Your Town

+ Reconnected

David Dillard's two-month search has ended.

While riding his bicycle in August on Portal Crossing in Lakewood Ranch, Dillard found a plastic bin filled with hundreds of family photos. He had been looking for the family ever since.

Just one day after The Observer published "Have you seen us?" in an Oct. 22 issue, the mystery family — the Corradinos — featured in the story was found.

The family was moving from East County and on the way back from the storage unit located on Portal Crossing, the box of photos fell off the back of a trailer.

Mark Corradino met with Dillard last week to retrieve his lost keepsakes from holidays, school productions, summer vacations and other family gatherings.

"I really appreciate him finding us," Corradino said. "We're lucky he took the time."

+ Last laugh

Willis Elementary School student Jordyn Kruse, 8, is basking in her newfound celebrity status.

Her joke is featured on page 123 of the newly released “Little Book — Big Laughs Riddle Book,” a collection of children’s jokes and riddles produced by the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation to fund medical grants for families in need.

“I think it’s really cool,” Jordyn said. “It’s actually my first time being in a book. I always wanted to be in a book.”

Jordyn’s submission?

“What kind of food do you eat during a scary movie? I scream.”

Jordyn’s mom, Beverly Kruse, actually created and entered the joke for publication.

The book is available on amazon.com for $5.99.

+ No tricks, just treats

Ranch resident Maggie White is collecting a different type of treat for Halloween, and she isn't just catering to children dressed in costumes.

White is collecting canned food for All Faiths Food Bank.

She will have a barrel in her front yard from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31. Her address is 12010 Summer Meadow Drive, in the Summerfield Glades community.

"We collected a yellow barrel full of food last year," White said. "We are hoping for a repeat performance."