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Your Observer

St. Mary Star of the Sea hosted Blessing of the Easter Baskets on March 30.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • April 1, 2024
St. Mary, Star of the Sea, blesses Easter baskets

Father Robert Dziedziak blessed congregants' Easter baskets, which were inspired by their families' cultures.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 1, 2024
The Observer plays dirty for April Fools’ Day

Our annual April Fools’ Day edition was published on March 28.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Florida Power & Light Company
  • April 1, 2024
FPL Accepting Applications for FPL Robotics Scholarship — High School Seniors Invited to Apply

Ahum Dhruv with FPL employees after receiving the $20,000 FPL Robotics Scholarship in 2023.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Michelle Behny and April Lawyer
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • March 31, 2024
Spanish Main residents caught 70 pounds of fish for annual fish fry

The anglers woke up before dawn throughout March to catch fish for the event on March 28.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bridget and Paige Palicka
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • March 31, 2024
Sand Cay Beach Resort Easter egg hunt challenges all ages

Families return to Longboat Key every year to spend Easter weekend with the Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Slava, a Ukrainian student, stands in the rubble of his school that was destroyed in the Battle of Kharkiv.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 31, 2024
Sarasota gallery spotlights Ukraine portraits from local photographer

Now at the Lexow Gallery, Allan Mestel’s “Portrait Ukraine” project aims to create a connection between viewer and subject.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Isabelle Urfer, 3, sorts through Easter eggs.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 30, 2024
Families find fun at Siesta Key Easter Egg Hunt

On the grounds of Siesta Key Chapel, participants enjoyed games and activities, live animals and photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Trey Jones handles the lead vocals for American Jones during My Hometown Fest at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota on Saturday.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 30, 2024
Thousands attend My Hometown Fest in Sarasota

Nathan Benderson Park hosted the annual fundraiser for the Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Audri Wallin, 12, Sierra Mullin, 8 and Alalia Mark watch Nik Wallenda walk the tightrope.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 30, 2024
Good Friday at Payne Park takes celebration to the skies

The free event featured circus entertainers, free food, inflatables and face painting.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 30, 2024
Revised housing project forges ahead at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch

Plans have changed from condos to townhouses, but Lakeshore will still be built on Rodeo Drive.

  • East County
  • News
The iconic Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota's "Purple Palace," kicked off its delayed season with "Menopause the Musical 2," on Jan. 4.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 30, 2024
Details in short supply for new Sarasota Performing Arts Center

The group studying the repurposing of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall hears from the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center CEO but is left with more questions than answers.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Music Compound's Jenny Townsend and Alyssa Martin celebrate their students being on stage during Musicpalooza Friday at Nathan Benderson Park. the event was a lead-in to Saturday's My Hometown Fest.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 29, 2024
Performance of note at Musicpalooza at Nathan Benderson Park

Five Music Compound bands took the stage at the Sarasota festival.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Rev. David M. Svihel leads the walk
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 29, 2024
Believers walk the Stations of the Cross along Main Street

The annual walk, a Good Friday tradition that recognizes Jesus’ crucifixion and death through 14 stations, once again drew hundreds to downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Michael Garey at Longboat Key’s Lazy Lobster.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • March 29, 2024
Lazy Lobster's Michael Garey is anything but lazy

This Lazy Lobster co-owner doesn’t have a lazy bone in his body. He loves his work and honors the mentors who got him started.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Rep. Tommy Gregory shakes hands with audience members before answering their questions.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 29, 2024
Rep. Tommy Gregory applies for SCF president post

Gregory is among three finalists to take over when current State College of Florida President Carol Probstfeld retires in July.

  • East County
  • News
The SMH Trauma Center opened in 2015.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 29, 2024
SMH named one of the top workplaces for women in the US

The Newsweek rankings relied on surveys of more than 142,000 women and 848,000 company reviews.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Decadeslong debate over reopening Midnight Pass continues
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 28, 2024
Decadeslong debate over reopening Midnight Pass continues

A big debate over a tiny body of water has gripped the region for some 40 years.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Sarasota High baseball senior catcher Juan Perez is hitting .474 as of March 27.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 28, 2024
Sarasota High baseball searches for offense

The Sailors have sputtered at the plate but believe better days are ahead.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
In his retirement, Chris Sachs works on his new job: Building community
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • March 28, 2024
In his retirement, Chris Sachs works on his new job: Building community

As president of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key, Chris Sachs has found a deeply meaningful way to give back.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This Longboat Key home combines the charm of Old Florida living with modern-day comforts
  • By Robert Plunket
  • March 28, 2024
This Longboat Key home combines the charm of Old Florida living with modern-day comforts

This charming bungalow in Longboat Village is more than picturesque. It has all the prerequisites of an up-to-date vacation home.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This bookmobile was customized by the same company and provides an example of what Manatee County's bookmobile will look like.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 28, 2024
Manatee County buys a bookmobile to drive residents to read

The bookmobile will address a shortage of library space.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 1601 Idle Lane has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,189 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 28, 2024
Top residential real estate sales for March 11-15 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Sarasota home on Idle Lane tops the week's sales at $3.5 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
"Watermelon Regatta" before and after the restoration.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 28, 2024
Ringling Museum restores mysterious painting from 1700s

“Watermelon Regatta,” an 18th-century painting by the artist known only as the “Master of the Fertility of the Egg,” is on display at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kelly Romanoff (left) and Tonika Conaway are co-chairs of the First 1,000 Days Suncoast initiative.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2024
Parental support organization names co-chairs

Tonika Conaway and Kelly Romanoff will lead the First 1,000 Days Suncoast initiative for the next two years.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Joyce Norris holds some zucchini she has collected.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 28, 2024
Community Harvest SRQ rescues produce for food banks

Community Harvest SRQ helps prevent unwanted produce from going to waste, offering the items they collect to local food banks.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Manatee Commissioner James Satcher has been appointed to be Manatee County's supervisor of elections.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 28, 2024
Bizarre supervisor of elections saga continues in Manatee County

Commissioner James Satcher faces tough choices as election approaches.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The Rev. David Svihel, priest associate for Christian formation and outreach at Church of the Redeemer, leads the walk.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 28, 2024
Good Friday pilgrimage on Main Street grows in size

The annual walk, held along Main Street in Sarasota, is anticipated to draw over 1,000 participants this year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Stage proposal would triple the size of Payne Park auditorium.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 28, 2024
The Stage proposal would triple size of Payne Park city building

The Stage at Payne Park's plan would turn the space into a 300-seat performing arts venue for The Sarasota Players and other community groups.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Elections: Liberty, slavery?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 28, 2024
Elections: Liberty, slavery?

The candidates’ political philosophies matter. Are they capitalists or statists?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By JL Bainbridge Family Wealth Advisors
  • March 28, 2024
Will Your Retirement Last 30 Years?

Here’s what you should know about planning ahead for today’s average retirement from age 62 to 92.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Sarasota High senior weightlifter Mark Monchecourt won the 219-pound division of the FHSAA Class 3A state meet in the Traditional category, lifting a combined 725 pounds.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 27, 2024
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Mark Monchecourt

The Sarasota High senior weightlifter won the 219-pound class at the Sarasota County Championships.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Nik Wallenda walks the tightrope in March 2021 at the Nik Wallenda's Daredevil Rally at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 27, 2024
Nik Wallenda wants to inspire with Good Friday tightrope walk

Wallenda will perform for his hometown of Sarasota during Good Friday in Payne Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Orion Kerkering was named to the Philadelphia Phillies postseason roster Oct. 3.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 27, 2024
5 Sarasota baseball stars making waves in the big leagues

The area has several candidates for breakouts this season, with an MLB debut a possibility.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A rendering of the layout of 74 Club Homes at Heritage Harbour and the Homes2Suites hotel (top left).
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 27, 2024
Heritage Harbour resort project tees off with club homes, hotel

Construction has begun on 74 club homes at Heritage Harbour Golf Club in east Bradenton with a Home2Suites by Hilton on the way.

  • East County
  • News
A conceptual rendering shows a reimagined New College East Campus on land the college plans to acquire from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 27, 2024
Airport authority approves land sale to New College

Before the college can purchase the 31 acres for $11.5 million, the sale must be approved by the FAA and funded by the state.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mayor Ken Schneier and Vice Mayor Mike Haycock were sworn in in 2024 for another year.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • March 27, 2024
Longboat town leadership remains in place after uncontested runs

Two commissioners ran unopposed, and Mayor Ken Schneier and Vice Mayor Mike Haycock keep their seats for another term.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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