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East County | Neighbors

"Shrek the Musical Jr." was put together from beginning to end in a span of two weeks at a summer camp led by Michelle McCord, the director and owner of Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 23, 2025
Young performers tell the story of 'Shrek the Musical Jr.'

In a two-week camp at Ovation School of Musical Theatre, the actors learned the musical from start to finish.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sisterhood for Good's Pamela Modisett presents a grant check for $5,000 to Save Our Seabirds Executive Director Brian Walton June 19 at the Annual Grants Ceremony at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 21, 2025
Lakewood Ranch's Sisterhood for Good presents $150,150 in grants

Thirty regional nonprofits were awarded funds in the nonprofit's annual grants ceremony.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Aerial straps specialist Aidan Bryant will perform during the Circus Arts Conservatory performance at Star-Spangled Spectacular July 4 at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 19, 2025
The flag is up! Waterside Place hosts July 4 Spectacular

Star-Spangled Spectacular is Lakewood Ranch's initial foray into July 4 entertainment.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor
  • June 19, 2025
FINANCIAL FOCUS: Work toward your own financial independence day.

Your first step is to define what financial independence signifies to you.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Maximus Bedell, Elena Skretas, Drew Townson and Chase Devore are four of the eight house band members from School of Rock to go on tour and play the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in July.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 18, 2025
Local School of Rock musicians to perform at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame venue

The School of Rock House Band in Lakewood Ranch is going on a six-city tour with the last stop at a historic music venue.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Myakka City's Diane and Rich Bartoszek collect flags from each state they visit.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 18, 2025
Myakka City couple on the road to all 50 states

Rich and Diane Bartoszek will have visited all 50 states together by September.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Shelton Quarles poses for a photo with Rowan, 4, Madison, 3, and Grayson Izaguirre, 6. If they were superheroes, Rowan would be the Hulk, Madison would be a unicorn and Grayson would be Spiderman.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 14, 2025
Dad's Day Block Party attracts sports fans and superheroes

Meet and greets with former Buccaneers player Shelton Quarles and former Lightning player Jassen Cullimore were the main attractions.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Star Farms' Cooper Roy, 4, is front and center during storytime and enjoying every word.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 12, 2025
Mini crafters convene at Bob Gardner Park for summer camp

Demand was so big that the camp is being held at a new Lakewood Ranch site this summer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch resident Tim Carnahan self published his book “Under Development: A Commonsense Approach to Being Your Best (A Young Professional's Guide),” which gives advice to young professionals seeking guidance to make the most out of their careers.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch author shares advice for young professionals

Tim Carnahan shares his life experience as a business employee and mentor through his book, "Under Development: A Commonsense Approach to Being Your Best (A Young Professional's Guide)."

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The cottage needs to be stripped. The $100,000 grant is just the start to getting it camper-ready.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 11, 2025
Foundation for Dreams receives $100,000 grant from Bishop-Parker Foundation

The grant will go toward rehabbing one of the cottages at the foundation's new campus near Rye Preserve.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
RealRail President Allen Novak and club member Doug Neumann work on the O Scale train layout that will be available during the club's special event June 14-15.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 10, 2025
All aboard for Father's Day weekend fun at RealRail in Bradenton

The model railroad club will celebrates its 50th anniversary June 14-15.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jerry Bickel, founder and executive director of Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre, says his main goal at his shows is to inspire children to immerse themselves in stories and to read books.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 5, 2025
One voice as lifetime puppeteer performs at Lakewood Ranch Library

Jerry Bickel, founder and executive director of Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre, thrills local crowd.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Killdeer are dedicated parents known for their 'broken-wing' display, feigning injury to lure intruders away from their chicks or nest.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • June 2, 2025
Myakka River thrives with restored floodplain

New life embraces Myakka’s habitat restoration zone.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Willow and Winnie take a rest in the shade.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 2, 2025
Myakka City welcomes two baby warthogs

Willow and Winnie are 7 weeks old sisters who now live at the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mary Oquendo, the recycling coordinator for Manatee County, shows off the "big bin."
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 1, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Farmers' Market offers produce and information

The Farmers Market is a year round event held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest in East County

1
Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
2
Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair
3
Greenbrook's David, Hannah and Jaime Marco all had a part in creating Jaime Marco's new book “Unfunkt: Quiet the Noise. Ignite the Light.”
  • December 12, 2025
Readers can shed the funk with Lakewood Ranch author's 'Unfunkt'
4
SMR's new coffee table book, "Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land" is available locally and on Amazon.
  • December 10, 2025
'Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land' is a fun history lesson
5
Carrie Walden, the Project Edge classroom instructor, is teaching 10 students including Mia Pardella and Justin Torres in the Project Edge program at MTC East.
  • December 10, 2025
MTC program teaches students with disabilities skills to enter workforce

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