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Neighbors

Paola Ramirez, Jairo Badilla and Anderson Pelaez
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 12, 2025
Sarasota's CreArte Latino celebrates its birthday with fundraiser

The nonprofit held a fundraiser celebration for its eighth birthday and first birthday in its new space, inviting the local community to join.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Amy Blair, the manager at the Old Salty Dog on City Island, said visitors often enjoy seeing dolphins, sharks, seabirds and other wildlife from the waterfront seating.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 12, 2025
Old Salty Dog celebrates post-recovery recognition

Not long after reopening from a five-month closure caused by hurricane damage, the longstanding Sarasota bar is celebrating a new national commendation.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Andre Evans, 11, his mother Heather Abling, and cousin Nyomii Knight, 9, left with backpacks for the school year.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 11, 2025
Church of the Redeemer prepares Alta Vista students with Back-to-School Bash

The event offered supplies and services before the start of school including shoes and clothing items, backpacks and vision and dental exams.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Evelyn Lucas, 5, and her friends Kevin McGuckin, 3, and his sister Kinsley McGuckin, 5 (front row) pose with Flight Nurse Pamela Young.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 10, 2025
Fire department open house showcases Bayflite medical helicopter

The open house events allow community members to visit fire stations and meet local firefighters and community partners.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Longboat Island Chapel Chef Chef David Stone, Longboat Key Police Department Training Captain David Eggleston, Firefighter/Paramedic (FF/P) Ryan Corso, Lt. Jose Rivera, FF/P David Oliger, Assistant Chief Mike Regnier, Lt. Ron Koper, Lt. Tim Haas, FF/P Jamison Urch, FF/P William Lewis, Fire Chief Paul Dezzi; front row Rev. Brock Patterson Fire/Rescue Liaison CC Imbriaco, chapel members Carol Peschel and Connie DiMaggio. Members of Longboat Island Chapel provided a special lunch to firefighters at Station 92 on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 9, 2025
Longboat Key first responders enjoy midsummer cheer

Longboat Island Chapel members delivered lunch to firefighters and police officers on the Key last week as a thank you for their service to the community.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Betsy Friedman, interim executive director, and Andy Blanch, founder and director, of Sarasota Strong, and Sister Kristina Abernathy and her husband Father Paul Abernathy
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 9, 2025
Pastor leads trauma-informed community development workshop

A workshop hosted by SRQ Strong is part of a project to build community resources from within the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Linn Torres, All Angels by the Sea administrative assistant and art sale coordinator, holds up a decorative glass piece, one of the many art items for sale at this summer's New to You art sale at the church.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 9, 2025
All Angels by the Sea Episcopal kicks off summer art sale

The Longboat Key church is holding a smaller-scale version of its spring New to You art sale through September, featuring jewelry, decor and more.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
William Rasulo and Grayson Blaney do not let the heat stop them from putting their all into a game of soccer. Blaney has played soccer for four years and calls it "fun soccer" when he plays at the Y.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 8, 2025
Lakewood Ranch YMCA wraps up its summer camp program

The summer camp keeps kids busy with sports, crafts, games, pool time and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Paradise Center, located at 546 Bay Isles Road, has until August to raise funding to move to a new space after its rent went up under new ownership.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 8, 2025
The Paradise Center continues fundraising

The community center is set to move from its current location at the end of August, later moving to Longboat Island Chapel.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Charles Moore, Mattie Mae and John Cox
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 7, 2025
Former Sarasota deputy goes global in providing wheelchairs to animals

When John Cox founded Ruck9, he was hoping to help a few dogs to walk again, but his mission has encompassed animals around the world, from geese to skunks.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tennis for Fun has grown in size since it began hosting clinics at Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 6, 2025
Tennis for Fun helps develop the skills of athletes with disabilities

The program has helped advance local players to the State Summer Games of the Special Olympics.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch resident Arelis Calkins sees life as a beautiful thing despite traumatic experiences in her life. She shares stories and advice in her book "Rising Above Adversity: Healing and Nurturing your Inner Child."
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 6, 2025
Lakewood Ranch author writes about blazing path through childhood trauma

"Rising Above Adversity: Healing and Nurturing your Inner Child” documents Arelis Calkins' personal struggles and how she overcame them.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Coco Claypoole, who recently founded the Florida branch of the youth environmental group Bubbles of Hope, prepares for a Sunday morning dive in Venice.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 6, 2025
Teen diver takes initiative cleaning up local waters

Inspired by her watery surroundings on Longboat Key, 15-year-old Coco Claypoole recently started her own scuba-certified youth cleanup crew in Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Workers with Kearns Construction Company, who have been leading the charge installing the new "living wall" at Bayfront Park on Longboat Key, said plenty of parkgoers have been curiously inquiring about the project.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 6, 2025
Living wall comes to life on Longboat Key

A project to improve water quality at Longboat Key's Bayfront Park is only a few weeks from completion and already starting to meet its goal.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Chef Fred Lugano dishes up pulled pork at Christ Church of Longboat Key's Aug. 3 fundraiser to support those recovering from severe flooding in Texas.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 5, 2025
Texas flood survivors gain support from Longboat Key church

Congregation members raised more than $21,000 to support the recovering community, inspired by familial connections.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Fire Department Chief Jason Hackley and one of the agency's three trucks with onboard tanks that hold 400 gallons of firefighting foam.
  • August 7, 2026
SRQ airport gets out ahead of PFAS foam mandate
2
Lt. Clay Huber was cheered by about 100 first responders and hospital personnel on Thursday.
  • August 6, 2026
Hospitalized Sarasota firefighter cheered upon his release from care
3
There's something rotten in the city of Sarasota
  • August 6, 2026
There's something rotten in the city of Sarasota
4
Shane Catts, who started Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & Ecoventures with his wife, Holly Rolls, said the Longboat Key-based business has been proud to be part of so many families' favorite times vacationing and living on the island in the nearly 10 years it has been open on the north end.
  • August 6, 2026
Happy Paddler celebrates family legacy on Longboat Key waters
5
  • August 6, 2026
Voter organization to hold election information sessions

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