Mar-a-Lago Face? Not in Sarasota.
Severe jaws, razor-sharp cheekbones and lips to make Mick Jagger blush—the so-called “Mar-a-Lago face” is all the rage in Washington, D.C., and Palm Beach. But Sarasotans, at least for the time being, seem to prefer a subtler touch for their plastic surgery. “Fortunately for us, Sarasota is...
Holmes Beach couple complete 110th jigsaw puzzle
HOLMES BEACH – Fran and Wayne Derr started working on their 111th jigsaw puzzle on Sunday, Dec. 28. The Holmes Beach residents live in the Key Royale community and they began doing jigsaw puzzles a little more than five years ago. “In March 2020, the states began to implement...
Pets and Vets: Pit bull survives ax attack in Florida.
Animal health state by state. A Manatee County Animal Services worker walked into Beach Veterinary Clinic in Bradenton, Fla., with a pit bull the afternoon of Nov. 26. The dog, now named Axel, seemed unfazed by the two-inch-deep open gash that had exposed his skull and damaged his sinuses—a wound that looked to be...
Sarasota’s Kindergarten Vaccination Rate Is Among the Lowest in the State
In 2023 and 2024, measles outbreaks occurred in multiple states, primarily affecting children in areas with low measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that local immunity gaps are driving these outbreaks and other vaccine-preventable...
Wagon Wheel’s spirit lives on at Derby Lane
While the uber-popular Wagon Wheel Flea Market closed in 2020, many of its previous vendors and customers have found a new home at Derby Lane. The former greyhound track, which is still home to a poker room and gaming facility, began hosting the Farmers and Flea Bazaar in November 2025. Organizer Shawn Yang said the...
Lighting the Path: Advancing Nursing Education and Community Care
At State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota (SCF), nursing education is about more than earning a degree. It is about answering a calling and meeting a critical community need. SCF’s nursing programs continue to evolve to meet the growing demand for skilled, compassionate health care professionals, while achieving...
Crowd rings in the new year at Waterside Place
For Lakewood Ranch's Lorena Barona, celebrating New Year's Eve at Waterside Place has become a tradition. Returning for the third year in a row, she is not alone. Now her group of friends has grown. She invites everyone she knows in order to make the event that much more special....
Florida manatees flock to warm springs as cold temperatures hit state
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB/Gray News) - Hundreds of manatees huddled in a Florida waterway on New Year’s Eve as temperatures dropped. Video provided by the Southwest Florida Water Management District shows up to 300 manatees huddling at Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River on New Year’s Eve. The air...
Manatee County Animal Welfare Celebrates Successful Year With Community Support in Florida
Manatee County Animal Welfare has closed out 2025 with a flurry of tails wagging and whiskers twitching in contentment. According to a social media post by the Manatee County, Florida Government—despite a year filled with challenges—the department has accomplished significant strides in improving the lives of local...
100-plus things to do in January in Sarasota, Bradenton, Punta Gorda
With New Year's Eve , December and 2025 all nearly now behind us, it's time to look toward 2026 and January, which will be full of things to do in the Sarasota area, including some of our largest annual events. Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival — the first of several such festivals held by the same organizer...
