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East County | Neighbors

The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall

The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club will host the free event Feb. 7 and will feature butterfly enthusiasts Gilbert Daigneau and Joyce Samsel.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sisterhood for Good members Nikki Pelier-Simon, Samina Morrow and Allison Adams show off some fashions that will be in the spotlight at Tropical Escape July 27 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 4, 2026
Lakewood Ranch fundraiser is a hula for moolah

Sisterhood for Good's Tropical Escape presents the ultimate luau at the Sarasota Polo Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Mary Glass and Zoe Lander have been chosen as the honorees for the “Leadership Spirit Award” and “Young Spirit Award” from the Manatee Community Foundation.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 3, 2026
Two Lakewood Ranch residents honored with Spirit of Manatee awards

Zoe Lander and Mary Glass will be honored at the Spirit of Manatee — The Celebration of Philanthropy event on March 25.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Vivienne Pietrunti's porch is a dropoff location for The Lake Club Giving Circle's donation drive.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 3, 2026
Lakewood Ranch neighborhood recycles old items into community grants

The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle partnered with a nonprofit consignment store to fundraise.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dillon Desiderato and daughter Nora Desiderato share a smile during the Miles for the Miles Family Cozy Cocoa Dash fundraiser at All God's Children Preschool on Jan. 31.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 31, 2026
All God's Children Preschool raises $7,000 to support family after loss to cancer

The event was to support the family of Kelly Miles, a teacher at the school who lost her husband, Matt, in November to cancer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Amanda Rigby, who is well versed in using artificial intelligence, is grateful to have a place to collaborate and learn more about it through A.I Creator's Collective.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 28, 2026
Finding new intelligence is an artificial ingredient for Lakewood Ranch club

AI Creator's Collective was founded by David Perkowski and Tony Fitzgerald to explore artificial intelligence.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jasmine Ramirez, 14, is now recovering from the amputation of her 174-pound leg that was performed at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg on Dec. 11.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 28, 2026
Amputation of her 174-pound left leg gives Manatee County teen a new life

Braden River Middle student Jasmine Ramirez suffered with an overgrowth syndrome that had impacted most of her young life.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Yahaira and Adam Shimer operate Crust N' Crumb out of their Heritage Harbour home.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 27, 2026
Baking hobby turns into a hot business for Manatee County couple

Baking racks and equipment have taken over this Heritage Harbour household over the past year.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bella Grace, a 3-year-old Weimaraner, is a German hunting dog who works for Manatee County Search & Rescue. Kevin Vreeland, her owner and K-9 handler, described her as a "scent monster."
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 25, 2026
Search and rescue dogs attract a crowd at free Lakewood Ranch presentation

K-9 team members show what they can do during an event presented by Lakewood Ranch CERT.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Navigator Gary Yeager balances the cart as driver Kami Landy goes into a turn during the Combined Driving at TerraNova marathon event Jan. 24.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 25, 2026
World champ among competitors at TerraNova's Combined Driving event

A field of 111 competitors came to Myakka in an event expected to grow in prestige.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Douglas Grierson said he is amazed by how talented the artists, including painter Thomas Legault, are at the Lakewood Ranch Fine Art Festival.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 24, 2026
Artists showcase their talent during Lakewood Ranch Fine Arts Festival

Those strolling Lakewood Main Street appreciate the event for several reasons.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Aaron Virgin says he often spots 40 to 50 species of birds on a walk around Lake Patton in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 21, 2026
Audubon eyes go to the skies in Lakewood Ranch

The Sarasota Audubon Society hosts Lakewood Ranch walks in the hopes of generating interest in the club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Danielle Ziegler is the shelter director. She's cuddling with Lyza, a 9-year-old Catahoula mix with chronic ear infections.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 21, 2026
Struggling for funds is a way of life at the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch

Grants, like the $20,000 received through the Manatee Community Foundation, are essential to the nonprofit's survival.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Gardeners Out East president Nancy Schneider gives the plaque for the Japanese blueberry tree that the group donated to Simone Rose, who works as the office manager for Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 19, 2026
Japanese blueberry tree serves as gift to LWR celebration of life center

Gardeners Out East thanks Robert Toale and Sons Celebration of Life Center for donating use of its facility.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Rhonda Leiberick and Roscelyn Guenther snag a selfie together in between the running and yoga portions of the triathlon. They alternated between walking and running every two minutes.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 18, 2026
Triathlon brings mindfulness to Lakewood Ranch's Waterside Place

The Mindful Triathlon hosted 136 entrants who ran, meditated and did yoga.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in East County

1
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall
2
Braden River boys basketball has clinched its first 20-win season since 2011-12, and won eight games in a row to close out the regular season.
  • February 4, 2026
Braden River High boys basketball team turns the tides with teamwork
3
Sisterhood for Good members Nikki Pelier-Simon, Samina Morrow and Allison Adams show off some fashions that will be in the spotlight at Tropical Escape July 27 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
  • February 4, 2026
Lakewood Ranch fundraiser is a hula for moolah
4
Thundercloud Ranch is one of two conservation easements Manatee County purchased Jan. 27.
  • February 4, 2026
Manatee County purchases two easements, conserves nearly 1,500 acres
5
Village Idiots Cycling Club member Patrick Franklin Sr. (center) was killed riding his bicycle Jan. 22 when hit by a truck pulling a trailer on Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.
  • February 4, 2026
Building safer roads for cyclists worth a discussion in Manatee County

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