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Sarasota | Neighbors

Harry Strunk, 2, explores inside a cardboard tunnel.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 9, 2024
Sarasota Children's Museum kicks off quest for a dedicated space

The inaugural event of Sarasota's Children's Museum drew families to The Bay Park, offering children interactive experiences and hands-on learning activities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A plant grows from a conch shell in a display by William Tippit of Apopka, Florida.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 7, 2024
Orchids in Paradise show grows knowledge of the flowers

The show brought together vendors from the local area and beyond, as well as other Sarasota County orchid societies.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Children's 'museum without walls' to host inaugural event
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 4, 2024
Children's 'museum without walls' to host inaugural event

A new Sarasota nonprofit wants to create a dedicated hands-on museum space for children.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dr. Marty Reichgut
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 3, 2024
Sarasota tai chi instructor spurs others to find their potential

Instructor Marty Reichgut, 85, says that thanks to the form of martial arts, he's more agile now than he was as a teenager.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The SMN-Sarasota Campus labor and delivery team.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 2, 2024
Sarasota's first baby of 2024 arrives at SMH

A girl was born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital at 1:56 a.m. Jan. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Daimy Sainz rides a mechanical bull.
    By
  • James Peter
  • January 1, 2024
Sarasota rings in 2024 with downtown block party

Carnival rides, amusements and mechanical bulls entertained all ages on New Year's Eve.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
New York trumpet player and Sarasota Jazz Festival Music Director Terell Stafford performs March 17, 2023, at the Sarasota Jazz Festival.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 30, 2023
Don't miss these Sarasota events in 2024

Sarasota offers events to suit many interests in 2024.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
See Sarasota's 2023 in photos
    By
  • James Peter
  • December 28, 2023
See Sarasota's 2023 in photos

Classroom lizards, high-flying hoopsters, knights in shining armor and dancing reindeer made 2023 a year to remember in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A look back at 2023 on YourObserver.com
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 25, 2023
A look back at 2023 on YourObserver.com

The past year was packed with news in our area. Here are readers’ favorite stories from YourObserver.com.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The RoboRumble program teaches students how to build robots from Legos, leading up to a competition pitting the different teams' robots against one another.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 21, 2023
Student-designed Lego robots battle in Fab Lab competition

The inaugural Lego RoboRumble competition pits students’ robotic Lego creations against one another for awards, prizes and learning.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Florida Power & Light Company
  • December 20, 2023
Be Jolly and Bright This Holiday Season with FPL’s Energy-Saving Tips

Try implementing the energy saving tips below and read on about how you can use FPL’s Energy Manager to stay on top of your energy use.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Chloe Marino, 7, meets Santa Claus at the Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade on Dec. 2, 2023.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 19, 2023
Sarasota Santa shares what it takes to wear the red suit

Mark Welikci, who has been a fixture of the Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade, explains what makes the perfect "Ho, ho, ho," his favorite cookie flavor, and the heart and soul of being Santa Claus.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By JFCS of the Suncoast
  • December 18, 2023
Help Us Create a Path of Hope and Success for All Local Families

JFCS is a leading Mental Health and Human Services Agency providing support to youth and families through Counseling and Financial Assistance.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Taylor Galford
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 18, 2023
Music Compound now offers virtual, hybrid guitar instruction

The Sarasota music school's new course, “Introduction to Guitar Fundamentals: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide," was launched in early December.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Mason Rivera, 7, meets The Grinch (Debbie Maxa).
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 16, 2023
Southside Baptist Church becomes a Christmas town

The celebration brings together the Grinch and Santa Claus along with activities like snowball throwing.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Temple Emanu-El celebrates Hanukkah with giant menorah
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 15, 2023
Temple Emanu-El celebrates Hanukkah with giant menorah

The synagogue’s gathering also included time for children to write letters to young people displaced from their homes in Israel.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • James Peter
  • December 12, 2023
Sarasota author’s book to be featured in Times Square display

Ritu Anand’s children’s book “Kara’s Dreams” won recognition in the 2023 New York City Big Book Award contest.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Habitat restoration zones help protect plants and wildlife, while offering park visitors superior wildlife viewing opportunities thanks to reduced human-related disturbances.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • December 12, 2023
Habitat restoration zones help stabilize natural environment

These areas give wildlife and vegetation a chance to flourish free from human disturbances.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Brown Eyed Girl, captained by Cooper Tholmes, gives a wave to the audience.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 11, 2023
Sarasota decks the hulls for Holiday Boat Parade of Lights

Held in support of Suncoast Charities for Children, the 37th annual event featured 27 boats and a tribute to "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jim Grimes, Forest Parker, Robert Martini, Sarah Schulz, Nicole Rissler, Greg Steinberg, Megan Timchula
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 10, 2023
Siesta Key holiday tradition continues at Sandy Claws Beach Run

Runners of all ages turned up for 1-mile fun run and 5K at Sandy Claws Beach Run.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lights in Bloom is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 7, 2023
See Lights in Bloom illuminate Selby Gardens

The display is made up of 2 million individual lights across the botanical gardens' downtown Sarasota campus.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Spencer Bryant and Vickie Oldham
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 7, 2023
Celebration of Newtown history intertwines with holiday season

The historic Leonard Reid house will be home to music, lights and holiday spirit as a Christmas tree at UTC shares the stories of Newtown.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ava Kane, 7, looks at shark jawbones held by Alison Goldy, manager of community programs at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium at The Bay Park.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 5, 2023
Sarasota events encourage eco-friendly living

The Bay and Science & Environment Council partnered for environmental-themed events in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tables of bowls lined the walkway around Ed Smith Stadium.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 4, 2023
Bowls of Hope combines crafts and cuisine to raise money

Featuring more than 30 vendors along with local artisans, Bowls of Hope is All Faiths Food Bank's largest fundraiser of the year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ella Bryant, Rhema Stahlmann, and Ariana Hagaman
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • December 4, 2023
St. Armands Circle lights up for the holidays

Thanks to the Holiday Night of Lights, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at St. Armands Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences float makes its way down Main Street.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 3, 2023
Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade lets it snow community spirit

The parade brought together organizations and businesses throughout the community to celebrate a theme of “Christmas Around the World.”

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
James Madden, Julia Mergen, Culver Casson and Steffen Robinson of The Christmas Carolers offer a performance.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 2, 2023
Block party ushers in holidays in downtown Sarasota

This month’s Fresh Fridays event put a holiday spin on the food and entertainment.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Safe Children Coalition
  • November 30, 2023
Help Our Community’s Children Dream, Believe, Achieve

SCC – a community-based care agency - is a public/private partnership that worked with nearly 10,000 children across Sarasota, DeSoto and Manatee counties last year.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Hodges Soileau
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 30, 2023
'The Baby-Sitters Club' cover illustrator recalls how he created his iconic work

Hodges Soileau, whose cover illustrations defined the series for a generation of readers, will visit Sarasota for an exhibition Dec. 1-2.

  • Arts + Culture
Since he had a widowmaker heart attack in 2015, Sarasota artist Fabio Dal Boni has been seeking to recapture what he saw during that time.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 29, 2023
Artist's work represents his experience with a life beyond

Fabio Dal Boni says his paintings on aluminum are inspired by a visit to the afterlife in 2015.

  • Arts + Culture
Santa Claus arrives on the Key Life Charters float.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 26, 2023
Siesta Key welcomes Santa Claus in annual Holiday Parade

The parade featured numerous businesses in Sarasota and ended with the arrival of Jolly St. Nick.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Venice's Adam Pennell celebrates like a pilgrim at the finish line of the Florida Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning at Nathan Benderson Park. Pennell, who weighs 215 pounds, says he is thankful he has lost 175 pounds.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 23, 2023
Participants give thanks for Florida Turkey Trot

The Thanksgiving morning event at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota drew a record 4,000 runners.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
12th graders Tanner Isaacs, Tanner Daminh Tran and Hana Knowlton work on the ignition.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 23, 2023
Student-led rocketry club aims for 10,000-foot launch

The Team True Fire Rocketry Club, an initiative of Faulhaber Fab Lab, is building a 12-foot-tall rocket for a 2024 launch.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Students from the Booker High School Law Academy were gifted iPads from philanthropist Deb Kabinoff while on a tour of the Sarasota Police Department.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 22, 2023
Booker High School Law Academy students receive surprise iPads

Philanthropist Deb Kabinoff provided the iPads while the students were on a tour of the Sarasota Police Department.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
  • By Tidewell Foundation
  • November 21, 2023
Tidewell Foundation Brightens Lives in Our Community

Tidewell Hospice, a not-for-profit organization, offers care provided by expert care teams wherever patients call home – a private residence, assisted living care facility, nursing home, hospital, or Tidewell care facility.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Sir Lilith (Erin Eisenmann) and Sir Michael (Michael Murphy) face off against one another in a sword fight on horseback.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 18, 2023
SunCoast Renaissance Festival provides fanciful showcase of the past

On the first day of the festival, attendees enjoyed sword fights, jousting matches and more.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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