• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County

    By
  • Michael Eng
  • May 4, 2011
OBSERVED: To incorporate or not? That is the question

In my 11 years with the East County Observer, no single decision has carried as much weight as the one of whether Lakewood Ranch should become its own city.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Anthony and Ivette Littlejohn with their son, Adrian
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • May 4, 2011
In memory: Adrian Shawn Littlejohn

In the last two months, we featured Adrian Shawn Littlejohn, the 1-year-old son of Lakewood Ranch coach Anthony Littlejohn who battled bravely a rare cancer, twice on our cover. Sadly, he died at 9:15 a.m., May 1, resting comfortably in his mother's arms.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Braden River Elementary music teacher Rob Gorley celebrated the release of his first CD on April 21.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • May 4, 2011
Braden River Elementary teacher releases CD

Teacher Rob Gorley's debut release, "Life," features music inspired by his family and his home in Mill Creek.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 4, 2011
Waterlefe Golf and River Club home sells for $650K

The following residential real estate transactions took place between April 18 and April 22.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The Out-of-Door Academy sophomore Alex Horan pitched a complete game, leading the Thunder to a Class 2A-District 11 title.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 4, 2011
ODA captures district title

The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team defeated Shorecrest Prep 1-0 to win the Class 2A-District 11 championship April 29. Also, Lakewood Ranch finished as the Class 4A-District 10 runner-up.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 4, 2011
Semifinals present challenge

I'm a journalist. I take notes and photographs. What I don't take are sides. However, I'm not afraid to admit then when covering a game, I have a tendency to, internally and silently, pull for the home team.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High's Kristin Zarrella, Devin McDermott, Michelle Last and Olivia Ortiz
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 4, 2011
Just the Stats 5.05.11

See the Observer's by-the-numbers breakdown of the week in East County sports.

  • East County
  • Sports
Rhoda Tanui
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 4, 2011
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Rhoda Tanui (VIDEO)

Fifteen-year-old East County resident Rhoda Tanui returned from a shoulder injury to win the Girls 18 Spring Super Series Tennis Tournament April 23-24 at Countryside Golf & Tennis Club in Clearwater.

  • East County
  • Sports
Alex Long
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 4, 2011
OBSERVER TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Alex Long

Each week, The East County Observer will introduce one player from the Lakewood Ranch Little League Observer team.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 4, 2011
SPORTS BRIEFS

Pirates outfielder signs with HCC; Distance squad anchors Lady Mustangs; and Wave Runners post impressive results.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 3, 2011
Ranch's Premier to host national tryouts

The Clearwater Chargers and the Premier Sports Campus of Lakewood Ranch invite soccer players to the United States Soccer Federation Development Academy tryouts from 6-8:30 p.m., May 4, at the campus in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 3, 2011
Wave Runners post impressive results

The Lakewood Ranch YMCA Wave Runners sent 23 swimmers to the St. Petersburg Aquatics Long Course Meet April 15-16.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Out-of-Door Academy sophomore Alex Horan pitched a complete game, leading the Thunder to a district title.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 3, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: District Baseball Tournament

The Out-of-Door Academy captured its second district title in three years with a 1-0 victory over Shorecrest Prep in the Class 2A-District 11 championship game April 28. In Class 4A-District 10, Lakewood Ranch defeated rival Braden River 6-2 in the district semifinals April 27. The Mustangs went on to finish as the district runner-up with a 5-4 loss to Seminole Osceola April 29.

  • East County
  • Sports
The meeting will start at 9 a.m., April 5 at the county administrative building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 3, 2011
Commissioners to consider East County proposals

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners on Thursday will hear proposals regarding several East County developments.

  • East County
  • News
McKenzie Mortiz, left, and her friend Cassie Wilson, right, got an autograph from Disney star Shane Harper. Photo submitted by Keri Moritz.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 3, 2011
Disney star visits Ranch Imagine

Disney Channel singer and songwriter Shane Harper made a special visit to Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch Monday.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 1371 1372 1373 1374 1375 1376 1377 1378 1379 1380 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in East County

1
Leighton Paul holds team-high marks for batting average, runs and hits through the first six games of the Pirates' 2026 season.
  • March 9, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Leighton Paul
2
Bradenton's Madison Hokanson, 5, and Jaxson Hokanson, 2, came dressed for the occasion to the Irish Celtic Festival at Greenbrook Adventure Park on March 7.
  • March 8, 2026
Irish Celtic Festival paints the park green in Lakewood Ranch
3
Saks' parent company, Saks Global, filed for bankruptcy in January.
  • March 7, 2026
Bankrupt Saks Fifth Avenue to close Sarasota-UTC store
4
The former Mixon Fruit Farms store is being discussed as a future site for a library.
  • March 7, 2026
Monthly farmers market coming to Mixon Farms site
5
Gracie, who was trained at Dogs Inc., has returned happiness to the life of Lakewood Ranch's Mark Thornsbrough.
  • March 6, 2026
By the Grace of Dogs Inc., Lakewood Ranch resident sees the light

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now