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News

Sarasota City Attorney Joe Polzak and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs during a meeting of the Sarasota City Commission.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 5, 2025
Sarasota charter official evaluations begin this month

City commissioners evaluated the evaluation process forSarasota's top three officers and instruct the addition of a self-assessment narrative.

  • Sarasota
  • News
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 4, 2025
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade

The Saturday event down Main Street steps off at 7 p.m., but restrictions begin 12 hours earlier.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A satellite image of Hurricane Irma.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 4, 2025
Hurricane season ends without Florida landfall

No hurricanes hit the continental United States in 2025, though the Atlantic hurricane season did see the second most Category 5 storms ever.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota Police Department personnel monitor Sarasota's network of cameras, license plate readers, gunshot detectors and other devices in the nearly completed Real-Time Operations Center.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 4, 2025
SPD set to grow its city camera system

The Sarasota Police Department seeks to expand its network of cameras into businesses and outside of homes with its SRQ City View initiative.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager speaks at a Rotary Club of Longboat Key meeting Tuesday, Sept. 16. Mager, who spent nearly three decades in law enforcement primarily in Delray Beach, said LBKPD has training requirements similar to the much larger city of Delray and that officers on the Key are well prepared for any event that may take place thanks to partnerships the department has with neighboring jurisdictions.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 4, 2025
Longboat police chief begins community video series

Russ Mager will share monthly updates with the community on social media in an effort to show the department's transparency.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A floating day dock has been built along the refurbished south seawall in the 10th Street boat basin as part of The Bay park Phase 2.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 4, 2025
Parking fees coming to new day dock slips at The Bay park

The Sarasota City Commission approves fees of $2 per hour and a five-hour maximum to tie off at the new floating day dock in The Bay park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The first wave of participants in the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens groundbreaking scoop some sand.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 3, 2025
Selby Botanical Gardens breaks ground on Master Plan Phase 2

The $61 million Master Plan contains plans to bring a new conservatory complex, learning pavilion and key landscape features to the Sarasota campus.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sidewalks on the southern portion of Gulf of Mexico Drive will be closed nightly as construction crews begin work to install a gas line to accommodate a dredging project in Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 3, 2025
Expect road, sidewalk closures on Longboat Key

The southmost segment of Gulf of Mexico Drive will be impacted as crews install a gas line and complete road work.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
CEO Mike Bisaha says the new equipment will at least triple Big Top Brewing Co.'s beer production.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 3, 2025
Big Top to open expanded brew house at Sarasota's Fruitville Commons

An upgraded brewing system will more than triple Big Top's beer production.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Lucie Lapovsky, president of the Longboat Key Democratic Club, and Nick Gladding, president of the Republican Club of Longboat Key, are two members of Miracle on the Key, a group which aims to find common ground among hot-button political issues.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 3, 2025
Longboat Dems, GOP join together to find common ground

Miracle on the Key is a group of Longboat Key residents with opposing political viewpoints who get together to find common ground.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A schematic drawing of a one-story clubhouse at Bobby Jones Golf Club.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 3, 2025
'Grandiose' Bobby Jones clubhouse design lands short of the green

More than a year after approving a two-story clubhouse at Bobby Jones Clubhouse, the Sarasota City Commission opts for a scaled-down version.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A leatherback turtle hatchling crosses the beach.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 3, 2025
Turtles born on Longboat return home to nest decades later

Using brain-embedded magnetite crystals, sea turtles will make a 10,000-mile trek as adults back to their birthplace to nest.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Marine Corps veteran Dale Cole lives in Greenfield Plantation and is a regular user of Manatee Moves.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 3, 2025
Ride service for Manatee County veterans is on the move

Since the Manatee Moves program began in January, more than 300 veterans have utilized 1,935 free rides.

  • East County
  • News
Commissioners George Kruse and Bob McCann are on opposite sides of the AAA High School vote. Kruse voted in favor of approving the site plan, and McCann voted to deny the site plan.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 3, 2025
Manatee commissioners have final say about new school but no real power

The issue came to the forefront when three of four Manatee County commissioners voted to deny a Lakewood Ranch school site plan.

  • East County
  • News
An e-biker rides south on the sidewalk parallel to Gulf of Mexico Drive. The town of Longboat Key is having initial discussions about writing a new ordinance to regulate the use of e-bikes to increase public safety.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 3, 2025
E-bike regulation considered by Longboat Key

With the rise in popularity of e-bikes, Longboat Key is mulling an ordinance to manage the rising mode of transportation.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
Richard Thomas stars in "Mark Twain Tonight!" at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Dec. 19-20.
  • December 16, 2025
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Dec. 18-24
2
Kindergartener Santiago Perez checks out the crochet items.
  • December 16, 2025
Holiday House SRQ now serves a fifth school, but holiday shopping costs rise
3
Pator Caleb Free's daughter JoJo Free attends Risen Savior Academy.
  • December 16, 2025
Lutheran church brings more Christian education to Lakewood Ranch
4
Lakewood Ranch High football coach Scott Paravicini looks on during an Oct. 30 game against Bayshore. Per the FHSAA's tentative classifications, the Mustangs are bound for Class 6A-District 12 after finishing the 2025 season at 4-6 in 6A-11.
  • December 16, 2025
More reclassification won't help area football teams
5
Check out the following options for holiday services this season.
  • December 16, 2025
Celebrate season's tidings at these Longboat holiday services

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