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East County

Ken Sommers, a teacher, athlete and football and basketball coach at ODA, also serves as board chairman for an organization that runs soccer programs in Haiti.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 15, 2014
ODA teacher unveils sports grant program

Ken Sommers and his 1-year-old foundation, Games 4 Good, seek to fund nonprofits that aim to use sports for positive change.

  • East County
  • News
Marshall Kottler and Joe Martin opened Mexicali's third location in November.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 15, 2014
Doing Business: Mexicali Border Cafe

Mexicali Border Cafe opened its third location, at 7303 52nd Place E., in November.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 15, 2014
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Photos by Jen Blanco. Lakewood Ranch High seniors Alex Latham, Lindsay Martinez, Delaney Riggins, Gabby Photos and Bri Reda have been playing soccer together since they were in elementary school. (Not pictured is Juliana Guida.)
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 15, 2014
Central focus

Six seniors lead the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team, which finished the regular season 18-0-1.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jeren Kowalewski
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 15, 2014
High five moments of the week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • East County
  • Sports
Courtesy photos. "I like adapting to other places I go," says Summer Egly, who cheered in London Jan. 1.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 15, 2014
All-American girl

Cardinal Mooney High senior Summer Egly was chosen as a Universal Cheerleaders Association All-American and invited to walk in the New Year's Day parade in London.

  • East County
  • Sports
13U Florida River Dawgs
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 15, 2014
Sidelines

Pirates to host wrestling tourneys; Golf pro to hold fundraiser for GSJGA; Registration now underway for BRSC; Monsters LAX gears up for season; 13U Florida River Dawgs

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 15, 2014
Just the stats

The week in sports by the numbers.

  • East County
  • Sports
Josh Siegel Nick and Jen Tullio, with their son, Grayson, and Nick and Samantha Dzembo, with their son, Connor, use running as a way to raise funds for research on the disorders from which their children suffer.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 15, 2014
Running mates

Two East County families, the Tullios and Dzembos, run to support their sons, who suffer from different - but similar - disorders.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Amanda Sebastiano. This Country Club Village of Lakewood Ranch home, which has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,811 square feet of living area, sold for $645,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 15, 2014
Pomello Park home sells for $1.15 million

A home in Pomello Park tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Courtesy photo. Neal Communities owner and President Pat Neal and Building Division President Michael Storey expect to break more sales records in 2014.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 15, 2014
Local builder foresees continued growth

Neal Communities seeks to have its most prosperous year thus far, after a record-breaking 2013.

  • East County
  • News
Bahman Badiee submitted this sunset photo, taken near Robinson Preserve in Bradenton.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 15, 2014
Weather: East County

Bahman Badiee submitted this sunset photo, taken near Robinson Preserve in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
"It's fun; you can read a book and it will take you to another world. There are lots of great stories out there, and it's fun to learn about them." — Jonah Duschesne-Shaw
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • January 14, 2014
The Good News: Jonah Duchesne-Shaw

Volunteer Jonah Duchesne-Shaw, 12, keeps young readers turning the page through the Literacy Buddy program.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Jackie Holloway, a second-grade teacher at B.D. Gullett Elementary, will compete against three other area instructors for the educator award as part of the EdVantage Education Awards.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 14, 2014
Local teacher named as finalist for education awards

Second-grade instructor at B.D. Gullett Elementary, Jackie Holloway, stands as an educator finalist for annual education award.

  • East County
  • News
Lawmakers praised Superintendent Rick Mills for providing a thorough response to state audits and expressed confidence in his ability to move the district forward.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 13, 2014
Superintendent gains support in Tallahassee

In a bid to reduce fines owed to the state, Manatee County School District Superintendent Rick Mills impressed legislators with his response to audit findings.

  • East County
  • Schools
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