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Neighbors

Maribeth Phillips is the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, and Andy Guz, CEO of Manatee Memorial Hospital, is the board chair.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 15, 2025
Main Street at Lakewood Ranch hosts Empty Bowls

The annual event benefits the Food Bank of Manatee.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
More than 200 showed up to the Sarasota Yacht Club Nov. 4 to hear Democratic Gov. candidate David Jolly speak at the Longboat Key Democratic Club’s season kickoff luncheon.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 15, 2025
LBK Democratic Club kicks off season with governor candidate Jolly

David Hogg and Martin Baron are scheduled to speak at LBK Democratic Club luncheons in February and March.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Shawna Hicks-Cranston of PostNet raises her Sandies award for the Community Champion category. The annual Sandies was held by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Nov. 14 at the Grove in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community leaders are saluted with Sandies awards

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance hosts its annual awards program at the Grove.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Rex Jensen, the CEO and president of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, is the 2025 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award winner.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch's 'visionary' honored by the Community Foundation

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch CEO and President Rex Jensen receives the 2025 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award at The Soirée at the Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Police officer Mike Mathis gives his order to Brandon Clark while Sgt. Adam Montfort waits in line at Rotary Club of Longboat Key’s Food for Gratitude event where all town employees received free lunch to recognize their hard work after dual hurricanes in 2024.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 13, 2025
Rotary provides thank-you lunch to town employees

After months of storm cleanup that continues even today, Rotary Club of Longboat Key wanted to recognize the hard work of town employees.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Tennis Center held an event welcoming back seasonal residents Tuesday, Nov. 11. A tennis clinic demonstration was held, food was served and music played as Longboaters mixed and mingled on a chilly Tuesday afternoon.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 12, 2025
Longboat Key Tennis Center hosts chilly event for snowbirds

More than 50 returning visitors show up in sub-60 temperatures to attend the Tennis Center 2025 welcome back event.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
It's Read Everywhere winner finds high ground in Swiss Alps
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 12, 2025
It's Read Everywhere winner finds high ground in Swiss Alps

This year's winner of the Observer's It's Read Everywhere contest enjoyed the "trip of a lifetime" and showed that the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer is as well traveled as Agent 007.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Students and instructor Elisha Byerly perform "Pennies from Heaven" with Sarasota Contemporary Dance.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 12, 2025
'You Raise Me Up' puts local arts education on stage

The finale of the 2025 Living Arts Festival in Sarasota highlighted arts education in the local area.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
In memoriam: Remembering the Longboat friends we lost in 2025
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 12, 2025
In memoriam: Remembering the Longboat friends we lost in 2025

Longboat Key remembers the friends and family we lost from April through October.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Angela Long coaches the veterans team at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 12, 2025
Veterans find camaraderie in paddling at Nathan Benderson Park

The veterans dragon boat team operates under the umbrella of the park's nonprofit conservancy.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Students from the Riverview High School Kiltie Band march along the parade route.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 11, 2025
Generations honor sacrifices at Sarasota Veterans Day Parade

Amid cold weather, the parade featured various local organizations and clubs, schools and government departments.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A team from the community of Heritage Oaks volunteered at the event and included Sandi Merrill, Pauline St. Martin, Gary Chapin, Sheri Abramson, Alice Chapin, Ruth Scribner, Steve Ronis, Linda Trageser and Sharon Boss.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 11, 2025
Bowls of Hope event helps fight hunger in the community

The Sarasota event brought around 50 area restaurants to offer samples of their meals to guests, while also raising funds for All Faiths Food Bank.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sue Ann Miller, Regina Negrycz and Sue Glass represent the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library, which won the award for the Group/Club of the Year.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 11, 2025
Youth fishing volunteer hooks big award in Lakewood Ranch

Ed Van Stedum snags Volunteer of the Year award at the Community Appreciation Awards.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Front row: Vickie Miller-Yanics, Elliott Metcalfe and Becky Metcalfe. Back row: Tom Smith, Tom McElheny and Ben Knisely
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 11, 2025
Marine vets celebrate 250th birthday of US Marine Corps

This year's Marine Corps Birthday Luncheon in Sarasota hosted Elliott Metcalfe, the former public defender who founded the event in 2003.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Longboat Key Club Key Niners brought their A-game for a bit of friendly competition at their opener tee off for The Women's Nine Hole Golf Association on Nov. 6.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • November 11, 2025
Longboat Key Golf Club welcomes back winter players

The Longboat Key Club Key Niners started off a new season on Nov. 6 with a few friendly rounds of golf, luncheon and fashion show.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest News

1
Keep calm and party on: Co-Chairs Renee Phinney, Lauren Dixon, Lauren Wohlwend and Allison Imre along with event planner Minta Getzen (center) make sure that every detail of Wine, Women & Shoes is handled with the utmost care.
  • November 15, 2025
Wine, Women & Shoes steps up in support of Forty Carrots Family Center
2
Maribeth Phillips is the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, and Andy Guz, CEO of Manatee Memorial Hospital, is the board chair.
  • November 15, 2025
Main Street at Lakewood Ranch hosts Empty Bowls
3
Armed man shot in Sarasota neighborhood
  • November 15, 2025
Armed man shot in Sarasota neighborhood
4
Argus Foundation Executive Director Christine Robinson, 2025 Honoree Rod Hershberger and Elaine Hershberger
  • November 15, 2025
Two local business leaders honored at annual Argus awards
5
A 200-feet marker and scoreboard are pictured at one of the fields in Twin Lakes Park, the home of Sarasota Little League.
  • November 15, 2025
Little League treasurer charged with theft of more than $200,000

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