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Your Observer

Stacey Lipton's captivating watercolor paintings capture the beauty and essence of nature.
    By
  • Su Byron
  • February 20, 2025
The Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch shows off its multitude of talent

Members of the Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch unite to inspire each other and create community awareness.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A Renzo Piano Building Workshop conceptual rendering of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center as viewed from the 10th Street Canal.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 20, 2025
SPAC pact still faces City Commission uncertainty

A rising price tag on pared-down project, the county's fiscal disinterest and bay view easements make commissioners uneasy over committing to next design phase of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
In the living room, shades of crème and blue create a soothing, seaside-inspired mood. The painting above the fireplace was created by the homeowner, Mary Ann Steinbock.
  • By Robert Plunket
  • February 20, 2025
A home in the Country Club proves that a classic look never goes out of style

This showplace in the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club proves a house doesn't have to be new to be desirable. It just has to be unique.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bob Haskin returns a serve against Alan Bartlett at a recent pickleball game at Lakewood Ranch High School.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 20, 2025
Pickleball players search for home courts closer to home

Passionate pickleball players — which is to say just about all of them — are dinking and dunking for new Lakewood Ranch courts to compete on. A solution might be in play.

  • East County
  • News
Are we doubters or doers?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 20, 2025
Are we doubters or doers?

The naysaying is bubbling up over the cost of a new performing arts center. But as we’ve said before, this is not a decision for today; it’s for the next 50 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Miso-glazed Chilean sea bass is a specialty at Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House in Waterside.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • February 20, 2025
Family values, commitment to quality on the menu at Phelan Family Brands

CEO and co-Owner Grant Phelan discusses the family business, including its newest member, Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
  • By JL Bainbridge
  • February 20, 2025
JL Bainbridge: We believe in being Stewards of Family Prosperity

"We’ve spent over 40 years building a Sarasota-based family wealth management firm that truly loves helping clients take control of their financial well-being before and throughout retirement,” says JL Bainbridge president John Leeming.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
  • By Beginning to End Interiors | B2End
  • February 20, 2025
Are You Truly Ready for Your Remodeling Project?

“We’re here to help our clients navigate the often overwhelming maze of design and renovation decisions,” says Alan Gravley. “There are more misconceptions out there than you might think.”

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Roger Brown (1936-2025)
    In Memoriam |
  • February 19, 2025
Roger Brown

Roger Brown, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2025, at the age of 88.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Rooted in History: Ringling Museum and New College
  • By Richard Corcoran
  • February 19, 2025
Rooted in History: Ringling Museum and New College

Shifting the Ringling Museum under New College is ‘not just logical; it ensures the museum’s legacy remains deeply intertwined with Sarasota’s cultural and educational future.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Sarasota's Clayton Lambert, 6, tries on a fire helmet with the help of his mother Megan Lambert.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 19, 2025
Fire department open house showcases special operations division

The Sarasota County Fire Department held an open house for Station 8 at 840 Apex Road, part of a series of events held one Saturday of each month.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County names new human resources chief
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 19, 2025
Sarasota County names new human resources chief

Mike McNichols will join the county in advance of the April retirement of Chris Louria.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Phillip Mockler, director of community engagement with Operation Warrior Resolution, has worked closely with Lakewood Ranch resident Phil Orapallo to create the Operation Warrior Resolution Golf Classic to benefit veterans.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 19, 2025
Lakewood Ranch resident starts veteran benefit golf classic

Phil Orapallo wants other veterans to avoid the struggles he faced after serving.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jim Keiner, Gene Tischer, Marge Slepica, Bob Keehn, Bob Smith and Diane Brune celebrate the 2024 donation to Stillpoint Mission.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 19, 2025
Stillpoint Appeal remains simple, and effective, in Lakewood Ranch

Bob Smith and his golf and poker buddies continue to have a heart of gold.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The Lakewood Ranch Library has been open for over a year now.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 19, 2025
What's ahead for the year-old Lakewood Ranch Library

The second floor buildout is in the design phase as library and Manatee County personnel consider how to best use it.

  • East County
  • News
Restaurant worker dispatch for possible battery
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 19, 2025
Restaurant worker dispatch for possible battery

Investigation comes up empty in the case of a woman with a black eye, her confiscated phone and a first date that involved a luxury hotel room. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Traffic often gets congested heading north from Longboat Key.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 19, 2025
Beach traffic issue flow raised again by north-end Longboat community

Traffic is inevitable, but the north-end community group thinks a simple solution for the exits on Coquina Beach could make a big difference.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The condominium has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,685 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 19, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 3-7 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A condominium in The Pierre on Longboat Club Road tops the week's sales at $4.15 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Aiden Sanders, a junior at Lakewood Ranch, has turned himself into a bonafide competitor in the 120-pound weight class in 3A in just over a year.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 19, 2025
After long layoff, Lakewood Ranch High wrestler regains his excellence

Aiden Sanders, who had to sit out years due to concessions, has his sights set on a state tourney berth.

  • East County
  • Sports
The front entrance of Manatee County's leased space at Whitney Plaza.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 19, 2025
Manatee County to leave Longboat Key plaza space in August

The county planned to turn the leased space into a community center with adult education classes but now is shifting away from putting money into a leased space.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The development envelope of a future project between Fruitville Road and Fourth Street is outlined in yellow with the options for the driveway location shown off Fourth Street.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 19, 2025
Fruitville Road project wins adjustment for Fourth Street driveway

With no site plan submitted, the developer of nearly 2 acres between Fruitville Road and Fourth Street at North Tamiami Trail gets critical access approval.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Black skimmer chicks have started to appear on Lido Beach.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 19, 2025
Shorebird stewards ready for start of breeding season in Florida

Nesting shorebirds frequent Longboat and Lido Key beaches in the spring and summer months, with the season officially starting on Feb. 15.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Chef Greg Campbell says few restaurants cook from scratch with real ingredients such as vanilla bean when making dishes such as crème brûlée.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 19, 2025
Grove will serve up a Campbell's scoop in Lakewood Ranch

"Cooking with Campbell" looks to entertain, feed, and educate those who attend about best cooking practices.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Johnny Lackaff
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 19, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Johnny Lackaff

Sailors guard scored 30-plus in two regional playoff games.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
BJ Ivey's players said the relationships he's built with them have made it easy to buy in to his instruction.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 19, 2025
Ivey turns Sarasota boys basketball from cellar dweller to state contender

Basketball coach BJ Ivey has led the Sailors on their best run in over 50 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Observer recommends
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 19, 2025
Observer recommends

As is often the case on Longboat Key, whenever there is an election for Town Commission, Longboat Key voters have good, competent choices.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Avary Shirley
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 18, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Avary Shirley

Lakewood Ranch sophomore stepped up to help send Mustangs to states.

  • East County
  • Sports
Ella Walker, 17, Abby Duplissey, 19, Patty Foley and Lauren Taylor Nock perform with the ballet team.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • February 18, 2025
Sarasota Ski-A-Rees host first show since hurricanes

Although waters were rough, the waterskiing nonprofit still braved the conditions to offer its first performance since hurricanes Helene and Milton.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
At the 2024 gala, friends Erica Molinar and Jessica Mendez cheers to Mendez's good health and the much needed financial support she received from the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 18, 2025
Lakewood Ranch foundation to host murder mystery gala

The Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation is hosting Mystery Under the Stars on March 1 at The Ora in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Biden, Obama, Clinton: Era of great prosperity
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • February 18, 2025
Biden, Obama, Clinton: Era of great prosperity

Readers are not ecstatic over the latest election.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Men caught sleeping in Longboat park after hours
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • February 18, 2025
Men caught sleeping in Longboat park after hours

The two were found asleep in their car, claiming they were tired after fishing. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Susan Goldfarb, program director at The Education Center, speaks with attendees at a recent showing of works by the Highwaymen Artists.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 18, 2025
The Education Center plans music, education and fun spring events

Program Director Susan Goldfarb encourages everyone to mark their calendars for their concerts and lectures coming up in March.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Van Wezel Performng Arts Hall seats 1,741 for touring performances.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 18, 2025
Commttee begins to weigh options for Van Wezel

With five months to go, the Purple Ribbon Committee shifts from research to discussion on ways to repurpose Sarasota's primary performance venue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioner's thoughts on moratoriums are misguided
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • February 18, 2025
Commissioner's thoughts on moratoriums are misguided

Please use caution when Sandhill cranes are present, a reader says.

  • East County
  • Opinion
This Lake Club home at 16913 Clearlake Avenue sold for $2.15 million. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,553 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 18, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Feb. 3-7 in Lakewood Ranch

Lake Club home tops Lakewood Ranch-area real estate sales at $2.15 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Mike Harrison and Amish, one of several horses of his on the Florida Cracker Trail Association’s Annual Cross-State Ride, a trek from Bradenton to Fort Pierce.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • February 18, 2025
Cracker Trail lures riders to a vanishing Old Florida

The Cracker Trail Ride "either gets on you or in you."

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
4
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
5
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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