E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
LIVING LORD CAMP
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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 17, NO. 31
FREE
TEAM CHALLENGE
Business owners hope Major League Football scores a touchdown for East County.
PAM EUBANKS SENIOR EDITOR
M
a n a ge r To m Yorke’s 79-room Country Inn & Suites hotel on State Road 70 won’t accommodate any of Major League Football’s roughly 1,000 team and staff members when the league heads to Lakewood Ranch for spring training this February. But Yorke couldn’t be happier with the league’s decision SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 4A
Baugh files for re-election The East County resident cites indigent health care, budgeting, looming staff changes and development as priorities. PAM EUBANKS SENIOR EDITOR
TOP DOGS Nate’s canines bone up on their skills at a new obstacle course.
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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015
MAJOR IMPACT
Courtesy photo
Nolan Middle School’s Technology Student Association Construction Challenge Team needed to identify and solve a community need as it heads to national competition June 28. The team addressed unsafe driving practices — not wearing seatbelts or texting or talking on the phone while driving. Their idea? A sign saying “Be Safe. Be Aware. Be Back Tomorrow.” Students built the sign and installed it in February at Lakewood Ranch High School. They received permission in May to build and install another sign along Greenbrook Boulevard, at the entrance of McNeal Elementary and Nolan Middle schools. The state team that constructed the first sign consisted of then-seventhgraders: Kaitlyn Bush, Beau Cunningham, Ellie Fensterle, Lauren Whiddon and Amanda Boccarosa. The national team includes a new team member, Grant Trautweiler, who will take Boccarosa’s spot.
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EAST COUNTY — Lakewood Ranch resident Vanessa Baugh has announced her intentions to run for another term as Manatee County’s District 5 commissioner. Baugh, a Republican, filed for re-election Friday with the Supervisor of Elections Office. To date, she is the only candidate in the race for the District 5 seat, which comes up for re-election in November 2016. Baugh said the board must continue to work on solutions for the
SEE BAUGH PAGE 6A
File photo
Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh speaks at a town hall meeting in June 2014.
YOUR TOWN RANCH AUXILIARY RESERVES FUNDS FOR FOOD The Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Auxiliary doesn’t want children to be hungry this summer. The group donated $25,000 to the Food Bank of Manatee, an arm of Meals On Wheels PLUS of Manatee. Mary Beth Phillips, CEO of Meals On Wheels PLUS of Manatee, June 1 accepted the check during LWRMC’s meeting. “This donation is to help fill an urgent need to feed hungry children throughout Manatee County over the summer when school is not in session and they are not receiving school meals,” said Carolyn Ramsey, chairwoman of the Auxiliary’s Grants Committee. Last year, the auxiliary donated funds to Feeding Empty Little Tummies, an organization that also helps feed in-need children. Annually, the group searches for organizations to support financially.