Some residents say Manatee pulled 'bait and switch' on Myakka River monitoring

Two technicians were supposed to monitor the Myakka River, but they were hired to cover all of Manatee County instead.

Government protections remain important in keeping the Myakka River healthy and pristine.
Za'Tajh Coach, 3, climbs over a barrier in the obstacle course.
  • April 15, 2026
Sarasota Police Department opens up to the community at Spring Fest
Sue Ann Miller's story is featured in the Donate Life display at the Lakewood Ranch Library.
  • April 15, 2026
Lakewood Ranch volunteer puts her second heart to good use
Longboat Key Tennis Center pro Robbie Salum tosses a tennis ball up for warm-ups at a clinic on April 8. He and his fellow pros shared what they find special about the public courts and insight into the career paths that led them there.
  • April 15, 2026
Meet Longboat Key's Tennis Center pros
An osprey parent feeds one of the recently hatched chicks on a signpost at the intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Longboat Club Road.
  • April 14, 2026
Osprey chicks hatch off Longboat Club Road

Arts + Culture

In "Rooted in Nature," a trio of gargantuan sculptures mimic the roots of Selby’s iconic Moreton Bay fig tree.
  • April 15, 2026
Selby trails Alexander Calder's restless creativity with a stunning exhibition
The New York City improv troupe Shitzprobe creates musicals on the fly based on audience suggestions.
  • April 13, 2026
Florida Studio Theatre puts its summer improv festival on ice for a year
This year the Sarasota Opera House is turning 100. To celebrate, the Sarasota Opera is holding a special concert and dinner on April 11.
  • April 8, 2026
Sarasota Opera fetes Opera House on its centennial
From left to right, Maya Carpentiere, Amanda Gonzalez, Christiana Allison, Grayson Buchanan, Sheila Wallis and Ryan Duga star in Florida Studio Theatre's children's production, "The Pirate Ship and the Sea Monster and Other Winning Plays."
  • April 7, 2026
Three Sarasota theaters jump on the trolley
Za'Tajh Coach, 3, climbs over a barrier in the obstacle course.
  • April 15, 2026
Sarasota Police Department opens up to the community at Spring Fest
Longboat Key Tennis Center pro Robbie Salum tosses a tennis ball up for warm-ups at a clinic on April 8. He and his fellow pros shared what they find special about the public courts and insight into the career paths that led them there.
  • April 15, 2026
Meet Longboat Key's Tennis Center pros
The team aboard the "Triple Threat," captained by John Novak, rounds the first marker of the Bird Key Yacht Club's annual Sarasota Bay Cup regatta on April 11.
  • April 13, 2026
Seasoned sailors take advantage of smooth seas at Sarasota Bay Cup Regatta
Artist Ena Jasmin Carroll credited her friend and fellow artist Pat Lundy with bringing her in for the second annual Artists in the Garden last weekend at Longboat Island Chapel. A dozen local artists showcased and sold their works at the two-day event.
  • April 13, 2026
Local creatives participate in return of Artists in the Garden
Chloe Jarvis, Vice President Donna Quilici-Smith and Sara Sweetnich socialize before the scholarships are given out at Palm Aire Country Club April 10.
  • April 12, 2026
Palm Aire Women's Club awards scholarships to local students
Overall female winner Vicky Romocki poses with Shelley.
  • April 11, 2026
Over 1,000 turn out to Siesta Key Beach for Run for the Turtles
Lakewood Ranch's Luke and Ashley Gustafson moved from Texas 6 months ago They say events like the Lakewood Ranch Block Party put them in "magical awe."
  • April 11, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Block Party features 70 local businesses, builders and clubs
Pysanky expert Roksolana Tymiak-Lonchyna shows some examples of the traditional egg decoration patterns.
  • April 7, 2026
This Longboat artist keeps tradition alive with Ukrainian egg decorating
Emi Frydman checks out the basket of Easter eggs her family members found at the April 4 egg hunt at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church. The Easter activities, open to the public, made their return for the first time since the early 2020s through the efforts of church members.
  • April 6, 2026
Back from pre-COVID hiatus, St. Armands hosts Easter bash
Lydia Lardner, 3, makes an impressive start filling up her Easter basket with Kelly Lardner and family at the April 3 Sand Cay Condominiums Beach Resort's Easter egg hunt, a beloved tradition at the resort for more than a decade.
  • April 6, 2026
Families return for Easter egg hunt tradition at Sand Cay
Sarasota's Harlyn Voyles, 7, holds on for dear life during the mutton busting at Dakin Dairy Farms' Bull Bash April 4.
  • April 5, 2026
Dakin Dairy Farms' Bull Bash attracts 2,000 fans on Easter weekend
Eggs are droped from the helicopter.
  • April 5, 2026
Good Friday at the Sarasota Fairgrounds draws thousands
Jack Dudonis, 3, and Maxwell Dudonis, 9 meet the Easter Bunny.
  • April 4, 2026
Easter Bunny brings seasonal cheer to Siesta Key Village
Lakewood Ranch's Jerry and Marilyn Schneider, who have been married for 63 years, enjoy the live music at Music on Main April 3.
  • April 4, 2026
Dancers show off their moves at Music on Main in Lakewood Ranch
Rev. Mason Waldhauser, associate rector for adult formation at Church of the Redeemer, leads the walk.
  • April 3, 2026
Stations of the Cross draws 1,000 in worship down Main Street
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance President and CEO Brittany Lamont and Board Chair Wayne Parrish are eager for members to hit the course for the Ranch Scramble.
  • March 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance takes a swing at networking
Jeff Smith, president of the Landings Management Association, and Judi Smith, display two tanks into which they dumped phytoplankton, one with oysters and one without, to show the work the oysters do in keeping the water clean.
  • March 30, 2026
The Landings neighborhood showcases its natural landscapes
Kellen Dorsch and his wife Alanna Giuliani sit with Velly.
  • March 29, 2026
6th annual Get Your Mutt Movin' helps get support moving for rescue animals
Pam Yulke, modeling an outfit by J. McLaughlin at the "Lights, Camera, Legacy" fashion show, is a past president and has been in the University Park Women's Club for 23 years.
  • March 29, 2026
A fashionable event for the University Park Women's Club
Roland Nyarfadi, 7, finds an egg.
  • March 28, 2026
Kids make a splash for Easter egg hunt at Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex
Lakewood Ranch sisters Jade Lowrey, 5, and Hazel Lowrey, 3, had fun collecting eggs and getting their faces painted at Eggstravaganza.
  • March 28, 2026
It's no yoke! 600 children scoop 10,000 eggs at Eggstravaganza
Sue Wertman and Ann Quackenbush join their sister-in-law, Molly Quackenbush, in enjoying a pancake breakfast fundraiser hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key. Chris Sachs and fellow Kiwanians volunteers to raise support for Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee.
  • March 28, 2026
Kiwanians support Family Promise chapter at pancake breakfast
Tennis pros Robert Jendelund and Tomasz Borucki face off in a doubles match against Jhonathan Gonzalez and David Pfister at the Longboat Key Tennis Center's end-of-season party March 25.
  • March 28, 2026
Tennis pros face off at end-of-season bash
Together, John and Shannon Barton make the "Roaring '20s" at the Great Gatsby-themed annual dinner for members of the Friars Club. Attendees shared their favorite memories from the season and gave out awards at the March 24 celebration at the Harbourside Ballroom.
  • March 27, 2026
Friars golfers throw back to Roaring '20s
Theo Chien and Peter Ginsburg test out their fire helmets at the Longboat Key Fire Rescue open house on March 25 at Station 92. The pair picked out some fire station-themed toys while meeting first responder staff at the annual event.
  • March 27, 2026
Longboat families connect with first responders
Five youth sailing teams raced against one another in the first Next Tack regatta on March 21 at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron headquarters. The program is a more advanced offshoot of the partnership between Spectrum Sailing and the Sarasota Youth Sailing Squadron that fosters inclusive, peer-based sailing instruction.
  • March 25, 2026
New inclusive sailing program brings big smiles