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Results for:

Patricia Heffner, the head custodian at Freedom Elementary School, has been with the School District of Manatee County for 26 years.
  • By Liz Ramos |
  • July 18, 2024
Freedom Elementary custodian takes pride in 26 years with Manatee schools

Patricia Heffner's love for cleanliness shows in her work.

  • East County
  • Schools
  • By Emma Burke |
  • February 28, 2025
Sand Bucket List: Must-Try Adventures for a Sun-Soaked Summer

Here are the absolute must-do activities, must-visit spots and must-see sights to make this summer in Sarasota and Manatee counties unforgettable!

  • Sarasota
Sponsored Content
Manatee County commissioners unanimously approve the purchase of 9000 Town Center Parkway May 6.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • May 7, 2025
Manatee County purchases administration building in Lakewood Ranch

The downtown administration building will remain in place, but several departments are relocating.

  • East County
  • News
Recipients of this year's grants from the Longboat Key Garden Club shared stories of how the funds will bolster their environmental educational efforts.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • April 29, 2025
Garden club focuses on youth education with grants

The Longboat Key Garden Club spent Arbor Day awarding $35,750 in grants.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Lakewood Ranch High School Music Department has received the "Support Music Merit Award" from The NAMM Foundation in honor of its outstanding commitment to music education. The music department staff includes orchestra director Thomas Durante, band director John Wilkerson and choir director Rebekah Lester.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • May 20, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High honored with Support Music Merit Award

The award from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional achievement.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River senior Rhys Klein pitched six shutout innings in a 1-0 district semifinal win over St. Petersburg Hollins on April 15.
  • By Vinnie Portell |
  • April 23, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Rhys Klein

The Braden River senior threw six shutout innings in a pivotal district win.

  • East County
  • Sports
Manager Samantha Lemmer and employee Laurie Buckel
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • December 10, 2024
Siesta Key Oyster Bar offers dollar bill decor to employees

The dollar bills that guests leave on the walls of Siesta Key Oyster Bar will be given to employees as hurricane relief.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Crews work to clear debris from Main Street in downtown Sarasota.
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • October 16, 2024
Hurricane debris removal will take months

Sarasota city officials ask for patience as debris collection assets are stretched thin amid historic storm damage across multiple states.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Brian Walton during his first week of new executive director of Save Our Seabirds
  • By Petra Rivera |
  • October 23, 2023
Save Our Seabirds' new exec to lead build-out of campus and avian hospital

Brian Walton started his first nonprofit when he was 16 years old. "Nonprofit work is all I have done," he says.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Program Manager Debby Debile, Dr. Coeurlida Ashby and Executive Director Amy Steinhauser at the Medical Suite at the Paradise Center.
  • By Petra Rivera |
  • September 24, 2024
Paradise Center hopes to purchase Tidewell building on Longboat Key

Based on members' feedback, The Paradise Center plans to launch a grassroots campaign to raise around $2.5 million to purchase the building from the Tidewell Foundation.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
August Wilson's "Fences" runs through Feb. 23 at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.
  • By Monica Roman Gagnier |
  • February 3, 2025
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe goes all in on August Wilson

WBTT presents Wilson's autobiographical play, "How I Learned What I Learned," in honor of Black History Month.

  • Arts + Culture
'Bad Jews' treads a minefield of identity issues
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • April 20, 2025
'Bad Jews' treads a minefield of identity issues

Joshua Harmon's edgy comedy caps a sell-out season for Sarasota Jewish Theatre.

  • Arts + Culture
Johnny Lackaff
  • By Vinnie Portell |
  • February 19, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Johnny Lackaff

Sailors guard scored 30-plus in two regional playoff games.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Weight-loss drugs still require lifestyle changes
  • By Mirabai Holland |
  • April 28, 2025
Weight-loss drugs still require lifestyle changes

If you have to use the semaglutide medicines for weight loss, you still need exercise and a balanced diet.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Judy Thomas has spent her career in the world of ice skating, on and off the ice.
  • By Emily Leinfuss |
  • January 27, 2025
Hall-of-famer Judy Thomas reflects on a career spent on the ice

The celebrated ice skater and show recruiter looks back on five decades of career spins, flips and jumps. "It’s not designer brands or Olympic medals that define you," she says. "It’s your experiences, relationships and work ethic."

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Colton Dempsey, now a Sarasota Sailor, scored 13 of Lakewood Ranch's 29 offensive touchdowns last season.
  • By Vinnie Portell |
  • July 18, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Colton Dempsey

Dempsey, now at Sarasota High, rushed for 1,000 yards at Lakewood Ranch in 2024.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High School's Maya Gilkison, Maya Kopija, Isaiah Schulz and Ryniah Milner work in the blood lab at SunCoast Blood Centers.
  • By Liz Ramos |
  • August 21, 2024
SunCoast Blood Centers give Lakewood Ranch students glimpse at medical field

The students started as volunteers and were hired to work in the blood lab.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jesse Nager stars as Jesus and Ann Morrison plays King Herod in Asolo Rep's "Jesus Christ Superstar."
  • By Marty Fugate |
  • June 6, 2025
Former Broadway star Ann Morrison is back on top

Sarasota's Ann Morrison steals the show as King Herod in Asolo Repertory Theatre's "Jesus Christ Superstar."

  • Arts + Culture
Mark Sumegi, 4, sorts fish into different colored bowls, as Violet Moore, 3, watches.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • February 10, 2025
Storybook Street brings storybooks to life to encourage reading

Numerous organizations came together for the event, held by the Early Learning Coalition, to help provide experiences tying in with free books.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gulf Drive is indistinguishable from the beach on Anna Maria Island following Hurricane Helene.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • January 30, 2025
Manatee County to receive over $252 million for disaster recovery

Residents will have 30 days to weigh in on the project plans.

  • East County
  • News
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