News Briefs

+ Ranch Cinemas holds ‘Cans’ Film Festival
To benefit local food banks, Lakewood Ranch Cinemas will be hosting a special showing of the holiday classic, “A Christmas Story,” at 9 a.m. Dec. 17, at the theater, 10715 Rodeo Drive.

Admission is free if individuals bring in a donation of non-perishable food.

Suggested food donations include: healthy cereals, tuna and other canned meat, pasta, rice, peanut butter, canned soups and stews, canned vegetables, flour and sugar, nutritious children’s snacks and more. Food banks also are in need of baby cereal, formula and food and diapers.

Throughout December, theater-goers also can participate in the Cinemas’ Salvation Army Angel tree, the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch’s pet donation tree and the “Cans” Film Festival Food bank tree.

Driver smashes Primrose School sign
Primrose School of Lakewood Ranch owner Sharon Frank arrived at her business Dec. 9 to find her monument-style sign destroyed.

According to Florida Highway Patrol reports, at about 11:20 p.m. Dec. 8, Whittany Gibson, of Bradenton, crashed her 2006 Chevy Equinox into the sign at Primrose, 9127 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch.
Frank said she received no phone call from the FHP the night of the incident but later found a report about the crash in her mailbox. Frank estimates the cost to replace the sign will be between $5,000 and $10,000.