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Your Observer

Brent Jephson and Chef Instructor Benjamin Burnside celebrate a job well done.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 22, 2026
Academy at Glengary offers a bridge for those recovering from mental illnesses

Members of the Sarasota nonprofit gain experience with career skills through options that include cooking meals, designing content and practicing phone reception skills.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The McCullough Pavilion building is set against the backdrop of the former Sarasota County Administration Center, which will be redeveloped by Benderson Development.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 22, 2026
County approves sale of downtown historic building to architecture-history group

The Sarasota County Commission OK's moving forward with selling McCullough Pavilion to Architecture Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Josh Harris shows off his handle before practice at Riverview High School. The senior guard leads all of FHSAA Class 7A in scoring, as of Jan. 18, with 24.2 points per game.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 22, 2026
Senior guard leaves his mark on Riverview boys basketball

Nearing the end of his high school career, Josh Harris ranks among the best scorers in the state.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The home at 4311 Bay Shore Road was built in 1925 and has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,177 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1925 and has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 856 square feet of living area. They sold for $3.27 million in 2019.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 22, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 5-9 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A two-property sale on Bay Shore Road tops the week’s sales at $5 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Alaina Loyal and Gia Sammelman demonstrate concepts including push, pull, kinetic energy, friction.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 22, 2026
STEAM education and circus arts combine with Marvelous, Miraculous Circus Machine

The show, held for local students by the Circus Arts Conservatory, centered on using the circus to represent STEAM concepts.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By GSP Development
  • January 22, 2026
Downtown’s first new luxury high-rise residences with three-day minimum rental freedom.

Saravela looks to revitalize downtown living in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By The Edge Sarasota
  • January 22, 2026
The Edge Sarasota: Created for a Select Few

Ten stories. Just 27 Residences. Over 10,000 square feet of curated amenities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
911 caller turns out to be all wet
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 21, 2026
911 caller turns out to be all wet

Denied late night access to a bar, a man weaves an unlikely tale about the bouncer and smells noticeably foul of waste. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The Condominium by the Bay was built in 1982 on Boulevard of the Arts.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 21, 2026
Political power couple buys Sarasota condo

Political commentator and adviser James Carville and his White House staffer wife, Mary Matalin, are the new owners of a home in Sarasota, property records show.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The new display highlights the history of the visual arts in Sarasota along about 200 feet of Orange Avenue, just off Main Street.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 21, 2026
Michael Saunders & Co.'s new display highlights area's arts history

The new display, running alongside Orange Avenue behind the glass wall of the real estate firm's main office, shares the history of the visual arts colony in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The resolution sponsored by School Board chair Bridget Ziegler passed 3-2.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 21, 2026
Sarasota School Board reaffirms cooperation with ICE, other law enforcement

The resolution passes 3-2 over the objection of dozens of speakers.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Tara Elementary Principal Laura Campbell tells fifth grader Melany Ojeda that she is a future leader and can do anything she wants to do as long as she goes after it.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 21, 2026
Tara Elementary principal reminisces before taking on new adventure

Laura Campbell, who has been principal at Tara Elementary School since 2016, has been chosen to lead the new Veterans Elementary School in Palmetto.

  • East County
  • Schools
Aaron Virgin says he often spots 40 to 50 species of birds on a walk around Lake Patton in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 21, 2026
Audubon eyes go to the skies in Lakewood Ranch

The Sarasota Audubon Society hosts Lakewood Ranch walks in the hopes of generating interest in the club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch junior Ricardo Rengifo wrestles Javier Puchi in the 138-pound weight class.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 21, 2026
First 'in-school' wrestling matches hosted by Lakewood Ranch High

The school's administration allowed students to miss late-in-the day classes to attend Lakewood Ranch's boys and girls matches against Riverview.

  • East County
  • Sports
The green rectangle on the top is where the homes would be clustered.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 21, 2026
80-home project gets thumbs down from the Manatee Planning Commission

Bradenton Estates II is being proposed near the intersection of 18th Avenue East and Morgan Johnson Road.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 604 Mourning Dove Drive sold for $5.1 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 21, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 5-9 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Bird Key home on Mourning Dove Drive tops the week's sales at $5.1 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Danielle Ziegler is the shelter director. She's cuddling with Lyza, a 9-year-old Catahoula mix with chronic ear infections.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 21, 2026
Struggling for funds is a way of life at the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch

Grants, like the $20,000 received through the Manatee Community Foundation, are essential to the nonprofit's survival.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Longboat Island Chapel, at 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, could lend some of its space to serve as a community center for north-end residents.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 21, 2026
Church may offer space for north-end Longboat community center

“The stars have aligned” as the newest potential space for a north-end community center has been identified.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The old Station 11, owned by East Manatee Fire Rescue, is being sold to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 21, 2026
Manatee County Sheriff's Office finds a home in Myakka City

East Manatee Fire Rescue sells the old fire station in Myakka City to the Sheriff's Office.

  • East County
  • News
Junior guard Jadyn Watts takes the ball downcourt for Cardinal Mooney girls basketball during a Jan. 17 game against The Villages Charter. After transferring from Sickles, she has been a top scorer amid an up-and-down season for the Cougars.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 21, 2026
Cardinal Mooney girls basketball learns troubles of title defense

The reigning FHSAA Class 3A state champion has struggled to stay in the win column but is starting to piece together the puzzle.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Malia Price, co-owner of The Sarasota Style, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 14 with the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 21, 2026
Lifestyle, clothing brand officially opens on St. Armands Circle

The Sarasota Style, the latest addition to St. Armands Circle's business community, recently opened.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Buttonwood Harbour in Longboat Key was one of many residential communities that experienced significant storm damage in Manatee County from 2024 hurricanes. Manatee County’s Local Mitigation Strategy explains the threats facing the county and unlocks state and federal funding for participating municipalities like Longboat Key, which passed a resolution in October to renew its participation.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 21, 2026
Buttonwood Harbour community meeting scheduled

The town of Longboat Key and consultants will make a presentation and answer questions from community members in February.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 21, 2026
How to take advantage of your smart water meter

The town of Longboat Key has introduced an online monitoring tool for residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
In her first year playing organized soccer at any level, Reagan Volkert has burst onto the scene with Sarasota Christian.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 20, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Reagan Volkert

The seventh grade forward has been the leading goal-scorer for Sarasota Christian girls soccer this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
John Harshman has announced his candidacy for Sarasota City Commission.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 20, 2026
Longtime businessman files for Sarasota City Commission

Commercial real estate broker John Harshman has joined the race for the two Sarasota City Commission at-large seats.

  • Sarasota
  • News
During a beach renourishment project, sand is placed and spread on the beach to extend the shoreline, combating natural erosion to increase recreational area space and extend the shoreline.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 20, 2026
Beach renourishment on Lido Key underway

About 311,000 cubic yards will be placed on the southern half of Lido Key during the project, causing some closures to portions of the beach.

  • Sarasota
  • News
John Creighton "Creighton" Wheeland (1943-2026)
    In Memoriam |
  • January 20, 2026
John Creighton "Creighton" Wheeland

John Creighton "Creighton" Wheeland, 83, passed away January 8, 2026.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
One Stop Housing CEO and Managing Partner Mark Vengroff speaks with supporters at the groundbreaking of Sarasota Station.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 20, 2026
Affordable housing development finally leaves the station

Groundbreaking puts on track Mark Vengroff's fulfillment of his late father's vision to convert a Park East industrial site into affordable housing called Sarasota Station.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key 100 founders Julia Woodward, Betsy Juliano, Heidi Berry, Danielle Gladding and Michelle Johnson, along with Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan and Julia Woodward (not pictured), have united to launch a new, one-night evening of giving to support a local nonprofit with $100,000 in donations.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 20, 2026
New charity on Longboat aims to gift $100K

Inspired by an effort originating in Wisconsin, seven local leaders are coming together to coordinate a large-scale gift to an organization in need of a boost.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Manatee County continues to receive complaints about its reduced garbage service.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 20, 2026
Trash collection will be a hot topic at upcoming Manatee commission meeting

Commissioner Bob McCann also added kennel and canopy road concerns to Jan. 27 agenda.

  • East County
  • News
Jaynie Peterson, Tony Pinho, Brady Jo Trombetta and Madison Chuchla all teach dance classes at Fly Dance Fitness in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 20, 2026
Dance fitness studio opens new Lakewood Ranch location

The business offers a variety of dance and fitness classes while aiming to be a judgement-free space.

  • East County
  • Business
Dillon Rosenthal, a fourth-year entrepreneurship major at FGCU, proudly sits beside one of BounceBack Pickle's bins. His business takes old, broken pickleballs and recycles them into new ones.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 20, 2026
BounceBack Pickle succeeds at intersection of sport and sustainability

Dillon Rosenthal, a graduate from The Out-of-Door Academy, has found a niche by recycling pickleballs.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Harbour Square office building at 4134 Gulf of Mexico Drive may soon be demolished. 1905 Family of Restaurants Vice President of Marketing Jeff Houck said the company plans to file for a demolition permit soon as work to bring the Buccaneer restaurant to the space continues to move forward.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 20, 2026
Harbour Square office building slated for demolition

The demolition is planned as a first step in the plans for 1905 Family of Restaurant's Buccaneer Restaurant concept.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Man waits until 1:30 for pop star to return to Longboat Key restaurant
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 20, 2026
Man waits until 1:30 for pop star to return to Longboat Key restaurant

A man swore he saw Sabrina Carpenter, thought it was fate and returned to the restaurant hours later waiting for her to return. This and other Longboat Key police reports in this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
This Wild Blue at Waterside home at 560 Blue Shell Loop sold for $3.41 million. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,452 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 20, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 5-9 in Lakewood Ranch

A Wild Blue at Waterside home on Blue Shell Loop topped the week's sales at $3.41 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Don Katz, founder of the audiobook company Audible, reminisced with Bird Key Yacht Club members about the company's beginnings just following its 30th anniversary. Katz joined members for this season's lecture series on Jan. 9 at The Ora. Richard Besser, CEO and president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, moderated.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 20, 2026
Audible founder Don Katz reminisces with Bird Key Yacht Club members

Just after the audiobook company celebrated its 30th anniversary, the founder had a blast from the past meeting one guest.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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