E A ST COUNTY
SEASON WINTER 2021
Observer bserver
T H E O B S E R V E R ’S G U I D E TO T H E A R TS AND SOCIETY
Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
INSIDE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
VOLUME 23, NO. 8
YOUR TOWN
2020 Year in Photos A
lthough pain and suffering were a huge part of a year lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, East County residents showed
plenty of resilience and fortitude as well. Here Liz Ramos
Serving up donations
is a look at the year in photos as presented by the East County Observer.
In honor of two Texas Roadhouse employees, Regan Walker, the local store marketer for Texas Roadhouse on State Road 70, and her coworkers asked customers to donate to the American Cancer Society. Krystal Irwin, a former manager, died from breast cancer, and Kelly Kirby, a server, is a cancer survivor. River Club’s Bethany Lynch (above), who is a senior community development manager for the American Cancer Society, accepted a check for $2,196.62 from Walker for the nonprofit.
SEE PAGES 3-13
JANUARY
JUNE
SPANKY REUNITES WITH GANG East County always seems to have some amazing pet stories each year, and the saga of Spanky qualifies. Braden River Lakes’ Virginia Bell had lost her Shih Tzu-Maltese mix, Spanky, six years earlier in what she thought was a dog-napping. But on June 8, she received the call from Patty Giarrusso of Lost Pet Services that Spanky had been found in southwest Manatee County and was ready to come home.
Liz Ramos
Setting sail Waterside resident Will Parry is a commodore. No, not a naval officer. Parry is the head of the Sarasota Model Yacht Club’s sevenmember board. He visits Nathan Benderson Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to race his DragonFlite DF95 against other members. The club has about 125 remote control boat enthusiasts who compete in series of races that last about two months. At the end of each series, the cumulative winners receive awards. “There’s no such thing as cruising with these boats,” Parry said. “It’s a very competitive group. … We’re all friends until the bell goes off.”
MARCH
PLENTY OF LOCKED DOORS A sign at My Pampered Pet Spa at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch informed people they had to knock before entering. Many shop owners needed to have control over how many people could enter as they took measures that would allow them to stay open during the pandemic. Other business owners weren’t so fortunate, hanging Closed signs. The pandemic affected every aspect of our lives, including businesses, nonprofits, athletics and schools.
A LOT OF CONCERN From January to December, the issue of whether a Cox Chevrolet car lot should be allowed to be built on an 18-acre parcel at the corner of State Road 64 and 117th Street East raged. In October, the Manatee County Commission approved the rezoning of the property to allow the lot, but a nonprofit representing concerned area residents has filed a legal appeal, which is pending. In the photo, GreyHawk Landing’s Jack Ranalli waved signs in January to oppose the proposal.
SEPTEMBER
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN Those who lived in retirement communities or assisted living facilities were hit especially hard by the pandemic, often being confined to their dwelling without access to their loved ones as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Joanne Warmar, a resident at Stone River Retirement Community, shows a photo of her five children, nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Restrictions eased in September.