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East County | Neighbors

St. Lucie County's Sara Rosenzweig and Volusia County's Copper Reynolds share a moment of excitement as they complete their 100 meter race at the Special Olympics Florida 2025 State Stand Up Paddle Competititon on Aug. 16.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 17, 2025
Special Olympics athletes stand up to the challenge at Sarasota paddling event

The Stand Up Paddle event drew 155 athletes to Nathan Benderson Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Punta Gorda's Zarita Dixon sings with the Suncoast Swing Band.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 15, 2025
Waterside Place sways to the Suncoast Swing Band

The band performed hits from Glenn Miller to Kool & the Gang.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
William Rasulo and Grayson Blaney do not let the heat stop them from putting their all into a game of soccer. Blaney has played soccer for four years and calls it "fun soccer" when he plays at the Y.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 8, 2025
Lakewood Ranch YMCA wraps up its summer camp program

The summer camp keeps kids busy with sports, crafts, games, pool time and more.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch resident Arelis Calkins sees life as a beautiful thing despite traumatic experiences in her life. She shares stories and advice in her book "Rising Above Adversity: Healing and Nurturing your Inner Child."
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 6, 2025
Lakewood Ranch author writes about blazing path through childhood trauma

"Rising Above Adversity: Healing and Nurturing your Inner Child” documents Arelis Calkins' personal struggles and how she overcame them.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bradenton residents Sandjina Alexis, 5 and Berline Valcius were thrilled to receive backpacks.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 5, 2025
Stillpoint Mission distributes 810 backpacks for students in need

Each backpack includes school supplies and a $35 gift card to use at Bealls.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota resident Dana Crispin and her 4-year-old son Zayden are eager to pose with Dora from "Dora the Explorer" and Valerie Frizzle from "The Magic School Bus."
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 3, 2025
Back to School Bash at The Mall at UTC in Sarasota builds excitement

A scavenger hunt for school supplies, dance performances, face painting and more made for an eventful day at the mall.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Brandy Britton is a member of the Bradenton Woman's Club. She was recruited at a Music on Main event last year.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 2, 2025
Music on Main is a place to connect in Lakewood Ranch

The monthly event features music, vendors and information about clubs and activities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Curtis Marxen drives a disc down Hole 3 at Bob Gardner Community Park July 21.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 30, 2025
Lakewood Ranch nonprofit promotes disc golf

The East Manatee Disc Golf Club plays Monday nights at Bob Gardner Community Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dari Oglesby, the executive director of Nate's Honor Animal Rescue, and Sharon Pindar, the medical director, are thrilled with a $125,000 grant from The Bishop-Parker Foundation.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 29, 2025
Nate's Honor Animal Rescue receives $125,000 grant from Bishop-Parker

The grant will help Nate's get its new care clinic staffed and running.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • By Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor
  • July 28, 2025
Financial Focus® You Have an Estate Plan — Whether You Know It or Not

If you own anything — a home, a car, a savings account, even a pet — you already have an estate plan.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Campers and staff members get soaked by the giant bucket of water.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 26, 2025
Summer Skills Camp in Lakewood Ranch gives kids with special needs a lift

Lift ABA hosts the camp, that includes field trips to places like the Waterside Park splash pad.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch resident Madeline Phillips, 4, felt like a superhero while she was running through the foam during a party at the Creative Child Learning Center in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 25, 2025
Good, clean fun at the Creative Child Learning Center in Lakewood Ranch

The children described the piles of foam as a snow mountain, clouds and pineapples.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A goat serves as the best friend of Winnie the Moo at the Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary. A larger pasture will be available to them after a $50,000 grant from the Bishop-Parker Foundation.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 23, 2025
Myakka animal sanctuary lands important grant

The Bishop-Parker Foundation has gifted Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary $50,000 to complete hurricane damage repairs.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle members Lauren Hirsch, Cinda Krouk, Barbara Najmy, Jennifer Alokeh and Joy Stone sit in front of their record haul of 550 pairs of sneakers donated to The Twig.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 22, 2025
Lake Club Women's Giving Circle proves its sneaker drive is a great fit

The Lakewood Ranch group collects 550 pairs of new sneakers to benefit The Twig.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Hearts of ODA camp was led by Camela Giraud, the director of collaborative learning and education outreach at ODA. She was assisted by co-facilitator Colby Heidke, who is a 2025 ODA graduate and also the founder of the Sarasota Mobility Alliance.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 18, 2025
Hearts of ODA camp in Lakewood Ranch provides volunteer time and talent

The student campers have volunteered at nonprofits such as All Faiths Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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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

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