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Results for:

Don Schultz of Windward Bay celebrates as his top pick, Golden Tempo, crosses the finish line first at the Kentucky Derby. Schultz was the only person at the watch party to pick the long-shot horse.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • May 5, 2026
Birthday boy beats derby odds

Windward Bay held a Kentucky Derby watch party with a surprise twist for one resident.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Library is currently seeking book donations, particularly in fiction published within the last 10 years.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • April 25, 2026
Longboat library seeks book donations

Drop off your past reads and find new ones at the community library.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Witness breaks up a fight in a rolling vehicle
  • By Observer Staff |
  • May 13, 2026
Witness breaks up a fight in a rolling vehicle

A man who says another driver robbed him of cash in a store parking light jumped in and fought as he tried to drive away. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Neal Mason Hall (1939-2026)
  • In Memoriam |
  • April 23, 2026
Neal Mason Hall

Neal Mason Hall, 86, of Longboat Key, FL, passed away on April 16, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.

  • Longboat Key
  • Tributes & Obituaries
Zachary Papper and Dillon O'Callaghan carry Tatiana Moskalenko, who plays Tanya, as she sings "Does Your Mother Know" in The Out-of-Door Academy production of "Mamma Mia!"
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • April 27, 2026
'Mamma Mia!' graces the stage at The Out-of-Door Academy

The students filled 27 acting roles, nine orchestra assignments and 14 jobs on the crew behind the scenes.

  • East County
  • Schools
Casey Gonzmart Jr. explains a PowerPoint slide to the club.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • May 3, 2026
Fifth-generation Columbia owner discusses restaurant's endurance

The Rotary Club of Sarasota, which just celebrated its 100th anniversary, learned about the roots of the centenarian restaurant business.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The annual Memorial Day parade kicks off on Main Street in Sarasota at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25. Rebecca Souders, 10, Jessica Wilhelm and Beth Duranceau watch the parade in 2023.
  • By Observer Staff |
  • May 19, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for May 21-27

Don't miss these arts and entertainment events around Sarasota and Manatee counties this week.

  • Arts + Culture
Traffic headed north off Longboat Key often backs up onto the Longboat Pass Bridge as Anna Maria Island has become a congestion hotspot on the barrier islands.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • April 1, 2026
Citizen survey shows love of Longboat, but road issues remain

Most takeaways weren’t a surprise, but the data still has value to town leaders.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ed Catalane of the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club does his part to teach children, including Lakewood Ranch's Hayes Cochran, further their fishing skills at the Youth & Teen Fishing Seminar May 2.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • May 2, 2026
Expert cast teaches fishing lessons in Lakewood Ranch

One hundred and forty kids attended the Youth and Teen Fishing Seminar by the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club to learn the basics of fishing.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Amanda Parrish was named interim CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. in January.
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • May 15, 2026
Manatee County economic development evolves

An organization dedicated to boosting the local economy was in a pickle late last year. Lakewood Ranch executive Amanda Parrish was the right person, at the right time, to make things right.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota Schools Superintendent Terry Connor speaks during the State of the Community luncheon in April.
  • By Eric Garwood |
  • May 12, 2026
School-tax fee reversal slated to come before county commissioners this week

Sarasota is ready to reassume responsibility for paying the tax collector's 2% commission, but question remains on whether it should be charged at all.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Vision Source |
  • April 23, 2026
A Local Eyecare Practice with a Vision

When Dr. Troy Bedinghaus opened his first Vision Source eyecare practice in 2004, he had a clear picture of how he wanted it to stand out.

  • Health
Sponsored Content
Gabbie Hotaling is 11 goals shy of 200 in her career with Lakewood Ranch girls lacrosse, as of April 19, and 17 points away from 300.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • April 20, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Gabbie Hotaling

The senior midfielder powered Lakewood Ranch girls lacrosse to a maiden district title.

  • East County
  • Sports
William Gensmer and Zaeta, of The Tilt, perform on stage.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • May 10, 2026
Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest held at Selby Five Points Park

The event hosted by the Fabulous Arts Foundation showcased LGBTQ+ artists and connected community members downtown after making its return there last year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Kat Wingert |
  • April 2, 2026
In pursuit of a good laugh

From monorails to teeny-tiny garbage bins, we spread the jokes out last week in our April Fools’ issue. Readers were amused … mostly.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Team Thunderbolts members Kenny Van Slyck, Avery Szuma and Matteo Saviano won a Create Award, which rewards unique approaches to gameplay over the standard design, to qualify for The VEX Robotics World Championship.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • April 21, 2026
Three east Manatee elementary teams head to worldwide robotics competition

Through trial and error, fourth and fifth graders from Willis and McNeal are gearing up to put their robots to the test.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sophie Bell had never rowed until middle school. From May 16-17, she'll return to the place where her career started, now a sophomore competing at the NCAA Division I level.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • May 13, 2026
Local rower-turned-Division I athlete returns to area for Big 12 Championships

Old Dominion's Sophie Bell, a Lakewood Ranch High graduate, will be competing at Nathan Benderson Park.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Sourdough Society of Lakewood Ranch members Camille Piccininni, Erica Calka and David Wiegand each created a loaf of sourdough with different ingredients to make each unique.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • May 5, 2026
Sourdough Society of Lakewood Ranch rises by sharing ideas

These members don't loaf around when it comes to making delicious bread.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Bob McCann pulled the proposed ice arena project at Premier off the consent agenda to be discussed by commissioners.
  • By Jay Heater |
  • February 25, 2026
Does ice arena project melt your heart?

Lakewood Ranch residents might be surprised about Manatee's proposed plan for Premier Sports Campus North.

  • East County
  • Opinion
A single-family residence at 3515 Gulf of Mexico Drive has been under construction for years and is nearing completion.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • May 6, 2026
Application tweaks aim to streamline permitting process

Longboat Key’s Planning, Zoning and Building Department has introduced a checklist, intake coordinator and file naming conventions for building applications.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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