Property tax overhaul may put Longboat Key library in jeopardy

A possible general fund impact of $87 million will force Sarasota County commissioners to make some "tough decisions." The future of the long-sought Longboat Key library may be among the casualties.

A May 2024 rendering of the Sarasota County library on Longboat Key.
Dan Bue, a U.S. Navy veteran, is both a client and a team member at Operation Warrior Resolution.
  • June 24, 2026
Manatee nonprofit shortens path to wellness for veterans
Shanty Mann, Kaitlyn Presha, 11, Tyanna Mann, 8 and Tyrone Mann attended the event to support its organizer and Tyrone Mann's cousin Gwendalyn Fleetwood.
  • June 23, 2026
Newtown celebrates Juneteenth holiday
Sydney McCullough takes mom, Belle, and 2-week-old foal, Nezuko, for a walk Wednesday at Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions in Myakka City.
  • June 23, 2026
New foal brings joy to Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Past President Michael Garey said he heard of the Miracle League of Manasota when his daughter, Amelia, volunteered as a buddy to the athletes. Garey suggested the 501(c)(3) as the club's new charitable partner, which board members recently accepted.
  • June 22, 2026
Accessible baseball league benefits from Kiwanis pancake breakfast funds

Arts + Culture

A visitor to Sarasota Art Museum takes a photo of David Hockney's "Inside It Opens Up As Well," which collector Stanton Storer loaned to the museum for "Something Borrowed, Something New."
  • June 24, 2026
Collectors lend their treasures to Sarasota Art Museum for blockbuster exhibition
Jerome and Kathryn Chesley pose in their living room surrounded by colorful glass art that they've collected over the years.
  • June 22, 2026
Sarasota couple are cultural ambassadors, together and separately
Most of the action in Asolo Repertory Theatre's "Lady Disdain" takes place in a studio where romantasy audiobooks are recorded.
  • June 17, 2026
Asolo Rep's 'Lady Disdain' brings the Bard into age of romantasy, revenge porn
Cristela Carrizales stars in Lifeline Productions' "Begin Again Badge," which runs through June 21 at the Cook Theatre in FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
  • June 15, 2026
Lifeline Productions follows a Girl Scout who grows up and conquers her demons
Shanty Mann, Kaitlyn Presha, 11, Tyanna Mann, 8 and Tyrone Mann attended the event to support its organizer and Tyrone Mann's cousin Gwendalyn Fleetwood.
  • June 23, 2026
Newtown celebrates Juneteenth holiday
Sienna Linn, a rising first grader at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, says she has no pets at home but has had a blast with her dog, Mia, at the Little Vet School camp.
  • June 20, 2026
Little Vet School teaches skills at The Out-of-Door Academy's summer camp
Eadon Foster, a rising fourth grader at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, and Zion Stenzler, a rising fifth grader at Rowlett Elementary Academy, each use microscopes to look at a goldfish scale, dandelion fuzz, pollen, and more.
  • June 19, 2026
Mad Scientist Adventures Camp presents students with scientific challenges
Jolanta Bremer received the award of the 2026 Queen Helen.
  • June 16, 2026
Attendees get into costume as Mrs. Roper at The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime
Shimon Otsuka joins fans in cheering.
  • June 15, 2026
Hundreds of attendees gather for FIFA World Cup watch party at The Bay
Former Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Jan Wallace congratulates current President Terri Driver, who made club history in accepting the role two years in a row at the June 11 cerermony.
  • June 15, 2026
Longboat Rotarians reflect on community impact at annual gathering
The dozen volunteers assisting the Manasota Track and Field summer cleanup on June 13 collected an estimated 75 pounds of trash from along the roadway near Longboat Key Little Beach in only an hour.
  • June 15, 2026
Volunteers step into summer with fun run and cleanup
Inglemoor High School rowers Krista Alyakin and Karlie Vince made a splash by winning the Women's Youth 2- class at the USRowing Junior National Championships on Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park.
  • June 14, 2026
Emotions flow on USRowing Youth Nationals' final day in Sarasota
Sarasota Crew's Gabrielle DeLeo heads to the finish of the Women's Youth 1x Thursday at the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. She qualified for Friday's semifinal by placing eighth in 7:54.36.
  • June 11, 2026
USRowing National Championships opens in Sarasota
East County residents wait in line before 7 a.m. on June 11 to start shopping at the new Publix at 16642 State Road 64 East.
  • June 11, 2026
Publix opens at corner of SR 64 and Uihlein Road in Lakewood Ranch
Liz Chappell, DJ and Maddie Lessig
  • June 10, 2026
Camp Shriver creates place of connection for disabled athletes
Members of the public curious to learn more about Longboat Key's sea turtle population ask questions of the experts at the first Turtle Walk of the nesting season on June 6 beside the newly staked nest.
  • June 9, 2026
Following record year, turtle nesting season off to strong start on Longboat
Amy Snider and Julie Waters bring some ribbon energy to the dance floor.
  • June 8, 2026
Silver Pride draws nearly 1,000 in its celebration of older LGBTQ+ adults
Daniel Bitter, 7, tosses the lasso.
  • June 7, 2026
Campers at Sarasota City YMCA try their hand at throwing a lasso
Cole Ralston and Aether Baskin enjoy the con experience.
  • June 7, 2026
SRQCon brings pop culture fans together at Selby Library
Isabella Cz, a rising sixth grader at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, and Skylar Flandreau, a rising sixth grader at Martha B. King Middle School, take turns playing the ukulele during the Manatee Arts Education Council smARTen Up Camp.
  • June 4, 2026
Smarten Up Camp gives Manatee County students advanced arts opportunities
Gabrielle Finnegan, chapter president of the Lakewood Ranch High School Future Farmers of America, checks out Lucy the cow with 7-year-old camper Luca Bellantonio.
  • June 3, 2026
Camp churns out important agricultural lessons in Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch's Cole Mule and Bodie Hogan, both 3 years old, explore the bee-themed magnet activity.
  • May 31, 2026
Literacy lessons a hot summer topic at Lakewood Ranch Library
For the final Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season, Randy Bordon and Bri Rivera of the Bri Rivera Band perform for the crowd.
  • May 30, 2026
Crowd jams final Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season
Rabbi Michael Shefrin meets Colby.
  • May 30, 2026
Temple Emanu-El celebrates the joy of pets with Blessing of the Animals
Novalee Roberts, a third grader at Myakka City Elementary, is eager to participate in the Tape the Principal (Carol Ricks) event.
  • May 28, 2026
Myakka City Elementary celebrates test achievements with 'Jump a Bucket'
Mark Akerman, Jay Plager and Past Commodore Michael Landis carry away the colors at the conclusion of Bird Key Yacht Club's Memorial Day ceremony on May 25.
  • May 28, 2026
Dedication to service celebrated at Bird Key's Memorial Day ceremony