At a certain point, when does making history stop making headlines? For the Sarasota Paradise, time will only tell. The Paradise, recently crowned the United Soccer League Two’s South Florida Division champions for the second consecutive season, are on the precipice of making organizational history once more. This weekend, the Paradise will host multiple playoff matches at its home arena at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, including its own against Sporting JAX on Friday night. A win against Sporting JAX would be the organization's first postseason victory.

Here’s how it works: Out of the 144 USL League Two teams, 32 teams from the Eastern, Western, Southern and Central conferences have made the playoffs. In a single-elimination format, teams from the Southern and Eastern conferences will battle through four rounds for the chance to square off with the winner of the Western/Central National semi-finals for the League Two Championship on August 2. On Friday, Premier Sports Campus will host two Conference Quarterfinal games—Laredo Heat SC vs. Fort Lauderdale United at 4:00pm, followed by the Paradise vs. Sporting JAX at 7:30pm. The winners of those two matches will square off on July 21 at 7:30pm.

“I know from experience that people think these things can come all the time, but there are no guarantees in life,” says Head Coach Mirko Dakovic of being crowned South Florida Division champions once again. “I’m incredibly proud of the team’s resiliency, the depth of the roster and the commitment of the players to wanting to win from beginning to end.”

Although the Paradise lost in the first round of 2024’s League Two playoffs, the team is confident in its ability to make it out of the round-of-32 this year. The Paradise have been led by a cadre of some of the top collegiate and amateur players in the country. Sarasota native Andres Freire, who plays at Stetson University, leads the team with 10 goals on the season. Defender Felipe Rojas, who was raised in Sarasota and has been with the team since its inception, helps shore up a rock solid back line. “We’re feeling stronger this year than we were last season,” says Rojas. “We’re more confident and we want to make a run and show the country just how good this team can be.”

USL League Two Southern Conference Quarterfinals, July 18, 4:00pm and 7:30pm, Premier Sports Campus, 5895 Post Blvd, Lakewood Ranch, 34211 

Sarasota Paradise defender Felipe Rojas. Provided photo.

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Get ready to flex your brain muscles and show off your trivia prowess at Gecko's 23rd Annual Summer Trivia Tournament! In collaboration with Trivia Challenge and proudly sponsored by Proximo Spirits, this six-week cerebral showdown kicks off on Monday, July 7th, with the grand finale set for Monday, August 18th. Gather your friends, family or co-workers to form a team and compete for a share of $1,000 in Gecko's Bucks, awarded to the top three teams at the end of the tournament. Join us every Monday at 7:30 PM at Gecko's on Clark Rd, Tuesdays at Gecko's on Stickney Point and SR64, and Wednesdays at Gecko's on Hillview and SR70 for an evening full of fun, laughter, and friendly competition. Each night features exciting drink and food specials to keep your spirits high while you think hard. So, rally your trivia teammates, gear up for some challenging questions, and let the games begin! See you there, and may the best team win! Follow us on social media for more information. www.geckosgrill.com 

Café on St. Armands is excited to join Circle the Date, a vibrant new third Thursday event hosted by the St. Armands Circle Association. Starting on Thursday, July 17, guests are invited to enjoy complimentary bites, exclusive deals, raffle prizes, and live music as the Circle buzzes with energy. At Café on St. Armands, guests can enjoy free Mediterranean-inspired bites, including beet salad spoon and our O.G. Greek salad served skewer style, free mini lemon lavender spritzer mocktails with an optional $5 spirit add-in, wine down Wednesday, specials extended for the event, including 20% off wine purchases over $100 and 50% off wines under $100, a free raffle entry for a chance to win a gift basket with two bottles of wine, two Café wine glasses, and a $50 gift card, live music by Bri Rivera. Participating merchants on the Circle will also offer in-store specials, samples, raffles, and other family-friendly experiences.

Thursday, July 17, all day, live music by Bri Rivera from 5-9pm, Café on St. Armands, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. 

Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce that Dr. Lashawn Frost – the current Principal of Booker Middle School – has been selected as the new Executive Director of Student Services. “I am honored to serve as the new Executive Director of Student Services,” said Frost. "My commitment is to an approach that nurtures the whole child, empowering every student to reach their highest potential. By fostering resilience and encouraging students to take ownership of their learning across all settings, we create pathways for success. I’m excited to support our school leadership teams as we work together to meet the diverse needs of our students and families — ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive." 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties will honor Dr. Larry Thompson, President of Ringling College of Art and Design, and Heather Kasten, President & CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, at the 19th IPG Leadership Breakfast for their commitment to empowering our community’s future leaders to reach their full potential. The event will take place on Friday, September 5 from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, located at 3100 Fruitville Road in Sarasota. For nearly two decades, our community has come together each September to celebrate individuals who play a vital role in empowering local youth. This year, we are proud to honor these two visionary leaders whose work continues to expand access to meaningful opportunities for teens and their families. The Leadership Breakfast will recognize their unwavering dedication to youth success through leadership development, entrepreneurial education, and college and career preparation. 

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“This is the best thing I could have done for our family,” said one parent in a 2025 anonymous survey of Parenting Matters’ Parent Partner Program. With the generosity and care of Bishop-Parker Foundation, Parenting Matters will continue to serve hundreds of Manatee County families—from Anna Maria Island to Myakka City—in its Parent Partner and Chosen Families Programs through a $35,000 grant. The Parent Partner Program offers personalized, in-home education for parents of children ages 0-12, focusing on parenting skills, child safety and family well-being. Parenting Matters estimates 85% of families served in the Parent Partner Program fall at or below the ALICE threshold. Chosen Families is a unique, multi-faceted initiative that supports adoptive families with children ages 0-17 through trauma-informed counseling, education and long-term relationship-building strategies. Combined, the two programs served nearly 700 children and parents in 2024. 

With the support of a $42,000 grant from the Leslie and Margaret Weller Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Florida Center for Early Childhood is launching a new school-based mental health program at Innovation Academy SRQ, a public charter school serving students in grades VPK–5th grade. The project will embed a part-time clinician on site three days a week, providing individualized therapy to identified students, while working closely with teachers, staff, and families to address students’ social and emotional needs. 

Get ready to kick off the new school year with our exciting Back to School Bash, Join us at The Mall at University Town Center on August 2nd from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM for a day of celebration and preparation for the upcoming school year. Parents can pre-register their children for a FREE Backpack and participate in our interactive scavenger hunt to collect school supplies from our fantastic sponsors and vendors. Connect with local businesses as we come together to celebrate the back-to-school season. Attendees will find resources from healthcare providers, after-school programs, community support groups, fun activities, and options for health insurance, martial arts, dancing, and sports programs.

August 2, 10am-2pm, The Mall at University Town Center, Contact 727-674-1464 for questions about the event.

Get ready to be inspired at the Annual Giving Coast Luncheon: Philanthropic Agenda & Good Hero Awards, recognizing local changemakers. Join us in bringing the philanthropic community together on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at Michael's On East and help celebrate the nonprofit spirit of our area. Featuring a panel of distinguished philanthropic leaders discussing giving trends, the honorable Good Hero Awards, and the interactive Giving Tree Program, this event will be nothing short of spectacular. Also highlighting the acclaimed SRQ Lifetime Good Hero Achievement Award, the program will uplift attendees and spark meaningful change. 

Join us for the inspiring 10th Annual SRQ Women Who Roar Leadership and Awards Luncheon, celebrating local women leaders who significantly impact our community. Enjoy a dynamic program featuring the introduction of the esteemed 2025 Leadership Circle inductees, engaging PopUp Boutiques, and opportunities to network during our post-event reception.