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East County | Trending

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
Makenzie Legg, Zachary McClellan and Isabella Rubal are teaching at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, which is the very elementary school they attended as children.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 15, 2025
Three former McNeal Elementary students return as educators

Zachary McClellan, Bella Rubal and Makenzie Legg once walked the halls of McNeal as students, but now they are taking inspiration from previous teachers to make a difference for students of their own.

  • East County
  • Schools
Mika Elovaara (center) high-fives two of his players during prematch warmups with the Richmond Kickers. The Oulu, Finland native and UNC Wilmington alumnus will guide the Paradise into USL League One in 2026.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 15, 2025
Sarasota Paradise names head coach for their first professional season

Former Richmond Kickers lead assistant Mika Elovaara brings his expertise to spearhead a new era.

  • East County
  • Sports
Danny Slavin and Michael Miller, owners of Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii on University Parkway, donate $5,000 to the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Fund Oct. 10.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 15, 2025
Dick Vitale aims to surpass $120M for pediatric cancer research in 2026

In 20 years of hosting an annual gala, the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund has raised $105.4 million.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Residents in Summerfield Bluffs are rescued after the Braden River flooded their street following Hurricane Debby in 2024.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 15, 2025
Manatee County inches toward initiating stormwater fees

Despite public pushback in 2019, Manatee County is taking another shot at implementing a stormwater program.

  • East County
  • News
Kingston Kokoefer poses for a photo on Oct. 13 at Out-of-Door Academy. He cut multiple Seffner Christian drives short in their Oct. 10 matchup as the Thunder held off the 39.5-points-per-game Crusaders for a sixth straight win.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 14, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Kingston Kokoefer

The sophomore safety had two interceptions in The Out-of-Door Academy football's Week 9 win over Seffner Christian.

  • East County
  • Sports
Greg Crawford, area president of M/I Homes, Erika Walker, Pelotonia's philanthropy and stewardship manager and Chase Knopt and Ashtyn Crockett, construction managers at M/I homes pose with the $141,000 check at the Sweetwater benefit home.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 14, 2025
M/I Homes donates $141,000 toward cancer research

The sale of the M/I Homes dwelling in Lakewood Ranch is going to Pelotonia, a nonprofit that supports cancer research.

  • East County
  • News
Del Webb's Jerry and Karyn Waxman organize an annual golf tournament to raise money for polycystic kidney disease research.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch transplant survivor tees up for kidney disease research

Del Webb's Karyn and Jerry Waxman are hosting the PKD Applied Underwriters Invitational on Oct. 27 at Lakewood National Golf Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This Country Club Village home at 7210 Desert Ridge Glen sold for $1.9 million. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,487 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 14, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Sept. 29-Oct. 3 in Lakewood Ranch

A Riverdale Revised home on Regatta Way topped the week's sales at $2 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Witt, a 5-month-old mixed breed male, gains enrichment through working to get a taste of peanut butter from the lick mat at Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 13, 2025
Is it nuts to give dogs peanut butter?

At Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center, peanut butter is used as a tool to distract and provide enrichment in the shelter environment.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kora Yanes (center) of Lakewood Ranch girls' volleyball gets into her stance before a point during an Oct. 9 match at Palmetto. The senior outside hitter/right setter has over 200 kills for the second straight year.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 13, 2025
Lakewood Ranch girls volleyball team has look of tournament contender

Entering districts this week, the Mustangs look the part of a true regional contender.

  • East County
  • Sports
2-year-old critical after SR 70 crash in Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 12, 2025
2-year-old critical after SR 70 crash in Lakewood Ranch

A Ford SUV drove into the back of a Fort Pierce school bus that was stopped.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch's Jenna Ziegler works quickly to move as much water as she can with a hand pump at the Dakin Harvest Festival Oct. 12 in Myakka.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 12, 2025
Harvest Festival makes a big splash at Dakin Dairy Farm

The event continues every Saturday and Sunday in October.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sarasota's Ariana Swayka, 4 and Alexia Swayka, 6 are in the full holiday spirit with their Halloween themed shirts and face paint.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 11, 2025
Hunsader Farms kicks off 34th annual Pumpkin Festival

In case you missed it, the festival continues every Saturday and Sunday in October.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A private dining room is transformed into a pop-up shop.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 11, 2025
Fashion luncheon supports Myakka City animal sanctuary

Scout & Molly's Boutique set up a pop-up shop at Pascone's Ristorante to benefit Donte's Den.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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  • May 5, 2026
Summer Wine Walk
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Traffic was rerouted around a water-main repair site on Tuttle Avenue.
  • May 5, 2026
Water advisory posted after Sarasota pipe break
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Damages on Longboat Key after Hurricane Ian.
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Seminar scheduled for disaster preparedness
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Sarai Castro gave up on softball in 2023. Now, she's the Pirates' leading hitter in her first season at the high school level.
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East County Athlete of the Week: Sarai Castro
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At the Women's Golf Association season farewell on April 28 at the Longboat Key Club, players enjoyed perfect golfing conditions. Pictured, Brenda Baril, Donna Newton, Jennifer Cahill, Regina Repenning, Michelle Swartz, Katie Moulton, Louise Berg and Joyce Welch.
  • May 5, 2026
Women's Golf Association scrambles to close out season

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