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East County | Trending

The idea for Moo-Jitsu was a collaboration between 9-year-old Olivia Whitman and her father Brandon Whitman in October of last year. They launched the business in August.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 8, 2025
Love of cows adds spice to Lakewood Ranch business

Moo-Jitsu is a new spice company that brands itself through a love of cows and jiu jitsu.

  • East County
  • Business
Francesca Bisordi poses for a photo on Dec. 4 during a Lakewood Ranch wrestling practice. Currently competing in the 155-pound weight class, she formerly wrestled at 170 in both 2024 and 2023.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 8, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Francesca Bisordi

The junior wrestler for Lakewood Ranch High is the program's first female to reach the state tourney.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Lake Manatee EMS station is due for a replacement. EMS moved into the space in 1982.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 8, 2025
Site for a new Lake Manatee EMS station is under fire

Manatee County commissioners are not in favor of a site that borders Lake Manatee and Lake Manatee State Park.

  • East County
  • News
Capacity of the new operation is up to 18 million gallons a day from 12 million, and the system reduced harmful nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus released into the reclaimed-water irrigation.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 7, 2025
Expanded, improved wastewater plant officially opens

Sarasota County cuts the ribbon on its $210 million Bee Ridge project, east of Interstate 75.

  • Sarasota
  • News
St. Petersburg's Ella Brown and Sarasota's Mike Chambers take full advantage of the live music to show off their best dance moves at the Lakewood Ranch Blues Fest Dec. 6.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 7, 2025
Lakewood Ranch music fans aren't crying the blues after festival

Seven blues bands entertained a crowd of about 800 at Waterside Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Out of 30 free throws, Braylen Bolema made 20, Liam Goutos made 21, Emma Bullock made 15 and Claire Bollock made 19 to win their age divisions of the Elks Hoop Shoot Dec. 5.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 6, 2025
Kids aim to score big in Elks Hoop Shoot in Lakewood Ranch

The annual event forces the competitors to learn to perform under pressure and allows the to advance all the way to the national level.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Myakka City 12-year-old Aliyah Burnett helps her neighbor, Corinn Smith of Blissful Goat Yoga, with the goats. She dressed them in Christmas outfits for Ranch Nite Wednesday Dec. 3.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 5, 2025
Goats are another reason to attend Ranch Nite Wednesdays in Lakewood Ranch

The first Wednesday of each month, Waterside Place hosts the goals, and everything else — food trucks, cornhole, music — that makes Ranch Nite Wednesdays so popular.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
CEO Mike Bisaha says the new equipment will at least triple Big Top Brewing Co.'s beer production.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 3, 2025
Big Top to open expanded brew house at Sarasota's Fruitville Commons

An upgraded brewing system will more than triple Big Top's beer production.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Mill Creek's Ilana Simone, who performs as Ilana Armida, has returned to her roots after living in Los Angeles to pursue her musical career.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 3, 2025
Mill Creek musical artist continues to search for her audience

Ilana Armida, a graduate of Lakewood Ranch High School, continues her push to be successful in the music industry as an entertainer and songwriter.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Jason Huh has founded a few different companies, including Sodi Pop. Sodi Pop is now available in a healthy vending machine at the school for staff and students to enjoy.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 3, 2025
Sodi Pop, billed as a healthier product, comes to Lakewood Ranch High

Jason Huh, who graduated from Lakewood Ranch High School in 2003, never thought his own product would be sold at his alma mater.

  • East County
  • Business
Marine Corps veteran Dale Cole lives in Greenfield Plantation and is a regular user of Manatee Moves.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 3, 2025
Ride service for Manatee County veterans is on the move

Since the Manatee Moves program began in January, more than 300 veterans have utilized 1,935 free rides.

  • East County
  • News
Commissioners George Kruse and Bob McCann are on opposite sides of the AAA High School vote. Kruse voted in favor of approving the site plan, and McCann voted to deny the site plan.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 3, 2025
Manatee commissioners have final say about new school but no real power

The issue came to the forefront when three of four Manatee County commissioners voted to deny a Lakewood Ranch school site plan.

  • East County
  • News
Roberto Burlew dribbles down the turf at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch. The Sarasota Paradise signed the defender to their roster ahead of the team's first professional season in USL League One.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 3, 2025
Paradise defender parlays position change into a professional contract

The Sarasota Paradise team signs Roberto Burlew, a returning player from their semipro team.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Athletics and Aquatics Center at Premier Sports Campus North is pictured Oct. 17 under construction. Soon to offer the only long-course pool in Lakewood Ranch, it figures to be the main destination for the area's top swimming talents.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 3, 2025
Hey Santa, how about a finished Premier park for Lakewood Ranch?

The wish is for the long overdue park project to be finished in the next couple years.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Manatee County is getting its first landfill-to-renewable natural gas facility, a $50M project led by Nopetro Energy.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 2, 2025
Energy company plans to convert Manatee landfill waste gas into fuel

Nopetro Energy of Miami says it's moving ahead on a $50 million investment at the Lena Road site.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
  • December 14, 2025
Eat, drink and be merry like you're in a 'Home Alone' movie
2
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
3
Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
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  • December 12, 2025
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  • December 12, 2025
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