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Neighbors

Al Van Iten helps out shopper Jenny Phillips with her purchase of a teak shower set at the Royal Rummage Sale. Van Iten said he appreciates helping out the charitable effort while getting to meet interesting people.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • March 9, 2026
Crowds come out en force for Royal Rummage Sale

The fundraiser sale at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church saw pre-opening lines extending to Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation Executive Director Kate Mulligan, Meals on Wheels Plus President and CEO Maribeth Phillips, and Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation President Jeffrey Toale gather together after Phillips accepted a $25,000 grant to beautify Daybreak.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 9, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation honors 2025 grant recipients

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation gave $90,000 worth of grants to 22 nonprofits.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mark Daunt from The Resort at Longboat Key Club doles out a sweet pick-me-up from the organization’s booth at the 3rd annual Town of Longboat Key Open House on March 7 at the Town Center Green.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • March 9, 2026
Longboat town open house features nearly 40 reps

Organizations from local departments, businesses, nonprofits and more connected with community members at the March 7 open house.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
18 of the 30 Citizens Academy graduates pose for a photo at Town Hall after being recognized by town leaders at the March 2 Town Commission meeting for completing the seven-week program.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 8, 2026
Longboat Citizens Academy graduates celebrated

Citizens Academy participants completed a seven-week program to learn how the town of Longboat Key operates and the services it provides to residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Olivier Latry takes a bow.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 8, 2026
Notre-Dame organist offers concert dedicating pipe organ at SAKLC

Olivier Latry visited Sarasota to provide the concert that dedicated the St. Armands Lutheran Church's Schantz pipe organ installed in 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bradenton's Madison Hokanson, 5, and Jaxson Hokanson, 2, came dressed for the occasion to the Irish Celtic Festival at Greenbrook Adventure Park on March 7.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 8, 2026
Irish Celtic Festival paints the park green in Lakewood Ranch

The Irish Celtic Festival featured Irish music, dance, food and more at the Greenbrook Adventure Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Scholarship recipients CJ Conaway and Amaury Castillo-Acevedo
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 7, 2026
Teen Court of Sarasota gives out record scholarship dollar amount

The organization issued $40,000 worth of scholarships to 20 students at its annual dinner March 4.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kiana Nahale, 3, meets a hawksbill turtle.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 7, 2026
Attendees discover the 'wonders of water' at Bay Fest

Now in its third year, the event brought together various conservation organizations to showcase the life found in Sarasota's local waterways.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jim and Ellen Kelleher take in the breeze from Sarasota Bay while socializing at the March 3 St. Armands Key Residents Association dinner at the Sarasota Yacht Club.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • March 6, 2026
St. Armands residents hone long-term, community-based vision

The annual dinner recognized residents Mike Adkinson and Mary Lynn Cheatham for their contributions to the St. Armands community.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Gracie, who was trained at Dogs Inc., has returned happiness to the life of Lakewood Ranch's Mark Thornsbrough.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 6, 2026
By the Grace of Dogs Inc., Lakewood Ranch resident sees the light

Detached retinas sent Mark Thornsbrough into darkness and depression, but Gracie the guide dog has restored his passion for life.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Medallion Home's Kellie Reith (left) and Mark Santiago (right) chat with Judy Athari (center) of Berkshire Hathaway during the 2026 Manatee Realtor Preview event March 5 at the Grove in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 6, 2026
Realtors, builders ready for the parade in Lakewood Ranch-area

The Suncoast Builders Association runs its 2026 Parade of Homes from March 7-29.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Pink Milkweed is a native, re-seeding plant, dormant in winter, that draws monarch and queen butterflies.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 5, 2026
Test your knowledge of native plants

These are some of the plants adapted to Florida's soil conditions and environment.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Magpie is in training to seek out nests for Sea Turtle Inc.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 4, 2026
Dog from Satchel's Last Resort in training to search out sea turtle nests

Magpie will be one of only three dogs in the country trained to search out sea turtle nests for conservation purposes, according to Satchel's Last Resort.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Linda Medina and Aliana Donald, second graders at Daughtrey Elementary, are eager to answer any questions Miss Gina might ask about the books she reads.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 4, 2026
Books for Kids continues to bring reading passion to elementary students

The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch program provides reading volunteers to 10 schools in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Curran Foundation's flagship project in Wake County, North Carolina is the Triangle Aquatic Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 4, 2026
Curran Foundation is new to Lakewood Ranch but not to giving

The foundation has made a nearly $13 million investment in Wake County, North Carolina, and now is investing in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

  • East County
  • 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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