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Neighbors

The Christian Retreat welcomes all denominations to stay and worship.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 17, 2024
The Family Church at Christian Retreat welcomes all denominations

The retreat was founded in 1968 and sits on 110 acres overlooking the Manatee River.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 17, 2024
SPD offers Painting With Police program

Monthly sessions are held the third Wednesday through the end of the year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Resident Shawn Leven started Friends of Pickleball to make pickleball more accessible on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 17, 2024
Shawn Leven creates Friends of Pickleball on Longboat Key

The Longboater is pursuing nonprofit status for the group with the goal of making the sport more accessible on the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
YabbaDabbaDoo of Reddick, Florida, with JD Ivines and Steve Adams, makes a leap from the water.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 16, 2024
Powerboats go full-throttle in the waters off Lido Beach

The 40th annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix continued the tradition of high-performance racing.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Wetlands provide essential wildlife habitat, buffers for excess rain and filter impurities that would otherwise degrade our waterways.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • September 16, 2024
Myakka wetlands showcase a filtration system at work

By removing impurities, filtration by wetlands improves downstream water quality.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Nancy Goodheart Matthews was able to establish the plaque at the fountain with the help of City of Sarasota public art lead Mary Davis Wallace.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 15, 2024
Sarasota celebrates its Mermaid Fountain

The fountain was honored by the Smithsonian Institution’s inventory of public art sculptures in 1995.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sallie West joined her close friend Donna Powell in making suncatchers at the Paradise Center.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • September 14, 2024
The Paradise Center in Longboat Key hosts 'Do-It-Yourself' art class

Debbie Lemieux repurposed old jewelry and trinkets to make sun catchers with Paradise Center regulars.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Real estate experts say Lakewood Ranch's lifestyle aspect have kept it more of a sellers market as compared to the rest of Sarasota and Manatee counties.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 12, 2024
Sunset Volleyball keeps sand between their toes at Waterside Place

MVP Sports organizes pickup league games every Wednesday night at Waterside in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Chip Bennett, lead pastor of Grace Community Church in Lakewood Ranch, says his church sees 4,000 worshippers on a typical Sunday during season.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • September 12, 2024
Churches mirror huge growth in Lakewood Ranch

Faith communities say rapid expansion is a blessing and a challenge

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Britta Rhode, Jimmy Rhode, Karissa Rhode and Ellerie Rhode believe Lakewood Ranch is their forever home.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 12, 2024
Families grow with Lakewood Ranch: The Rhodes

Jimmy and Karisa Rhode moved to the area from snowy Minnesota and never looked back.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Derek and Stephanie Schmitt, Kirsten (Schmitt) and Trevor Lovett, and Bob and Charleen Schmitt stand in front of Bob and Charleen's Summerfield home.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 12, 2024
Families grow with Lakewood Ranch: The Schmitts

From first baby to larger families, the Schmitt family has grown on the Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Karen and Malcolm Ronney have operated The Granary since August 2015.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 12, 2024
The Granary remains a Lakewood Ranch breakfast and lunch staple

Karen and Malcolm Ronney found Lakewood Ranch to be the perfect place to host their business ventures.

  • East County
  • Business
Chief Nursing Officer Judy Young, surgeon Samuel Yelverton, CEO Andy Guz and Director of Quality and Accreditation Malou Kaseta enjoy working at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center together.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 12, 2024
LWR Medical Center maintains small-town feel, offers advanced care

The Lakewood Ranch Medical Center opened 10 years after Schroeder-Manatee Ranch started building Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Division Chief Bob Mikulski, Administrative Officer Stephen Beecher and Chief Lee Whitehurst work out of Station 1 on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 12, 2024
SMR ignited trust for fire district growth

In 1994, there was only one fire station. Now, East Manatee Fire Rescue has 10 stations and a training tower.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Olivia Escorcia, 7, and Marco Escorcia, 5, meet the Easter Bunny at Eggstravaganza.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 12, 2024
Community Activities makes connections by focusing on smaller gatherings

Quality and intentional connections are key to the nonprofit's successful growth.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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1
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
2
Charlie Shachat, a co-founder of the Foolishly Festive Christmas Parade, decided to be part of the show for the "Jaws" 50th anniversary.
  • December 19, 2025
Esplanade continues tradition of being 'foolishly festive' for parade
3
District 5 representative Ron Cutsinger will be the 2026 chairman of the Sarasota County Commission.
  • December 19, 2025
Sarasota County commissioners pick chair, vice chair
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Locations of the new St. Armands speed tables are marked in red.
  • December 19, 2025
St. Armands speed humps will be replaced with permanent speed tables
5
All games in the 2027 Sarasota College Softball Classic will be played on the championship field (lower left) at the new 17th Street Park Regional Sports Complex.
  • December 18, 2025
New north Sarasota park draws major collegiate softball tournament

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