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East County

Lakewood Ranch's Themba Hillary and Themba Hillary II have volunteered at Mhlume Primary School in Eswatini, which borders South Africa, every summer since 2016. This year, they wanted to turn it up a notch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 26, 2025
Father and son donate time and supplies to students in Africa

Lakewood Ranch's Themba Hillary uses the trip to Eswatini to teach his son the importance of giving back.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Bob McCann says he'll restore the wetlands lawfully.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 26, 2025
Commissioners vowed to restore wetland buffers. So what happened?

A final vote to restore Manatee County protections was scheduled Aug. 21, but the meeting was canceled.

  • East County
  • News
A Concession home at 8455 Lindrick Lane tops this week's sales at $3.4 million. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,065 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 26, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Aug. 11-15 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in The Concession tops the week’s sales at $3.4 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Golfing legend Ernie Els lines up at putt in 2023 at The Concession during the World Champions Cup. The Concession will host the Senior PGA Championship in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Els is likely to be a major draw. Could the area also see Tiger Woods?
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 26, 2025
Senior PGA Championship makes those in the Lakewood Ranch area dream big

Tigers Woods turns 50 in December. Could he join the fun at The Concession?

  • East County
  • Sports
Aloha Ukulele president Alice Baumann leads Aloha Ukulele in song, mostly with ukulele but occasionally with other instruments. She says she has "five minutes more experience" than the members she leads.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 25, 2025
Aloha Ukulele spreads 'joyous noise' through 'instrument of joy'

Lakewood Ranch club Aloha Ukulele is made up of approximately 50 active members who gather and bond through music.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Jason Bearden says the process of getting the roundabout approved was deceptive.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 25, 2025
Commissioners spar over University Parkway roundabout

One Country Club resident says she will begin legal action because she feels the citizens' rights were violated.

  • East County
  • News
Kawailana Vaiaoga of Aloha Productions invites women and children up to dance.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 23, 2025
Live music, Polynesian dancers attract a crowd at UTC Night Market

Aloha Productions and Sugar Vibe provide the entertainment University Town Center's The Green.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Rain drives the protest against the Little League fields inside the Lakewood Ranch Library for a photo, but library supervisor Tiffany Mautino wants it noted that protests are not allowed inside the library.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 22, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community at odds over youth baseball fields

Manatee County is planning to build three youth baseball fields at Country Club East Park next year.

  • East County
  • News
A four-bedroom, five-bath home at 18826 Ganton Avenue in the Concession closed Aug. 20 for $6.9 million to become the second highest-priced sale ever in the Lakewood Ranch area.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 21, 2025
Concession home sells for $6.9 million

The Schemmel Soda Group, which handled the sale, says it is the second-highest priced home ever sold in the Lakewood Ranch area.

  • East County
  • News
River Club's Douglas Whitney, an architect for 43 years, always has loved drawing by hand. He is the only one in WBRC's Lakewood Ranch office to still have a drafting table.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 21, 2025
Noted architect leaves his mark on Lakewood Ranch

Doug Whitney, who died Aug. 11, blazed a trail for WBRC architecture in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Adam Altman, account executive for the Sarasota Paradise, greets guests at the Premier Sports Campus Aug. 19 for Sarasota Paradise Day.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 21, 2025
Soccer fans in paradise at Premier Sports Campus

The Sarasota Paradise soccer team hosted a party to celebrate Sarasota Paradise Day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dick Vitale in his Lakewood Ranch office, surrounded by a lifetime of achievements — and still chasing new goals.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • August 21, 2025
Life for Dick Vitale is pretty great. But a stinging failure set up his shot for success.

From national fame to personal travails, famed ESPN sportscaster Dick Vitale talks resilience, reinvention and what keeps him going.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jean Blackburn rides through a canopy of oak and palm on her Old Miakka property — 14 acres of native Florida habitat that fuels both her artwork and conservation efforts.
    By
  • Su Byron
  • August 21, 2025
Myakka City is known for its rural nature — and its salt-of-the-earth people

In a place where cowboy hats outnumber stoplights, three locals live by the rhythm of the land.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The kitchen and family room have been reborn in a contemporary style, showcasing a new coastal look.
  • By Robert Plunket
  • August 21, 2025
A dramatic update brings a Country Club home into the future

A well-loved family home gets a stylish refresh — proving that smart updates and staging can make all the difference for resale.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A roundabout will replace the signalized intersection on University Parkway where Legacy Boulevard meets Deer Drive.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 20, 2025
Roundabout moves forward on University Parkway at Legacy Boulevard

Residents fought for an upgraded signalized intersection, but Manatee County commissioners decided to stick to the current plan for a roundabout.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest in East County

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
3
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy
4
Charlie Shachat, a co-founder of the Foolishly Festive Christmas Parade, decided to be part of the show for the "Jaws" 50th anniversary.
  • December 19, 2025
Esplanade continues tradition of being 'foolishly festive' for parade
5
Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man
  • December 18, 2025
Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man

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