Lighthouse of Manasota celebrated 25 years of advancing the growth and independence of those suffering from vision loss on Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Northern Trust building.

Children and their families gathered at Gullett Elementary School the evening of for the school's Fall Frolic Oct. 20. Attendees enjoyed pizza and snacks, dancing and other festivities.

GUEST FASHION EDITOR: SARA FERGUSON

The event was Harry's Continental Kitchens' first wine tasting of the 2010-11 season.

Lynne Anast, Director of Road Scholar Programs Sarasota, described the not-for-profit organization's program offerings at the Episcopal Church Women's Group meeting at All Angels by the Sea on Wednesday, Oct. 20.

Designing Women Boutique held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the expansion of their estate division and a champagne reception honoring local attorney Troy Myers, Jr., Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the boutique.

Residents of the Sarasota Bay Club are getting into a new exercise class: chair dancing. The class is taught by Wendy Canning and allows the participants to enjoy doing dance moves to 1940's music without actually leaving their seat.

In recognition of the 38th anniversary of Roe v.

Children at The Goddard School in Lakewood Ranch enjoyed the sights and sounds of a real fire engine when the school hosted a fire truck visit from Pierce Manufacturing Oct. 8. Children experienced holding and spraying water from a hose and trying on a firefighter's hat, among other activities.

The Longboat Key Fire Rescue celebrated the promotion of two of their officers on Monday, Oct. 18. Tim Haas was promoted from firefighter to lieutenant and Sandi Drake was promoted from lieutenant to deputy chief. Drake is the first woman to become deputy chief or hold such a high ranking in the history of Longboat Key Fire Rescue.

The 16th annual Downtown Sarasota Art and Craft Festival returned to Main Street Saturday and Sunday, featuring everything from handmade jewelry to Tube Dudes.