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Your Observer

Caleb Lee and Harry Shaull sing and play guitar in "Off the Charts!" which features 20 songs spanning from the 1950s to now. Photo courtesy of Florida Studio Theatre.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 1, 2022
Florida Studio Theatre presents "Off the Charts!" in Lakewood Ranch

Florida Studio Theatre show at Waterside Place features songs from the 1950s to now.

  • East County
  • News
Ashton Banik practices swimming in aquatics camp. He went down the pool practicing his breathing.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 1, 2022
Pool just a part of YMCA's summer draw in Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch YMCA is hosting camps that include arts and crafts, flag football, aquatics and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Valerie Viands, the director of Manatee Technical College, hands Sarasota's Jasmine Redding her diploma. Redding has a job with Nurse Core and plans to work part time for HCA Florida Blake Hospital or First Physicians Group.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 1, 2022
Manatee Technical College fast-tracks grads into the workforce in Bradenton and Sarasota region

Many Manatee Technical College students secured a job before they even graduate.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 30, 2022
Girl Scouts walk in 50 years of turtle watching footprints

Longboat Key Turtle Watch's tactics have changed over the last 53 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
$18.1 million in facelifts are planned for Bay Haven School for Basics Plus.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 30, 2022
Three planned new schools will house 5,100 student in flourishing south Sarasota County

Two new schools in Wellen Park and a third nearby will serve the Venice-North Port area as Sarasota County Public Schools plans for growth. A historic school will also get a makeover.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 30, 2022
Longboat Key weather page photo: June 30

Phil Trainer captured this photo of two bald eagles near Sunset Beach on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This is the best view for sunsets, but you'll be battling half of Sarasota's teen population to get a spot.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 30, 2022
Getting Away: Celery Fields

Few things can top the variety at the hill space in east Sarasota, which boasts running trails and gorgeous views.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The top-selling property in Sarasota this week was units 501 and 502 of Royal St. Andrews, 555 S. Gulfstream Ave.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 30, 2022
Cocoanut Bayou property breaks $9 million level

A Cocoanut Bayou home on Cedar Park Circle tops the week's sales at $9.18 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 30, 2022
East County weather page photo: June 30

Gordon Silver photographed this cow along Masters Avenue in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 30, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: June 30

Gordon Silver took this photo of a large gator cooling off on a warm day at Myakka River State Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metro area ranks seventh in the nation for the number of homes authorized for construction per 1,000 existing homes, (Andrew Warfield)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 30, 2022
Sarasota metro ranks seventh in the nation for new home construction

Demographics of new residents in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton area are shifting as the area ranks seventh in the nation among mid-size MSAs in approving new home construction.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 30, 2022
Longboat Key firefighters dive into water-rescue training

Siesta Key lifeguards gave a refresher water-rescue course to LBK Fire Rescue personnel at the Sand Cay Resort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Deputy Josh Sanders helps Sophia Castellanos try on a helmet at a recent open house at the headquarters of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 30, 2022
County departments seeking 116 new positions in fiscal year 2023

Flush with new property tax revenue, Sarasota County departments asked to create more than 100 new jobs needed to keep up with growth during County Commission budget heraings.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Country Club East's Nicole Pies has started Divorce Real Estate using her doctorate in psychology to help those in high-stress situations.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 30, 2022
Lakewood Ranch Realtor specializes in high-stress sales

Psychologist/Realtor Nicole Pies founds company Divorce Real Estate dedicated to people going through a divorce who want to buy or sell a home.

  • East County
  • Business
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 29, 2022
What is liberty?

Americans want to be happy about their country on the Fourth of July. This year, it’s hard to cheer.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 29, 2022
Former city commissioner plays taps at area events to honor veterans

From wreath laying to taps ceremonies, our traditions ensure we never forget to thank those who sacrificed for our country.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jimmy Reed, William McLaughlin and Lynn Horne
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 29, 2022
Longboat chamber members spend a night at the aquarium

Members of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce networked after hours June 28 at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 29, 2022
Mote's Shark Zone welcomes a new shark

Arty the shark made his debut on June 24

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
An artist's rendering of the future ArtCenter Manatee facility. (Courtesy image)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • June 29, 2022
ArtCenter Manatee moves closer to fundraising goal

ArtCenter Manatee has big dreams for a future expansion, and several philanthropic donors have helped them make it a reality.

  • East County
  • News
From planning to design and setting up, hundreds of hours are put into making Nathan Benderson Park's Fireworks on the Lake a reality. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 29, 2022
Fireworks company adds spark to Benderson Park's annual Fourth of July show

Pyrotecnico puts in hundreds of hours to create Nathan Benderson Park's Fireworks on the Lake.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bambi Bowman Huisveld completed the OWS Triple Crown on June 14 with her Catalina Channel swim.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 29, 2022
Sarasota swimmer completes Open Water Swimming Triple Crown

Bambi Bowman Huisveld swam across the Catalina Channel in nine hours and 41 minutes on June 14 to complete the Triple Crown.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
(File photo)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 29, 2022
City, police union square off over compensation, anti-discrimination policy

With its collective bargaining agreement expiring this fall, the union that represents Sarasota police officers charges that the city is slow to respond to demands.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Sanddy Marchena and his wife, Melodie Marchena, love living in Florida with their daughters, Camila and Sophia Marchena. Sanddy Marchena says immigrating to the U.S. changed the trajectory of his life. (Courtesy p)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 29, 2022
US citizenship opens a world of opportunities for Lakewood Ranch man

Sanddy Marchena says his mother's decision to immigrate to the U.S. changed the trajectory of his life.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • June 29, 2022
America: We have a lot in common

Don’t let the noise fool you. As Americans, we agree on more things than you might think.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 29, 2022
50 songs to get you in the Fourth of July spirit

Celebrate your American pride with these patriotic songs.

  • Arts + Culture
Unit 246 condominium at 3040 Grand Bay Blvd. has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,781 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 29, 2022
Grand Bay condo sells for $3 million

A three-bedroom unit in Grand Bay is the week's top seller at $3 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Henry uses animals to teach leadership skills in her book, "Wisdom from the Wild."
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 29, 2022
Former Mote intern shares leadership skills from the animal kingdom in her first book

Julie C. Henry elevates a sea cucumber to a leader in her book, "Wisdom from the Wild."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 29, 2022
Sarasota Cops Corner: Ice, ice, baby

Police reports from around Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Lakewood Ranch's Sabine Kvenberg, who also is a teacher at the Music Compound, takes Lakewood Ranch's Jasleen Kaur through a singing lesson. Both have sung the national anthem before polo matches at the Sarasota Polo Club.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 29, 2022
Sarasota singers share what it takes to do the national anthem justice

Three local singers approach the national anthem in different ways that fit their voice, abilities and emotions.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 29, 2022
Sarasotans bond over their love of cars

A Cars and Coffee gathering can be quick confirmation that we are an auto-maniac nation.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Each of Der Dutchman's pies has about three pounds of pie filler and feeds six people.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 29, 2022
The keys to the perfect apple pie, from a Sarasota expert

Der Dutchman staff get into what it takes to make some great apple pie.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Arturo Sandoval brought the house down at the Sarasota Jazz Festival in March. (File photo)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • June 29, 2022
Jazz Club has grown from fascination to institution

Steady hands have helped the Jazz Club of Sarasota grow by leaps and bounds over decades.

  • Arts + Culture
Myakka River State Park is just one of many wide-open spaces bordering Sarasota. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • June 29, 2022
3 short drives from Sarasota where Old Florida has been preserved in an oasis

Sarasota's metro area is cut out of a forest that covers much of the Gulf Coast, with every inch packed of wildlife to enjoy.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dragos Alexandru immigrated to the U.S. from Romania in 1988. He lived in New York until moving to Sarasota in 2002, where he worked in IT and became a rowing coach.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 29, 2022
Romanian immigrant looking for more freedom of choice relishes what he found

For Romanian Olympian Dragos Alexandru, stories of the American dream were all the motivation he needed to leave the restrictive country and immigrate to the U.S.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Braden River football program has been elite since Head Coach Curt Bradley was hired in 2012.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 29, 2022
How football grew to dominate the US sports landscape — and all fall weekends

The rough-and-tumble sport isn't for the faint of heart. That's why Americans love it.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Bald eagles often frequent the area in Lakewood Ranch aptly named White Eagle Boulevard. (Photo by Jay Heater)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 29, 2022
Florida aviary enthusiasts flock to photograph the nation's emblem

As anyone who has seen one of these beauties in person can attest, it’s hard to imagine a better symbol of strength and freedom than the bald eagle.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Sarasota Art Museum Senior Curator Rangsook Yoon poses in front of an unnamed piece in Judy Pfaff's exhibition, "Picking Up the Pieces."
  • April 6, 2026
Sarasota Art Museum senior curator heading to Seattle
2
John Atanassov and Joel King, co-owners of Blu Kouzina, are eager to serve and get to know new customers at their new location at University Town Center.
  • April 6, 2026
Blu Kouzina adds its Greek flavor at University Town Center
3
The Citizen Tax Oversight Committee meets once a year to review expenditures of revenue brought in from the infrastructure surtax. The 2026 meeting lasted about 15 minutes on Thursday, April 2.
  • April 6, 2026
Longboat infrastructure tax spending plan comes up $6 million short
4
Bella Toscano is one of two Mustangs, as of April 3, hitting over .450, but also boasts the lowest ERA among her teammates.
  • April 6, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Bella Toscano
5
DragonBoot Quartet performs the world premiere of Roger Zare’s “Gamma” for string quartet for Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota on April 12.
  • April 6, 2026
Pine View grad solves for 'Gamma' in his latest music composition

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