Vacationing family uncovers a 'Jaws'-dropping Lido treasure

With a keen eye and a bit of luck, a free diver found a fossilized megalodon tooth of epic proportions.

Brooks Peirce, 6, holds the epic fossilized megalodon tooth off Lido Beach that Garrett Peirce found while freediving.
Sally Lippert and Mark Shrosbree are preparing to sail to The Bahamas together.
  • July 30, 2026
Couple prepares for Bahamas voyage as they work together on junk rig
Tanya Waxler and Eddie Balen enjoy Christmas in July in celebration of her book signing for "Santa's Extreme Dream Team and the Hospital Mission."
  • July 29, 2026
Local children's author celebrates Christmas early with new book
Angie Elmendorf and Jon Minton, on either side of Allswell owner Tory Delany, are behind the Lakewood Ranch/UTC Foodies Restaurant Reviews Facebook page and the newly formed Lakewood Ranch Dinner Club.
  • July 29, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Dinner Club serves up connections
The Mah Jongg Weekend was filled with colorful, coastal mahjong sets provided by Event Organizer Rennee Fannin.
  • July 29, 2026
Paradise Center host first Mah Jongg Weekend fundraiser

Arts + Culture

Herrig Center for the Arts, formerly ArtCenter Manatee, opened its new building in April.
  • July 29, 2026
The Herrig Center for the Arts is worth a trip to Bradenton
The Sarasota Ballet has hired Misa Kuranaga as principal dancer. In the 2025-26 season, she danced in "Birthday Offering" with the company.
  • July 23, 2026
Sarasota Ballet adds three principal dancers
"Reflection-Venice, 1894," a photogravure print taken by Alfred Stieglitz, and Clarence Hudson White's photogravure print, "Edge of Woods-Evening, (1900)," were gifts of Warren J. and Margot Coville to The Ringling.
  • July 22, 2026
The Ringling goes back to black-and-white photography
Linda R. McKee, retired chief librarian of The Ringling, and Deborah W. Walk, retired chief circus curator, have written a book about a mysterious painting known as the "Greta Garbo Vermeer."
  • July 20, 2026
Two sleuths track the mystery of the 'Greta Garbo Vermeer'
Tanya Waxler and Eddie Balen enjoy Christmas in July in celebration of her book signing for "Santa's Extreme Dream Team and the Hospital Mission."
  • July 29, 2026
Local children's author celebrates Christmas early with new book
The Mah Jongg Weekend was filled with colorful, coastal mahjong sets provided by Event Organizer Rennee Fannin.
  • July 29, 2026
Paradise Center host first Mah Jongg Weekend fundraiser
Ernie Smith lines up trays of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for lunch at Resurrection House. He and nine other volunteers prepared a meal on July 23 as one of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church's monthly charitable events.
  • July 28, 2026
St. Armands volunteers put their cooking skills to good use
Lara Zoppe and Victoria Peddie, both of Lakewood Ranch, sing "No Reason" as Lydia and Delia in "Beetlejuice Jr.," at Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
  • July 25, 2026
Ovation School of Musical Theatre campers present 'Beetlejuice Jr.'
Jared Thomas, 8; Penelope Brouillette, 7; and Sebastian Meehan, 8, chalk the trail together.
  • July 24, 2026
Kids use sidewalk chalk to decorate the trail at Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex
Bradenton 3-year-old Zy'heir Curry, a lover of "Paw Patrol," shows off his trophy from playing flag football at The Learning Experience.
  • July 24, 2026
The Learning Experience in Lakewood Ranch tackles a flag football event
A cownose ray waves a wingtip at onlookers from the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort lagoon on Friday after caretakers introduced half a dozen pups to the enclosure. Resident rays had the babies in December, and experts released the adolescents into the Under the Sea Lagoon.
  • July 20, 2026
Half-dozen baby rays debut at St. Regis lagoon
Toby reaches up to greet a new helping of foam.
  • July 18, 2026
Dog Bar Sarasota celebrates one-year anniversary
Addison Gutowitz, 13, and Harriet Shore, 11, learn skills on electric guitar from 17-year-old Max Froemel in the guitar breakout session.
  • July 17, 2026
Campers come together at School of Rock Lakewood Ranch
A firefighter sprays the roof of a Dock on the Bay condo building Wednesday morning, July 15.
  • July 17, 2026
Fire engulfs Dock on the Bay condo units
Boston's JJ Maguire, 4, Ariel Maguire, 6, and their mom, Kasha Grabowski, wear funky hats while enjoying treats from Jeremiah's Italian Ice at the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch.
  • July 13, 2026
Despite the heat, the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch is still the place to be
Poppy Otte paddles through the water while Mote Education Specialist Morgan Swartz helps.
  • July 12, 2026
Campers make a splash with Mote Marine Laboratory
Alex Walker, 6, and Max Walker, 8, work on paintings at the America250 Celebration at Selby Library.
  • July 11, 2026
America250 Celebration at Selby Library showcases local, national history
Lakewood Ranch's Harper Fraser, 7, Jack Fraser, 5, and their mom, Melissa Fraser, test out the Royally Cosmic photo booth at the Star-Spangled Spectacular at Waterside Place.
  • July 5, 2026
Star-Spangled Spectacular lights up Lakewood Ranch
Sam and Ileana Galati bring some starfish and star-spangled attire.
  • July 5, 2026
All-American Cookout dazzles with bubbles and food
Eric Ribeiro and his son, Luke Ribeiro, 17; watch the fireworks from the VIP and sponsors area.
  • July 5, 2026
Siesta Key Fourth of July Fireworks celebrates local and national milestones
Frankie Del Rosario of The ProMedia Group, which assisted with the projectors for the display, shows that he's "awesome" at setting off the fireworks.
  • July 4, 2026
Fireworks go virtual in interactive art display at Spirit of '76 block party
Lucy Clark and Carlin and Ellie Mackintosh, granddaughters of Longboat Key artist May Lou Johnson, help release the first of 250 butterflies at Freedom Fest. The Fourth of July festivities also included a parade, canine costume contest, rededication of Bicentennial Park and family activities.
  • July 4, 2026
Longboat Key pulls all the stops for special Freedom Fest
The Pops Orchestra of Sarasota and Bradenton performs on the second stage.
  • July 4, 2026
Nathan Benderson Park goes big for Fireworks on the Lake