See Sarasota's 2023 in photos

By James Peter
| 5:00 a.m. December 28, 2023

Sarasota
Neighbors

Remember photo albums — those ancient, analog devices for preserving memories?

Yeah, just barely. Lovely to look at and flip through, but you could spend a week (or more) just organizing the year’s photos and pasting or taping them onto the cardstock pages — when all you really wanted was to have the chance to look back at where you’d been, to show gratitude for what was received and to remember the joyful circumstances that surrounded this photo or that photo.

Here at the Observer, we like to get in the holiday spirit by doing the heavy lifting for our readers, sorting and organizing our favorite photos from the past year in the hopes that you might spend a few minutes with us pausing and reflecting on where we’ve been and of course consider where we might be headed.

January

Teacher’s pet

The wondrous Cleo is a bearded dragon who teaches seventh grade students the responsibilities of caring for a reptile while incorporating the science of aquaculture.

Cleo is just one of the Sarasota School of the Arts and Sciences' animals that bring a sense of calm to the classroom alongside unique learning opportunities.

March for dreams

AJ Sanders participates in the Unity and Historical march with a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. flag that reads "I HAVE A DREAM"

AJ Sanders participates in the Unity and Historical march on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a flag that reads "I HAVE A DREAM"

February

Tough finish

Cardinal Mooney's Kevin O'Donoghue gets fouled on a layup against Booker High. As a junior O'Donoghue was a Sarasota Observer Athlete of the Week after scoring 11 points in the Cougars' 57-44 road win over Booker High.

Never forgotten

The school unveiled its newly planted daffodil garden in the courtyard.

Southside Elementary unveiled its newly planted daffodil garden in the courtyard in memory of the 1.5 million Jewish children who were killed in the Holocaust. The Sarasota elementary school hosted two guest speakers to share their stories of the Holocaust.

Aired out

Dale Mahler and Daniel Olalder take a shot for the corn hole.

Dale Mahler and Daniel Olalder take their throws during The Sarasota Police Department and HaoleNaut 941 Cornhole charity cornhole tournament Feb. 4 at the University Town Center. The tournament was in support of Officer Tim Dederick, whose wife, Crystal Dederick, died in a car accident on Dec. 30, 2022.

Cat College

Sophie Inverso, Audrey Lindas and Abby Graison make pom poms for their cat toy.

The Cat Depot Community Center held a Cat University to teach students the basics of cat caretaking while also having fun.

Court lions

Gulf Coast Lions owner Marcus Tilghman has his players put their hand in the middle.

Now in its fifth year, the Newtown basketball team has a mission to keep giving basketball athletes a second chance to go professional.

March

Hang time

Kali Barrett will be a big part of Cardinal Mooney girls basketball's fortunes in 2023-2024.

Cardinal Mooney sophomore Kali Barrett skies for a layup at the state championship’s final four. After an incredible season, the Cougars (21-6) fell 54-38 to Miami Country Day School (25-7) in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A state championship game in Lakeland.

Shake it up

Bartender Chris Hembrough and Beverage and Entertainment Director Nick Perdue mix up cocktails.

The cocktails were shaking at the newly opened Tzeva, a Mediterranean restaurant boasting dishes with Israeli and Japanese flair.

Read me a story

6-year-old Emilia Kalev reads to Olive, a pug who arrived with Joanne Long, a volunteer with The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, during Sarasota County Libraries’ Read with the Dogs event.

April

Turtle power!

Patrick Scialabba congratulates Ayden Scialabba on a job well done after the 5K portion of the 37th annual Run for the Turtles on Siesta Key, which raised more than $55,000 for turtle conservation.

Bombs away

Kent Eschenbach and James Denner (right) pose with Larry Frankel (middle) on Siesta Beach.

Who is that happy fellow in the back of all those photos taken on Siesta Beach? Why, that’s the Siesta Photo Bomber, of course. It was one year earlier that Larry Frankel began surprising beachgoers by dashing into their photos. He decided to try it one evening as he was emerging from an eight-year hiatus from running caused by a hip issue.

May

Bubble girls

Adeline and Teva Skovronek are thrilled by a stream of bubbles.

Adeline and Teva Skovronek enjoy the annual Pride: Be Fabulous Music & Arts Fest at WSLR+Fogartyville.

Graduation day

Amani Washington and Trinity Adams at Booker High School’s 89th commencement ceremony on May 20 at the Robarts Arena.

June

Message in a tank

Volunteer scuba diver Mark Fishman at Mote Laboratory and Aquarium's Ocean Day event.

Scuba diver Mark Fishman shares conservation messages on June 10 at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s Ocean Day event.

Liger Luau

Kaya Paongo and other dancers perform with Echo of the South Pacific at the Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary Charlie's Third Annual Liger Luau. "It's a wonderful event — animals and people here all together," said Kay Rosaire, who founded the sanctuary in 1987. "We're very much in favor of the human-animal bond, and this is just as great way to put it out there."

Lil’ R&R

Stella the sloth relaxes while hanging onto Danielle Rosaire.

Stella the Sloth relaxes at the Liger Luau. The event is an annual fundraiser each June for the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary.

Walk to remember

Officer Andrew Pickart escorts an SPD K-9 unit to a patrol vehicle. The Sarasota Police Department partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and made the 4-year-old's wish reality, swearing him in as the department’s youngest officer

July

At the crossroads

Ronnique Hawkins stands at the road named in her mother's honor while holding an award received by Veronica Allen. Allen cared for the Newtown community for many years as a Sarasota Police volunteer.

August

Party pair

Tracy Green and Venrie Cannici enjoy the Sarasota Senior Friendship Centers Wellness in Motion Health and Services Fair. More than 50 seniors visited the nonprofit’s Sarasota location for fitness and dance demonstrations.

Aerial arts

Nine-year-old Estella Stroth reaches great heights at the Circus Summer Camp at the Circus Arts Conservatory. On the final day of each weeklong session of camp, kids close out the learning experience by offering a show, featuring limited admission, for their families.

Back to school

Second graders Wyatt Hill, Zachary Choibekov and Hendricks Perez are excited to be back in the classroom on the first day of school at Suncoast School for Innovative Studies. The school rolled out a number of enhanced programs for the 2023-24 school year including extended after care hours and STEM exploration learning sessions.

September

Idalia’s surge

A boat driven against the Ringling Bridge near Hart’s Landing

A sailboat breaks free and washes ashore near Hart’s Landing the morning after Hurricane Idalia brushed past Sarasota. Sarasota was spared the worst of Idalia, but the bayfront, Siesta Key and Longboat Key all experienced flooding.

Pablo Lopac takes in the view of the flooding at Bayfront Park. “It’s crazy to see all the boats washed up here. It’s no parking!”

October

Beach watch

Sarasota County Lifeguard Manager Rick Hinkson keeps watch from a lifeguard tower. It takes a special set of skills, physical fitness and constant training to be an open-water first responder, Hinkson explained. But the dedication of Sarasota’s lifeguards enabled them to perform 100 successful rescues this year.

Pumpkin season

Camila McMahon, 3, looks over the pumpkins available at the Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 8, 2023.

Camila McMahon, 3, looks over the pumpkins available at the Fruitville Grove Fall Festival. At the festival, kids and families could be seen enjoying the variety of pumpkins, a hay play area, a free circus, pony rides and many other activities like meeting animals that included baby piglets, skunks, butterflies, and even a unicorn.

Paint the town fresh

Amy Cyr, Grant Rhea and Domine Clemons perform with The Brett Foreman Band.

The Fresh Fridays block party event finally returned from a three-month hiatus on Oct. 6 for its third season with “Paint the Town Fresh.” Held at the intersection of South Pineapple Avenue and Main Street, the event drew what organizers said appeared to be a record number of attendees.

Hot stuff

Blaze Belligan with Sarasota County Fire Station 11 prepped sample cups of their sweet chili.

Blaze Belligan with Sarasota County Fire Station 11 prepped sample cups of the station’s sweet chili at the 23rd annual Morton’s Chili Cookoff. Area fire departments went all out with creative booth designs along Osprey Avenue. Proceeds from the event benefited the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund. The locally operated organization assists firefighters and families in difficult times, and provides training opportunities.

Slick moves

Rams sophomore Isaiah Belt cuts upfield against CAI.

Rams sophomore running back Isaiah Belt cuts upfield against Clearwater Academy International. The Rams didn’t get the win against CAI but finished the season 8-5 and won two playoff games, led by Belt and fellow running back DJ Johnson. Johnson finished the season with 1,660 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns, according to Maxpreps data. Belt added 1,094 yards and 14 TDs of his own.

Primate procession

Stephen Hecht, 2, and his parents Stephen and Jennifer Hecht, all came dressed as monkeys, while their dog Freckles accompanied them as a banana.

November

Cute crustacean

Andre Herke, Thomas Herke, 1, and Jennifer Herke decided to make use of a lobster costume they owned, a hand-me-down item within their family. “I thought it was the cutest thing,” said Jennifer Herke. “I had no idea it was going to be such a hit.”

For St. Armands Fright Nigh, Andre, Thomas and Jennifer Herke decided to make use of a lobster costume they owned, a hand-me-down item within their family. “I thought it was the cutest thing,” said Jennifer Herke. “I had no idea it was going to be such a hit.”

Back scratcher

Reni Papalexiou at Wild Yoga at Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary. Yoga offerings there include fox yoga, yoga beside the tiger enclosures and, on two separate occasions, lemur yoga.

Knights of the fairground

Sir Lilith (Erin Eisenmann) and Sir Michael (Michael Murphy) face off against one another in a sword fight on horseback.

Sir Michael (Michael Murphy) and Sir Lilith (Erin Eisenmann), bypass each other narrowly during the jousting. SunCoast Renaissance Festival at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds brought together a variety of Medieval history loving enthusiasts for eats, exhibitions, crafts — and combat performances.

Against hate

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of Hamas hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, is joined by wife Gillian Kaye in leading a March Against Hate. Hundreds marched across Ringling Bridge in support of Israel. President Joe Biden met with Dekel-Chan at the White House along with other families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas

Back in town

Santa Claus arrives on the Key Life Charters float.

Santa Claus arrives at the Siesta Key Holiday Parade on the Organized by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, the parade brought together local businesses, which decked out their vehicles with holiday decor.

December

Block and roll

Mooney senior defensive back Zeshon Casimir blocks an NFC punt in the first quarter. Senior linebacker Jacob Brown would return the blocked punt for a touchdown.

Cardinal Mooney senior defensive back Zeshon Casimir blocks an NFC punt in the first quarter. Mooney won the game against North Florida Christian 41-14 to advance to the FHSAA 1S State Championship game, where the Cougars won the title with a 31-27 victory over Trinity Christian.

Reindeer games

"Reindeer" dance aboard Radiant II, captained by Zac Oppenheim.

The Holiday Boat Parade of Lights wouldn’t be complete without a little showboating.

author

James Peter

James Peter is the managing editor of the Longboat and Sarasota Observers. He has worked in journalism in a variety of newsroom roles and as a freelance writer for over a decade. Before joining the Observer, he was based in Montana and Colorado.