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Sarasota | Neighbors

The Gulf Coast Lions' on their last day of training camp at Newtown Estates Gym.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 23, 2023
Athletes leap for their dreams with Newtown basketball team

The Gulf Coast Lions are in their fourth year operating and plan to keep giving basketball athletes a second chance to go professional.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Downtown Sarasota Alliance Erin Silk and Justin Tobiasz
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 22, 2023
Downtown Sarasota Alliance doles out awards

The alliance hosted its third annual awards ceremony to recognize those making an impact in the downtown community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cat Depot Humane Educator Ellie Levine brings Winney to kids to be petted.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 21, 2023
Cat University teaches kids lessons on all things cat

Cat Depot Community Center held Cat University to teach students the basics of cat caretaking while having fun.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Volunteer BJ Branson, Volunteer Coordinator Shirley Perdisatt, and Volunteer Joanne Terwilliger get crafty with project for the residents.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 16, 2023
Empath Health asks for a helping hand

Empath Health is in need of volunteers who want to help patients, families and the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Robins are one of several migratory birds that rely on resources locally during their winter journeys.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • February 16, 2023
Local nature key in hospitality for real-life snowbirds

In both public and private lands, native plants are critical for supporting these important winter visitors.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • By Child Protection Center
  • February 16, 2023
Child Protection Center Expanding in North Port for Child Abuse Victims

In 2021, CPC purchased a large property in North Port, to meet the growing need of child abuse services post COVID pandemic. Recently, North Port was ranked the 2nd fastest growing city in the United States.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
The annual Say 'I Do' Again vow renewal ceremony returns to Siesta Key on Valentine's Day.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 14, 2023
Married couples profess their love all over again on Siesta Key

Siesta Key's annual vow renewal ceremony gathers married couples to say "I Do" again.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Isha Pramudyasworo picks up her book from the Sarasota Ballet booth.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 13, 2023
Storybook Street brings literacy to life

Early Learning Coalition give families and their children books to grow their libraries.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Violet Link, Elle Zukas, Eloise and Zachary Friedman, Colton Zukas celebrate The Birthday of The Trees at Celery Fields.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 10, 2023
Trees at Celery Fields get some birthday TLC

Temple Emanu-El Religious School students celebrated “The Birthday of The Trees” at Celery Fields on Feb. 5.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Panache with Pooches Fashion Show models Zooey and Sandy Koolkin give their best pose.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 9, 2023
Pooches take the catwalk

Sarasota Garden Club presents a charity fashion show with furry models.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Observer Staff
  • February 7, 2023
Top nature photos from around Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County in 2022-23

Readers from across the region submit their photos to the Observer's 2022-23 Weather and Nature Photo Contest.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota Police Department held a charity corn hole tournament at UTC’s The Green on Feb. 4
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 7, 2023
SPD hosts charity cornhole tournament

First responders and community members show their support for the Dederick family with corn holes.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Olivia Schaedler-Luera, Tornado and Karen Barbosa celebrate Bookerfest at Booker Middle.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 6, 2023
Booker nation brings a tornado celebration

Emma E. Booker, Booker Middle and Booker High School joined together to celebrate Bookerfest on February 4.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Compeer Founder Bunny Skirboll and Compeer CEO Chris Munson
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • February 6, 2023
Compeer hosts annual fundraising brunch

The nonprofit honored its "buddies" and the difference they make during its annual program Feb. 5.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Residents and tourists, young and old, found something to enjoy at the Lido Casino.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • February 4, 2023
The legendary local hot spots of the past

Before the condos and traffic, Lido, Siesta and Longboat keys housed a whole host of haunts.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The lanai overlooks a pool and a small grove of mangroves and sea grape lining the bayou.
  • By Robert Plunket
  • February 3, 2023
1950s ranch transforms into the epitome of Sarasota style

Dan Denton transformed an ordinary Lido Shores ranch home with midcentury bones into a spectacular, modern glass pavilion set in a garden.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sam Ramey fell fast and furious in love with the life aquatic. For him, the experience was so life-changing that he finished his schooling while living aboard a sailboat.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 3, 2023
A guide to get your Sarasota fishing adventures started

As the saying goes, a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work. Or, as outdoorsman and angler Fennel Hudson puts it: “Having a fishing rod in your hand is merely an excuse to explore out-of-sight depths and reveal mysteries that previously only existed in dreams.”

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Drum circle newbie Julia Clark (center) bangs her worries away among the usual cadre of characters.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • February 2, 2023
The beat goes on at Siesta Key drum circle

Now in its 26th year, the Siesta Key drum circle is as steady and evocative as the tide. And much like the beach’s famous sand, its rhythm is just as healing.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
For years, Blasé Café has been the go-to spot for locals escaping the tourist hustle.
  • By Su Byron
  • February 1, 2023
Where to find the hidden nightlife in Sarasota, Longboat

Night owls rejoice. If the day’s winding down but you’re still going strong, you don’t have to go to bed. Nighttime is still the right time for some of us.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Steve Koenig revealed his superman shirt under his button-down as he asks Southside Elementary students what their favorite superhero is.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 30, 2023
Southside Elementary invites Holocaust survivors to speak

The Sarasota elementary school hosted two guest speakers to share their stories of the Holocaust on Jan. 27.

  • East County
  • Sports
Amy Watson serves seafood at the 7th Annual Sarasota Seafood and Music Festival.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 30, 2023
Seafood and Music Festival brings flavor to Sarasota

The seventh annual Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival was held at JD Hamel Park over the weekend.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Patty Schreiber, Stan Liner, Steve Swedlow, Pearl Perlinski and Patty Glah celebrate the 15th annual Sarasota Jewish Food Festival.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 29, 2023
Sarasota Jewish Food Fest returns after pandemic hiatus

Temple Sinai celebrated its 15th annual Sarasota Jewish Food Festival on Jan 29.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sean Clougherty, also known as the "Human Cannonball", explains how he would perform his act.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 29, 2023
Art fans enjoy exhibit at Sarasota's City Hall

The city's cultural origins are on display through May in the halls of municipal government.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bay Haven Elementary School for Basics Plus fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom to read for story time.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 25, 2023
Bay Haven school shares story time with the mayor

Fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kathleen Cravens is a student member of The Rocketry Club at Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 24, 2023
Fab Lab's Rocketry Club aims high — 15,000 feet, to be exact

High schoolers at Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab are designing and building a rocket to soar more than 2 miles into the air.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gisele Pintchuck and Edie Chaifetez attend Embracing Our Differences 20th Anniversary Grand Opening.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 23, 2023
Bayfront art exhibit emphasizes our differences

The 20th anniversary of the Embracing our Differences exhibition attracted more than 13,000 entries.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
City Hall cultural exhibit showcases Sarasota's history
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 22, 2023
City Hall cultural exhibit showcases Sarasota's history

The opening reception for the City Hall Cultural Exhibition will be Jan. 26.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bucky demonstrates how Newton's Laws work in Circus Arts Conservatory's Circus Machine.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 20, 2023
Sailor Circus mixes science and whimsy

Sarasota and Manatee students learned while laughing at the Circus Arts Conservatory’s Education Outreach show.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Volunteer Brenda Terihay taps rackets with Bryanna Schmidt after a successful point in a 2022 session of Tennis for Fun on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 19, 2023
Tennis clinic for athletes with disabilities heads to Arlington Park

The Tennis For Fun program is making a move to the Sarasota mainland after a stint on Longboat Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
AJ Sanders participates in the Unity and Historical march with a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. flag that reads "I HAVE A DREAM"
  • By Dariela Delgado
  • January 16, 2023
Sarasota honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

With an interfaith tribute, an awards breakfast and a march, the city honored the civil rights leader on Jan. 16.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
D'Kai Shaw attends State College of Florida and has been a mentee for five years. Shaw shares his reasons why this program is important.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 16, 2023
Sarasota police, youth organizations say Y.E.S. to teaming up on empowerment

The police chief says that the organization aims to provide mentorship and services to at-risk kids in the city.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
In the aftermath of the powerful storm, access during the count was hampered by storm-fallen trees and unseasonably high water levels.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • January 13, 2023
Myakka park reopens after Ian with encouraging bird count

The post-hurricane tally suggests that birds weathered impacts to the park's natural systems.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The wondrous Cleo is a bearded dragon who teaches seventh grade students the responsibilities of caring for a reptile while incorporating the science of aquaculture.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 12, 2023
Classroom pets play key role in school’s success story

Sarasota School of the Arts and Sciences' animals bring a sense of calm to the classroom alongside a unique learning opportunity.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Rick Boyce has made it a personal mission to make Siesta Key Beach a safer and healthier place to watch the waves.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 12, 2023
Siesta man is on a daily mission for a cleaner, safer beach

Rick Boyce has dedicated the past three years and eight months to cleaning up Siesta Key Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Two volunteers pedal the surrey and gives a forty-five minute guided tour.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 10, 2023
Cruising down Legacy Trail in a Surrey

The Surrey Program kicked off on Jan. 10 and will run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through April 12.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences students show off their finished car.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • January 5, 2023
Fab Lab's remote-controlled car competition invites students to register

Registration is open for Suncoast Science Center/Fab Lab's eighth annual remote control car competition.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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