E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Lakewood Ranch band reaches high notes. PAGE 20A
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
•
FREE THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
VOLUME 18, NO. 9
Successful
Harvest
McNeal Elementary employee uses his experience to help migrant students. PAGE 3A
DAREDEVILS ON THE MIDWAY STILL NEED TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK. PAGE 8A
FEARLESS
YOUR TOWN
Courtesy
Volunteers from American Red Cross of Southwest Florida deliver supplies Sunday in Siesta Key after a tornado touched down earlier that morning.
Helping hands Although the East County Observer’s circulation area suffered minimal damage from the heavy storm that passed through Jan. 17, local residents rushed to be part of the relief effort in other areas. East County resident Bené Hunter, a disaster program specialist, began organizing volunteers moments after a tornado blasted through Siesta Key just after 3 a.m. Hunter, who works out of the office on Malachite Drive, assembled American Red Cross of Southwest Florida volunteers. Tom Roberts, Ray Allen and Debra Sharp, of East County, were among the 30 volunteers who moved to action quickly to help victims of the storm. “We checked with hospitals to see if they needed assistance,” Hunter said. “We also sent out a team of three volunteers to Duette to assess needs.” Bradenton’s Megarie van Sickel, executive director of the American Red Cross of Southwest Florida, said volunteers couldn’t help assess damages or provide other services until the storm passed. By 8 a.m., volunteers had visited homes and other properties along Siesta Key to help those affected.
Volorian Flores zoom around the metal sphere.
Jessica Salmond
Check out new addition to UTC Another grocer added to the mix along University Parkway corridor. PAGE 4A Pam Eubanks
Detwiler’s Farm Market, located at the southeast corner of Lockwood Ridge Road and University Parkway, could be getting more competition.
A+E Swing into the sound of gypsy jazz. INSIDE