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Your Observer | All

Lakewood Ranch Little League plays at Lakewood Ranch Park March 25.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 1, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Little League expands to improve accessibility

Creative scheduling allows 762 children to participate in the league.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Traffic headed north off Longboat Key often backs up onto the Longboat Pass Bridge as Anna Maria Island has become a congestion hotspot on the barrier islands.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • April 1, 2026
Citizen survey shows love of Longboat, but road issues remain

Most takeaways weren’t a surprise, but the data still has value to town leaders.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bravo's Pizzeria & Italian Eatery at 1995 Main St. in Sarasota has closed.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • March 31, 2026
Pizzeria closes on Main Street in Sarasota

Bravo’s Pizza & Italian Eatery has shuttered next to the Hollywood 11 movie theater.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Bird Key Yacht Club members Carol Smith, Amy Lazarus and Beth Nothstine played instrumental roles in keeping the club's lecture series fresh this season by inviting friends to tell their fascinating life stories. Closing out the series, Bobbi Brown shared tales from her journey starting a makeup empire.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • March 31, 2026
Longtime friendships make Bird Key lecture series possible

The Seafarers Speaker Series brought special guests to tide over Bird Key Yacht Club until the new clubhouse is finished.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Animal in car deemed not a criminal offense on breezy, 68-degree day
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 31, 2026
Animal in car deemed not a criminal offense on breezy, 68-degree day

Police determined there was no animal abuse occurring as the car windows were cracked and the owner sat nearby. This and other Longboat Key police reports in this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
From left, Drew Ferguson, Jason Creasy, Noah Green, Benjamin Newman, Olivia Ledwith and Eric Coley are the newest sworn officers of the Sarasota Police Department.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 31, 2026
Sarasota Police Department swears in six new officers

The newest class of Sarasota police officers includes a former pro baseball pitcher, college football player and the daughter of two retired SPD captains.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Geordie Rauch (1980—2026)
    In Memoriam |
  • March 31, 2026
Geordie Rauch

George Washington Rauch IV, known to everyone as Geordie, passed away unexpectedly on March 4, 2026, in Sarasota, Florida, after suffering a sudden cardiac event. He was 45 years old.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Gabriella Martinez Reyes, a junior at Lakewood Ranch High School, has been named president of the Florida Future Business Leaders of America. This makes her the first of Manatee County.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 31, 2026
LRHS junior named president for Florida's Future Business Leaders of America

Gabriella Martinez Reyes will lead 11,000 members of Florida Future Business Leaders of America.

  • East County
  • Schools
Late Commissioner Carol Ann Felts will be honored April 18 at Crane Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 31, 2026
Manatee County names Myakka preserve after late commissioner Carol Felts

The Carol Ann Billberry Felts Preserve at David J. Crane Park Dedication and Public Memorial Service will be held April 18 at Crane Park in Myakka City.

  • East County
  • News
Rachel Moulton stars in Florida Studio Theatre's time-travel tale, "Birthday Candles," which runs through May 17 at FST's Gompertz Theatre.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 31, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for April 2-8

Don't miss these arts and entertainment events around Sarasota and Manatee counties this week.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Michael Stephen Brown's "The Carnival of the Endangered Wonders" will make its world premiere in Sarasota.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • March 31, 2026
La Musica pairs two musical carnivals for its 40th anniversary

The chamber music ensemble will perform concerts at the Opera House and Mote SEA.

  • Arts + Culture
Jacobey Mobley's speed isn't just on the track. He was Booker football's leading rusher in 2025 en route to the FHSAA Class 3A state semifinals.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 31, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Jacobey Mobley

The senior won two races at the Hurricane Invite for Booker High boys track and field.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Coquina Beach parking lot has dozens of free spots for beachgoers. There were plenty of open spaces Monday, March 30 as rain began to fall.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 31, 2026
Paid parking considered on Anna Maria Island

Manatee County Board Chair Tal Siddique said the idea is to reduce the tax burden of lot maintenance away from those who don’t utilize the beaches.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Indigo's Amber Hanratty, who was in the building industry for 25 years, now has her own business called Dirty Sara-Soda.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 31, 2026
Dirty Sara-Soda hopes to clean up with a new beverage

The "dirty soda" mobile business is owned by Lakewood Ranch's Amber Hanratty, who saw an opening in the market.

  • East County
  • Business
Judy Johnson has lived on Siesta Key since 2010 but grew up hanging out on the Key.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • March 31, 2026
Siesta Key resident helps others embrace their inner beach babe

Judy Johnson has the perfect antidote to a busy day: Putting her feet in the water. "I see sharks and dolphins on a regular basis. And a million sunsets."

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
The Florida Department of Health-Sarasota County has issued a rabies warning.
  • July 22, 2026
Rabies case prompts public health warning in Sarasota County
2
Kyle McCreight participates in the Eastern Regional Qualifiers in 2026.
  • July 22, 2026
4-time 'American Ninja Warrior' contestant isn't done trying to reach national finals
3
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
4
Front porch rug drying sparks a boarding house fight
  • July 22, 2026
Front porch rug drying sparks a boarding house fight
5
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

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