Lakewood Ranch residents make fast friends at cornhole

Not everyone knows about Lakewood Ranch's fascination with cornhole.

“I thought we were going to roast corn or something,” former New Yorker Joann Saladino said after coming to the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities event on July 18. “I'd never heard of it.” 

The group might as well have been roasting corn because the weekly game on Thursday mornings at The Yard in Waterside Place is not really about the game. 

Kelly Harmon, who sets up the boards each week, says the ultimate purpose is to introduce neighbors.  

“We have a good group of people who do things outside of this together,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about.” 

About half the group had gone to a game night together the evening before, and most were new to the area. 

Lisa and Todd Sears celebrated their one-year anniversary of living in East County July 16. They moved from Illinois to the Meadows and Lisa Sears said they have no regrets. 

The rest of the group reside in Lakewood Ranch now, but they’re also from different states. Adriana Gretch is from New York. Greg and Roberta LeBlanc are from New Hampshire. Danny Sloan moved from Virginia only six months ago. 

“It’s about community,” Harmon said. “People meet each other because everyone’s new.”