Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 14th of August.
Good morning, Sarasota.
💼 Business
Sarasota welcomes Balos Restaurant, a Mediterranean eatery from Washington, D.C., which will open its first Florida location by spring 2027 at The Edge Sarasota.
The 7,200 sqft venue will serve fresh seafood and shareable dishes inspired by Greek flavors.
Publix in Sarasota removed its 10-item limit in the express checkout lane at the Sarasota Pavilion store on Aug.
13, and the change aims to reduce wait times and give associates more flexibility in managing queues. Customers can now use the express lane for any quick order.
🎭 Culture
The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce will host the internationally recognized Siesta Key Crystal Classic Sand Sculpting Festival at Siesta Beach from November 13 (through 16).
The four-day event will feature sand sculpting demonstrations, live music and community activities for beachgoers and art fans.
🏥 Health
Local health officials reported 16 confirmed or probable cyclosporiasis cases in Manatee and Sarasota counties through Aug.
8 (11 in Manatee, 5 in Sarasota); the count increased from 12 earlier this month as officials continue monitoring the gastrointestinal illness.
Sarasota health officials advise against swimming at North Lido Beach today after tests found unsafe levels of Enterococcus bacteria — conditions that could lead to illness.
The advisory will remain until water quality meets state guidelines.
🏈 Sports
Three Sarasota gymnasts—Danila Leykin, Shane Wiskus, and Kameron Nelson—earned spots on the U.S. Men's World Championships Team at the national championships in Phoenix.
They will continue training locally before heading to the Netherlands in mid-October to help Team USA qualify for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Booker High School canceled its varsity football season on Aug.
12 due to low player numbers, forcing schedule changes for area teams. Athletic directors from Southeast + Cardinal Mooney are working quickly to reschedule games, including Southeast’s Sept. 25 contest, to ease disruptions ahead of the season.
Mark Salle-Tabor, who works at RPM Powersports in Sarasota, will travel from Aug.
23 to Aug. 27 to Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats to attempt setting two land speed records on his custom bikes Wasabi and the OMNI bike — a tribute to his late father.
The Herald-Tribune selected the top 12 high school linebackers from Sarasota and Manatee counties ahead of the 2026 season, and local voters can cast their choice in a poll that closes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug.
18.
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