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Emmy Award-winning filmmaker heads Waterkeeper fundraiser
Suncoast Waterkeeper will host a conversation on development and conservation at its annual Brunch for the Bay fundraiser on Nov. 1 at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort.
"The Future We Choose: Conservation in a Rapidly Changing Coast" will feature conservation photographer, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and National Geographic Explorer Carlton Ward Jr. as keynote speaker. Ward, who has spent his career using photography and filmmaking to build support for protecting Florida’s wild places, will present "From Forests to Seagrasses: Protecting Land to Heal Our Coasts."
“I am excited to share my view that protecting and restoring Florida’s last wild places is the most important thing we can do,” said Ward, who founded
the Florida Wildlife Corridor project in 2010 and later created Wildpath, an organization that uses storytelling to inspire the protection of wildlife corridors.
The theme of this year’s event reflects concerns being voiced across the region, according to Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper.
“We can’t chase every bad development, one project at a time. We need to change the culture of development itself, to make protecting our waters the expectation, not the exception,” Tyrna said. “That means decision-makers asking harder questions, demanding better projects, and protecting the places our communities depend on to survive and thrive.”
Tickets for Brunch on the Bay (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) are available at suncoastwaterkeeper.org/brunchforthebay2026. For more information, visit suncoastwaterkeeper.org.
Sarasota County Sheriff hosts Halloween drive-thru event
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office will host its seventh annual Halloween Drive-Thru event on Oct. 24 from 6-8 p.m. at the agency's headquarters, 6010 Cattleridge Blvd., Sarasota.
“It's an easy, safe, quick, and fun experience for families that allows our agency members and specialty units to interact with our community,” Sheriff Kurt Hoffman said. “The attendees always give us positive feedback, which is why we keep doing it year after year.”
The event will feature decorations, costumes, K-9 units, mounted patrol, and nearly 70,000 pieces of candy. Attendees should enter Cattleridge Boulevard between Arby's restaurant and the BP convenience store, then proceed north to the event. All attendees are asked to remain in their vehicles. For more information, contact the Community Affairs Office at 941-861-4005.
Ringling Town Hall operations move to Sarasota Art Museum
The Ringling College of Art and Design Town Hall Speaker Series is relocating its offices to the Sarasota Art Museum (1001 S. Tamiami Trail) on the Ringling College Museum Campus.
By joining Sarasota Art Museum and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute on the Museum Campus, Town Hall will become part of a community hub for the arts, ideas, and lifelong education while maintaining its tradition of presenting world leaders, visionaries, and changemakers at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, officials said. The previous offices were at Ringling College's Alfred R. Goldstein Library.
“As Town Hall gears up for its 46th season, we look forward to expanding our programming with new initiatives and more ways to engage with Town Hall topics, themes, and our dynamic community,” Town Hall executive director Lauren Kurnov said.
The 46th Town Hall season returns in January. Speakers include broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper; Justin Trudeau, the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada; financial historian and journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin; global AI adviser Radhika Dirks; and Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky. Visit ringlingcollegetownhall.org.
Around and about
· The Water Lantern Festival featuring floating lanterns with messages of hope, love, and remembrance returns to Sarasota on Oct. 17 at sunset at Nathan Benderson Park. Tickets/info: WaterLanternFestival.com.
· The Sarasota Police Department (2099 Adams Lane) and Caring Collective (1750 17th St., Sarasota) will take part in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., accepting tablets, pills, capsules, patches and other solid prescription medications. DEATakeBack.com.
· The Alzheimer’s Care Alliance of Southwest Florida is launching a Walking Soccer for Brain Health league in Sarasota starting Oct. 24 at 9:30 a.m. at 8000 Hawkins Road (fields adjacent to Suncoast Community Church). Sarasota High soccer players are volunteering as referees and coaches. Info: alzcarealliance.org
· The Sarasota Fright Fest celebrating Halloween returns to the Sarasota County Fairgrounds on Oct. 16-18, Oct. 22-25, Oct. 28-30, and Nov. 1. The festival includes haunted attractions, food, and vendors. Event information and updates: SarasotaFrightFest.com.
· Gulf Cove United Methodist Church will host a "Trunk or Treat" Halloween event on Oct. 24 from 4-6 p.m. at 1100 S. McCall Road in the Gulf Cove area of Port Charlotte. Bounce house, food, candy, crafts. GCUMC can be reached at 941-697‑1747.
· Trick or Treat at City Center featuring Halloween booths by local businesses, nonprofits, and community groups returns on Oct. 30 at North Port City Center Front Green, 4970 City Hall Blvd. from 5-8 p.m. NorthPortFL.gov/TrickOrTreat.
Submissions by Andrew Luftglass, Samantha Wassmer, Dana Judge, Ringling Communications, Kristine Janata, Pedro Louza, Genevieve Judge, John Ferrari, Erin Harrington, Dana Hanson, and City of North Port.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Emmy Award-winning filmmaker heads Suncoast Waterkeeper fundraiser
