Little Leaguers took to the field for Manatee Cal Ripken Little League at Heritage Harbour's Opening Day celebration Feb. 26. This spring, the league is home to 32 teams, ranging in age from coach pitch to Majors.

  • East County
  • Sports
The meeting will be held in the first floor chambers of the county administrative building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 1, 2011
Commission readies for land-use meeting

Manatee County commissioners will hold their regularly scheduled land-use meeting Thursday morning.

  • East County
  • News
« 4837 4838 4839 4840 4841 4842 4843 4844 4845 4846 »
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
Amanda Parrish is serving as the EDC's interim CEO, and Elizabeth Cordes is the director of business recruitment and expansion.
  • April 10, 2026
Manatee County Commission changes course on Bradenton EDC
2
Drugs, cash and a rifle bullet were among the items found by Sarasota Police in a search of a 31st Way home, resulting in the arrest of Demarius R. Jones, of Sarasota.
  • April 10, 2026
Sarasota man on probation arrested on drug, other charges
3
Rod Brogan and Rachel Moulton star in Florida Studio Theatre's "Birthday Candles."
  • April 10, 2026
Today and tomorrow take the stage in Florida Studio Theatre's 'Birthday Candles'
4
Hanami Sushi Cocktails & Grill is at 1525 Fourth St., Suite C, in Sarasota.
  • April 10, 2026
Sushi restaurant opens in Sarasota's Rosemary District
5
Helga Williams
  • April 9, 2026
Helga Williams

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