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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., earned the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award for her work with her nonprofit.
    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
Commissioner Bob McCann stands behind the amendment he brought before the commission in January that would reinstate additional wetland buffers in Manatee County. He says the amendment is not more "burdensome or restrictive" because it was already in place.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 13, 2025
Upcoming Manatee land use meeting should grab your attention

Wetland buffers and the Future Development Area Boundary will be discussed.

  • East County
  • Opinion
District 72 Rep. Bill Conerly, FDOT's John Kubler, Commissioner Bob McCann, Commissioner George Kruse and former Commissioner Carol Whitmore handle ribbon-cutting duties for the 44th Avenue Extension Aug. 4.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 6, 2025
Joyous occasion for Manatee County, but more drama on the way

The opening of 44th Avenue extension deserves celebration, but commissioners and SMR are headed for confrontation.

  • East County
  • Opinion
A flyover of Interstate 75 is planned near the water tower to relieve traffic congestion at UTC, but the project continues to drag along.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 30, 2025
Is a traffic apocalypse nearing at UTC?

Officials need to speed up steps to increase access to the popular area.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Steve Stricker is likely to be one of the favorites at the 2026 Senior PGA Championship in April at the Concession.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2025
A perfect match for the PGA of America?

Lakewood Ranch-area businesses needed to help service the 2026 Senior PGA Championship at the Concession.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch Community Activities' Paige Venuto, Keith Pandeloglou, and Danielle Bugel look forward to the first Communi-tee Golf Classic at Calusa Golf and Country Club Sept. 17.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Community Activities launches its first golf tournament

Calusa Golf and Country Club in Lakewood Ranch will host the inaugural event Sept. 17.

  • East County
  • Opinion
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Latest in East County

1
Bradenton 3-year-old Zy'heir Curry, a lover of "Paw Patrol," shows off his trophy from playing flag football at The Learning Experience.
  • July 24, 2026
The Learning Experience in Lakewood Ranch tackles a flag football event
2
Can you eat both halves of a corned beef sandwich? You can test your skills when Wolfie's Hand Cut opens at UTC late this year.
  • July 23, 2026
Can new concept earn the bread for Wolfie's at University Town Center?
3
The Lakewood Ranch Library will open an hour later starting Aug. 1 due to a hiring freeze that was implemented in February. Commissioner George Kruse says hours could be further reduced if the property tax referendum passes in November.
  • July 22, 2026
Property tax cuts will cause 'new normal' in Manatee County
4
Defender Declan Watters (left) is one of several Sarasota Paradise players learning from lead assistant Trevor Sinclair (right). The Paradise are 5-10-3 in USL League One and 6-13-3 overall, as of July 16.
  • July 22, 2026
Assistant coach brings wealth of experience to Sarasota Paradise
5
The Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble brings together professional and high skilled musicians.
  • July 22, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble eyes new venue

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