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Sarasota

Kali Barrett poses for a photo. The freshman forward with Cincinnati women's basketball previously helped Cardinal Mooney to the 2025 FHSAA Class 3A state championship following the Cougars' four consecutive runner-up finishes.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 29, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Year: Kali Barrett

The former Cardinal Mooney girls basketball star became the program's all-time leading scorer while helping the Cougars to their first state title.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
All sidewalk murals at Avenue of Art in Burns Court have been removed per order of the Florida Department of Transportation, including this one by artist Beck Lane.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 28, 2025
YourObserver.com's most-read stories of 2025 typically connected with deeper issues

Big-picture issues, such as new trash cans and disappearing art, strike a chord with readers. But there were exceptions in this year's top headlines.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Riverview High baseball player-mentors pose for a photo on Dec. 9 with their kindergarten mentees at Southside Elementary School. Danielle Sobolewski, a kindergarten teacher at Southside, asked for some silly faces.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 25, 2025
Riverview High baseball mentors next generation

The Rams' longtime partnership with Southside Elementary School is centered around learning, fun and building connections.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Selby Gardens Master Plan Phase 2 Learning Pavilion Interior rendering.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 25, 2025
Selby Gardens' renovations add to appeal while keeping mission in mind

Resilience, education and preservation are the prime objectives as the second phase of its master plan reinvention take Marie Selby Botanical Gardens closer to achieving its "potential."

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Unit 111 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail was built in 2000 and has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,186 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 25, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 8-12 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Bay Acres home on Bayshore Drive tops the week's sales at $5.35 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Two overnight parties on consecutive nights leave women fighting in the street
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2025
Two overnight parties on consecutive nights leave women fighting in the street

Only two blocks apart, officers are dispatched to settle disputes resulting from too much late night into early-morning revelry. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Cardinal Mooney girls basketball fans cheer from the stands at RP Funding Center in Lakeland. They witnessed the Cougars bring home the first state championship in program history last season, and now, can watch the team vie for a holiday tournament title.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 24, 2025
Holiday hoops make for a merry time

The area's high school basketball teams will travel across the state and beyond for tournament play.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A group from Wilkinson Elementary gathers that includes Quinn Doan, 8, Elise Aponte, Jody Osceola, Jayden Doan, 4, Maya Perez, 12, Nikolas Perez, 8, Lucas Perez, 14, and Jennifer Perez.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 24, 2025
Nonprofit provides Christmas trees to those in need

The emerging nonprofit Thanks for Giving Trees, which honors the legacy of Joshua Morris, gave away its 1,000th tree on Dec. 6.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Yvette Brown poses for a photo on Dec. 11 next to the trophy case by Booker's gym. Through the first six games of the Tornadoes' season, she led in points, rebounds and steals.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 23, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Yvette Brown

The senior guard has put her stamp on a winning start for Booker girls basketball.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Todd Mathes of Benderson Development explains the company's plans for reimagining of the former Sarasota County Administration Center site during a December 2025 community meeting.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 23, 2025
Laurel Park residents question plans for Sarasota County's former base

A community meeting brought many questions about Benderson Development's upcoming request to rezone 1 acre of the Ringling Boulevard property downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Staff at the 12th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem program sort through the delivery of presents for children up to 18 years of age.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2025
Gift donations break record at Sarasota Sheriff's Office

Nearly 3,000 toys and gift cards were delivered to agencies for distribution.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 22, 2025
Sarasota students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa

Students at three of Sarasota's schools share their Christmas wishes.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial

Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute at Sarasota Memorial Hospital is seeking candidates diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer for global clinical trial.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust

Demond L. Smith, 33, is charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor, including trafficking in cocaine.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

Sarasota and Longboat Key both experienced traffic tie-ups during the lunch hour.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest in Sarasota

1
Florida Highway Patrol says it clocked this Ford Mustang GT at 142 mph on Interstate 75 late Friday.
  • June 27, 2026
Sarasota driver charged with hitting 142 mph on Interstate 75
2
The lunch and dinner buffet at Der Dutchman is available from 11:45 a.m. to close. The breakfast buffet is offered from 7 to 11:15 a.m.
  • June 27, 2026
Sarasota Amish eatery ranks as No. 2 buffet restaurant in US
3
Steve Kramer plays the cello.
  • June 26, 2026
Music Salon of Sarasota seeks to make music a community experience
4
MJ Price
  • June 26, 2026
Voices of America: How do you reflect your patriotism?
5
1000 Boulevard of the Arts will replace a portion of the former Hyatt Regency hotel and parking structure, which have been demolished.
  • June 25, 2026
A glimpse inside the new planned Hyatt Centric hotel

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