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Sarasota | Neighbors

Students jump on the trampoline.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 18, 2024
Train like an Olympian: More niche sports with homes in Sarasota

The Summer Games fun doesn’t have to end. Here are two more Olympic sports you can learn in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jennifer Pilate, Erin McLeod and Felton Pilate
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 16, 2024
White House honors Senior Friendship Centers CEO with Lifetime Achievement Award

The prestigious award recognized McLeod's more than 6,500 hours of community service in her lifetime.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Furniture and other items is removed from homes along a street in Pinecraft.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 14, 2024
Pennsylvania Mennonites help Pinecraft residents with flood damage

The Plain Compassion Crisis Response seeks more volunteers as it begins to assist with flood damage in the area.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Yacht Club built a playhouse for a Harvest House campus.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 12, 2024
Sarasota Yacht Club builds a playhouse for Harvest House

Club members teamed up to fund and build a playhouse for children who live at Harvest House campuses.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jing Wu, Savana Byrne and Mei-Li Thompson
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 12, 2024
Collectibles and characters abound at SarasotaCon

Attendees showcased their love of pop culture at the event, which also featured vendors and special offerings.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
In addition to benefiting native flora and fauna, wetlands within and upstream of urban areas are particularly valuable for flood protection.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • August 11, 2024
Myakka wetlands reduce downstream flooding

By containing waters, flooding in the park supports natural and human communities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jospeh Vavrik as the Penguin and Heidi Vavrik as Lark.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 8, 2024
Sarasota cosplayers find place to be themselves and fictional characters

Cosplayers describe the experience and effort of bringing their favorite heroes and villains to life.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By BayView Dental
  • August 8, 2024
This One Habit Can Make You a Cavity Magnet.

Habitual snackers, brace yourself.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Jack Kushin, 7, Cason West, 7 and Kai Dodge, 6, came dressed as Spider-Man.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 3, 2024
City of Sarasota summer camp keeps kids active

The experience provided fun and games and included a major league trip and costume day.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Zuri
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 1, 2024
Big Cat Habitat adopts first cheetah

Zuri will serve as an ambassador for cheetahs in the wild.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mark Vu, 13 and his brother Matthew Vu, 16, practice at SRQ Fencing Club.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 1, 2024
Train like an Olympian: Niche sports have home in Sarasota

Fencing and synchronized swimming clubs offer fun and high-level instruction.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Wright Bush House
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 1, 2024
Newtown is largest Black historic district in state thanks to coalition effort

The preservation project helped Sarasota become only the second city to win the Stewards of Heritage Award.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The church's fellowship hall.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 31, 2024
St. Paul Lutheran renovates its historic Victor Lundy architecture

The church on Bahia Vista Street was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
An animated "365" was projected underneath the bridge.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 30, 2024
Coalition of LGBTQ+ groups lights underside of Ringling Bridge

The organizations adapted a planned event to weather conditions on July 28 by lighting a section underneath the bridge.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kyle McCreight adopted Tre on June 29, 2019, from Nate's Honor Animal Rescue in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 30, 2024
Three-legged dog gives 'Tre'-mendous inspiration

A dog inspired a Sarasota man to reach a berth on "American Ninja Warrior."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alan Staniforth is a sailing instructor for adults at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron and also teaches throughout the season.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • July 28, 2024
Sarasota Sailing Squadron teaches adults to sail in weeklong camp

General Manager Eduardo Sylvestre started the camps to make sailing more accessible to those getting a late start.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Guitars hang on display at Divergent Guitar.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 25, 2024
Guitar shop sells instruments with unique histories

Musician Aric Paul's retail space, Divergent Guitar, brings together rare guitars with legacies in Sarasota's Rosemary District.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
A sand painting for Corpus Christi in La Orotava, Canary Islands.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 25, 2024
Chalk Fest organizers bring a new art to Sarasota — and the US

This year's Chalk Festival will bring international floral artists to Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Creative Liberties celebrates stainless steel artist
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 23, 2024
Creative Liberties celebrates stainless steel artist

Sarasota's Ralph Berger retires after 20 years of creating distinctive circular steel works of art.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ember Bly, 5, Avenn Zarchev-Miller, 7, and Brooklyn Koenreich, 5, prepare to blast off into space.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 22, 2024
Explorers of the Galaxy summer camp teaches drama and life skills

The Drama Kids theater program recently moved into a permanent space featuring a black box theater, on Interstate Boulevard.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Plants such as paspalum repens, a medium-protein aquatic grass native to Florida, provide manatees with ample, toxin-free food at Myakka.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • July 22, 2024
With rising water levels, manatees return to Myakka

Water quality and abundant food are key draws for these massive park regulars.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Alexia Swayka, 4, gets into the center of the action.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 21, 2024
Giant bubbles entertain kids and adults at Selby Gardens

Bubbles Under the Banyans welcomed former "America's Got Talent" contestant Blaise Ryndes.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jackson Hostetler fishes with the camp the week of July 15.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Fishing camp passes down knowledge and experience

"Paying attention to the smaller stuff is definitely what makes the biggest difference."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The courtyard of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Looking for things to do in Sarasota? She wrote the bucket list.

Kelly Stilwell is the author of the recently released book “100 Things to Do in Sarasota Before You Die.”

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lola Bartolomeo, 10, learns the aerial silks.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 18, 2024
Circus Summer Camp teaches kids the art of performance

Circus Arts Conservatory offers the chance for children to discover new skills and grow confidence.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
County Commissioner Mark Smith cuts the ribbon.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 12, 2024
Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce cuts ribbon on new office space

The new office, approximately three times larger than the previous space, was praised by attendees as a welcoming environment.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The interior of the Kreissle Forge
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 11, 2024
Kreissle Forge is a time capsule of a disappearing craft

The historic Kreissle blacksmith's forge, located near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, provided metalwork for many of the community's landmarks and still has more to offer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Owen Peacock, 9 and Ellie Rodgers, 9, make hot dog buns.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 10, 2024
Kids work together to create tasty dishes at Young Chefs Academy

The company focuses on teaching kids the "joy and value" of cooking.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
These five books have been named as the finalists for the 2025 One Book, One Community event hosted by the Sarasota County Libraries.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 8, 2024
Finalists announced for annual One Book, One Community selection

Sarasota County residents can join the debate over the Sarasota County Libraries' selections on social media.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mike Ziebell and Bobbie Larsen
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 5, 2024
Sarasota residents clean up Siesta Beach after July 4 celebrations

Volunteers picked up firework remnants and other leftovers from the Fourth of July holiday.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The finale of the show arrives.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 5, 2024
Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular sets sky alight

The annual tradition once again brought a dazzling July 4 show to Sarasota's Bayfront Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mary Beth McLeod
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 4, 2024
Community members bring to life Revolutionary War-era fashion

Sarasota Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution explain what it takes to re-create the costumes of 18th-century patriots.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Former NFL and Florida State running back Warrick Dunn poses with a family and Sarasota Habitat for Humanity volunteers. Dunn's charitable organization furnished two Habitat homes.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 3, 2024
Former Bucs running back Warrick Dunn gives helping hand to single moms

New Habitat for Humanity homeowners in Sarasota are surprised with a full house and pantry.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Terry Shen at the American Legion's annual Boys State
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 3, 2024
Pine View student earns statewide leadership position

Terry Shen was elected governor by his peers at the American Legion's annual Boys State.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Aubree D., 9
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 2, 2024
Girls Inc. sows gardening skills in patriotic planting activity

Members of Girls Inc. of Sarasota County create their own patriotic flower pots with supplies from local businesses.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Abbey Tyrna of Suncoast Waterkeeper, Kirsten Russell of Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Matt Sauer of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, Amber Whittle of Southface Sarasota, Kameron Hodgens of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Joyce Norris of Community Harvest SRQ and ______.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 2, 2024
11 nonprofits come together under one roof for new collaboration

The Resilience Incubator at SunCoast Blood Centers in Sarasota brings together several major environmental organizations.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
« 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 »
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1
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