Breaking News

Sarasota African American Coalition Sets Plans for Museum in Motion

CEO Vickie Oldham will present updated facility plans in a city commission meeting on Monday, August 2.

07/30/2021 By Allison Forsyth

Events

Sarasota Chamber Celebrates Black History Month with Newtown Trolley Tour

The tour will take place on Friday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

02/24/2021 By Staff

Listening to Black Voices

Activist Barbara Nell Langston on the History of Newtown and the Importance of Voting

“I live the village life, which is Newtown,” she says. “I live the stories of this community, and I love it here.”

02/02/2021 By Heather Dunhill

Grants

Community-Based After School Program Expands Services

A $50,000 grant from the Barancik Foundation will support SOAR's educational programs through summer 2021.

09/09/2020 By Staff

Grand reopening

Newtown Farmer's Market Reopens This Week

After being shut down because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the market will return on Friday and Saturday with new social distancing rules in place.

08/17/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Making History

City of Sarasota Receives Grant to Support Newtown

It’s the only Florida entity to receive one of 18 "Underrepresented Community" grants from the National Park Service.

07/20/2020 By Ilene Denton

Hidden Histories

Sarasota’s Black Cemeteries Have, Thankfully, Been Preserved

Cemeteries are a history of people and physical places that hold a society’s memories.

01/30/2020 By Isaac Eger

Community Cleanup

Newtown Community Cleanup Set for Jan. 25

The free event will take place from 8 a.m.-noon.

01/13/2020 By Staff

Paying tribute

Newtown Alive, School System Partner to Honor an Education Pioneer

The organizations plan to commemorate Dorothye Smith, the first African-American principal to be hired at an integrated Sarasota County school.

12/20/2019 By Shelby Schwartz

Education

Sarasota County Schools, Newtown Alive Partner to Honor Dorothye Smith

Smith was the first African-American principal hired within the integrated school system in Sarasota County.

11/06/2019 Photography by Staff

Lectures

The Ringling, Newtown Alive! Partner for 'Collecting Recollections' Series

Three local women will recount their coming-of-age experiences in Sarasota during Jim Crow segregation, their transformation into adulthood and their participation in the Civil Rights movement.

10/28/2019 By Staff

Events

Selby Gardens Will Host 'Newtown Alive' Program

The panel discussion and Q&A will look back at Sarasota's black history.

09/17/2019 By Staff

Cleaning House

Newtown Community Cleanup Set for Aug. 10

The cleanup will be held from 8 a.m.-noon.

08/01/2019 By Staff

RIDESHARE

Gotcha Expands Services to University Parkway

The ride-share service can now take you to Sarasota Jungle Gardens and the Ringling Museum.

06/26/2019 By Giulia Heyward

Weekly Planner

A Blue Crab Festival, Morton's 50th Anniversary Party and More of This Week's Best Food and Drink Events

Also happening: a walking food tour and a grand opening for the new Newtown Farmers Market location.

05/15/2019 By Giulia Heyward

Newtown Nation

The Newtown Farmers Market Is Moving

And we've got the scoop on where it will set up from now on.

05/08/2019 By Giulia Heyward

Design

New Program Aims to Encourage Historic Preservation in Newtown

Property owners interested in making improvements or restorations to their buildings could be eligible for a portion of $200,000 in funding.

03/27/2019 By Staff

Politics

Sarasota Added to U.S. Civil Rights Trail

The Sarasota area was added to the trail because of the Lido Beach 'wade-ins'—protests created to push Sarasota to desegregate local beaches.

01/22/2019 By Staff

Soul Food

Big Mama's Collard Greens Fest Returns to Newtown This Month

This soul food staple has found itself the center of an annual festival meant to bring the community together.

10/11/2018 By Giulia Heyward

Time travel

Vickie Oldham Kicks Off Monthly Newtown Bus Tours This Weekend

The Newtown & Overtown History Bus Tour takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1.

08/30/2018 By Giulia Heyward