The following homes were under contract on Longboat Key from Aug. 18-24

Sarasota artist, longtime Downtown commercial property owner, and Sarasota Chalk Festival Founder and Chairwoman Denise Kowal recently returned from Italy where she worked with the Grazie di Curtatone 24-hour Madonnari festival, which is the first street painting festival in the world. Kowal picked out Italian artists who will be traveling to Sarasota in November. The [...]

For residents looking to cut their water bill, conserve resources and reduce water pollution, Manatee County Extension Agent Jack Tichenor has just the solution — a rain sensor shut-off switch. A rain sensor shut-off switch is an automatic irrigation control ‘accessory’ that prevents a sprinkler system from operating after an adequate rainfall. Automatic lawn sprinkler [...]

It’s hot out there. There are riots, financial meltdowns, fiscal crises. Global climate change may be a myth to some non-scientists, but most models of global weather predict greater volatility — more extreme hot weather and cold, more floods and hurricanes — for a long time to come

Tickets are now on sale for the Ringling International Arts Festival Oct.11-16. This six-day cultural celebration features modern music, dance, theater and visual arts. Learn more about performances and purchase tickets at www.ringlingartsfestival.org/2011.

September 11, 2011, marks the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. The Sarasota Orchestra in partnership with the Van Wezel and collaborating arts organizations will commemorate the day that changed America with a multimedia concert program. The concert features touching and uplifting orchestral, choral and solo vocal performances, dramatic video footage and inspirational readings that highlight the [...]

After an unusually slow start to hurricane season, Mother Nature has made up for it with a rather large first storm of the season. Hurricane Irene is approaching the East Coast, causing cities and residents to take precaution. The states of New York and New Jersey have already declared a state of emergency. As of press [...]

Kitchens by Kerrie hosted its first annual Realtor Appreciation Night Thursday, Aug. 25 at its Longboat Key Showroom in the Centre Shops. Kerrie and her son, Henry, greeted arriving Realtors and local business owners to the new showroom. The event featured live music, wine and appetizers from Kerrie’s island next door neighbor, the Lazy Lobster [...]

A baby loggerhead heads to the Gulf Wednesday night, Aug. 24, on Longboat Key. Many of these turtle nest excavations are open to the public. Certified Turtle Watchers of LBK keep records for Mote Marine on all nests, hatchings and excavation data. Visit www.mote.org for more info.

Juno & Jove’s Ashley Watson Campaign was launched this week. The fashion focused and eco-minded shop will be giving away a handmade Ashley Watson handbag made of 100 percent recycled material and valued at $450 to a lucky sweepstakes entrant on Facebook (www.facebook.com/junoandjove). Juno & Jove is at 1425 First St., Sarasota. For more info, [...]