Jay Heater

Managing Editor at Sarasota Observer

Managing Editor at East County Observer

Managing Editor at Observer Media Group

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Articles

Lakewood Ranch's Sisterhood for Good presents $150,150 in grants

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

Despite a three-hurricane 2024 season in which many individuals and businesses found themselves with fewer funds to donate to nonprofits, Sisterhood for Good found a way. On June 19 at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, the Lakewood Ranch fundraising group handed out 30 grants that totaled $150,150.
The flag is up! Waterside Place hosts July 4 Spectacular | Your Observer

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

I am sure many of you have had a relationship with someone who is obsessed with holidays. Sixteen boxes of Christmas lights, or Valentine's Day heart pillows for the bench in front of the house. Halloween set-ups that would scare a Navy SEAL, or Thanksgiving turkeys bigger than a short bus. You either get caught up in the excitement, or risk a fate worse than death. Fortunately, my relationship with Lakewood Ranch has been somewhat similar, except for the "fate worse than death" part.
East Manatee firefighters get the spark to train for disaster situations

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

When it came to their Florida Urban Search and Rescue training, the firefighters from East Manatee Fire Rescue didn't need any additional heat. But Mother Nature had other ideas. On a scorching June 12 on the training ground next to Station 1 in Lakewood Ranch, the firefighters were sweating through another day as they were completing their certification to earn their Rescue Specialist Certification.
New leader takes over at Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation

2 weeks ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

In 1995, Jeff Toale was an eighth grader at the Out-of-Door Academy on Siesta Key who was thinking about his future. Toale and a group of his classmates were bussed over to ODA's new school site in Lakewood Ranch. If he decided to go, he would have been among the first class to go through the high school and graduate. The problem was that there wasn't much on or near Deer Drive in Lakewood Ranch in 1995.
Local relief nonprofit continues to draw attention in Lakewood Ranch | Your Observer

2 weeks ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

In an odd way, the 2024 hurricane season was just what Country Club East's Heather Hackett needed to get her Local Relief app up and running. With Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton ripping through the region, Hackett certainly has had everyone's attention. In her words, here is a description of Hackett's "local disaster network's" mission:"Local Relief is a first-of-its-kind, people-powered platform turning chaos into connection.
All aboard for Father's Day weekend fun at RealRail in Bradenton

2 weeks ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

It could be a choo-choo for you kind of Father's Day Weekend in East County. The RealRail model railroad club is hosting special event at its RealRail Center and Model Railroad Store, 4908 Lena Road, Unit 101, Bradenton, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 14-15. The event also doubles as the 50th anniversary celebration for the club, which formerly was known as the Sarasota Model Railroad Club when it was founded in 1975. Its first home was at 1944 Main St., Sarasota, where the Main Bar is located now.
Home repairs complete a week before the new Atlantic hurricane season

1 month ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

It was not the way Jimmy Gula wanted to be featured on the front page of the East County Observer. But there he was in the Oct. 17, 2024, edition, standing in front of his Westwinds home, surveying the damage done by Hurricane Milton with the headline reading, "Blown Away."Gula had lived in Lakewood Ranch for 20 years before making the move to East County's Westwinds 10 days before Milton made a direct hit on his neighborhood on Oct. 9. His wife Jeanmarie had died in 2021 and he wanted to downsize.
A Memorial Day service in Lakewood Ranch would warrant a gold star | Your Observer

1 month ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

It was the Memorial Day weekend parade that wasn't. For more than a decade, Lakewood Ranch hosted the Tribute to Heroes Parade that was enjoyed by thousands in the community. While residents packed both sides of Lakewood Main Street, some people complained that the parade on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend should have been a more somber event. They contended it really wasn't a Memorial Day parade.
Florida West Coast Avian Society takes flight at Music on Main

1 month ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

Cindy Gordon, the board chair of the Florida West Coast Avian Society, walks a bit of a tightrope when she tries to find people to adopt or foster pet birds that have been abandoned, abused or have outlived their owner. "Birds are not easy," Gordon said. "They are very intelligent, and you have to provide them with lots of activities. They are flock creatures, so they feel stable when they are with you. They will get upset when you leave.
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance presents its Next Gen Awards

1 month ago | yourobserver.com | Jay Heater

Both Nicole Hackel and Paige Venuto are used to working behind the scenes, in anonymity. But on Thursday at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club, they were center stage. Hackel was named the Young Leaders Alliance Member of the Year while Venuto was honored with the Emerging Leader Award at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's Next Gen Awards dinner.