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Sarasota | Neighbors

John Annis with the Barancik Foundation read to children at Fruitville Elementary last year. Courtesy Photo.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • November 10, 2020
Reading initiative aims to 'fill buckets' online

Embracing our Differences teams up with school districts in Manatee and Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Resilient Retreat founder Sherri Mills, emcee Barry Ayers a.k.a. Ms. Fruitville, and Board Vice Chair Sherri Mills embraced the "Wizard of Oz" theme at the opening.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • November 10, 2020
Resilient Retreat nonprofit hosts groundbreaking

The abuse nonprofit announced the groundbreaking on Oct. 30.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 9, 2020
Observer delivery delayed

Due to Hurricane Eta, this week’s print editions of the East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key Observers will be delayed.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 5, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: November 5

Thomas Fox captured this sunset off Turtle Beach in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nat Kaemmerer
  • November 2, 2020
Fright Night on St. Armands brings out the Circle's spooky side

Families in costume strolled the Circle, to the delight of bystanders and restaurant diners.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sofia Maniscalco was ready for candy.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 31, 2020
Siesta Key throws Halloween Safe Treats event

Costumed families flocked to Siesta Key Village for Halloween.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Chris Gilliland passed out candy in his uniform.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 30, 2020
Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office hosts Drive-Thru Halloween

The first drive-through event was held Oct. 30.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 29, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: October 29

MaryAnn Parks captured this egret along the banks of the river at Myakka State Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Madelyn and Marcus Gibbons were thrilled to be out and about.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 28, 2020
Nathan Benderson Park hosts second Trick or Treat on the Lake

Costumes and candy were plentiful at the Halloween event.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
All sorts of costumed creatures will be leaping out at the Tunnel of Terror attraction. Courtesy Photo.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 28, 2020
Scarier than a dirty car

The spooky car wash experience starts Oct. 29.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cliff Roles spent time in his Cologne, Germany, his home of 18 years. Courtesy Photo Cliff Roles.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 27, 2020
Safe Travels: Sarasota locals give traveling advice

Sarasota locals give stories on how they’ve been traveling in an odd year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 24, 2020
Faulhaber Fab Lab hosts laser etching pumpkin workshop

Children used the laser machine to etch designs into pumpkins Oct. 24.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cheri Kudja had robot figurines at her Bitti Bots booth.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 24, 2020
Siesta Fiesta art show takes over Ocean Boulevard

The 42nd annual arts show was held Oct. 24 and 25.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 24, 2020
The Players Centre bids farewell to 838 building

The company put on a farewell celebration for the building on Oct. 23

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 23, 2020
Jewish Family & Children's Service of the Suncoast throws volunteer appreciation celebration

The Oct. 22 event had a JFCS giving gifts to volunteers driving through.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 22, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: October 22

Michael Krusinski captured this incoming storm over Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Sarasota County Cares Team
  • October 22, 2020
Help is Here for Individuals and Businesses Negatively Impacted by COVID-19

Help is Here for Individuals and Businesses Negatively Impacted by COVID-19

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
NOTE: Social Distancing Guidelines have been fudged here due to the fact cardboard cutouts cannot catch a deadly pathogen.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 20, 2020
Dating in a Pandemic

What's dating like during a pandemic? Our resident reporter has thoughts on the matter.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Louise Converse has been coming into her Artisan Cheese Company store for a few hours at a time.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 20, 2020
A Fight for Survival: Louise Converse keeps business alive during kidney donation

Artisan Cheese Co. owner Louise Converse has faced dual challenges in 2020: keeping her business alive in a pandemic and keeping her friend alive by donating a kidney.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 15, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: October 15

Sepp Gmuender captured the sun setting behind the clouds over Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Patti Garrettson and Milo have been inseperable since his adoption —
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 14, 2020
Pandemic pals make isolation not-so lonely

Pet adoptions were as popular as sourdough during the pandemic's early days, but cats and dogs weren't just a passing fad.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 11, 2020
Fruitville Grove celebrates October spirit with Pumpkin Festival

The monthlong festival has pumpkins and games of all sorts.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 10, 2020
Temple Emanu-El hosts drive-in Sukkot celebration

The in-person event was held on Oct. 10.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 8, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: October 8

Amy Ouderkirk captured this screech owl perched on a palm in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By The Child Protection Center
  • October 8, 2020
A Pandemic Doesn’t Stop Child Abuse But You Can

A Pandemic Doesn’t Stop Child Abuse But You Can

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Brenda Secky waited for days to win her eBay bid for her great-great grandfather's painting.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 6, 2020
Gillespie Park painter receives second painting from great-great grandfather

Brenda Secky has acquired another long-lost painting from AC Striffler.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Todd Hughes organizes the Lutz Buddy Up chapter in Sarasota.
    By
  • Harry Sayer
  • October 5, 2020
Brothers in Arms

Goodwill Manasota's Lutz Buddy Up program offers community for veterans.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
So far, Paisano’s has sold 32 Trump cookies and 17 Biden cookies.Â
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • October 2, 2020
Sarasota bakery gets in on election fun

Paisano's Italian Bakery is selling cookies with caricatures of the presidential candidates on them.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 1, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: October 1

Jill Muller captured this incoming rain storm on Casey Key Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By All Faiths Food Bank
  • October 1, 2020
Turning Empty Plates into ThankFULL Tummies and Hearts

Turning Empty Plates into ThankFULL Tummies and Hearts

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 25, 2020
Southside goes gold to raise awareness for childhood cancer

Southside Elementary School raises money for the Benjamin Gilkey Fund for Innovation Pediatric Research.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 24, 2020
Sarasota weather page photo: September 24

Pamela Williams captured this glossy ibis at Celery Fields in Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2020
Children's book decades in the making

Daughter follows through in publishing her mom's children's story.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Guests of the 2019 Taste of Downtown mingle on the main stage of the Sarasota Opera House.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 23, 2020
Taste of Downtown goes digital for 2020

Annual event benefits Sarasota Opera's Youth Opera.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Judy Polivy sits with the many donations collected at Temple Sinai.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • September 21, 2020
Temple Sinai collects clothes during Rosh Hashanah

The temple's women's group Women of Sinai holds a collection of clothes each year in support of local agencies.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Freya Robbins, CDFA™
  • September 17, 2020
Who Makes the First Move?

Who Makes the First Move?

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
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Rising senior quarterback Louisen Desinor will start under center for Braden River High football in the fall. This spring was his opportunity to strengthen bonds with the playmakers around him.
  • May 25, 2026
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