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Your Observer

No good deed goes unpunished
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 28, 2026
No good deed goes unpunished

St. Regis fight with town is a Longboat Key classic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Cash grab in Manatee, too
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 28, 2026
Cash grab in Manatee, too

While the Sarasota County tax collector has drawn ire for taking school district money, the Manatee County tax collector has taken even more and been doing it longer.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Benderson Development is wrapping up its latest phase of construction at the business and industrial park off Toledo Blade Boulevard.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 28, 2026
County economic development agency contract approved for 2027

With none of the political drama of the past, the Sarasota County Commission approves the Economic Development Corpo. contract for fiscal year 2027.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A Kobi Karp Architecture rendering of the 18-story Adagio luxury condo tower as viewed at the northwest corner of South Palm Avenue and Ringling Boulevard.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 28, 2026
Adagio receives partial staff sign-off; adjustments still required

The dual-tower Florida Live Local Act condo development would bring 193 residences to the former U.S. Garage site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
James Bacigalupi and Trevor Garofalo give Harry Noordzy a lift, just as they did five years ago at Station 12.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 28, 2026
Myakka's Station 12 remains a part of Harry's world

Now 5, the firehouse baby returned to visit the firefighters who helped deliver him.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Amanda Boswell has taken over a program with a historically high standard. The Cougars won the 2025 FHSAA Class 3A state championship following four consecutive state finalist finishes.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 28, 2026
First-time high-school coach gets comfortable at Cardinal Mooney

Amanda Boswell, with 17 years of coaching experience, is on a new adventure with the Cougars.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Mark Akerman, Jay Plager and Past Commodore Michael Landis carry away the colors at the conclusion of Bird Key Yacht Club's Memorial Day ceremony on May 25.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 28, 2026
Dedication to service celebrated at Bird Key's Memorial Day ceremony

Veterans, family members of service men and women, and community members united to recognize those who sacrificed for their country.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Among her many years of service for numerous organizations, Isabel Norton served as president of the Library Foundation for Sarasota County.
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • May 28, 2026
Isabel Scott Norton remembered as formative force for Sarasota

Through over 50 years of her gentle leadership, Norton shaped everything from public meeting civility to libraries in the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By JL Bainbridge
  • May 28, 2026
Are You Crystal Clear on Your Investment Performance?

Many investors aren’t and it can quietly lead to uncertainty, missed opportunities, and unknown fees.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Sarasota Chief Transportation Planner Corinne Arriaga makes opening remarks at the May 21 Main Street complete street public meeting.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 27, 2026
Main Street design meeting gets off to a rough start

A meeting to introduce design concepts begins with a shouting match before order is restored and residents view visions of a complete street makeover.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The boathouse and events center planned for Nathan Benderson Park is expected to cost between $60 million and $70 million.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 27, 2026
Planned events Center and boathouse at Benderson Park gets $10 million boost

State legislature has approved the $10 million appropriation, so now it is up to Gov. Ron DeSantis to approve it.

  • East County
  • News
New College was founded in 1960.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 27, 2026
Finalized deal shifts USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College

Vote to send the state's budget to governor is expected on Friday.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Sarasota man charged with sexual battery of a minor
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2026
Sarasota man charged with sexual battery of a minor

Carson Smith, 23, was arrested last week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sophia IV sold for $6,775,000 in April and Stock Custom Homes is now planning a Wild Blue home that will list for $8 million.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 27, 2026
Has Lakewood Ranch become the playground for the rich?

Wild Blue has turned the multi-million sale into a common occurrence.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Man finds out he's not in Miami
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2026
Man finds out he's not in Miami

A man who thinks he is at a hotel in Miami threatens an overnight residential building watchman. This and other tales from the files of the SPD in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The first property at 943 Pomelo Place was built in 2005 and has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 5,764 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2005 and has one bedroom, one bath and 528 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 27, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for May 11-15 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A two-property sale in Prime on Pomelo Place tops the week’s sales at $4,825,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Heather Hackett, the founder of Local Relief, Inc., earned the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award for her work with her nonprofit.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 27, 2026
Don't sleep on hurricane season because 2025 was slow

Side of Ranch March 28

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Stacy Lenz, a teacher at Gulf Gate Elementary, was surprised by the honor during a ceremony at school, alongside principal Michelle Miller, who nominated her.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2026
Six Sarasota teachers honored for making a difference

Barancik Foundation's Ripple Awards aim to make note of those who leave 'a lasting mark.'

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
An allegedly aggressive dog gets visit from Longboat police
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 26, 2026
An allegedly aggressive dog gets visit from Longboat police

Police responded to a reported aggressive dog at Bayfront Park, who seemed rather friendly when officers arrived. This and other Longboat Key police reports in this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County man charged in deaths of girlfriend, son
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 26, 2026
Sarasota County man charged in deaths of girlfriend, son

34-year-old was ordered held without bond on a pair of second-degree murder charges.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key’s most recent beach renourishment project occurred in 2021, with the next round of sand-placing scheduled in 2028.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 26, 2026
Longboat’s five-year plan top-loaded with pricey projects

Of the $166.2 million planned for capital improvement projects, nearly half would be spent on a wastewater pipe and beach renourishment in years one and two.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Mayor Debbie Trice and Congressman Greg Steube are front and center for the ribbon cutting to mark the completion of Lido Beach renourishment.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 26, 2026
Lido Beach renourishment project officially complete

City, county and federal officials turned out to celebrate completion of the widening of Lido Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mason Riley is projected to start at left tackle for an offensive line which coach Rob Hollway believes might be the deepest in program history.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 26, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Mason Riley

With the rising senior offensive/defensive tackle in tow, The Out-of-Door Academy football team ended its spring on a high note.

  • East County
  • Sports
Yolanda Mancha is the foundation's vice president of philanthropy, and Veronica Thames is the CEO.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 26, 2026
Manatee Community Foundation is perpetually giving

The advantage of donating to MCF is that a donation today can quadruple over time.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Andres and Liliana Mendez are continuing their family legacy of bronze sculpting, examples of which they shared at the St. Armands Fine Art Festival on May 23 and 24.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 26, 2026
Bronze sculpture, 3D paintings and more impress at St. Armands art fest

This Memorial Day weekend fine art festival on St. Armands Circle featured artists who have honed their crafts for decades.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Ellie Tullidge, 6, is glad to help her grandfather Bob Smith celebrate raising another $114,507 for Stillpoint Mission this year, which makes the 15 year total $633,507.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 26, 2026
Lakewood Ranch effort raises $114,507 for the Stillpoint Mission

The donation is critical at a time the mission hopes to purchase a new building.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The town of Longboat Key distributes yellow and blue stickers for residents and business owners. Red stickers are reserved for police, fire and emergency responders.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 26, 2026
New evacuation re-entry stickers available at Town Hall

Tiered re-entry stickers feature new colors this year, so residents are encouraged to pick their new stickers up ahead of hurricane season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 681 Old Compass Road sold for $4.2 million. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,520 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 26, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for May 11-15 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home in Emerald Harbor on Old Compass Road tops the week’s sales at $4.2 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
This Lake Club home at 8493 Pavia Way sold for $3.2 million. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,499 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 25, 2026
Lake Club home tops Lakewood Ranch-area sales at $3.2 million

Three Lakewood Ranch-area homes sell for more than $1 million in the week's residential real estate transactions.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Darrell Butler, the chief veterans service officer with Sarasota County, serves as emcee.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 25, 2026
Sarasota residents honor sacrifices at Memorial Day Parade

The parade, held May 25, headed through downtown Sarasota and was followed by a ceremony at J.D. Hamel Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Angie Cupp uses a tractor and landscaping rake attachment to clean Longboat Key beaches of debris.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 25, 2026
Beach raking cleans the shoreline but comes with erosion concerns

Many resorts on Longboat Key contract to have their beaches raked, which cleans and fluffs the sand, but town leaders are wary that it could increase erosion.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Rising senior quarterback Louisen Desinor will start under center for Braden River High football in the fall. This spring was his opportunity to strengthen bonds with the playmakers around him.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 25, 2026
High school coaches defend relevancy of spring football in Florida

Although it's the only sport allowed to have two separate seasons, coaches say it is an important developmental tool.

  • East County
  • Sports
Frank Biondello, Jr. has been overseeing the transformation of The Dock on the Bay's hurricane-damaged marina as the marina manager for the past year.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 25, 2026
Dock on the Bay makes progress on 'long road to recovery'

The small condominium facility has operated on Longboat Key for 46 years, and this year is one of significant transformation at its marina and beyond.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Though Florida Power & Light employs a variety of advanced technology to avoid power failures, often the basic work of tree trimming goes a long way toward heading off trouble.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 24, 2026
With our deep dependence on power, FPL gears up to keep the lights on

Manatee upgrades are part of a statewide initiative to build a tougher grid to hold up against hurricane season.

  • East County
  • News
Emerson Lepper greets Principal Ben Hopper.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 23, 2026
Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School celebrates graduates' new horizons

The private school hosted its graduation ceremony at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on May 22.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
A rendering of the 12U baseball/softball fields five-plex that will be built at UMR Sports complex in East County.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 23, 2026
Expansion 'gets real' at UMR Sports of Bradenton

A wealth of sports fields and amenities are being added to the former Moore Dairy Farm property.

  • East County
  • News
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest News

1
No good deed goes unpunished
  • May 28, 2026
No good deed goes unpunished
2
Cash grab in Manatee, too
  • May 28, 2026
Cash grab in Manatee, too
3
Benderson Development is wrapping up its latest phase of construction at the business and industrial park off Toledo Blade Boulevard.
  • May 28, 2026
County economic development agency contract approved for 2027
4
A Kobi Karp Architecture rendering of the 18-story Adagio luxury condo tower as viewed at the northwest corner of South Palm Avenue and Ringling Boulevard.
  • May 28, 2026
Adagio receives partial staff sign-off; adjustments still required
5
James Bacigalupi and Trevor Garofalo give Harry Noordzy a lift, just as they did five years ago at Station 12.
  • May 28, 2026
Myakka's Station 12 remains a part of Harry's world

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