Neighbors | Sarasota | Your Observer

Sarasota | Neighbors

Niki Kottmann
October 30, 2018

June Blaustein remembered for her loving personality and unique hobby

The Sarasota speech pathologist and bodybuilder suit sewer died Sept. 22.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 25, 2018

Out of the Blue returns to raise awareness on mental health

NAMI Sarasota County held its second annual Out of the Blue event at Sarasota Architectural Salvage on Oct. 25.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 25, 2018

Costumed canines take over Arlington Park for Bark-O-Ween

Dogs and their owners got into the Halloween spirit at Arlington Paw Park for a wag-worthy celebration.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
October 25, 2018

Sarasota weather page photo: Oct. 25

Donna Drapatin captured this sunset at Siesta Key.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 23, 2018

Pedal power

Jakobi Davis combined a passion for engineering and environmental sustainability to create a new way to get charged.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 22, 2018

Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival celebrates 30 years of fall fun

Fruitville Grove hosts 30th Annual Pumpkin Festival with pumpkin patch and hayrides.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 21, 2018

College is the Pointe brings opportunities for dance students

A new collaboration with Sarasota Ballet and Take Stock in Children encourages dance students to achieve a college education.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 20, 2018

Collard greens festival gets greener every year

The Third Annual Big Mama's Collard Greens Festival offers a culinary and cultural adventure.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 19, 2018

Sarasota Chamber shares members' success stories at annual meeting

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce looked back at a year of successful membership, events and campaigns during its annual membership meeting.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 18, 2018

Harvest House opens community's first homeless youth drop-in center

Harvest House held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication for homeless drop-in center for young adults ages 16-24.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 18, 2018

Sarasota Jungle Gardens' oldest performer, Frosty Sr., retires

Frosty Sr. is ready for retirement after spending decades performing for thousands of people at Sarasota Jungle Gardens.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
October 18, 2018

Sarasota weather page photo: Oct. 18

Stephen Jordan captured this photograph of people on Siesta Key watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 15, 2018

World Lemur Festival brings awareness to world's most endangered primate

All things lemur took over Ringling College of Art and Design's Alfred R. Goldstein Library for Sarasota's first World Lemur Festival.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 15, 2018

Giving Hunger the Blues & Jazz returns to rock the Van Wezel

The 22nd Annual Giving Hunger The Blues & Jazz continues to give back to those in need while supporting local music.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 15, 2018

Howl-O-Ween Movie Night Spooktacular brings scary sights to Ed Smith Stadium

Ed Smith Stadium hosted Halloween fun on Oct. 13.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 14, 2018

Yo ho ho for the Sarasota Garden Club's 80th Annual Flower Show

Sarasota Garden Club’s annual Flower Show & Plant Sale celebrates 80 years.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
October 12, 2018

Sarasota weather page photo: Oct. 11

Ben Cooper captured this seaside flora at North Lido Beach.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 9, 2018

Going gold for childhood cancer awareness

Sarasota County schools raised more than $17,000 for childhood cancer research.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 8, 2018

Bea Friedman, patron of the orchestra, dies at 98

A philanthropist who gave without fanfare, "Queen Bea" leaves behind a legacy of giving.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Katie Johns
October 7, 2018

Porchfest tunes up Arlington Park

This year's Porchfest, which took place on Oct. 7, featured sounds from 65 bands.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 7, 2018

Local Democrats gear up for upcoming election

The Democratic Club of Sarasota and Longboat Key Democratic Club partnered together to host a fundraising dinner featuring MSNBC Contributor Jill Wine-Banks.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
October 4, 2018

Sarasota weather page photo: Oct. 4

Michael Bajorek photographed this palm on Siesta Key.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Niki Kottmann
October 3, 2018

Jim Roque remembered for fostering relationships, helping the community

SunTrust vice president and nonprofit patron Jim Roque died Sept. 23 at 63.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
October 2, 2018

Sarasota Police Department hosts 'Night Out' for families

Sarasota families joined the rest of the country in celebrating crime prevention during the Sarasota Police Department during National Night Out, "American's Night Out Against Crime" event.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Katie Johns
September 29, 2018

Restaurants 'S'Mac Down' for mac 'n cheese cook-off

Seven local restaurants competed in the Sarasota Young Professionals Group's event on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Niki Kottmann
September 29, 2018

All Faiths Food Bank hosts inaugural Autumn Harvest dinner

The nonprofit held a family-style dinner fundraiser Sept. 28 at its Benderson Family Campus.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
September 27, 2018

Sarasota weather page photo: Sept. 27

Marlene Meyer took this photograph at sunset on Lido Beach.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
September 26, 2018

Sarasota High celebrates accomplished alums

The second annual SHS Hall of Fame event brought together alums to celebrate accomplishments and raise money for the school.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Katie Johns
September 26, 2018

Olympic hopefuls set sail for Tokyo Games

Ravi Parent, an alum of the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, and his teammate Caroline Atwood are training in hopes of qualifying for the 2020 summer Olympics.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
September 21, 2018

Centenarians honored at Pines of Sarasota

Pines of Sarasota said cheers to a 100 years to its centenarians.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
September 20, 2018

Sarasota weather page photo: Sept. 20

Gordon Silver captured these large gators at Myakka River State Park resting, while a brave great egret strolls by.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
September 16, 2018

Temple Emanu-El kicks off first day of religious school

Temple Emanu-El celebrated the first day of its religious school on Sept. 16.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Shane Donglasan
September 14, 2018

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County honors community leaders

The 13th Annual Intertape Polymer Group Leadership Breakfast presented by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County celebrated Dick Vitale and Todd Jones.