• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Key Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Key Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Your Observer

A community vote will decide the name of the World Rowing Championships pelican mascot.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 9, 2017
Finalists announced for World Rowing Championship pelican naming contest

The community can vote for rowing-inspired monikers like Rowan, Oarson and Paddles as the name for the event’s pelican mascot.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 8, 2017
Polo season swings into action

Season opener celebrates national football championship.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Niki Kottmann
  • January 8, 2017
Artists travel from Italy to open the 2017 Basch Glass Exhibition

The exhibit opened with a private reception at The Richard and Barbara Basch Gallery on Jan. 7.

  • Black Tie
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • January 7, 2017
Orchid Society celebrates 60 years with A Symphony of Orchids

Sarasota Orchid Society celebrated their 60th anniversary with a orchid festival and sale.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 6, 2017
All Angels by the Sea celebrates Epiphany

The church celebrated with a concert and pot-luck dinner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • January 6, 2017
South Sarasota welcomes the thunder

Although the main event was moved the Lakewood Ranch, motorcycle enthusiasts made their way to Sarasota for the Welcome Thunder event at The Coral House.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
State Sen. Greg Steube has filed legislation banning short-term rental restrictions.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • January 6, 2017
Longboat exempt from drafted vacation-rental bill

State Sen. Greg Steube’s bill aimed at ending short-term rental restrictions in its current form won’t affect the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mikael Sandstrom joked that his dogs Sophie and Mia would serve as his running mate and senior advisor.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 6, 2017
Seventh candidate files for City Commission race

Mikael Sandstrom says he is “jumping into the deep end” of city government by declaring his candidacy in the March municipal election.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 6, 2017
Congratulations to this month's winners of our photo contest!

Normal Pennington, John Caviglia and Mary Tygh Parks have won the Observer's photo contest for December.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Maverick and Lulu radio show broadcast live from Morton' s Gourmet Market this morning to offer support for firefighters and paramedics.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 6, 2017
Chapman draws backlash for ambulance criticism

Following public outcry in response to an email about ticketing ambulances using Orange Avenue, City Commissioner Susan Chapman has apologized for her comments.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • January 6, 2017
Phillippi Shores students travel back in time

Second graders at Phillippi Shores Elementary School finished learning about Ellis Island by working their way through the immigration process at their own mock-Ellis Island.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Part of the community' s success is attributed to having a mix of retail, office and commercial spaces to support residents. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 6, 2017
Lakewood Ranch rises in national rankings

Two real estate consulting firms have named Lakewood Ranch in the top five master-planned communities in the country.

  • East County
  • News
Project Manager Tom Rees, President Jack Cox and Vice President of Operations Reed Giasson have lined up interesting projects for 2017.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 5, 2017
Halfacre not bugged by unusual projects

Lakewood Ranch builder lands interesting projects for 2017.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • January 5, 2017
Chamber welcomes Cabinetree to Longboat Key

The first Longboat ribbon-cutting ceremony of 2017 was held on Jan. 5.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mary Tygh Parks captured this shot at Celery Fields.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2017
Sarasota weather page photo: Jan. 5

Mary Tygh Parks captured this shot at Celery Fields.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Susan DeVictor captured this shot of the sun setting over Summerfield Lake in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2017
East County weather page photo: Jan. 5

Susan DeVictor captured this shot of the sun setting over Summerfield Lake in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Heidi Brown
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • January 5, 2017
JFCS names new CEO

Jewish Family and Children’s Service announces Heidi Brown will take over for Rose Chapman as the organization’s CEO.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2017
Longboat Key weather page photo: Jan. 5

Niki Muller captured this shot of birds in Sarasota Bay off Longboat Key’s north end at sunset.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 5, 2017
A source you can trust

In this age of 24/7 information addiction and proliferation of fake news, consumers eventually will sort out the news providers they can trust. We intend to be one of them.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Palmetto' s Sarah Mackie lines up a shot during the Sporting Clays Tournament Thursday to benefit Suncoast Charities for Children.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 5, 2017
Lakewood Ranch fundraiser starts off with a bang

Thunder by the Bay kicks off with Sporting Clays Tournament.

  • East County
  • News
East County Thursday Roundup: 01.05.17
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 5, 2017
East County Thursday Roundup: 01.05.17

East County Thursday Roundup: 01.05.17

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • January 5, 2017
7 events to look forward to in 2017

The new year offers new features to some old favorites.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ed Smith Stadium. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 5, 2017
Exciting times ahead for Sarasota sports

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Nikki Yanez. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 5, 2017
Ten Sarasota athletes to watch in 2017

These stars will command special attention for the next 12 months.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
New developments have led to concerns about the rate of growth in Sarasota, but are those fears founded?
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 5, 2017
2017 Issues to Watch: Growth

From traffic to new development, concerns surrounding growth in Sarasota are mounting — but will those concerns lead to change?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Parking Manager Mark Lyons hopes to see paid parking on downtown streets by late summer.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 5, 2017
2017 Issues to Watch: Parking

Paid parking seems destined to return to downtown in 2017, but merchants are still mobilizing against meters on Main Street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city may look to regain control over county-operated facilities like Arlington Park.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 5, 2017
2017 Issues to Watch: Parks and recreation

As the city discusses creating a new tax to fund parks services, the county is adjusting its strategy to focus on managing the region’s larger attractions.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city and the county want to establish stronger connections with service providers like the Salvation Army.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 5, 2017
2017 Issues to Watch: Homelessness

Residents and businesses are frustrated with a lack of progress, but city and county officials are optimistic about their ability to address homelessness issues this year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Big Pass divides Lido and Siesta keys — both literally and figuratively.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 5, 2017
2017 Issues to Watch: Big Pass

Even though the state has offered an early endorsement of a proposal to dredge Big Pass, Siesta Key residents will keep fighting to block the Lido Key renourishment project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mark Huey has been president and CEO of the Sarasota County Economic Development Corp since 2011.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 5, 2017
2017 Issues to Watch: Economic development

Already singled out as a target of scrutiny, the spotlight will be bright on the Sarasota County Economic Development Corp. in 2017.

  • Sarasota
  • News
File photo Runners brave the fog in last year' s Andrew Monroe Memorial 5K.
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • January 5, 2017
Runners get set for annual Andrew Monroe 5K

The race isn’t just to remember the past, it’s to secure students futures.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Residents are concerned about sound issues stemming from future tenants of the property at 1888 Main St.
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 5, 2017
UPDATE: Commission approves World of Beer liquor license

City officials recommended approval of a new liquor license for World of Beer. Residents call the bar a good neighbor. So why are there still questions surrounding the application?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Feb. 26: Baltimore Orioles opening spring training home game vs. Pittsburgh at Ed Smith Stadium. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 5, 2017
Five key 2017 Sarasota sports dates

Five key 2017 Sarasota sports dates

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Enjoy this week' s edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 5, 2017
Cops Corner: Sarasota 1.5.16

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 5, 2017
That's the ticket ...

The top match-ups this week in Sarasota sports.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 5, 2017
Letters to the Editor: Sarasota 1.5.16

Readers comment on topics including dogs in parks and downtown signage.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
« 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

Sponsored Content
1
  • April 7, 2026
Kentucky Derby Party
2
Ernie Els reads the green at The Concession during the 2023 World Champions Cup. He's No. 6 on the PGA Tour Champions money standings, as of April 6, and will be active at the Senior PGA Championship.
  • April 7, 2026
The PGA Tour Champions could use a jolt of charisma
3
The Tingley Library in Bradenton Beach, pictured in October 2025, is in need of repairs estimated at $230,000.
  • April 7, 2026
Tingley Library makes plea to community
4
A rendering of the Mira Mar building set against the backdrop of Mira Mar Residences, the project that will provide revenue to fund the $25 million to $30 million restoration of the historic structure.
  • April 7, 2026
Construction permit issued for downtown Sarasota historic restoration project
5
Once again, what's the best bridge?
  • April 7, 2026
Once again, what's the best bridge?

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now