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Your Observer

Emmanuelle Nobert, performer from Karen's Hora Loca dressed in a costume based on "The Mask," and Deirdra Sampson
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 6, 2024
Downtown Sarasota becomes festival scene for Cinco de Mayo

The weekend included block parties at Circo and El Melvin Cocina Mexicana.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
New swan cygnets hatched on Longboat Key in May 2024.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • May 6, 2024
Baby swans take first steps on Longboat Key

David Novak, the swan keeper of Longboat Key, helped ensure the survival of six recently hatched cygnets.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Front row: Cory Modersohn, Jan Mackell and Mauro Privilegi. Back row: Sherri Kaufman, Harold Kaufman, Alan and Robin Zuckerman at the Seaplace Kentucky Derby Party
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • May 6, 2024
Longboat Key condos party for Kentucky Derby

Seaplace and Longboat Key Club residents wear their best hats and outfits to watch the 150th Kentucky Derby.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Julie Peters hosts her first pop-up event at The Green at University Town Center on April 13.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 6, 2024
Nurse-turned-florist finds roots with Posies Flower Truck

Julie Peters's budding business will be making the rounds at special events in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Business
Wade Brennan in the Sarasota County Mosquito Management Laboratory.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 6, 2024
Sarasota County leads nation in mosquito management, officials say

Fish, chickens and high-tech testing all play their parts in the county's abatement battle with mosquitoes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lou Newman observing the Plymouth Harbor rookery from his apartment.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 6, 2024
At 93, wildlife photographer keeps his focus behind the lens

Former drive-thru farm veterinarian Lou Newman retraces the winding road that led him to Sarasota and his passion for photography.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Zeta the Babe offers a performance.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 5, 2024
Pride fest spotlights arts talents in the LGBTQ+ community

Now in its 14th year, Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest brought together a lineup of local musicians to perform for the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mike Kopp and Max McCloud have a laugh together.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 5, 2024
Concert helps Sarasota community 'Vibe on Palm'

The night’s entertainment at Fresh Fridays on South Palm Avenue featured The Alan Grant Band.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization's 2050 plan will explore all modes of transportation.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 5, 2024
MPO seeks public input on transportation vision plan

The plan outlines key projects to improve mobility and safety on roads, public transit and pedestrian/bike paths.

  • Sarasota
  • News
James Livingston, Lauren Cross, Lyn Swann and Judy Young are registered nurses working at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 5, 2024
National Nurses Week shines light on local nurses

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center nurses share their passion for their careers.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mill Creek's Debbie Snow's loves painting bees because Debbie means "little bee" in Hebrew.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 4, 2024
Peace Presbyterian Church hosts Artists on the Path

Local artists showcase their work along the church's Peaceful Path.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Zuleima Martinez, Virginia B. Toulmin Leadership Scholarship award recipient
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 4, 2024
Selby Gardens awards Sarasota student $15K leadership scholarship

State College of Florida graduate Zuleima Martinez will also receive mentoring and career guidance from Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sheltair broke ground April 30 on its new $40 million facility at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. It will be complete by the end of 2025.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 4, 2024
$40M private aviation facility breaks ground at SRQ

Sheltair is building a terminal and hangars at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A total renovation of the space at Whitney Plaza would be needed for the county's community center project.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 4, 2024
Longboat, Manatee commissioners talk roundabout, ferry projects

The commissioners received updates on projects including the Broadway roundabout, Whitney Plaza Learning Center and the Gulf Islands Ferry service.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Gulf of Mexico Drive delays expected Monday from lane closure
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 3, 2024
Gulf of Mexico Drive delays expected Monday from lane closure

The FDOT-approved closure will last for one day to accommodate road resurfacing.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Newtown was established in 1914.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 3, 2024
Newtown earns listing in National Register of Historic Places

The district is now the largest Black historic district in Florida, according to the city of Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota veterinarian charged with prescription fraud
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 3, 2024
Sarasota veterinarian charged with prescription fraud

Police say she wrote fraudulent scripts for painkillers for a business partner's dog.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Florida Studio Theatre's Arts Plaza will include three new performance spaces, a three-level parking deck and apartments for arts workers and guest performers.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 3, 2024
FST's new theater, affordable housing on track for December groundbreaking

The $57 million Florida Studio Theatre Arts Plaza will include new theater space, a parking garage and housing for downtown arts workers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The group meets in Walter Sparkman's home.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 3, 2024
Succulents thrive in (somewhat) secret garden in Sarasota

In a quiet, leafy corner of the city, the Sarasota Succulent Society has been raising hardy plants since 1950.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota should save another piece of its history
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 2, 2024
Sarasota should save another piece of its history

A reader writes that the city should preserve the McAlpin house.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Grand Living at Lakewood Ranch resident Bea Gardner celebrates her second place victory with her horse Charlie.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 2, 2024
Grand Living hosts first charity event with a Kentucky Derby

Residents raised $3,195 for Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation for the neonatal intensive care unit.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
East Bradenton small business owner to run for Florida House seat
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • May 2, 2024
East Bradenton small business owner to run for Florida House seat

Alyssa Gay is throwing her hat in the ring for the Florida House of Representatives seat being vacated by Rep. Tommy Gregory.

  • East County
  • News
Mooney senior Hunter Sheffield rips a shot for a goal against Barron Collier. Sheffield had two goals in the game.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 2, 2024
Cardinal Mooney boys lacrosse handles the pressure

The Cougars secured the No. 1 seed in the regional tournament for the first time.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The home at 2509 Casey Key Road has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,528 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 2, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for April 15-19 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Twin Beaches home on Casey Key Road tops the week's sales at $5.39 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy sophomores Kiran Kalia, Olivia Longino, Samantha Strohbach and Gianna Weldon work present "Did I Do It?" a book they wrote with their 14 classmates in Joseph Bockus' Cambridge AICE English Language class.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 2, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Prep class publishes collaborative novel

The class of 18 students work together on a self-published murder mystery novel.

  • East County
  • Schools
The conceptual drawing for The Bay master plan includes a site for a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center, shaded in purple.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 2, 2024
Funding for new performing arts center divides county and city

County commissioners' recommendation forecasts no tax increment financing revenues for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center architect contract.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota campus of Sarasota Memorial Hospital in 2021.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • May 2, 2024
Sarasota Memorial Hospital earns 'A' for patient safety

SMH was lauded by The Leapfrog Group for how well it prevents medical errors, accidents and infections.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Tidewell Foundation
  • May 2, 2024
Tidewell Foundation Raising the Next Generation of Hospice Nurses

Tidewell Hospice, a not-for-profit organization, offers care provided by expert care teams wherever patients call home.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Sandy Finnegan, Debbie Karlin and Judy Posner
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • May 1, 2024
Women's Golf Association of Longboat Key celebrates end of season

This year saw the golf groups switch from paper scorekeeping to the Golf Genius app.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Progress continues on new schools in Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 1, 2024
Progress continues on new schools in Lakewood Ranch

A high school is expected to open in August 2027, and a K-8 school is expected in August 2025.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • May 1, 2024
Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board candidates forum set for July 11

For the first time, the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County will hold a Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board candidates forum.

  • Sarasota
  • News
New museum to feature model railroad and vintage toys
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 1, 2024
New museum to feature model railroad and vintage toys

Lakewood Ranch's Richard Pierson expects to open Sarasota Toy Museum and Moosehead Toys and Comics, with space dedicated to an HO scale model train layout, in July.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. offers Special Olympics Florida's Registered Training Program for Manatee County athletes.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 1, 2024
East Bradenton equine therapy program needs room to grow

Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. offers therapeutic horseback riding and trains athletes for the Special Olympics.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
2024 is the 43rd year of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's sea turtle monitoring program.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • May 1, 2024
First sea turtle nest of 2024 recorded in Sarasota County

The sea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1, which also marks the start to Longboat Key's sea turtle ordinances.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Currently, only CDD1 has rules for ponds, lakes and fishing. This sign is posted along Hidden River Trail.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 1, 2024
Lakewood Ranch CDDs seek uniform regulation of lakes

Currently, only CDD1 has rules to regulate the ponds and lakes within its district.

  • East County
  • News
Alice Abyss published “Pharmakides."
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 1, 2024
Book fair shines spotlight on world of local authors

Authors gathered at the Bookstore1Sarasota fair to showcase works in a range of genres.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
4
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
5
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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