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Results for:

Drew Smith (left) and Chase Smith (right) are a sophomore and senior, respectively, at The Out-of-Door Academy. They lost their father, Scott Smith, to esophageal cancer in October of 2023.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • April 9, 2026
Brothers fundraise in their father's memory

Chase and Drew Smith held their third annual track and field fundraiser for pediatric cancer research.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Love local news? There's an app for that. The Observer recently rolled out a smartphone application that makes it even easier to stay connected.
  • By Jay Heater |
  • April 22, 2026
App makes local news even easier to find

The Observer rolls out a new digital feature to connect with the community.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Vision Source |
  • April 23, 2026
A Local Eyecare Practice with a Vision

When Dr. Troy Bedinghaus opened his first Vision Source eyecare practice in 2004, he had a clear picture of how he wanted it to stand out.

  • Health
Sponsored Content
Volunteer Jane Webb joins approximately 40 other volunteers in packing jalapeño seeds on April 13 at Christ Church of Longboat Key. This was the final monthly meet-up of the season, and contributors celebrated their milestone of packing 500,000 seed packets this year.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • April 20, 2026
Hope Seeds reflects on charitable milestone

Community members joined in packaging seeds for worldwide farmers for the last time this season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Centennial celebrations at Sarasota Opera House is part of Visit Sarasota County's promotional efforts to attract visitors to the county in 2026.
  • By Observer Staff |
  • February 19, 2026
Visitors bureau promotes centennial legacy of Sarasota County

Visit Sarasota County will pitch global travel media and encourage locals to take part in centennial celebrations across the city and county.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ashlan Guengerich celebrates an out during Sarasota softball's game at Parrish Community on March 31. The senior owns a .528 batting average which ranks best among Sailors with 10 or more games played.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • April 2, 2026
Sarasota High softball eyes another deep postseason run

The Sailors are under new leadership but return major contributors from last year's state semifinalist finish.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Stewart Cink kneels by the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy. His name will be the 86th engraved into the silver prize of the Senior PGA Championship — the oldest major on the PGA Tour Champions.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • April 19, 2026
Stewart Cink wins 2026 Senior PGA Championship

The 52-year-old set the competitive course record at The Concession to claim his first senior major title.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Rosedale Golf Classic for Homes for Our Troops was founded by Kathi Skelton and Deb Kehoe in 2013. Prior to this year's money raised, $1.5 million has been donated to the organization from their efforts.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • April 17, 2026
Rosedale Golf Classic brings veterans, community members together

Rosedale's Kathi Skelton and Deb Kehoe have been raising money for Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds homes for veterans, since 2013.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Fruitville Townhomes site plan to replace the vacant former Sarasota Lanes bowling center.
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • April 4, 2026
Fruitville bowling alley submits plans to redevelop into 4-story townhomes

Plans submitted to the Development Review Committee show replacing the vacant Sarasota Lanes with eight townhome buildings with 46 units.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sharon Godlewski stands by the pool at Springlake in The Meadows. Only the owl and CDs remain, but it's enough to keep the ducks away.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • April 22, 2026
Snowbirds and mallards fight over pool in The Meadows

The homeowners association at Springlake in The Meadows went to great lengths to evict the ducks.

  • East County
  • News
Bernhard Langer hits a drive on the third hole during the first round of the 2025 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. He's won an all-time record 12 senior majors in his storied career.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • April 13, 2026
Who to root for at the Senior PGA Championship

Plenty of major champions will be at The Concession, but which golfers should you get behind?

  • East County
  • Sports
  • By Observer Advertising Content Staff |
  • February 18, 2026
Sarasota Festival of the Arts™

Looking for exciting activities to add to your calendar? Make sure to visit us on February 28th – March 1st, 2026 for the Sarasota Festival of Arts.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Spotlight Partners
Sponsored Content
Nearly every member of the Sarasota Ballet will be on stage for “Checkmate” May 1-2 at the Sarasota Opera House.
  • By Monica Roman Gagnier |
  • April 22, 2026
Sarasota Ballet stages a dramatic death dance in 'Checkmate'

The Black Queen battles the Red Knight in Dame Nanette de Valois' chess-inspired ballet.

  • Arts + Culture
The Bayfront Park Recreation Center was moved to its current location in 1984.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • April 14, 2026
Budget planning kicks off with Longboat organization updates

The goals and objectives workshop gave community organizations a platform to discuss issues and suggest policies to the Longboat Key Town Commission.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Traffic often backs up from the Cortez Bridge intersection onto Longboat Key during peak season.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • March 30, 2026
Manatee looking for MPO citizens advisory committee members

The Metropolitan Planning Organization develops plans, policies and priorities that guide transportation decision making.

  • East County
  • News
Drivers will need to come to almost a stop to negotiate a planned series of speed bumps on White Eagle Boulevard.
  • By Jay Heater |
  • April 1, 2026
APRIL FOOL: Road proposal due for bumpy ride in Lakewood Ranch

White Eagle raceway about to get major alteration to discourage speeders.

  • April Fools
Traffic is often bumper to bumper on Gulf Drive South. During spring break, even rainy days didn’t stop tourists from flocking to Anna Maria Island.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • April 8, 2026
Longboat has a Bradenton Beach traffic problem

For Longboat Key residents and employees trying to get to the mainland from the north end, beach traffic is a headache and getting worse each year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Zach Johnson hits a sand shot during the Senior PGA Championship, which last week, became the first senior major golf tournament contested in Lakewood Ranch.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • April 23, 2026
Pro golf has disappeared from Sarasota

Despite the PGA's strong presence in Lakewood Ranch, this area hasn't hosted a tournament since 2017.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
A crowd gathers outside as the Driveway Drifters perform. The members pictured include Angie Eason, Gary Bowen, Debbie and Ron Fellman, Bill Green, Gary Eason, Lynn Cassell, Mike Lawless and Michael Cohen. One band member, Eugene Moleiro, was not in attendance.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • April 23, 2026
Driveway band brings neighbors together through music

The Driveway Drifters started gathering to perform during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not stopped since.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Christina Mei Chen and Dekyi Ronge discover a novel way of increasing their bee population in Urbanite Theatre's "The Apiary."
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • March 29, 2026
With survival at stake, beekeepers face an ethical quandary in 'The Apiary'

Director Summer Dawn Wallace finds sharp satire in a near-future bee-pocalypse at Urbanite Theatre.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
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