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East County

    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 8, 2014
Controlled chaos

Months of meetings and plans for mitigating traffic for the opening of The Mall at University Town Center will be tested Oct. 16 when shoppers converge on the site.

  • East County
  • News
The site in question is located behind Lakewood Ranch Cinemas. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 8, 2014
SMR responds to residents' concerns

CEO Rex Jensen says proposed changes to the University Lakes DRI will not adversely affect the character of Lakewood Ranch or create traffic problems on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

  • East County
  • News
Julie Aranibar views losing her board seat as a step backward. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • October 8, 2014
Election 2014: Julie Aranibar: Manatee School Board, District 5

The Manatee County School District incumbent believes stability is necessary as the district rebounds from a period of financial instability.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mary Cantrell served as the director of Manatee Technical Institute from December 1996 to June 2014. She says people told her she ran the operation with an iron fist. “But, I always wear a velvet glove,” she says. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 8, 2014
Election 2014: Mary Cantrell: Manatee School Board, District 5

The former head of Manatee Technical Institute says she will bolster the morale of teachers and school district employees if elected to the board.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh fields questions on how to ease traffic once The Mall at University Town Center opens Oct. 16. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • October 8, 2014
Ranch residents oppose seven-story proposal

Commissioner Vanessa Baugh can't speak about raising building heights to seven stories behind Lakewood Ranch Cinemas until she hears the matter in November.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 8, 2014
News Briefs

School district cancels security contract; MTI plants seeds for farmworker careers; Meals on Wheels PLUS finds home for new program

  • East County
  • News
The Mall at University Town Center's playground will combine a sea life theme with things children would see during a hospital visit. Courtesy rendering
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 8, 2014
Mall playground beckons families

A new 1,700-square-foot playground has an ocean sea-life theme that includes a water slide and parent seating.

  • East County
  • News
Dan Sidler, the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's new director of communications and marketing, was born and raised in Switzerland and now has dual citizenship. He is also fluent in German. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 8, 2014
Alliance hires marketing director

Dan Sidler will become the voice of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance as it works to become the 'go-to' place for businesses.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 8, 2014
Tampa Bay Rays send off junior announcer

Fourteen-year-old Levi Waxler couldn't be a bigger baseball fan, even if most of his experience with the game has been from the sidelines.

  • East County
  • News
Kim Hunsader immediately loved the idea her husband, David, discussed with her 23 years ago — a pumpkin festival. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • October 8, 2014
Pumpkin festival returns for 23rd year

Twenty-three years ago, when her husband, David, told her about an idea to launch a family-friendly, country celebration, Kim Hunsader was immediately on board.

  • East County
  • News
Bruce Colby tried other styles of dance besides tap as a youth but "nothing I wanted to stick with," he says. He most enjoys what is called the vaudeville style of tap, which is masculine in nature, with a heavy use of arms.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 8, 2014
Happy feet

At 66 years old, Bruce Colby isn't your typical tap dancer, given his age and gender.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kevin Hanley submitted this photo, taken overlooking Ward Lake in East County.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 8, 2014
Weather: East County

Visit YourObserver.com to submit your local weather photos. Each weekly winner will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $25 gift card. One grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 flooring makeover.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This home at 22308 Deer Pointe Crossing has four bedrooms, three-and-half baths, a pool and 3,741 square feet of living area. It sold for $629,500. Photo by Alex Rostowsky
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 8, 2014
Preserve at Panther Ridge home sells for $629,500

A home in the Preserve at Panther Ridge tops all transactions from this week's real estate.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
The buildings will be surrounded by trees and have stone accents.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 7, 2014
Construction begins on ParkCrest site

The new site plan for the property, which wraps around the southwest side of Bennett Park, includes more open space and more trees. The complex on 67 acres will have a nature-oriented theme and two clubhouses.

  • East County
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team shot a combined 286 to win its fourth-consecutive Donald Ross Memorial Invitational title Oct. 6.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 7, 2014
Mustangs make history

The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team captured its fourth straight Donald Ross Memorial Invitational title Oct. 6, at Sara Bay Country Club.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Lakewood Ranch's Mateo Orlandini and East Bradenton's Alex Molina both have a passion for soccer and love to play with new people at the Lakewood Ranch Residents Soccer Club.
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