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East County

Despite their 30 year age difference, Marge DeSimone and Courtney Barr have become great friends and share a deep love for Nikki, Barr's 7-year-old Bordoodle. They compete in dock diving to keep all of the "Three Musketeers," as Barr said, active and engaged.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 26, 2025
Dock-diving dog helps two single women form a bond of friendship in Myakka

Marge DeSimone, 88, acts as a releaser for border collie-poodle mix Nikki, who has made a positive splash in her life.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Members of the Del Webb Lakewood Ranch Association of Veterans and Military Supporters and MacDill personnel take a photo together in 2019 before the COVID pandemic changed the operation.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 26, 2025
Lakewood Ranch nonprofit feeds veterans for Thanksgiving

Operation Thanksgiving feeds active duty military personnel stationed out of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Coach Cezar Sharbono talks his players through drills during practice. He's entering his sixth season at the helm of the Braden River wrestling program.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • November 26, 2025
Braden River High wrestling hopes to build on record-setting 2024-25 season

The Pirates sent eight wrestlers to the state tourney last year and are seeking their first-ever girls place-winner.

  • East County
  • Sports
Mission in Motion's Ruth Barker, Rose Marie Hartley, Faith Michael, Mothers Helping Mothers director of donations Barbara Braun, Debbie Apple and Judy Kirkpatrick fill a truck with toy donations.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 25, 2025
Lakewood Ranch's Mission in Motion delivers the goods to local charities

Gathering both physical and monetary donations, Mission in Motion is currently supporting eight organizations.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
With seven goals and one assist through five games, Avery Rice has already made a winning impact for undefeated Out-of-Door Academy girls soccer.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • November 25, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Avery Rice

The sophomore has found the net early and often with Out-of-Door Academy girls soccer.

  • East County
  • Sports
Construction on the Athletics and Aquatics Center is underway at Premier Sports Campus North.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 25, 2025
No hotel at Premier Sports — yet

Another 126 acres was rezoned to build out the now 236-acre campus.

  • East County
  • News
A Lake Club home at 15904 Baycross Drive sold for $3.55 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,933 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • November 25, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Nov. 10-14 in Lakewood Ranch

A home in Lake Club on Baycross Drive tops the week’s sales at $3.55 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The runners all reach for their watches as the 2024 Florida Turkey Trot begins at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 24, 2025
Pass the turkey, and the thanks during a special holiday

Lakewood Ranch has so much contributors who make our home a great place to live.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Brio Italian Grille Executive Chef Josué Pabellón learned about the best Thanksgiving Day leftovers by growing up in a family of chefs in Puerto Rico.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 24, 2025
Love the Thanksgiving Day leftovers as much as the main meal

Brio Italian Grille chef says Thanksgiving Day is just round one of the annual feast.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Vinny Mercadante tosses a lacrosse ball and holds his stick at Summerfield Community Park in Lakewood Ranch. He played for Cardinal Mooney in 2016-18, Marian University in 2018-19 and Florida State in 2021-23 but has since committed to coaching.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • November 24, 2025
Cardinal Mooney grad builds his own lacrosse training school

At just 25, Vinny Mercadante is quickly becoming a premier private lacrosse coach, one of the few in the state.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch sisters Mariapaz Ritter, 7 and Analia Ritter, 12, got their faces painted by Akiko Graphics at the at Greenbrook Adventure Park. Mariapaz chose a peace sign because "paz" the last part of her name means peace in Spanish and Analia chose daisies because they are her favorite flowers.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 24, 2025
Greenbrook Adventure Park reopens with a fun day

Lakewood Ranch Community Activities hosted Party in the Park with live music, face painting and activities for families.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Marfil Trejo, the command sergeant major for the Braden River High Raiders, crosses the rope bridge at the Florida High School JROTC Raider State Championship on Nov. 15.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 22, 2025
Braden River JROTC team wins state title

The team of eight boys and five girls win four of five events.

  • East County
  • Schools
Food for thought at Thanksgiving
  • By Greg Campbell
  • November 22, 2025
Food for thought at Thanksgiving

Local Chef Greg Campbell talks about the impact of food trucks.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Instead of a ribbon, a 180-pound blue fin tuna will be cut to celebrate the grand opening of Kuro Sushi.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 22, 2025
Kuro Sushi rolls into Lakewood Ranch

Instead of a ribbon-cutting, the grand opening celebration included a tuna-cutting ceremony.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells advocates for a countywide curfew.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 21, 2025
Curfew in effect for Manatee kids under 16

County Commission approves nighttime limits, though some parents question the potential effects.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest in East County

1
Gabriella Martinez Reyes, a junior at Lakewood Ranch High School, has been named president of the Florida Future Business Leaders of America. This makes her the first of Manatee County.
  • March 31, 2026
LRHS junior named president for Florida's Future Business Leaders of America
2
Late Commissioner Carol Ann Felts will be honored April 18 at Crane Park.
  • March 31, 2026
Manatee County names Myakka preserve after late commissioner Carol Felts
3
Indigo's Amber Hanratty, who was in the building industry for 25 years, now has her own business called Dirty Sara-Soda.
  • March 31, 2026
Dirty Sara-Soda hopes to clean up with a new beverage
4
A Country Club Village home at 7028 Portmarnock Place sold for $4.55 million. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, five-and-three-half baths, a pool and 7,072 square feet of living area.
  • March 31, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for March 16-20 in Lakewood Ranch
5
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance President and CEO Brittany Lamont and Board Chair Wayne Parrish are eager for members to hit the course for the Ranch Scramble.
  • March 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance takes a swing at networking

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