• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Your Observer

Alexa Horiuchi.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 23, 2020
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Alexa Horiuchi

The Riverview High junior talks switching positions and her best advice.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 23, 2020
Sarasota County Commissioners adopt $1.3 billion budget

Commissioners also adopted a millage rate of 3.46.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Although Selby Gardens said reducing the height of a proposed 450-space parking garage represented a compromise from the last master plan proposal, some residents continued to object to the mass of the structure. File image.
    By
  • David Conway
  • September 23, 2020
Planning Board endorses revised Selby Gardens plans

Supporters of the botanical gardens’ proposal framed it as a compromise that would ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability, but some resident critics weren’t won over.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
Florida House District 74: Lisa Stortstrom

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
Florida House District 73: David Reeves Fairey

Meet the candidate.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
Florida House District 73: Tommy Gregory

Meet the candidate.

  • East County
  • News
Footage from a body camera shows a Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputy responding to a scene in the Lakewood Ranch area. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 23, 2020
Manatee deputies to get body cameras

Manatee County Sheriff's Office to purchase body cameras for deputies.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
Florida House District 72: Drake Buckman

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
State Representative District 72: Fiona McFarland

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
Florida House District 71: Will Robinson

Meet the candidate

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
Florida House District 71: Andy Mele

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2020
Children's book decades in the making

Daughter follows through in publishing her mom's children's story.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Donna Marino. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 23, 2020
COVID can't halt run for funds

Lakewood Ranch resident to run virtual race to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kylie Caffrey and Ava Laurie. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2020
Masked ninja in Lakewood Ranch

Summerfield residents try innovative ways to protect bird feeder.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 23, 2020
COVID blues? Try Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.

Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota provides relief from the COVID blues.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Spoonbills are tactile feeders whose rosy coloring comes from their diet of crustaceans. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Guest Author
  • September 23, 2020
Bird of the week: roseate spoonbill

Spoonbills hunt by sense of touch, stirring up small crustaceans, then snapping their beaks closed.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Guests of the 2019 Taste of Downtown mingle on the main stage of the Sarasota Opera House.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2020
Taste of Downtown goes digital for 2020

Annual event benefits Sarasota Opera's Youth Opera.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Annemarie Graff of Bank OZK and former LWRBA CEO Heather Kasten volunteer at the first annual Alliance Gives Back Volunteer Days in 2018.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 23, 2020
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's altruistic event survives

The third annual Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Gives Back Volunteer Days will be a hybrid of in-person, virtual sessions.

  • East County
  • News
Tim Hornung stands by the Polo Ranches' gate at Deer Drive and Cow Camp Lane on Thursday before it went live. Hornung is the president of the Polo Ranches HOA.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 23, 2020
New gates installed at Sarasota Polo Ranches in Lakewood Ranch

The five gates at Sarasota Polo Ranches were installed mostly for the safety of residents and their horses.

  • East County
  • News
(From left)Gene Gelpke, Harry Benas, RC Bartley and Brian Biery discuss Central Park's e-voting system at an outdoor pavilion in the community. Bartley and Biery are board directors. Gelpke and Benas are subcommittee volunteers.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • September 23, 2020
Central Park HOA in Lakewood Ranch switches to e-voting

An HOA in Lakewood Ranch finds that 45% of households have opted in to e-voting, higher than any previous rate of voter participation

  • East County
  • News
Guests will have fun trying to find their way through the maze. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2020
Pumpkin Festival will be held in East County

Hunsader Farms will host its 29th annual Pumpkin Festival with COVID-19 precautions in place.

  • East County
  • News
Amy Jones, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2020
Lakewood Ranch High senior earns academic award

Amy Jones is one of three School District of Manatee County students to be named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.

  • East County
  • News
Carson Goda catches a first-drive touchdown pass from Shawqi Itraish.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 23, 2020
Prose and Kohn: Football's back, and it just feels right

Being on the gridiron acts as a balm for the soul.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lavontae Youmans rolls through a Charlotte tackle attempt.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 23, 2020
Pirates football still finding its way

Braden River lost its first game, but there's reasons not to panic.

  • East County
  • Sports
Andrea Dietz.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 23, 2020
East County Athlete of the Week: Andrea Dietz

The Lakewood Ranch sophomore talks starting in volleyball and overcoming mental blocks.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
Florida Senate District 23: Robert Kaplan

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2020
U.S. House of Representatives District 16: Margaret Good

Meet the candidate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to an armed robbery at the S.R. 64 Walmart Tuesday night.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 23, 2020
Bradenton Walmart manager shot while defying two armed robbers

Armed robbery in Bradenton leads to shooting of Walmart manager.

  • East County
  • News
Jeanne Klein and Sue Seuell, residents of Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living, laugh while talking to each other. "I'm happy I can be outside and get fresh air," Klein says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2020
East County seniors say hello again

Lakewood Ranch-area seniors embrace fewer restrictions in assisted living facilities and retirement homes.

  • East County
  • News
Fans will have plenty of space at Lakewood National, but the bleachers behind No. 18 likely won't be used in 2021.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 22, 2020
LECOM Suncoast Classic director optimistic fans will be allowed to 2021 Lakewood Ranch event.

LECOM Suncoast Classic hopes pandemic eases to allow fans back into Korn Ferry event in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Commissioner Nancy Detert was against the change, saying it does do enough to encourage affordable housing in the county.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 22, 2020
Sarasota County could relax affordable housing requirements

Following a state directive, commissioners could get rid of an affordable housing mandate that requires developers to include affordable housing units in their plans.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 22, 2020
Bolts from the blue

The Lazy Lobster is celebrating the Tampa Bay Lightning's Stanley Cup run.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The town of Longboat Key’s public beach parking is set to reopen Oct. 1. It has been closed since June 30.
    By
  • Mark Bergin
  • September 22, 2020
Longboat Key's public beach parking set to reopen in October

The public restrooms at Bayfront Park and Joan Durante Park are also set to reopen.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Pete Cumming (left)
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • September 22, 2020
Chief gets an award

Before his retirement, the Rotarians want to honor their police chief.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 22, 2020
Longboat Key Cops Corner: No day at the park

Police reports from around Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 22, 2020
23 Sarasota students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

Finalists for the program will be announced in February.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
« 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

Sponsored Content
1
Florida Power & Light brings 2026 infrastructure upgrades to Sarasota County, Manatee County and Longboat Key
  • June 25, 2026
Florida Power & Light brings 2026 infrastructure upgrades to Sarasota County, Manatee County and Longboat Key
Sponsored Content
2
  • June 25, 2026
Is It Time to Take a Look Under the Hood of Your Financial Plan?
3
Reclaimed water systems run separately from drinking-water systems.
  • June 24, 2026
Dry weather cuts into Manatee reclaimed-water system's pressure
4
Roadway cameras help identify park-damaging suspect
  • June 24, 2026
Roadway cameras help identify park-damaging suspect
5
This house in Plantation Oaks is advertised on several booking platforms as sleeping up to 32 guests.
  • June 24, 2026
Manatee County commissioners consider regulating vacation rentals

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free