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Neighbors

The home at 2834 Browning Street featured countless decorations and animated figures.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 18, 2025
Sarasota homes light up for the holidays

Some of the highlights in Sarasota include the homes at 2834 Browning St. and 3059 Jamaica St.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Osprey play an important role in local ecosystems, and they seek out high perches on either designated nesting perches or, as in this case, power poles.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • December 18, 2025
Ospreys get a home renovation

The city of Sarasota recently straightened out an osprey perch on City Island that was damaged by Hurricane Milton.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Emily Chana, 10, rehearses the swinging trapeze.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 17, 2025
Sailor Circus Academy students prepare for 'Winterโ€™s Dream' show

The holiday performance by the youth circus program features eight shows from Friday, Dec. 26 through Monday, Dec. 29.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lynnette Beecher and Gunilla Imshaug, members of the Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club, check out a photo of a baby alligator that was taken moments before.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch photography club preserves moments in time

The club was founded in 2004 and works to bring together photographers of all interests and skill levels.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sixth grader Stella Schechter holds up a finished craft for David Stone.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 16, 2025
Emanu-El students celebrate Hanukkah with Aviva Senior Living residents

Temple Emanu-El's religious school visits the senior living development each year, to allow kids the opportunity to celebrate the holiday together.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kindergartener Santiago Perez checks out the crochet items.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 16, 2025
Holiday House SRQ now serves a fifth school, but holiday shopping costs rise

This year, the nonprofit provided its free holiday shopping experiences to five elementary schools, but rising prices for gifts pose a challenge.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Check out the following options for holiday services this season.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • December 16, 2025
Celebrate season's tidings at these Longboat holiday services

Longboat Key residents and visitors have no shortage of ways to celebrate their faith this holiday season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Maddox and Lou Towery have packed up shoeboxes during the Community Holiday Shoebox Collection Drive for the last seven years.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 15, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community rallies to support seniors with shoebox event

Community Holiday Shoebox Collection Drive heads toward another record year in donations.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Zac Boone, 6, showcases his crystals.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 15, 2025
Children's Entrepreneur Market offers kids business experience

The organization has been active in Sarasota since April and gives kids space to host their business at community events.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Karen and Tom Eckert work as master gardener volunteers with the University of Florida to educate the public about gardening, plants, landscaping and more.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 15, 2025
Master gardeners plant seeds of wisdom at Lakewood Ranch Library

Lakewood Ranch's Karen and Tom Eckert are among the experts who teach important gardening techniques.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Golden Ticket arrives, and Olaf the snowman has been invited to the rooftop party.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 14, 2025
Sarasota Bay lights up with annual Holiday Boat Parade

A series of festively decorated boats sailed around Sarasota Bay during the Holiday Boat Parade supporting Suncoast Charities for Children.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This house on the corner of Wedge Lane and Bogey Lane takes the cake for one of the most colorfully decorated homes on Longboat Key this season.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • December 14, 2025
Which Longboat homes dazzle the most with holiday lights?

Lit-up lights on Longboat Key may take some sleuthing to find, but several homeowners embraced the holiday season with their festive decorations this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Joni Hill, Cate Douglas and Gaby Hayashi make their way across the beach.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 14, 2025
Holiday spirit gets moving at Sandy Claws Beach Run

The annual Sandy Claws Beach Run, which is held on Siesta Key Beach and brings a festive spin to running events, is now in its 49th year.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Lylah MacDonald, 6, hops along in the sack race.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 14, 2025
Holidays at The Bay brings Hawaiian twist to holidays

The event featured a "Holiday Hula" theme this year as families enjoyed fun activities and greetings with Santa Claus.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
David Forester sings a solo of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" with The Venice Symphony for a big band-style Christmas concert on Dec. 12 at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • December 13, 2025
Big band means big tunes at St. Mary Christmas concert

Members of The Venice Symphony performed a 1950s-era big band setlist of Christmas tunes for a concert at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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1
All games in the 2027 Sarasota College Softball Classic will be played on the championship field (lower left) at the new 17th Street Park Regional Sports Complex.
  • December 18, 2025
New north county park draws major collegiate softball tournament
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Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man
  • December 18, 2025
Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man
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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.
  • December 18, 2025
Police foil developing bank scam as it unfolds
5
The home at 2834 Browning Street featured countless decorations and animated figures.
  • December 18, 2025
Sarasota homes light up for the holidays

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