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East County | Trending

Brando Fetzek, vice president and project executive for NDC Construction Company and Jessica Roddenberry, the project manager from HKS Architects & Designers led the tour.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 6, 2025
Lake Manatee K-8 school is set to open for elementary students in August

HKS Architects and Designers along with NDC Construction Company are working to ensure they deliver phase one in time for the 2025-2026 school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Bradenton's 7-year-old Ensley Rondenne learns archery at Rye Preserve May 3.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 6, 2025
Youth archery program hits the mark at Rye Preserve

Spots are still available for summer camp. Monthly classes will resume in September.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The home at 6923 Westchester Circle has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,010 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 6, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for April 21-25 in Lakewood Ranch

A Country Club Village home on Westchester Circle tops the week’s sales at $4.45 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The Out-of-Door Academy football team has made a habit out of setting high expectations just four years removed from not having enough players to finish a season.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 6, 2025
Out-of-Door Academy football readies for 'best season'

The Thunder are armed with seasoned seniors and promising underclassmen.

  • East County
  • Sports
Former county administrator Scott Hopes has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 6, 2025
Former Manatee County administrator faces additional charges

While four additional charges were filed, Scott Hopes filed a motion to dismiss three of the charges.

  • East County
  • News
The Juice Pod serves cold press juices, smoothies, bowls, wellness shots and specialty toasts.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 5, 2025
The Juice Pod is open on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch

After a series of setbacks, owners Tali and Jeremy Williams are up and running with the brand's first Florida franchise.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
"Have a good time and forget about what people think," said Jerry Wood. He and his wife of 56 years Carol Wood dance to the blues music, being the only ones dancing at the time.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 4, 2025
Main Street comes alive for Music on Main

Music on Main consisted of live musical entertainment, inflatable games for kids and food and business vendors.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Manatee County is considering purchasing 9000 Town Center Parkway for a new administration building.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 4, 2025
Manatee County government looks at moving east

Staff is proposing to move the administration building to Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Ecological connectivity is critical for imperiled native species such as Florida scrub jays, who were last observed at Myakka in 2005.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • May 4, 2025
Connectivity key to healthy habitats

Wildlife corridors help maintain natural processes that support clean air, rich soil and freshwater.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Benjamin Hansen plays Scar.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 3, 2025
'The Lion King Jr.' pounces onto the stage

Students at the Woodland Fine Arts Academy have been working on the production since August.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kenneth Ordonez and his elementary teacher Joadie Durfee got to reunite at the gathering. Ordonez described Durfee as not only a teacher, but a good friend.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 3, 2025
Past Braden River Elementary students gather before graduating high school

Seven years after graduating elementary school, Manatee County seniors reunited with old friends and teachers to reminisce before graduating high school and heading separate ways once more.

  • East County
  • Schools
Blues musicians Miguel Primero and Steve Arvey play at Jiggs Landing April 24.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 2, 2025
Thursdays are for the blues at Jiggs Landing

The preserve offers live music every day for three hours before sunset.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
John Hettler, principal and founder of SOSA said he is very grateful to the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation for their generous donation towards the new playground equipment and necessary repairs. Executive director Kate Mulligan and president Mark Clark were amongst the members of the foundation present.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 2, 2025
Sea of Strengths Academy receives grant for new playground

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation presented them with a grant for $8,700 to go towards the playground after Kelly Gonzalez, a parent at the school, wrote approximately 30 different ones.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Layla Vaughn and Aureliano Mora are student council members at McNeal Elementary that acted as announcers for the leadership day event.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 1, 2025
McNeal Elementary nurtures student leaders through Leader In Me program

The seven habits are “Be Proactive,” “Begin with the End In Mind,” “Put First Things First,” “Think Win-Win,” “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood,” “Synergize” and “Sharpen the Saw.”

  • East County
  • Schools
96-gallon trash bins are rolling off the assembly line, bound for Manatee County.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 1, 2025
Manatee County begins distributing 96-gallon trash bins

New trash bins will coincide with addition of automated trucks in October.

  • East County
  • News
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1
Lakewood Ranch's Rich Vannucci still wears the Santa suit his mother made for him 50 years ago.
  • December 24, 2025
After five decades, this Lakewood Ranch Santa continues to spread joy and more
2
  • December 24, 2025
All I want for Christmas for the Lakewood Ranch area …
3
Itzhak Perlman conducts the 2025 Perlman Music Program Suncoast Celebration Concert.
  • December 24, 2025
Perlman Music Program Suncoast moves to central Sarasota
4
Livia Zamperlini-Ramos (left), Anna Chop (center) and Bailey Loring (right) share some joy while singing "Last Christmas."
  • December 24, 2025
Lakewood Ranch wrestlers give back to their community through caroling
5
Howard Tipton, Irwin Pastor and Susan Goldfarb stand beside the newly installed sign for The Education Center on Bay Isles Road. The center starts its winter term of programs Jan. 5.
  • December 24, 2025
Explore French art, cinematic history and more this winter

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