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East County | Neighbors

Stuart Hales and Ava Lasseter greet guests at Tropical Nights on March 23.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 24, 2024
Meals on Wheels Plus hosts a swashbuckling Tropical Nights

"A Pirate's Life" was the theme of the 30th rendition of the annual fundraiser.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Palmetto 2-year-old Everleigh Flynn put her Easter basket down at Eggstravaganza March 23 at Waterside Place to concentrate on playing in the sand.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 24, 2024
Charge of the egg brigade in Lakewood Ranch

More than 500 children rushed through Waterside Park to collect Easter eggs during the annual Eggstravaganza.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
River Strand's Patty Horak and Gayle Mutechnik look forward to seeing their friends model the latest fashion.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 23, 2024
River Strand residents hit the runway for the first time

River Strand's fifth annual fashion show benefits the Food Bank of Manatee.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Hidden Oaks resident Ethan Schneider is the inventor of the Sacro Stik.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 21, 2024
East County deputy develops tool to relieve back pain

Manatee County Deputy Ethan Schneider invented the Sacro Stik to target the sacroiliac joints.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Myakka City ranch doubles as Western movie set in filming of 'Florida Wild'
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 20, 2024
Myakka City ranch doubles as Western movie set in filming of 'Florida Wild'

Mark Pentecost, the movie's executive producer, wants to document that Florida was wild before the Wild West.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Larry Panka and Sue Tankersley share their Country Club home with visiting Korn Ferry Tour golfers because it is their way of giving back to a sport they love.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 20, 2024
Do you have room for Korn Ferry Tour golfers in Lakewood Ranch?

The LECOM Suncoast Classic looks for those willing to host pro golfers during the tournament at Lakewood National.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Nicole Hackel (Lakewood Ranch Communities), Morgan Bettes Angell (Independent Jones), Paul Benjamin (Benjamin Productions) and Antonio Hernandez (Independent Jones) gather at Waterside Park to announce the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 20, 2024
Lakewood Ranch lands its own blues festival

The former Bradenton Blues Festival is headed for Waterside Park in December.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Skin contact with prairie iris causes a serious rash, and ingestion is harmful to humans and pets.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • March 19, 2024
Prairie iris blooms herald spring at Myakka

Though highly attractive to pollinators, these striking native wildflowers utilize toxic compounds to repel herbivores.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Each of Mill Creek's Wilma Kroese's pottery pieces are unique. She uses horse hair, wood, seaweed and other materials to add a natural look to her pottery.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 19, 2024
East Bradenton artist incorporates cultural history into her pottery

With clay, horse hair and other natural pieces, Mill Creek's Wilma Kroese creates unique pottery.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The University Park Country Clubs invites the public to Art in the Park on March 16 and 17.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 17, 2024
University Park Country Club hosts Art in the Park

Residents, club members and staff displayed and sold their artwork at the annual event in University Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mary Jo Hansen leads the models for the final walk.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 16, 2024
Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch hosts Divas and Dogs

The annual fundraiser is on track to net $90,000, which will go toward operating costs.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Delaney Riggins and Andrew Shackleford say it's crazy how life comes full circle. The couple "dated" in elementary school but grew apart in middle and high school. They reconnected in 2020 and married March 9.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 14, 2024
LRHS teachers tie the knot years after 'dating' in elementary school

Delaney Riggins says fate brought her back together with Andrew Shackleford in 2020 after they dated in elementary school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Barbara Thurston, Barbara Pressman and Barbara Stanton
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • March 13, 2024
Sarasota, Longboat women bond over shared name: Barbara

Barbaras from around Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and the Keys meet up every month to network and help the community.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Robyn Bell, Lynne Lash, Linda Jacobs and Christine Captain say the Suncoast Food & Wine Fest is their favorite event of the year.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 13, 2024
Rotary Club raises $140,000 from Suncoast Food & Wine Fest

The Lakewood Ranch nonprofit has now granted $2.3 million over the years.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
After heart surgery, David Paliotta completely changed his diet and exercise patterns.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 13, 2024
Lakewood Ranch senior gives peak performance

After a quadruple bypass surgery, Summerfield's David Paliotta works toward an unlikely goal: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest in East County

1
Though Florida Power & Light employs a variety of advanced technology to avoid power failures, often the basic work of tree trimming goes a long way toward heading off trouble.
  • May 24, 2026
With our deep dependence on power, FPL gears up to keep the lights on
2
A rendering of the 12U baseball/softball fields five-plex that will be built at UMR Sports complex in East County.
  • May 23, 2026
Expansion 'gets real' at UMR Sports of Bradenton
3
Oceane Visa, who says she has waited years to walk across the stage for graduation, is congratulated by Head of School Debra Otey.
  • May 22, 2026
Out-of-Door Academy graduates showed up for the moments that matter most
4
Leighton Paul (right), pictured here during the FHSAA Class 5A-Region 3 final May 14 against Gulf Coast, was Braden River's leadoff hitter this season. She went 0-for-3 in the state semifinals against Niceville.
  • May 22, 2026
Late rally not enough for Braden River High softball in state semifinals
5
Lakewood Ranch's Bruce Stamm says residents in District 1 are being denied due process because of a lack of representation.
  • May 22, 2026
Felts' Manatee County Commission seat remains empty

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