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Neighbors

Campers learn to build sandcastles like a pro
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 25, 2025
Campers learn to build sandcastles like a pro

Sarasota County's Sand Sculpture Camp wrapped up June 25 with a series of detailed sculptures encircling a spot on Siesta Key Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Jason Guillama, 4, prepares to place a plant into the garden.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 25, 2025
Kids come together to plant butterfly garden at Leonard Reid House

Three different educational organizations in Sarasota came together to help plant the garden.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The artistry of Pat Neal is building and selling homes, and he continues that journey with the Lakewood Ranch-area's Palm Grove, which hosts a grand opening June 27.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 25, 2025
Palm Grove celebrates its grand opening in Lakewood Ranch area

Pat Neal continues to be a master navigating tumultuous real estate waters.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Mary Bilkie is one of the original volunteers for Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 25, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Elks volunteers feed empty little tummies

Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies packed 14,000 bags of food for school children last year alone.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Visitors to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium began packing the house this week to pay their final visits before the City Island facility closes to the public, making way for expanded operations in East County.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 25, 2025
Visitors begin bidding farewell to Sarasota's City Island arm of Mote exhibits

After generations of visitors have enjoyed being entertained and educated at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, many took the opportunity to say farewell before operations shift to the new facility near University Town Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Heather Kasten and Daniel DeLeo at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick address attendees.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 25, 2025
Sarasota Chamber of Commerce honors local businesses with spectacle

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce honored winners in 10 categories.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Chef José Martinez of Maison Blanche hops in the cab of a fire engine after he and Juan Gomez join the Rotary Club of Longboat Key in preparing a special thank-you lunch to members of Fire Station 2 with Longboat Key Fire Rescue.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 24, 2025
Maison Blanche continues pandemic-era firehouse tradition

The high-end French restaurant was one of several that joined the Rotary Club of Longboat Key in feeding the island's first responders.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Artist Darnell “Solo the Artist” Kirkwood shared his series "Discoveries Along the Way" with visitors at Cirque St. Armands Beachside during a pop-up event open to the community.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 24, 2025
Cirque St. Armands Beachside features pop-up abstract artist

The luxury hotel invited the public to enjoy the pop-up, and leaders said they hope to feature more community events.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
As a member of the Savannah Bananas, Correlle Prime's career takes him on the road, but his heart always is with his family in Manatee County.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 24, 2025
Savannah Banana's greatest connection is with his Manatee County family

Ballplayer Correlle Prime maintains a balanced diet: Bananas on the road and his family at home.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Greg Fiore, Sylvia Day, Maria Ray and Angela Bennick (not pictured) all boosted their brainpower with fun cognitive thinking exercises.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 24, 2025
The Paradise Center boosts brainpower with Brain Games

The Longboat Key Paradise Center Brain Games that took place June 17 was filled with laughing, singing and storytelling.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Edwin Jackson hands an autographed baseball to Luke Holcomb, a friend of Raining Berries Founder Bimal Bhojani.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 24, 2025
Former Rays pitcher is behind new Raining Berries location in Sarasota

The new Raining Berries location is co-owned by former MLB player and World Series Champion Edwin Jackson and Super Bowl champion star Kenneth Gainwell.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Lakewood Ranch's Kevin Allen connects with the crowd during the Florida Studio Theatre's improv show at Waterside Place June 20.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 23, 2025
Florida Studio Theatre entertainers provide the laughs at Waterside

The improv artists collected fodder from the audience for their outdoor show.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
"Shrek the Musical Jr." was put together from beginning to end in a span of two weeks at a summer camp led by Michelle McCord, the director and owner of Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 23, 2025
Young performers tell the story of 'Shrek the Musical Jr.'

In a two-week camp at Ovation School of Musical Theatre, the actors learned the musical from start to finish.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Joaquin Cortez and Craig Mutch won first place in the people's choice awards, doubles, for "Be the Change" at the 2024 Siesta Key Crystal Classic.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2025
Tickets now available for 2025 Siesta Key Crystal Classic

Early-purchase ticket, parking and sponsorship opportunities for the annual Siesta Beach sandsculpting event are now available.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Shirley Pearson, executive director of Strength in Action, Inc., explains how Longboat Island Chapel's donation at the latest Gather and Give will support formerly incarcerated people successfully rejoin the community, among the group's other initiatives.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 22, 2025
Longboat church uplifts Palmetto partners to serve community

Longboat Island Chapel shined a spotlight on Palmetto's Strength in Action program that offers educational opportunities and other resources to those who need it.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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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