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East County

Jonathan Ith, who has run Chick-fil-A Creekwood for the last 25 years, is preparing to open a new location in Heritage Harbour to keep up with the local demand.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 16, 2026
Chick-fil-A expands in Bradenton with a new store in Heritage Harbour

Owner Jonathan Ith has run Chick-fil-A Creekwood for the past 25 years and is excited to open a larger store.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Carter Evans (left), a rising senior forward with Riverview boys basketball, drives toward the rim. The Hoop Vibe Summer League is an opportunity for him to workshop his skills in a real-game setting.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 16, 2026
Hoop Vibe Summer League fills void for Bradenton-area high school basketball

The inaugural league, hosted at Braden River High, offers male athletes the valuable opportunity to compete in June.

  • East County
  • Sports
The proposal by KB Homes Tampa LLC includes the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Rye Road and Waterline Road.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 16, 2026
Planning Commission recommends denial for 131 homes near Rye Road

Commissioners liked how the Ivy Run developer worked with residents but couldn't get past the project’s proximity to Rye Road.

  • East County
  • News
This Country Club Village home at 12407 Highfield Circle sold for $2,499,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,267 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 16, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for June 1-5 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club home on Highfield Circle tops the week's sales at $2.5 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
James Satcher, a former Manatee County commissioner and Supervisor of Elections, announced and retracted his bid to represent Florida’s 16th Congressional District within a week.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 15, 2026
Former Manatee Commissioner Satcher too late for 2026 Congressional bid

Within a week's time, James Satcher announced and retracted his bid for Florida's 16th Congressional District.

  • East County
  • News
Jaxon Lawhun sat behind Edouard Chaput in 2025 as a junior quarterback for the Thunder. He's now poised to be ODA's starter under center in the fall.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 15, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Jaxon Lawhun

The quarterback has a summer full of camps before his senior season with The Out-of-Door Academy.

  • East County
  • Sports
Inglemoor High School rowers Krista Alyakin and Karlie Vince made a splash by winning the Women's Youth 2- class at the USRowing Junior National Championships on Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 14, 2026
Emotions flow on USRowing Youth Nationals' final day in Sarasota

Champions crowned at Nathan Benderson Park in an event that features approximately 4,000 competitors.

  • East County
  • Sports
Peculiar Pub takes the place of Twisted Pit BBQ on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 12, 2026
Peculiar Pub crawls across Main Street in Lakewood Ranch

Peculiar Pub is offering extended hours, an elevated menu and a full bar at the new location.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Sarasota Crew's Gabrielle DeLeo heads to the finish of the Women's Youth 1x Thursday at the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. She qualified for Friday's semifinal by placing eighth in 7:54.36.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 11, 2026
USRowing National Championships opens in Sarasota

Sarasota Crew measures its athletes against the nation's best at Nathan Benderson Park.

  • East County
  • Sports
East County residents wait in line before 7 a.m. on June 11 to start shopping at the new Publix at 16642 State Road 64 East.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 11, 2026
Publix opens at corner of SR 64 and Uihlein Road in Lakewood Ranch

East County residents were lined up before 7 a.m. to be among the first shoppers.

  • East County
  • Business
Though homesteaded residents would gain property tax savings if Florida's overhaul proposal gains 60% of support in the November elections, even non-homesteaded property owners would see new protections from sharply rising property assessments.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 11, 2026
Property tax overhaul: What you should know

Here are the basics of what Florida voters will be deciding in November and what it might mean for property owners.

  • Sarasota
  • News
EverCreek at Lakewood Ranch will be built by Pulte Homes off Bourneside Boulevard.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 10, 2026
1,000 homes planned for new Lakewood Ranch community

EverCreek will be a 464-acre residential development.

  • East County
  • News
Sam Michael Sciturro
    In Memoriam |
  • June 10, 2026
Sam Michael Sciturro

Sam Michael Sciturro was born January 31, 1933, in Detroit, Michigan, during the height of the Great Depression, the experience which shaped his entire life.

  • East County
  • Tributes & Obituaries
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.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 10, 2026
Local students prepare for national TSA competition

With a variety of different events and themes, Lakewood Ranch-area Technology Student Association members test their skills and creativity.

  • East County
  • Schools
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.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 10, 2026
Joining Sarasota Crew propels local rower into the junior national championships

Lakewood Ranch High graduate Madison McKay, who joined Sarasota Crew as a junior, will compete at the USRowing Youth National Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Latest in East County

1
Partners Animal Hospital Lakewood Ranch hosts a ribbon cutting July 10.
  • July 13, 2026
Partners Animal Hospital opens in Lakewood Ranch
2
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
3
Brooklyn Cullen's golf career began at Hawaii's Princeville Makai Golf Club when she was 6 years old. It continues now in Florida, where she moved before beginning sixth grade at The Out-of-Door Academy.
  • July 13, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Brooklyn Cullen
4
Jason Starkman, the director of operations for The Original Wolfie's and Rascal House restaurants, shows off a corned beef sandwich. Wolfie's 21 Hand Cut is coming to UTC in late November or early December.
  • July 10, 2026
Wolfie's Hand Cut headed to University Town Center
5
Two killed in two crashes two hours apart on I-75
  • July 10, 2026
Two killed in two crashes two hours apart on I-75

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