Ian Swaby

Staff Writer at East County Observer

Staff Writer at Observer Media Group

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Articles

Easter eggs and animals feature in Siesta Key's Easter Egg Hunt

3 days ago | yourobserver.com | Ian Swaby

The Astad family may have come all the way from Norway, but they said they also love the community in Siesta Key. While visiting family in the area, they attended the annual Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, on April 19. “We’re just having a good time here,” said Tord Astad, noting the "great events" in the area.
Former Gator Tim Tebow headlines Good Friday event at Payne Park

5 days ago | yourobserver.com | Ian Swaby

Victoria Ustach is a “big fan” of Tim Tebow, and not only because she shared his year in school. She said the reason is “really his love for God.”“It’s an inspiration,” she said.
Big gathering heads down Main Street for stations of the cross

6 days ago | yourobserver.com | Ian Swaby

The annual Good Friday stations of the cross walk began 24 years ago with a small group of men at Church of the Redeemer, but it has since branched out to encompass the wider community. As the 2025 editing of the walk concluded, Father Charleston Wilson said he felt moved when he saw a number of people he estimated at about 1,000 gathered in front of Church of the Redeemer, where he serves as rector.
Oak Park School cuts the ribbon on new athletic track

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Ian Swaby

After cutting the ribbon, it didn't take long for students at Oak Park School to fully circle the new athletic track during the school's first event, the Panther Prowl. "It feels amazing," said Grace Barcelo, a student in the school's structured work program, of seeing the project finally complete. The new multipurpose, lighted track and field joins the athletic facilities at Oak Park School, which provides educational and therapeutic services to over 300 students with disabilities.
Bookstore1Sarasota to host Winnie the Pooh live radio-style performance

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Ian Swaby

People may know the Gothic Library at Bookstore1Sarasota for its darker fare. Yet its next performance is taking a fuzzier turn by focusing on a beloved "silly old bear."Director Ren Pearson says it surprised everyone that his next choice in the series of radio-style live shows was "The House on Pooh Corner." The performance, produced in association with Theatre Odyssey, will be performed April 17 and again on April 18.
Community members laugh together at laughter yoga event

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Ian Swaby

Gail Trites said she became involved in laughter yoga five years ago, after the death of her husband. "It changed my life..." she said. "It brightened my spirits."She was one of the participants who turned out for the Florida Weekend of Laughter Celebration, held in Sarasota from April 5 to 6.
Residents learn from hurricane damage

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Dana Kampa |Ian Swaby

Prior to hurricanes Helene and Milton, Kay Kouvatsos thinks Siesta Key had a false sense of security. "They've been telling us for 28 years, high water, flood risk, surge. It never happened," she said. "I think a lot of the residents took that as a huge wakeup call."As co-owner of the staple restaurant Village Café, with her husband Tom Kouvatsos, she's looking ahead with concern this year. “We’re praying for the best,” she said.
Families celebrate Passover at Temple Emanu-El dinner

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Ian Swaby

When songs and the Four Questions take place during the Passover Seder, the youngest members traditionally recite them, noted Rabbi Michael Shefrin. The Annual Family Seder, held April 13 at Temple Emanu-El, was a chance for young members and their parents to enjoy a full Seder meal together. The Jewish tradition of the Seder meal takes place on the holiday of Passover in order to recount the story of Exodus.
Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative hosts exhibition at Van Wezel

2 weeks ago | yourobserver.com | Ian Swaby

When Jeannette Bradley once saw four ballerinas, who were all white, looking at her painting "Four Ballerinas" and stating, "This is us," she knew she'd accomplished her mission. As a child, she had to see herself in images where the people didn't necessarily look like her, such as Norman Rockwell paintings. She invites viewers to share the same experience with her paintings featuring Black abstract figures.
Moving forward from hurricanes takes united community effort

2 weeks ago | yourobserver.com | Dana Kampa |Ian Swaby

Kay Kouvatsos said when Village Café reopened in mid-November, after the hurricanes, she and her husband and co-owner Tom Kouvatsos were asking the question, “Where is anybody?”Nonetheless, she said "extremely generous" customers handed over extra money to help support employees who had been out of work at the Siesta Key restaurant. "We didn't lose anybody. Every server came back," she said. The month of March finally brought a return to normal numbers for the restaurant.