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Sarasota | Neighbors

    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 11, 2022
Athletes assemble for beach volleyball weekend on Siesta Key

The SSOVA beach volleyball tournament was held July 9-10 on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Butterfly orchids are considered commercially exploited in Florida and may not be harvested or sold without a permit. (Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • July 7, 2022
Florida butterfly orchids thrive in Myakka's old-growth oaks

Old-growth trees provide the loose, well-drained environment required by these petite epiphytes.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 7, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: July 7

Charles Burks captured this butterfly landing on a flower in Selby Gardens.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kids get acquainted with a number of bunnies.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 5, 2022
Humane Society of Sarasota brings bunnies to campers

Campers learned plenty about rabbits and other animals during summer camp.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alex Kitcher has a small crew of friends he plays video games with that will be joining him at Sarasota Polytechnical School. (Photo by Harry Sayer)
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 5, 2022
A new school year often means a big transition

Students and parents reflect on moving into middle school and high school.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 4, 2022
Abortion rights proponents march on Bayfront Park during July 4 gathering

Protesters surrounded the Unconditional Surrender statue during the display on July 4.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 4, 2022
Sarasota celebrates history with July 4 fireworks show

Hundreds gathered at Bayfront Park to watch the show on July 4.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 4, 2022
Selby celebrates the Fourth with cookout

The All-American cookout had fun and games for families on July 4.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Connor Beckley and Luke Wagner take time to admire the boats on display.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • July 3, 2022
2022 Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix kicks off with block party

The downtown block party was held July 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This is the best view for sunsets, but you'll be battling half of Sarasota's teen population to get a spot.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 30, 2022
Getting Away: Celery Fields

Few things can top the variety at the hill space in east Sarasota, which boasts running trails and gorgeous views.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 30, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: June 30

Gordon Silver took this photo of a large gator cooling off on a warm day at Myakka River State Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 29, 2022
Former city commissioner plays taps at area events to honor veterans

From wreath laying to taps ceremonies, our traditions ensure we never forget to thank those who sacrificed for our country.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
From planning to design and setting up, hundreds of hours are put into making Nathan Benderson Park's Fireworks on the Lake a reality. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 29, 2022
Fireworks company adds spark to Benderson Park's annual Fourth of July show

Pyrotecnico puts in hundreds of hours to create Nathan Benderson Park's Fireworks on the Lake.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • June 29, 2022
America: We have a lot in common

Don’t let the noise fool you. As Americans, we agree on more things than you might think.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 29, 2022
50 songs to get you in the Fourth of July spirit

Celebrate your American pride with these patriotic songs.

  • Arts + Culture
Lakewood Ranch's Sabine Kvenberg, who also is a teacher at the Music Compound, takes Lakewood Ranch's Jasleen Kaur through a singing lesson. Both have sung the national anthem before polo matches at the Sarasota Polo Club.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 29, 2022
Sarasota singers share what it takes to do the national anthem justice

Three local singers approach the national anthem in different ways that fit their voice, abilities and emotions.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 29, 2022
Sarasotans bond over their love of cars

A Cars and Coffee gathering can be quick confirmation that we are an auto-maniac nation.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Each of Der Dutchman's pies has about three pounds of pie filler and feeds six people.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 29, 2022
The keys to the perfect apple pie, from a Sarasota expert

Der Dutchman staff get into what it takes to make some great apple pie.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Arturo Sandoval brought the house down at the Sarasota Jazz Festival in March. (File photo)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • June 29, 2022
Jazz Club has grown from fascination to institution

Steady hands have helped the Jazz Club of Sarasota grow by leaps and bounds over decades.

  • Arts + Culture
Myakka River State Park is just one of many wide-open spaces bordering Sarasota. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • June 29, 2022
3 short drives from Sarasota where Old Florida has been preserved in an oasis

Sarasota's metro area is cut out of a forest that covers much of the Gulf Coast, with every inch packed of wildlife to enjoy.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dragos Alexandru immigrated to the U.S. from Romania in 1988. He lived in New York until moving to Sarasota in 2002, where he worked in IT and became a rowing coach.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 29, 2022
Romanian immigrant looking for more freedom of choice relishes what he found

For Romanian Olympian Dragos Alexandru, stories of the American dream were all the motivation he needed to leave the restrictive country and immigrate to the U.S.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Bidwell-Wood House is among the earliest documented structures in the Sarasota area.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • June 29, 2022
Sarasota landmarks to connect to the city's history

From native peoples that inhabited Sarasota 5,000 years ago to the establishment of modern communities, the Sarasota area is rich in history that reveals surprising ties to the events of the past.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 28, 2022
Fourth of July 2022 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch

From races to the classic fireworks, check out these events to help you celebrate Independence Day right.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Ruth Frushour and Aura Rasmussen with the St. Clair Butterfly Foundation release a number of monarch butterflies into the sky.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 26, 2022
Butterflies soar at Children's Garden

The morning family event had children learning about monarch butterflies.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: June 23

Richard Bottorff captured this photo of a great horned owlet looking down from a tree the Saddlebag Creek neighborhood in Myakka City.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Many of the flowers are made from pages from a colorful flower book. (Photo by Harry Sayer)
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 23, 2022
Sarasota artist with cancer makes paper flower garden

Sandy Payson has embraced life while battler cancer by crafting flowers with scissors and her own imagination.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dolphin Aviation scholarship winners Jaxson French, Gabriel French, presenter Shannon Ciaravella, Chloe Sebiro, Halden Parker and Sephena Jackson. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 22, 2022
Local students awarded at Dolphin Aviation scholarship ceremony

The ceremony was held June 20.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Chamber president and CEO Heather Kasten pays tribute to the 27 videos at the beginning of the ceremony.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 21, 2022
Small businesses get the spotlight at chamber awards luncheon

The Sarasota Chamber awards luncheon was held June 17.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 20, 2022
Newtown puts on Juneteenth celebration

The afternoon event was held June 18 in the heart of the community.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Christine McMasters and Zoey Lynn
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 19, 2022
Cats and dogs return for Project Pride pet parade

The annual walk through Bayfront Park was held June 18.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 16, 2022
Sarasota weather page photo: June 16

Gordon Silver captured this photo of a red winged blackbird along a lake bed in Myakka River State Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Brian Ferguson recently attended a screening of the new "Top Gun: Maverick" film with family in Sarasota.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 16, 2022
Sarasota's Brian Ferguson coordinates realism for 'Top Gun: Maverick'

Ferguson, who grew up in Sarasota, was inspired to join the Navy by the first "Top Gun" film.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 15, 2022
Sarasota RC Squadron trains locals in model aviation

The RC aircraft club has members flying their planes across Rothenbach Park daily.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The author would like you to know that no people were given food poisoning from his cooking. (Photo: Jim Hendry)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • June 15, 2022
Writing is easy, but cooking is hard

How does a journalist with very few cooking skills get by when he's dropped into a Publix cooking class? He burns the bread.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Officer Jeremy Christie rescued a baby mockingbird near Lido Beach.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 13, 2022
Police officer rescues a mockingbird

Sarasota Officer Jeremy Christie transported the mockingbird to Save Our Seabirds.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • June 12, 2022
The Exchange awards local art groups and students

More than $300,000 was awarded to 18 arts organizations and 15 students on June 9.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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