The Longboat Key, Lido Key and St. Armands Chamber of Commerce had a luncheon Thursday, July 28 at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

Exotic touches from the owners' travels complement the native flora in their garden.

Have you seen this pumpkin before?

Dozens of East County residents enjoyed a taste of summer during the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch's first Dog Days of Summer hot dog competition and festival July 24 at Greenbrook Adventure Park. Families and pet-lovers enjoyed sampling a variety of hot dogs produced by local businesses, music, games, shows and more. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch.

The Siesta Key Triathlon started at 7 a.m. Saturday, July 23 out at Siesta Key Public Beach. There were 600 people in total who participated in the event.

Riverview High School's class of 1991 celebrated their 20-year reunion Saturday, July 23 at Michael's on East.

Pattigeorge's held a Mexican themed interactive dinner Friday, July 22 at their restaurant on Longboat Key.

The Suncoast Storm's four travel softball teams beat the summer heat and hit the field for the Suncoast Storm Tournament July 16-17 at Lakewood Ranch Park. The Storm 02 team went undefeated throughout the two-day tournament to win the championship. The Storm 97 and Storm 01 teams both advanced to the first round of the playoffs while the Storm 98 team, which played up a level, fell in the semifinals.

Despite rain showers, hundreds of East County residents headed out tonight to Lakewood Ranch Main Street for a barbecue cook-off event.

The Y Foundation and PEL (premium estate liquidators) volunteers ran an estate sale of items from a prominent Sarasota philanthropist this past weekend out at the Airport Mall. The estate sale was first open to the public Friday, July 22 and ran through Saturday, July 23.

The Longboat Key, Lido Key, and St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce held a get together Thursday, July 21 at the Sports Page Bar & Grille in downtown Sarasota.

The Sheriff's Underwater Recovery Force (SURF) conducted a mock marine search and rescue mission from 1 -3 p.m. Thursday, July 21 at Ken Thompson Park Boat Ramp. The main exercise involved divers dropping from the agency helicopter into the water below, saving a mannequin and dragging the mannequin to a rescue boat. All members of SURF were required to do the mock mission twice.