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Sarasota | News

The meeting chamber at the former Sarasota County Administration Center now stands empty after the final County Commission meeting held there on Oct. 21.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 28, 2025
Sarasota County closes business at 1660 Ringling Blvd.

With staff having vacated in preparation for the final move to its new center, the Sarasota County Commission gaveled out its final meeting on Ringling Boulevard.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Stephen Leatherman, aka “Dr. Beach,” who is director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, ranked Siesta the No. 1 beach in the country in 2011 and 2017.
    By
  • Beth Luberecki
  • October 28, 2025
Siesta Beach returns to the top of the rankings

We all know Siesta Beach is awesome. But here's what goes into those "best beach" rankings — and why they matter.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
An extensive project to repair North Casey Key Road is expected to be completed by March 2027.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • October 28, 2025
Casey Key marches down the road to recovery and resilience

A once-quiet stretch on normally quiet Casey Key is bustling with the early stages of a $44 million road repair project.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Caragiulos opened in Mira Mar in 1989.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • October 26, 2025
Caragiulos closes until new downtown Sarasota spot opens in 2026

The Italian restaurant will be moving locations downtown from Palm Avenue to Ringling Boulevard.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Flooding in the area of Celery Fields caused by Tropical Storm Debby in 2024.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 25, 2025
Housing development near Celery Fields returns to mediation

The Sarasota County Commission rejected a settlement that would have required a new look at slimmed-down proposal.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Memorial Hospital is rated sixth best in Florida by Newsweek's Best-in-State 2025 rankings.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 24, 2025
Sarasota Memorial Hospital ranked among best in Florida

SMH-Sarasota is ranked the No. 6 hospital in Florida among Newsweek's Best-in-State 2025 list.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Overhead utility lines behind commercial buildings on St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 24, 2025
Sarasota advances plan to bury utility lines on St. Armands, Lido keys

With strong support demonstrated to bury utilities on the barrier islands and enhance lighting in a mainland neighborhood, the City Commission directs staff to proceed.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Constitutional open carry ruling brings confusion, extra security
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 23, 2025
Constitutional open carry ruling brings confusion, extra security

The presence of officers armed with long guns in Sarasota City Hall meetings is just one of the changes of the overturned Florida ban on open carry of guns.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The campus of the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Oct. 10, 2024, the day after Hurricane Milton made landfall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 23, 2025
Arts organization declines county's damage restoration ultimatum

Hermitage Artist Retreat opts to have Sarasota County repair the campus it leases rather than take a lump sum to make repairs and assume liability.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Flooding in Pinecraft during 2024's Hurricane Debby prompted an emergency response.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 22, 2025
Phillippi Creek dredging will begin soon to alleviate flood threats

With permits and contracts finalized, work smoothing the flow of drainage is soon to start.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Recently completed at The Bay is the pedestrian promenade along North Tamiami Trail.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 22, 2025
The Bay moves ahead with Phase 3 of park developments

The Bay Park Conservancy has secured a funding plan with the Sarasota City Commission and County Commission to proceed with design and construction on the third phase.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Solid dosage medications, (prescription and over the counter) such as tablets and capsules, are accepted. Liquids and needles will not qualify.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 22, 2025
Medication drop-off set Saturday at Sarasota Sheriff's Office, Police Department

The events are aimed at raising awareness of properly disposing of unwanted medications.

  • Sarasota
  • News
U.S. Recycling is a construction and demolition recycling facility which borders the Central Cocoanut neighborhood. Suncoast Waterkeeper has filed a notice of intent to sue U.S. Recycling for allegedly polluting Hog Creek via stormwater runoff.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 22, 2025
Recycling facility may be sued for allegedly polluting Sarasota Bay

Suncoast Waterkeeper alleges that U.S. Recycling is violating the Clean Water Act by not abiding by Florida Department of Environmental Protection requirements.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Pepper shrimp is just one of many cross-cultural dishes popular in Trinidad and Tobago and available on the menu at Flambo, the newest restaurant to open on St. Armands Circle.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 22, 2025
Trinidadian cuisine on the menu at new St. Armands spot

A new family-run Caribbean restaurant called Flambo quietly opened on St. Armands Circle and looks forward to bringing energy to its new home.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
A rendering of Florida Studio Theatre's McGillicuddy Arts Plaza.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 22, 2025
FST Arts Plaza to break ground Oct. 29

Florida Studio Theatre will celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking of it new McGillicuddy Arts Plaza on Oct. 29.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest in Sarasota

1
The building at the corner of N. Boulevard of the Presidents and Madison Drive may be the location of a revived Shore Restaurant on St. Armands Circle.
  • December 12, 2025
Shore Restaurant could return to St. Armands
2
Andy Harshman of Sarasota High School was named the 2026 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year.
  • December 12, 2025
Sarasota High science leader named 2026 Teacher of the Year
3
Part of the renovation of Fruitville Library is a new History Center, replacing a building in Osprey a document calls "aging and inadequate to house the county's collections of historic artifacts.''
  • December 12, 2025
Fruitville Library renovations begin with Dec. 18 closure
4
Cardinal Mooney football gathers at midfield and poses for a photo. The Cougars scored on every single one of their drives in the FHSAA Class 2A state championship, piling up 52 points against the Bulldogs.
  • December 11, 2025
Cardinal Mooney is state football champ again
5
Former Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier has drafted an updated noise ordinance for the city, which was approved by the City Commission on first reading.
  • December 11, 2025
City asks: How much noise is too much?

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