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Your Observer

Hurricanes Milton and Helene caused some $4 million in damage to the Sarasota Sailing Squadron facilities.
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • February 2, 2026
Sarasota Sailing Squadron continues its path of recovery

The Sarasota Sailing Squadron has come a long way since hurricanes Milton and Helene. More work remains.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ethan Freeman, 14, Skate Segal, 14, Jett Segal, 12, Florey Miller and her husband TJ Miller were among those serving foods baked by members.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 1, 2026
Temple Sinai hosts Sarasota Jewish Food Festival

The festival, presented in partnership with The Original Wolfie's Restaurant, featured traditional Jewish baked goods and other offerings.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Myakka City Elementary first graders Delanee Verly and Emma Kelly check out the wide variety of books for sale during the CommUNITY Night.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 1, 2026
Myakka City Elementary hosts Community Night

In honor of Literacy Week, Myakka City Elementary families gathered to play games, paint a mural, and more.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ethan Kuhn of Suncoast United Pipes and Drums performs in the ceremony.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 31, 2026
Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival showcases a wee bit of Scotland

The event featured Highland games, lots of bagpipes, dancing, kilts and even a taste of the weather from across the pond.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dillon Desiderato and daughter Nora Desiderato share a smile during the Miles for the Miles Family Cozy Cocoa Dash fundraiser at All God's Children Preschool on Jan. 31.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 31, 2026
All God's Children Preschool raises $7,000 to support family after loss to cancer

The event was to support the family of Kelly Miles, a teacher at the school who lost her husband, Matt, in November to cancer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Many Manatee County residents don't want to deliver large items to the landfill themselves. They want bulk pickup service to return.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 31, 2026
Trash talk continues in Manatee County

The county is trying to work within its current contracts to make residents happier with the garbage collection.

  • East County
  • News
Plans are to replace the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club in Newtown with a new building and convert the current structure into outdoor play space.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 30, 2026
Youth club replacement in Newtown wins City Commission approval

The Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved three measures to permit Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Desoto Counties to replace the McBean club location in Newtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mary Baker, board president of the Longboat Library, says guests can plan a fun book date for Valentine's Day to shop the annual sale.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 30, 2026
Plan a book date for Valentine's Day on Longboat Key

Longboat Library is bringing back its annual book sale on Feb. 14, which organizers say is the perfect time for couples to make a book date.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Village Idiots Cycling Club member Patrick Franklin Sr. (center) was killed riding his bicycle Jan. 22 when hit by a truck pulling a trailer on Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 29, 2026
Death of beloved cyclist leaves Village Idiots Cycling Club members in shock

Patrick Franklin, 67, was hit by a truck while riding on El Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Sales for the Waldorf Astoria Residences in Sarasota kicked off on Jan. 28 with an event at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The 18-story building is expected to be finished in 2029.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 29, 2026
Sales for Sarasota's Waldorf Astoria Residences get underway

Condos in the 18-story building begin at $2.2 million and range from one to five bedrooms.

  • Sarasota
  • News
David Crawford is 2026 president of Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 29, 2026
Real estate market conditions show signs of a more robust 2026

As memories of 2024 storms fade, insurance and mortgage rates stabilize and in-migration continues, the Sarasota-Manatee region's real estate organization points to a growth in sales.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A site map of the location of the proposed 41-unit 414 Lime Avenue townhome development in the Park East neighborhood.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 29, 2026
41 new townhomes planned for Limelight District

A new proposal for 41 townhomes is breathing new life into a partially built and then demolished multifamily project on Aspinwall Street in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 810 Siesta Drive was built in 2005 and has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,622 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 29, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 12-16 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Red Rock Terrace home on Red Rock Way tops the week's sales at $6.2 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Ryan Chase is principal of Sarasota High School.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 29, 2026
What it takes to become principal of the year

Sarasota High's Ryan Chase explains the challenges and joys that come with the honor of being named the NASSP Florida High School Principal of the Year.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Urban Meyer started the 'Real Life Wednesdays' career-development program at Florida, carried it to Ohio State and has now translated it to Sarasota's high school football scene.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 29, 2026
Urban Meyer makes mentor move with The Urban Edge

The three-time college football national champion will expand the Sarasota-based program in its second year.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
  • By Privada Homes
  • January 29, 2026
Discover Gracewater at Sarasota: A New Standard for Modern Florida Living

Live the resort life, just minutes from Downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Watering restrictions are in place for Manatee and Sarasota counties.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 28, 2026
Water authority's restrictions include Manatee, Sarasota

Once-a-week irrigation rules are in effect. Rain is forecast this weekend, and even the possibility of snow flurries.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key water main break cuts north-end service
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 28, 2026
Longboat Key water main break cuts north-end service

North end residents between Broadway Street and Reclinata Drive are affected, the town says.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Rather than tackling everything at once, attaining small habit changes can help you meet bigger goals and better health in the new year.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • January 28, 2026
Use your healthy habits to find fabulosity

When considering goals, it's easy to get overwhelmed. But small habits gives us the power to achieve larger — and lasting — change.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The owner of the vacant Winn-Dixie site at Midtown Plaza is planning to redevelop it into a mixed-use project that includes apartments, a hotel and retail space.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 28, 2026
Midtown Plaza redevelopment wins partial sign-off

Receiving partial sign-off from Sarasota's Development Review Committee is the proposed redevelopment of the southern portion of Midtown Plaza at 1299 S. Tamiami Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ava Donoghue is sophomore class president at Booker High School.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 28, 2026
Booker High School student breaks stigma and barriers with Booker Basics

The initiative by Sophomore Class President Ava Donoghue provides free feminine products in girls' bathrooms throughout the school.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Longboat Key Town Commission met for a workshop meeting Tuesday, Jan. 20 to discuss food truck regulations, temporary certificates of occupancy and police department crime statistics.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 28, 2026
Defining 'temporary' in temporary certificates of occupancy

As a landmark development continues to operate under a temporary certificate of occupancy 17 months after opening, Longboat Key commissioners and counsel discussed the rules of TCOs.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
As Sarasota baseball seeks success under first-year coach Sterling Pell, it will have senior right-hander Cesar Garmendia back on the mound. He posted a sparkling 1.02 ERA in 2025 across 12 appearances.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 28, 2026
What to know about local prep baseball as season approaches

The FHSAA regular season begins Feb. 9, but preseason classic tournaments will be underway even sooner.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Concession Golf Club is hosting the Senior PGA Championship April 16-19.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 28, 2026
Manatee County tees up for Senior PGA Championship

The generated championship dollars are expected to include impressive dividends for the county.

  • East County
  • News
Orchestra, SPAC should combine efforts
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • January 28, 2026
Orchestra, SPAC should combine efforts

One reader says rather than take on two projects worth $800 million, the Sarasota Orchestra and Sarasota Performing Arts Center should collaborate on a new center for the arts.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Longboat Key resident Sarah Frederick, pictured above in one of her favorite competitions, said she knew from the age of five that she loved working with horses. Little did she know then that she would go on to craft a 55-year career in racing, breeding and caring for them.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 28, 2026
Longboat Key resident jockeys for space on the track

Sarah Frederick recounted her 55-year career riding as a jockey, part of an early wave of women in the sport.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Amanda Rigby, who is well versed in using artificial intelligence, is grateful to have a place to collaborate and learn more about it through A.I Creator's Collective.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 28, 2026
Finding new intelligence is an artificial ingredient for Lakewood Ranch club

AI Creator's Collective was founded by David Perkowski and Tony Fitzgerald to explore artificial intelligence.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jasmine Ramirez, 14, is now recovering from the amputation of her 174-pound leg that was performed at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg on Dec. 11.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 28, 2026
Amputation of her 174-pound left leg gives Manatee County teen a new life

Braden River Middle student Jasmine Ramirez suffered with an overgrowth syndrome that had impacted most of her young life.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Newfound romance ends abruptly over jealousy
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 28, 2026
Newfound romance ends abruptly over jealousy

An officer drives a heartbroken woman back to her hotel after she was ditched for talking to another man in a hot tub on Lido Key. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Gavin Henderson ranks No. 5 in the state for scoring, as of Jan. 23, while playing for a charter school basketball program that's only in its second season.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 28, 2026
College hoops hopeful sticks it out at Lakewood Ranch Prep

Gavin Henderson, a junior guard, has powered the boys basketball program through its second season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Longboat Key Police Department officer Michael Mathis measures the speed of drivers on Gulf of Mexico Drive. LKPD issued 4,000 traffic warnings and 1,900 citations in the 2025 fiscal year.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 28, 2026
Longboat Key isn't crime-free, but it's close

The Florida barrier island has a lower crime rate than the national average in every category, but the town's new police chief still has goals for the new year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home at 598 Lyons Lane sold for $2,700,400.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 28, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 12-16 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in Aria on Gulf of Mexico Drive tops the week's sales at $7.65 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
The Government Efficiency Liaison Committee meets Jan. 20 at the downtown Manatee County Administration Building.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 28, 2026
Manatee County committee requests DOGE audit results

In the meantime, the Government Efficiency Liaison Committee continues to seek out wasteful spending.

  • East County
  • News
A rendering of the planned Pilatus Aircraft facilities at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 28, 2026
Global aircraft maker breaks ground at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Switzerland-based Pilatus Aircraft has begun construction of its $200 million investment at SRQ.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nicole Rissler is the new Sarasota County assistant administrator.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 28, 2026
Sarasota County promotes new assistant administrator from within

The county's current parks chief, Nicole Rissler, was selected for the role.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Real cost of public notice
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 28, 2026
Real cost of public notice

State lawmakers keep saying public notices are a cost issue that needs fixing. They’re missing the point.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
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