News Briefs 08.19.10

+ Grow Financial goes crazy for schools
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union will host is second Grow Financial School Days Craze from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Aug. 21, at the company’s Lakewood Ranch branch at 11008 Arcade Place.

Festivities will include a bounce house for the children, food, prizes, the Grow Financial Money Machine, a laptop computer giveaway and free immunization shots courtesy of the Manatee County Health Department.

With the support of participating vendors, Grow Financial hopes to raise more than $3,000, all of which will be donated to the Manatee County School Board for distribution to East County schools.

For information, call 800-839-6328.

+ Candidates ready for local primary
East County voters should remember to head to the polls Aug. 24 to vote in the area’s primary elections.

In the Manatee County School Board races, non-partisan candidates Julie Aranibar, Jane Pfeilsticker and Albert Yusko will be vying for the District 3 seat. The winner will be decided in the primary unless no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes.

In Manatee County School Board District 5, Karen Carpenter and Jennifer Radebach will face off, and in District 1 David Bailey will challenge incumbent Barbara Harvey.

In the race for the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, Republicans Robin DiSabatino, Norm Luppino and Tim Norwood will try for a chance to challenge Democrat Roger Galle in the November election. In District 2, Democrats Gwendolyn Brown and Michael Gallen will compete.

+ Commission recommends changes
The Manatee County Planning Commission on Aug. 12 recommended rezoning 3.4 acres on the north side of State Road 64 immediately west of Cypress Creek Boulevard from suburban agriculture to planned development mixed use.

The board also recommended a rezone of about 326 acres on the east side of Lorraine Road, south of the Braden River at 15150 70th Terrace East for changes to the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club. It also recommended approval of a general site plan for an existing golf course and clubhouse as well as the addition of 100 new dwelling units and a pool and clubhouse.