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Students in Manatee schools begin learning cursive in third grade. With House Bill 127, that might change to second grade instead. It would also require fifth graders to be evaluated to prove proficiency.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • February 11, 2026
Cursive writing requirements would change if proposed legislation passes

Students currently learn cursive between third and fifth grade. If House Bill 127 becomes law, students will begin learning in second grade and will be tested in fifth.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall

The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club will host the free event Feb. 7 and will feature butterfly enthusiasts Gilbert Daigneau and Joyce Samsel.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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
The red outline shows where M/I Homes of Sarasota proposed to build 167 homes.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • February 2, 2026
Manatee County commissioners deny 167 homes, 99 put on hold

Commissioners, applicants and residents spent nearly nine hours debating the side-by-side projects.

  • East County
  • News
The Concession Golf Club is hosting the Senior PGA Championship April 16-19.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • January 28, 2026
Manatee County tees up for Senior PGA Championship

The generated championship dollars are expected to include impressive dividends for the county.

  • East County
  • News
A theater critic's top picks of the season
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • January 18, 2026
A theater critic's top picks of the season

Productions on Sarasota stages slyly snoop on the human condition.

  • Arts + Culture
With a hearty collective effort, community members help “push in” the newest fleet addition at Fire Station 92 during a March 25 open house. The public was invited to see the facility, which opened in 2021, as well as check out the station’s new $600,000 ambulance.
  • By Observer Staff |
  • December 31, 2025
With equal doses of grit and fun, we review 2025 on Longboat Key in photos

From political kerfuffles to heartwarming moments of community celebration, the Longboat Observer captured it all in the past year. Here are our top moments of 2025.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
About $12,000 in small bills was seized as part of the investigation.
  • By Eric Garwood |
  • January 23, 2026
Investigators make cocaine-trafficking arrest near Sarasota park

$12,000 in small bills and more than 400 grams of drugs were seized, police say.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Condominium by the Bay was built in 1982 on Boulevard of the Arts.
  • By Eric Garwood |
  • January 21, 2026
Political power couple buys Sarasota condo

Political commentator and adviser James Carville and his White House staffer wife, Mary Matalin, are the new owners of a home in Sarasota, property records show.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Spanish Main Yacht Club was one of the most impacted communities from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. All of the 212 condominium villas were impacted one way or another, and more than 16 months after Helene, the rebuild continues with some houses finished and residents moved in and others with cabinets in the front yard, work underway on the interior.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • February 11, 2026
Longboat's Spanish Main looks for normalcy a year after the storms

While some Spanish Main residents sold their villas, many more opted to rebuild, and 16 months after Hurricane Helene ravaged the historic community, work continues with an end finally in sight.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Gavin Henderson ranks No. 5 in the state for scoring, as of Jan. 23, while playing for a charter school basketball program that's only in its second season.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • January 28, 2026
College hoops hopeful sticks it out at Lakewood Ranch Prep

Gavin Henderson, a junior guard, has powered the boys basketball program through its second season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Holiday stress can take away from the joy of the season.
  • By Mirabai Holland |
  • December 9, 2025
How to stress less during the holidays

This can be a time of limited time and lofty expectations. How to make sure you're taking care of yourself to stay healthy and enjoy the season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Front: Elliot Salenger, Larry Coleman, Dr. Lee Edstrom; Back: Steve Davidson, Bob Nusbaum, Paul Levenson
  • By Eric Snider |
  • February 5, 2026
These tennis players unite for the love of the game — and ribbing each other

A love of tennis — mixed with razzing, rallying (if ever so slowly) and rounding out lives well-lived — keeps a resilient band of buddies on task at a longstanding tennis meetup.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jennifer Rominiecki brought the living museum concept to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens when she was named president and CEO in 2015.
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • February 5, 2026
Botanical gardens' potential lured Rominiecki family to Sarasota

Before Marie Selby Botanical Gardens came calling, Jennifer Rominiecki never considered uprooting her family from New York City. A decade later, she says it was all worth it.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mason Jordan poses for a photo on Dec. 8 outside the entrance to Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School. The slot receiver is in his fourth and final season on varsity and is the second-leading pass-catcher for the Cougars.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • December 11, 2025
Family legacy endures with Cardinal Mooney wide receiver

Mason Jordan, a longtime starter for the Cougars, is the latest in a line of elite athletes.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
St. Regis Longboat Key Resort installed a stainless steel metal arch on a converted groin extending into the Gulf. Longboat Key town staff asked the hotel to take the arch down because it does not follow town code.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • October 29, 2025
St. Regis resort's arched sign on pier causes dispute with town

The St. Regis is asking the town of Longboat Key to amend its sign code to allow for an arch it installed on a groin to remain in place.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Melissa Douberly, Tyson Babb, Lisa Jayne Warren-Wallace and Gina and David Warren dig the vibe of the "Get Your Groove On" theme and the cocktail hour.
  • By Janet Combs |
  • February 20, 2026
Cooking for Wishes serves up funk, flavor and dreams that do come true

The event raised over $1.1 million for Make-A-Wish Southern Florida's Suncoast Chapter, and granted a wish for fifth grader Keegan Hipsher to go to Switzerland.

  • Black Tie
Karen Medford has moved up the ladder with her Sirius Day Spa, Salon and Med Spa business by opening a location in Waterside. The new location will include a boutique.
  • By Jay Heater |
  • January 27, 2026
Sirius Day Spa opens new location in Lakewood Ranch entertainment hub

Owner Karen Medford says it has been a dream for her to own a spa at Waterside Place.

  • East County
  • Business
The T/S Motorsports / Marine Technology boat piloted by Taylor Scism of Missouri and Johnny Tomlinson of North Miami, Florida passes crowds of spectators on the beach.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • November 12, 2025
Uncertainty engulfs Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix for 2026

The P1 Offshore event celebrated its 40th anniversary here in 2024 but was canceled for 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Former Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier has drafted an updated noise ordinance for the city, which was approved by the City Commission on first reading.
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • December 11, 2025
City asks: How much noise is too much?

In a long-awaited new ordinance, the Sarasota City Commission says if you can hear it from 100 feet away, it's too loud.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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