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East County

Kenneth Ordonez and his elementary teacher Joadie Durfee got to reunite at the gathering. Ordonez described Durfee as not only a teacher, but a good friend.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 3, 2025
Past Braden River Elementary students gather before graduating high school

Seven years after graduating elementary school, Manatee County seniors reunited with old friends and teachers to reminisce before graduating high school and heading separate ways once more.

  • East County
  • Schools
Blues musicians Miguel Primero and Steve Arvey play at Jiggs Landing April 24.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 2, 2025
Thursdays are for the blues at Jiggs Landing

The preserve offers live music every day for three hours before sunset.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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
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Latest in East County

1
Tony Barrett is running for the at-large District 6 commission seat in Manatee County.
  • April 1, 2026
East Manatee fire commissioner enters at-large County Commission race
2
Myakka's Sydney McCullough shows off the first place ribbon and belt buckle she won in January for whip cracking in the senior division at the Manatee County Fair.
  • April 1, 2026
Cracking a whip has been a snap for Myakka teenager
3
Manatee County commissioners unanimously approve the purchase of 9000 Town Center Parkway May 6.
  • April 1, 2026
DOGE questions Manatee County's capital expenditures, additional staff
4
John Saputo (left), Denise Saputo (top center), Lorraine Vitale (right) and Dick Vitale (bottom center) at the "March Mayhem" fundraiser and Elite Eight watch party. The Saputos were the hosts March 28 at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.
  • April 1, 2026
March Mayhem fundraiser in Lakewood Ranch benefits pediatric cancer research
5
Lakewood Ranch Little League plays at Lakewood Ranch Park March 25.
  • April 1, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Little League expands to improve accessibility

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