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East County

Students at William H. Bashaw Elementary School planted a new garden last week with the help from Supervisor of Student Nutrition Skye Grundy (left), EBD self-contain teacher Ms. Bratton, EarthBox representative Will Carlton and Principal James Dougherty.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 22, 2025
Bashaw Elementary plants garden to further campus improvement project

The school garden will be used for cooking, math, science lessons — and lunch.

  • East County
  • Schools
Francesca Bisordi is a sophomore wrestler on the Lakewood Ranch High girls wrestling team. Last season, wrestling in the 170-pound weight class, she was named the Girls 1A District 11 Champion when she pinned Bayshore High's Alexandra Lopez in the tournament last February.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 21, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Francesca Bisordi

The Lakewood Ranch sophomore wrestler is thriving in her second year in the sport.

  • East County
  • Sports
The National Weather Service predicts the cold weather will persist through the weekend.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • January 21, 2025
Bundle up: Series of cold fronts hit Southwest Florida this week

Lows will be in the low 40s for most of the week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 8458 Pavia Way has three bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths, a pool and 3,754 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 21, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 6-10 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Pavia Way tops the week's sales at $3.4 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Calusa Country Club is hosting a grand opening event on Jan. 23. It will open to the public shortly after.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 21, 2025
Calusa Country Club to open in Lakewood Ranch in February

Lakewood Ranch's newest golf course will feature 30 holes and a socialized concept.

  • East County
  • Business
Manatee County's Library Advisory Board will reconvene by April.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 21, 2025
Manatee library advisory board set to reconvene

The board hasn't met in over a year but will hold its first meeting by April.

  • East County
  • News
Former polo pro Bob Brosious gives some quick instruction to Raymond Dweck, and Lisa and Mark Friedman during Polo with the Pros at the Sarasota Polo Club Jan. 19.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 21, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Community Fund kicks off 2025 with polo event

Polo with the Pros packed the pavilion despite a storm that canceled the actual polo match.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Lakewood Ranch High boys varsity golf team finished the season with a cumulative team GPA of 3.254. Seniors (from left to right) Luke Wilson, Henry Burbee and Parker Severs all took pride in their academics in a season that saw the Mustangs finish second in the FHSAA Class 3A state tournament in November.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 20, 2025
East County student-athletes prove that brains go hand in hand with brawn

Sports teams at Lakewood Ranch and Parrish Community high schools finish at the top of the state rankings for team academics.

  • East County
  • Sports
Marine biologist Sean Patton shows the Gardeners Out East a piece of Hydrilla verticillata he plucked out of the pond next to Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 20, 2025
Garden club looks under the surface of Lakewood Ranch ponds

Gardeners Out East invited Sean Patton from Stocking Savvy to speak at its first meeting of the year.

  • East County
  • News
The Claw was one of the most popular rides at the Manatee County Fair Saturday.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 19, 2025
Manatee County Fair begins with nonstop entertainment

The fair continues its run in Palmetto through Jan. 26.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy eighth grader Wrenn Pevzner tested people to see whether they could distinguish the difference between a real photo and one that was generated by artificial intelligence for her science fair project.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 19, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Prep students explore science of the modern world

Projects on AI, Wi-Fi and cellphone radiation show how far science fairs have come.

  • East County
  • Schools
This is a rendering of the outdoor patio for the proposed Backyard Social off of Professional Parkway in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 18, 2025
Late-night dining, entertainment on hold in Lakewood Ranch

Sarasota County commissioners granted a continuance instead of voting no to a request near Waterside.

  • East County
  • News
I-75 closures between SR 64 and US 301 start Monday
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 17, 2025
I-75 closures between SR 64 and US 301 start Monday

During the week of Jan. 20, crews will close I-75 between State Road 64 (exit 220) and U.S. 301 (exit 224) from midnight to 3 a.m.

  • East County
  • News
At 9 years old, Ella Ben-Ami is the youngest baker in the crowd. She also volunteered to help set up with her mom Celeste.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 17, 2025
Mega Challah Bake draws hundreds to Lakewood Ranch

Nearly 350 women gathered to knead bread at The Grove.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is at 658 University Parkway, Sarasota.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 16, 2025
Bad Ass Coffee brings Hawaiian flavor to Lakewood Ranch

The new coffee shop at Center Point takes a community-first approach.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
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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

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