• 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

Myakka resident Delicia Stoltzfus mans the Java Dawg Coffee truck for her parents.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 31, 2023
Dakin Dairy hosts summer market in Myakka City

The market is held outside on the farm from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Eyla Grayce Jackson, Jewel Love Jackson and Skylar Rae Jackson receive prizes for reading books as part of Music Compound's Rock Your Summer Reading program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 30, 2023
Music Compound encourages reading with summer program

Children can earn prizes based on the number of books they read.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Rich Greenberg, president of the Association of Veterans and Military Supporters at Del Webb, salutes during the Star Spangled Banner.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 29, 2023
Tribute to Heroes Parade draws thousands to Main Street at Lakewood Ranch

The annual event honors veterans but also provided plenty of entertainment for families.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Retired Col. Herman Bell of River Club served in the Army for 22 years with most of that time in Special Forces.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 24, 2023
Colonel's story worthy of Lakewood Ranch parade's tribute

Retired Col. Herman Bell says surviving Vietnam was a combined factor of being blessed and lucky.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Joan Novak, Sarasota's Tina Backhus, Lakewood Ranch's Judy Balmer and Salwa Youssef, the manager of the Walmart off State Road 70 near Interstate 75, are excited to support Stillpoint Mission's Backpack Program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 21, 2023
Lakewood Ranch woman seeks donations for backpack program

Judy Balmer hopes to donate 800 backpacks through Stillpoint Mission to distribute to low-income families.

  • East County
  • Schools
Country Club residents Maria and Marty Fullam are members of Strings Con Brio. They joined the orchestra a few months after moving to Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 19, 2023
Strings Con Brio featured in Waterside Place's Sights and Sounds series

The all-volunteer string orchestra includes Lakewood Ranch residents.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The all-white kitchen is enlivened with a colorful painting to add a cheerful note. A desk adds a secondary workspace.
  • By Robert Plunket
  • May 19, 2023
Country Club East home provides a perfect live/work balance

At Jeff and Katie Goldstein’s home in Country Club East, working from home has never looked — or felt — this good.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Since starting her position as executive director a year ago, Adrienne Bookhamer has added new fundraising events.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • May 18, 2023
Homebuilders give back through nonprofit program

The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund’s Builders Give Back program raises valuable funds and awareness.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • May 18, 2023
Get up close with elephants in one ranch’s conservation mission

Sanctuaries like Myakka Elephant Ranch provide a humane way to mingle with the world’s largest land animals. The experiences are filled with messaging about the plight of the smart, sensitive creatures.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
U.S. Army Retired Colonel Gill Ruderman is the grand marshal of the 2023 Tribute to Heroes parade.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 17, 2023
Retired colonel to lead Tribute to Heroes parade in Lakewood Ranch

In 2021, two-time Purple Heart recipient Gill Ruderman was inducted into the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Brad Kroenig
    By
  • Lauren Tronstad
  • May 17, 2023
Model Brad Kroenig inspired a fashion icon before becoming a local Realtor

Brad Kroenig's modeling career reached new heights after meeting fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Avian club members are devoted to all feathered creatures
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • May 17, 2023
Avian club members are devoted to all feathered creatures

The Lakewood Ranch Avian Club and Cindy Gordon, its founder and president, come together over their love of birds — no matter where they find them.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Trevor Kelliher no longer feels alone in his struggle with cerebral palsy.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 17, 2023
Everyone needs friends. All Friends Network helps ensure everyone has them.

Trevor Kelliher started All Friends Network to connect people with cerebral palsy, autism and other developmental disabilities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Unusually large flocks of black skimmers, imperiled due to habitat loss and degradation as result of coastal development, found refuge in Myakka River State Park this winter.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • May 14, 2023
Native wildlife, plants thrive as result of seasonal low water levels at Myakka

Shorebirds, including imperiled species such as black skimmers, benefit from ongoing efforts to restore natural hydrology in the park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Temple Emanu-El Mitzvah Day project captain Merryl Koven and Alexandra Marcus laugh together as they play with an adoptable dog at Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.
  • By Elaine Glickman
  • May 13, 2023
Temple Emanu-El celebrates Mitzvah Day at Nate's Honor Animal Rescue

Temple Emanu-El congregants volunteered at at the Lakewood Ranch animal rescue for Mitzvah Day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 »
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
Rising senior quarterback Louisen Desinor will start under center for Braden River High football in the fall. This spring was his opportunity to strengthen bonds with the playmakers around him.
  • May 25, 2026
High school coaches defend relevancy of spring football in Florida
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
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

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