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Sarasota | Neighbors

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's “Soul & Sass” concert will be held Oct. 22.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 12, 2023
Eat, drink, dance at The Bay's upcoming anniversary party

The park's five-day lineup includes former Journey lead singer Steve Augeri and cuisine from premier Sarasota restaurants.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lieutenants Mark Courtenay and Maxx Jakimer
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 11, 2023
Firefighters prepare for chili cook-off

The 23rd annual Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-Off will be held Oct. 15.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
  • October 10, 2023
Great Futures KAPOW Here!

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties has been shaping superheroes for over 50 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The animated film "Lucy" promotes Southeastern Guide Dogs' Skilled Companion program.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 10, 2023
Southeastern Guide Dogs' animated film promotes companion program

The short film "Lucy" tells the story of a Skilled Companion dog finding her forever companion.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Layla Collis and Hannah Noake, 10, hold a piglet.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 8, 2023
Annual Pumpkin Festival celebrates fall and supports the community

The festival entertained families with activities and a menagerie of animals, all while supporting local vendors.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Amy Cyr, Grant Rhea and Domine Clemons perform with The Brett Foreman Band.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 7, 2023
Fresh Fridays makes a comeback with 'Paint the Town Fresh'

The event kicked off its third season with an event featuring The Brett Foreman Band.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Rick Hinkson keeps watch from a lifeguard tower.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 6, 2023
Sarasota beach lifeguards require special set of skills

Sarasota County lifeguards performed 100 rescues this year. A lifeguard shares what it takes to be an open-water first responder.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tom Aposporos as Abraham Van Helsing
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 5, 2023
Bookstore1Sarasota creates frightful auditory experience for Halloween

For the month of October, the downtown store will offer a radio-style dramatization of Bram Stoker’s "Dracula."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alyssa Rockey, outreach services supervisor, and Katie Dow, manager of programs and partnerships in front of the Pop-Up Library
    By
  • James Peter
  • October 5, 2023
Selby Library celebrates its 25th anniversary

The Selby Library offers space for community, tools for creators and a large collection of materials.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The St. Armands Circle Art Festival with Craft Marketplace was held Sept. 30 and Oct 1.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • October 2, 2023
St. Armands Art Festival features accomplished artists from around the world

Tourists, visitors and locals admired the wide variety of art on display Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Wendy Brandeis with Teddy
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 2, 2023
Unity of Sarasota celebrates the unconditional love of pets

The church's annual pet blessing brought together a variety of dog breeds.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mark Stackhouse, Barbara Richards Thomas Graff talk during a meeting.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 28, 2023
Project 180 turns life around for formerly incarcerated individuals

The nonprofit offers support to people starting over after serving a prison sentence.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Social Action Committee chair Susan Rosenbaum and Social Action Committee member Barbara Peltz with her husband Mark Peltz.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 26, 2023
Temple Emanu-El celebrates High Holy Days with food drive

All Faiths Food Bank honored the drive as its most successful fundraiser and food drive for the past six years, say temple staff.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By FPL Energy Expert Isaiah Kelley
  • September 26, 2023
Beat the Heat with FPL’s Virtual House of Savings While Helping Neighbors in Need

Summer heat has reached its peak, and Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) revamped augmented reality experience can help customers save during the record-breaking heat.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
In early 2023, with red tide rampant on area beaches, 92 black skimmers sought refuge at Myakka River State Park. One of them was 5B, a member of the Lido Key nesting colony banded as a chick in 2019.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • September 25, 2023
Local shorebird finds refuge during Hurricane Idalia

Thanks to bird banding, researchers know that black skimmer 5B fledged a chick and survived the storm.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ashley Smith, Leo Pecarina, 8, Scarlett Racki, 11, Felicity Racki, 8 and Joselyne Racki, 18, learn about different marine specimens from Kimberly Scaringe, education specialist at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 24, 2023
Bay Fest opens the underwater world to all ages

The event brought together area organizations for an educational experience at Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
St. Pete's Gene Turovsky, Sarasota's Jessica, Marie and David Polimeni, Parrish's Wayne Parrish and Lakewood Ranch's Gareth Stevenson of Rite Technology.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 22, 2023
Businesses score at tailgate expo in Sarasota

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance revised the experience of its expo in celebration of football season.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Photographs by Karen Arango adorn the walls.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 21, 2023
Library exhibition celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

The exhibition showcased a diverse range of styles, mediums and subject matter.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Greeting cards featuring art created by the seniors are set out on display at the entrance to Town Center Sarasota.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 20, 2023
Seniors with dementia create art for fundraiser

The handmade greeting cards raise funds for Alzheimer’s Association in recognition of World Alzheimer’s Month.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The esports arena features state-of-the-art equipment.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 19, 2023
Ringling College esports arena opens to empower student gamers

Ringling College gamers have leveled up with a new space tailored to on-screen competition.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The eFoil is growing in popularity in Sarasota.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 14, 2023
Ready for a real-life 'magic carpet' ride? Hop on an eFoil.

Learning to fly on a surfboard isn't easy, but the "unreal feeling" is worth it, Sarasota eFoil owners say.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Analise Gallant, 6, Yonatan Rachmin, 7; Isaiah Gallant, 2; Maya Moronta, 9; Jacob Shefrin, 7; Mia Sinanian, 7; Ari Sinanian, 10,
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 12, 2023
Community Shofar Factory attendees make ram's horn trumpets

The event offered the chance to craft shofars, a traditional Jewish musical instrument.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Members of the Sarasota Police Department and others line up for the wreath placement ceremony.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 11, 2023
NYC firefighter describes experience of 9/11 at Sarasota remembrance

USF Sarasota-Manatee hosted the annual memorial event at the Sarasota National Cemetery.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
7-year-old Pyper Hutchinson and 4-year-old Griffin Hutchinson run along the bridge with 4-year-old Rory Hutchinson and Heather Hutchinson in back.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 10, 2023
Blaze of Hope walk raises money for families of children with cancer

The event lit up Ringling Bridge and grew in attendance from last year’s walk.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Stevenson Tose’-Rigell
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 7, 2023
Former Booker student remembers Bush’s 9/11 visit

At 10 years old, Stevenson Tose’-Rigell stood on the school stage with President Bush at a turning point in U.S. history.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tristan Lovell (Optimist RWB — Blue) of Davis Island Race Team, Piper Roberts (Optimist RWB — White) of Sarasota Yacht Club and Ryan Rossignol (Optimist RWB — Red of Sarasota Youth Sailing) emerge from a bend in the course.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 3, 2023
75th Annual Labor Day Regatta keeps another generation sailing

The event drew young sailors, as well as experienced racers, from near and far.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The 75th Annual Labor Day Regatta will be held Sep. 2 and 3.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 31, 2023
Labor Day Regatta celebrates its 75th year under sail

The Sarasota Sailing Squadron event is the oldest of its type in the region, according to organizers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The flooding extended to the lifeguard tower on Siesta Key Beach.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 30, 2023
Hurricana Idalia leaves flooded roads, properties on Siesta Key

The intermittent rain and wind, as well as the difficulty of traveling, on Wednesday kept most of the public indoors throughout the island.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Staff member Dezirae Walls holds Clairee.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 30, 2023
Humane Society of Sarasota County provides storm shelter for dogs and cats

The shelter is hosting a group of 15 dogs from Dixie County and 20-30 cats from Highlands County in Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
O'Leary's picnic area at Sarasota's Bayfront Park was flooded at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 30, 2023
See Hurricane Idalia damage in Sarasota

Bayfront Park and areas of downtown Sarasota are flooded.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Eric LoStorto and Justine Holcomb
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 30, 2023
Tuttle Elementary teachers write children’s books

Science teacher Justine Holcomb and math teacher Eric LoStorto self-published children’s books to educate and inspire students.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bayfront Park on TuesdayCaptain Bobby Chiodini ties down the historic tour boat the Carefree Learner, also known as Sarasota High School’s “floating classroom,” at Bayfront Park on Tuesday.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 29, 2023
Sarasota area prepares for the impact of Hurricane Idalia

Residents filled sandbags and secured their boats in anticipation of the storm’s impacts.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Martina Belanch
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 27, 2023
Sarasota Bay Watch hosts first scallop search since COVID

Volunteers met on Aug. 26 at Sarasota Sailing Squadron to collect data on scallops, wildlife and seagrass in Sarasota Bay.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Liz Cantwell and Ron Longhurst dance together.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 26, 2023
Fundraiser at Senior Friendship Centers supports the hungry

The End-of-Summer Bash brought Hawaiian flavor to the fundraiser, which also raised money for Mayors Feed The Hungry, a partner of the organization.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alyssa Lopez and Alyssa Snider
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 24, 2023
Sarasota and Siesta Key natives team up on 'The Challenge'

Alyssa Lopez from Sarasota and Alyssa Snider from Siesta Key formed a close bond while filming the reality TV series' current season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Eric Troyer of Kerkering, Barberio & Co. presents the award to Evan Samson.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 21, 2023
Sarasota Chamber honors area young professionals at summit event

Tiona Settles of CenterPlace Health and Evan Samson of DMSI International both received the Young Professional of the Year Award.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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