This musical soul search leads to Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch Blues Fest is back for its second edition with seven top bands at Waterside Park.

The Shaelyn Band, which opens the Lakewood Ranch Blues Fest Dec. 6 at Waterside Place, is led by singer Shaelyn Mulberry.
Mill Creek's Ilana Simone, who performs as Ilana Armida, has returned to her roots after living in Los Angeles to pursue her musical career.
  • December 3, 2025
Mill Creek musical artist continues to search for her audience
Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Jason Huh has founded a few different companies, including Sodi Pop. Sodi Pop is now available in a healthy vending machine at the school for staff and students to enjoy.
  • December 3, 2025
Sodi Pop, billed as a healthier product, comes to Lakewood Ranch High
The Shaelyn Band, which opens the Lakewood Ranch Blues Fest Dec. 6 at Waterside Place, is led by singer Shaelyn Mulberry.
  • December 2, 2025
This musical soul search leads to Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch writer Peter Moscovita found his passion for writing through a cancer diagnosis and encouragement from his wife.
  • December 2, 2025
81-year-old writer combines history and fiction through his books

Business

CEO Mike Bisaha says the new equipment will at least triple Big Top Brewing Co.'s beer production.
  • December 3, 2025
Big Top to open expanded brew house at Sarasota's Fruitville Commons
Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Jason Huh has founded a few different companies, including Sodi Pop. Sodi Pop is now available in a healthy vending machine at the school for staff and students to enjoy.
  • December 3, 2025
Sodi Pop, billed as a healthier product, comes to Lakewood Ranch High
Instead of a ribbon, a 180-pound blue fin tuna will be cut to celebrate the grand opening of Kuro Sushi.
  • November 22, 2025
Kuro Sushi rolls into Lakewood Ranch
Shawna Hicks-Cranston of PostNet raises her Sandies award for the Community Champion category. The annual Sandies was held by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Nov. 14 at the Grove in Lakewood Ranch.
  • November 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community leaders are saluted with Sandies awards
Sarasota's David Farr picks up 21-month-old Henry Farr, who is dazzled by the giant ornaments on the tree on The Green during the Mall at UTC's ongoing holiday celebration.
  • December 1, 2025
Families flock to UTC for the holidays
Siesta Key's Owen Slater, 5, loves animals and couldn't leave the market without getting a homemade octopus from Stitch Fabels, which took 10 hours to make.
  • November 28, 2025
Market at Nathan Benderson Park provides midweek shopping
Runners pack the starting area for the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot Nov. 27 at foggy Nathan Benderson Park. The race had a record 4,558 participants.
  • November 27, 2025
Record 4,558 runners participate in 2025 Florida Turkey Trot
Despite their 30 year age difference, Marge DeSimone and Courtney Barr have become great friends and share a deep love for Nikki, Barr's 7-year-old Bordoodle. They compete in dock diving to keep all of the "Three Musketeers," as Barr said, active and engaged.
  • November 26, 2025
Dock-diving dog helps two single women form a bond of friendship in Myakka
Lakewood Ranch sisters Mariapaz Ritter, 7 and Analia Ritter, 12, got their faces painted by Akiko Graphics at the at Greenbrook Adventure Park. Mariapaz chose a peace sign because "paz" the last part of her name means peace in Spanish and Analia chose daisies because they are her favorite flowers.
  • November 24, 2025
Greenbrook Adventure Park reopens with a fun day
Instead of a ribbon, a 180-pound blue fin tuna will be cut to celebrate the grand opening of Kuro Sushi.
  • November 22, 2025
Kuro Sushi rolls into Lakewood Ranch
Sydney Elliott turns toward an obstacle aboard QC Diamantaire in her final winning run in The Event at TerraNova's CCI4 class.
  • November 16, 2025
Competition season leaps into action at TerraNova Equestrian Center
Sarasota's Julia Wilhelm and Renee Myers check out the pieces of art for sale at LKM Fanciful Creations by Linda McMillan.
  • November 16, 2025
A 'gift from the heart' offered at Lakewood Ranch art show
Maribeth Phillips is the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, and Andy Guz, CEO of Manatee Memorial Hospital, is the board chair.
  • November 15, 2025
Main Street at Lakewood Ranch hosts Empty Bowls
Shawna Hicks-Cranston of PostNet raises her Sandies award for the Community Champion category. The annual Sandies was held by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Nov. 14 at the Grove in Lakewood Ranch.
  • November 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community leaders are saluted with Sandies awards
Rex Jensen, the CEO and president of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, is the 2025 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award winner.
  • November 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch's 'visionary' honored by the Community Foundation
Lakewood Ranch's Vincent Van Slyck keeps his flag waving during the Tribute to Heroes Parade Nov. 9 at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
  • November 10, 2025
Tribute to Heroes Parade salutes veterans
A giant helium-filled nutcracker takes a bow during the 2025 Santa's Grand Arrival Parade Nov. 8 at University Town Center in Sarasota.
  • November 9, 2025
University Town Center delivers parade thrills under the wire in Sarasota
Evan Prince, a second grader at Freedom Elementary, poses next to his masterpiece, "Warm Colored Sky."
  • November 9, 2025
Manatee River Artists Guild celebrates 20 years of collaboration
Cape Coral's John Svidroniv IV paints himself green as a goblin for the Sarasota Medieval Fair, where creatures of all shapes and sizes gather for a magical day.
  • November 7, 2025
Sarasota Medieval Fair returns with themed weekends all November
Sisterhood for Good's Glo Reber not only shows off the first prize of the night, a $1,200 Stella McCartney tote, but her numbers were then called and she won the bag.
  • November 7, 2025
Sisterhood for Good's gamble for charity was in the bag
A 1970 Plymouth Superbird draws a few admirers.
  • November 2, 2025
Lakewood Ranch car show drives donations to St. Jude's
Evan Percoco, co-owner of Twisted Pit BBQ of Lakewood Ranch, dishes out samples at the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch's Suncoast Food and Wine Fest, Nov. 1 at Premier Sports Campus.
  • November 2, 2025
A Premier feast served by the Rotary club, with charity for dessert in Lakewood Ranch