News Briefs

+ Superintendent honored for promoting music
The Florida Music Educators Association has recognized Manatee County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim McGonegal for his leadership, excellence and promotion of music, naming him the 2011-2012 Superintendent of the Year. 

McGonegal will receive the FMEA award during the organization’s conference in January 2012 in Tampa. 

Gene Witt Elementary music teacher Julie Hebert, FMEA’s president-elect, nominated McGonegal on behalf of FMEA.

+ Sheriff investigating residential burglary
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a residential burglary Oct. 4 in the 8200 block of Whiskey Pond Lane in Lakewood Ranch.

A Sheriff’s Office report states an employee of the homeowners, who lives in an apartment in the rear of the barn, was in his residence when three black males and a lighter-skinned female entered the residence. The employee did not know the suspects and yelled to them, the report states. The subjects then grabbed the employee and attempted to tie him up, using a kitchen knife to cut a lamp cord. The subjects punched the employee in the face several times when he tried to look at the subjects, the report states.

The subjects then took the employee’s DVD player, $40 in cash and his cell phone before walking the subject to his employer’s home and telling him to open the door. When the employee opened the door, the victims’ dogs woke up and chased the suspects, who fled in a white minivan.

The homeowners then called 911.

Wendy Rose, community affairs manager for the Sheriff’s Office, said authorities are actively investigating the incident.

“The whole thing is unusual,” Rose said of the case. “We believe (the employee is) a true victim here.”

+ Ranch Town Hall hosts new resident orientation
Residents new to Lakewood Ranch soon will have an opportunity to learn better how Lakewood Ranch’s system of governance is structured and how it operates.

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall officials will host a New Resident Orientation presentation from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 12, at Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

The program is designed to educate residents about the roles and responsibilities of Town Hall, the Inter-District Authority Board, the Ranch’s community development districts and homeowners associations.
Attendance is open to any Lakewood Ranch resident, but seating is limited. An RSVP is required by 5 p.m. Oct. 5 to Kay DePaolo at 907-0202 or by email at [email protected].

+ Wine retailer raises funds for breast cancer
A local wine retailer, WineStyles, will hold a wine-tasting fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the store, 8225 Nature’s Way, Suite 111, in San Marco Plaza in Lakewood Ranch.

A $10 entry fee includes wine tasting, appetizers and store discounts.

Proceeds from the event will support “Team Inspiration,” as the group participates in the upcoming three-day walk for the cure in Tampa.

For information or to purchase tickets, contact WineStyles at 306-5804.

+ Steube launches re-election campaign
Florida House District 67 Rep. Greg Stuebe will launch his re-election campaign with an event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 13, at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, 7051 Wireless Court, Sarasota.

The East County resident and military veteran was elected to the Florida House in November 2010. He currently serves on the Energy and Utilities Subcommittee, the Finance and Tax Committee, the Health-care Appropriations Subcommittee, the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee and the Select Committee on Water Policy.

To attend Steube’s re-election kickoff, RSVP to [email protected].