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Your Observer | All

Morgan Bettes Angell and Paul Benjamin thought a blues festival in Lakewood Ranch would be sustainable on an annual basis, but after two years, it is out.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 11, 2026
When it comes to the blues festival, we blew it in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival promoter says he will move the festival to G.T. Bray for 2026.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Rosemarie Herke, the president of the German American Social Club of Sarasota, has been in that position for 10 years. She said the club is about preserving German culture through dance and socialization.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 11, 2026
German American Social Club of Sarasota has danced through 75 years

The club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special event at Tara Country Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This rendering illustrates the plan for three youth baseball fields at Country Club East Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 11, 2026
$7.2M youth baseball fields move forward in Lakewood Ranch

Regardless of the Manatee County Commission's decision, Country Club East residents are not finished raising concerns.

  • East County
  • News
The town of Longboat Key is taking steps to condemn and demolish the house at 6541 Gulfside Road, nicknamed the Half Moon House.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 11, 2026
Town seeks to condemn, demolish 'Half Moon House'

The seawall that gives the Half Moon House its name lies in pieces, and the pilings lifting the house above the beach have visible wear.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The cast of Urbanite Theatre's "The Apiary" includes (clockwise from left), Christina Mei Chen, Terri Weagant, Dekyi Ronge and Ariel Blue.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • March 11, 2026
Urbanite Theatre's 'The Apiary' asks the question, 'To bee or not to bee'

Director Summer Dawn Wallace talks about staging a dark, futuristic comedy without getting stung.

  • Arts + Culture
The Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit meets at the Sarasota County Farm Bureau Feb. 19.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 11, 2026
Florida agricultural intelligence unit protects country assets

Law enforcement and wildlife officers meet monthly to share resources and intel.

  • East County
  • News
The Sarasota Paradise waited out a nearly two-hour weather delay before commencing their first season in USL League One. Over 2,500 fans packed the stands at Premier Sports Campus.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 11, 2026
Sarasota Paradise drop professional debut to AC Boise, 1-0

The Lakewood Ranch-based soccer club played its first match in USL League One.

  • East County
  • Sports
The home at 600 Wedge Lane sold for $8,625,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,338 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 11, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 23-27 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Country Club Shores home on Wedge Lane tops the week’s sales at $8.63 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Prolific Bird Key author Mifflin Lowe received an award from The Florida Book Awards for his recent work, "Art: An Interactive Guide."
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • March 11, 2026
Bird Key author awarded for children's art book

The Florida Book Awards named Mifflin Lowe and team as winners of the Older Children's Literature category for "Art: An Interactive Guide."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The town of Longboat Key wants to expand the sidewalks on the east side of Gulf of Mexico Drive to 12 feet wide. Right now, the width of the sidewalk varies from six to eight feet wide.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 11, 2026
Town eyes feasibility study for 12-foot path along Gulf of Mexico Drive

The process is very early on, but Longboat Key staff have begun discussions with FDOT about what it would take to expand the existing sidewalk into a 12-foot multiuse trail.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Man makes false battery claim to end an argument
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 11, 2026
Man makes false battery claim to end an argument

Police were called to an alleged battery only to learn a man called 911 to get his ex-girlfriend to leave him alone. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Austin Venhaus and Aaron Rutsky
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 11, 2026
Walls go up as Sarasota's first climbing gym nears opening

Formerly known as Project 24 Climbing, Hexrock Climbing is set to open at the beginning of April.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
DeSantis has better policy than rhetoric on data centers
  • By Adrian Moore, Max Gulker
  • March 11, 2026
DeSantis has better policy than rhetoric on data centers

Gov. Ron DeSantis is eager to be seen as a crusader against data centers, but the major piece of legislation on data centers connected to his AI Bill of Rights enables building to continue while addressing major concerns.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch Garden Club members Bethy Bacon, Cheryl Scheid, Brenda Rooks (back), Brenda Webb, Sylvia Abdelsalam and Penny Kress (front) are eager to welcome community members to Garden Fest March 14.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 10, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Garden Club to host Garden Fest

On March 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., community members will have the opportunity to learn about gardening and nature from experts.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Senior Jaden Morales (top) controls Middleburg junior Nathan Harvey (bottom). The Pirate won their match by decision, 6-4, and ultimately placed sixth at 126 pounds.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 10, 2026
Braden River High wrestlers earn five medals at state meet

Jacob Fuentes tops the Pirates with a second-place finish at 144 pounds in 2A action.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Latest News

1
Cynthia Keough is one of several Manatee County residents to step up to the podium June 4 and ask commissioners for more time to review the updated comprehensive plan.
  • June 6, 2026
Residents have 60 more days to review Manatee County comp plan
2
Steven High is retiring as executive director of The Ringling, a position he has held since 2011.
  • June 5, 2026
Steven High to retire as executive director of The Ringling
Sponsored Content
3
  • June 5, 2026
33rd Annual Downtown Venice Craft Festival
4
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County's Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund is meant to pay for immediate relief and long-term resilience efforts in the four-county area.
  • June 5, 2026
Patterson Foundation donates $500,000 for storm relief
5
A giant American flag has flown above Sarasota Ford since the 1970s.
  • June 4, 2026
American flag will fly high again over Sarasota Ford

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