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LWR Life

Judy Young has been a nurse in the area for nearly 40 years.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • May 16, 2025
LWRMC chief nursing officer leads with empathy-first approach

An empathic and servant leader’s mindset — like the time she covered a shift on Christmas Eve — pushes Lakewood Ranch Medical Center's top-level nurse Judy Young to set up her team and community for success.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
These summer camps inspire future artists, performers and cultural connoisseurs
    By
  • Su Byron
  • May 16, 2025
These summer camps inspire future artists, performers and cultural connoisseurs

Wondering what to do with the kids this summer? Arts camps abound for a variety of interests.

  • Arts + Culture
Tsunami's Sashimia appetizer mixes sashimi, crunch and color for a dish that's as fun to admire as it is to devour. The tuna tartare is artful and flavorful — wrapped in avocado, crowned with a quail egg and an edible flower and served in a savory ponzu sauce.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • May 16, 2025
Tsunami Sushi continues to evolve with menu items aimed to please everyone

Jeffrey Karasawa and Jason Klamson share their recipe for excellence at Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi Grill's Lakewood Ranch location.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Benderson Development has been growing the tenant base in the UTC area for at least the past decade.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 15, 2025
Check out what's coming soon to UTC

From Tesla to Trader Joe's, the University Town Center districts that straddle Manatee and Sarasota counties just outside Lakewood Ranch have redefined the region's retail scene.

  • East County
  • Business
Flower Child is known for its customizable bowls, wraps, salads and overall healthy menu.
    By
  • Abby Weingarten
  • May 15, 2025
New restaurant seeks local following with fresh-first take on casual dining

An Arizona restaurant concept popular with yogis, foodies and lots of health-conscious people in between choose the Lakewood Ranch area to make its Florida debut.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Lakewood Ranch resident Simi Ranajee founded MN5, then known as Mission Neem 5, in 2019.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • May 15, 2025
MN5 aims to change the world by empowering the women in it

After facing and overcoming a harrowing medical experience, a Lakewood Ranch resident leads a group of women on a mission to help other women live their best lives.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Back: Victor Van Den Broek, Sarasota Paradise CEO Marcus Walfridson, Enzo Panozzo; Front: Mathis Leveque and Angel Velasquez of the Sarasota Paradise.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 15, 2025
Sarasota Paradise brings a whole new level of soccer to Lakewood Ranch

A dogged Swedish soccer player-turned-coach-turned-team owner is determined to push through on an ambitious goal: to sustain professional soccer in the region.

  • East County
  • Sports
A natural storyteller and hands-on farmer, Garrett Dakin and his brothers are carrying on a multi-generational dairy legacy in Myakka City.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • May 15, 2025
At Dakin Dairy Farms, four brothers tend to cows, kin and a vanishing way of life

Got milk? Dakin Dairy does. And here’s what it takes to get it from the cows to the shelf.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Isabella DuCharme brings island energy to every espresso pull at Bad Ass Coffee, where each cup starts with beans grown in paradise.
    By
  • Su Byron
  • May 15, 2025
Check out these cafes to get a creative caffeine fix

Wake up and smell the coffee! Here's what's brewing in Lakewood Ranch.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Vivid lighting and sparkling water features create a dramatic lakeside setting.
  • By Robert Plunket
  • May 15, 2025
A spectacular home in The Lake Club defines the ultimate in Florida living

After 36 years in the industry, Derek and Kelly Nelson designed a Lake Club home that brings together everything they learned about beauty, function and Florida living.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lee Whitehurst was named chief of the East Manatee Fire Rescue District in 2017.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • February 21, 2025
Fire chief prepares to pass the torch of public safety

Lee Whitehurst's passion to become a firefighter was kindled as a teenager. Five decades later, with retirement looming, he remains devoted to the craft.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mike and Katie Emmons founded the Taylor Emmons Scholarship fund in 2010.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • February 21, 2025
Taylor Emmons' legacy lives on through Out-of-Door Academy scholarship

Grieving parents turned their son’s tragic death into a sustainable charitable endeavor that has paid for more than a dozen teenagers to attend a private high school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Bagpipe players lead the dogs in the Lucky Dog Parade at the 2024 Irish Celtic Festival.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 21, 2025
The best things to do in Lakewood Ranch this spring

From live music to classic cars, the Lakewood Ranch area has events for everyone.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Arts scene serves up ample opportunities to dive into our collective experience
    By
  • Su Byron
  • February 20, 2025
Arts scene serves up ample opportunities to dive into our collective experience

Spring is the season of renewal, rebirth and reinvention. The area art scene is no exception.

  • Arts + Culture
Jaydyn Boucher has been fishing since she could hold a fishing rod.
    By
  • Emily Leinfuss
  • February 20, 2025
To find the best fishing holes, you have to ask the locals

With its many lakes, Lakewood Ranch offers prime fishing spots that invite anglers to cast a line amid serene surroundings, whether they're seeking a quiet escape or the thrill of reeling in the catch of the day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Reclaimed water systems run separately from drinking-water systems.
  • June 24, 2026
Dry weather cuts into Manatee reclaimed-water system's pressure
2
Roadway cameras help identify park-damaging suspect
  • June 24, 2026
Roadway cameras help identify park-damaging suspect
3
This house in Plantation Oaks is advertised on several booking platforms as sleeping up to 32 guests.
  • June 24, 2026
Manatee County commissioners consider regulating vacation rentals
4
Mia Busser's recruitment opened June 15 following the USA Gymnastics Women's Development Program National Championships. There, she placed fourth in the all-around, second on floor and fourth on vault.
  • June 24, 2026
Lakewood Ranch gymnast soars to career-best success
5
A visitor to Sarasota Art Museum takes a photo of David Hockney's "Inside It Opens Up As Well," which collector Stanton Storer loaned to the museum for "Something Borrowed, Something New."
  • June 24, 2026
Collectors lend their treasures to Sarasota Art Museum for blockbuster exhibition

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