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East County | Neighbors

Event Chair Cassandra Hafner and Manatee County Medical Society President Kinga Porter set the tone for the gala with dramatic red dresses.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 14, 2025
And the Oscar goes to charity in Lakewood Ranch

The Manatee County Medical Society Gala has an "Oscars" theme at the Grove Ballroom.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
When Stanley Brown's Pickleball Musical Birthday Candle is lit, its sides spin and drop to reveal a pickleball and candles.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 8, 2025
Celebratory candle is Lakewood Ranch inventors' 'last' project

Del Webb's Stan and Ruth Brown hope to light fire in the public with a rotating pickleball candle.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Teresa Wilson and Wendy Nebrija are part of the LWR Conversational Spanish intermediate class. Wilson said she was learning using ChatGPT, but nothing compares to being taught and corrected by a native Spanish speaking teacher like Montse Florensa.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 6, 2025
LWR Conversational Spanish breaks down language barriers

LWR Conversational Spanish is led by Lakewood Ranch's Montse Florensa, who has Spanish roots in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Spain.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sugar Vibe performs at The Green at UTC Sept. 4 for the monthly music series, UTC Live on the Green.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 5, 2025
Sarasota meet-up group finds its groove at UTC

Live on the Green is a music series every first Thursday of the month.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Residence director Ramsey Jennings and sales director Sandra Barkey welcome City of Bradenton mayor Gene Brown to the The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch 20th anniversary celebration.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 5, 2025
The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch celebrates 20 years

Legend Senior Living community The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch celebrates its 20th anniversary through dance, food and more on Sept. 2.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Braden River Soccer Club is back practicing at Lakewood Ranch Park for the fall season.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 4, 2025
Braden River Soccer Club is building shade structure at Lakewood Ranch Park

Manatee County is helping with the project, which will provide multiple upgrades.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sophi Jo Branscomb says her life is busy but rewarding on her Myakka ranch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 3, 2025
Family comes together to help Myakka City ranch thrive

After death of the family matriarch, Sophi Jo Branscomb has taken over her mom's role on the Sandlot Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • By Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor
  • August 28, 2025
Financial Focus® Look At Your Financial Situation Holistically

When planning for your financial future, bring all elements of yourself into the picture.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Mote Ranch's Keith Paynter is a teacher at Braden River Middle School and a volunteer mangrove ranger.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 27, 2025
Braden River Middle School teacher subs as mangrove ranger

Keith Paynter is among the Suncoast Waterkeeper volunteers who help monitor local mangrove forests.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Themba Hillary and Themba Hillary II have volunteered at Mhlume Primary School in Eswatini, which borders South Africa, every summer since 2016. This year, they wanted to turn it up a notch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 26, 2025
Father and son donate time and supplies to students in Africa

Lakewood Ranch's Themba Hillary uses the trip to Eswatini to teach his son the importance of giving back.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Aloha Ukulele president Alice Baumann leads Aloha Ukulele in song, mostly with ukulele but occasionally with other instruments. She says she has "five minutes more experience" than the members she leads.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 25, 2025
Aloha Ukulele spreads 'joyous noise' through 'instrument of joy'

Lakewood Ranch club Aloha Ukulele is made up of approximately 50 active members who gather and bond through music.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kawailana Vaiaoga of Aloha Productions invites women and children up to dance.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 23, 2025
Live music, Polynesian dancers attract a crowd at UTC Night Market

Aloha Productions and Sugar Vibe provide the entertainment University Town Center's The Green.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Adam Altman, account executive for the Sarasota Paradise, greets guests at the Premier Sports Campus Aug. 19 for Sarasota Paradise Day.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 21, 2025
Soccer fans in paradise at Premier Sports Campus

The Sarasota Paradise soccer team hosted a party to celebrate Sarasota Paradise Day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dick Vitale in his Lakewood Ranch office, surrounded by a lifetime of achievements — and still chasing new goals.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • August 21, 2025
Life for Dick Vitale is pretty great. But a stinging failure set up his shot for success.

From national fame to personal travails, famed ESPN sportscaster Dick Vitale talks resilience, reinvention and what keeps him going.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jean Blackburn rides through a canopy of oak and palm on her Old Miakka property — 14 acres of native Florida habitat that fuels both her artwork and conservation efforts.
    By
  • Su Byron
  • August 21, 2025
Myakka City is known for its rural nature — and its salt-of-the-earth people

In a place where cowboy hats outnumber stoplights, three locals live by the rhythm of the land.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest in East County

1
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.
  • May 24, 2026
With our deep dependence on power, FPL gears up to keep the lights on
2
A rendering of the 12U baseball/softball fields five-plex that will be built at UMR Sports complex in East County.
  • May 23, 2026
Expansion 'gets real' at UMR Sports of Bradenton
3
Oceane Visa, who says she has waited years to walk across the stage for graduation, is congratulated by Head of School Debra Otey.
  • May 22, 2026
Out-of-Door Academy graduates showed up for the moments that matter most
4
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.
  • May 22, 2026
Late rally not enough for Braden River High softball in state semifinals
5
Lakewood Ranch's Bruce Stamm says residents in District 1 are being denied due process because of a lack of representation.
  • May 22, 2026
Felts' Manatee County Commission seat remains empty

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