• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Holiday 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
  • LWR Life
  • 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
  • LWR Life
  • 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
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

News

Sgt. John Skeen, who died Oct. 21, was honored at the Elks Lodge in Lakewood Ranch May 8 on Victory in Europe Day.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 4, 2025
World War II hero dies at 107 years old

Bradenton's John Skeen reluctantly told stories about fighting with the U.S. Army's 70th Infantry Division.

  • East County
  • News
Work begins to widen Legacy Trail near downtown Sarasota
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 4, 2025
Work begins to widen Legacy Trail near downtown Sarasota

An additional lane is being added along 1.4 miles between Shade Avenue and Beneva Road.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Florida Department of Transportation crews had removed the Gulf of Mexico Drive sign from the intersection at Bay Isles Parkway.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 3, 2025
FDOT to reinstall Gulf of Mexico Drive signs

The Longboat Key street signs removed by FDOT in August will be reinstalled, a spokesperson said Monday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Christian Delunas, retail general manager, shows one of his favorite unique purses offered at the newly opened Italian Idea boutique on St. Armands Circle. The shop recently hosted a soft opening for its third attempt to open a location on the shopping hub.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • November 3, 2025
Boutique featuring Italian leather handbags opens on St. Armands

Italian Idea, which hosted its soft opening last week, brings its family fashion tradition to St. Armands Circle.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The town of Longboat Key and partners celebrated the installation of a "Living Wall" at Longboat Key's Bayfront Park.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 3, 2025
Living seawall begins to make waves in Longboat

Concrete panels affixed to the seawall of Bayfront Park are already home to many varieties of marine life.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A large crowd of Florida Studio Theatre supporters participated in the cerremonial groundbreaking for the McGillicuddy Arts Plaza.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 1, 2025
Florida Studio Theatre starts Arts Plaza construction

Florida Studio Theatre's McGillicuddy Arts Plaza will include three new performance venues, structured parking and residential units.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A new Outback Steakhouse opens Nov. 11 on the corner of State Road 70 and Crossland Trail.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 1, 2025
Outback Steakhouse opens in Lakewood Ranch on Nov. 11

The popular Australian-themed restaurant will open on the corner of State Road 70 and Crossland Trail on Nov. 11.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Phillippi Creek at Blossom Brook Canal
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 31, 2025
Follow Phillippi Creek dredging updates with new county website

With the new webpage, residents can monitor the project to dredge Phillippi Creek from Tuttle Avenue to Little Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Market on Longboat Key will not be returning in 2025, the organizer announced.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 31, 2025
Longboat Key farmers market canceled for 2025-26 season

A push to finalize enough vendors for the seasonal event came up short for the only farmers market on the barrier island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 31, 2025
SMH participating in global atrial fibrillation device trial

Sarasota Memorial Hospital is among 100 sites testing a new device for long-term medication use for atrial fibrillation patients.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Little League serves boys and girls 4-16 years of age at Twin Lakes Park on Clark Road.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 29, 2025
Sarasota Little League reports disappearance of $200,000

The baseball league president calls the loss a "betrayal" and seeks donations for its spring season as the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office investigates.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A silver Volkswagen SUV was reported leaving the Town Square University Parkway with several leafy plants strapped to a roof cargo rack.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 29, 2025
Burglar makes off with Manatee senior center's therapeutic garden

Town Square University Parkway hopes donors now can help replace what was stolen.

  • East County
  • News
St. Regis Longboat Key Resort installed a stainless steel metal arch on a converted groin extending into the Gulf. Longboat Key town staff asked the hotel to take the arch down because it does not follow town code.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 29, 2025
St. Regis resort's arched sign on pier causes dispute with town

The St. Regis is asking the town of Longboat Key to amend its sign code to allow for an arch it installed on a groin to remain in place.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The second floor of the Lakewood Ranch Library could open as early as April 2026.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 29, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Library's second floor could be built out by April

The second floor buildout is one of several projects Manatee County Libraries has slated for the upcoming year.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi said Fire Rescue responds to about 2,200 calls per year with 700 resulting in ambulance trips to the hospital.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 29, 2025
Longboat Link aims to reduce nonemergency 911 calls from older adults

Joint Fire Rescue and Youthful Aging initiative will provide follow-up services for Longboat residents who call 911 for nonemergencies.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
« 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 »
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
Britnie Sutika, CEO Kristie Skoglund, Kimberly Treharne, Paola Pinillos and Kate Reed
  • December 7, 2025
Florida Center for Early Childhood hosts 2nd annual Wonder Gala
2
St. Petersburg's Ella Brown and Sarasota's Mike Chambers take full advantage of the live music to show off their best dance moves at the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival on Dec. 6.
  • December 7, 2025
Lakewood Ranch music fans aren't crying the blues after festival
3
Students from Sarasota High School's marching band walk in the parade.
  • December 7, 2025
Sarasota's spirit goes on display in the holiday parade
4
Debi and Mike O'Leary take a look at the tree.
  • December 6, 2025
Sarasota annual tree lighting takes place at Selby Five Points
5
Devin Mignery (center) prepares to take the snap during the FHSAA Class 2A state semifinal between Cardinal Mooney and Cocoa. The senior quarterback was inserted for junior Davin Davidson and helped usher the Cougars into the state championship.
  • December 6, 2025
Cardinal Mooney football headed to state championship

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 © 2025 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