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Your Observer

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church Pastor Ken Blyth poses for a photo in his office Tuesday, March 10, less than a week after he and a group of pastors had their pilgrimage to the Holy Land cut short as war erupted in the Middle East.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 13, 2026
Sarasota pastor home safe after war breaks out during Holy Land pilgrimage

St. Armands Lutheran Church Pastor Ken Blyth was one of 23 American clergy on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land whose trip turned into a journey to escape a war zone.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering of the new offices, storage and classroom space for Sarasota Youth Sailing on City Island.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 13, 2026
Youth sailing program closer to new facility approval

Sarasota Youth Sailing received the unanimous endorsement of the city's Planning Board of its plans for a permanent facility in Ken Thompson Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A bird box for purple martins sits on the golf course at the Ritz-Carlton Members Club of Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 13, 2026
Wildlife checks into the Ritz in Lakewood Ranch

The Ritz-Carlton Members Club earns recertification with the Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Nelle Miller and Yvette Resto
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 13, 2026
New market in Newtown offers grocery-style shopping at no cost for those in need

The new space operated by All Faiths Food Bank was created at the Goodwill Manasota's Job Connection Center through a longstanding partnership.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Visitors to St. Armands Circle and other county attractions declined by 10,000 in January 2026 compared to 2025.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 13, 2026
January Sarasota County tourism slips 12.7%

In January 2026, Sarasota County attracted 68,900 visitors, down 10,000 from last year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Suspects flee police, flood into hotel room on Longboat Key
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 12, 2026
Suspects flee police, flood into hotel room on Longboat Key

The case is ongoing, with hotel footage potentially needed to identify the suspects.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center COO Philip Reber, who has overseen the $120 million tower expansion, has been named the hospital's interim CEO.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 12, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center CEO resigns

Rob Anderson worked a year at the post; current COO Philip Reber named interim CEO.

  • East County
  • News
A restored 1920 Craftsman residence set on a corner double lot has entered the market in Sarasota’s West of Trail neighborhood for $4.19 million.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 12, 2026
Treehouse adds whimsy to restored West of Trail home in Sarasota

Built in 1920, the property was recently listed for sale at $4.19 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Art in the Park will take place on March 14-15 at the University Park Country Club. It will feature different mediums of art from 50 artists including Michael Parkinson, a co-chair for Art in the Park.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 12, 2026
University Park's Art in the Park to showcase 50 local artists

The annual event enters its 26th year and gives professional and amateur artists a chance to showcase their work.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Margaret and Rebecca Johnson
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 12, 2026
A community helps find family history at Genealogical Society of Sarasota

The society now hosts its monthly meetings, held the second Saturday of each month at Gulf Gate Library.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The home at 1356 Harbor Drive was built in 2017 and has five bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 6,752 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 12, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 23-27 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Harbor Acres home on Harbor Drive tops the week's sales at $14.75 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Allegiant surpassed 1 million passengers served at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in 2025, setting a new mark for the airline at nearly one-fourth of the total 4.5 million among all 11 carriers.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 12, 2026
Airport cites incentives, lower costs to airlines as key to explosive growth

The cost of doing business for airlines is significantly lower at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport than others in the region, a key contributor to its rapid growth.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Blake Roulund was a defensive end/middle linebacker for Cardinal Mooney football as a junior. He committed to wrestling full-time for his senior year, forfeiting a chance to be part of a football state championship.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 12, 2026
Cardinal Mooney senior succeeds in changing sports

Blake Roulund left football behind and promptly became a state finalist in wrestling.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota's Downtown Neighborhood zone district, which includes Gillespie Park, was omitted from the citywide expansion of its vacation rental ordinance.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 12, 2026
Vacation rental rules expand to downtown neighborhood zone district

When the Sarasota City Commission expanded the city's vacation rental ordinance citywide, it left out the mixed-use district that includes Gillespie Park and Park East.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo Credit: John Revisky
  • By Adnan Dedic
  • March 12, 2026
Sarasota's $30 Million Masterpiece

Adnan Dedic Unveils the Future of Gulf-Front Living

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By Rudy Dudon Group
  • March 12, 2026
Legacy Is Forever

Why So Many Siesta Key Families Trust the Same Realtor for Decades

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The Center for Aging Resources and Enrichment is leading a public seminar on artificial intelligence, fraud and online safety on March 25. Registration required.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • March 11, 2026
Learn about online scams, artificial intelligence at public seminar

The Center for Aging Resources and Enrichment invites the public to join a seminar on artificial intelligence, fraud and safety.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The city of Sarasota paved Industrial Court with heavy-duty concrete, the former dirt road leading to the entrance of U.S. Recycling.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 11, 2026
City attorney instructed to pursue action against recycling business

With no regulatory relief in sight for ongoing pollution, the Sarasota City Commission has tasked City Attorney Joe Polzak to investigate a nuisance suit against U.S. Recycling.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Wahlberg brothers -- Donnie, Paul and Mark.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 11, 2026
Wahlburgers opens in SRQ's B Concourse

The celebrity-connected airport eatery also includes a full bar.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Sarasota Paradise huddle before the second half against AC Boise. The team previously played in USL League Two for the past three seasons and finished first in the South Florida division for 2024 and 2025.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 11, 2026
Sarasota Paradise poised to unite soccer community

The professional soccer club plays out of Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch but should loom large in Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Yvette Brown directs the offense for Booker girls basketball Feb. 27 against DeSoto County in the FHSAA Class 4A-Region 3 championship. The Tornadoes outscored regional competition by an average of 31 points per game, but lost by 33 in the state semifinals.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 11, 2026
Another season ends in state semifinals for Booker girls basketball

The Tornadoes again knocked on the door of a state championship berth but, like in years past, ultimately fell short.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Larry Thompson and Andy Sandberg shake hands on the site of the Englewood Art Center at 350 McCall Road.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 11, 2026
Hermitage takes over art center from Ringling College

The Englewood property figures into artist retreat's developing plans.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Morgan Bettes Angell and Paul Benjamin thought a blues festival in Lakewood Ranch would be sustainable on an annual basis, but after two years, it is out.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 11, 2026
When it comes to the blues festival, we blew it in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival promoter says he will move the festival to G.T. Bray for 2026.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Rosemarie Herke, the president of the German American Social Club of Sarasota, has been in that position for 10 years. She said the club is about preserving German culture through dance and socialization.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 11, 2026
German American Social Club of Sarasota has danced through 75 years

The club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special event at Tara Country Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This rendering illustrates the plan for three youth baseball fields at Country Club East Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 11, 2026
$7.2M youth baseball fields move forward in Lakewood Ranch

Regardless of the Manatee County Commission's decision, Country Club East residents are not finished raising concerns.

  • East County
  • News
The town of Longboat Key is taking steps to condemn and demolish the house at 6541 Gulfside Road, nicknamed the Half Moon House.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 11, 2026
Town seeks to condemn, demolish 'Half Moon House'

The seawall that gives the Half Moon House its name lies in pieces, and the pilings lifting the house above the beach have visible wear.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit meets at the Sarasota County Farm Bureau Feb. 19.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 11, 2026
Florida agricultural intelligence unit protects country assets

Law enforcement and wildlife officers meet monthly to share resources and intel.

  • East County
  • News
The Sarasota Paradise waited out a nearly two-hour weather delay before commencing their first season in USL League One. Over 2,500 fans packed the stands at Premier Sports Campus.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 11, 2026
Sarasota Paradise drop professional debut to AC Boise, 1-0

The Lakewood Ranch-based soccer club played its first match in USL League One.

  • East County
  • Sports
The home at 600 Wedge Lane sold for $8,625,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,338 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • March 11, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 23-27 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Country Club Shores home on Wedge Lane tops the week’s sales at $8.63 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Prolific Bird Key author Mifflin Lowe received an award from The Florida Book Awards for his recent work, "Art: An Interactive Guide."
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • March 11, 2026
Bird Key author awarded for children's art book

The Florida Book Awards named Mifflin Lowe and team as winners of the Older Children's Literature category for "Art: An Interactive Guide."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The town of Longboat Key wants to expand the sidewalks on the east side of Gulf of Mexico Drive to 12 feet wide. Right now, the width of the sidewalk varies from six to eight feet wide.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 11, 2026
Town eyes feasibility study for 12-foot path along Gulf of Mexico Drive

The process is very early on, but Longboat Key staff have begun discussions with FDOT about what it would take to expand the existing sidewalk into a 12-foot multiuse trail.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Man makes false battery claim to end an argument
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 11, 2026
Man makes false battery claim to end an argument

Police were called to an alleged battery only to learn a man called 911 to get his ex-girlfriend to leave him alone. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Austin Venhaus and Aaron Rutsky
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 11, 2026
Walls go up as Sarasota's first climbing gym nears opening

Formerly known as Project 24 Climbing, Hexrock Climbing is set to open at the beginning of April.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
DeSantis has better policy than rhetoric on data centers
  • By Adrian Moore, Max Gulker
  • March 11, 2026
DeSantis has better policy than rhetoric on data centers

Gov. Ron DeSantis is eager to be seen as a crusader against data centers, but the major piece of legislation on data centers connected to his AI Bill of Rights enables building to continue while addressing major concerns.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch Garden Club members Bethy Bacon, Cheryl Scheid, Brenda Rooks (back), Brenda Webb, Sylvia Abdelsalam and Penny Kress (front) are eager to welcome community members to Garden Fest March 14.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 10, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Garden Club to host Garden Fest

On March 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., community members will have the opportunity to learn about gardening and nature from experts.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Senior Jaden Morales (top) controls Middleburg junior Nathan Harvey (bottom). The Pirate won their match by decision, 6-4, and ultimately placed sixth at 126 pounds.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 10, 2026
Braden River High wrestlers earn five medals at state meet

Jacob Fuentes tops the Pirates with a second-place finish at 144 pounds in 2A action.

  • East County
  • Sports
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