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Results for:

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman said his department would likely meet spending goals set last year by the County Commission, but he added additional positions are in the offing in subsequent budget years.
  • By Eric Garwood |
  • March 3, 2026
Early start gets Sarasota leaders thinking about the next budget

Elected officers deliver mixed predictions on hitting spending goals.

  • Sarasota
  • News
County Commissioner Tom Knight on Tuesday raised the issue of a fee charged by the Tax Collector's office on money raised by the school district's optional 1-mill property tax.
  • By Eric Garwood |
  • May 6, 2026
County Commission reverses stance on paying school-tax fee

Sarasota leaders vote 3-2 to open the door to reassuming the responsibility for paying Tax Collector commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Chris Schrum was one of seven different Sailors to place first in their respective weight classes for either Traditional or Olympic style at the district meet.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • April 14, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Chris Schrum

The senior helped Sarasota boys weightlifting to both FHSAA Class 3A-District 12 team titles.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
When he's not painting, artist Tom Stephens makes fishing rods.
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • March 23, 2026
Sarasota artist lives the life aquatic

Sarasota artist and fishing rod craftsman Tom Stephens plugs into the currents of life.

  • Arts + Culture
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
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 Eric Garwood |
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April

Swimming and rowing championships expected to attract more than 5,000 athletes.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Paxton Hermann, who specializes in the pole vault, has been a standout sophomore for the Thunder.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • April 27, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Paxon Hermann

The Out-of-Door Academy track and field sophomore placed top-three in four events at the FHSAA Class 1A-District 11 meet.

  • East County
  • Sports
County Administrator Charlie Bishop is typically seated at the dais with commissioners during meetings, but he was absent during the discussion about his contract April 7.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • April 12, 2026
Manatee County Administrator Charlie Bishop's contract up for renewal

Commissioners reviewed Bishop's contract but opted to make changes before renewing it.

  • East County
  • News
  • By Marie Selby Botanical Gardens |
  • February 3, 2026
Alexander Calder - The Nature of Movement

Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement brings art, motion, and nature together at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, February 8–May 31, 2026.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Spotlight Partners
Sponsored Content
DragonBoot Quartet performs the world premiere of Roger Zare’s “Gamma” for string quartet for Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota on April 12.
  • By Monica Roman Gagnier |
  • April 6, 2026
Pine View grad solves for 'Gamma' in his latest music composition

DragoonBoot Quartet premieres Roger Zare's piece at an Artist Series Concert event on April 12.

  • Arts + Culture
Manatee County Commission Chair Tal Siddique speaks with community group Longboat North at Longboat Island Chapel Thursday, March 19.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • March 31, 2026
Some north-end community center details emerge, others remain unknown

Manatee County will invest hundreds of thousands, Longboat Island Chapel will provide space, and The Paradise Center will provide programming. Other details are less clear.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The 2026 Longboat coconut heist
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • April 21, 2026
The 2026 Longboat coconut heist

Men hopped a fence, stole coconuts and made a clean getaway. This and other Longboat Key police reports in this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
  • By Observer Staff |
  • April 1, 2026
APRIL FOOL: Itching to promote native plants

The town of Longboat Key is planning to replant storm-damaged areas with Eastern Poison Ivy as its latest beautification initiative.

  • April Fools
Couch LBK co-founders Noel Ladd — who happened to be celebrating his birthday — and Ken Rushing connect with community members at the entrance to the 20th annual Meet Greet Eat social. The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce organized the April 14 networking event at The Resort at Longboat Key Club.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • April 18, 2026
Meet Greet Eat welcomes new businesses on Longboat Key

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce hosted its 20th annual event to help residents and local businesses connect.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jacobey Mobley's speed isn't just on the track. He was Booker football's leading rusher in 2025 en route to the FHSAA Class 3A state semifinals.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • March 31, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Jacobey Mobley

The senior won two races at the Hurricane Invite for Booker High boys track and field.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Gazebo at the Joan Durante Park, Longboat Key.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • February 17, 2026
Quick Point repairs wrap up while Durante gazebo fix gets underway

Joan M. Durante Park, Quick Point Nature Preserve and Bayfront Park on Longboat Key will all see changes in the coming months, varying from slight at Bayfront to substantial at Quick Point.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Gabriella Martinez Reyes, a junior at Lakewood Ranch High School, has been named president of the Florida Future Business Leaders of America. This makes her the first of Manatee County.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • March 31, 2026
LRHS junior named president for Florida's Future Business Leaders of America

Gabriella Martinez Reyes will lead 11,000 members of Florida Future Business Leaders of America.

  • East County
  • Schools
Steve Ross, his mother Irene Ross and sister Kimberly Ross
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • April 2, 2026
Passover holds powerful reminder for congregants at Temple Emanu-El

Family and freedom were some of the meanings that attendees described at the temple's Passover Seder meal, which drew about 310 people.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By World Class Dentistry |
  • April 23, 2026
Rethinking the Dental Chair

For a lot of people, going to the dentist has always been pretty straightforward: fix the tooth, handle the issue, move on. And for some, that works just fine. But for others—especially those dealing with bigger health concerns—it can start to feel like something’s being missed.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Sarasota Memorial Hospital is among the 75 best maternity hospitals in America, according to a ranking by Money magazine.
  • By Observer Staff |
  • March 24, 2026
SMH ranks among the best maternity-care hospitals in America

Money magazine has listed Sarasota Memorial Hospital among the top 75 hospitals in America for maternity care.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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