News Briefs

+ Ranch Humane Society to host family festival
Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch will host its first Dog Days of Summer hot dog competition and festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 24, at Greenbrook Adventure Park in Lakewood Ranch.

Participating businesses will produce their version of the tastiest dog, and celebrity judges, families and pet-lovers will choose what business wins the right to display this year’s Top Dog traveling trophy.

Featured competing teams include Lakewood Ranch Main Street, RE/MAX Alliance Group, Bistro Figuilo, Florida Cancer Specialists, Integrity Title, Community Bank, SunTrust Bank, Michael Saunders Group, MGA Insurance.

Families, pet-lovers, and leashed pets are all invited to sample the dogs, enjoy the music, festivities, games and shows. Dogs will be available for adoption right on site.

Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for teens and free for kids 12 years and younger. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch.

For more, visit www.HSLWR.org.

+ Ranch announces increases in lot prices
For the first time since the real estate market crash in 2006, the Lakewood Ranch management team will increase lot prices.

“The demand has just been so high since the beginning of this year that we are going where the market takes us,” said Milt Flinn, LWR Communities president. “The pace of our sales is creating a sense of urgency and a domino effect — people want to get the best lots and the best value.”

The increase will be from $8,000 to $18,000 per lot and will take place on July 25. Walk-in traffic is up 70% this quarter compared to the same time last year, and for year-to-date, more than 18,000 people have visited Lakewood Ranch information centers and models.

At The Lake Club and Country Club East, sales are up 142% from last year with $11 million in sales so far this year.

+ Lakewood Reps to host July luncheon
The Lakewood Ranch Republican Club will host its next luncheon from noon to 1 p.m., July 15, at the Holiday Inn in Lakewood Ranch, 6231 Lake Osprey Drive.

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dr. Richard M. Swier will speak about Sharia (Islamic) law. Swier currently serves on the Board of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. He also has been appointed as chairman of the Sarasota National Cemetery Advisory Committee by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan. Cost is $25. For more, visit www.lwrrc.com.