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Results for:

Sanddy Marchena owns Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch with his wife Melodie Marchena (not pictured). Michelle Frease is the academy's director.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • February 24, 2026
Lakewood Ranch's Waterside Place gains a Kiddie Academy

Kiddie Academy of Sarasota opens its child care and preschool business March 2.

  • East County
  • Business
Alex Bates of Riverview track and field is a reigning FHSAA regional and district champion for pole vault. Four meets into his senior season, he's already notched a pair of first-place finishes.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • March 17, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Alex Bates

The reigning state runner-up in FHSAA Class 4A for pole vault placed first at the Ram Invitational.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Myakka City's Carol Felts gets emotional as she's sworn in as the District 1 commissioner on Nov. 19.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • February 24, 2026
Manatee County Commissioner Carol Felts dies at 68

The commissioner was found at her Myakka City home Tuesday afternoon by her aide.

  • East County
  • News
The $21 million, 2-acre park
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • February 25, 2026
The $21 million, 2-acre park

Sarasota County is paying twice as much for property than the seller paid two years ago. It's another sign of a concerning spending trend.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Yvette Brown directs the offense for Booker girls basketball Feb. 27 against DeSoto County in the FHSAA Class 4A-Region 3 championship. The Tornadoes outscored regional competition by an average of 31 points per game, but lost by 33 in the state semifinals.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • March 11, 2026
Another season ends in state semifinals for Booker girls basketball

The Tornadoes again knocked on the door of a state championship berth but, like in years past, ultimately fell short.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Left: Darrel Drury has lived in the Lakewood Ranch area for nearly eight years. Right: David Sessions has overseen the construction of dozens of buildings in the region in the past 35 years.
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • February 15, 2026
Round and round goes the chatter about roundabouts in Lakewood Ranch

If you drive in Lakewood Ranch, then you have driven into, and out of, a roundabout. Some like them more than others.

  • East County
  • News
Johnny Lackaff slips by an opponent during the FHSAA Class 7A-Region 3 semifinals Feb. 21 at Sarasota High School. Whether on the court or on the sidelines, he's consistently found a way to impact the game.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • February 26, 2026
Star guard returns from injury to steer the Sailors

Johnny Lackaff is back at the helm for Sarasota High boys basketball after a nine-game absence.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Morgan Bettes Angell and Paul Benjamin thought a blues festival in Lakewood Ranch would be sustainable on an annual basis, but after two years, it is out.
  • By Jay Heater |
  • March 11, 2026
When it comes to the blues festival, we blew it in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival promoter says he will move the festival to G.T. Bray for 2026.

  • East County
  • Opinion
St. Regis Longboat Key Resort added faux flora atop letters of its arch while the hotel and town work on a solution to bring the sign into code compliance, or vise versa.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • November 5, 2025
Longboat doesn't budge on sign rules amid St. Regis spat

The Town Commission decided in a split vote to not introduce a sign code amendment to allow for an arched metal sign at the resort's pier.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Couch LBK co-owner Ken Rushing shows a pair of shoppers a fabric sample inside the furniture showroom at Brista Commons Wednesday, Jan. 14.
  • By S.T. Cardinal |
  • January 18, 2026
Brista Commons hits the ground running

The newest shopping center on Longboat Key has seen lots of foot traffic ahead of its Jan. 20 grand opening.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Center for Aging Resources and Enrichment is leading a public seminar on artificial intelligence, fraud and online safety on March 25. Registration required.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • March 11, 2026
Learn about online scams, artificial intelligence at public seminar

The Center for Aging Resources and Enrichment invites the public to join a seminar on artificial intelligence, fraud and safety.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Junior guard/forward Isaiah Jenkins (left) looks for a pass during the FHSAA Class 7A boys basketball state championship between Sarasota and Miami Columbus. The Sailors fell, 53-50, on March 14 at Jacksonville's UNF Arena.
  • By Jack Nelson |
  • March 18, 2026
Learning to love transformed Sarasota boys basketball

As corny as it sounds, a culture of care lifted the Sailors to historic heights.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The home at 4423 Bay Shore Road was built in 1938 and has five bedrooms, five-and-five-half baths, a pool and 7,615 square feet of living area.
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • April 2, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for March 16-20 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

An Indian Beach home on Bay Shore Road tops the week’s sales at $9.5 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Late Commissioner Carol Ann Felts will be honored April 18 at Crane Park.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • March 31, 2026
Manatee County names Myakka preserve after late commissioner Carol Felts

The Carol Ann Billberry Felts Preserve at David J. Crane Park Dedication and Public Memorial Service will be held April 18 at Crane Park in Myakka City.

  • East County
  • News
Mike Hutchinson repairs a laptop.
  • By Ian Swaby |
  • March 19, 2026
Local nonprofit repairs over 25,000 laptops to help community members in need

The Sarasota Technology Users Group hopes to bridge the digital divide with its initiative to repair laptops for those in need.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gabriella Martinez Reyes, a junior at Lakewood Ranch High School, has been named president of the Florida Future Business Leaders of America. This makes her the first of Manatee County.
  • By Madison Bierl |
  • March 31, 2026
LRHS junior named president for Florida's Future Business Leaders of America

Gabriella Martinez Reyes will lead 11,000 members of Florida Future Business Leaders of America.

  • East County
  • Schools
While construction abounds around The Marketplace at Heritage Harbour, Portillo's is not among the businesses preparing to move into the shopping center.
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • January 25, 2026
Chicago hot dog eatery reverses course on Manatee County location

Portillo's is no longer planning to open a restaurant in The Marketplace at Heritage Harbour.

  • East County
  • News
A scale model provided by Renzo Piano Building Workshop shows the positioning of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center at the bottom, flanked by two parking garages. The Van Wezel (upper right) parking lot converted into elevated park space.
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • March 5, 2026
Leaner Performing Arts Center plan presented to City Commission

Reduced in size and scope, Sarasota Performing Arts Center Concept 2.0 is greeted with enthusiasm by the Sarasota City Commission while funding concerns remain.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Deborah DiCarlo and approximately 150 fellow celebrants raise a glass to toast Longboat Island Chapel's 70th anniversary. Attendees shared memories and cake at the festivities March 22 at Shook Hall.
  • By Dana Kampa |
  • March 23, 2026
Longboat Island Chapel celebrates 70 years

Congregants who have been part of the church for decades and new members alike joined in the celebration of 70 years serving the community.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A rendering of a proposed condo building at the corner of Ringling Boulevard and Osprey Avenue.
  • By Andrew Warfield |
  • January 8, 2026
More new condos on tap for Ringling Boulevard

City reviewers consider a planned 50-unit residential building as redevelopment continues to march eastward from the downtown core.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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