• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Mother's Day Gift Guide
  • 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
  • Mother's Day Gift Guide
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Sarasota

Read this week's Castaway Cartoon.
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • December 28, 2011
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 27, 2011
IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Chris Gallagher

Sarasota resident Chris Gallagher is the senior designer at Sarasota-based Jonathan Parks Architect and a member of the city's Planning Board.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Barb McRae received a personal hospital room visit and kisses from Kirby, who is part of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s pet-therapy program.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 27, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: June, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
He had not even signed his contract yet, but interim County Administrator Terry Lewis already was hard at work during a county budget hearing June 14. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 27, 2011
TOP STORY, JUNE: Lewis reports for duty ... again

Terry Lewis has delayed his retirement many times because he keeps getting called to duty. The latest call came from Sarasota County government.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Abigail Swindell fed Gertrude and Margilow in May at her home in Sarasota. CLUCK is a group that has lobbied for urban chicken keeping throughout the county.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: May, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Before he walked away from the commission table mid-meeting May 25, Jim Ley shook hands and hugged all five county commissioners, including Chairwoman Nora Patterson. Photo by Robin Roy.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 26, 2011
TOP STORY, MAY: 'Thanks' and 'goodbye'

Jim Ley had positive things to say about the residents and staff for which he served more than a decade as the chief executive of Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Abandoned boxcars on the railroad track through Shade Avenue concerned nearby residents in April.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 25, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: April, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Abandoned boxcars have been left on the railroad track that goes through Shade Avenue. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 25, 2011
TOP STORY, APRIL: Boxcar Battle

Fearing they're an invitation for trouble, residents are trying to get a railroad company to move about two-dozen railcars that have been parked in between two Sarasota communities.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cameron Seguin cheers on her big sister by waving pom-poms in the air at Tatum Ridge Elementary’s March jog-a-thon.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: March, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Jean Gruss
  • December 24, 2011
TOP STORY, MARCH: Follow the money

A group of Collier County government appointees asked The Jackson Laboratory tough questions. In the end, Collier decided it was too risky.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Gavin Montisano showed off his muscles in a Spider-Man costume in February at Ashton Elementary’s Kindergartners’ Fairytale Parade.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: February, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Four major retail businesses are moving into the Palmer Ranch area: Costco, Lowe’s, Kohl’s and Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota. The owners of the Pelican Plaza shopping center are hoping to attract a fifth, by redeveloping the center.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 23, 2011
TOP STORY, FEB.: Ranch Rejuvenation

With four new major retail stores soon to open in the Palmer Ranch area and the search on for a fifth, the south Sarasota community is seeing a surge in business revitalization.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City Hall will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 23, 2011
Sarasota holiday closings

The city of Sarasota's administration offices and City Hall are closed Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2 in observance of the holidays.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Riley Putnam practices her spoon-sticking ability in January at a Church of the Redeemer dinner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: January, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 22, 2011
Five things you didn't know about Victor Fernandez

Victor Fernandez, orchestra director at Booker Middle School, is a finalist for Teacher of the Year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
« 1596 1597 1598 1599 1600 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 »
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 in Sarasota

1
An artistic rendering by Hoyt Architects of the street level of the proposed Obsidian at 126 N. Palm Ave.
  • April 27, 2026
Controversial downtown tower comes back before City Commission
2
Rebecca Resinski and Amy Stevens show their support.
  • April 26, 2026
Runners cross Ringling Bridge to raise support for students and teachers
3
Molly Biter, Winfred Van Workum and Katie Moulton get the meal sizzling.
  • April 25, 2026
Parents and staff cook up meals in support of arts education
4
The Original Hob Nob Drive-In is back at 1701 N. Washington Blvd. in Sarasota.
  • April 25, 2026
The Original Hob Nob Drive-In reopens in Sarasota
5
Boat, pedestrian and vehicle traffic are expected to be unaffected by a $4.3 million maintenance project on Siesta Key's north bridge.
  • April 25, 2026
Siesta Key's north bridge undergoes maintenance project

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