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East County

Aaron Virgin says he often spots 40 to 50 species of birds on a walk around Lake Patton in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 21, 2026
Audubon eyes go to the skies in Lakewood Ranch

The Sarasota Audubon Society hosts Lakewood Ranch walks in the hopes of generating interest in the club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch junior Ricardo Rengifo wrestles Javier Puchi in the 138-pound weight class.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 21, 2026
First 'in-school' wrestling matches hosted by Lakewood Ranch High

The school's administration allowed students to miss late-in-the day classes to attend Lakewood Ranch's boys and girls matches against Riverview.

  • East County
  • Sports
The green rectangle on the top is where the homes would be clustered.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 21, 2026
80-home project gets thumbs down from the Manatee Planning Commission

Bradenton Estates II is being proposed near the intersection of 18th Avenue East and Morgan Johnson Road.

  • East County
  • News
Danielle Ziegler is the shelter director. She's cuddling with Lyza, a 9-year-old Catahoula mix with chronic ear infections.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 21, 2026
Struggling for funds is a way of life at the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch

Grants, like the $20,000 received through the Manatee Community Foundation, are essential to the nonprofit's survival.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The old Station 11, owned by East Manatee Fire Rescue, is being sold to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 21, 2026
Manatee County Sheriff's Office finds a home in Myakka City

East Manatee Fire Rescue sells the old fire station in Myakka City to the Sheriff's Office.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County continues to receive complaints about its reduced garbage service.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 20, 2026
Trash collection will be a hot topic at upcoming Manatee commission meeting

Commissioner Bob McCann also added kennel and canopy road concerns to Jan. 27 agenda.

  • East County
  • News
Jaynie Peterson, Tony Pinho, Brady Jo Trombetta and Madison Chuchla all teach dance classes at Fly Dance Fitness in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 20, 2026
Dance fitness studio opens new Lakewood Ranch location

The business offers a variety of dance and fitness classes while aiming to be a judgement-free space.

  • East County
  • Business
Dillon Rosenthal, a fourth-year entrepreneurship major at FGCU, proudly sits beside one of BounceBack Pickle's bins. His business takes old, broken pickleballs and recycles them into new ones.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 20, 2026
BounceBack Pickle succeeds at intersection of sport and sustainability

Dillon Rosenthal, a graduate from The Out-of-Door Academy, has found a niche by recycling pickleballs.

  • East County
  • Sports
This Wild Blue at Waterside home at 560 Blue Shell Loop sold for $3.41 million. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,452 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 20, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 5-9 in Lakewood Ranch

A Wild Blue at Waterside home on Blue Shell Loop topped the week's sales at $3.41 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Evan Rowe has distinguished himself in the 165-pound weight class this season and carries aspirations of a top-three finish in March's FHSAA individual championships.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 19, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Evan Rowe

The Braden River senior wrestler ranks No. 2 in the state for the 165-pound weight class.

  • East County
  • Sports
Gardeners Out East president Nancy Schneider gives the plaque for the Japanese blueberry tree that the group donated to Simone Rose, who works as the office manager for Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 19, 2026
Japanese blueberry tree serves as gift to LWR celebration of life center

Gardeners Out East thanks Robert Toale and Sons Celebration of Life Center for donating use of its facility.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Rhonda Leiberick and Roscelyn Guenther snag a selfie together in between the running and yoga portions of the triathlon. They alternated between walking and running every two minutes.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 18, 2026
Triathlon brings mindfulness to Lakewood Ranch's Waterside Place

The Mindful Triathlon hosted 136 entrants who ran, meditated and did yoga.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bradenton Area EDC names interim CEO
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 17, 2026
Bradenton Area EDC names interim CEO

The appointment of an interim CEO — Fawley Bryant Architecture COO and Partner Amanda Parrish — comes after the former leader of the organization retired.

  • East County
  • Business
The crew from Station 1 walk across the parking lot to grab some lunch. From left to right: Battalion Chief Craig Madsen and firefighters Adam Stem, Evan Berggren and Tyler Schuele.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 16, 2026
Braden River VFW dishes out thanks to East Manatee firefighters

VFW members brought lunch to the East Manatee Fire Rescue administration building, where they hold their monthly meeting.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bradenton's Harley Busch, 3, is eager to ride the carousel alongside her father John Busch at the Manatee County Fair. She also rode a camel moments before.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 16, 2026
Manatee County Fair, a tradition since 1916, is now open

The fair launched its 11-day run Thursday with a variety of animals, rides, food, live entertainment and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest in East County

1
When she isn't overseas, Sky Commissar spends most of her time with Southwest Florida Premier FC at the club level. With them, she competes in the girls' regional league of the Elite Clubs National League.
  • July 14, 2026
Lakewood Ranch High soccer player gets international exposure
2
Coastwise student development team members Charles Mesia, Justin Kim (back), Colton McGill, Gabi Otera (back) and John Onesti gather to utilize a NASA STELLA Q-2 VNIR spectrometer, a handheld device that measures light intensity and plant health.
  • July 14, 2026
Free Coastwise summer camp seeks more Manatee student sign-ups
3
This Lake Club home at 17238 Salerno Drive sold for $3 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,754 square feet of living area.
  • July 14, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for June 29-July 3 in Lakewood Ranch
4
Partners Animal Hospital Lakewood Ranch hosts a ribbon cutting July 10.
  • July 13, 2026
Partners Animal Hospital opens in Lakewood Ranch
5
Boston's JJ Maguire, 4, Ariel Maguire, 6, and their mom, Kasha Grabowski, wear funky hats while enjoying treats from Jeremiah's Italian Ice at the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch.
  • July 13, 2026
Despite the heat, the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch is still the place to be

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