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Results for:

Laurie Breslin was officially sworn in as the superintendent for the School District of Manatee County on Sept. 9.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • January 8, 2026
Student safety, mold issues loom for new Manatee schools superintendent

Laurie Breslin cites facility upgrades, academic improvement and higher graduation rates as high priorities for 2026.

  • East County
  • Schools
Susan Benjamin, The Education Center's biographical historian who is praised for her engaging presentations about the lives of some of the industry's most famous musicians, turns her attention to Billy Joel, Gene Kelly and Bob Fosse this season.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • February 3, 2026
Education Center dives into the stories and music of Billy Joel

Biographical historian Susan Benjamin teams up with singer Jay O'Brien to celebrate the life and times of the Piano Man at their latest presentation with The Education Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A Sleepy Lagoon resident takes a look at engineering plans at a public meeting at Bayfront Park Wednesday, March 4.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • March 9, 2026
Engineering firm presents Longboat road-raising, drainage plans

Water bubbling up from storm drains during high tide has prompted the town to spend on stormwater improvements and road raising in the Sleepy Lagoon neighborhood.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Gideon Demetrious, 6, Hani Demetrious and Jude Demetrious, 10, look through a series of prints.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • February 28, 2026
Sarasota Festival of the Arts serves up variety for attendees to browse

Held at J.D. Hamel Park, the event showcases work by artists from across the state and country, including Sarasota's community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Privada Homes |
  • January 29, 2026
Discover Gracewater at Sarasota: A New Standard for Modern Florida Living

Live the resort life, just minutes from Downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Gail Cristello will be a featured artist at the Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch's Spring Art Show and Sale March 14 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • By Jay Heater |
  • March 5, 2026
Late start doesn't keep Lakewood Ranch artist from success

Country Club's Gail Cristello will be a featured artist at the Creative Art Association's Spring Art Show and Sale.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Attendees celebrate the opening of "Embracing Our Differences" at the 2024 exhibition.
  • By Observer Staff |
  • January 16, 2026
Embracing our Differences exhibit opens Saturday

Artwork from adults and students will be on display through mid-April in Sarasota's Bayfront Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kindergartener Santiago Perez checks out the crochet items.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • December 16, 2025
Holiday House SRQ now serves a fifth school, but holiday shopping costs rise

This year, the nonprofit provided its free holiday shopping experiences to five elementary schools, but rising prices for gifts pose a challenge.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
An e-biker rides south on the sidewalk parallel to Gulf of Mexico Drive. The town of Longboat Key is having initial discussions about writing a new ordinance to regulate the use of e-bikes to increase public safety.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • December 3, 2025
E-bike regulation considered by Longboat Key

With the rise in popularity of e-bikes, Longboat Key is mulling an ordinance to manage the rising mode of transportation.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Linda Medina and Aliana Donald, second graders at Daughtrey Elementary, are eager to answer any questions Miss Gina might ask about the books she reads.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • March 4, 2026
Books for Kids continues to bring reading passion to elementary students

The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch program provides reading volunteers to 10 schools in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The cast of Urbanite Theatre's "The Apiary" includes (clockwise from left), Christina Mei Chen, Terri Weagant, Dekyi Ronge and Ariel Blue.
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • March 11, 2026
Urbanite Theatre's 'The Apiary' asks the question, 'To bee or not to bee'

Director Summer Dawn Wallace talks about staging a dark, futuristic comedy without getting stung.

  • Arts + Culture
Longboat Key Town Commission meets at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • November 19, 2025
Longboat Key Town Commission election will be uncontested

The three seats will go to incumbents Gary Coffin and Sarah Karon, while Nick Gladding will assume District 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Yoga instructor Angela Mali has been leading by-donation sunset yoga classes on Longboat Key for three years. Whether she will be able to continue the classes is in question as she and town leaders debate usage of the beach.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • October 8, 2025
Yoga instructor, town officials at odds over beach classes

Longboaters debate beach usage after a yogi faces new fees and regulations for sunset classes at Bayfront Park beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Online romance ends in trespassing warning
  • By Observer Staff |
  • December 17, 2025
Online romance ends in trespassing warning

Boy meets girl online; boy gives girl credit card number; girl has surprise child and "cousin"; boy lets girl move in; boy finally figures it out. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Vinny Mercadante tosses a lacrosse ball and holds his stick at Summerfield Community Park in Lakewood Ranch. He played for Cardinal Mooney in 2016-18, Marian University in 2018-19 and Florida State in 2021-23 but has since committed to coaching.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • November 24, 2025
Cardinal Mooney grad builds his own lacrosse training school

At just 25, Vinny Mercadante is quickly becoming a premier private lacrosse coach, one of the few in the state.

  • East County
  • Sports
Francesca Ferrari stars in Florida Studio Theatre's "An Evening With Janis Joplin," directed by Ben Liebert.
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • March 10, 2026
Florida Studio Theatre takes another piece of Janis Joplin's heart

Director Ben Liebert talks about his efforts to transcend the jukebox musical mold in "A Night with Janis Joplin."

  • Arts + Culture
Following up on the recent publication of their co-authored book, "I Am the Other," Temple Beth Israel of Longboat Key member Robert Gary and Imam Azhar Subedar invited community members to join a discussion about local approaches to bridging divides in beliefs. Rabbi Peter Kasdan moderated.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • March 3, 2026
Longboat writer shares process of co-authoring book on bridging divides

Robert Gary of Longboat Key welcomes discussion on the book he co-authored with Imam Azhar Subedar, titled "I Am the Other."

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Barak Podiatry |
  • February 26, 2026
Inside Barak Podiatry: Where Conservative Care Comes First

For Joseph Barak, DPM, podiatry has always been about more than treating pain. It is about understanding why the problem exists in the first place. That lifelong curiosity and conscientious approach define the care he provides every day at Barak Podiatry, where patients are treated as whole people, not isolated symptoms.

  • Health
Sponsored Content
Doug Melcher is the co-owner of BellaBlue Berry Farm and Winery in Myakka City.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • March 4, 2026
Myakka City bee and berry farms still standing after historic cold snap

Two Myakka City farms experienced little to no losses, but it took a lot of strategizing.

  • East County
  • News
Waterside of Lakewood Ranch might have to wait longer for Sarasota County Schools to build an elementary school there.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • January 7, 2026
Sarasota County reevaluates need for new schools to serve Waterside

Jody Dumas, the executive director of facility services for Sarasota County Schools, said their two properties in Lakewood Ranch might sit empty for longer than anticipated.

  • East County
  • Schools
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