Best of the Year

Our Top 10 Stories of 2018

Here's what you read over and over again this year.

12/18/2018 By Staff

Education

School District Names New Principal at Lakewood Ranch High

Dustin Dahlquist will take on the new role early next year.

12/18/2018 By Staff

Education

Next Lifelong Learning Institute Semester Begins Jan. 14

Registration for the winter semester of Ringling College of Art and Design's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute has begun.

12/18/2018 By Staff

Construction

Builder Renovates 760-Seat Auditorium for Bradenton Church

Halfacre Construction Company recently completed an interior renovation on a new 32,000-square-foot facility for Bayside Community Church.

12/18/2018 By Staff

Entertainment

Season Two of MTV's Siesta Key Starts Jan. 22

The new season will feature 'a lot of love, a lot of heartbreak, a lot of friendships and drama,' according to cast member Madisson Hausburg.

12/17/2018 By Staff

Education

Venice YMCA Opens New Early Learning Center

Sunshine Education Academy will serve children from six weeks of age through voluntary prekindergarten.

12/17/2018 By Staff

Retail

Bookstore Sales Up in October After Two Months of Declines

Bookstore sales totaled $699 million in October, up 7.7 percent from $649 million in October 2017.

12/17/2018 By Staff

Technology

Grant Will Help Libraries Build Seven 'Creation Stations'

The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recently awarded $947,544 to the Library Foundation for Sarasota County and the Sarasota County library system.

12/17/2018 By Staff

The arts

Director of Concert Series to Retire Next June

John Fischer will retire from the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota in 2019 after serving as the organization’s managing director for 17 years.

12/14/2018 By Staff

Tourism

Florida Airports High in On-Time Holiday Travel Ranking

Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers was ranked No. 3 in the nation and Tampa International Airport was ranked No. 4.

12/14/2018 By Staff

Hospitality

New Downtown Hotel Opens

The new Embassy Suites By Hilton houses 180 units, including two-room and studio suites.

12/14/2018 By Staff

Disasters

Hurricane Michael Insurance Losses Total Almost $4.3 Billion

Florida property and business owners have filed more than 131,000 claims related to damage caused by the storm.

12/14/2018 By Staff

Design

Architecture Firm Adds Two New Designers

Sarasota's Hall Architects recently hired Christopher Wenzel and Douglas Driscoll.

12/13/2018 By Staff

New hires

Mote Marine Names New Vice President

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium recently hired Kevin Cooper, currently the president of The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.

12/13/2018 By Staff

Politics

Talk on Local Election Results Rescheduled

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner's planned presentation on the November results was delayed by the statewide recounts.

12/13/2018 By Staff

Planning

New Nonprofit Will Work with City to Oversee Bayfront Redevelopment

The Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization is transitioning into a new organization, The Bay Conservancy.

12/13/2018 By Staff

Deals

Medical Office Park Sold for $5.9 Million

The Miami company CRG Bradenton HPE, LLC, recently purchased the property at 6020 State Road 70 E., Bradenton.

12/13/2018 By Staff

Nonprofits

Big Brothers Big Sisters Leader Honored for Work Helping Missing Children

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement recently gave Joy Mahler the John and Reve Walsh Award.

12/12/2018 By Staff

Finance

Manufacturer Makes $4 Million Stock Grant to Employees

PGT Innovations, a maker of impact-resistant doors and windows, will offer a one-time grant of restricted stock to more than 3,000 of its employees in January.

12/12/2018 By Staff

Nonprofits

Federal Grant Will Boost YMCA Program for Homeless Youth

The Sarasota YMCA recently received a $132,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to support its Street REACH program.

12/12/2018 By Staff