• 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
  • 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
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

LWR Life

Tara Bergstrom Merino with her children Michael and Natalie at The Market, where LWR SAVVY, in partnership with LWR and Little Geniuses, helps facilitate a free tent with activities.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • May 22, 2019
Local woman brings STEM education to Lakewood Ranch youth

Tara Bergstrom Merino saw a deficiency in STEM education. She opted to fix it herself by starting a nonprofit program called LWR SAVVY to help fill the gap.

  • LWR Life
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • February 22, 2019
You don’t look a day over 24

Lakewood Ranch celebrates its silver anniversary

  • LWR Life
Executive Chef Greg Campbell (right) and General Manager Austin Harlow behind the newly added service bar.
    By
  • Randi Donahue
  • February 22, 2019
Out of the Woods

Grove lays roots in an iconic spot on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

  • LWR Life
Pillars of the Kentucky polo circuit, Misdee Wrigley Miller and James Miller began visiting the Sarasota Polo Club in 2004.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • February 22, 2019
Horse Play

When James Miller ponied up to buy the Sarasota Polo Club last year, he set out to prove to his wife that you can lead a horse to water and make it drink.

  • LWR Life
This phase of the renovation includes the construction of a second cardiac catheterization lab mimicking the existing one shown here. The newly constructed lab will be finished by the end of first quarter of the year.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • February 22, 2019
Growth Mode

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center nears completion on an ambitious expansion to better serve the community.

  • LWR Life
Four-year-old Madison Straw rushes for eggs at the 2018 EGGstravaganza.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 22, 2019
Calendar

Spring 2019

  • LWR Life
Archie Griffin often goes unrecognized while on the golf course.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • February 22, 2019
Game Changer

Retired NFL running back Archie Griffin has two Heisman Trophies, a fabled college career, a charity golf tournament and one of the nicest reputations in football.

  • LWR Life
Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota Secretary and incoming President Jake Hartvigsen (left) alongside Past President and current board Chairman Michael Schuchat, a Lakewood Ranch resident.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • February 22, 2019
Call of the Future

The Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota adapted to attract new members while keeping its community service intact.

  • LWR Life
    By
  • Randi Donahue
  • February 22, 2019
25 reasons to love Lakewood Ranch

In two-and-a-half decades, Lakewood Ranch has allowed its residents to reap the kind of lifestyle perks most communities take generations to sow.

  • LWR Life
Heather Jungueira and some of the dogs.
    By
  • Shellie Terry
  • February 22, 2019
One sniff away

The future of early-stage cancer detection may exist in the snout of the jovial, floppy-eared beagles of Bioscent DX.

  • LWR Life
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • February 22, 2019
The Art Among Us

There are artists among us — maybe you knew that. Or, perhaps, you haven’t taken time to consider them, to view their work, or to buy one of their pieces.

  • LWR Life
The kitchen boasts wood floors and cabinets, plus a green ceramic farmhouse sink.
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • February 22, 2019
Country Pride

An All-American home in the Polo Club

  • LWR Life
    By
  • Jess McIntyre
  • February 22, 2019
Family fun is in close range

Eighty-six the plane, trains and automobiles with quick, affordable (and sanity-saving) local-ish staycations and getaways.

  • LWR Life
Dec. 31, 2017: The day we accidentally mistook a private playground for a revitalized park while out on a family hike. It’s an easy mistake with all the green space in the area.
    By
  • Columnist .
  • February 22, 2019
The Ranch Outdoors

Most of the country may still be shoveling snow, but here at The Ranch we’re reveling in perfect weather and a wealth of green space, while unintentionally playing on private playgrounds.

  • LWR Life
A group takes advantage of a yoga class at The Market.
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • November 23, 2018
Building a community

Letter from the Editor

  • LWR Life
« 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 »
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
Katherine Ceaser, Lydia Chapdelain and Jessica Armstrong
  • March 22, 2026
Art Center Sarasota brings Beaux Arts Ball back to celebrate centennial
2
Mike and Julie Paige, and Amber and Lenny Larson, pose by an "SRQ Wine" sign.
  • March 22, 2026
Festival pours wines from around the world, all at Selby Five Points Park
3
Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April
4
  • March 20, 2026
Longboat Key's Cops, Cars & Coffee rescheduled
5
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
  • March 20, 2026
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism

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