• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County

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
Braden River freshman Maddie Kasch has proved to be a team leader in the box score and the dugout in her debut season with the varsity softball team.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 28, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Maddie Kasch

Kasch, a freshman, is a captain and top hitter for Braden River softball.

  • East County
  • Sports
W. Kenneth Tyler Jr. is a Lakewood Ranch Certified Public Accountant, and now he's an author too.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 27, 2025
Lakewood Ranch accountant's creativity adds up to fiction

W. Kenneth Tyler Jr. is an accountant by day and author by night.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Vicente Rivera, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, has been accepted into the United States Naval Academy in Maryland, which has a 9% acceptance rate.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 26, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High senior ready to begin career at US Naval Academy

Vicente Rivera says he loves structure so a military academy is a great fit.

  • East County
  • Schools
Andy and Anna Mignery opened The Thrivery in February.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 25, 2025
New cafe brings pure juices, superfoods to Lakewood Ranch

Andy and Anna Mignery share their health journey by providing clean eating choices at The Thrivery in Center Point.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Parrish 2-year-old Faris Akel decided to look through the holes of the giant Connect 4 game instead of playing the traditional way at UTC Kids Club Wednesday.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 24, 2025
UTC Kids Club: Gameland offers small children a host of activities

Geared toward children under 6, the event is hosted at The Green at UTC on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • By Latham Pools
  • April 24, 2025
A Latham Fiberglass Pool is the Perfect Fit for Your Florida Home

Latham fiberglass pools are not only a fantastic choice for Florida homeowners, but they also offer numerous advantages over other types of pools.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Darwin is a 12-year-old sulcata tortoise.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • April 23, 2025
Beloved tortoise returns home after five days on the loose

Since being adopted from a rescue in 2019, Darwin has endeared himself to his owners, extended family and neighbors.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Small plane crashes in eastern Manatee County
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • April 23, 2025
Small plane crashes in eastern Manatee County

First responders called to Bald Eagle Airfield along State Road 64.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River Middle School students got to visit the Supreme Court and learned more about Gideon v. Wainwright, a 1963 landmark Supreme Court case that they learned in class.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 23, 2025
Braden River Middle students experience real-life civics lesson

The students took a road trip to Tallahassee to visit the Florida State Capitol.

  • East County
  • Schools
Final chance to see Lipizzan stallions in Myakka City this season
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 23, 2025
Final chance to see Lipizzan stallions in Myakka City this season

Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions will close the season with a salute to Operation Cowboy.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in East County

1
Jeff Toale stands inside the Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center in Lakewood Ranch, where light-filled spaces and a contemporary design reflect a shift toward more personalized, meaningful memorial experiences.
  • May 17, 2026
Jeff Toale looks to deepen and double impact at helm of the LWRCF
2
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
3
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.
4
Manatee County opens applications for Tourist Development Board
  • May 15, 2026
Manatee County opens applications for Tourist Development Board
5
Amanda Parrish was named interim CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. in January.
  • May 15, 2026
Manatee County economic development evolves

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free