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

Neighbors

John Harkness takes the majority of his pictures from this dock behind his Longboat Harbour condominium. (Photo by Lesley Dwyer)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 20, 2022
Longboat Harbour resident, retired firefighter shifts to up-and-coming photographer

John Harkness retired on Longboat Key in 2018 from a firefighter career and began photography with his iPhone two-and-a-half years ago.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
One of the biggest tips Woodleaf Hammock's Gayle Sweda and her husband, Rich Sweda, have learned is to get low. It allows the perspective of the photo to change.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 20, 2022
Lakewood Ranch residents learn better phone photography in a snap

The unique phone camera class at James Patton Community Park was offered by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 20, 2022
Newtown puts on Juneteenth celebration

The afternoon event was held June 18 in the heart of the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Christine McMasters and Zoey Lynn
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 19, 2022
Cats and dogs return for Project Pride pet parade

The annual walk through Bayfront Park was held June 18.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Marion Levine and David Gorin are the new co-presidents of Temple Beth Israel.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 18, 2022
Temple Beth Israel has announced first co-presidents in its 43 years

Marion Levine and David Gorin, who took the helm in early June, agree that the job is simply too much work for one person.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 18, 2022
Dad's Day Block Party at the Mall at UTC in Sarasota brings early Father's Day gifts

Former Buc Alex Smith and former Lightning player Ruslan Fendotenko thrill fans at Dad's Day Block Party.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Maika Arnold won the Town Manager Award.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 17, 2022
Hard work recognized at town hall

Maika Arnold won the Town Manager Award and, unofficially, the quickest commuter award.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Meals on Wheels Plus-Manatee's Amy Towery and Maribeth Phillips pick up a cool $5,000 from Sisterhood for Good's Lorri Kidder, the grants committee chair.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 17, 2022
Sisterhood for Good of Lakewood Ranch presents $76,850 in grants

Twenty-five nonprofits benefit from the generosity of the Lakewood Ranch women's group.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 16, 2022
East County weather page photo: June 16

Jack Kelley took this photo of a hibiscus in bloom in Del Webb of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 16, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: June 16

Gordon Silver captured this photo of a red winged blackbird along a lake bed in Myakka River State Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 16, 2022
Longboat Key weather page photo: June 16

Gary Wise captured this photo of a black skimmer bird nesting on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
David and Brianna Sobotka are thrilled to be raising their little girl on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 16, 2022
The Beach Harbor Club welcomes its first baby

Blair Marie Sobotka is the first newborn to live at the Beach Harbor Club since it opened in 1970.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Patrick Engle removed the chair this sea turtle was stuck under. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 16, 2022
Turtle gets trapped under a beach chair

Patrick Engle was vacationing from Pennsylvania when he found a turtle trapped under a beach chair.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Brian Ferguson recently attended a screening of the new "Top Gun: Maverick" film with family in Sarasota.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 16, 2022
Sarasota's Brian Ferguson coordinates realism for 'Top Gun: Maverick'

Ferguson, who grew up in Sarasota, was inspired to join the Navy by the first "Top Gun" film.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Susanne Arbhey and Ashley Watts
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 15, 2022
Local businesses network and lunch at Cafe L'Europe

The Players Centre for Performing Arts is asking for help writing letters to the City Commission.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
« 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 »
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
Three comedians including Bradenton's Tim Boyd will perform at the “Hearts of Hope: A Valentine’s Comedy Night” fundraiser to benefit Harbor 58, Foster the Family, and Bring on the Ministry on Feb. 13.
  • February 6, 2026
Nonprofits to host Valentine's comedy fundraiser in Lakewood Ranch
2
Sarasota nonprofit Casting For The Kids helps children with cancer and their families breathe a little easier.
  • February 6, 2026
Annual fishing tournament casts for a cause
3
Work by Janet Echelman in “Radical Softness” at Sarasota Art Museum through April 26.
  • February 6, 2026
New creations, global voices, celebrations light up our cultural horizon
4
Chefs Justin Kurtz and Ismael Flores showcase some of Mar Vista’s signature dishes.
  • February 6, 2026
Innovative chef at Mar Vista honors tradition — and keeps reinventing it
5
Longboat Key Police Department Customer Service Specialist Ivan Zunz shakes hands with Police Chief Russ Mager at a Town Commission meeting Monday, Feb. 2. Zunz was recognized for 10 years with LKPD at the meeting.
  • February 5, 2026
Ivan Zunz recognized for a decade with LKPD

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