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East County

James Bacigalupi and Trevor Garofalo give Harry Noordzy a lift, just as they did five years ago at Station 12.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 28, 2026
Myakka's Station 12 remains a part of Harry's world

Now 5, the firehouse baby returned to visit the firefighters who helped deliver him.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The boathouse and events center planned for Nathan Benderson Park is expected to cost between $60 million and $70 million.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 27, 2026
Planned events Center and boathouse at Benderson Park gets $10 million boost

State legislature has approved the $10 million appropriation, so now it is up to Gov. Ron DeSantis to approve it.

  • East County
  • News
New College was founded in 1960.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 27, 2026
Finalized deal shifts USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College

Vote to send the state's budget to governor is expected on Friday.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The Sophia IV sold for $6,775,000 in April and Stock Custom Homes is now planning a Wild Blue home that will list for $8 million.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 27, 2026
Has Lakewood Ranch become the playground for the rich?

Wild Blue has turned the multimillion sale into a common occurrence.

  • East County
  • News
Heather Hackett, the founder of Local Relief, Inc., earned the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award for her work with her nonprofit.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 27, 2026
Don't sleep on hurricane season because 2025 was slow

Side of Ranch March 28

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mason Riley is projected to start at left tackle for an offensive line which coach Rob Hollway believes might be the deepest in program history.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 26, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Mason Riley

With the rising senior offensive/defensive tackle in tow, The Out-of-Door Academy football team ended its spring on a high note.

  • East County
  • Sports
Yolanda Mancha is the foundation's vice president of philanthropy, and Veronica Thames is the CEO.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 26, 2026
Manatee Community Foundation is perpetually giving

The advantage of donating to MCF is that a donation today can quadruple over time.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ellie Tullidge, 6, is glad to help her grandfather Bob Smith celebrate raising another $114,507 for Stillpoint Mission this year, which makes the 15 year total $633,507.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 26, 2026
Lakewood Ranch effort raises $114,507 for the Stillpoint Mission

The donation is critical at a time the mission hopes to purchase a new building.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This Lake Club home at 8493 Pavia Way sold for $3.2 million. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,499 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 25, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for May 11-15 in Lakewood Ranch

A Lake Club home on Pavia Way tops the week's sales at $3.2 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Rising senior quarterback Louisen Desinor will start under center for Braden River High football in the fall. This spring was his opportunity to strengthen bonds with the playmakers around him.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 25, 2026
High school coaches defend relevancy of spring football in Florida

Although it's the only sport allowed to have two separate seasons, coaches say it is an important developmental tool.

  • East County
  • Sports
Though Florida Power & Light employs a variety of advanced technology to avoid power failures, often the basic work of tree trimming goes a long way toward heading off trouble.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 24, 2026
With our deep dependence on power, FPL gears up to keep the lights on

Manatee upgrades are part of a statewide initiative to build a tougher grid to hold up against hurricane season.

  • East County
  • News
A rendering of the 12U baseball/softball fields five-plex that will be built at UMR Sports complex in East County.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 23, 2026
Expansion 'gets real' at UMR Sports of Bradenton

A wealth of sports fields and amenities are being added to the former Moore Dairy Farm property.

  • East County
  • News
Oceane Visa, who says she has waited years to walk across the stage for graduation, is congratulated by Head of School Debra Otey.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 22, 2026
Out-of-Door Academy graduates showed up for the moments that matter most

Seventy-nine graduates from the Out-of-Door Academy walked the stage at Grace Community Church to receive their diplomas May 22.

  • East County
  • Schools
Leighton Paul (right), pictured here during the FHSAA Class 5A-Region 3 final May 14 against Gulf Coast, was Braden River's leadoff hitter this season. She went 0-for-3 in the state semifinals against Niceville.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 22, 2026
Late rally not enough for Braden River High softball in state semifinals

The Pirates, who won district and regional titles this season, dropped a 2-1 decision to Niceville.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch's Bruce Stamm says residents in District 1 are being denied due process because of a lack of representation.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 22, 2026
Felts' Manatee County Commission seat remains empty

The district has lacked representation since Commissioner Carol Ann Felts died in February.

  • East County
  • News
« 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 »
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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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