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East County

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 22, 2012
The cat is out of the bag!

On her 15th birthday Aug. 12, East County resident Maria Wirries, an up-and-coming ice-skating, dancing and singing teenager, was surprised by about 20 guests at Cat Depot, where she learned a cat pod had been named in her honor - "Maria's Manor."

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sixteen-year-old Sarah Schoeffel says she loves learning about other cultures.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 22, 2012
Extraordinary Exchange: China

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Schoeffel spent approximately seven weeks in China this summer. The teen was one of 30 students nationwide to earn the scholarship opportunity with the NSLI-Y Scholarship program.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director recognized Town Hall’s Director of Operations, Ryan Heise, at the Aug. 16 meeting, for five years of service with the Inter-District Authority.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 22, 2012
District 2 takes financing lead

Lakewood Ranch CDD 2 supervisors agreed their district will take the lead role in financing a new maintenance facility for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall's Operations Department.

  • East County
  • News
Willowbrook homeowner Armando Oyola-Delgado said he estimates necessary repairs to his home will cost a minimum of $90,000.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 22, 2012
Residents continue their fight

Homeowners in Willowbrook are lobbying the community's developer, KB Home, to buy back their homes. They now have launched a petition, which they hope could lead to a class-action lawsuit, and brought their complaints to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 22, 2012
Lightning strikes

Weeks after Gene and Jennifer Venditti discovered their home had been struck by lightning, the couple is still getting their house back in order. The Vendittis said they are grateful for the local service providers who have assisted them.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 22, 2012
CDD 6 delays budget adoption

Supervisors of Lakewood Ranch CDD 6 delayed a vote to adopt the district's 2013 fiscal year budget. A new adoption hearing is set for Aug. 29.

  • East County
  • News
Children start a conga line to try to get in a picture.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 22, 2012
Observed: Summer splash-out

I often get small swarms of children by my side at school dances or other events where the children are eager to have their photos taken for the newspaper. Sometimes, one even will follow me around at events.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Denise Kleiner, president of Old Braden River Historical Society, currently lives in Manatee County is an independent financial advisor, writer and speaker influenced by history and the non-profit sector.
  • By Denise Kleiner
  • August 22, 2012
My View: Jiggs Landing memories could fill an auditorium

Times have changed for those living on the Braden River and in the surrounding communities.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Enjoy this week's "The Castaway," by Jorge Blanco.
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • August 22, 2012
The Castaway

Enjoy this week's "The Castaway," by Jorge Blanco.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
A representative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture visited the area Aug. 14 and Aug. 15, to meet with local citrus producers and state and federal partners who are working to eliminate invasive citrus pests and diseases.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 22, 2012
News Briefs

County accepting applications for seats; USF plans expansion of Sarasota-Manatee campus; Chamber celebrates business partnerships; Manatee Schools announces lunch criteria

  • East County
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 22, 2012
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Lakewood Ranch resident Chris Kennedy advanced to the state tournament as an individual in 2004 while playing golf for Cardinal Mooney. Kennedy returns to his alma mater this fall as the Cougars' new boys golf coach.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 22, 2012
Student becomes the teacher

Lakewood Ranch resident Chris Kennedy, a 2006 graduate of Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, is returning to his alma mater this fall as the Cougars' new boys golf coach.

  • East County
  • Sports
After walking away from competitive wrestling in 2007, Lakewood Ranch High wrestling coach Pat Ancil returned to the mat in April in preparation for the Veterans World Wrestling Championships Sept. 15-22 in Hungary.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 22, 2012
Lakewood coach hits the mat

Lakewood wrestling coach Pat Ancil is set to compete in the Veterans World Wrestling Championships Sept. 15 to 22, in Hungary.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 22, 2012
Comment: Players get back in action

It all began 17 days ago when a couple hundred East County football players walked onto their respective practice fields for the first day of fall practice.

  • East County
  • Sports
Thirteen-year-old Noah Candocia began competing on trampoline four years ago for Kids SuperGym. This year, the Braden River Middle School seventh-grader hopes to earn Junior Elite status.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 22, 2012
Braden River seventh-grader soars to even greater heights

Noah Candocia began competing on the trampoline at Kids SuperGym four years ago. This year, Noah is preparing to earn Junior Elite status.

  • East County
  • Sports
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