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East County

Valor Commons in Manatee County is designed to include a resource center, memorials, walking trails and public event spaces.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 9, 2026
Federal cash streams in for Manatee, Sarasota projects

Local line items are a part of the massive $1.2 trillion spending package.

  • East County
  • News
Lakehouse Cove's 16-month-old Hunter Colon shows his excitement to be inside a fire truck at the Celebrate Our First Responders event Feb. 7 at the Greenbrook Adventure Park.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 7, 2026
Lakewood Ranch CERT hosts the Celebrate Our First Responders event

Greenbrook Adventure Park is filled with emergency vehicles, first responders and CERT volunteers.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Second graders Jordan Davis, Dominic Michalo and Sloan Middleton wave flags of Puerto Rico, which was the country they were assigned for the Tara Elementary School Olympics.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 7, 2026
Tara Elementary hosts its own Winter Olympics

Each class was assigned a country to research before participating in an "olympics-style" competition.

  • East County
  • Schools
Three comedians including Bradenton's Tim Boyd will perform at the “Hearts of Hope: A Valentine’s Comedy Night” fundraiser to benefit Harbor 58, Foster the Family, and Bring on the Ministry on Feb. 13.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 6, 2026
Nonprofits to host Valentine's comedy fundraiser in Lakewood Ranch

Three local comedians will perform stand-up comedy to raise funds for Harbor58, Foster the Family and Bring on the Ministry.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall

The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club will host the free event Feb. 7 and will feature butterfly enthusiasts Gilbert Daigneau and Joyce Samsel.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden River boys basketball has clinched its first 20-win season since 2011-12, and won eight games in a row to close out the regular season.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • February 4, 2026
Braden River High boys basketball team turns the tides with teamwork

The Pirates recorded 20 wins in the regular season and hope to continue that success in the postseason.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sisterhood for Good members Nikki Pelier-Simon, Samina Morrow and Allison Adams show off some fashions that will be in the spotlight at Tropical Escape July 27 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 4, 2026
Lakewood Ranch fundraiser is a hula for moolah

Sisterhood for Good's Tropical Escape presents the ultimate luau at the Sarasota Polo Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Thundercloud Ranch is one of two conservation easements Manatee County purchased Jan. 27.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 4, 2026
Manatee County purchases two easements, conserves nearly 1,500 acres

Conservation easements will protect two Manatee County ranches from future development.

  • East County
  • News
Village Idiots Cycling Club member Patrick Franklin Sr. (center) was killed riding his bicycle Jan. 22 when hit by a truck pulling a trailer on Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 4, 2026
Building safer roads for cyclists worth a discussion in Manatee County

The death of a Village Idiots Cycling Club member leaves the community in shock.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Manatee County administrators Corey Stutte, Bryan Parnell, Courtney De Pol and Charlie Bishop speak at a Manatee Chamber of Commerce meeting in December. On Jan. 28, all four spoke to commissioners about a temporary hiring freeze.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 3, 2026
Hiring freeze begins as Manatee County researches effects of tax cuts

County Administrator Charlie Bishop is preparing for possible revenue cuts from the millage and property taxes.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Mary Glass and Zoe Lander have been chosen as the honorees for the “Leadership Spirit Award” and “Young Spirit Award” from the Manatee Community Foundation.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 3, 2026
Two Lakewood Ranch residents honored with Spirit of Manatee awards

Zoe Lander and Mary Glass will be honored at the Spirit of Manatee — The Celebration of Philanthropy event on March 25.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
There was a time when Megan Nugent played internationally for the Republic of Ireland. Now, she's taken to the high school sidelines as a girls soccer coach.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • February 3, 2026
New coach aims for lofty heights with ODA girls soccer

Dublin, Ireland native Megan Nugent has sustained success for the Thunder in her first year.

  • East County
  • Sports
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Vivienne Pietrunti's porch is a dropoff location for The Lake Club Giving Circle's donation drive.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 3, 2026
Lakewood Ranch neighborhood recycles old items into community grants

The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle partnered with a nonprofit consignment store to fundraise.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This Wild Blue at Waterside home at 1122 Blue Shell Loop sold for $3.35 million.Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,290 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 3, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 19-23 in Lakewood Ranch

A Wild Blue at Waterside home on Blue Shell Loop topped the week’s sales at $3.35 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Brooke Decillis will represent Lakewood Ranch at the FHSAA Class 3A girls weightlifting state championship Feb. 11 at RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • February 2, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Brooke Decillis

On a big day at regionals, the senior brought home gold and bronze for Lakewood Ranch girls weightlifting.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Latest in East County

1
Lakewood Ranch's Eugene Khutoryanskiy and Yana Parker are celebrating this Valentine's Day as fiances alongside their dogs Mittens and Jesse at Barks & Brews on Feb. 10.
  • February 13, 2026
A little pet lovin' and squeezin' at University Town Center in Sarasota
2
Lee Wetherington says he can visit with potential buyers and his contractors because CEO Dave Hunihan handles the heavy lifting of his business.
  • February 12, 2026
Acclaimed builder continues to put his stamp on Lakewood Ranch
3
The purple piles will carry reclaimed water to Lakewood Ranch Southeast for irrigation.
  • February 11, 2026
New road construction speeds through Lakewood Ranch Southeast
4
Neal Shipley was all smiles after winning the 2025 LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club.
  • February 11, 2026
Lakewood Ranch golf fans now asked to support two pro golf tournaments
5
Students in Manatee schools begin learning cursive in third grade. With House Bill 127, that might change to second grade instead. It would also require fifth graders to be evaluated to prove proficiency.
  • February 11, 2026
Cursive writing requirements would change if proposed legislation passes

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