• 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 | Neighbors

Charlie Shachat, a co-founder of the Foolishly Festive Christmas Parade, decided to be part of the show for the "Jaws" 50th anniversary.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 19, 2025
Esplanade continues tradition of being 'foolishly festive' for parade

This year's Foolishly Festive Christmas Parade was the original organizers' "swan song," who hope new blood will take on the parade and keep the Christmas spirit alive.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lynnette Beecher and Gunilla Imshaug, members of the Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club, check out a photo of a baby alligator that was taken moments before.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch photography club preserves moments in time

The club was founded in 2004 and works to bring together photographers of all interests and skill levels.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Maddox and Lou Towery have packed up shoeboxes during the Community Holiday Shoebox Collection Drive for the last seven years.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 15, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community rallies to support seniors with shoebox event

Community Holiday Shoebox Collection Drive heads toward another record year in donations.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Karen and Tom Eckert work as master gardener volunteers with the University of Florida to educate the public about gardening, plants, landscaping and more.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 15, 2025
Master gardeners plant seeds of wisdom at Lakewood Ranch Library

Lakewood Ranch's Karen and Tom Eckert are among the experts who teach important gardening techniques.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Katherine Pike (on the left) salsa dances with the cast of "Casa Havana:" Dairon Batista, Isabella Serrano and Jack Gaudreau.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 13, 2025
Palm Aire Women's Club members learn to salsa

Club members were treated to a performance and dance lessons from the Tania Vergara Dance-Theater.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K

The event supports the Big Bill Foundation and the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Foundation.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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.”
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 12, 2025
Readers can shed the funk with Lakewood Ranch author's 'Unfunkt'

Greenbrook's Jaime Marco wrote the book to let others know they can make a positive impact on their lives.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Samara Williamson has been at the Lake Club for more than four years, moving to her general manager position from that of assistant general manager in 2023.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2025
Lake Club manager named tops in her field

The honor was part of November's Lakewood Ranch Community Appreciation Awards.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The “A Valentine’s Comedy Night” fundraiser will benefit Harbor 58, Foster the Family, and Bring on the Ministry. Harbor 58 broke ground on its new housing development for teens aging out of foster care in November.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 10, 2025
Harbor58 breaks ground on $4.5 million housing project in Manatee County

The East County nonprofit supports young adults who have aged out of foster care.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Martha McKlveen, a Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center volunteer and donor, is eager for Kitty City to be able to support more cats that are in need, just like the over 1,000 she has fostered since 2009.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 9, 2025
Kitty City built at Nate's Honor with $250,000 donation from volunteer

Martha McKlveen is passionate about cats, especially those who have issues that keep them from being adopted.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Miracle League Board President Robyn Graham, Elks Golf Tournament Director Mark Liddell, Elk Sarah Davis and Miracle League Executive Director Chris Cushman celebrate the Elks' $1,500 donation to the league.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 9, 2025
The miracle of caring is celebrated at Longwood Park in Sarasota

The Miracle League of Manasota honors the late Joanne DiCarlo, a local Elks member who supported the program for years.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
St. Petersburg's Ella Brown and Sarasota's Mike Chambers take full advantage of the live music to show off their best dance moves at the Lakewood Ranch Blues Fest Dec. 6.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 7, 2025
Lakewood Ranch music fans aren't crying the blues after festival

Seven blues bands entertained a crowd of about 800 at Waterside Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Out of 30 free throws, Braylen Bolema made 20, Liam Goutos made 21, Emma Bullock made 15 and Claire Bollock made 19 to win their age divisions of the Elks Hoop Shoot Dec. 5.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 6, 2025
Kids aim to score big in Elks Hoop Shoot in Lakewood Ranch

The annual event forces the competitors to learn to perform under pressure and allows the to advance all the way to the national level.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Myakka City 12-year-old Aliyah Burnett helps her neighbor, Corinn Smith of Blissful Goat Yoga, with the goats. She dressed them in Christmas outfits for Ranch Nite Wednesday Dec. 3.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 5, 2025
Goats are another reason to attend Ranch Nite Wednesdays in Lakewood Ranch

The first Wednesday of each month, Waterside Place hosts the goals, and everything else — food trucks, cornhole, music — that makes Ranch Nite Wednesdays so popular.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mill Creek's Ilana Simone, who performs as Ilana Armida, has returned to her roots after living in Los Angeles to pursue her musical career.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 3, 2025
Mill Creek musical artist continues to search for her audience

Ilana Armida, a graduate of Lakewood Ranch High School, continues her push to be successful in the music industry as an entertainer and songwriter.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 »
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
Work has either started or will begin soon on four roundabouts on University Parkway, east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. University Parkway also is being widened from Lorraine Road to Bourneside Boulevard.
  • July 8, 2026
Necessary construction will snarl University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch
2
FoodTrukt, a new app, aims to bring together food truck owners and customers through making locations, schedules and menus more accessible.
  • July 8, 2026
Find nearby food trucks with new app
3
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.
  • July 8, 2026
The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle transitions to a nonprofit
4
Avery Banfill (left) and Phoenix Scanlan (right) grew up on the same junior golf circuit. Their respective journeys converged at Parrish Community High and will converge once again at Memphis next fall.
  • July 8, 2026
Stars align for local golfers who are headed for the University of Memphis
5
The Manatee County Property Appraiser is located at 915 4th Ave. W. in downtown Bradenton.
  • July 8, 2026
How your home is appraised in Manatee County

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