EAST COUNTY
Give poverty the boot
Observer
Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
PAGE 18
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
VOLUME 25, NO. 14
Ian’s impact still felt a year later Myakka City family continues to seek a return to normalcy while county officials react to improve their response during a hurricane. SEE PAGES 2-3
YOUR TOWN
STOLEN VALOR?
The Observer found inconsistencies throughout radio personality ‘the Captain’ Matt Bruce’s story of 9/11 heroism, military service and record as a firefighter.
JAMES PETER MANAGING EDITOR
H
e was trapped for 13 hours in the rubble of the World Trade Center on 9/11. That’s what conservative radio host Matt Bruce told an audience Sept. 11 during the Remembrance of 9/11 ceremony at Sarasota National Cemetery. “‘Mayday, mayday, mayday,’ those (calls) were real,” said Bruce during his speech. “And I probably was one of them.” “No way. Hell no. Not a chance.” Those were the reactions of current and retired firefighters from the city and state of New York to Bruce’s story of survival. A former Lakewood Ranch resident now based in the Tampa area, Bruce refers to himself as “the Captain.” He hosts a nationally syndicated latenight talk radio program called “Captain’s America Third Watch,” which appears along with “The Alex Jones Show” in the 40-show lineup of Genesis Communications Network. Over his decades-long radio career, Bruce has built an audience by cultivating a folksy on-air persona bolstered by his decorated record in Vietnam and as a firefighter in New York City. As a firefighter “assigned” to the New York City Fire Department, he said he responded to the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, where he was buried for 13 hours in the rubble of the North Tower. But sources throughout New York fire depart-
Courtesy photo
Night of celebration Maria Popoca (above), a third grader at William H. Bashaw Elementary School, grabbed a microphone and made her way to the stage to sing a song. She was one of many performers during the school’s Hispanic Heritage Night, which featured student performances from the Bashaw Music Club, pre-kindergartners and individual students. Danzas de Matachines, a local dance organization, also performed. Besides the performances, the night also included parent versus student soccer games and presentations on famous Hispanic people.
SEE BRUCE, PAGE 8 Ian Swaby
Syndicated radio host Matt Bruce spoke to the audience at a 9/11 Remembrance ceremony held Sept. 11 at Sarasota National Cemetery. He told an incredible story of survival at the World Trade Center on 9/11, but some current and retired firefighters wonder how much of it is true.
Lesley Dwyer
A decade in front of the net Edgewater resident Thom Jernigan has been playing tennis at Summerfield Park for 10 years. On Monday, he was playing with Greenbrook resident Armin Ebrahim, who joined the informal tennis group in 2017. It’s a small group of friends, but they usually have enough players for at least a doubles match each week. “If it’s too busy here, we play at the high school,” said Ebrahim. The guys aim for three sets, but Jernigan (above with Ebrahim) said it depends on how hot it is outside.
Vote on wetland protections due Oct. 5 Proponents on each side of the issue answer three important questions. SEE PAGE 6
A+E
Lesley Dwyer
Charlene Kow waits her turn Aug. 17 to ask commissioners to vote down a measure to reduce wetland protections.
High-wire holiday PAGE 12