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East County

John Hettler, principal and founder of SOSA said he is very grateful to the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation for their generous donation towards the new playground equipment and necessary repairs. Executive director Kate Mulligan and president Mark Clark were amongst the members of the foundation present.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 2, 2025
Sea of Strengths Academy receives grant for new playground

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation presented them with a grant for $8,700 to go towards the playground after Kelly Gonzalez, a parent at the school, wrote approximately 30 different ones.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Layla Vaughn and Aureliano Mora are student council members at McNeal Elementary that acted as announcers for the leadership day event.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 1, 2025
McNeal Elementary nurtures student leaders through Leader In Me program

The seven habits are “Be Proactive,” “Begin with the End In Mind,” “Put First Things First,” “Think Win-Win,” “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood,” “Synergize” and “Sharpen the Saw.”

  • East County
  • Schools
96-gallon trash bins are rolling off the assembly line, bound for Manatee County.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 1, 2025
Manatee County begins distributing 96-gallon trash bins

New trash bins will coincide with addition of automated trucks in October.

  • East County
  • News
Former School District of Manatee County Superintendent Jason Wysong
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 30, 2025
Manatee County teacher accused of inappropriate behavior resigns

A parent of a child at B.D. Gullett Elementary urged the school board to terminate the fifth grade teacher instead of accepting his resignation.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jennifer Alokeh and Barbara Najmy lead The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle with passion and compassion.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 30, 2025
Lake Club Women's Giving Circle grows into an important community resource

The circle started with 10 members over 10 years ago and has since doled out over $220,000 worth of grants.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Stillpoint Mission's Marge Slepica, Gene Tischer, Linda Burman, Gary Scott and Jim Keiner and Annual Appeal fundraisers Bob Smith, Diane Brune, Judy Balmer and Bob Keehn celebrate the record $84,017 raised.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 30, 2025
Stillpoint Mission Appeal sets another record for Bob Smith and friends

Time to celebrate charity, and to get some swim lessons, in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Rob Anderson is the new chief executive officer of the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 30, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center welcomes new CEO

Robbert Anderson replaces former CEO Andy Guz after a seven-month search.

  • East County
  • News
Julie Fanning and Brittany Lamont from the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance stand with guest speakers Laura Cole, vice president of Lakewood Ranch, and Philip Reber, COO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 30, 2025
Lakewood Ranch vice president offers development forecast

The community sits on 55 square miles and accounts for $15 billion in assessed property values.

  • East County
  • News
Camden Tippett, 12, lays out to tackle a tackling wheel during a drill at a Nextlevelz clinic in Lakewood Ranch on April 26.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 30, 2025
Nextlevelz tackles football concerns with local clinic

The developmental program teaches 100 youth football players how to tackle.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kyle Schauenberg and Maria Luedeke are the cofounders of The Wellness Space and quickly connected after they met as they share similar careers and views on wellness.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 29, 2025
Self-care enthusiasts open The Wellness Space at Waterside

The Wellness Space, founded by internationally experienced practitioners Maria Luedeke and Kyle Schauenberg, will provide classes to nourish, explore, soothe and thrive.

  • East County
  • Business
Alex Benson says the current mural is much more detailed and will take more time than previous projects. His goal is to have it complete over the summer, ready for the 2025-2026 school year.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 29, 2025
Local mural artist volunteers his talent to beautify McNeal Elementary

Alex Benson has painted three murals at the Lakewood Ranch school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The home at 7045 Portmarnock Place in the Lakewood Ranch Country Club sold for one of the highest prices ever in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 29, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for April 12-16 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club Village home on Portmarnock Place tops the week's sales at $5.9 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Emily Storm won in her first American Junior Golf Association event on April 13 at Shalimar Pointe Golf Club.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 29, 2025
LRHS golfer wins in American Junior Golf Association debut

Emily Storm is breaking through in her golf game at the right time.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jim Howell and Jack McCaffrey are students at Florida Studio Theatre. McCaffrey studied animation and design at the Ringling College of Art and Design.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 28, 2025
Free acting class series coming to Lakewood Ranch Library

Florida Studio Theatre employees will lead classes on Improv for All, Acting Foundations, Reader’s Circle and Intro to Playwriting.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Florence & the Spice Boys opens at University Town Center April 25.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 28, 2025
Florence & the Spice Boys opens at UTC

This is the second location for the Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant that started as a food truck.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
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Latest in East County

1
Negotiations continue between Manatee County and its two garbage haulers — Waste Management and Waste Pro.
  • February 14, 2026
Bulk garbage pickups likely to return for Manatee County residents
2
Lakewood Ranch's Eugene Khutoryanskiy and Yana Parker are celebrating this Valentine's Day as fiances alongside their dogs Mittens and Jesse at Barks & Brews on Feb. 10.
  • February 13, 2026
A little pet lovin' and squeezin' at University Town Center in Sarasota
3
Lee Wetherington says he can visit with potential buyers and his contractors because CEO Dave Hunihan handles the heavy lifting of his business.
  • February 12, 2026
Acclaimed builder continues to put his stamp on Lakewood Ranch
4
The purple piles will carry reclaimed water to Lakewood Ranch Southeast for irrigation.
  • February 11, 2026
New road construction speeds through Lakewood Ranch Southeast
5
Neal Shipley was all smiles after winning the 2025 LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club.
  • February 11, 2026
Lakewood Ranch golf fans now asked to support two pro golf tournaments

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