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East County

Raymond Turner, with his wife Debbie at his side, takes the oath of office to become the District 5 Manatee County Commissioner Aug. 1, 2023. He is running for reelection.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 27, 2023
Manatee County welcomes its newest commissioner

Raymond Turner has been named as District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh's replacement.

  • East County
  • News
A Coast Guard helicopter flies over Nathan Benderson Park on July 26 for the Spirit of America camp week.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 27, 2023
Coast Guard teaches boating safety at Nathan Benderson Park

Campers, ages 10 to 14, enjoyed fun, adventure and safety during Spirit of America week at the park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
To the campers, it's all fun and games at Dream Oaks Camp, but goals are set by parents and staff members ahead of their arrival.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 27, 2023
Dream Oaks camp is a dream come true for campers and parents

Foundation for Dreams and its camp offer horseback riding, canoeing and swimming for kids and a respite for their parents.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Little Free Library founder Elizabeth Henderson and Neel Menon dedicate the new library in Bob Gardner Park to Jai Menon, Neel's brother who died in 2016.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 27, 2023
Little Free Libraries continue to grow in the Lakewood Ranch area

The smallish libraries have a great impact to the communities they serve.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Homes in Lakewood Ranch, including this Neal Signature Homes' Seaside model, continue to fly off the shelf. Lakewood Ranch continues to be ranked as the No. 1-selling, multi-generational, master-planned community in the U.S.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 27, 2023
Lakewood Ranch retains standing as the top multigenerational, master-planned community

The RCLCO rankings also noted that Lakewood Ranch was No. 2 in total sales with 1,227, up 20% from the same period a year ago.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch wrestler Nate Smith had his junior season ended in the regional tournament stage because of a finger injury.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 26, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High wrestler hopes to earn a state title his senior year

A broken finger in last year's regional ended Nate Smith's quest in his junior year.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lindsey May, Julie Swann, Kathy Hall and Jennifer Alokeh show off their favorite donated shoes to The Twig.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 26, 2023
Sneaker Drive the right fit for the Lake Club Women's Giving Circle

The nonprofit hopes to donate 400 pairs of sneakers to The Twig to benefit foster children.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Manatee County seeks planning commissioner
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 26, 2023
Manatee County seeks planning commissioner

The Planning Commission is a citizen's advisory committee that makes recommendations to the County Commission on land-use items.

  • East County
  • News
The NBP Dragon Women's Senior B team took first place in the 200 meter sprint race on July 21 (53.638).
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 25, 2023
Competitive drive fires up these Nathan Benderson Park paddlers

Evelyn Silverthorn and Claire Keenan are among the local paddlers to compete at the 2023 Club Crew National Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
A special crane lifts the approximately 15-ton piece of acrylic that will become a main window in the Mote Science Education Aquarium's Gulf of Mexico Gallery tank that is two stories high.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2023
Mote aquarium construction offers window to the future

The $132 million project in Sarasota reaches a key milestone with the placement of two 15-ton acrylic tank windows.

  • East County
  • News
This Country Club home at 6919 Westchester Circle sold for $2.4 million. It has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,737 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 25, 2023
Top residential real estate sales for July 10-14 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club home on Westchester Circle tops the week's sales at $2.4 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
A right-hand turn lane begins just past the Rosedale entrance on S.R. 70. Aggressive drivers had made that lane an accident hotspot according to Rosedale residents.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2023
Rosedale searches for traffic solutions on SR 70 and Lena Road

FDOT and Manatee County Public Works officials discussed the community's concerns about the design of S.R. 70 and Lena Road.

  • East County
  • News
Navy veteran John Hynal shares Operation Eco Vets' mission at a farmers market.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 24, 2023
Operation Eco Vets looks for new home to host programs

The East County nonprofit supports veterans by providing opportunities to learn sustainability skills.

  • East County
  • News
Ronald and Marcia Owens say they do most things together, but they especially have fun delivering meals together.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 23, 2023
Meals on Wheels Plus Manatee volunteers add extra care into delivery

Lakewood Ranch residents Ronald and Marcia Owens have been delivering meals for the nonprofit for over 13 years.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
John Mcclain tours PGT Innovations, a custom windows and doors manufacturer. Students are learning about the manufacturing process, safety protocols and available jobs through The Haven's vocational summer camp.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 22, 2023
The Haven's camp works at getting jobs for those in need

A four-week camp in Sarasota introduced students to job opportunities with local manufacturers.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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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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