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Results for:

New sportswriter is back among the palms
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • September 2, 2025
New sportswriter is back among the palms

Jack Nelson, a UCLA graduate, joins the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Out-of-Door Academy rising senior Dylan Walker plays wide receiver, kicker, punter and defensive back for the Thunder.
  • By Vinnie Portell |
  • July 17, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Dylan Walker

The ODA football player has ramped up his recruitment this summer.

  • East County
  • Sports
Temple Beth Israel of Longboat Key is hosting a free seminar on antisemitism on Nov. 16. Registration is required.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • November 10, 2025
Temple to host community seminar on combating antisemitism

Seminar leaders hope to empower Temple Beth Israel community members to support their neighbors.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Columbia Restaurant’s fourth-generation owner Casey Gonzmart Sr., believes that passion and fun are essential in running a restaurant empire.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • September 14, 2025
Family legacy at Columbia Restaurant carries to next generation

Casey Gonzmart Sr. is passing the torch to family members as he steps down as chairman of the board of the 1905 Family of Restaurants.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Jeffrey Kahane spent 20 seasons as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra before being appointed music director of the Sarasota Music Festival in August 2016.
  • By Monica Roman Gagnier |
  • August 25, 2025
Sarasota Music Festival music director steps down

The 2026 festival will be scaled back to two weeks as the Sarasota Orchestra looks for Jeffrey Kahane's successor.

  • Arts + Culture
Duette Preserve has become home to 131 relocated gopher tortoises since Manatee County opened a recipient site in December 2023.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • September 24, 2025
Gopher tortoises pay to stay in Manatee County

The county just brokered a deal that will bring in over $725,000 to house 191 tortoises.

  • East County
  • News
The Women on Wheels Ride participants were pumped up before the start of the 11th annual event Oct. 5 on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
  • By Jay Heater |
  • October 5, 2025
WOW! What a ride for women in Lakewood Ranch

More than 200 women ride in the Women on Wheels Ride to support Selah Freedom.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Christian Delunas, retail general manager, shows one of his favorite unique purses offered at the newly opened Italian Idea boutique on St. Armands Circle. The shop recently hosted a soft opening for its third attempt to open a location on the shopping hub.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • November 3, 2025
Boutique featuring Italian leather handbags opens on St. Armands

Italian Idea, which hosted its soft opening last week, brings its family fashion tradition to St. Armands Circle.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Vicky Henderson and Tory Delaney at Allswell
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • November 20, 2025
New Lakewood Ranch restaurants serve up fresh culinary offerings for every taste

With innovation on the menu, these five eateries bring a whole host of dining options to town.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Jacob Shefrin and Michael Richker toss bread into the water to symbolize repenting past sins as part of the High Holy Days.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • September 29, 2025
Temple Emanu-El members gather at Nathan Benderson Park to cast away sins

Tashlich is a Jewish ritual where bread is thrown into a body of water to symbolize repentance.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Through the new building-permit system, contractors and citizens alike would have added access to construction data on Longboat Key.
  • By Observer Staff |
  • April 17, 2025
Longboat rolls out building-permit upgrade

The new system allows deeper access and a standardized approach to the process.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Man asked female lifeguard to treat private area
  • By Observer Staff |
  • December 3, 2025
Man asked female lifeguard to treat private area

A male beachgoer asked a female lifeguard to administer first aid to a jellyfish sting on an intimate region. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Samuel Jackson played in the United Football League with the Houston Roughnecks this spring.
  • By Vinnie Portell |
  • July 30, 2025
Jets sign former Lakewood Ranch High offensive lineman Samuel Jackson

There's more to the former Mustangs star than a familiar name.

  • East County
  • Sports
Longboat Island Chapel is set to be the new home for The Paradise Center, leaders announced on July 20.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • July 20, 2025
Longboat Island Chapel takes in The Paradise Center

After the community center found itself seeking new headquarters, the north-end church stepped in to offer space for its programs.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Interim superintendent Kevin Chapman's contract was finalized in a special board meeting May 29. He will be interim until January 5, 2026 or whenever the school board hires someone in his place.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • June 4, 2025
Manatee school board wants fast process to find new superintendent

The School Board of Manatee County aims to have a new superintendent in place by the time the 2025-26 school year begins in August.

  • East County
  • Schools
To make way for an expansion of the County Jail, Sarasota County must move the Criminal Justice Center from location 1, and has requested the city engage in negotiations regarding its parking lot at location 2 with an option to place it at location 3.
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • August 21, 2025
Sarasota city, county to discuss possible Ringling Boulevard land deal

Sarasota County has asked the city for possible use of a parking lot on Ringling Boulevard as a new site of its Criminal Justice Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By PIckleballing Pete |
  • October 9, 2025
Local Pickleball Coach to Compete in World Championships

Pete Capobianco, also known as Pickleballing Pete, will be competing in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour 2025 World Championships.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Wilkinson Elementary operates at about 50% capacity, prompting school officials to consider closing it and sending students to three other under-capacity schools.
  • By Eric Garwood |
  • September 13, 2025
Wilkinson Elementary closure part of broader plan, Sarasota superintendent says

By November, the Sarasota School Board could decide on closing the school and moving central office there.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Linn Torres, All Angels by the Sea administrative assistant and art sale coordinator, holds up a decorative glass piece, one of the many art items for sale at this summer's New to You art sale at the church.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • August 9, 2025
All Angels by the Sea Episcopal kicks off summer art sale

The Longboat Key church is holding a smaller-scale version of its spring New to You art sale through September, featuring jewelry, decor and more.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Englewood firefighters Mason Adkins and James Farley prepare cups of chili in 2024.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • October 17, 2025
Morton's Firehouse Chili Cook-Off still going strong in 25th year

The event features over a dozen fire stations from Sarasota and beyond, competing for the awards for best chili and best booth.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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