News Briefs

+ Edgewater robber takes thousands in jewelry
Although it’s a gated community, Edgewater was still vulnerable to criminal activity Nov. 9.

An unidentified robber stole $20,000 worth of jewelry from Meyer Kaplan over the weekend.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the individual who broke into the East County home and seeks information from the public.

Individuals with information on the case should call 866-634-8477.

+ Publix purchases Lakewood Walk center
Lakeland-based grocer Publix Super Markets purchased the 90,000-square-foot Lakewood Walk shopping center for $26.25 million.

The price equated to $292 per square foot. Located at the corner of State Road 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Lakewood Walk and its outparcels stretch across a total of 18.74 acres. The retail center is anchored by a 49,344-square-foot Publix supermarket and also houses SunTrust Bank, Coldwell Banker, Fifth Third Bank, Truman’s Tap and Grill, Florida Blood Services and Wells Fargo Bank.

The seller, North American Properties, developed the main retail building in 2007 and its outparcels a year later.

Publix regularly buys the shopping centers it anchors.

+ LECOM welcomes a new master’s program director
A Bradenton native now oversees a new program at a nationally recognized institution.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) selected Tim Novak for the director position of its newest program, which launched in January — the master’s in Health Services Administration.

Novak, 51, has served as the marketing small business consultant for the University of South Florida School of Business, along with experience in hospital administration, private medical practices and his stint as president for two publicly traded biotech firms.

+ School district relocates its information center
The Manatee County School District’s Parent Information Center is being uprooted and receiving a name change over the weekend.

Previously known as the parent information center, the building will now be called the Office of Student Assignment.

The building will be located at 1400 1st Ave. E., Palmetto, stationed at the west side of Lincoln Middle School.

The phone number will remain the same — 708-4971.

The school board approved the sale of the property where the information center resided, for $390,000, in August. meeting.

The new facility will house resources to guide parents through the registration process as it relates to assigned school districts, as well as information about school choice options.

Meetings & agendas
Manatee County Commissioners Meeting — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 18, at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Manatee County School District Meeting — 6:30 p.m. Nov 18 at the School Support Center, 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton