For most people, a day spent digging through the mud, sand and dirt wouldn’t be ideal–that is, of course, unless you’re hunting for fossils along the banks of the Peace River. Located just east of Sarasota, the muddy riverbed and surrounding land of this blackwater river hold the keys to an entryway to Florida’s past. Deep within the layers of sediment is a unique array of fossils, dating back tens of millions of years to the time when the Floridian peninsula was covered in ocean. Fluctuating sea levels have made the region a haven for fossil hunting–Megalodon teeth can be found in the same area as remnants of land mammals such as mammoths, mastodons, giant-sloths and saber-toothed cats.

Located in nearby Arcadia, Fossil Recovery Exploration is the outfit with the expertise and resources available to provide an unforgettable fossil hunting experience. “A tour begins in the morning. Folks arrive and we give them a little lecture on the history of the area and show them examples of the different types of fossils they’ll encounter,” says tour guide and owner Chris Mandell. “Then you board your vehicle of choice, be it a swamp buggy or airboat or whatever we may offer, and take it to the area of choice where we begin the dig. We dig alongside the participants all day long and give away everything we find, educating as we go.”

While the fossil hunting season is typically at its peak from December to May–lower river levels make digging for fossils a whole lot easier–Fossil Recovery Expeditions has recently expanded its offering to the summer months as well. In the case where river levels are too high to properly dig, the company offers a dry dig in the surrounding area, the only raw land site fossil layer dig available in Florida. “A little while back, we discovered an abandoned retention pond and after digging around found fossils buried into the sides of it. We’ve ended up making that our dry dig, which has become our main summer option,” says Mandell. “Because the location is just 500 feet back from the river bank we can safely airboat customers directly to the dry dig which is an awesome experience.”

2208 Calusa Lakes Blvd, Nokomis, 585-880-3150, www.fossilrecoveryexploration.com. 

Pictured: Fossil Recovery Exploration offers a dry dig tour during summer months. Photo courtesy of Fossil Recover Exploration.

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The inaugural Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival (LWRBF), presented by Bank of America, will take place at Waterside Park in Waterside Place on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. This premier event will feature internationally touring blues artists, delicious food and drink, and an atmosphere pulsating with the rhythms of the blues along the water. "We’re so excited to partner with Bank of America for our 2024 Inaugural Blues Festival in Lakewood Ranch! As a small business owner, Bank of America has been an incredible partner over the past 10 years as we have grown into what Independent Jones is today,” said President of Independent Jones, Morgan Bettes Angell. “It is incredible to continue to have their support and believe in our mission as we continue to bring a world-class blues festival that showcases the best local food, drink, and music." The Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival is being produced by Paul E. Benjamin from Benjamin Productions and Morgan Bettes and Antonio Hernandez of Independent Jones. 

The Out-of-Door Academy held a memorable Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest campus, the Lower School on Clark Road, marking an exciting new chapter in the school’s 100-year history. With a large crowd of new families, faculty, board members, and supporters in attendance, the event highlighted Out-of-Door’s commitment to innovative growth while honoring its long-standing traditions of excellence in education. The 100-acre campus was announced as the next chapter in the school's history in October 2023, and renovations to existing school buildings on the site were quickly made to accommodate students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1 for the 2024-25 school year. "We are incredibly proud of the new Clark Road Campus and its role in expanding The Out-of-Door Academy’s vision of preparing growth-minded students who thrive in an ever-changing world," said Dr. Kelly Rose, Director of the Lower School on Clark Road. "This campus reflects our dedication to innovation while staying true to the core values that have defined our school for the past 100 years." The Grand Opening event featured heartfelt speeches and was brought to life by performances from students, who sang the School's Alma Mater and led the Pledge of Allegiance. A special moment in the ceremony came when Audrey Robbins, mother of the late Trey Malone—the valedictorian of Out-of-Door’s Class of 2009—rang the new bell dedicated in his memory. 

Pictured: Guests at ribbon cutting for Out-of-Door Academy's Grand Opening. Photo courtesy of ODA.

The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) announces Lou Ann Linn as the agency’s 2024 Employee of the Year. She is recognized for her outstanding work ethic and commitment to bringing vulnerable children into safety. Lou Ann is a member of CPC’s Development Team and has been serving their mission of the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse for going on six years. Peer nominated, this award is testament of her dedication, passion, and hard work year-round. Serving as the Community Engagement Associate, Lou Ann leads CPC’s events, fosters relationships with donors, volunteers, and community members, and supports the agency in achieving its mission.  The Child Protection Center’s (CPC) mission is the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse, as the organization envisions a community where children are safe from abuse and free to thrive. For over 40 years, CPC has been serving Sarasota and DeSoto Counties in the State of Florida and is accredited by the National Children’s Alliance. For more information on CPC or to inquire about ways to get involved, please visit them at  www.cpcsarasota.org or call 941-365-1277.  

Pictured: Lou Ann Linn, Employee of the Year, Child Protection Center. Photo courtesy of CPC.

Victor DeRenzi, artistic director and principal conductor, and Richard Russell, general director, have announced casting for Sarasota Opera’s 2025 Winter Opera Festival. The season opens Saturday, Feb. 15, and will feature Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and Giuseppe Verdi's Stiffelio. The casts of internationally recognized artists include some company favorites, along with singers making their company debuts. Single tickets for the 2025 Winter Opera Festival go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 3. 

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How deeply personal touches made this contemporary farmhouse in Pomelo Place a dream home like no other, July/August 2024.

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