E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Fire station No. 17 opens its doors. PAGE 10A
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016
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VOLUME 18, NO. 8
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Courtyard Marriott
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Courtesy
Braden River High Agriculture Department Leader Deb Barry is leaving the school district for a job in Gainesville.
Final crop for teacher Watching things grow is part of Deb Barry’s job description. As the head of the Agriculture Department at Braden River High School, Barry has built her 11-year career from the soil up, by helping students learn the importance of farming and caring for livestock. She has grown with a department that began with one teacher (Barry) and today has three teachers and more than 500 students. Now that she has helped create the largest agriculture program in the state, Barry is moving. She has accepted an academic adviser position at the University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center campus in Plant City. On Jan. 6, Braden River opened its new pole barn, and Barry said that was her best going-away present. She will leave the school in June. “This is a celebration of our program and the students here,” Barry said. “I’ll be recruiting, so I’ll still be around and checking in.” Barry said the new barn, which houses 10 cattle on the campus, will help the program grow even more over the years. The barn cost $101,720 and has a concrete pathway through the center so agriculture teachers can drive a tractor or other equipment through the barn. Bleachers are located beside the barn for larger lectures. “We made our lessons work before, without the barn, but we’re so excited to fill the barn with animals and put it to use,” Barry said.
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Roundabouts to the rescue Benderson Development unveils a plan to smooth congestion on Cooper Creek Boulevard. PAGE 6A
This fair offers wild
RIDES
Local teens not only show horses but also showcase their riding talent by competing at the Manatee County Fair. PAGE 8A
Jessica Salmond
Lexi Parks competes in barrel racing with her horse, Chance.
Boom goes the real estate East County Realtors expect another huge year.
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JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR
It’s obvious that Shaun and Kim Peen, co-owners of RE/MAX Fine Properties of Lakewood Ranch, are expecting business to soar in the residential real estate market in 2016. They have sunk considerable funds into the design of their office, adopting a “cafe concept” aimed at attracting younger cliSEE PAGE 3A
Author Amy Tan pays a visit for Town Hall dinner. INSIDE