• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County

Josh Thomas.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 24, 2021
East County Athlete of the Week: Josh Thomas

The Braden River sprinter talks goal times and his favorite movies.

  • East County
  • Sports
ODA senior Nolan Lewellen is one of the fastest players on the team and is aggressive in stealing bases.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 24, 2021
Thunder bats taking opponents by storm

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn

  • East County
  • Sports
East County's (back) Stacey Clevenger, Cindy Jackson, (front) Liz Lynne and Pat Miller volunteer together at the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch every Wednesday night.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 24, 2021
Volunteers begin return to pet projects in Lakewood Ranch

Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch welcomes volunteers back while Nate's Honor Animal Rescue waits for construction to end.

  • East County
  • News
Fruitville Elementary School art teacher Jody Schneider with Dexter and Oso in her Lakewood Ranch home studio. (Courtesy of Jody Schneider)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 24, 2021
Lakewood Ranch art teacher finds new "pet" project

Lakewood Ranch art teacher paints pet portraits

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kathy Cromley of Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota pours a beer for a customer during My Hometown Fest in 2019. This year, the nonprofit is hosting My Hometown Jam, a smaller fundraiser than My Hometown Fest. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 24, 2021
Small jam still sweet at Nathan Benderson Park

Six bands will perform for 300 people at the Sertoma Club's My Hometown Jam at Nathan Benderson Park.

  • East County
  • News
O'Mariah Gordon.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • March 24, 2021
East County High 5 Moments: 03.25.21

East County High 5 Moments: 03.25.21

  • East County
  • Sports
Children from the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County watch as Ilee Finocchiaro, an instructor for Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, lead Jazz across the barn.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 24, 2021
SMART expands its reach in east Bradenton

Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy expands its programming to reach more community members.

  • East County
  • News
Country Club resident Dr. Jennifer Bencie, the Manatee County Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health, is pictured at the county's drive-thru vaccination site at Tom Bennett Park.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 24, 2021
You've been vaccinated — Now what?

Vaccinated East Manatee County residents enjoy new freedoms

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota Film Society President Renee Baggott and Vice President Trisha Calandra are excited to reopen Lakewood Ranch Cinema earlier than expected.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 24, 2021
Return to the big screen in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Cinema will open March 31 with "Godzilla Vs. Kong" and provide a full lineup of new movies starting April 2.

  • East County
  • News
A vote to appoint Manatee County School Board member Scott Hopes as interim administrator Tuesday was denied 4-3, though he is still the frontrunner for the job. The commission will make a final decision April 1.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 23, 2021
Manatee County commissioners delay selecting an interim administrator until April 1

Motion to approve Manatee County School Board member Scott Hopes as interim administrator failed.

  • East County
  • News
Vanessa Baugh and three other Manatee County commissioners were found not to have committed any Sunshine Law violations by The Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 22, 2021
Investigation finds no Sunshine Law violations by Manatee County commissioners

Vanessa Baugh, three other Manatee County commissioners cleared of Sunshine Law violations by Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

  • East County
  • News
A COVID-19 vaccination is given at the Manatee County drive-thru vaccination operation at Tom Bennett Park. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Health-Manatee County)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 19, 2021
All Manatee County adults now eligible to register for vaccine

Manatee County opens registration to Florida residents 18 and older

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 18, 2021
East County weather page photo: March 18

Bruce Silverman took this photo of a Christmas cactus in bloom in Rosedale.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A COVID-19 vaccination is given at the Manatee County drive-thru vaccination operation at Tom Bennett Park. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Health-Manatee County)
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 18, 2021
Manatee County expands registration to residents 55 and up

Manatee County residents 55 and up can now register for vaccine, must wait to receive it

  • East County
  • News
Robert Turner, Ben Guth, Trevor Garofalo, Ray Sullivan and J.T. Bacigalupi are Myakka City Fire Control District firefighters. Guth, Garofalo and Sullivan are leading the effort to introduce East Manatee firefighters to the area.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • March 17, 2021
Caution ... merge ahead for East Manatee, Myakka fire districts

Myakka City-East Manatee fire merger preparations underway

  • East County
  • News
« 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

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

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now