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East County | Neighbors

Lakewood Ranch 11-year-old Finn Morris, who has been playing soccer for six years, likes competing at the Sarasota Paradise youth soccer camp.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 31, 2026
Sarasota Paradise's 'language' brings kids together

Paradise's youth summer camp speaks to children from 5 to 13 who learn all about soccer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Angie Elmendorf and Jon Minton, on either side of Allswell owner Tory Delany, are behind the Lakewood Ranch/UTC Foodies Restaurant Reviews Facebook page and the newly formed Lakewood Ranch Dinner Club.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 29, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Dinner Club serves up connections

Strangers become friends over dinner through the Lakewood Ranch Dinner Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lara Zoppe and Victoria Peddie, both of Lakewood Ranch, sing "No Reason" as Lydia and Delia in "Beetlejuice Jr.," at Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 25, 2026
Ovation School of Musical Theatre campers present 'Beetlejuice Jr.'

The cast of "Beetlejuice Jr." had four weeks to perfect their show before its debut July 24.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bradenton 3-year-old Zy'heir Curry, a lover of "Paw Patrol," shows off his trophy from playing flag football at The Learning Experience.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 24, 2026
The Learning Experience in Lakewood Ranch tackles a flag football event

The daycare's 3- and 4-year-olds join the instructors in an event where being happy is the goal.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble brings together professional and high skilled musicians.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 22, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble eyes new venue

The ensemble is working with the district in hopes of using the new Rangeland High School theater.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Tom Bleakley's "The Preacher" follows a young Detroit lawyer who takes on the defense of a woman charged with the killing of her husband. It is co-authored by Marcia Krajewski, another Lakewood Ranch resident.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 21, 2026
Lakewood Ranch author uses 50-year law career to write fiction novels

Eighty-five-year-old Tom Bleakley released his novel "The Preacher" in February.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Addison Gutowitz, 13, and Harriet Shore, 11, learn skills on electric guitar from 17-year-old Max Froemel in the guitar breakout session.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 17, 2026
Campers come together at School of Rock Lakewood Ranch

During the Modern Rock music camp, students learn songs to perform for family and friends.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • By Take Stock in Children Manatee County
  • July 17, 2026
Transforming Futures Through Education

How Take Stock in Children of Manatee County is Changing Lives and Communities

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Linda Matte, Theresa Langston and Rosemary Cummings of Stitchers welcome people of all skill levels to join the group on Mondays and learn about sewing, quilting and more.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 15, 2026
Neighbors create threads of friendship with Lakewood Ranch club

Stitchers, a club that meets in Lakewood Ranch, aims to bring creative people together to quilt, sew and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Coastwise student development team members Charles Mesia, Justin Kim (back), Colton McGill, Gabi Otera (back) and John Onesti gather to utilize a NASA STELLA Q-2 VNIR spectrometer, a handheld device that measures light intensity and plant health.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 14, 2026
Free Coastwise summer camp seeks more Manatee student sign-ups

A $4,500 grant from the Manatee Community Foundation will make the program free for students who participate.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 13, 2026
Despite the heat, the Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch is still the place to be

In the midst of summer, the market at Waterside Place continues to be packed on Sundays.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Keith Pandeloglou took over as the president of the board of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation in June.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 10, 2026
New leader set to guide the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation

Keith Pandeloglou became president of the board in June and his hope is to build on the nonprofit's success.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Deborah Callahan-Stratton, Joy Stone, Barbara Najmy and Jennifer Alokeh are collecting sneakers for the fifth annual Sneakin Back to School Sneaker Drive to benefit The Twig.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 8, 2026
The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle transitions to a nonprofit

The official name now for the Lakewood Ranch group is The Lake Club Women's Charitable Foundation.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Harper Fraser, 7, Jack Fraser, 5, and their mom, Melissa Fraser, test out the Royally Cosmic photo booth at the Star-Spangled Spectacular at Waterside Place.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 5, 2026
Star-Spangled Spectacular lights up Lakewood Ranch

The Waterside Place event attracted thousands to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Pops Orchestra of Sarasota and Bradenton performs on the second stage.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 4, 2026
Nathan Benderson Park goes big for Fireworks on the Lake

The lineup included a band, a pops concert, a waterskiing show and an apple pie eating contest.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest in East County

1
Lakewood Ranch residents Kathy Flora, Laura Moninski, Nicholas Keen and Susan Solz are happy with the July 28 outcome.
  • August 2, 2026
Manatee considers sliding iceplex to a different location
2
Lakewood Ranch 11-year-old Finn Morris, who has been playing soccer for six years, likes competing at the Sarasota Paradise youth soccer camp.
  • July 31, 2026
Sarasota Paradise's 'language' brings kids together
3
Stock Custom Homes Vice President Sam Canham says that the Sophia IV's sale for $6,775,000 in April was more confirmation that there is a demand for elite homes in Lakewood Ranch.
  • July 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch remains No. 1 in sales in mid-year survey
4
Guadalupe Barajas, an ICU nurse at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, meets new CEO Jason Madsen for the first time in the new tower's ICU wing.
  • July 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center begins to plan its future with a new CEO
5
Conductor Joe Martinez leads the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble with Waterside Place in the background. Could the ensemble be playing at the new Rangeland High theater?
  • July 30, 2026
Manatee County should take a starring role with theater project

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