• 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

News

The Free family is excited about the installation of a playground at Risen Savior Lutheran. It marks the start of a preschool program. Pictured are Kristin and Pastor Caleb Free with their children, JoJo, Clay and Aaron.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 23, 2019
Lakewood Ranch church aims to open preschool

Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Lakewood Ranch preps for preschool opening.

  • East County
  • News
Brooke McDerment looks at her third grade daughter Celia's zootopia she made in class during a student-led conference. Celia McDerment dedicated the zootopia to her mother.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 23, 2019
Bashaw Elementary students take the lead in conferences

Bashaw Elementary School student-led conferences allow students to take ownership of their work

  • East County
  • News
Juniors Mikayla Stokes and Brianna Noon and seniors Lucy Crank and Angelina Ortiz practice playing together as a quartet. With different schedules, finding times to practice can be difficult.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 23, 2019
Lakewood Ranch High School quartet sets tone for orchestra

Quartet performs in East County to promote Lakewood Ranch High School orchestra program

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said the Sheriff's Office is working to address the community's needs, and understands people are frustrated with traffic, in particular.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 23, 2019
Manatee County Sheriff's Office looks to hire 10 deputies

Sheriff's Office will need time to train 10 new deputies financed by budget increase.

  • East County
  • News
Neighbors Danny Chappell and Ron Hunniford look at a map of the site on which Manatee Ranches wants to place a "country store." They say the site, behind them, should not be developed commercially.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 23, 2019
Intersection site proposed for development in Myakka area

Land owner seeks approvals for commercial development near CR 675/S.R. 70 intersection.

  • East County
  • News
Gene Witt Elementary Principal David Marshall
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 23, 2019
Gene Witt Elementary renovation put on pause

Gene Witt Elementary School renovations on hold as School Board of Manatee County member approaches state about replacement.

  • East County
  • News
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione says growth in tourism will come from a hotel and expansion of the existing convention center, as well as tourism in East County.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 23, 2019
Lakewood Ranch area future of tourism growth in Manatee County?

Lakewood Ranch area future of tourism growth in Manatee County?

  • East County
  • News
Fairfield resident Brian Dunne stand at the center of his community, where the pool and mailboxes are located. Behind him is an unobstructed skyline. He and others worry about the visual impact a five-story building could have.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 23, 2019
Fairfield residents oppose planned five-story building in Manatee County

Fairfield residents worry about views, traffic with proposed Bradenton plaza changes.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 23, 2019
Sarasota County School Board must leave a positive legacy

Superintendent Todd Bowden’s handling of the sexual harassment charges against the district COO demonstrates he is not a good fit, nor fit for the job.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The Sarasota Orchestra announced last year it planned to move out of the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, but it has not yet selected a location to build a new concert hall.
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 22, 2019
City renews conversation about Sarasota Orchestra venue

After the City Commission rejected a proposal to build a concert hall at Payne Park, some city officials want to reiterate their support for retaining the orchestra.

  • Sarasota
  • News
After removing hundreds of Australian pines from John Ringling Causeway, the city will create a wider path between St. Armands Circle and the Coon Key Bridge.
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 22, 2019
Work set to begin on Coon Key trail

After some St. Armands merchants expressed concern about the timing of the project, the city is attempting to accelerate a portion of the construction.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Whitehouses have been volunteering at the Phillippi Farmhouse Market for a collective 17 years. Fred, who is the market manager, has been there for 11 years and Grace, who runs the welcome tent, has volunteered there for six.Â
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • October 21, 2019
Sarasota couple awarded Florida voluntary service award

The Whitehouses have volunteered at the Phillippi Farmhouse market for a collective 17 years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
One of the topics likely appear on the survey is a question about the possibility of someday eliminating the county border that splits the town between Manatee and Sarasota counties.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 21, 2019
One-county question likely on town's citizen survey

Residents will be asked about key issues, customer service in early 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 21, 2019
Impasse-settlement hearing planned for Nov. 20

Retirement system is main sticking point in police contract talks.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sararsota Farmers Market has been operating north of Main Street as the city and private developer worked on construction projects to the south.
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 21, 2019
Sarasota Farmers Market returns to South Lemon

The market is moving back to its old location along Lemon and State Street after a period of construction caused it to temporarily relocate to the north.

  • Sarasota
  • News
« 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 »
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
District 3's Jack May is a write-in candidate in the District 1 commission race.
  • August 11, 2026
Write-in candidates close two Manatee County Republican primaries
2
At the 2025 FHSAA Class 4A boys swimming state championship, then-junior Andrew Malaj earned silver in the 400-yard freestyle relay and bronze in the 200-yard freestyle as the Sailors won the team title. He recently competed for the Sarasota Tsunami at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee.
  • August 11, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Andrew Malaj
3
John Guerrasio and Laura Gardner star in "The Last Romance," which runs at Florida Stuudio Theatre through Aug. 16.
  • August 11, 2026
The best things to do this weekend in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat
4
Paxon Hermann placed sixth for pole vault at the 2026 FHSAA Class 1A track and field state championship in May. That was far from the only discipline he worked on this summer.
  • August 11, 2026
ODA student-athlete dives into decathlons
5
Gary Hagen, owner of Elegant Lady Cheesecake Parlor, died Aug. 3.
  • August 11, 2026
Owner of Hollywood-centric Elegant Lady Cheesecake Parlor dies

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