This past Saturday, May 16, was about as picturesque a day one can dream up on Siesta Key. The sun sat high, glimmering down onto the white sand beneath, the temperature creeping up into the mid-80s. The usual sounds filled the beach—children laughing, speakers blaring and…screaming men?

The screams—the majority of which were jovial, others more competitive—were courtesy of the men and women participating in the inaugural Siesta 7s Rugby Tournament. The tournament, hosted by Sarasota Rugby Club, brought hundreds of players and dozens of teams from around the state to play for bragging rights on the sand. Vendors of all sorts created a makeshift corridor in the sand, past which multiple sand “fields” served as the battleground for the day’s rugby gladiators.

“It’s incredible to see this turnout in the tournament’s first year,” says Gary Jones, president of the Sarasota Rugby Club. “The vendors have been a great support to us. The teams are all from Florida and for the youth—which is our passion at Sarasota Rugby Club—we have under 12, under 14 and under 16 age divisions.”

Rugby sevens, which is the format of the sport played in the Olympics, is a faster paced version of rugby union, which the Sarasota Rugby Club plays throughout the year. Instead of the usual 15 players per team, rugby sevens consists of two teams of seven players each, battling over two seven minute halves. The Siesta 7’s tournament took the high-intensity variant up a notch by considerably shrinking the field size and forcing the players to run barefoot through the ankledeep sand. “Sand is the equalizer,” says Jones. “However fast you think you are on the grass, you’ll wear out pretty quickly trudging through this beautiful white quartz sand.”

The most notable part of the tournament, however, was not the brutality of the sport nor the impressive feat of athleticism from the participants. Rather, it was the sense of community found off the sand “pitch.” Families with multiple generations of rugby players cheered on teammates, combatants became friends and strangers across the beach became sudden fans of the sport. 

Players compete during the inaugural Siesta 7s Rugby Tournament. Photo by Dylan Campbell.

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State College of Florida Collegiate Schools (SCFCSs) presented high school diplomas, awards and scholarships to the Class of 2026 at graduation ceremonies on May 7 and 8 at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s (SCF) Venice and Bradenton campuses. Many of the graduates also earned Associate in Arts (AA) degrees from SCF. 

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) awarded more than 1,000 degrees and workforce certificates to graduating students at its Spring 2026 informal grad walk and traditional graduation ceremonies on May 8 at SCF Venice and SCF Bradenton. 

As families across the country continue to face rising childcare costs and limited availability, Children First is reflecting on the first year of its recent classroom expansion while continuing to meet strong demand for services. More than a year after opening new classrooms made possible as a part of a catalytic $900,000 investment from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the agency has increased access to reliable early learning for children who had previously been waiting for care - helping families maintain employment and manage daily responsibilities. 

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties is proud to announce support from The Henson Fund to provide summer camp scholarships and annual Club memberships for youth attending the Roy McBean and Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Clubs. This investment will help expand access to safe, enriching summer experiences and year-round support for local children and families who need it most. 

Sarasota County Schools has been named a Guy Harvey Conservation District for the 2025-2026 school year, signifying the school district’s commitment to environmental education through teacher professional development, experiential learning, and environmental leadership.  For more information on the Guy Harvey Conservation Education Program, including benefits and upcoming training locations, schedules and more, visit GuyharveyFoundation.org/education/conservationprogram/ or email cet@guyharveyfoundation.org.  

The fashion industry uses enormous amounts of water and resources to produce clothing, which means reusing and swapping clothes is a simple way we can all help reduce waste and conserve water. Instead of throwing items away, bring clean, gently used clothing to share with others in the community and discover some new-to-you pieces for yourself. Community clothing donations may be dropped off at our office ahead of the event during normal business hours M-F 8am-5pm. We are requesting all types of clothes for kids, women, and men. Acceptable donations include: shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, shoes, hats, purses, backpacks, and dresses. Then, on June 12 from 9am–2pm, participants are invited to browse available items and take home clothing at no cost. Whether you’re looking to refresh your closet, reduce textile waste, or simply support a more sustainable lifestyle, this event is a fun and easy way to make a positive environmental impact right here in Manatee County.

Friday, June 12, 9am – 2pm, UF/ IFAS Extension Manatee County, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto. 

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Embracing Our Differences has announced the winners of its 2026 “People’s Choice” awards, selected by visitors to this year’s outdoor exhibitions in Sarasota and St. Petersburg. A total of 1,158 visitors completed surveys and voted for their favorite artwork and quotation from among the thought-provoking works displayed throughout the exhibitions. The selected artwork and quotation were each honored with $2,000 awards. The “People’s Choice” artwork award was presented to “Young Eyes” by Elise Roundtree, an 11th-grade student at Lake Howell High School in Apopka, Florida. The artwork captures a moment of curiosity and connection between two children, set against a backdrop of adult tension and division; a contrast that deeply resonated with exhibition visitors. The “People’s Choice” quotation award was presented to Minh Le, an 8th-grade student at Pine View School in Osprey, for the quotation: “Getting older may seem terrifying, but only the luckiest people get to experience it.” Minh’s teacher is Wendy Hazlett.  

The Child Protection Center (CPC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan A. Featherstone, Esq. to its Board of Directors, bringing extensive legal expertise and a strong commitment to the Sarasota community to the organization’s leadership. Featherstone is a shareholder at Dunlap & Moran, P.A., where his practice focuses on residential and commercial real estate transactions, business transactions, and related legal matters. A Sarasota native, Featherstone graduated with honors from Pine View School before earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Florida. He later received his Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2005. 

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Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce that Mr. Jamal Crook has been appointed as the new Principal of Booker High School. He will assume his new role effective Monday, June 1. 

On Tuesday, May 19,  Andy H. Card, Former White House Chief of Staff, visited Emma. E. Booker Elementary School to mark 25 years after 9/11. He was joined by Stephen Siller Jr., Son of fallen FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller and Manager of the Tunnel to Towers In Line of Duty Program. His visit was made possible by Steel Across America, a national tour led by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in honor of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. 

Embracing Our Differences (EOD) has awarded scholarships to three graduating high school seniors and renewed funding for eight college students who previously received the honor. The students are part of EOD’s Coexistence Club initiative, which supports student-led groups dedicated to fostering inclusion, respect, kindness and meaningful dialogue in area schools and communities. The annual $1,000 renewable scholarships are made possible through the generosity of private donors, including the Jody Beresford and Robert Mayer Scholarship Fund.  

At a moment when the earliest years of a child’s life carry the greatest potential for lifelong impact, The Florida Center for Early Childhood continues to deepen its commitment to families, thanks to a $6,500 grant from the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation. The funding supports Starfish Academy, The Florida Center’s inclusive preschool, where children of all abilities learn side by side in a carefully supported environment designed to nurture social, emotional and developmental growth.  

Everyone has stories worth telling—moments of humor, heartbreak, resilience, reinvention and discovery that deserve to be remembered and shared. Staring in August, Senior Friendship Centers invites older adults to reconnect with those memories through a new session of “Joyful Journeys: Turn Your Life and Memories into Stories,” a free creative writing program presented by the Gussin Center for Creative Writing Workshop Series. Led by Brazilian-born educator, writer and teaching artist Maria Schaedler-Luera, the 10-session workshop helps participants shape life experiences into meaningful written stories through guided prompts, storytelling exercises, writing instruction and group discussion. Schaedler-Luera is the author of “Be the Protagonist” and is currently working on her second book, “The Resilient Protagonist.” 

This summer, Selby Gardens is excited to present an indoor and outdoor exhibition featuring the work of legendary American photographer, Lynn Goldsmith, who is renowned for both her celebrity portraits and fine art images. Goldsmith’s exhibition at the Downtown Sarasota campus will combine stunning images of flowers with intimate portraits of Selby Gardens’ artist in residence – Patti Smith. The exhibition will be on view June 20 through September 13, 2026, at the Downtown Sarasota campus. Over the past 50 years, Goldsmith’s photography has appeared on or between the covers of magazines including Life, Newsweek, Time, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, and many others. Her work is held in numerous private art collections and museums, including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Seventeen books have been produced of Goldsmith’s images, including Flower by Rizzoli in 2000 and Patti Smith: Before Easter After, published as a Deluxe Limited Edition by Taschen in 2019 and as a trade edition by Rizzoli in 2024. For more information visit selby.org. 

Most Sarasota County Government offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, for the national observance of Memorial Day.