• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • 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
  • Key Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • 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
  • Key Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County | Neighbors

Olga and John Kleis had their dance patterns in sync.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 14, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Tara Golf & Country Club Holly Ball

Tara Golf & Country Club held its third annual Holly Ball, Dec. 14, as a way to ring in the holidays. Attendees danced to music by the Al Hixon Quintet and enjoyed food and drinks.

  • East County
  • News
Nancy Reichel attends with Normal Elley, who celebrated her 93rd birthday the day of the event.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 14, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Palm-Aire Women's Club Fashion Show

Members of the Palm-Aire Women's Club gathered Dec. 13, for a special "Canine Christmas" themed luncheon, at the Palm-Aire Country Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Main Street celebrates the holiday season tonight at Holidays Around the Ranch.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 13, 2013
WEEKEND BEST BET: Holidays Around the Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Main Street will transform tonight, Dec. 13, as Santa Claus arrives on a white, horse-drawn carriage, carolers sing holiday favorites, and a sugar cookie-making booth fill the downtown area for Holidays Around the Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo. Diane Shaw, Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club program chairwoman, poses with ice sculptures.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 11, 2013
Icy affair

Members and guests of the Lakewood Ranch Women's Club ventured Dec. 4 to Orlando, to view holiday decorations at the Grand Floridian and to have lunch at Downtown Disney.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Photo by Nan Miller. Art Association of Palm-Aire co-presidents Sara Masciopinto and Mary Beth Grey enjoy the luncheon.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 11, 2013
Tall tales

The Play Readers of the Asolo Repertory Theatre Guild were in fine form as they entertained at the Art Association of Palm-Aire's opening winter luncheon with 'Fractured Fairy Tales.'

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo. McNeal Elementary students Gavin Rieth, Supawadee Surattanont and Zac Bayor took home second-place awards.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 11, 2013
Catapulting into first place

Seven Manatee County elementary schools competed in the countywide Technology Student Association catapult competition Nov. 16, at Southeast High School. Students built the catapults on-site.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 11, 2013
Swinging silly

London Bay Homes recently hosted its inaugural Circus Sarasota Golf Tournament at The Founders Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 11, 2013
News Briefs

Cheesecake Factory coming to Mall at UTC; Two appointed to Manatee County Planning Commission

  • East County
  • News
Quinones, center
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 11, 2013
Imagine School principal cleared of wrongdoing

The State Attorney's Office decided not to file charges against Selenia Quinones, the Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch principal accused of failing to report child abuse.

  • East County
  • News
Sandra Byers and Pete Vrinios join forces to create candy canes dipped in chocolate and sprinkles.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 11, 2013
Twist on tradition

A Lakewood Ranch business owner opens her doors to partner with a candy cane creator.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 11, 2013
Sarasota polo season swings into action

Athletes and the Sarasota Polo Club field maintenance team prepare for the upcoming season, which starts Dec. 15.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 11, 2013
McNeal Elementary teachers score highest in East County

Data released by the Florida Department of Education last week show McNeal Elementary has the largest percentage of highly effective teachers - 95.8% - for the 2012-2013 school year.

  • East County
  • News
Phil Woods, the new senior pastor for Cornerstone Church of Lakewood Ranch, said he hopes to show Christianity can be intellectually credible and emotionally satisfying.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 11, 2013
Cornerstone welcomes new pastor

The Rev. Phil Woods finally is feeling settled in after becoming Cornerstone Church of Lakewood Ranch's pastor in September.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
FAMILY FIESTA. Nolan Middle School student Jana Armstrong and her cousin, Grace Arthur, took their East County Observer on a recent cruise to Mexico. They made a quick stop at Fort George in the Cayman Islands.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 11, 2013
It's Read Everywhere

Headed on a great vacation? Make sure to take your Observer along! Visit YourObserver.com and click on the 'Contests' tab in the upper-right hand corner to submit your entries. We can't wait to see where The Observer will travel next!

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Todd Garrett submitted this sunrise photo, taken at Myakka Head.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 11, 2013
Weather: East County

Todd Garrett submitted this sunrise photo, taken at Myakka Head.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 »
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
The School District of Manatee County's Superintendent Laurie Breslin, Educator of the Year Clifford Dawson and Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services Derek Jensen pose for a photo at the Excellence in Education Awards on Feb. 4.
  • February 9, 2026
Braden River High band director named Educator of the Year
2
Erika Garcia joined Braden River girls weightlifting as a freshman, and now in her fourth season, has been a part of four district championship-winning teams.
  • February 9, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Erika Garcia
3
Valor Commons in Manatee County is designed to include a resource center, memorials, walking trails and public event spaces.
  • February 9, 2026
Federal cash streams in for Manatee, Sarasota projects
4
Lakehouse Cove's 16-month-old Hunter Colon shows his excitement to be inside a fire truck at the Celebrate Our First Responders event Feb. 7 at the Greenbrook Adventure Park.
  • February 7, 2026
Lakewood Ranch CERT hosts the Celebrate Our First Responders event
5
Second graders Jordan Davis, Dominic Michalo and Sloan Middleton wave flags of Puerto Rico, which was the country they were assigned for the Tara Elementary School Olympics.
  • February 7, 2026
Tara Elementary hosts its own Winter Olympics

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.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now