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Your Observer

Travel + Leisure has ranked Siesta Beach as No. 42 in the world and the best beach in the U.S.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 13, 2025
Siesta Beach again ranked among the world's best

Travel + Leisure has named Siesta Beach on its list of the world's top 50 and the best in the U.S.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Star Farms' Cooper Roy, 4, is front and center during storytime and enjoying every word.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 12, 2025
Mini crafters convene at Bob Gardner Park for summer camp

Demand was so big that the camp is being held at a new Lakewood Ranch site this summer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The house at 845 Longboat Club Road spans nearly 20,000 square feet.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 12, 2025
Longboat Key mansion listed for $35 million

The Serenissima property spans nearly 20,000 square feet and has 145 feet of beach frontage.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Volunteers including Sally Werner combed the entire area near Overlook Park, from the roadside to the water's edge, at the adopt-a-highway cleanup.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 12, 2025
Manasota Track Club volunteers clean up near Overlook Park

Volunteers at the Manasota Track Club community cleanup near Overlook Park spied a manatee in the water nearby Sunday morning.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Palmer Ranch home at 5376 Trails Bend Court sold for $1,328,400.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 12, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 26-30 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Bayso Sarasota condominium tops the week's sales at $2,495,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Susan Phillips and Town Manager Howard Tipton.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 12, 2025
Town of Longboat Key receives communication excellence awards

The Florida Municipal Communicators Association recognized the town of Longboat Key and Susan Phillips, assistant to the town manager and public information officer, for exemplary work in local government communications.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mary Bensel will mark her 18th season as executive director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in the 2025-26 season.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 12, 2025
Study committee leans toward no reuse for Van Wezel

Repurposing of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall appearing less of an option as the Purple Ribbon Committee works through a preliminary draft of its report to the City Commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Emma Thrift, a former indoor and beach volleyball player at Riverview, is the new head indoor volleyball coach at Sarasota.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 12, 2025
New Sarasota High volleyball coach wants to change Sailors direction

Former Riverview volleyball player Emma Thrift has joined longtime rival Sarasota High School.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A customer hauls in a catch aboard Capt. AJ Grande's charter boat.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 12, 2025
Sarasota County pauses commercial boat licensing plan

Hurricane damage to both water access Sarasota County parks and the charter fishing and sightseeing industry prompts a delay in implementing a permit program for use of public docks and launches.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Manasota Flooring
  • June 12, 2025
Rising Together When Storms Strike

When disaster strikes, families often focus on roofing, windows, and structural repairs—but flooring plays a major role in recovery too.

  • Hurricane Season
Sponsored Content
New CEO of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, Sarah Firstenberger, comes over from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County where she was director of marketing and events.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 11, 2025
Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce names CEO

Sarah Firstenberger has been named CEO of the nonprofit that promotes businesses and organizations on Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Nate Jacobs and members of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will host the third annual Juneteenth Arts Festival on June 22.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 11, 2025
Saturday celebration kicks off Juneteenth observance

Most government offices in the region will close.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Heather Hackett, the founder of Local Relief, Inc., earned the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award for her work with her nonprofit.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 11, 2025
Local relief nonprofit continues to draw attention in Lakewood Ranch

The weather disaster app grows into a third hurricane season.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch graduate Parker Severs won a six-man playoff at Waterlefe Golf & River Club on May 8 to advance to the final round of qualifying for the 125th U.S. Open.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 11, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Parker Severs

Severs competed at the final round of U.S. Open qualifying on June 2.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jeff Toale took over as president of the board of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation June 1.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 11, 2025
New leader takes over at Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation

Jeff Toale becomes president of the board June 1.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch resident Tim Carnahan self published his book “Under Development: A Commonsense Approach to Being Your Best (A Young Professional's Guide),” which gives advice to young professionals seeking guidance to make the most out of their careers.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch author shares advice for young professionals

Tim Carnahan shares his life experience as a business employee and mentor through his book, "Under Development: A Commonsense Approach to Being Your Best (A Young Professional's Guide)."

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Graham Rueping, Nico Villanueva and Lane Tamberino were among the campers who learned all about plant science, animal science, environmental science and leadership at the Junior Ranchers camp.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Junior Ranchers learn about agriculture through camp

Counselors help the kids learn hands-on lessons about cows, snakes and insects.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jacob Kalua (second from right) celebrates with his sister Regan Kalua, father Shelton Kalua and mother Regina Kalua after graduating Sarasota High School.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 11, 2025
Years of hard work pay off for local high school graduate

Despite dealing with the hurricanes, Sarasota High School graduate Jacob Kalua of Lido Key celebrates his consistent academic record as a scholarship recipient.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Homeowner hassling construction crew brings law enforcement response
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 11, 2025
Homeowner hassling construction crew brings law enforcement response

Frustrated over construction activity on Golden Gate Point, a resident flails profanity at workers over parking and other issues. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Sarasota County Director of Community and Intergovernmental Relations of Government Rob Lewis addresses the County Commission.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 11, 2025
EDC contract with Sarasota County 'due' for an extension

The Sarasota County Commission has granted an extension of its agreement with the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County so it can clear up some language in the contract for the coming year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Investors are not hurting the housing market
  • By Eliza Terziev, Adrian Moore
  • June 11, 2025
Investors are not hurting the housing market

The lack of supply is the biggest culprit in housing climbing to unaffordable levels in the area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The cottage needs to be stripped. The $100,000 grant is just the start to getting it camper-ready.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 11, 2025
Foundation for Dreams receives $100,000 grant from Bishop-Parker Foundation

The grant will go toward rehabbing one of the cottages at the foundation's new campus near Rye Preserve.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Special Olympics athlete Jeremy Thompson won a bronze medal in bocce at the Florida Special Olympic Summer Games in May.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Special Olympics athlete has won more than medals

Jeremy Thompson has won friends, life skills and gold medals.

  • East County
  • Sports
The condo at 535 Sanctuary Drive, Unit A-202 sold for $1.95 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 11, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 26-30 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

A Queen's Harbour home on Fair Oaks Place tops the week's sales at $2.5 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Longboat Key commissioners continue to meet about a fair canal maintenance tax for town residents.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 11, 2025
Commission finds consensus on canal maintenance tax method

Although it's still not finalized, the method would combine ad valorem and non-ad valorem assessments to fund Longboat Key's canal dredging program.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee school board fires teacher accused of sexting student
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 10, 2025
Manatee school board fires teacher accused of sexting student

Oliver Fell was charged with lewd conduct against a student by an authority figure and transmission of harmful material to a minor.

  • East County
  • News
Michael Knapp, stage name Greta Gripp, performs an acrobatic routine at the Silver Pride celebration June 7 at Senior Friendship Centers.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 10, 2025
Sarasota seniors ring in Pride Month

Project Pride SRQ recognized long-term couples and newlyweds at Silver Pride this year, among other activities celebrating Pride Month.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
ShimmyBOOM bellydancers, lead by Misha Nell, performed at the SRQCon at the Selby Libraries.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 10, 2025
Heroes, villains and cartoon characters come to life at SRQCon 2025

People of all ages were in their best dressed armor, swords and masks for the pop culture convention hosted at the Selby Library.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Ness House, on Sanderling Road on Siesta Key, is considered a landmark example of the design style referred to as the Sarasota School.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 10, 2025
Landmark Siesta Key property on the market for $5.3 million

The Ness House on Sanderling Road was designed and updated by renowned architect Seibert.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Cardinal Mooney rising sophomore Nicholas Brown dreams of being on the PGA Tour one day.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • June 10, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Nicholas Brown

The Cardinal Mooney golfer has finished top 10 in three golf association tournaments.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Heather Kasten is President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 10, 2025
Sarasota Chamber named finalist for national award

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce is among the finalists for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives' Chamber of the Year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 10, 2025
To reconfigure or build more space will be an important question for Longboat staff

Longboat Key officials plan to embark on a facility study to see what space is available, and what may be needed, to accommodate town staff.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Vehicle operations training is underway at the new training center in Myakka City June 3.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 10, 2025
Law enforcement training center offers everything in one place: Myakka City

Cadets and officers no longer need to travel outside of Manatee County to train.

  • East County
  • News
Man found taking quick nap on roadside after work
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • June 10, 2025
Man found taking quick nap on roadside after work

An officer stopped to check on the man, who said he was just hoping to rest before biking home. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
John Harshman was selling commercial real estate in downtown Sarasota when there was very little market prior to the adoption of the current downtown master plan.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 10, 2025
Master plan helped lift downtown Sarasota from the Great Recession

Commercial real estate broker John Harshman tells the update committee the downtown plan was the right strategy at the right time for downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A Country Club East home 7216 Prestbury Circle sold for $1.4 million. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,803 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 10, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for May 26-30 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in Lake Club on Bounty Lane topped the week’s sales at $2,375,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
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Latest News

1
Louisen Desinor posted an 81.8% completion rate in Braden River's jamboree May 22 against Charlotte and Sarasota.
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Cyclist killed on Sarasota causeway
  • June 1, 2026
Cyclist killed on Sarasota causeway
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The pools are waiting on water, and the shaded pickleball structure behind them is waiting on paint for the courts.
  • June 1, 2026
Pool, pickleball facilities close to opening at Premier Sports Campus North
4
The home on Jewfish Key opposite Longboat Key is listed at $5.995 million.
  • June 1, 2026
Selling the island life on Longboat Key takes a big step to boat-only enclave
5
Lakewood Ranch's Cole Mule and Bodie Hogan, both 3 years old, explore the bee-themed magnet activity.
  • May 31, 2026
Literacy lessons a hot summer topic at Lakewood Ranch Library

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