• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County | Neighbors

Meghan McConnaghey, Hope Clark, Alexa Bland and Bella Dombroski. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2013
Troop plants Freedom's courtyard

Girls in Girl Scouts Junior Troop 181, at Freedom Elementary School, recently earned their Bronze Award by researching and planting the back of the school's courtyard.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2013
Main Street restaurant serves up patriotism

One local eatery is hoping to bring platefuls of community support to military troops overseas.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2013
Exchange programs seeks host families

Education First, a non-profit student-exchange company, will be bringing 50 teenage students from France and Spain to the East County and surrounding area this summer and needs host families for the program.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Despite keeping a rigorous schedule balancing a full-time job managing a car dealership, pasturing Grace Community Church, working on a doctoral degree and raising seven children, the Rev. Chip Bennett says he’s exactly where he needs to be.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 15, 2013
Grace Community opens in the Ranch

Grace Community Church has moved from its former Sarasota location to Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Andy Hooker lives for adrenaline. After 16 months as a door gunner and crew chief aboard a combat helicopter in the Vietnam War, Hooker spent his career producing rock concerts.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • May 15, 2013
Tribute to Heroes: Andy Hooker

Lakewood Ranch veteran Andy Hooker wears his Vietnam War colors proudly.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Cameron Smalley, 14, who will play baseball for ODA next year, attended the Thunder’s final three games of the season. Cameron says he is eager to get to know his future teammates.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 15, 2013
Slugger bags ODA scholarship

Cameron Smalley was named the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund's third scholarship recipient May 6.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • May 15, 2013
YOUR NEIGHBOR: Jeanette Wirz

Jeanette Wirz has found comfort in fishing since she began catching fish with just a hand line and a roll of string - no pole - as the sun rose after overnight shifts at nursing school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
East County resident Karen Rawlings submitted this photo of a fisherman at sunset on Bradenton Beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 15, 2013
Weather Photo: CAST AWAY

East County resident Karen Rawlings submitted this photo of a fisherman at sunset on Bradenton Beach.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Junior Megan Harden dances with senior Alexis Brocious.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 12, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River High Prom

Students at Braden River High School enjoyed prom Saturday night.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Natalie Palmer held Fruit Loop.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 11, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Bashaw Art & Music Festival

Children at Bashaw Elementary School and their families celebrated the Mexican culture with art, music, dancing and other festivities May 10, during the school's annual Art & Music Festival.

  • East County
  • News
Sabina Long with her sons, Uriah, 2, and Jerrod, 4
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 10, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Kiddie Academy Muffins with Moms

Children at Kiddie Academy celebrated their mothers this morning during a Muffins with Moms event.

  • East County
  • News
Christina and Nadia Grubbs, 4, feasted on muffins.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 10, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Primrose Muffins with Moms

Primrose School at Lakewood Ranch hosted a Muffins with Moms event today for its mothers.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 9, 2013
Coastline volleyball team earns national bid

The Coastline 14 Rox Black volleyball team recently earned a national bid to the USA Volleyball Girls Junior Nationals.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 8, 2013
East County photographer on display

University Park resident Polly Curran is highlighting the beauty of nature one photo at a time.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 8, 2013
McNeal playwrights recognized

Six students from McNeal Elementary School recently earned special recognition during the 2013 Young Playwright Festival sponsored by Florida Studio Theater.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 »
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 boathouse and events center planned for Nathan Benderson Park is expected to cost between $60 million and $70 million.
  • May 27, 2026
Planned events Center and boathouse at Benderson Park gets $10 million boost
2
New College was founded in 1960.
  • May 27, 2026
Finalized deal shifts USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College
3
The Sophia IV sold for $6,775,000 in April and Stock Custom Homes is now planning a Wild Blue home that will list for $8 million.
  • May 27, 2026
Has Lakewood Ranch become the playground for the rich?
4
Heather Hackett, the founder of Local Relief, Inc., earned the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award for her work with her nonprofit.
  • May 27, 2026
Don't sleep on hurricane season because 2025 was slow
5
Mason Riley is projected to start at left tackle for an offensive line which coach Rob Hollway believes might be the deepest in program history.
  • May 26, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Mason Riley

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.

Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free