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Your Observer

B.D. Gullett Elementary front desk clerk and parent Cristina Holland, student Brooke Green and Principal Julie Gierhart are ready to take on the school year with fewer bodies in the school.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 8, 2025
New school provides relief for previously overcrowded BD Gullett Elementary

After losing 400 students, the Lakewood Ranch school has a more manageable enrollment of 1,000.

  • East County
  • Schools
Heather Kasten and Larry Thompson
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 7, 2025
Boys & Girls Clubs honor Ringling College, chamber leaders

Heather Kasten and Larry Thompson were honored during the 19th Annual IPG Leadership Breakfast by Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Movie posters in honor of the winning pups are set out on display.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 7, 2025
Shelter rolls out red carpet for pups at Oscars-themed fundraiser

Satchel's Last Resort brought a "Pawscars" theme to its annual fundraiser, held at Big Top Brewing.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Artists are invited to submit sculpture proposals for the courtyard at Payne Park Tennis Center.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 7, 2025
Artists invited to submit tennis center sculpture proposals

The city of Sarasota has put out a call to artists for sculpture submissions to be considered for the Payne Park Tennis Center courtyard.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Teresa Wilson and Wendy Nebrija are part of the LWR Conversational Spanish intermediate class. Wilson said she was learning using ChatGPT, but nothing compares to being taught and corrected by a native Spanish speaking teacher like Montse Florensa.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 6, 2025
LWR Conversational Spanish breaks down language barriers

LWR Conversational Spanish is led by Lakewood Ranch's Montse Florensa, who has Spanish roots in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Spain.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The current portion of School Avenue greenway was completed in November 2007.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 6, 2025
School Avenue trail extension project hits snag for flooding concerns

The Sarasota City Commission rejects the recommended concept for the School Avenue Greenway Feasibility Study and instructs staff to return with more alternative concept details.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sugar Vibe performs at The Green at UTC Sept. 4 for the monthly music series, UTC Live on the Green.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 5, 2025
Sarasota meet-up group finds its groove at UTC

Live on the Green is a music series every first Thursday of the month.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Residence director Ramsey Jennings and sales director Sandra Barkey welcome City of Bradenton mayor Gene Brown to the The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch 20th anniversary celebration.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 5, 2025
The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch celebrates 20 years

Legend Senior Living community The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch celebrates its 20th anniversary through dance, food and more on Sept. 2.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
VSC President and CEO Erin Duggan, Director of Community Relationship and Partnership Hunter Carpenter, Marketing Manager Jess Bertolini, and Vice President of Finance and Administration Andrea Hunt with the Silver Flagler Award.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 5, 2025
Tourism bureau wins prestigious Silver Flagler award

Visit Sarasota County was honored with the award named after the "Father of Florida Tourism" for its 2024 annual summit focused on hurricane recovery.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota's Tyler Burke ("Turbo Tyler") enters the Globe of Death during the 2024 edition of Thunder by the Bay
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 5, 2025
Classic sounds headline 2026 Thunder by the Bay

Night Ranger and .38 Special top the music acts for the February fundraiser at Sarasota County Fairgrounds.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
State agents seized 117 slot machines at Magic Arcade on Swift Road, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • September 5, 2025
Sarasota Sheriff: 2 charged, 117 slot machines seized in gambling bust

An investigation at Magic Arcade netted two arrests and prompted Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota man arrested on charges of exposing himself on Lido Beach
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 4, 2025
Sarasota man arrested on charges of exposing himself on Lido Beach

The arrest stems from an incident reported on Aug. 29 on Lido Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioner George Kruse says adopting a county charter is worth exploring. "Anything we can do to have a say, is a good thing," he says.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 4, 2025
State's special interest favoritism plagues Manatee

Manatee County commissioners are trying to figure out wetlands conundrum.

  • East County
  • Opinion
DJ Harpole, the band director, and Nohemi Perez, the orchestra director, have worked at Carlos E. Haile Middle School for three years, building their students' passion and motivation for music.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 4, 2025
Can't beat the new music teachers at Carlos E. Haile Middle

Orchestra director Nohemi Perez and band director DJ Harpole have rebuilt the program and their students' passion for music.

  • East County
  • Schools
Casey Schuber
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 4, 2025
Singer takes a long musical path to be a Siesta Key mainstay

Casey on the Key recounts her journey from an "American Idol" contestant to singing music in paradise.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The Braden River Soccer Club is back practicing at Lakewood Ranch Park for the fall season.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 4, 2025
Braden River Soccer Club is building shade structure at Lakewood Ranch Park

Manatee County is helping with the project, which will provide multiple upgrades.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota junior quarterback Hudson West eyes the field before attempting a pass against Braden River.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • September 4, 2025
'I'm the same Hudson': Sarasota High QB stays true to himself

After busy summer, the journey rolls on for Sailor sophomore talent.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Unit 901 condominium at 401 Quay Commons was built in 2021 and has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,647 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 4, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for August 18-22 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A home in Graham's Point on Casey Key Road tops the week's sales at $5.6 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • September 4, 2025
Rev your engines for exotic cars on St. Armands

The Exotic Car Show On The Circle takes place Saturday on St. Armands Circle.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Val Evanko, Joyce Mazurek and Dona Petruccelli run the counter at the Lord's Warehouse reopening.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • September 4, 2025
Lord's Warehouse thrift shop closes for month

The second-hand shop celebrated its reopening in February after the storms, and now will temporarily close for a deep clean.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Among the storm damage to city property is the Sarasota Bay shoreline at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 4, 2025
City transfers $9.2 million from projects to hurricane recovery fund

To help fund storm recovery efforts, the Sarasota City Commission approved reallocating capital improvement project funding to help pay for $37 million in remaining storm damage projects.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Agencies join forces to promote Sarasota County's vibrant lifestyle
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 4, 2025
Agencies join forces to promote Sarasota County's vibrant lifestyle

Representatives of Visit Sarasota County, Economic Development Corporation and Arts Alliance educate commissioners on how they collaborate resources.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Ellenton Landings
  • September 4, 2025
The Rise of Niche Active Adult Living

The unique needs of the Baby Boomer generation reveal a new trend in real estate.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The opening of the field house coincided with the home game on Aug. 29.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 3, 2025
Booker High hosts grand opening of its field house

After the school unveiled its new field house with a ribbon-cutting, its football team also won 29-23 against Berkeley Prep.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Bay Park opened in 2022 along Sarasota's bayfront.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 3, 2025
Sarasota's Bay Park plans dozens of free events for anniversary

More than 80 shows, concerts or celebrations are at the attraction that opened in 2022.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Caleb H. and Wyatt J. practice showmanship.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 3, 2025
Sarasota County hosts poultry workshop at The Farm

The McIntosh Middle School facility hosted a workshop to teach kids poultry husbandry and prepare them for the Sarasota County Fair in March.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
In Sarasota Bay, patches of mangroves commonly dominate small islands, providing habitat for small fish in the trees’ root systems or for seabirds in their branches.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer, S.T. Cardinal
  • September 3, 2025
Volunteers, mangrove health, tech lead to better Sarasota Bay water quality

Mangroves have an array of benefits, from increasing water quality to reducing wave strength to providing habitat for small fish and seabirds.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Braden River High junior running back David Louis tries to find a hole against the Sarasota defense.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • September 3, 2025
Talented junior pivots to starring role for Braden River High's football team

David Louis, the Pirate defensive end-turned-running back, has taken up the offensive mantle in an uncommon way.

  • East County
  • Sports
City of Sarasota Public Works personnel work on removing sidewalk murals in Burns Court.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 3, 2025
Sarasota completes removal of sidewalk and crosswalk art

Interim City Manager Dave Bullock told the Sarasota City Commission non-compliance with a state order to remove all right of way art would risk $67 million in state funding.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Students of Bayside College gather for orientation.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 3, 2025
Bayside College adds dorms to Lakewood Ranch campus

The $3 million housing project will eventually accommodate 256 students.

  • East County
  • News
Sophi Jo Branscomb says her life is busy but rewarding on her Myakka ranch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 3, 2025
Family comes together to help Myakka City ranch thrive

After death of the family matriarch, Sophi Jo Branscomb has taken over her mom's role on the Sandlot Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Man rises from wheelchair to beat down harasser
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 3, 2025
Man rises from wheelchair to beat down harasser

After being taunted and then approached by a would-be attacker, a man in a wheelchair takes him down with a hammer. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The Government Efficiency Liaison Committee meets for the first time Aug. 26 at the Manatee County Administration Building.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 3, 2025
Manatee County DOGE committee gets to work

The five-member committee will dig through 4,500 documents over the next year to find savings in Manatee's budget.

  • East County
  • News
Debris remained a problem down many Longboat Key streets after Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • September 3, 2025
Still in rebuild mode, north Longboat requests permit extension

Delays from insurance claims, FEMA issues and contractor availability has prompted the request from north-end residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Unit 233 condominium at 2450 Harbourside Drive was built in 1990 and has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,830 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • September 3, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for August 18-22 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Seaside of Longboat Key condominium tops the week’s sales at $3.3 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market is one of the region's big attractions.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • September 2, 2025
Sarasota lands on list of America's 'boomtowns'

Lending Tree places Sarasota region No. 3, behind Austin and Orlando.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Sheila Weiss, Michael Goldman, Dr. Helene Lotman, Ellen Goldner, Marion Levine and Sasha Rosin make up the Hope in Bloom committee.
  • April 3, 2026
JFCS celebrates 40 years of service at Hope in Bloom
2
Screenshot of a body-worn camera video shows the moment SPD Officer Michal Banasiak reaches for a bottle before grabbing the man in distress and pulling him to safety.and
  • April 3, 2026
Sarasota Police officers rescue man threatening suicide
3
Hunter Eichhorn watches his approach shot fly on the ninth hole. He already has four top-10 finishes this season on the Korn Ferry Tour, and leads the LECOM Suncoast Classic after round one at nine under par.
  • April 3, 2026
First round of 2026 LECOM Suncoast Classic ended early by weather
4
Colin Montgomery, a two-time winner of the Senior PGA Championship, is in the 135-player field committed to play April 16-19.
  • April 3, 2026
All-star field set for Senior PGA Championship
5
Corinne Arriaga (left) has been promoted to the city's chief transportation planner and Alvimarie Corales to capital projects manager.
  • April 3, 2026
City transportation team members promoted to new roles

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