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East County

Lakewood Ranch's Mateo Orlandini and East Bradenton's Alex Molina both have a passion for soccer and love to play with new people at the Lakewood Ranch Residents Soccer Club.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 22, 2026
Soccer club provides free space to grow and socialize

With soccer being such a popular sport in Lakewood Ranch, Carrie David wanted to provide a free option for players of all ages and skill levels to play together.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lieutenant Jack Gamble loads a set of bunker gear into the Speed Queen Extractor at Station 1 in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 22, 2026
Laundry is priority, not chore, at East Manatee Fire Rescue

Firefighters cut on-the-job cancer risk with face washing and laundry.

  • East County
  • News
Sharon Godlewski stands by the pool at Springlake in The Meadows. Only the owl and CDs remain, but it's enough to keep the ducks away.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 22, 2026
Snowbirds and mallards fight over pool in The Meadows

The homeowners association at Springlake in The Meadows went to great lengths to evict the ducks.

  • East County
  • News
Stewart Cink (left) embraces his caddie after winning the Senior PGA Championship on April 19 at The Concession Golf Club. It marked his first major title on the PGA Tour Champions.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • April 22, 2026
PGA of America, The Concession reflect on Senior PGA Championship

It was the first senior major golf tournament in Lakewood Ranch, and is scheduled to return for 2027 and 2028.

  • East County
  • Sports
Love local news? There's an app for that. The Observer recently rolled out a smartphone application that makes it even easier to stay connected.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 22, 2026
App makes local news even easier to find

The Observer rolls out a new digital feature to connect with the community.

  • East County
  • Opinion
FHP troopers arrested an 18-year-old Cocoa man and impounded a 2022 Ford Mustang after a deadly crash on Interstate 75 Monday morning.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 21, 2026
Man arrested in deadly Manatee County crash

An 18-year-old from Cocoa was booked on vehicular homicide charges in Monday's Interstate 75 incident.

  • East County
  • News
Team Thunderbolts members Kenny Van Slyck, Avery Szuma and Matteo Saviano won a Create Award, which rewards unique approaches to gameplay over the standard design, to qualify for The VEX Robotics World Championship.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 21, 2026
3 east Manatee elementary teams head to worldwide robotics competition

Through trial and error, fourth and fifth graders from Willis and McNeal are gearing up to put their robots to the test.

  • East County
  • Schools
A Country Club East home at 15621 Linn Park Terrace sold for $2,525,000. Built in 2012, it has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,671 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 21, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for April 6-10 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club East home on Linn Park Terrace tops the week's sales at $2.53 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Carol Ann Felts' sons Kiel and Nicholas Felts unveil the new sign at David J. Crane Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 21, 2026
Manatee County remembers Carol Ann Felts at Crane Park memorial

The late commissioner had a Myakka City preserve named in her honor.

  • East County
  • News
John Daly, an icon in professional golf, was one of many fascinating subjects for my camera at The Concession Golf Club.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • April 21, 2026
Letting pictures do the talking at the Senior PGA Championship

A behind-the-lens look at Lakewood Ranch's first senior major golf tournament.

  • East County
  • Sports
Truck driver killed in Interstate 75 wreck
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 20, 2026
Truck driver killed in Interstate 75 wreck

Troopers are looking for the black Mustang that drove away after the crash near State Road 64.

  • East County
  • News
Gabbie Hotaling is 11 goals shy of 200 in her career with Lakewood Ranch girls lacrosse, as of April 19, and 17 points away from 300.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • April 20, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Gabbie Hotaling

The senior midfielder powered Lakewood Ranch girls lacrosse to a maiden district title.

  • East County
  • Sports
Glen Gibellina stands at the entrance of a tiny house he built using a shipping container.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 20, 2026
Affordable housing advocate builds campaign for Manatee commission

Glen Gibellina is challenging incumbent Mike Rahn for the District 4 seat.

  • East County
  • News
Stewart Cink kneels by the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy. His name will be the 86th engraved into the silver prize of the Senior PGA Championship — the oldest major on the PGA Tour Champions.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • April 19, 2026
Stewart Cink wins 2026 Senior PGA Championship

The 52-year-old set the competitive course record at The Concession to claim his first senior major title.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch's Adriana Fil, Mya Fil and Charlotte Miller greet adoptable puppies from Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center at Woofstock on Lakewood Main Street.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 19, 2026
First Woofstock event fills Lakewood Main Street with dogs

More than 30 pet-centered vendors, a Puppy Pals Live show, caricatures and more attracted dog lovers to Lakewood Main Street.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest in East County

1
Brittany Lamont and Nicole Hackel congratulate Jacob Kinsel of the Manatee Education Foundation as he is announced as the winner of the "Next Gen" award at University Park Country Club May 13.
  • May 16, 2026
Young Leaders Alliance presents its top award in Lakewood Ranch
2
The Sarasota Orchestra bought a site on Fruitville Road for its Music Center in 2023.
  • May 16, 2026
Want to be where the people are? You have to go east.
3
Manatee County opens applications for Tourist Development Board
  • May 15, 2026
Manatee County opens applications for Tourist Development Board
4
Amanda Parrish was named interim CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. in January.
  • May 15, 2026
Manatee County economic development evolves
5
Entering this season, Braden River softball hadn't won a district title in seven years. The squad is now two wins away from a state championship.
  • May 14, 2026
Braden River High softball advances to state semifinals

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