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Your Observer | All

Don Olinger and Tracy Rhodes moved into their two-bedroom apartment in May with dogs Ralphie and Gary.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 22, 2015
Dogs help roommates see eye to eye

Don Olinger and Tracy Rhodes' service dogs guide them to independent living and a lasting friendship.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Manatee County School District is one member short on its school board.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 22, 2015
Manatee County School Board awaits appointment for District 5

Gov. Rick Scott will decide who will fill the seat on the Manatee County School Board held by Mary Cantrell, who died July 12.

  • East County
  • News
The exterior of the home at 5762 Carriage Drive is pristine—even the lawn has been kept up. Inside, however, fell into ruin.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 22, 2015
Nightmare on Carriage Drive

A Mote Ranch house is undergoing an extreme home makeover.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
At 6'5, Chris Loftus says he's the "shrimp" of his cousins, all of whom are 6'8 and taller.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 22, 2015
Conversation with Chris Loftus

​After a career on the soccer field, Chris Loftus traded his cleats for a career in the medical field. He is now the new chief operating officer of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

  • East County
  • News
This Country Club East home at 15324 Helmsdale Place sold for $647,000. It has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,478 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 22, 2015
Richmond Park home sells for $860,000

See the top transactions in your neighborhood.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Bashaw Elementary Principal Josh Bennett hopes the renovation and implementation of STEAM curriculum will bring the East County school up to speed with other area schools.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 22, 2015
Bashaw Elementary prepares for first-class makeover

An expanded cafeteria and a possible building addition that would house 10 classrooms are part of a $10 million renovation.

  • East County
  • News
San Marco Plaza President Barb Smith said the plaza may host a "Rock Around the Clock Tower" event, as it did Christmas 2011, once the plaza's anchor space secures a new tenant.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 22, 2015
San Marco gains momentum

The summer has proved an eventful time for tenants in San Marco Plaza.

  • East County
  • News
Mixon Fruit Farms owners Janet and Dean Mixon will be in Washington, D.C. this week lobbying for tighter regulations on agricultural imports.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 22, 2015
Farmers lobby for regulations

Following an incident at Port Manatee, Mixon Fruit Farm owners Dean and Janet Mixon this week will lobby for stronger protections for farms against pests.

  • East County
  • News
Members of the Inter-District Authority Board vote on their 2015-2016 budget.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 22, 2015
IDA holds costs down

The budget adoption paves the way for Lakewood Ranch CDD budget adoptions next month.

  • East County
  • News
Of the 65 Manatee Elementary students who participated, they voted the Cookies and Cream ice cream flavor as the most liked.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 22, 2015
East County school hosts taste test

Freedom Elementary teams up with RaceTrac to provide frozen yogurt for campers at Manatee Elementary.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Marina and Bill Schmidt, owners of the Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch, received the President's Circle Award a few weeks ago.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 22, 2015
East County school receives leadership award

Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch earned The President’s Circle Award at a national Kiddie Academy Conference.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 22, 2015
Cops Corner East County 7.23.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
  • By Jennifer McPheeters
  • July 22, 2015
Summer play book

Book reviewer Jennifer McPheeters shares what titles you don’t want to miss this summer.

  • Arts + Culture
Arthur Keyser, Connie Schindewolf and Jeffery Kin, all playwrights, are ready to make their plays better at the 2015 Players New Play Festival.
    By
  • Nick Reichert
  • July 22, 2015
Local Drama: The new play’s the thing

Local playwrights vie for their time in the spotlight at The Players’ New Play Festival. The winner will see his or her play take center stage in August.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 22, 2015
OBITUARY | ​Herbert Kellner

Herbert Kellner died Jan. 21

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Reported kidnapping debunked by video evidence
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