EAST COUNTY
Observer
Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
A+E Adaptive steps. SEE PAGE 14
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021
VOLUME 24, NO. 7
YOUR TOWN
Courtesy photo
School produces all-star effort Students and staff at Beyond the Spectrum were on a mission this holiday season. They wanted to collect games, books, puzzles and snacks for three foster families at Sarasota’s All-Star Children’s Foundation. By Dec. 3, Beyond the Spectrum had three large bags filled with donations. Lora Carpenter (above with Mary Bane Stevens), the executive director of Beyond the Spectrum, along with two other staff members and six students, delivered the bags of games to All-Star Children’s Foundation on Dec. 3. “The beauty I find in this gift of kindness is many of our families would be considered as ALICE (asset-limited, incomeconstrained, employed), yet they contributed to this Giving Mission supporting other families within our community,” Carpenter said.
APRIL
MAKE A RESERVATION Brett Hutchens says Casto’s Center Point project is back on track in April after delays caused by heavy rainfall. He also announces that Olivia, a modern Italian restaurant headed by noted Chef Chris Ponte, will join Owens Fish Camp at Center Point, which is just east of the University Parkway/ Lakewood Ranch Boulevard intersection. Both restaurants plan 2022 openings.
2021
File photos
LITTLE BIT OF NORMAL
G
rowth surged, politicians bickered, students graduated in front of their parents and friends, and public events drew large gatherings. East County began the transition out of pandemic life in 2021. Here are some special moments in 2021, told in photos.
AUGUST
FOCUS OF ATTENTION Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh and Administrator Scott Hopes discuss their priorities at an August commission meeting. It was a polarizing year for Baugh, who awaits a hearing by the Florida Commission on Ethics (which had yet to announce a date for the hearing) to decide whether it should take action against Baugh for her role in a pop-up vaccination clinic Feb. 17-19 in Lakewood Ranch that she was asked to organize by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Baugh only pulled residents of the 34202 and 34211 ZIP codes for the clinic and also made a “VIP” list of five names, including herself, to get the vaccine. Baugh was blasted by other commissioners who were outraged she didn’t include them in the process and criticized for trying to secure favoritism with the VIP list. In June, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office completed a four-month investigation and announced no criminal charges would be forthcoming.
SEE PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER
WE REMEMBER Retired New York City Firefighter Steve Lubrino gets a standing ovation as he approaches the podium to speak at Day of Remembrance on Sept. 11 at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. Lubrino spoke during the memorial about his experience at the World Trade Center during the hours following the 9/11 attacks. Hundreds of people attended the memorial.
Scott Lockwood
Her final stretch for 2021 Like many others, Lakewood Ranch resident Bonnie Vannucci was tired of being holed up due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That motivated her to find some kind of outdoor class. Vannucci stumbled upon the Strength, Mobility and Balance class offered by Lakewood Ranch Activities at Summerfield Park. She, along with more than 20 others from around the Lakewood Ranch area, took part in a class Dec. 8, her last class of the year even though one class was remaining. Vannucci said the class put her through a variety of exercises she feels from head to toe. “I missed being outside in the community — especially with exercise,” Vannucci said. “And the ladies are fabulous.”
JUNE
HIGH DEGREE OF SUCCESS Lakewood Ranch High graduate Mathew Dixon waves to his family in the stands at LECOM Park in Bradenton on June 3 during the school’s graduation ceremonies. Manatee County School District seniors weren’t sure what their graduation ceremony would look like during the pandemic. Eventually, with LECOM Park hosting, the students were allowed to have family and friends in the stands.