E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
Say ‘Boo’ at the market
PAGE 1B
•
FREE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021
VOLUME 23, NO. 51
Big ‘Yes’ on school referendum
YOUR TOWN Tick, tock. Turn back your clock! Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7.
The School District of Manatee County’s 1-mill property tax referendum passes with 69.27% of the vote. PAGE 5A Courtesy photo
Kiddie Academy event makes kids flutter Savannah Gallagher (above) fluttered around as a butterfly Oct. 29 during the Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch’s Trunk-or-Treat. Gallagher, who is 2, dressed up for Halloween along with her peers at Kiddie Academy. They enjoyed going from car to car collecting treats. The cars were decorated in different themes including “Frozen” and “Paw Patrol.”
SUPER CHARGED Liz Ramos
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, celebrates the renewal of the district’s 1-mill property tax referendum. The referendum passed with 69.27% of the vote Tuesday night.
Art and Soul Dance Co. invited to perform during Daytona 500 weekend. SEE PAGE 8A
Jay Heater
Art and Soul Dance Co.’s Kayla Downes says self-confidence will be important in performing at the Daytona International Speedway.
A+E
Conservation lands effort begins Manatee County to implement the environmental tax referendum approved in 2020. SEE PAGE 3A
A side of art. SEE PAGE 13A
Scott Lockwood
The Manatee River winds through Rye Preserve in northeastern Manatee County. Last year, voters approved a referendum that will raise funds for the county to purchase environmentally sensitive lands.
Scott Lockwood
Hobby leads to fling with strings Alice Baumann said she was looking for a hobby after she moved here from New York two years ago. She decided to try her hand at playing the ukulele. Baumann, with the help of instructor Sunny Kellner and the Aloha Ukulele Class that’s part of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities calendar, has excelled. “I went from not knowing how to tune my ukulele to amassing a collection of over 500 songs I can play,” Baumann said during the Oct. 19 class at James L. Patton Park. “It’s amazing how easy it is to learn.”