E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Fun rules at this water volleyball game.
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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 17, NO. 43
FREE
As East County schools continue to exceed capacity, how will they keep up with the
Elementary Schools
•
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
139 students over capacity
HEAD COUNT? Middle Schools
317 students
over capacity
620
High Schools
students over capacity
Lakewood Ranch High School leads the classroom crunch with 500 more students than its capacity. See how other area schools compare on PAGE 3A.
See what the school district is doing to combat overcrowding in area schools. PAGE 3A
YOUR TOWN
Nonprofit assumes cancer support services Center for Building Hope and Jewish Family & Children’s Services plan to transition cancer support programming to JFCS Oct. 1.
Courtesy photo
New Sir Knights pose with San Damiano Assembly Color Guard members.
Knights to remember East County just gained six new Fourth-Degree Knights. Knights of Columbus Council No. 13341, of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Lakewood Ranch, welcomed John Manfra, Michael Salamone, Kevin Kelley, Francis Shea, John Hoang and Sigmund Bartoszek into the ranks. The Fourth Degree is the highest rank for a Knights of Columbus member. And, after becoming a Fourth-Degree Knight, members join the San Damiano Assembly No. 3192. Membership includes participation in a range of local activities, such as Celebrate Mass on Veterans Day at Sarasota National Cemetery and the Presidential-Military Ball at Tara Country Club. SEE MORE ON PAGE 12A
Photo by Pam Eubanks
Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the Suncoast Executive Director Rose Chapman said she hopes to keep providing the Center for Building Hope’s services until the end of the year, when she and her organization can come up with a funding strategy to take over its programming.
PAM EUBANKS SENIOR EDITOR
SARASOTA — Rose Chapman doesn’t have all the answers. But between now and Oct. 1, her attention is focused on piecing together one giant puzzle — how Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the Suncoast will assume programming from the Center for Building Hope, a nonprofit providing assistance to cancer patients. “Our vision is to have a community where everyone is cared for, safe and strong,” said Chapman, JFCS CEO and executive director. “If that’s our philosophy, then this is what we’re supposed to do. It will affect our infrastructure, our budget, our staff, our board. But the reality is everyone who hears about it says we’re doing the right thing. We’ll figure it out.” The CBH board fired its CEO, Carl Ritter, July 31 after newspaper reports alleged he misused his role. He left the charity in dire financial shape, and in the subsequent weeks, CBH closed its Brides Against Breast Cancer operation and laid off its roughly 40 employees. Center for Building Hope is operating classes at its Lakewood Ranch center through the end of September — or whenever it runs out of money — and JFCS plans to assume programming starting Oct. 1, or shortly thereafter. JFCS SEE PAGE 8A