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East County

Parrish's Samara and Joel Pineda excitedly watch as the 2020 fireworks show at Nathan Benderson Park begins to shoot across the skyline. File photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2021
Sarasota-Manatee Fourth of July 2021 calendar

From races to the classic fireworks, check out these events to help you celebrate Independence Day right.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
An area called "Second Park" will have artificial turf, views of the lake and eventually cornhole. The stainless steel wire fence allows for views of the lake.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 18, 2021
Made in the Waterside shade at Lakewood Ranch

Landscaping ideas come to fruition at Waterside Place, which will begin to open in the coming months.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 18, 2021
Horse riders expand skills at SMART camp in east Bradenton

From grooming to riding, SMART summer camp participants learn more about horses in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
New donut shop coming to UTC in Sarasota.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 17, 2021
Five-O Donut Company comes to Sarasota's University Town Center

Five-O Donut Company will build its fourth Sarasota location at University Town Center.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 17, 2021
East County weather page photo: June 17

Gordon Silver captured this colorful roundabout landscape in Country Club East.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Judy Mullen. Photo by Brendan Lavell.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • June 16, 2021
Friends of the Braden River Library donates $61,000 for carpeting

Replacing the carpet, which is over a decade old, is part of the library's ongoing renovation.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Andres Junge.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 16, 2021
East County Athlete of the Week: Andres Junge

The Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball player talks his outside shot and his expectations for 2021-2022.

  • East County
  • Sports
Hayden Lesser, a sophomore at Parrish Community High, has only been rowing since 2017. He finished ninth in the country in the U17 Men's 1x at the Youth National Regatta. Photo courtesy MCYR.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • June 16, 2021
East County rower proves talent at National Regatta

Manatee County Youth Rowing sophomore makes his mark in the U17 1x races.

  • East County
  • Sports
Olivia Townsend earns her Girl Scout Gold Award by creating a Guide to Adulting website. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 16, 2021
Girl Scouts receive Gold Awards for serving others in east Bradenton

Two Braden River High School graduates earn top Girl Scout honors for helping others.

  • East County
  • News
Braden Woods residents Dayton Amey and Larry Brunatti are members of the Mustang Club of West Central Florida. They ate at Ford's Garage for lunch and dinner on June 8, the day of the grand opening.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • June 16, 2021
UTC welcomes garage-themed burger and beer restaurant, Ford's Garage

Customers excited by detailed theme, reminders of past at Ford's Garage grand opening in Sarasota's University Town Center.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 16, 2021
Big lessons for little ranchers in Lakewood Ranch

Eleven children participate in Lakewood Ranch High Future Farmers of America's first summer camp.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ziggy, a lemur at Big Cat Habitat, is ready to interact with any visitors. He loves to jump around and explore.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 16, 2021
What to do: A peek at the Lakewood Ranch area's animal attractions

The greater Lakewood Ranch area has plenty of places to see various types of animals.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden River Elementary School first grader Jordan McCarte listens intently as her reading buddy, Gia Giangrante, who is a fifth grader, reads "The Invisible Boy." Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 16, 2021
Manatee County schools' millage special election set for November

The School District of Manatee County will use after-school care fees to fund the special election.

  • East County
  • Schools
Suzanne Aguirre, shown swimming at Marble Pool, is one of many Tsunami swimmers that live in Lakewood Ranch. File photo.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • June 16, 2021
Manatee County proposed budget includes Premier pool

Besides the aquatic center, other amenities included for Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch are a pickleball and racket center and multipurpose soccer building.

  • East County
  • News
Tidewell volunteers Lynda Anderson, who works in patient support, and Phyllis Scarff, who works as a host, stand outside the entrance to the Lakewood Ranch facility. Anderson couldn't do patient support for more than a year.
    By
  • Brendan Lavell
  • June 16, 2021
Tidewell Hospice welcomes back Lakewood Ranch volunteers

Tidewell Hospice also seeks new volunteers after losing more than one-third of its volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest in East County

1
EverCreek at Lakewood Ranch will be built by Pulte Homes off Bourneside Boulevard.
  • June 10, 2026
1,000 homes planned for new Lakewood Ranch community
2
Sam Michael Sciturro
  • June 10, 2026
Sam Michael Sciturro
3
Vittoria Ferrisi Alvarez, Gracie Nichols and Sawyer Nowicki, all seventh graders at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, created the book called "Snowball's Iceberg Incident" to compete in the Children's Stories event for Technology Student Association.
  • June 10, 2026
Local students prepare for national TSA competition
4
Madison McKay is in her second and final season with Sarasota Crew. With the club's Youth Women's Eight boat, she'll have a chance at ending her high school rowing career as a junior national champion.
  • June 10, 2026
Team change lifts local rower into the junior national championships
5
Jim Emanuelson is the president of Lakewood Ranch CERT, and John McInally is the responder liaison.
  • June 10, 2026
Lakewood Ranch nonprofit quick to respond in an emergency

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