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East County | Neighbors

Country Club's Nancy Opresnick says she loves creating a work of art out of a lump of clay.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 5, 2025
Lakewood Ranch potter throws herself into her work

Nancy Opresnick puts her talent on display at the annual Spring Art Show and Sale.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Barbara Najmy and Nancy Lepain sit on the board for The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 4, 2025
The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle celebrates women, philanthropy and community

The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle brought sponsors and recipients together to look back on 2024.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Chad Day loved fishing. His memory is now honored through the Chad Day Memorial Fishing Tournament.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • March 3, 2025
Chad Day Memorial fishing tournament raises funds for Tidewell Hospice

The event has nearly raised $100,000 over its seven years to benefit terminally ill patients.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota's Bob and Carol Carter dressed the part for Tropical Nights. Carol is the event chair.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 2, 2025
When it comes to Lakewood Ranch fundraisers, that's amore

Tropical Nights Under Paris Light sizzles at the Grove.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Leo Eineker, left and Susan Groover practice CPR on mannequins during a short class Feb. 25 at the Tara Golf and Country Club.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • February 28, 2025
Tara residents armed with life-saving knowledge

Residents got hands-on training in CPR and in using an automated external defibrillator.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Gabe Moberly hits a jump during an Aker Sunday Session in September before the new track was installed. The cattle are fenced off from the track.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 26, 2025
BMX track draws amateur and pro riders to Myakka City

Aker Brand Farms is a 15-acre BMX training facility and a dream come true for owners Jeremy Smith and Will Grant.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Blaze of Hope's Meghan Houlihan and Christine Dodge man a table at the North Port Farmers market. Hayli Bhatia just happened to be there with her daughters Scarlett and Juliette.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 26, 2025
East County nonprofit is a 'Blaze of Hope' for families in need

Blaze of Hope provides financial assistance to families when a child is hospitalized due to a life-threatening illness.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Chuck and Phyllis Stolteben have been entertaining crowds at the Lakewood Ranch Elks Club for more than 25 years.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 26, 2025
25 years of spinning tunes for the Elks

Chuck and Phyllis Stolteben celebrate the last quarter century while raising funds for the Elks' Harry Anna fund.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Amy Bradley is a clarinetist with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble and a retired music teacher. You can see her perform March 2 at Peace Presbyterian Church.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • February 26, 2025
Love of music leads former teacher to local ensemble group

Amy Bradley will perform during the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble's March Melodies.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kay Kwenski shows off a green jumpsuit to a crowd of about 140.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 23, 2025
'Effortless Elegance' on display at Palm Aire Country Club

The Palm Aire Women's Club hosted its annual fashion show Feb. 21.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Myakka's trail marking was made possible thanks to Friends of Myakka River volunteers and a generous grant from Athletic Brewing.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • February 23, 2025
Myakka marks backcountry with numbered posts

New trail markers will enhance wayfinding and help rangers locate park visitors in need.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Tom and Kristine Scott attended All That Jazz: Cabaret for a Cause Feb. 21 at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota to support Sisterhood for Good.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 22, 2025
Sisterhood for Good's All That Jazz proves a smashing success for charity

The Sarasota event, that featured the Suncoast Swing Band and Lady Z and Jonathan Cortez, raises funds for nonprofits.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Zach Kalles fires up the light brandy as he makes saganaki, a dish consisting of melted goat cheese and brandy, served on grilled pita, at the St. Barbara Greek Festival.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • February 21, 2025
Opa! St. Barbara Greek Festival is a feast

The 41st annual event continues through Sunday at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lee Whitehurst was named chief of the East Manatee Fire Rescue District in 2017.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • February 21, 2025
Fire chief prepares to pass the torch of public safety

Lee Whitehurst's passion to become a firefighter was kindled as a teenager. Five decades later, with retirement looming, he remains devoted to the craft.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mike and Katie Emmons founded the Taylor Emmons Scholarship fund in 2010.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • February 21, 2025
Taylor Emmons' legacy lives on through Out-of-Door Academy scholarship

Grieving parents turned their son’s tragic death into a sustainable charitable endeavor that has paid for more than a dozen teenagers to attend a private high school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 »
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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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