E A ST COUNTY
Boo Fest is back. SEE PAGE 6A
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017
VOLUME 19, NO. 48
YOUR TOWN
Amazon dream
Lakewood Ranch makes bid to host tech giant’s second headquarters. SEE PAGE 3A
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Going the extra mile Regina Morris’ 33rd marathon may have been one of her toughest, but a giraffe did help with her recovery. Summerfield’s Morris won her age group (55-59) Oct. 15 at the Bridges Marathon in Chattanooga, Tenn., and that’s after course officials miscalculated the distance, sending runners an estimated 27.1 miles, compared to a marathon’s 26.2. After the race, she rode an antique carousel giraffe in Coolidge Park, where the race started and began, as she waited for winners to be announced. She said the giraffe “made me forget about all those hills — almost.”
Berkley Mason
East County Observer players Paul Deery, Cameron Cody, Grant Rhind and Evan Rhind enjoy each other’s company during a Little League baseball game in Lakewood Ranch. Cody, who has Down syndrome, has had no trouble bonding with his fellow players.
Courtesy photo
Meet the Doodle Doodle Bugs! Children’s Learning Academy, a new child care business coming to Lakewood Ranch, will have a booth at Boo Fest on Friday. Not only will the booth offer crafts, but the Doodle Bug mascot will make his debut at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. “He is gigantic,” said Marissa Lee, the center director at Doodle Bugs! Children Learning Academy. “It will get the kids excited.”
‘TYPICAL’ KID
Information highway FDOT holds public meeting to discuss I-75 interchange plans and concerns. SEE PAGE 4A
On the baseball diamond, Cameron Cody is just one of the guys. SEE PAGE 8A A+E
Mystery theater INSIDE
Pam Eubanks
Tara resident Andy Kufta wonders if the improvements are on too grand a scale.