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East County | Neighbors

Krista Brock is the artist behind this football photo op at The Green at UTC.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch entrepreneur works hard and parties harder

Oh What Fun Party Co. is a small business with some big clients.

  • East County
  • Business
Jenny and Mike Schenk are husband and wife and co-owners of Pineapple Kitchen.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 15, 2025
Manasota BUDS reaps harvest of Pineapple Kitchen's special event

Mac and cheese, apple fritters and hot toddies were on the menu to raise money for the nonprofit.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Siesta Key's Linda and Larry Keefe attend the Men Wear Pink event to support Pete Vosler of First Physicians Group, who lost both of his grandmothers to cancer.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 14, 2025
Pink is perfect for breast cancer fundraiser at The Mall at UTC

Men Wear Pink makes a fashion statement to support the American Cancer Society.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Event Chair Cassandra Hafner and Manatee County Medical Society President Kinga Porter set the tone for the gala with dramatic red dresses.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 14, 2025
And the Oscar goes to charity in Lakewood Ranch

The Manatee County Medical Society Gala has an "Oscars" theme at the Grove Ballroom.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
When Stanley Brown's Pickleball Musical Birthday Candle is lit, its sides spin and drop to reveal a pickleball and candles.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 8, 2025
Celebratory candle is Lakewood Ranch inventors' 'last' project

Del Webb's Stan and Ruth Brown hope to light fire in the public with a rotating pickleball candle.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Teresa Wilson and Wendy Nebrija are part of the LWR Conversational Spanish intermediate class. Wilson said she was learning using ChatGPT, but nothing compares to being taught and corrected by a native Spanish speaking teacher like Montse Florensa.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 6, 2025
LWR Conversational Spanish breaks down language barriers

LWR Conversational Spanish is led by Lakewood Ranch's Montse Florensa, who has Spanish roots in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Spain.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sugar Vibe performs at The Green at UTC Sept. 4 for the monthly music series, UTC Live on the Green.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 5, 2025
Sarasota meet-up group finds its groove at UTC

Live on the Green is a music series every first Thursday of the month.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Residence director Ramsey Jennings and sales director Sandra Barkey welcome City of Bradenton mayor Gene Brown to the The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch 20th anniversary celebration.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 5, 2025
The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch celebrates 20 years

Legend Senior Living community The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch celebrates its 20th anniversary through dance, food and more on Sept. 2.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Braden River Soccer Club is back practicing at Lakewood Ranch Park for the fall season.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 4, 2025
Braden River Soccer Club is building shade structure at Lakewood Ranch Park

Manatee County is helping with the project, which will provide multiple upgrades.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sophi Jo Branscomb says her life is busy but rewarding on her Myakka ranch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • September 3, 2025
Family comes together to help Myakka City ranch thrive

After death of the family matriarch, Sophi Jo Branscomb has taken over her mom's role on the Sandlot Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • By Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor
  • August 28, 2025
Financial Focus® Look At Your Financial Situation Holistically

When planning for your financial future, bring all elements of yourself into the picture.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Mote Ranch's Keith Paynter is a teacher at Braden River Middle School and a volunteer mangrove ranger.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 27, 2025
Braden River Middle School teacher subs as mangrove ranger

Keith Paynter is among the Suncoast Waterkeeper volunteers who help monitor local mangrove forests.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Themba Hillary and Themba Hillary II have volunteered at Mhlume Primary School in Eswatini, which borders South Africa, every summer since 2016. This year, they wanted to turn it up a notch.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 26, 2025
Father and son donate time and supplies to students in Africa

Lakewood Ranch's Themba Hillary uses the trip to Eswatini to teach his son the importance of giving back.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Aloha Ukulele president Alice Baumann leads Aloha Ukulele in song, mostly with ukulele but occasionally with other instruments. She says she has "five minutes more experience" than the members she leads.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 25, 2025
Aloha Ukulele spreads 'joyous noise' through 'instrument of joy'

Lakewood Ranch club Aloha Ukulele is made up of approximately 50 active members who gather and bond through music.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kawailana Vaiaoga of Aloha Productions invites women and children up to dance.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 23, 2025
Live music, Polynesian dancers attract a crowd at UTC Night Market

Aloha Productions and Sugar Vibe provide the entertainment University Town Center's The Green.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest in East County

1
Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
2
Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair
3
Greenbrook's David, Hannah and Jaime Marco all had a part in creating Jaime Marco's new book “Unfunkt: Quiet the Noise. Ignite the Light.”
  • December 12, 2025
Readers can shed the funk with Lakewood Ranch author's 'Unfunkt'
4
SMR's new coffee table book, "Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land" is available locally and on Amazon.
  • December 10, 2025
'Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land' is a fun history lesson
5
Carrie Walden, the Project Edge classroom instructor, is teaching 10 students including Mia Pardella and Justin Torres in the Project Edge program at MTC East.
  • December 10, 2025
MTC program teaches students with disabilities skills to enter workforce

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