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Neighbors

Julie Fanning holds the ceremonial gavel in taking over as the 2025 chair of the board for the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 29, 2025
Maintaining a positive direction is key to new LWRBA chair

Julie Fanning will guide the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance through its 20th anniversary year.

  • East County
  • Business
Linn Torres, All Angels by the Sea administative assistant and art sale coordinator, shows one of the pieces that will be available at the 'New to You' art sale starting Feb. 3.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 29, 2025
Find treasures at 'New to You' art sale

All Angels by the Sea is holding its fifth annual art sale, starting Feb. 3, to support the nonprofit Turning Points, which helps residents avoid homelessness.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Stephen Norman, senior event manager at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, interviews job fair candidates.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 28, 2025
St. Regis job fair adds employees front to back

St. Regis Longboat Key Resort recently sought recruits within the community at an in-house job fair

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Musician Billy Lindsey, performing as Elvis Presley, gives lei necklaces to all the ladies in the audience, including Sharyn Ford.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 28, 2025
Elvis kicks off Longboat Harbor social calendar

Longboat Harbour Condominiums has a full slate of social events planned for 2025, and the events kicked off Jan. 25 with a performance by musician Billy Lindsey.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jessica Polk, Jake Hartvigsen, Colleen Thayer and Beth Walters of Nami prepare to accept the check from Sara Winer.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 28, 2025
Impact100 awards $876,000 in grants to local nonprofits

The women's giving circle offered grants of $109,500 each to eight local nonprofits.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kid Dutch and company lead a raucously fun night of music.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 28, 2025
All that Jazz: NOLA comes to Longboat Key

Kid Dutch and fellow jazz artists brought the smooth sounds of the classic New Orleans music scene to Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Center of Anna Maria Island Executive Director Chris Culhane, Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn and Anna Maria Oyster Bar owner John Horne helped get the rock band to play a benefit concert in Manatee County.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • January 28, 2025
Local groups pull together to pull off big-time benefit concert

Rock concerts, especially ones produced on short notice, can be rife with challenges and obstacles. This one, to raise money for local hospitality workers battered by storms, came together nicely.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lydia Zorzi, who recently authored her first book of poetry, chats with visitor Debra Garret at the Art on the Gulf showcase on Jan. 22.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 27, 2025
Up-and-coming artists featured at showcase

This week's "Art on the Gulf" showcase highlighted the works of six local artists, ranging from jewelry design to poetry to painting.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Gallery Director Colin Thomsen and Regan Dunnick
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 27, 2025
Palm Avenue Fine Art unveils artwork formerly displayed in Sarasota airport

The gallery's exhibit "Echoes of Sarasota: A Historical Preservation" features the work of Frank Hopper and Regan Dunnick.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Artist Michael George chats with visitors at the St. Armands Circle Art Festival.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 27, 2025
St. Armands Circle Art Festival returns in full force

According to organizers, the long-running St. Armands Circle Art Festival is back in full swing since the hurricanes hit Longboat Key at the end of last year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Celebrants cut the ribbon for the official opening of Café on St. Armands.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • January 27, 2025
Revamped St. Armands restaurant blends new, classic styles

Owners of the newly opened Café on St. Armands blended the familiar feeling of the 100-year-old building with an updated aesthetic, hoping to help revamp St. Armands Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Judy Thomas has spent her career in the world of ice skating, on and off the ice.
    By
  • Emily Leinfuss
  • January 27, 2025
Hall-of-famer Judy Thomas reflects on a career spent on the ice

The celebrated ice skater and show recruiter looks back on five decades of career spins, flips and jumps. "It’s not designer brands or Olympic medals that define you," she says. "It’s your experiences, relationships and work ethic."

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Navigator Sierra Inabnett balances the carriage in a turn as driver Amy Cross, a 2024 national champion in Single Pony, works through a water hazard during the Combined Driving at TerraNova event Saturday in Myakka City.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 26, 2025
TerraNova hosts its first Combined Driving event in Myakka City

World champion driver Misdee Wrigley Miller of Lakewood Ranch was among the competitors.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kristen Kruger and Shannon Hunt carry a vibroacoustic bed out of the space.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 26, 2025
Conscious Cause looks ahead amid closure of wellness lounge

The nonprofit looks to a supportive community as it seeks a new space for its wellness lounge and cacao cafe.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Eagle Scouts past and present gather together in front of the Don Collins Scout House.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 23, 2025
Boy Scouts Troop 50 celebrates 70 years

The troop, the oldest in Sarasota County, has been supported by Pine Shores Presbyterian Church since its inception.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
A Goodwill bookstore and donation center will occupy the new outparcel building at 3160 Gulf of Mexico Drive by the end of the year.
  • December 16, 2025
Goodwill to open Dec. 18 on Longboat Key
2
Sixth grader Stella Schechter holds up a finished craft for David Stone.
  • December 16, 2025
Emanu-El students celebrate Hanukkah with Aviva Senior Living residents
3
Bo O'Daniel poses for a photo on Dec. 15 at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School. The senior had three touchdown catches for the Cougars in the Dec. 10 FHSAA Class 2A state championship.
  • December 16, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Bo O'Daniel
4
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
5
Kindergartener Santiago Perez checks out the crochet items.
  • December 16, 2025
Holiday House SRQ now serves a fifth school, but holiday shopping costs rise

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