• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • 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
  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

News

The final leg of the 44th Avenue East extension project will open to drivers on Aug. 9.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 6, 2025
44th Avenue East extension into Lakewood Ranch welcomes drivers Aug. 9

The project that took over $268 million and over 50 years to come to fruition is complete.

  • East County
  • News
Commissioners George Kruse, Bob McCann and Amanda Ballard debate the merits of a curfew for residents under the age of 17 at the Aug. 5 commission meeting.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 5, 2025
Kids 16 and under in Manatee County face possible curfew

Commissioners directed the county attorney to draft an ordinance to establish a curfew in unincorporated Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
A rendering by PSDW Architecture of the proposed new Sarasota Youth Sailing facility at City Island shows boat storage beneath a climate-controlled second floor.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2025
Meeting on planned Sailing Squadron building set for Aug. 13

Sarasota Sailing Squadron is seeking a zoning waiver for planned Youth Education Building.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The second option for High School AAA, with a $107,000,000 budget, would provide 1,000 student stations and 139,000 square feet of space. Later additions might include an auditorium, gymnasium and other athletic fields.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 5, 2025
School board to decide fate of new high school in Lakewood Ranch

Two options being studied for a high school at Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard, along with a possible expansion at Braden River High.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Sarasota Seagrass sculpture selected for the roundabout at 10th Street and U.S. 41 has been redesigned to remove the fish per Florida Department of Transportation safety standards.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 5, 2025
Design and perhaps location changes affect 10th Street roundabout sculpture

For safety reasons, the small fish in the Seagrass sculpture selected for the roundabout at 10th Street and U.S. 41 have been removed while the location choice remains in flux.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manatee County CFO Sheila McLean presents a new budget proposal July 31.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 5, 2025
Manatee property values decelerate, but tentative millage stays steady

Countywide property values were anticipated to grow by 10% but only grew by 7.09%.

  • East County
  • News
Town of Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager is sworn in on his first day Aug. 4 as his wife, Beth, looks on.
    By
  • Michael Harris
  • August 5, 2025
Longboat Key swears in new police chief

Russ Mager brings 29 years of experience to the position, with much of that time spent in Delray Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
There are three living levels within 845 Longboat Club Road.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 4, 2025
Record-breaking Longboat home sale spotlights island's unique market

The $30.3 million deal solidifies the town's position for luxury sales.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The damage to Whitaker Gateway Park from hurricanes Helene and Milton is estimated at $1.5 million.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 4, 2025
City park hurricane repairs estimated at $12.45 million

In addition to $12.45 million in repairs to city parks and piers, Sarasota's Parks and Recreation Department budget also took a nearly $200,000 hit in lost revenues following the 2024 storms.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The electric dirt bike seen here is a Talaria XXX Pro that retails for about $3,000. The manufacturer states that it was designed for off-road use by riders 16 years of age or older.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 4, 2025
Electric bicycle use regulated in unincorporated Manatee County

The ordinance prohibits kids under 16 from using Class 3 electric bikes on shared-use paths and roadways.

  • East County
  • News
Suncoast Waterkeepers provides weekly water quality testing of coastal waters and publishes results for the public.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 2, 2025
Waterkeeper monitoring expands to south Sarasota County

Suncoast Waterkeeper has added a new water quality specialist for its bacteria indicator testing program.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Yacht Club philanthropy and special projects coordinator Stephania Feltz, center, joins Nicki Martin, Don Ellis, Roy Grossman and Mark Padgett, who are the board members leading SYC Cares. The charitable arm of the yacht club recently became an official 501c3.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 1, 2025
SYC Cares becomes 501(c)(3) foundation

With 20 members on the committee, the Sarasota Yacht Club will continue its fundraising faction.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The house at 845 Longboat Club Road spans nearly 20,000 square feet.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 31, 2025
Record home sale at $30.3 million closes for Longboat Key property

The property called "Serenissima" previously broke sales-price record in 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Save Sarasota Historic Properties Inc. plans to restore the historic Colson Hotel into the Colson Collective business incubator.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 31, 2025
Colson Hotel to be restored as a business incubator

With a goal of providing business startup space across all demographics, the group preserving the Colson Hotel plans to renovate it as the Colson Collective.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch (left) supported Commissioner Kathy Kelley Ohlrich's motion to set the citywide max millage rate at 3.3 in hopes of setting the final rate at 3.273 for fiscal year 2026.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 31, 2025
Sarasota citywide max property millage rate is set at 3.3

Interim City Manager Dave Bullock told city commissioners an increase over the current fiscal year's property tax rate is necessary to rebuild the general fund balance.

  • Sarasota
  • News
« 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 »
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
Golf pro Stephen Arnold succeeded in his goal of playing 100 holes of golf in a single day to benefit families involved with First 1,000 Days Suncoast.
  • February 4, 2026
Golfing feat makes a difference for area families
2
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall
3
Chamber launches summertime internship program
  • February 4, 2026
Chamber launches summertime internship program
4
Braden River boys basketball has clinched its first 20-win season since 2011-12, and won eight games in a row to close out the regular season.
  • February 4, 2026
Braden River High boys basketball team turns the tides with teamwork
5
Danny Bernardy demonstrates research with a theatrical flair to Greg Ball in Florida Studio Theatre's "The Blue-Sky Boys."
  • February 4, 2026
Florida Studio Theatre shoots for the moon with 'The Blue-Sky Boys'

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.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now