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Results for:

Ed Ference is running for the District 6 at-large Manatee County commission seat.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • March 24, 2026
Lifelong East County resident enters Manatee County Commission race

Ed Ference grew up along the Upper Manatee River Road and spent 30 years working for Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Fabian and Pascale Hoyez
  • By Lori Sax |
  • January 2, 2026
Selby Gardens rings in 2026 with guests aglow

A jovial crowd enjoyed a private display of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Lights in Bloom before dinner, dancing and a front-row seat to Sarasota's fireworks at midnight.

  • Black Tie
Leaders from the Longboat Harbour Yacht Club participate in the swearing-in ceremony during the Jan. 17 Change of Watch. From left, John Shea, dockmaster; Susan Luke, purser; Herb Ritchell, scribe; Mike Perez, vice commodore; and Jeff Hecklau, commodore.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • January 19, 2026
Commodore Jeff Hecklau returns to lead Longboat Harbour Yacht Club

Club leaders participated in a Change of Watch ceremony Jan. 17, reaffirming their commitment to helping the boating community thrive.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Rosemarie Herke, the president of the German American Social Club of Sarasota, has been in that position for 10 years. She said the club is about preserving German culture through dance and socialization.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • March 11, 2026
German American Social Club of Sarasota has danced through 75 years

The club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special event at Tara Country Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Cooper Pote has already been a shortstop, center fielder, third baseman and pitcher this season for the Thunder. At the plate, his contributions have been second-to-none among his teammates.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • March 2, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Cooper Pote

The sophomore has been busy in the batter's box for The Out-of-Door Academy.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lobbyists for the town of Longboat Key video called in to update Longboat Key Town Commission on state and federal legislation at a workshop meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • February 23, 2026
Longboat leaders receive updates on property tax reform

Lobbyists updated the Longboat Key Town Commission on potential property tax reform in Tallahassee and appropriations in Washington.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • January 7, 2026
Big questions for Sarasota sports in 2026

There's plenty of reasons for this area's sports enthusiasts to be intrigued about the year ahead.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Valor Commons in Manatee County is designed to include a resource center, memorials, walking trails and public event spaces.
  • By Eric Garwood |
  • February 9, 2026
Federal cash streams in for Manatee, Sarasota projects

Local line items are a part of the massive $1.2 trillion spending package.

  • East County
  • News
General manager Desmond Hill brings warmth and ease to Lucky Pelican’s welcoming, neighborhood vibe.
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • February 18, 2026
Lucky Pelican's general manager shares how he keeps the restaurant flying high

What makes the Lucky Pelican Bistro so good? No bad days. And the lobster roll, of course.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Verdi's "Il Trovatore" is one of four operas in the Sarasota Opera's Winter Festival, which runs through March 29 at the Sarasota Opera House.
  • By Observer Staff |
  • March 17, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for March 19-25

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

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Pat O'Connell, Brenda Baril, Beth Scheible and Kim Lawrence said winning the championship Swing for the Cure annual golf day on Feb. 24 was especially meaningful to them, considering Lawrence is a cancer survivor.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • February 25, 2026
Swing for the Cure unites golfers in fight against breast cancer

The annual golf fundraiser supports Breast Health Sarasota, which recently surpassed $750,000 in contributions to support community members with cancer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Golf pro Stephen Arnold succeeded in his goal of playing 100 holes of golf in a single day to benefit families involved with First 1,000 Days Suncoast.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • February 4, 2026
Golfing feat makes a difference for area families

Golf expert Stephen Arnold, an instructor at the Longboat Key Club and Resort, plays 100 holes in a day to benefit First 1,000 Days Suncoast.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
From left to right: Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith, Gulf Coast Community Foundation Senior Vice President Jon Thaxton and One Stop Housing CEO Mark Vengroff made up a panel hosted by Miracle on the Key Thursday, March 19 on the subject of affordable housing.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • March 24, 2026
Panel discusses the thorny problem of affordable housing

Although there are developments that provide affordable housing in the area, the need is not nearly met.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ava Donoghue is sophomore class president at Booker High School.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • January 28, 2026
Booker High School student breaks stigma and barriers with Booker Basics

The initiative by Sophomore Class President Ava Donoghue provides free feminine products in girls' bathrooms throughout the school.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Hospital system expands prenatal care access for expecting mothers in need
  • By Observer Staff |
  • February 4, 2026
Hospital system expands prenatal care access for expecting mothers in need

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has opened its new Pregnancy and Wellness Center at its Clark Road campus, targeting care for the uninsured or underinsured.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Angese Rudzite Kirillova works on "Playground" during the 2025 Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sandsculpting Festival.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • January 8, 2026
Mark your calendars for these Sarasota events in 2026

Whether you love collecting stamps or petting reptiles, there's something for just about everyone in Sarasota's event offerings in this coming year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The site of a planned 10-story, 50-unit residential building at the corner of Ringling Boulevard and South Osprey Avenue.
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • June 14, 2025
10-story residential building, pizza restaurant planned for Ringling Boulevard

A 50-unit residential tower and a new pizza restaurant have pre-application conferences with the Sarasota Development Review Committee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Several attendees of Budget 101 are surprised to learn how little money the Manatee County Commission controls.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • March 16, 2026
Manatee County delivers budget primer in Lakewood Ranch

About 20 residents attended the session, which covered how Manatee County creates its annual revenue and spending plan.

  • East County
  • News
The school district has partnered with University of South Florida in order to create the new offerings at Gulf Coast Academy of Innovation & Technology at Brookside.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • February 19, 2026
Brookside Middle School undergoes transformation to attract new students

The revamped Sarasota County school aims to bring innovative fields of study to students, from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Dementia affects more than 6 million Americans.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • March 16, 2026
Manatee County partners with nonprofit to help residents with dementia

DementiAbility, which will provide the funding to run the nonprofit, will be given space in a county-owned building.

  • East County
  • News
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