www.yourobserver.com stories: Neighborshttps://www.yourobserver.com/news/east-county/neighbors/www.yourobserver.com stories: Neighborsen-usMon, 15 Sep 2025 07:30:00 -0400<![CDATA[Manasota BUDS reaps harvest of Pineapple Kitchen's special event ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/15/manasota-buds-pinapple-kitchen/Lesley DwyerMon, 15 Sep 2025 07:30:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/15/manasota-buds-pinapple-kitchen/Jenny and Mike Schenk are husband and wife and co-owners of Pineapple Kitchen.<![CDATA[Pink is perfect for breast cancer fundraiser at The Mall at UTC ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/14/men-wear-pink/Madison BierlSun, 14 Sep 2025 11:25:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/14/men-wear-pink/<![CDATA[And the Oscar goes to charity in Lakewood Ranch ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/14/oscar-charity-lakewood-ranch/Jay HeaterSun, 14 Sep 2025 08:30:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/14/oscar-charity-lakewood-ranch/<![CDATA[Celebratory candle is Lakewood Ranch inventors' 'last' project ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/08/celebratory-candle-inventors-pickleball/Jay HeaterMon, 08 Sep 2025 11:30:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/08/celebratory-candle-inventors-pickleball/When Stanley Brown's Pickleball Musical Birthday Candle is lit, its sides spin and drop to reveal a pickleball and candles.<![CDATA[LWR Conversational Spanish breaks down language barriers ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/06/lwr-conversational-spanish-breaks-barriers/Madison BierlSat, 06 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/06/lwr-conversational-spanish-breaks-barriers/Teresa Wilson and Wendy Nebrija are part of the LWR Conversational Spanish intermediate class. Wilson said she was learning using ChatGPT, but nothing compares to being taught and corrected by a native Spanish speaking teacher like Montse Florensa.<![CDATA[Sarasota meet-up group finds its groove at UTC ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/05/sarasota-meet-up-group-finds-groove-utc/Lesley DwyerFri, 05 Sep 2025 08:15:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/05/sarasota-meet-up-group-finds-groove-utc/<![CDATA[The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch celebrates 20 years ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/05/windsor-lakewood-ranch-celebrates-anniversary/Madison BierlFri, 05 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/05/windsor-lakewood-ranch-celebrates-anniversary/<![CDATA[Braden River Soccer Club is building shade structure at Lakewood Ranch Park ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/04/braden-river-soccer-club-shade-structure/Lesley DwyerThu, 04 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/04/braden-river-soccer-club-shade-structure/The Braden River Soccer Club is back practicing at Lakewood Ranch Park for the fall season.<![CDATA[Family comes together to help Myakka City ranch thrive ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/03/family-myakka-cattle-ranch/Madison BierlWed, 03 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/03/family-myakka-cattle-ranch/Sophi Jo Branscomb says her life is busy but rewarding on her Myakka ranch.<![CDATA[Financial Focus® Look At Your Financial Situation Holistically ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/28/financial-focus-look-at-your-financial-situation-holistically/Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial AdvisorThu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/28/financial-focus-look-at-your-financial-situation-holistically/<![CDATA[Braden River Middle School teacher subs as mangrove ranger ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/27/braden-river-teacher-mangrove-ranger/Lesley DwyerWed, 27 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/27/braden-river-teacher-mangrove-ranger/Mote Ranch's Keith Paynter is a teacher at Braden River Middle School and a volunteer mangrove ranger.<![CDATA[Father and son donate time and supplies to students in Africa ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/26/oda-student-eswatini-south-africa/Madison BierlTue, 26 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/26/oda-student-eswatini-south-africa/Lakewood Ranch's Themba Hillary and Themba Hillary II have volunteered at Mhlume Primary School in Eswatini, which borders South Africa, every summer since 2016. This year, they wanted to turn it up a notch.<![CDATA[Aloha Ukulele spreads 'joyous noise' through 'instrument of joy' ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/25/aloha-ukulele/Madison BierlMon, 25 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/25/aloha-ukulele/Aloha Ukulele president Alice Baumann leads Aloha Ukulele in song, mostly with ukulele but occasionally with other instruments. She says she has "five minutes more experience" than the members she leads.<![CDATA[Live music, Polynesian dancers attract a crowd at UTC Night Market ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/23/utc-night-market/Madison BierlSat, 23 Aug 2025 11:45:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/23/utc-night-market/<![CDATA[Soccer fans in paradise at Premier Sports Campus ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/21/soccer-fans-paradise-premier-sports-campus/Lesley DwyerThu, 21 Aug 2025 09:45:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/21/soccer-fans-paradise-premier-sports-campus/<![CDATA[Life for Dick Vitale is pretty great. But a stinging failure set up his shot for success. ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/21/dick-vitale-failure-set-up-shot-for-success/Eric SniderThu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/21/dick-vitale-failure-set-up-shot-for-success/Dick Vitale in his Lakewood Ranch office, surrounded by a lifetime of achievements — and still chasing new goals.<![CDATA[Myakka City is known for its rural nature — and its salt-of-the-earth people ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/21/myakka-known-rural-nature-salt-of-the-earth-people/Su ByronThu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/21/myakka-known-rural-nature-salt-of-the-earth-people/Jean Blackburn rides through a canopy of oak and palm on her Old Miakka property — 14 acres of native Florida habitat that fuels both her artwork and conservation efforts.<![CDATA[A dramatic update brings a Country Club home into the future ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/21/dramatic-update-country-club-home-into-future/Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/21/dramatic-update-country-club-home-into-future/The kitchen and family room have been reborn in a contemporary style, showcasing a new coastal look.<![CDATA[Chalk up a life saved for Lakewood Ranch Medical Center ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/20/life-saved-lakewood-ranch-medical-center/Jay HeaterWed, 20 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/20/life-saved-lakewood-ranch-medical-center/Denise Allen and fiancé Mark Latcheran of Parrish visit with Dr. Shilpa Jadeja, who was part of Latcheran's care team at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.<![CDATA[Camp is a dream come true for individuals with disabilities ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/20/camp-dream-come-true-individuals-disabilities/Mark GordonWed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/20/camp-dream-come-true-individuals-disabilities/Elena Cassella worked in the Manatee County School District for 17 years before taking a job in fundraising with Foundation for Dreams in 2010.