East County Observer 10.25.12

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bserver O EAST COUNTY

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

Thursday, OCTOBER 18, 2012

SPORTS

COMMUNITY

Thunder secure a 27-14 victory over the Sharks.

Pumpkin festival at Hunsader’s provides fun for all ages.

PAGE 15A

OUR TOWN

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SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE

educational leader By Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

Gayler takes helm of Manatee Schools David Gayler started Oct. 15, as interim superintendent.

Courtesy photo

+ Not quite back in the saddle again East County resident and business owner Jaymie Klauber may not be climbing into the saddle anytime soon, but that won’t keep the polo rider from donning her riding boots. While riding with friends in the Sarasota Polo Club, Jaymie’s horse spooked and she ended up landing on her ankle and shattering it. Jaymie decorated her new cast, which she has to wear for about six more weeks, with this riding boot design.

+ Gettel honors teachers Manatee County teachers were honored Oct. 10, during the Teacher Appreciation Awards ceremony held at Gettel Toyota of Lakewood, off State Road 64, in the East County. Fifty-three teachers each were presented with $125 for the first quarter of the school year. Gettel will continue to do this at every school each quarter, said Mary Glass, executive director of the Manatee Education Foundation. Winners included: Barbara Pfeifer, of Gullett Elementary; Jane Beach, of Braden River Middle; Sharon Clabby, of Nolan Middle; Kendall Carrier, of Braden River High; Angela Hughes, of McNeal Elementary; Kim Thomas, of Myakka City Elementary; Frances Vila, of Braden River Elementary; Amie Poole, of Haile Middle; David Frantz, of Lakewood Ranch High; Denise Walker, of MTI East; Holly Fooks, of Willis Elementary; and Eileen Hardy, of Witt Elementary.

SEE OUR TOWN / PAGE 4A

MANATEE COUNTY — Few things, if any, could draw David Gayler from the embrace and smiling face of his 22-month-old daughter, Jo Jo. But the former superintendent of Charlotte County Schools, who earned a reputation for the calmness and skill with which he led the district through the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, found one. Monday, Oct. 15, he officially started as Manatee County Schools’ new

interim superintendent. Gayler said his experience in Manatee County, while serving as an assistant superintendent for 10 months in 2001 under then-superintendent Dan Nolan, was the main reason he agreed to temporarily leave retirement behind. Gayler also relishes a challenge and knew the School Board was facing serious budgetary and community-relation problems, among other issues, he

REGIONAL ATTRACTION

said. “Professionally, it was easy to come back to a district I loved working for,” Gayler said. “Personally, it was hard (because I’m so close with my family).” But after speaking with his wife, Winnie, Gayler agreed to come on board. He wouldn’t have taken the position for any other county, he said.

SEE GAYLER / PAGE 2A Gayler

by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

Mall Madness

Officials broke ground Oct. 15, on The Mall at University Town Center.

EAST COUNTY — For East County resident Sally Schule, Monday afternoon was a bit like being at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. As she stood on a bare patch of land just west of Cattlemen Road, watching dump trucks and bulldozers pushing earth far in the background, Schule, general manager of Southgate Mall’s Saks Fifth Avenue, turned her attention to the shovels and dirt just a few yards away. Almost exactly two years from this day, she will see a vision fulfilled — the opening of The Mall at University Town Center, where her Saks store will be one of three anchor tenants. Elected officials, community members and business representatives joined officials from Taubman Centers and Benderson Development Oct. 15, as they gathered to formally break ground on The Mall at University Town Center, a mega-mall project that will bring a regional shopping destination to the East County. “This is an exciting time for customers and our associates,” said Schule. “We have been talking about expanding for several years. Of course, we cannot wait. Two years will fly so quickly. I like to look at it by the number of weeks. It’s really only 104 weeks.” Located at the southwest corner of Cattlemen Road and University Park-

SEE MEGA MALL / PAGE 2A

Pam Eubanks

Representatives of Benderson Development, Taubman Centers and Manatee and Sarasota counties participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.

Courtesy renderings

The Mall at University of Town Center will have more than 100 specialty shops and restaurants, of which at least 50% will be new to the area.

The Mall at University Town Center, which will be 880,000 square feet in size, will be a twolevel enclosed mall.

INDEX Briefs....................7A Classifieds ........ 13B

Cops Corner....... 12A Crossword.......... 12B

Opinion.................8A Real Estate........ 10B

Sports................ 15A Weather............. 12B

Vol. 13, No. 40 | Three sections YourObserver.com


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