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Neighbors

A registrant receives a gift card from volunteer Moana Dooley (right).
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 19, 2026
Grant helps St. Jude Catholic Church serve those in need during the holidays

St. Jude Catholic Church was awarded a $10,000 grant on Aug. 22, 2025 from the Kathleen K. Catlin Foundation of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota MLK Celebration Committee Chair Jetson Grimes, awardees Joseph Mack, Susan Imperato, Valerie Buchand, Meadow Lark Walker, Monica Donley and David Morse, and former mayor Willie Shaw, gather on stage.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 19, 2026
Sarasota's community celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day

An awards ceremony and parade preceded the MLK Music Festival and Medical/Wellness Fair.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gardeners Out East president Nancy Schneider gives the plaque for the Japanese blueberry tree that the group donated to Simone Rose, who works as the office manager for Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 19, 2026
Japanese blueberry tree serves as gift to LWR celebration of life center

Gardeners Out East thanks Robert Toale and Sons Celebration of Life Center for donating use of its facility.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Soloist Kei Sulhi, backed by fellow members of the Temple Beth Israel choir, offers her annual rendition of “The King of Love is Dead,” originally sung by Nina Simone and written by Gene Taylor, in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. at a special Shabbat service.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 19, 2026
Differences celebrated at MLK Jr. memorial Shabbat

Representatives from Embracing Our Differences spoke to the importance of inclusion during Temple Beth Israel's special Shabbat service memorializing Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Leaders from the Longboat Harbour Yacht Club participate in the swearing-in ceremony during the Jan. 17 Change of Watch. From left, John Shea, dockmaster; Susan Luke, purser; Herb Ritchell, scribe; Mike Perez, vice commodore; and Jeff Hecklau, commodore.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 19, 2026
Commodore Jeff Hecklau returns to lead Longboat Harbour Yacht Club

Club leaders participated in a Change of Watch ceremony Jan. 17, reaffirming their commitment to helping the boating community thrive.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay kicked off its 60th anniversary celebration on Jan. 15 with live music and special guests including Plymouth Harbor President and CEO Jeff Weatherhead, City of Sarasota Mayor Debbie Trice, Chris Pfahler, Plymouth Harbor vice president of philanthropy, Pastor Wes Bixby of First Congregational United Church of Christ Sarasota and Sara Little, president of the Resident Association.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 18, 2026
Plymouth Harbor celebrates 60 years

The senior-living facility on Sarasota Bay kicked off this year's merry-making with music and sharing memories.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Bonnie Michaels, literacy coach at Alta Vista Elementary School, helps students Deja (5th grade), Gianni (4th grade), Yoselyn (1st grade) and Andre (2nd grade) try out the new book vending machine. Sarasota Yacht Club youth board members coordinated the installation to help promote strong reading habits.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 18, 2026
Reading comes with a fun twist via new book vending machine

Members of the Sarasota Yacht Club's youth program took the lead in installing the machine at Alta Vista Elementary School to promote reading habits.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Rhonda Leiberick and Roscelyn Guenther snag a selfie together in between the running and yoga portions of the triathlon. They alternated between walking and running every two minutes.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 18, 2026
Triathlon brings mindfulness to Lakewood Ranch's Waterside Place

The Mindful Triathlon hosted 136 entrants who ran, meditated and did yoga.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Artists from Embracing Our Differences line up to be recognized alongside President and CEO Sarah Wertheimer (right).
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 18, 2026
Embracing Our Differences opens grandly on Sarasota bayfront

The annual exhibition at Bayfront Park features displays of 50 works of art paired with quotes, chosen from 14,904 submissions across 125 countries.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tom Watson showcases his 1929 Ford Model A.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 17, 2026
Sarasota Yacht Club, St. Armands commemorate anniversary with century of cars

A parade and a car show featured machines that span the same time period as the two organizations.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
An aerial view of the Steans/Morrison property donated to Hermitage Artist Retreat.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 17, 2026
Manasota Key artist retreat receives $12 million gift of land, homes

A family donation of five buildings on 6.5 acres will allow Hermitage Artist Retreat to double its residency program.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The crew from Station 1 walk across the parking lot to grab some lunch. From left to right: Battalion Chief Craig Madsen and firefighters Adam Stem, Evan Berggren and Tyler Schuele.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 16, 2026
Braden River VFW dishes out thanks to East Manatee firefighters

VFW members brought lunch to the East Manatee Fire Rescue administration building, where they hold their monthly meeting.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bradenton's Harley Busch, 3, is eager to ride the carousel alongside her father John Busch at the Manatee County Fair. She also rode a camel moments before.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 16, 2026
Manatee County Fair, a tradition since 1916, is now open

The fair launched its 11-day run Thursday with a variety of animals, rides, food, live entertainment and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Attendees celebrate the opening of "Embracing Our Differences" at the 2024 exhibition.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 16, 2026
Embracing our Differences exhibit opens Saturday

Artwork from adults and students will be on display through mid-April in Sarasota's Bayfront Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dennis Brock works on a Magiscope in his workshop.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 15, 2026
Local creator of children's microscope works to make science more accessible

Since 1987, Sarasota's Dennis Brock has been producing the Brock Magiscope, which draws from ambient light and minimizes breakable components.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April
2
  • March 20, 2026
Longboat Key's Cops, Cars & Coffee rescheduled
3
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
  • March 20, 2026
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
4
Dolores M. Stevens (2025)
  • March 19, 2026
Dolores M. Stevens
5
Zachary Keller and Helen Krushinski star in "Water for Elephants," which comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 12-14, 2027.
  • March 19, 2026
'Water for Elephants,' 'Six' and 'Hell's Kitchen' lead Van Wezel's 2026-27 lineup

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