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East County

A heron hides in the grass at Perico Preserve. The former farmland is now a bird sanctuary.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 29, 2023
Manatee County implements a wetland mitigation program

Establishment of a "mitigation bank" of land aims at keeping forced wetland improvements within Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Deputy Director of Public Safety Steve Litschauer briefs the commissioners on Hurricane Idalia at an emergency commission meeting on Aug. 28.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 28, 2023
Manatee County in state of emergency as Idalia approaches

The county says Freedom Elementary School in Bradenton will be a shelter site along with two others not in East County.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 28, 2023
Manatee County garbage bills increase by 65%

Twice-weekly pickup remains in place, but collection rates increase as of Oct. 1.

  • East County
  • News
ODA senior linebacker Charlie Tack stretches the ball over the goal line for a pick six against Berean Christian.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 28, 2023
ODA football uses season-opening win as prep for rest of season

The Thunder beat Berean Christian 42-0 at home Aug. 25.

  • East County
  • Sports
Carl Backman and Nancy Cunningham, members of Aloha Ukulele, perform with the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities club for Play Music on the Porch Day on Aug. 26, 2023.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 27, 2023
Heat sends music event inside at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall

That didn't bother 35 attendees who sang along with Aloha Ukulele during the Play Music on the Porch event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Hurricane Idalia at 11 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 27, 2023
Hurricane Idalia news, updates in Sarasota, Manatee

Idalia made landfall at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds.

  • Hurricane Season
Care packages include items used to battle heat-related illnesses, such as water bottles and electrolyte packets.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 26, 2023
Manatee County continues to battle a heat wave, drought

Manatee County staff members are working to keep heat-related illnesses at bay and drinking water safe.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 26, 2023
High school football roundup: Week one

East County and Sarasota teams found plenty of success to start the 2023 season.

  • East County
  • Sports
ODA senior linebacker Charlie Tack stretches the ball over the goal line for a pick six against Berean Christian.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 25, 2023
ODA football starts 2023 season with shutout win

The Thunder beat Berean Christian 42-0 at home Aug. 25.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2023
Disaster prep sales tax holiday begins Saturday

Sales tax will not be collected on a variety of products to help weather the aftermath of a hurricane.

  • Sarasota
  • News
New pizza restaurant opens in Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 24, 2023
New pizza restaurant opens in Lakewood Ranch

Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza opened on the corner of State Road 70 and Lorraine Road.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Manatee County Commissioners Raymond Turner, James Satcher, Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Jason Bearden and George Kruse celebrated the opening of the 44th Avenue Bridge over the Braden River on Aug. 7. Commissioners Amanda Ballard and Mike Rahn were not in attendance.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 24, 2023
Manatee County commissioners record new highs and lows

The decision to cut wetland protections sparks anger while the 44th Avenue extension generates joy.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Nokomis 15-month-old Lilly Murphy has a unique approach to mini golfing. Her mother, Heather Murphy, says UTC Kids Club is a new way for them to find a different playgroup.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 23, 2023
UTC Kids Club provides activities for children to enjoy

Dozens attended the first UTC Kids Club of the season on the Green at UTC.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Short Par 4 owner Martin Haas and CFO Todd Stires talk to Lakewood Ranch Community Fund Board Member Debbie Urban about the non-profit's upcoming events.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 23, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Community Fund generates more support

A special event at Short Par 4/Hidden Ranch offered information about the nonprofit's direction as it moves forward.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A 34.5-acre D.H. Horton project to build 99 townhomes on Linger Lodge Road will go before the Manatee County Commission on Sept. 7 at the land use meeting. The request is to rezone 17.8 acres.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 23, 2023
Rezoning considered for more residential in East County

An extension to the Hillwood development was approved, while a development on Linger Lodge road was pushed to next month.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest in East County

1
Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
2
Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair
3
Greenbrook's David, Hannah and Jaime Marco all had a part in creating Jaime Marco's new book “Unfunkt: Quiet the Noise. Ignite the Light.”
  • December 12, 2025
Readers can shed the funk with Lakewood Ranch author's 'Unfunkt'
4
SMR's new coffee table book, "Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land" is available locally and on Amazon.
  • December 10, 2025
'Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land' is a fun history lesson
5
Carrie Walden, the Project Edge classroom instructor, is teaching 10 students including Mia Pardella and Justin Torres in the Project Edge program at MTC East.
  • December 10, 2025
MTC program teaches students with disabilities skills to enter workforce

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