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Your Observer

Former polo pro Bob Brosious gives some quick instruction to Raymond Dweck, and Lisa and Mark Friedman during Polo with the Pros at the Sarasota Polo Club Jan. 19.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 21, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Community Fund kicks off 2025 with polo event

Polo with the Pros packed the pavilion despite a storm that canceled the actual polo match.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The center turn lane would benefit drivers entering Country Club Shores.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 21, 2025
Country Club Shores turn lane construction to start in February

The construction timeline will last through the upcoming peak season, but a traffic plan will prevent major traffic delays, Longboat Key town officials say.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This year's honorees were Eula T. Bacon, program director of Bridges to Educational Excellence Learning Center; Dr. Vida Farhangi, medical director of Sarasota Memorial Internal Medicine in Newtown; Dannie Frazier Brown, retired educator and co-founder of the Sarasota MLK Celebration Committee; Mary Butler, president of the Amaryllis Park neighborhood association; and Thomas Fairley, executive director of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 20, 2025
Sarasota's community walks together on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The community celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with an awards ceremony, a unity march, and a music and food festival.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kay Thayer receives recognition for her 25 years of service organizing the annual Observer Challenge tennis tournament.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 20, 2025
Observer Challenge coordinator credited for invaluable 25 years

Tennis Center Manager Kay Thayer has coordinated the annual Observer Challenge tennis tournament annually since it began 25 years ago, and she recently received her flowers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Lakewood Ranch High boys varsity golf team finished the season with a cumulative team GPA of 3.254. Seniors (from left to right) Luke Wilson, Henry Burbee and Parker Severs all took pride in their academics in a season that saw the Mustangs finish second in the FHSAA Class 3A state tournament in November.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 20, 2025
East County student-athletes prove that brains go hand in hand with brawn

Sports teams at Lakewood Ranch and Parrish Community high schools finish at the top of the state rankings for team academics.

  • East County
  • Sports
Guest speaker Walter Gilbert extolls the perseverance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Friday Shabbat service at Temple Beth Israel.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 20, 2025
Shabbat service recognizes optimism of Martin Luther King Jr.

Walter Gilbert offered his interpretation of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "How Long? Not Long" speech at a Friday Shabbat service.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Celery Fields is for both people and the environment
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • January 20, 2025
Celery Fields is for both people and the environment

A housing development on adjacent property would directly impact many programs and activities, a reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Deputy Chief Frank Rubino started with the Longboat Key Police Department in 2013.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 20, 2025
Deputy Chief Frank Rubino takes over as interim chief for LBKPD

Rubino looks forward to keeping the Longboat Key Police Department up to accreditation standards and boosting community relations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Marine biologist Sean Patton shows the Gardeners Out East a piece of Hydrilla verticillata he plucked out of the pond next to Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 20, 2025
Garden club looks under the surface of Lakewood Ranch ponds

Gardeners Out East invited Sean Patton from Stocking Savvy to speak at its first meeting of the year.

  • East County
  • News
Poly has been installed in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 20, 2025
With Poly installed, what's next Sarasota's roundabout art program?

Now that Poly has been installed in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street, the city still faces the question of where to place sculptures originally planned for other traffic circles.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Claw was one of the most popular rides at the Manatee County Fair Saturday.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 19, 2025
Manatee County Fair begins with nonstop entertainment

The fair continues its run in Palmetto through Jan. 26.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Chamber chair Joe Hembree, Observer Media Group president and CEO Matt Walsh and Sarasota Chamber president Heather Kasten.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 19, 2025
Sarasota Chamber honors Observer CEO, hosts Florida Chamber president

The New Year's Kickoff Brunch presented Observer Media Group CEO and founder Matt Walsh with the Spirit of Sarasota Award and featured Florida Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Mark Wilson.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy eighth grader Wrenn Pevzner tested people to see whether they could distinguish the difference between a real photo and one that was generated by artificial intelligence for her science fair project.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 19, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Prep students explore science of the modern world

Projects on AI, Wi-Fi and cellphone radiation show how far science fairs have come.

  • East County
  • Schools
Garden Party to support UF/IFAS Extension sensory garden
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 19, 2025
Garden Party to support UF/IFAS Extension sensory garden

A 1960s-themed garden party to support UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County's sensory garden will be held March 29, rain or shine.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2025
Sarasota County government holding three job fairs

The county is hiring in multiple departments at job fairs in January, February and March.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This is a rendering of the outdoor patio for the proposed Backyard Social off of Professional Parkway in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 18, 2025
Late-night dining, entertainment on hold in Lakewood Ranch

Sarasota County commissioners granted a continuance instead of voting no to a request near Waterside.

  • East County
  • News
I-75 closures between SR 64 and US 301 start Monday
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 17, 2025
I-75 closures between SR 64 and US 301 start Monday

During the week of Jan. 20, crews will close I-75 between State Road 64 (exit 220) and U.S. 301 (exit 224) from midnight to 3 a.m.

  • East County
  • News
This year's Best in Show award for adult artwork submitted for "Embracing Our Differences," went to Amanda Marie of Manchester, Connecticut, for “Through Your Story."
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 17, 2025
Embracing Our Differences cancels Jan. 19 opening day party

The organizers decided to nix the celebration due to forecasts of extreme weather.

  • Arts + Culture
At 9 years old, Ella Ben-Ami is the youngest baker in the crowd. She also volunteered to help set up with her mom Celeste.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 17, 2025
Mega Challah Bake draws hundreds to Lakewood Ranch

Nearly 350 women gathered to knead bread at The Grove.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dr. Dan Deems, right, and Tidewell Foundation President Delesa Morris speak to the benefits of balance training and other longevity practices.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 17, 2025
Expert offers advice on balancing act of aging

The Paradise Center's latest speaker highlights importance of long-term health practices.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Allegiant Air celebrates the opening of Concourse A at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport with a custom wrap on one of its aircraft.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 17, 2025
Tourism agencies teamed up for Allegiant plane design

Sarasota and Bradenton tourism bureaus are behind the branding that promotes the area on an Allegiant Air Airbus A320 that will be based at SRQ airport.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Guests dine under a tent in Ken Thompson Park for the Lawn Party during the 2022 event.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 17, 2025
Longboat Lawn Party, delayed until March, now canceled

The Kiwanis event, usually held in December, was delayed because of the hurricanes and is now pushed until its traditional date.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Retired City Manager Marlon Brown has been named Director of Government Affairs of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 16, 2025
Marlon Brown named chamber director of government affairs

Retired Sarasota city manager will lead the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's state and local legislative agenda.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is at 658 University Parkway, Sarasota.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 16, 2025
Bad Ass Coffee brings Hawaiian flavor to Lakewood Ranch

The new coffee shop at Center Point takes a community-first approach.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The home at 1717 Hillview Street was built in 2023 and has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,615 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 16, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 30 to Jan. 3 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A home in Cocoanut Bayou on Cedar Park Circle tops the week's sales at $3.4 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
At Myakka River State Park, imperiled native species like black skimmers find undisturbed habitats and abundant food.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • January 16, 2025
Myakka counts record black skimmers

Clean water and undisturbed natural habitats attract and sustain imperiled native bird species.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Riverview High girls soccer team gathers at midfield before its home match against Lemon Bay on Jan. 10.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 16, 2025
Riverview girls soccer seeks second straight district title

After the departure of six seniors in 2024, the Rams have reloaded with a rock-solid senior class and a promising group of underclassmen.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Longboat Island Chapel
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 16, 2025
Donation warehouse to reopen Feb. 1

The Lord's Warehouse on Longboat Key plans to reopen its doors for the season Feb. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Sarasota Military Academy
  • January 16, 2025
Building Bonds and Developing Leaders: The Sarasota Military Academy Experience

At SMA, all high school students participate in JROTC, a program that emphasizes discipline, leadership, and personal growth.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Sponsored Content
A 3D rendering of a home under construction on Higel Avenue on Siesta Key. When it's finished this fall, it will be listed for more than $29 million.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 15, 2025
$30 million home under construction on Siesta Key

The 13,000-square-foot home is on Higel Avenue.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Passengers will have ground-level views of Allegiant jets in the new Concourse A at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 15, 2025
Concourse A officially opens at SRQ

With a gala reception and ribbon-cutting, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport opened its new five-gate, ground-level facility serving Allegiant Air's growing local presence.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Blake Roulund is a leader on the Cardinal Mooney wrestling team in the program's first year.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 15, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Blake Roulund

The Cardinal Mooney High junior brings a level of experience to the school's first-year wrestling program.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Braden River Middle Principal Kimberlain Zenon, Reading Coach Tasheta Riley and Assistant Principal Tamara Cornwell have directed their efforts toward motivating students to get back on track for grade-level standards.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 15, 2025
Braden River Middle gets creative to keep students on track

Motivational programs have put Braden River Middle on the cusp of an "A" school status.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River High student Dallace Ryan poses with her steer, Sterling, during after-school work at Braden River High School ahead of the Manatee County Fair.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 15, 2025
East County students ready to compete for ribbons at Manatee County Fair

Future Farmers of America students put in months of work to show animals to judges.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dakin Dairy is one of only three dairy farms left in Manatee County. The other two, Cameron Dakin Dairy and Boys Ag, are also owned and operated by Dakins.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 15, 2025
Agriculture, development boundary priorities grow in Manatee

The Manatee County Commission sets priorities for 2025, with preserving agriculture and the Future Development Area Boundary at the top of the list.

  • East County
  • News
From left to right: sophomores Vanessa Vegh, Jasmine France, Isla Procopio, Madison Galvan, Itzel Padilla-Chavez and Annabelle Hill are members of the Lady Sailors weightlifting program.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 15, 2025
Sarasota High girls weightlifting finds a home in the weight room

The girls weightlifting program at Sarasota High School raises the bar for everyone involved.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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Latest News

1
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
2
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
3
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
4
Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
Longboat Goodwill officially celebrates grand opening
5
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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