• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Results for:

A wealth of new home construction throughout the metropolitan area is contributing to its nation-leading percentage of home ownership.
  • By Observer Staff |
  • May 19, 2025
Sarasota metro has highest home ownership rate in the country

At 82.3%, the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota area was rated No. 1 by financial services website SmartAsset among all metros across the country in residents who own their homes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The new truck features a mid-mount, 75-foot ladder. The design allows the new truck to be more maneuverable.
  • By Mark Bergin |
  • December 22, 2020
Longboat's new ladder truck is a step up

The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department plans to begin using the new truck in January 2021.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dora Walters with her cat, Lottie, and dog, Jake. Courtesy photos
  • By Robin Hartill |
  • January 13, 2015
A reporter rewinds

Retired Longboat Observer Senior Editor Dora Walters looks back on her childhood, early careers and adventures in her new book.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
District leaders hope summer programs, which will be offered virtually, can help catch students up before the 2020-21 school year.
  • By Brynn Mechem |
  • May 28, 2020
Sarasota School leaders focus on summer learning, remediation

District leaders are hopeful that the Summer Boost program can catch students up before the 2020-21 school year.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
A perfect Sarasota sunset from the Kalin penthouse, located in Sarabande on Palm Avenue. The view extends over the marina, past the keys and out to the Gulf of Mexico.
  • By Robert Plunket |
  • August 18, 2016
Sophisticated lady

A downtown penthouse is a tribute to Alyce Kalin’s impeccable taste.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Town Manager David Bullock, left, earns an annual salary of $181,688. Town officials are considering Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer as Bullock's replacement. Harmer earns an annual salary of $207,625.
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • July 12, 2017
Convenient, but ...

Longboat’s Town Commission appears ready to hire Sarasota County’s Tom Harmer as the next town manager. He looks like a good fit. But do you buy the first car you see and like?

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Business owners leaving St. Armands Circle think the character of the tourist district is changing. What does that mean for shops in the area?
  • By David Conway |
  • December 28, 2016
Top Story — July: St. Armands Circle merchants question restaurant ratio

Catch up on the hottest news items of the of the year with the Observer’s Digital Year in Review.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Pam Eubanks |
  • April 24, 2013
Balmoral access discussion continues

Supervisors on Lakewood Ranch CDD 6 are searching for direction on security options.

  • East County
  • News
Fiscal Neutrality applies to land approved for development on the east side of the Urban Service Boundary (I-75). Development-approved land is shown in yellow.
  • By Jessica Salmond |
  • August 20, 2014
Everything You Need to Know About Fiscal Neutrality

Proposed changes to fiscal neutrality stir controversy.

  • East County
  • News
  • By Amanda Sebastiano |
  • July 30, 2014
District beats budget woes

The Manatee County School District will end the fiscal year with a budget surplus - the first time it's happened since the 2010-2011 school year.

  • East County
  • News
  • By Katie Johns |
  • May 31, 2017
Longboat Key Obituaries: June 1, 2017

Claudia Normann Scott, Betsy Altman, V. Carol Jordan, Stephen H. Munroe, Charlotte Paley, Barbara Rodocker, Richard Smith and Josephine Snyder died.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Fire Station 92 is located at 2162 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
  • By Mark Bergin |
  • July 29, 2021
New Longboat Key fire station to open in August

Southside firefighters have operated out of a temporary trailer since June 2020.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The same company that runs the Siesta Key Breeze trolley was the lone vendor to respond to the city's search for a transit operator. File photo
  • By David Conway |
  • November 3, 2021
Free trolley aims to attract downtown, island riders

Although some commissioners were concerned about the price, the city is investing millions into a three-year transportation service.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Observer Staff |
  • September 3, 2009
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Pam Eubanks |
  • January 20, 2010
Couple finds new angle for fundraising efforts

East County businessman John LaCivita and his wife, Fran, are chairing The Wellness Community's 'Night of Hope' event in March. The couple is determined to make the fundraiser unique.

  • East County
  • News
Big Night Out, one of several bands that frequents the market, specializes in Latin, island and R&B music. Photo by Max Kelly
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • December 27, 2017
Live music returns to Sarasota Farmer's Market

Sarasota Farmer’s Market serves up fresh, hot music every month.

  • Arts + Culture
Braden River High School senior Luke Rowland is one of 16,000 semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship competition.
  • By Berkley Mason |
  • October 4, 2017
Lakewood Ranch student earns scholastic honor

Braden River High senior becomes one of 16,000 students nationally to be a semifinalist for a National Merit Scholarship.

  • East County
  • News
Babara Najmy, Barb McSweeney and Traci Smullen show off a check for $905 that McSweeney donated to the Lake Club Women'     s Giving Circle off sales of her jewelry at Wine, Women & Jewels.
  • By Jay Heater |
  • May 18, 2017
Passion, altruism in Lakewood Ranch combine to form coolest club

Side of Ranch: Jay Heater

  • East County
  • News
Katherine Frayre practices at Celsius Tennis Academy.
  • By Ryan Kohn |
  • July 20, 2017
Celsius Tennis Academy instructor helps young player on difficult journey

Her daily trek, from Tijuana, Mexico, to Chula Vista, Calif., takes 3 1/2 hours each way.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Margie Hernandez started developing her property into a fruit and produce grove about six years ago.
  • By Jessica Salmond |
  • December 2, 2015
A red-hot, green thumb: East County resident perfects hot sauce recipe

Think you know your hot sauces? You haven’t met Margie Hernandez — or her homegrown jalapeños.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now