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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
Amber, a scarlet macaw; Alan Gillespie, Sarasota Jungle Gardens entertainment host; Elizabeth Adams, Sarasota Jungle Gardens education coordinator; Katie Dow, Sarasota County Libraries outreach manager; Heather Gorman, SCL digital services supervisor; and Ellen India, SCL adult services coordinator.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 17, 2023
Roller-skating parrot reveals library’s 2024 community read selection

“An Immense World” was chosen for the communitywide book club to help readers gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity of wildlife in the world.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Sarasota Art Museum
  • November 15, 2023
Powerful New Artworks Featured At Sarasota Art Museum

A contemporary art museum with constantly rotating exhibits, Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design has transformed its galleries once again.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Peg Green stands beside “Leadership: Vickie Oldham, Newtown Alive."
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 15, 2023
Sarasota artist celebrates history of Newtown with new quilt

The quilt is part of Peg Green’s exhibition, titled “Witness!” at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Duane Chapman speaks at the event.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 14, 2023
Dog the Bounty Hunter partners with local anti-sex trafficking nonprofit

Selah Freedom, a faith-based organization, hosted "Dog the Bounty Hunter" and his wife, Francie Chapman, at its Light the Path gala on Nov. 9.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Amanda Bolduc from Maine, USA, works on her sculpture.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 13, 2023
Master artists turn Siesta Beach into temporary sand sculpture gallery

The Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival hosted a roster of international master sand sculptors.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Upcoming wayfinding improvements will enhance accessibility to Myakka River State Park's backcountry.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • November 13, 2023
Improved backcountry access coming soon to Myakka

Trailhead kiosks and markers will enhance safety and accessibility thanks to a Two for the Trails grant.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Members of the Venice High School marching band offer a performance.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 12, 2023
Sarasota's annual Veterans Day Parade honors those who served

This year's procession might have been the largest yet, said the parade marshal.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gary Michel participates in a toast.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 12, 2023
Marine Corps luncheon celebrates 248th birthday of USMC

The annual luncheon drew Marines from age 32 to 93.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Nik Wallenda puts a charge into the crowd as well as the 50-foot Christmas Tree at University Town Center by crossing Cattlemen Road on the high wire Nov. 11, 2023.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 12, 2023
Santa's Grand Arrival Parade thrills thousands in Sarasota

A bevy of floats entertained the crowd at UTC and raised awareness on issues.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Nonprofit director Betsy Friedman presents a grant to Kinsey Robb, executive director of Art Center Sarasota.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 9, 2023
Impact100 SRQ awards $763,000 to local nonprofits

The organization selected seven out of 10 finalists to receive $109,000 grants.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Austria photo wins Observer's It's Read Everywhere contest
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 8, 2023
Austria photo wins Observer's It's Read Everywhere contest

Pam and Russell Hyatt have won the It's Read Everywhere contest for 2023 and will be going on a seven-day Celebrity Cruise to be booked by Marc Bokoff of Cruise Planners.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Leila Schaedler-Luera, 10, goes all-in for the challenge.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 4, 2023
Ice cream eating championship helps support Rise Up Cafe

The competition helped support Rise Up Cafe, a nonprofit-run coffee and ice cream shop in downtown Sarasota operated by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The home’s main living area offers unparalleled views of the Gulf. The space incorporates living, dining and kitchen in an open concept plan.
  • By Robert Plunket
  • November 3, 2023
Architecture meets art in $12M Gulf-front home on Casey Key

This exquisite home on Casey Key, designed by Carl Abbott, takes its inspiration from cutting-edge modernism and ancient Mayan pyramids.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Reni Papalexiou at Wild Yoga at Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 2, 2023
The must-try yoga options in Sarasota

Sarasota offers many yoga opportunities, including ones involving goats, lemurs and floating in the air.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Libby Gallups, Judie Rogers and Debbie Emery came in costumes, and in character, as the Sanderson Sisters from "Hocus Pocus." The three friends entertained the crowds by adopting the voices and mannerisms of their characters.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 1, 2023
Attendees dress in costumes to impress for Fright Night on St. Armands Circle

Friends and families put in a group effort with their Halloween costumes for the trick-or-treating event.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Naomi Hinckley and Eloise Friedman
    By
  • James Peter
  • October 29, 2023
Sarasota students sell friendship bracelets to support Israel

Eloise Friedman and Naomi Hinckley have raised more than $1,400 for relief efforts.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Various unusual phenomena, including repeated electrical issues and gusts of cold air, have been observed at The Gator Club, said manager Josh Hojnacki.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 26, 2023
Where to find the ghosts in Sarasota

Theatrical specters, drink-pouring apparitions, a ghost dog and more are said to haunt these historic Sarasota sites.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sophia Rios sings in the performance.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 26, 2023
Music Compound rocks out with tribute to 'The Dark Side of the Moon'

A performance by students and instructors covered the Pink Floyd album from start to finish.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Anais Zambaux, Lance Karp, DeWayne Hill and Sheriff Kurt Hoffman. The SAL received a $25,000 donation from the Culverhouse family.
    By
  • James Peter
  • October 24, 2023
Charity auction raises money to support at-risk Sarasota youth

The Sheriff’s Activities League mentors Sarasota County youth and enables them to explore careers in law enforcement.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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