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East County | Opinion

The runners all reach for their watches as the 2024 Florida Turkey Trot begins at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 24, 2025
Pass the turkey, and the thanks during a special holiday

Lakewood Ranch has so much contributors who make our home a great place to live.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Food for thought at Thanksgiving
  • By Greg Campbell
  • November 22, 2025
Food for thought at Thanksgiving

Local Chef Greg Campbell talks about the impact of food trucks.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Eric Nuxol, the championship director for the Senior PGA Championship, says community involvement will be a huge key to success for the tourney.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 19, 2025
Sarasota, Manatee community involvement key to Senior PGA Championship success

Championship Director Eric Nuxol stimulates interest as ticket sales and volunteer registration has begun.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The initial staff of Sarasota Memorial Hospital in November 1925. The Hospital, held a celebration for its 100th anniversary last week.
  • By David Verinder
  • November 5, 2025
Sarasota Memorial celebrates a century of care

Sarasota Memorial Hospital President and CEO David Verinder shares his thoughts about the complex's 100 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Patty Notarianni's work will be featured at the Creative Art Association of Lakewood Ranch's Fall Art Show and Sale Nov. 15 at the Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 5, 2025
Small events make Lakewood Ranch a big draw

As big events come and go, clubs and organizations highlight talented residents.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Panther Preserve's Emily Kasperski shows off her beloved Bam, which will be on display at the Knights of Columbus Car Show and Cookout Nov. 1 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 29, 2025
Bam takes center stage at Our Lady of the Angels car show

The Knights of Columbus event raises funds for St Jude Children's Hospital.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Commissioner Bob McCann has looked into the possibility of a hiring freeze in Manatee County.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 23, 2025
DOGE witch-hunt haunts Manatee County

Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia's press conference smacks of a political ploy.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Former Lakewood Ranch barbershop owner Barry Rainwater has launched his career as an author with "2025: Gardens and Creeks."
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 16, 2025
Former Lakewood Ranch barbershop owner writes a new life chapter

Barry Rainwater's science fiction thriller "2525: Gardens and Creeks" is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

  • East County
  • Opinion
David Sessions, Andrea Saputo Cox and Joseph Najmy were the speakers at Pioneers of Progress: Founding Businesses of Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 24, 2025
Business 'pioneers' talk about Lakewood Ranch's success

Their business fortunes skyrocketed with the Ranch, and they hope smart planning keeps it that way.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Heather Hackett, the founder of Local Relief, Inc., points to the slat that bears her name as the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award recipient.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 10, 2025
Local Relief seeks financial relief

Heather Hackett's disaster recovery nonprofit seeks backers.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Planned ball fields at Manatee County park are beyond fiscal prudence
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • September 9, 2025
Planned ball fields at Manatee County park are beyond fiscal prudence

It's time to take a closer look before any further action is taken, a Country Club East resident writes.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Commissioner George Kruse says adopting a county charter is worth exploring. "Anything we can do to have a say, is a good thing," he says.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 4, 2025
State's special interest favoritism plagues Manatee

Manatee County commissioners are trying to figure out wetlands conundrum.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Denise Allen and fiancé Mark Latcheran of Parrish visit with Dr. Shilpa Jadeja, who was part of Latcheran's care team at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 20, 2025
Chalk up a life saved for Lakewood Ranch Medical Center

Parrish's Mark Latcheran tells a feel-good story about the hospital's staff.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Women's suffrage still a work in progress
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • August 19, 2025
Women's suffrage still a work in progress

The path to suffrage was not universal or equal; many barriers continued to exist for the full participation of all women, an Observer reader says.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Roundabout construction will lock up University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • August 18, 2025
Roundabout construction will lock up University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch

There's no doubt the intersection at University Parkway and Deer Drive/Legacy Boulevard needs an upgrade, a reader says.

  • East County
  • Opinion
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Latest in East County

1
Stewart Cink kneels by the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy. His name will be the 86th engraved into the silver prize of the Senior PGA Championship — the oldest major on the PGA Tour Champions.
  • April 19, 2026
Stewart Cink wins 2026 Senior PGA Championship
2
Tara Poulton and Ed Ference are two of the four candidates vying for the Republican nomination in District 6.
  • April 19, 2026
Manatee commission candidates face off in Lakewood Ranch
3
Vijay Singh watches his drive on the fifth hole at The Concession Golf Club. The World Golf Hall of Famer and 34-time PGA Tour winner shot 5-under par in the third round of the Senior PGA Championship.
  • April 18, 2026
Championship Sunday approaches at the Senior PGA Championship
4
The School District of Manatee County is working on finding the right wording for Policy 3232, which currently states staff will not be allowed to talk to display anything of a political nature.
  • April 18, 2026
Manatee school board, candidates debate politics, social movements in schools
5
Stewart Cink watches his drive off the 10th-hole tee. He sits two strokes behind the leaders entering the third round of the Senior PGA Championship, in pursuit of his first senior major title.
  • April 17, 2026
Sun sets on first half of Senior PGA Championship

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