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Your Observer

Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota will offer views of Sarasota Bay and beyond from its Five Points location.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 12, 2026
Developer introduces luxury-branded downtown condo tower

Waldorf Astoria Residences is the latest hospitality-branded condominium tower to come to Sarasota, joining world-renowned global locations.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Marian Anderson property redevelopment plan advances
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 12, 2026
Marian Anderson property redevelopment plan advances

A city-owned brownfield site is one stop closer to redevelopment in the latest vote by the Sarasota City Commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A floating day dock has been built along the refurbished south seawall in the 10th Street boat basin as part of The Bay park Phase 2.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 12, 2026
Day dock fees at The Bay regarded as at the 'lower end'

At $2 per hour with a five-hour limit, Sarasota's parking general manager says fees to tie off a boat at the 10th Street boat basin compare favorably to others in the central Gulf Coast region.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 3638 San Remo Terrace to Myron Robbins, trustee, of Buffalo, New York, for $7.5 million. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,559 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 12, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 26-30 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A San Remo Estates home on San Remo Terrace tops the week's sales at $7.5 million

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Lee Wetherington says he can visit with potential buyers and his contractors because CEO Dave Hunihan handles the heavy lifting of his business.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 12, 2026
Acclaimed builder continues to put his stamp on Lakewood Ranch

Lee Wetherington still loves putting his personal touch on exclusive homes.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bobby Bonilla is now a Sarasota resident after 16 years in the bigs. He's a 1997 World Series champion and six-time All-Star, among other accomplishments.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • February 12, 2026
Bobby Bonilla pays a visit to Visible Men Academy

The former MLB player spoke with students as the school's Visible Man of the Month.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Norma Fox shows her enthusiasm.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 12, 2026
Aerialist and trapeze artist La Norma celebrates 100th birthday

Visitors gather at Showfolks of Sarasota to celebrate the 100th birthday of Norma Fox, whose career includes performing with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus and in the film "The Greatest Show on Earth."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By World Class Dentistry
  • February 12, 2026
Inside a Family Dental Practice Built on Integrative, Whole-Body Care

A baby gurgles in the background as Dr. Jill Morris confirms that her dental practice of 38 years, World Class Dentistry, is truly a family affair. “We live together and we work together,” she says, laughing with her grandchild.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By Al Piemonte Lincoln
  • February 12, 2026
A Better Way to Buy a Car - Right Here in Our Community

How one leader changed the car-buying experience.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The purple piles will carry reclaimed water to Lakewood Ranch Southeast for irrigation.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 11, 2026
New road construction speeds through Lakewood Ranch Southeast

Lakewood Ranch Southeast's infrastructure won't be featured on any posters, but it will be a major part of the new community's success.

  • East County
  • News
George Palermo (1946-2025)
    In Memoriam |
  • February 11, 2026
George Palermo

George Palermo, age 79, prominent architect of Southwest Florida, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Mark Sobolewski has made Riverview's baseball complex at Suncoast Technical College his new stomping grounds. He'll lead the Rams into the 2026 season for his first year as a head coach.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • February 11, 2026
Sarasota High graduate proudly wears rival colors

Mark Sobolewski seems poised to succeed as new Riverview High baseball coach.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Neal Shipley was all smiles after winning the 2025 LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 11, 2026
Lakewood Ranch golf fans now asked to support two pro golf tournaments

The LECOM Suncoast Classic has long established itself as a fan favorite, but now the Senior PGA Championship will arrive.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Marlon Brown served as city manager of Sarasota from 2021-2024.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 11, 2026
Nonprofit elects former city manager, investment advisor to board

Barancik Foundation taps Marlon Brown and Jeffrey McCurdy for three-year terms.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
5 dead in Sarasota shooting, link to Fort Lauderdale double homicide suspected
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 11, 2026
5 dead in Sarasota shooting, link to Fort Lauderdale double homicide suspected

According to the Sarasota Sheriff's Office, the suspect was found deceased in the home near Proctor and McIntosh roads where the shootings took place.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A motorcycle and car show is part of the planned activities at the 2026 installment of Thunder by the Bay.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 11, 2026
Sarasota's Thunder by the Bay features music, motors and more

The 28th annual event on Feb. 13-15 benefits Suncoast Charities for Children.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Woman scorned breaks up by breaking up boyfriend's property
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 11, 2026
Woman scorned breaks up by breaking up boyfriend's property

When a woman finds evidence of her boyfriend's philandering, she goes on a tirade by destroying more than $6,000 worth of his belongings. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Students in Manatee schools begin learning cursive in third grade. With House Bill 127, that might change to second grade instead. It would also require fifth graders to be evaluated to prove proficiency.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 11, 2026
Cursive writing requirements would change if proposed legislation passes

Students currently learn cursive between third and fifth grade. If House Bill 127 becomes law, students will begin learning in second grade and will be tested in fifth.

  • East County
  • Schools
Taylore Lantz and Christine Sullivan walk at Waterside Place on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. as members of Run the Ranch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 11, 2026
Club gives runners opportunity to Run the Ranch

The club was founded by Felipe Rojas and Alex Wordsworth, who wanted members to have social opportunities along with workouts.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key resident Patrice Fanning started off serving as an officiant for friends, and she is now expending her work into an official business.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 11, 2026
Longboaters in love can keep it local with new wedding officiant business

Longboat Key resident Patrice Fanning recently started her new business, Forever without Borders, to offer wedding officiant services here or wherever couples need her.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The Lakewood Ranch Mustangs changed their name from the Manatee Admirals after 12 seasons and promptly won the Lightning High School Hockey League championship.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • February 11, 2026
LRHS claims third Lightning Cup ice hockey title in program history

However, this was the first Lightning Cup title since the team changed its name to Lakewood Ranch Mustangs.

  • East County
  • Sports
Spanish Main Yacht Club was one of the most impacted communities from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. All of the 212 condominium villas were impacted one way or another, and more than 16 months after Helene, the rebuild continues with some houses finished and residents moved in and others with cabinets in the front yard, work underway on the interior.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 11, 2026
Longboat's Spanish Main looks for normalcy a year after the storms

While some Spanish Main residents sold their villas, many more opted to rebuild, and 16 months after Hurricane Helene ravaged the historic community, work continues with an end finally in sight.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Conference Chair Katherine De Young shows off a winning image. She created the photo using mannequin heads. It was featured in the 2019 "Embracing our Differences" exhibit in Sarasota.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 11, 2026
Manatee Technical College to host photography conference

The conference will feature 30 award-winning photographers and the latest photography equipment.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The home at 642 S. Owl Drive sold for $3.22 million. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,128 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 11, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 26-30 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A home on Bird Key on South Owl Drive tops the week’s sales at $3.22 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Harry's Continental Kitchens General Manager Hal Christensen said his family has been glad to support the Longboat Key Garden Club through all the iterations of Taste of the Keys. The event celebrates 15 years of raising funds for local scholarships this year.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 11, 2026
Tasty treats promised for Taste of the Keys 2026

The Longboat Key Garden Club's main fundraiser celebrates 15 years of tantalizing taste buds by partnering with Longboat's premier eateries.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
High school sweethearts Jean and Joe Kane made sure they were keeping pace together when they bought a tandem bicycle for their 25th wedding anniversary. They shared advice on how to ride through life together ahead of Valentine's Day.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 11, 2026
High school sweethearts share advice on pedaling through life together

This Longboat Key couple bought a tandem bike for their 25th wedding anniversary, a practical and sentimental approach to taking on life together.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
An eVTOL manufactured by Joby Aviation flies over Monterey Bay in California.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 11, 2026
Air taxis: An alternative to sitting in Longboat Key's traffic jams?

The Jetsons maybe had the aesthetic wrong, but the flying car idea? Spot on.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Warren Hutmacher is owner and principal of Sumter Local Government Consulting.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 11, 2026
City commissioners cut manager field to six

Finalists will visit Sarasota on Feb. 23-24, and a final decision could come Feb 27.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota County Operations Center (East County) was honored with a plaque.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 10, 2026
Sarasota Garden Club hosts Civic Beautification Awards

The awards celebrated the properties deemed by the club as exemplifying the attempt to beautify the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tipsea Gypsea, a 45-foot Catalina sailboat, lies beached on a sandbar near the Harbor Acres neighborhood, posing a risk to the neighborhood’s seawall and dozens of nearby moored boats. Sarasota Police Department Marine Patrol Officer Michael Skinner said the registered owner is working to get a specialized bolt to re-attach the steering wheel.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 10, 2026
Law enforcement agencies tackle removing wrecked, abandoned boats

When a boat washes up on a sandbar or crashes into a seawall, law enforcement agencies step in.

  • Sarasota
  • News
There was some tough competition in this year's Superb Owl "Most Valuable Predator" contest. Wanda, one of the bird rescue's resident barred owls, won the title of "Best Defense."
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 10, 2026
Whoooo is the MVP of Save Our Seabirds' owlery?

City Island's bird rescue center called on community members to help decide which of its feathered friends would take the title.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key residents gathered at the Bayfront Park recreation center Thursday, Feb. 5 where engineering firm Kimley-Horn & Associates shared 60% plans for Buttonwood Harbour neighborhood improvements.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 10, 2026
Buttonwood residents get sneak peek of stormwater improvements

A Longboat neighborhood prone to “sunny day flooding” will be getting much-needed stormwater improvements.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Noah Spenn, a three-sport athlete at Sarasota Christian, is busy playing football or volleyball when he's not hooping on the hardwood.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • February 10, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Noah Spenn

The junior forward powered Sarasota Christian boys basketball to a district title.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Longboat Key’s social media presence is thanks in large part to Tina Adams, whose duties include leading a communications team who regularly post infographics, flyers and breaking news alerts to its Facebook, Instagram and X pages. On a Thursday afternoon, Adams walked over to the police station to meet with Police Chief Russ Mager to film the latest video series shared by the town: A Minute with Mager. Adams helped get the right take with the chief, tweaking the script and discussing what was important to include and what could be left out.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 10, 2026
Tina Adams' role with Longboat has grown over 26 years

A snapshot of the duties and life of the person who works to keep residents and media updated about services on the Key, both big and small.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Vito Bavaro underwent knee surgery in December 2025, but despite months of pain and physical limitations, has made his signature impact on the Mustangs' stellar season.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • February 10, 2026
Knee replacement can't keep Lakewood Ranch High coach from his job

Vito Bavaro endures constant paint while his Mustangs boys soccer team make a run at a state championship.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President Danielle Gladding, Salvation Army Capt. Jim Curry and bellringing coordinator Chris Sachs, a former club president, celebrate a stand-out year for donations.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 10, 2026
Longboat bellringers ring in record contribution

The drive for the Salvation Army topped charts in Sarasota County, tipped by an anonymous $50,000 Christmas Eve donation.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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