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East County | Neighbors

Sandy Stanford, of The Inlets, decorates each building on the Manatee Village property with extra care. Here, she’s pictured in the schoolhouse she decorated with paper gingerbread men cutouts in the windows and paper chains along the chalkboard.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 9, 2014
Creating Christmas

Growing up in New England, Sandy Stanford was surrounded by historic places and architecture.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 9, 2014
The art of picking the perfect Christmas tree

Picking a tree is serious business for some families.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Meghan Neu and Danny Riordan portray Mary and Joseph.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 6, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Night in Bethlehem

East County residents walked the streets of Bethlehem to see the birth of Jesus, during Living Lord Lutheran's Night in Bethlehem event Dec. 6.

  • East County
  • News
Gary and Kathy Heckman find a table with Crissy and Bill Stasiuk.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 6, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Waterlefe Grand Opening

About 200 residents of Waterlefe gathered Dec. 6 at the Waterlefe River Club to celebrate the facility's grand reopening.

  • East County
  • News
 Best friends Reagan Baker and Ariel Schreiber make pencil holders at a booth by Home Depot.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Winter Wonderland

Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch families enjoyed arts and crafts and other festivities Dec. 6 at the school's Winter Wonderland fundraiser.

  • East County
  • News
Daniela Landry-Hernandez gives Santa a fake nose with the help of her sister, Alexandra.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Breakfast with Santa

Nearly 100 children and their families donned Christmas attire and headed for a spot on Santa's lap during Heritage Harbour's seventh annual Breakfast with Santa event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Marylee Danahy checks out gourds by Gourds by Jan Tonia.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 4, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Women's Club Holiday Bazaar

More than 200 ladies in the Lakewood Ranch Women's Club gathered Dec. 5, at the Polo Grill and Bar's Fete Ballroom for the Lakewood Ranch Women's Club's Cirque du Holidaze Bazaar and Luncheon.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 2014
Like minds

Stacy Rosenberg and her son, Logan, may have more in common than they realize, such as their taste in books.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Donna Soda and Lorraine Diorio
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 2014
Holiday offerings

Two East County businesses appealed to customers' sweet teeth on the eve of Thanksgiving.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lisa Hoffman is averaging 21.3 points per game in the last three games. File photos
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 2, 2014
Sharp shooter

The Out-of-Door Academy senior forward Lisa Hoffman scored a career-high 33 points Nov. 24.

  • East County
  • Sports
Olivia Garland, 9, will perform in her first leading role this month. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 2, 2014
Taking center stage

For ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ star Olivia Garland, a Braden River Elementary student, acting is a family affair.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 2014
Occasions

The East County Observer would like recognize your family's milestones. To have your announcement included in the East County Observer, please email your information to Senior Editor Pam Eubanks, [email protected].

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Harry and Mary Jo Steltman stand by the first life-size Santa decoration that sits in the entryway to their home.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 2, 2014
Home for the holidays

Walking into the home of Mary Jo and Harry Steltman at Christmastime is a bit magical.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 2, 2014
Couple makes memories

As Phyllis Troy sits at a table at Windsor Reflections Memory Care center, a facility for Alzheimer's disease patients and individuals affected by memory impairment, she throws her hands up, as her hand of cards breaks the count of 21.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Cas Bruniany submitted this sunset photo, taken on Thanksgiving Eve near Legacy Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 2014
Weather: East County

Visit YourObserver.com to submit your local weather photos. Each weekly winner will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $25 gift card. One grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 flooring makeover.*

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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