Good morning, Sarasota.

Residents in North Sarasota will be able to drop off unwanted household items and yard waste at a free cleanup event scheduled for Saturday, Aug.

22 from 8 a.m. to noon at Newtown Estates Park on 2800 Newtown Blvd — additional dumpsters will be available at 23rd and Chester Ave.

The Bay and Gulf Coast Community Foundation announced a $2 million matching challenge to double community gifts for The Bay Park expansion in downtown Sarasota.

Donations made by June 30 will help raise $4 million to complete sustainable green space for all.

Ride Cycle Studio, owned by 29-year-old Ari Olivo, offers over 50 community-focused cycling classes weekly at its downtown studio opened in 2023 & its Lakewood Ranch location launched in June, providing a welcoming space for riders of all levels.

Tralia Pizza’s Chef Anthony Petralia will open a new, upscale restaurant in the Rosemary District this December at the former Wolfie’s space — the venue will serve handmade pasta, pizza and feature a full bar with seating for about 150 guests.

Artist David Steiner, co-founder of State of the Arts, runs his gallery at 327 Central Ave and plans a new exhibition at Art Ovation hotel in 2027 — he is adapting to seasonal and economic shifts in downtown gallery life.

Lakewood Ranch Prep student Alice Barr created a sensory room to help classmates ease test anxiety using fidget toys, books, and journals.

She funded the project with Girl Scout cookie credits, work earnings, and an Amazon Wish List (the project earned her the Gold Award).

Venice Beach is nearing completion of a 3.2-mile renourishment project that began in May to add almost 600,000 cubic yards of sand to restore the shoreline — officials said subcontractor work will finish in September.

Sarasota Bay Watch is hosting the two-day Great Scallop Search to count bay scallops and check water health.

Volunteers meet on Saturday, Aug 22 at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron & on Sunday, Aug 23 at Mar Vista Restaurant to take part in this hands-on citizen science event.

The City of Sarasota invites residents, visitors, and business owners to fill out a four-page online survey on noises until Monday, Aug.

31 to help guide future sound regulations as consultants compare survey answers with recent measurements.

Longboat Key expects to receive nearly $2 million in tourist development taxes in the 2027 fiscal year; revenue from hotel bookings boosted by a recent tax increase and new county agreements will partly fund the $30 million beach renourishment project set to begin in 2028.

Junior volleyball player Gabi Schauenberg (middle/outside hitter) is back on the ODA team as the fall season looms.

Named East County Athlete of the Week, she posted 24 blocks and 86 kills last season and aims to boost her skills for more wins ahead.

Lakewood Ranch High football coach Scott Paravicini has battled stage 3 colon cancer since January and completed six chemotherapy sessions by late June while coaching his team, which kicked off its season on Aug.

14; he remains determined to stay on the field.