East County - Thursday, July 14, 2011

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EAST COUNTY

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Ranch resident recalls work on space shuttle.

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Child actors bring Disney magic to Lakewood Ranch.

PAGE 14-15.

aleof

beauty and the feet

A

Thursday, JULY 14, 2011

sports

Ranch gymnast wins fifth straight national title.

PAGE 21.

talk of a town

By Rod Thomson | Editorial Pages Editor

The Observer examines the incorporations of Weston, Wellington and Bonita Springs and how they compare to Lakewood Ranch.

hree

Cities WESTON: PAGE 2 • WELLINGTON: PAGE 3 BONITA SPRINGS: PAGE 3

Lakewood Ranch stands in a long line of Florida cities that have incorporated in recent years, cities whose experience can teach Ranch residents whether becoming a city may be the right choice.

It’s simply less costly to learn from others.

So the East County Observer tells the tales of three communities in Florida that incorporated in the mid-to-late 1990s and now have a track record.

Those communities are: • Weston, in Broward County, which won uncontested incorporation with 90% of voters in favor and has contracted out everything conceivable for a city; • Wellington, in West Palm Beach County, which went through a contentious and close battle for incorporation and has contracted out very little; • Bonita Springs, in Lee County, which falls between the two on both counts, but has been able to redevelop its one historic area and kept the tax rate surprisingly low.

+ Bobcat surprises Lakewood golfer Bill Morris had a rather unusual golfing partner during a recent outing at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.

While on the eighth hole of the King’s Dunes course, this bobcat sauntered by to get a better look at Morris’ shot.

Submit your wildlife photos to Managing Editor Michael Eng, meng@yourobserver.com.

INDEX Briefs......................4 Classifieds ...........26

Cops Corner..........13 Crossword.............25

Opinion...................6 Neighborhood.......13

Sports...................21 Weather................25

Vol. 12, No. 28 | One section YourObserver.com

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

WESTON: CITY GOVERNMENT LITE

gain control of its own growth management and would keep more if its property tax dollars in Indian Trace. nally approved for 25,000 dwell“Prior to incorporating, we ing units, later reduced to 17,000. were under the governance of the The developer created the In- Broward County Board of County dian Trace Community Develop- Commissioners sitting in downparticularly Wellington, Weston ment District to govern the com- town Fort Lauderdale 20 miles breezed to city-hood with little munity. The structure is similar away,” Flint said. opposition and an ultimate vote to Lakewood Ranch’s own CDDs. That rankled residents, who did The first homes were built in not feel the county commissionof 90% in favor. Getting nine out of 10 people to agree on anything 1984, and by 1991, there were ers, often consumed with other is a rarity, but the city did it in a more than 5,000 residents in In- issues, paid much attention to post-Labor Day election that dian Trace and residents became the city’s growth needs. Indeed, drew a surprisingly high 40% vot- the majority on the Board of Su- the community had no represenpervisors of the CDD. In 1994, an tative on the county commission. er turnout. incorporation feasibility study Plus, like so many upscale, unwas conducted, con- incorporated areas, Indian Trace Nearly obstacle free cluding that if the was a net donor of tax dollars, Weston was an Arvida Corp. community incor- meaning that more taxes were master-planned comporated, it sent to the county coffers than munity known as w o u l d the community received back in Indian Trace and origiservices.

Flint sums up the driving factors for incorporation in two words: “Zoning and cash.”

There were not many obstacles. Arvida Corp. was worried it might lose its entitlements to develop its properties the way the county had approved. So proponents included in the charter that Weston contracts out every service in the the developer would retain all of city, including police, to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, to keep overhead low. The city of its vested development rights, 64,000 residents employs nine people but has services including motorcycle patrol dedicated to Weston.

SEE WESTON / PAGE 8

Weston has put the concept of contracting out for government services on steroids — and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Of all the chamber of commerce-type promotions for Weston, there is one thing that screams its success as a young city.

It is not the 14 city parks in which leaders take great pride. It’s not the rather lavish new city hall building. It’s not the full range of police, fire and rescue, building and zoning and community services in place. It’s not even the full control of its growth future and self-determination, which is indeed one of the major benefits proponents of incorporation sought.

Rather, it’s this rather eye-popping stat for a city of 64,000 residents. Total number of city employees: nine.

Weston is as fully contracted out a city as is possible. All nine employees are directors of a department of the city but largely act as contract control agents with the 30 major private contractors handling the work of the city.

“We kept our promise; it works,” said City Manager John Flint, a longtime resident who was a CDD supervisor before the city incorporated.

Like Bonita Springs and Wellington, Weston has outsourced its police department to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and also kept the fire and rescue operations through the county. But Weston went even further, contracting out for everything from planning and zoning down to the receptionist at the desk entering City Hall.

“We have the lowest tax rate in Broward County,” Flint said.

But there is more to it.

A recent study for Broward County found that when all taxes, fees and other governmental assessments on citizens are combined, Weston becomes the cheapest place in the county to live — at least as far as government expenses go.

And unlike some other cities,

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

3

WELLINGTON: CITY BY A NECK Wellington overcame intense opposition to become a city, maintaining its equestrian culture but seeing taxes rise.

Wellington is renowned as the “Winter Equestrian Capital of the World,” but the West Palm Beach County city is more than that as an example for Lakewood Ranch residents to consider.

Wellington presents a completely different incorporation model as compared to the city of Weston, with Bonita Springs falling somewhere between the two.

But it also offers some close comparisons to Lakewood Ranch in its quest to become a city.

Wellington’s municipal setup is more of a traditional city. The city, incorporated in 1996 (the year after Weston), contracts out only for police through the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and firefighting through the county.

Wellington has 265 employees and a $74.5 million budget — although that is down from the peak a few years ago.

City Manager Paul Schofield said Wellington took a long look in 2001 at the Weston model of contracting out everything and having only nine city employees.

But in the end, the city “discarded” that operational method for one reason.

“It was responsiveness for us,” Schofield said. “Customer service was more important.”

Wellington leaders believed the city could provide better customer service on everything from utilities to planning approvals to code enforcement by having it done by city employees, rather than contracted out to private companies.

It is a somewhat counterintuitive line of thinking for those who believe the private sector generally does things better than the government, as Weston city leaders believe they have shown.

Strawberries and horses

Wellington’s well-known equestrian industry is actually pre-dated by the land known as the largest strawberry farm in Florida at the time.

The Acme Drainage District had been created by the Florida Legislature in the early 1950s to drain the land and protect it from flooding for agriculture. More than 2,000 acres turned it into the largest strawberry patch in the world at the time and set the stage for the later horse events.

The district was uniquely quasigovernmental, with municipal powers except law enforcement, including zoning and code enforcement.

The developers, who eventually went through two bankruptcies and multiple sales to other companies, won approval in 1973 for the first Planned Unit Development in Palm Beach County.

A joint venture between the Investment Corporation of Florida and Alcoa Aluminum was formed to begin building houses after the PUD was approved. ICOF later bought out Alcoa and then sold its properties to Gould Florida, a division of Gould Electronics, which built the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club, thus establishing the equestrian culture that has come to identify Wellington.

The area grew rapidly. What had been 100 boondocks residents in the 1960s grew to about 20,000 by 1995, when members of the community began the move for incorporation. It was an affluent community with high property values. “(Backers) felt they weren’t getting good services from Palm

Wellington decided contracting out most services was not the best way to go for customer service, Wellington City Manager Paul Schofield said.

Beach County, that they were an afterthought,” Schofield said. “It was true.”

So it came down to the same reason as for so many others.

“The most important issue was home rule: You control your destiny with incorporation,” said Dr. Carmine Priore, a longtime Wellington resident, proponent of incorporation and a city commissioner during most of the city’s life.

Intense battle

Francine Ramaglia is a native of Wellington, growing up in one of the first houses built in 1976. She moved away for jobs in government but returned home when the city was birthed.

“I came back to do incorporation. I came back to make history,” said Ramaglia, now the as-

SEE WELLINGTON / PAGE 9

BONITA SPRINGS: SECOND TIME’S THE CHARM Bonita Springs seems to have everything going for it from a 1999 incorporation into a city, including lower taxes and self-determination.

Bonita Springs may be the poster child for incorporation.

Because of many wealthy, gated communities, the area was a tax donor to Lee County coffers because it sent far more than it received in services. But it also had some older, blighted areas far from the Fort Myers political center of the county.

Eleven years into life as a city, the community has a dedicated police force of 16 officers on contract from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, new parks and cleanedup blighted areas, a downtown band shell and park that can hold 10,000 people, beefed up code enforcement, multiple environmental lands purchases and one salient fact for everyone involved: Taxes are lower living within the city than in the unincorporated county.

In essence, the city is far ahead of where it would have been, while saving money for residents.

For a resident of Bonita Springs, the tax rate on top of the basic county rate is .826 mills. (One mill is $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value.)

Residents in unincorporated Lee County, pay a rate on top of the basic county rate called the un-

incorporated MSTU of one mill.

That’s because the promise of keeping Bonita Springs’ highproperty-value gated community taxes within the city has been kept.

“It’s counterintuitive, but it’s actually cheaper to live in the city,” said Mayor Ben Nelson, who has been on the Bonita Springs City Council since its inception in 1999.

Second time around

In a quirk of history, Bonita Springs’ 1999 incorporation was actually its second time around as a city. It was a municipality from 1925-1932, but dissolved during the Great Depression, so Lee County could pay for the light bill.

Literally. A 1965 attempt to incorporate was voted down 441-99.

But by the late 1990s, things were different. The Bonita Bay Group had built several large, upscale gated communities with golf courses. The area was booming with people and money and the sense was growing that the residents were subsidizing other parts of Lee County.

The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce commissioned an incorporation study in 1997

The popular Riverside Park band shell sits on the site of a former run-down old mobile home park and came about as a result of incorporation. that found incorporation made financial sense. (Ironically, oneand-one-half years later, the chamber voted against incorporating, feeling services were good enough and its members fearing tax increases — a fear that turned out to be unfounded.)

In March 1998, the Bonita Springs Incorporation Committee was formed to study and educate the population on the issue, starting out with a neutral position.

But by spring 1999, the committee was fully committed to creating a city. “It was a no-brainer,” Hal Brenner, president of the commit-

Wellington Bonita Springs 1995 1999 Council-Manager Council-Manager 55,600 43,900 $211,200 $222,900 2.5 mills 0.83 mills 265 60 $74.5 million $22.0 million

By comparison

No two communities are exactly alike, but of the three cities the East County Observer is profiling, Bonita Springs is probably least like Lakewood Ranch.

AMENITIES

A CLOSER LOOK Item Incorporated Govt. type Population Ave. home value Tax rate Employees Budget

tee, told the Naples Daily News at the time.

The goal was to deliver higher services and cut taxes slightly while gaining local control.

“Government lite” was the catch phrase; most government services would be outsourced and Bonita Springs would avoid creating a big bureaucracy.

Weston 1996 Commission-Manager 65,800 $274,500 2 mills 9 $100.4 million*

Sources: Cities of Wellington, Bonita Springs and Weston, Zillow.com * Includes the Indian Trace water and sewer district and other Indian Trace development district funds totaling $45.7 million.

Weston: Community center, skate park, 14 municipal parks and recreational facilities Wellington: Wellington Ampitheater, Wellington Aquatics Complex, Patriot Memorial, community center, 26 community parks Bonita Springs: Community park (including B3 Skate Park, softball fields, tennis courts, community pool, disc golf course and more), Riverside Park, 10 beach access points

Bonita Springs has some historically old communities, an old-Florida flavor in places and even some old-Florida shtick parks, such as Everglades Wonder Gardens on Old U.S. 41. It also has some small, impoverished areas.

But near the Gulf of Mexico, the city boasts rows of upscale condo high rises and exclusive gated communities. In some ways, it is early Florida Oneco meets Longboat Key. Lakewood Ranch makes up a much narrower swath of demog-

SEE BONITA SPRINGS / PAGE 9

ONLINE Weston: www.westonfl.org Wellington: www. ci.wellington.fl.us Bonita Springs: www.cityof bonitasprings.org

SIZE Weston: 26.28 square miles Bonita Springs: 41 square miles Wellington: 31.4 square miles Lakewood Ranch: 48 square miles Source: U.S. Census Bureau

EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

+ Ranch Humane Society to host family festival

+ Ranch announces increases in lot prices

Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch will host its first Dog Days of Summer hot dog competition and festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 24, at Greenbrook Adventure Park in Lakewood Ranch.

Participating businesses will produce their version of the tastiest dog, and celebrity judges, families and pet-lovers will choose what business wins the right to display this year’s Top Dog traveling trophy.

Featured competing teams include Lakewood Ranch Main Street, RE/ MAX Alliance Group, Bistro Figuilo, Florida Cancer Specialists, Integrity Title, Community Bank, SunTrust Bank, Michael Saunders Group, MGA Insurance.

Families, pet-lovers, and leashed pets are all invited to sample the dogs, enjoy the music, festivities, games and shows.

Dogs will be available for adoption right on site.

Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for teens and free for kids 12 years and younger. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch.

For more, visit www.HSLWR.org.

For the first time since the real estate market crash in 2006, the Lakewood Ranch management team will increase lot prices.

“The demand has just been so high since the beginning of this year that we are going where the market takes us,” said Milt Flinn, LWR Communities president. “The pace of our sales is creating a sense of urgency and a domino effect — people want to get the best lots and the best value.”

The increase will be from $8,000 to $18,000 per lot and will take place on July 25. Walk-in traffic is up 70% this quarter compared to the same time last year, and for year-to-date, more than 18,000 people have visited Lakewood Ranch information centers and models.

At The Lake Club and Country Club East, sales are up 142% from last year with $11 million in sales so far this year.

+ Lakewood Reps to host July luncheon The Lakewood Ranch Republican Club will host its next luncheon from noon

RACE DAY Racing fans got an up-close view of the STIHL No. 13 offshore racing boat during its recent stop to Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware, in Lakewood Ranch. From left: Ted Baer, Bob Dannemiller, boat owner J.R. Noble, Libby Engel, Jim Kaluk, Matt Baer and Al Derosier. to 1 p.m., July 15, at the Holiday Inn in Lakewood Ranch, 6231 Lake Osprey Drive.

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dr. Richard M. Swier will speak about Sharia (Islamic) law. Swier currently serves on

the Board of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. He also has been appointed as chairman of the Sarasota National Cemetery Advisory Committee

by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan. Cost is $25. For more, visit www.lwrrc.com.

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EAST COUNTY Observer

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THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

By Michael Eng | Managing Editor

It’s ‘Just’ Rocket Science

As Atlantis left the pad July 8 for the final flight of NASA’s shuttle program, one Lakewood Ranch resident watched with a heavy heart. Stan Abshier helped develop the rocket boosters used to propel the shuttle into space.

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Stan Abshier shrugs as he holds a large photo of NASA’s first space shuttle. With a ballpoint pen, he points to the rocket boosters, the two, long segmented pieces flanking the shuttle on either side.

A retired chemical engineer, Abshier, during his time with United Technologies and Lockheed Martin, helped develop several technologies that helped propel man into space.

“People want to say, ‘Oh, it’s rocket science,’” he says. “But really, it was just normal guys with normal training getting together and working on a particular job.”

Yes, but only if that job is to take men out of this world.

The first solid booster

Abshier was working in Massachusetts when he learned about United Technologies, a small California-based company. During the Sputnik era of the late 1950s, the United States was failing in its attempt to launch satellites into space via liquid engines. United Technologies was seeking help to develop solid rocket boosters.

“I’ve always been interested in technologies,” Abshier says.

With United, Abshier helped design the solid boosters featured 2010 - K Titan IIIC onLBK the U.S. Air Force’s space booster in 1965. The solid boosters were segmented and

Michael Eng

Stan Abshier keeps a framed photo of NASA’s first space shuttle.

would eject each of the booster segments during liftoff.

After 15 years with United, Abshier left to start his own business. He later returned to the rocket industry — this time with Lockheed Martin, which had won a bid to develop a more advanced shuttle.

As head of process engineering, Abshier was responsible not only for the development of the technology but also building the facilities and equipment necessary to manufacture the technology. In the late 1980s, NASA took over the partially completed Yellow Creek Nuclear Power Plant in Iuka, Miss., and Abshier worked

filled with a solid propellant fuel exhibiting characteristics similar to a pencil eraser. As the vehicle took flight, the boosters burned through the propellant and then ejected each piece. Using a solid fuel allowed control over the speed and intensity at which the fuel burned. Furthermore, by ejecting segments, the vehicle became lighter throughout liftoff.

The shuttle program

Four companies, including United, bid on a contract to develop the space shuttle. And although NASA did not choose United, the company did develop the small staging motors that

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And, despite the shuttle program’s ending, Abshier remains proud of the work he completed throughout his career.

“We helped do things that hadn’t been done before,” he says.

“I’m pleased we could contribute to the concept — the multiple parts of the rocket launch system.

“I’m proud,” Abshier says, then paused. “I’m really, very proud.”

Contact Michael Eng at meng@ yourobserver.com.

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Last week, Abshier watched Atlantis’ final liftoff on TV from his home in the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch.

“I’m sad about it,” he says of the ending of NASA’s shuttle program. “There was so much time and so much work that went into it. We advanced the whole world, as far as aerospace vehicles go.”

However, in retirement, Abshier has taken up a new cause — energy. Today, he teaches a course titled “Making the U.S. Energy Efficient” at State College of Florida’s Lifelong Learning Academy. He also believes the minds at NASA could be put to good use developing an energy policy for the country.

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to reconstruct the site to build solid rocket boosters.

“There was the base of one reactor there,” Abshier says. “We planted trees over the top of it.”

Lockheed was nearing completion at the site when Congress canceled the contract, instead opting to change the original design. NASA stripped the paint from the vehicle and adopted a lighter material for the fuel tanks.

Abshier continued working with Lockheed to develop technologies for the Trident and Poseidon missiles. He retired in 1997.

“We’ve done so much good work in the area of missiles,” he says. “There isn’t any place in the world we cannot hit.”

Although Lockheed’s design never was completed, many of the technologies Abshier helped develop were used in the shuttle. In addition to the boosters and staging motors, Abshier and his team also developed the solid fuel.

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

Observer opinion | our view EAST COUNTY

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Editor & CEO / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@ yourobserver.com Executive Editor / Lisa Walsh, lwalsh@ yourobserver.com Associate Publisher-Multimedia / Emily Walsh Parry, ewalsh@yourobserver.com Managing Editor / Micheal Eng, meng@ yourobserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@yourobserver.com News Editor / Pam Eubanks, peubanks@ yourobserver.com Associate Editor / Jen Blanco, jblanco@yourobserver.com Black Tie Editor / Molly Schechter, mschechter@yourobserver.com Arts & Entertainment Editor / Heidi Kurpiela, hkurpiela@yourobserver.com Editor-Editorial Pages / Rod Thomson, rthomson@yourobserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, jraleigh@yourobserver.com Advertising Executives / Victoria Baga, vbaga@yourobserver.com; Trish Ivey, tivey@yourobserver.com; Robert Lewis, rlewis@yourobserver.com; Suzanne Munroe, smunroe@yourobserver.com; Kathleen O’Hara, kohara@yourobserver.com; Laura Ritter, lritter@yourobserver.com; Lori Ruth, lruth@yourobserver.com; Kenji Trujillo, ktrujillo@yourobserver.com; Allen J. Tsinober, atsinober@yourobserver.com Sales & Marketing Coordinator/Account Managers / Stephanie Hannum, shannum@ yourobserver.com; Susan Leedom, sleedom@ yourobserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Maureen Hird, mhird@yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Operations Manager / Kathy Payne, kpayne@ yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Coordinator / Brooke Schultheis, bschultheis@ yourobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Monica DiMattei, mdimattei@yourobserver.com; Shawna Polana, spolana@yourobserver.com; Marjorie Holloway, mholloway@yourobserver. com; Luis Trujillo, ltrujillo@yourobserver.com Multimedia Production Manager / Caleb Stanton, cstanton@yourobserver.com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Keisacker, lkeisacker@yourobserver.com Accounting Manager / Lori Downey, ldowney@yourobserver.com Accounting Assistant / Kathy Klein, kklein@ yourobserver.com

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What about the taxpayer?

As is all too common, an important party has not been at the table in the negotiations between the Manatee County School District and the Manatee Education Association.

Teachers and teachers’ aides, part of the MEA, voted Friday to reject the contract extension offered by the school district to go to 2013. The district eventually can impose a contract, as it recently did, but that is the last resort. This is an early negotiating position, and as such, the union’s rejection is not totally out of bounds.

Manatee schools are in their fourth year of budget cuts, and it has become a painful exercise for everyone involved.

When the School Board imposed a contract on teachers in June for the 2010-11 year, which it has a legal right and responsible obligation to do after both sides rejected the mediator’s recommendations, it eliminated automatic step increases.

That is the pay raise that teachers were getting on top of the official pay raises, just by dint of being employed another year.

But the district booted on a bigger issue — the self-insured health fund. Employees pay premiums into the fund, and the

fund pays healthcare costs through various health plans from which an employee can choose. That fund went from a $2.1 million surplus in 2006 to a $9.4 million deficit at the end of 2010.

That is not sustainable. So the school district planned to increase premiums enough to cover expected costs and erase the deficit within three years. Unfortunately, the School Board caved on the health care payment issues and gave the union what it wanted when it had the power to impose what was necessary.

So, back to who is being left out of the equation.

After Friday’s rejection by the union, Assistant School Superintendent Darcy Hopko told the Bradenton Herald, “We’re going back to the table to get the best plan for the employees and the district.”

So, we have the unionized employees and the school district, which includes the non-unionized employees who traditionally get what unionized workers get. What we do not have in that statement, and normally in the minds of school district negotiators, is the taxpayer. You. Who is looking out for you? The largest portion of your property taxes goes for schools.

The union exists to fight for the best financial interests of its members. The district and Hopko need to remember — and perhaps be reminded by School Board members — that they are to be looking out for the taxpayer.

+ Scores keep rising

The daggers keep driving into the heart of the argument that schools will only get better with more money.

The Manatee County School District is entering its fourth year of budget cutbacks. In the past three years, it has cut $46 million from its budget and eliminated positions from the district level from the schools and classrooms.

But the Florida Department of Education just released the most recent Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores, and Manatee County schools overall improved this past year — mirroring what has gone on in Sarasota County schools, with budget cutbacks and increased scores.

It may not be clear the explanation for the increased scores, but it is yet more evidence that the testing results are not directly tied to money spent.

my VIEW

Teacher lawsuit instructive There is much to be learned from the lawsuit filed by the statewide teachers union and joined by others, including an entitlement mentality.

The lawsuit by the Florida Education Association and other public-sector unions against a new Florida law requiring a small pension contribution is truly educational.

The state has been far too generous with taxpayer money by providing free, full pensions to all employees, including teachers. The costs to the state and local municipalities to contribute to the state pension fund is a bankrupting element for governments during the recession.

So, the Legislature approved a budget this year ROD that requires teachers THOMSON and other government workers using the state retirement plan to contribute 3% of their pay toward their pension.

For most everyone in the private sector, this has long been the case for pensions, and more so with tax-free personal retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans that require the employees to put in mostly, or all of, their own money.

Workers in the state pension fund have

had a free ride toward retirement; the rest of the state’s workers have not. It had to come to an end.

But the Florida Education Association — the largest teachers union in the state — is suing to stop the increase, leading a group of other public-sector unions such as the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Service Employees International Union and the Fraternal Order of Police.

There are three important lessons to learn in this action.

Lesson one: entitlement mentality.

First, it shows how a mindset toward entitlement is part of human nature and the generosity of taxpayers in retirement benefits — which those same taxpayers do not enjoy — is completely unappreciated.

When was the last time a government worker, or government union, was actually thankful in a public way for the incredible largesse that has been part of his or its pension plans? But the moment this largesse is threatened, even in a minimal way, the response is anger and lawsuits.

There quickly develops an automatic entitlement to the benefit package that, for much of the private sector, is always in flux

THE CASTAWAY by Jorge Blanco

and only a fraction as abundant.

Lesson two: Who unions are.

Unions exist to get members higher pay, better benefits and job security — the latter of which often means making it difficult to get rid of crummy employees. That is the purpose of unions.

Unions do not exist to be a team member with management in government, nor to have any responsibility for the efficient operations of governments or companies.

They are not supposed to be looking out for taxpayers or shareholders. If you are not a member of the union, it has no interest in your benefit one way or another, any more than a company does if you are not a customer.

This is true of teachers unions also. They never have and never will make children or education their top priorities. Teachers do. Teachers unions do not. Their role is that of unions. It is long past time that school boards and other government officials recognized that unions are not a friend or a team member. They are an adversary with completely different goals. As long as elected officials are confused on this point, union members will get great benefits, and taxpayers will shoulder the burden.

Lesson three: Threat of government unions.

Even though Florida is a right-to-work state, government unions have become so

SEE THOMSON / PAGE 7

www.YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

THOMSON / FROM 6 big — because, of course, government has become so big — that they wield enormous power with the political class that decides their pay and benefits.

For instance, when a school board needs to make some cuts, and most of the expense is in teachers and salaries, the board naturally must look there.

But any attempt to reign in costs through that method will bring out masses of placard-waiving teachers and kids on street corners, ginning up support for “education.”

These events are organized by government unions and not something that elected school board members want to see. Politicians hoping to get re-elected are frightened by groups of people on the street, or in a meeting, opposing a policy.

They are further frightened by the amount of money government unions can pour into political campaigns through their PACs. These three lessons should serve a purpose for the public and all elected officials. Recognize that unions are not your

LETTERS

EDITOR

TO THE

+ World is changing, voting law is wrong Dear Editor: Regarding Rod Thomson’s June 23, 2011, column “Setting the vote straight.”

What fraud?

There has been no evidence of widespread fraud in Florida.

And, because he seems quite aware that black churches have urged their members to go out and vote early when they left their churches on Sunday, he clearly knows de-

friend. Elected officials need to remember they are to defend and protect the treasury of taxpayer resources, not befriend unions.

At the state level, legislators and Gov. Scott ought to consider legislation banning government employees from unionizing. It sounds draconian, but it is not.

They were not allowed to unionize until the 1950s (in Wisconsin first, and look at the disaster that has caused) and in the 1960s for federal employees. Since then, the cost of government and employee benefits has skyrocketed.

Meantime, if the Florida government unions prevail in the lawsuit, there will be a $1.2 billion gap opened in the state budget. This would need to be filled every year either by increasing taxes or cutting other services. That is the reality.

The time has come for teachers and other government workers to do what is done in the private sector — pay for their own retirement — and to defang the government unions.

Rod Thomson is editorial pages editor of the Observers and can be reached at rthomson@yourobserver.com. leting Sundays from the early-voting schedule is a direct blow against black voters. The Legislature (mostly all Republican) and the governor clearly know this as well.

The League of Women Voters has pointed this out, and if there is one organization that is not “liberal” or “partisan” or Democrat, it is the league, of which I have been a member for 50 years.

A new organization called Unidos, led

by Kelly Kirschner and C.J. Czaia, is urging Latino churches to do more than complain about their lack of recognition in our government and to replace their complaints with efforts to get out their vote as well. Is this too “liberal” for him, too?

The world (even in Sarasota) is changing fast. Perhaps he needs to get with the change, or just remain stuck in the mud.

Connie Goldstein Sarasota

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

Weston City Manager John Flint and his department directors are more contract managers as they have no in-house staffs. Even the receptionist at City Hall is a private sector employee.

WESTON/PAGE 2 and those would only change if the developer requested it.

Also, Broward County firefighters were apprehensive that the new city would start its own fire department, risking their job security.

“They worried those of us in favor were empire building,” Flint said.

It was a matter of education and promise-keeping to assuage those fears.

The education paid off when 40% of the residents voted the day after Labor Day in 1996 to become the city of Weston.

Promises kept

Flint makes the conversion from upscale subdivisions and golf courses to city sound pretty easy. In fact, it was for Weston.

With almost no opposition and overwhelming resident support, the leaders of the new city

needed only to not overplay their newfound powers and create a monster.

They didn’t. As Flint repeats, they kept their promise and have shaved the city to as small a size as possible.

But the city parents also developed a good handle on what the first five years of being a city would cost and whether an incorporated Weston was up to the task of maintaining infrastructure. Surprises in that area could have changed the Weston tale, but they turned out to have good order in those first years. Flint said there is nothing they would change in the charter.

On the promise of keep city overhead small, Weston unarguably has met or exceeded expectations. The entire staff of the city of Weston, population 64,000, is the city manager, assistant city manager, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, treasurer, city clerk, director of

communications, director of parks and recreation and director of landscaping. Everyone else is a private-sector employee on contract with the city.

But Weston also has been increasing its millage rate every year since 2006 — when it was about 1.5 mills — to the current level of 2 mills.

Weston has built itself a well appointed, $6 million City Hall.

The 15,000-square-foot facility houses the department heads, contract secretaries, meeting rooms and the commission chambers.

Weston has some other unique arrangements, including maintaining the Indian Trace CDD as a simpler development district that issued bonds and assessed fees for infrastructure needs. But it was retained as a “dependent district,” meaning the Weston City Commissioners and the district’s board are the same people.

Weston also has annexed some properties since becoming a city, including land along U.S. 27, which is now the city’s western border with the Everglades, and property along Interstate 75 and State Road 84. The development of Bonaventure also voted to become part of Weston in 1997.

But it is not the unique arrangements, the tiny size of city government or the lower taxes that makes Weston’s story. The story is written by a lot of people who find a unique home in the city in the middle of Southeast Florida’s 5.5 million-person hubbub.

Weston was named one of the 25 most affordable suburbs in 1996 in the United States by BusinessWeek.com and was named “One of America’s Best Small Cities” by Money Magazine in 2008, one of only three Florida cities.

WELLINGTON/PAGE 3 sistant city manager.

Like Priore, she is intimately familiar with the dynamics driving incorporation, and the split within the community. The reasoning for incorporating was the same as in Weston and Bonita Springs and the argument that backers make for Lakewood Ranch: Keep tax money within the affluent community and provide for home rule.

“We didn’t keep any money; it all went downtown,” she said, as developers were building roads and putting in infrastructure.

The Wellington community was a nearly 100% donor community, because newer structures rarely burned down and crime was almost non-existent.

“We wanted home rule, selfdetermination and the money to do what we wanted to do,” said Priore, as passionate a promoter of the city as anyone.

But maintaining lifestyle as a city was a key element of the opposition. This was particularly true for those involved in Wellington’s equestrian culture, who worried that their way of life would be endangered, that the large acreage would be divided up for more parcels and that taxes would soar.

“We had a very well orchestrated group who did not want to incorporate,” Priore said.

“Some individuals made it their life’s work to stop us from incorporating. They were vehemently opposed.”

Similar to some of Lakewood Ranch’s opposition, those opposed to the Wellington incorporation were from New York and New Jersey and had seen corruption and powerful unions running Northern cit-

ies and did not want to see that happen to Wellington. They extrapolated their experiences up North onto Wellington and they were ardent.

Proponents changed some charter elements to placate opponents, such as setting a 5-mill property tax cap and instituting term limits.

Both sides hired top lobbyists in Tallahassee to stop the incorporation bill from passing the Legislature — a fairly unusual event — and then both mounted regular campaigns to win over a majority of residents.

It was tenuous and in the end, the pro-incorporation people won narrowly by 400 votes.

“We overcame by proving the fact that we would benefit more from being a city than part of the county,” Priore said. “We focused on the principle of selfdetermination.”

Working through division

That difficult fight to incorporate meant the city’s first leaders were faced with governing a divided population. In the first election, 30 people ran for the five city commission seats, making for a chaotic start.

The city charter required a runoff if no one reached a majority of votes, and that happened every election until the charter was changed to allow a plurality if the winner received more than 35%.

The result was a fractious beginning. But those elected, entirely backers, were committed to fulfilling their promises. Over the years, most of the opponents moved from Wellington.

Those who ran never won.

City leaders have maintained

WELLINGTON/PAGE 9

60111

8

EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

BONITA SPRINGS/PAGE 3

Wellington’s 9-11 memorial is nearly complete, including two pieces from the World Trade Center. The memorial is an example of the sense of united community that can come with being a city. identity and facilities. The city has created a medical arts district for future growth around the existing Wellington Regional Medical Center. Plus, the city has built a public amphitheater, children’s park, an aquatics park, 16-court tennis facility and most recently finished a 9-11 memorial. City leaders claim that much of this has been done with money that would have been going to the county to be spent elsewhere.

The debate periodically comes up about Wellington having its own police force. But Schofield thinks it is unwise. He said the city has 54 patrol officers, plus sergeants, a lieutenant and a district commander — who is referred to as police chief.

They all act as Wellington police, staying within the city limits.

“If they are assigned to Wellington, that is where they work,” Schofield said.

If Money magazine is any guide, Wellington has done all right with its decision, taking the 72nd spot on the magazine’s top 100 Best Places to Live.

WELLINGTON/PAGE 8 the important equestrian culture. Driving from the north part of Wellington, where the subdivisions and golf courses are located, to the south end is a dramatic change. The large lots, the narrower roads, the polo facilities. On the lifestyle point, the opponents were wrong.

“We have indeed preserved the diversity of lifestyles,” Ramaglia said.

But it is also true that taxes are higher. Just not much. A resident of Wellington pays about 25 mills total on their property tax bill, with one mill equal to $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Of that, 2.5 mills is collected by the city. The rest is assessed by the county, school district and special taxing districts at the county level. And if the community were still unincorporated, residents would be paying a Municipal Services Taxing Unit not far from the city tax.

Wellington has reaped some normal dividends of being a city, mostly in controlling growth,

raphy, dominated by middle-class and upper-middle-class communities.

And there are plenty of differences between the 1998-99 Bonita Springs incorporation effort and the 2010-2011 Lakewood Ranch effort as well.

First, there was no organized opposition to incorporation. Part of the reason, according to many involved at the time, was that almost no one gave incorporation a chance at passage. Of course, the Friends of Lakewood Ranch has organized well in advance to oppose it here.

Second, even after the Legislature approved Bonita Springs holding a referendum for cityhood, there was little public interest at first. Four information meetings in the spring of 1999 — the year of the vote — averaged a sleepy 26 residents. By comparison, a debate sponsored by the East County Observer in May attracted more than 300 people long before the Legislature even votes on any Lakewood Ranch incorporation, if it ever does.

Of course, that is largely a result of having organized opposition.

By the time of the vote in November 1999, residents were convinced it was a good idea, convincingly voting in favor 4,262 to 3,101 with 58% turnout.

But Bonita Springs was starting from scratch.

“We literally didn’t own a pencil,” Nelson said.

The first order of business was buying office supplies. The first Bonita Springs City Council was elected in April.

Timing, timing, timing

Bonita Springs could not have incorporated at a better moment.

The next decade saw enormous growth in both population and property values.

The population was about 32,000 in 2000, shortly after incorporation, and grew to about 44,000 in 2010. Property values went from about $160,000 in 2000 to $470,000 during the peak of the bubble in 2006. They are now at about $223,000.

A major challenge was keeping to the “government lite” promise.

But city leaders largely have done so, albeit not to the same degree as Weston. Bonita Springs has about 60 full-time employees.

For a city of 45,000, that is quite low. Sarasota, for example, with a population of about 52,000 has 721 employees. “‘Government lite’ works amazingly well if you are not wed to it,” Nelson said.

The city found that as it grew, it made sense to bring some things in-house. Code enforcement was one of those, because it can be such an intimate relationship with residents and businesses.

The Bonita Springs Fire Department and all utilities remain independent of city government — but are devoted to the city. Plus, the police department is on contract from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

A decade of change

People who have lived in Bonita Springs for more than a decade marvel at the change that has occurred. Some of it was bound to happen, because all of Southwest Florida was engulfed in the housing boom and associated commercial construction that followed the rooftops.

Tamiami Trail through Bonita Springs was an open stretch of road whisking people through at 55 mph. No real reason to stop.

9

Today, it is six lanes to eight lanes lined with shopping centers covering the range from affordable to upscale.

Much more impressive, however, is the old, poor parts where Old U.S. 41 crosses the Imperial River (more of a lazy stream) that had been the epicenter of the city 50 years ago but by 1999 was a rundown embarrassment.

In fact, right on the shores of the river were two dilapidated mobile home parks.

One of the early orders of business for the new city was to buy those parks and remove the mobile homes. On one side, the city built Riverside Park that features the large band shell, the historic Liles Hotel as a small community center, fountains, a playground, a kayaking center and other amenities. Most people you talk to have been to events at the park and love it, from the Christmas festivities that include “snow” to the Fourth of July parades.

People who have been around do not doubt that incorporating into a city was the key to the renovation of historic old Bonita Springs and that without it, the area would remain an impoverished backwater of neglect.

Another element that came only with the city was increased levels of service, from several fire department stations within the city to a full-size police force and stronger code enforcement for what the city has agreed it wants.

Dep. Mayor John Spear sums up the incorporation this way: “The feasibility study … promised modestly increased levels of service and the same or very modest decreases in property taxes. … The result was very high increased levels of service and more than modest property tax decreases.”

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THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

summer help By Pam Eubanks | News Editor

Woodland church missionaries target hometown Youth at Woodland, The Community Church spent a week of their summer volunteering throughout the local community as part of Project B-Town.

Courtesy photos

Students also collected food for the Manatee County Food Bank.

In years past, the youth have participated in Project B-Town’s predecessor — Mission Samoset.

During the weeklong camp, students worked on improving the community center in Samoset that Woodland acquired from the county about three years ago. But with so much of the work already finished there, camp organizers developed a new strategy.

“This year, we decided to expand it and do more projects throughout Bradenton,” Passmore said, noting Manatee County helped locate service opportunities. “The more students that signed up, the more projects we’ve added.

“These students have expanded their horizons,” she said. “(They) are going to places within their own hometown they didn’t even know existed.”

Students said they loved getting involved in the community, whether it was cleaning out and

organizing the Salvation Army’s food pantry, distributing food at the Samoset Community Center, sprucing up yards for local widows or collecting food for the Manatee County Food Bank, among other projects.

“I’ve learned a lot of things,” Travis Belanger, 14, said. “It makes you think about how good your life is and how the world is.

It makes me want to help more.”

Thirteen-year-old Emily Lederer agreed. “We’ve gone a week without thinking about ourselves,” she said. “ (There’s) so much you really can do without.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at peubanks@yourobserver.com.

Cornerstone Church

Woodland assisted in a variety of projects, including painting, at serveral locations throughout Manatee County.

Top: More than 70 students participated in Project B-Town.

Bernadette Mattei

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MANATEE COUNTY — Tears welled up in the eyes of Julia Damico, 13, as she thought back to the week’s events.

While painting rooms at Easter Seals, she met individuals with disabilities and special needs.

And despite their disabilities, these individuals gratefully showered Damico and other volunteers with hugs and high-fives for their efforts.

“No matter how hard the work, it’s worth it,” Damico said of the experience. “They have to have other people help them.”

Damico and more than 70 other middle- and high-school students from Woodland, The Community Church gathered for Project B-Town June 27 through July 1.

The week was filled not only with summer camp activities, such as bowling and broomball, but also plenty of time for helping others.

Students chipped in at places such as the Salvation Army and Easter Seals, assisting with muchneeded cleaning, painting and other projects.

“When we told one group they were going to Habitat for Humanity, they had no idea (what it was),” said Student Leader Jennifer Passmore, also the director for Woodland’s preschool. “They thought they would be working with animals. It has been an eyeopening thing — people don’t have places to live.”

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

Sarasota 941-926-7000 www.PrudentialPalmsRealty.com

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY Observer THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

cajun creation

By Jen Blanco | Associate Editor

Ranch’s Polo Grill sizzles with annual shrimp boil The Polo Grill and Bar will host its fourth annual Sypder Broussard Low Country-East County Shrimp Boil from 6:30-10:30 p.m., July 16.

Fourth Annual Spyder Broussard Low CountryEast County Shrimp Boil

LAKEWOOD RANCH — It’s been years since Polo Grill and Bar owner Tommy Klauber worked in New Orleans, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t miss the sights, sounds and spices of the Crescent City.

Now, Klauber is once again bringing a little Cajun flair to Lakewood Ranch.

Klauber and his good friend, Spyder Broussard, a native of Louisiana, will host the fourth annual Spyder Broussard Low Country-East County Shrimp Boil from 6:30-10:30 p.m., July 16, at the restaurant, 10672 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

“The shrimp boil is a summertime event that celebrates the community and allows people to get together in a really casual, fun way,” Klauber said. “This is the fourth year, and every year, it’s been just a kick. We don’t serve our regular menu. It’s all about people having a good time.”

The event will feature live music by the Gumbo Boogie Band and an authentic Cajun-style buffet complete with Oysters Bienville, Gumbo Ya-Ya, crawfish corn dogs, boiled shrimp, boudin (sausage), beignets du monde (fried dough) and more.

“One thing that any real Cajun knows is boudin,” Klauber said. “It’s a really unique American food. If you look at different parts of the country where

WHEN: 6:30-10:30 p.m., July 16 WHERE: 10672 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch Main Street WEB: www. pologrilland bar.com RESERVATIONS: 7820899, Ext. 2 they have signature dishes, they’re known for their boudin, and that’s really a very special thing.

“The flavor of New Orleans and its special dishes like beignets, shrimp and gumbo — all of those things are really deeply routed in my cooking past,” Klauber said. “I worked in New Orleans for years, and I just love those flavors and the music. We thought it would be a fun thing to do in the middle of the summer when there isn’t a lot to do. It’s the perfect time for people to come out and kick back.”

Contact Jen Blanco at jblanco@yourobserver.com.

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

Cops

MANATEE

Corner

The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Manatee County Sheriff ’s Office.

LAKEWOOD RANCH Reported July 4

7:05 a.m. — the intersection of Pope Road and Center Ice Parkway. Grand theft. Unknown person(s) stole storm sewer grates from the roadway on Pope Road and Center Ice Parkway. The person(s) fled in an unknown direction in an unknown vehicle.

MILL CREEK July 4

11:17 p.m. — 13500 block of Fifth Avenue N.E. Suspicious circumstance. The complainant is going through a divorce with her husband and also has an injunction against him. She left to go out of town for the weekend, and when she returned home, she noticed several things out of place, but nothing was taken. The sliding door was partially open, but the chain lock was still engaged. The bathroom window also was unlocked. The complainant also had several doors to different rooms open. She said she believes her husband was inside looking for something that they are disputing in a divorce case. A case number was issued and the complainant was given a victim’s rights brochure.

MYAKKA CITY July 5

10:30 a.m. — 28600 block of 104th Drive E. Information. The complainant’s small child was in her car seat when she locked the doors. The car keys were on the front seat, so she broke the car window to get her child out of the car before it became hot in the vehicle. There were no injuries to the child.

13

saddle up Submitted by Roxanne Harmer

SARASOTA July 3

3:34 p.m. — 2500 block of Whitfield Avenue. Found property. The responding deputy was pumping gas when he noticed a small bag of marijuana on the ground next to the gas pump. He seized the marijuana and placed it into property and evidence to be destroyed.

SUMMERFIELD July 4

10:37 p.m. — 6500 block of Meandering Way. Burglary to an unoccupied vehicle.

According to the victim, when he came outside to light sparklers with his daughter, he saw that the driver’s door and his truck lid were open. He saw an unknown white male sitting inside his car. The unknown male took off running and the victim chased after him. Nothing was taken from the vehicle. The vehicle wasn’t processed for fingerprints due to it being wet and having moisture inside. A pair of sliders and a GPS, with its cord and mount, were located. The items were placed into property and evidence to be processed.

OTHER

Reported June 30

11:08 p.m. — 7223 55th Ave. E. (Bank of America). Fraudulent use of a credit card. The victim reported she received a piece of mail from Bank of America telling her that her account may have been compromised. The victim also said the card that was used should have been deactivated because she received a new card in the mail. The victim has no idea who could have made the withdrawals from her account.

See more Cops Corner reports online. www.YourObserver.com

Sierra Yeomans, 4, practiced her jumping position during the show.

Westport Equestrian Club riders trot into summertime Riders at Westport Equestrian Club concluded Pony Camp with a funfilled show July 8.

Each camper showed off a variety of riding skills — much to the delight of family members

and friends. The riders also competed in several games and skill tests throughout the show.

Chloe Carlton navigated through the obstacles in the egg race.

Danielle Marler and Archie were excited to perform in the show.

When Lakewood Ranch becomes a city, we will begin to receive state shared revenues every year ($2.2 million as of 2011, based on our current estimated population of 16,000).

These revenues increase as population grows. These are revenues already being collected by the state and county, and are not new taxes!

City

Population

Shared Revenues

Palmetto Venice Bradenton Sarasota

14,371 21,845 53,942 53,148

$2,300,468 $3,338,517 $6,211,645 $7,587,315

The City of Lakewood Ranch would also receive local taxes that currently go to Manatee County ($1.5 million as of 2011).

In addition, LWR would be eligible for state, local, and private economic development funds to help build business and create more jobs—dollars to which we have little or no access as an unincorporated rural community.

Who benefits?

We all benefit!

SAY YES TO BECOMING A CITY!

www.lwrincorporation.com

60317

Are these estimates realistic? Take a look at the shared revenues being received by several other nearby CITIES this year.

14

EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

taking the stage By Pam Eubanks | News Editor

Disney magic dazzles at Child actors, singers and dancers brought Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” to life during the Acting Up Performing Arts Summer Camp at Lakewood Ranch High School. The thespians concluded the summer camp with a performance July 1.

Patrick Kenefick made the perfect Mad Hatter.

59944

Left: Jackson Helewege played the March Hare.

Caroline Cestaro, Casey Henshaw and Ally Boudreau played talking flowers.

Jordan Bollinger, Olivia LaFemina and Victoria Boudreau served as narrators.

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

15

Acting Up camp

Camp counselor Melina Cuffaro, the dodo bird, was paddled by rock lobsters.

Danny Shevlin said the perfect White Rabbit character was chaotic, but controlled.

Left: After eating a cookie, Alice, played by Jillian Smith, grew to be too big for the house in which she was standing.

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16 Leak Proof DESIGN

EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

Meet and greet

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

By Jen Blanco | Associate Editor

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

17

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Care Credit

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

real estate | transactions

By Adam Hughes | Research Editor

University Park home tops East County real estate sales The following residential real estate transactions took place between June 20 and July 1.

A home in Grosvenor Gardens tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Paul and Carole Farnsworth sold their home at 8318 Grosvenor Court to James and Linda Cole, of Wayland, Mass., for $1.15 million. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths, a pool and 4,301 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $1.86 million in 2006.

Waterlefe Golf and River Club

William and Frances Najdecki, trustees, sold the home at 10005 Discovery Terrace to David and Stephanie Preston, Bradenton, for $725,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,635 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $832,900 in 2004.

Robert and Lisa Olexy, Ft. Myers, sold their home at 10009 Discovery Terrace to Christopher Pierson and Melissa Pierson, trustees, Bradenton, for $725,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,885 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $950,000 in 2007.

Greenbrook Village

George Howard III and Deborah VogelHoward and Diane Vogel, Bradenton, sold their home at 14908 Sundial Place to George and Leonor Friedman, of Mequon, Wis., for $607,500. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,093 square feet of living area.

Branch Banking and Trust Co. sold the home at 14516 Sundial Place to Andras and Maria Nemeth, of Marshville, N.C., for $299,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, four baths and 3,043 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $474,300 in 2010.

Country Club of Lakewood Ranch

Jeffrey Taylor, of Fairfield, Conn., sold his home at 7025 Brier Creek Court to Barry and Winsome Wells, of Silver Springs, Md., for $575,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,715 square feet of living area.

Rodney and Deirdre Williams, Bradenton, sold their home at 8075 Royal Birkdale Circle to Richard and Ann Svertesky,

Bradenton, for $510,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,048 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $470,900 in 2002.

Don and Linda Kracker, Pointe Verde, sold their home at 7069 Whitemarsh Circle to Charles Sacco, of Altamont, N.Y., for $365,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,240 square feet of living area.

Jonathan and Jonna Keller, Sarasota, sold their home at 8212 Championship Court to Jon and Joyce Erdner, Lakewood Ranch, for $445,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,892 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $589,900 in 2001.

River Club South

Robert and Patricia Whorf, Bradenton, sold their home at 10627 Cheval Place to Preston and Michelle Davis, of Morristown, N.J., for $470,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,623 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $536,900 in 2004.

Warwick Gardens

Janet Lytle, trustee, and George Lytle, Sarasota, sold the home at 7107 Chatsworth Court to Herbert Salzman and Rita Salzman, trustees, University Park, for $470,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,390 square feet. It sold for $500,000 in 2008.

Winding River

Scott and Kelly Lantz, Bradenton, sold their home at 1110 143rd St. N.E. to Eastern Star Investments LLC for $455,000.

Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three baths, two half-baths, a pool and 3,959 square feet of living area.

GreyHawk Landing

David and Patricia Pflug, of Charlotte, N.C., sold their home at 12415 Daisy Place to Clemens and Sharon Presogna, Bradenton, for $439,900. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,274 square feet. It sold for $740,600 in 2006.

Darren and Jessica Bell, of Fort Wayne, Ind., sold their home at 12706 Penguin Drive to Curtis and Susan Nickerson,

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EAST COUNTY Observer

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THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

19

Lakewood Ranch, for $255,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,756 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $492,000 in 2007.

Melvin and Sheila Leiding sold their home at 12354 Lavender Loop to Jeffrey and Laurie Williams, Bradenton, for $249,900. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,682 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $425,000 in 2007.

Kevin and Jill Atchley, Bradenton, sold their home at 1025 Brambling Court to David and Maria Grejda, of Riverdale, N.J., for $235,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,263 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $380,000 in 2007.

This University Park home has four bedrooms, five-and-onehalf baths, a pool and 4,301 square feet of living area and sold for $1.15 million.

Riverdale Revised

Lars and Ann Lewander, Sarasota, sold their home at 4623 Shark Drive to David and Brenda Wade, Bradenton, for $420,000. Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,058 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $400,000 in 2001.

William and Emilia Cangeme, Bradenton, sold their home at 3712 Fifth Ave. N.E. to Pearce and Mary Sloan, of Rochester, N.Y., for $280,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,957 square feet of living area.

Photo by Jen Blanco

Country Meadows

Alan and Monica Stein sold their home at 320 148th Court N.E. to Joseph and Lavonne Berry, Bradenton, for $420,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,303 square feet of living area.

Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbour

Marcel and Aleta Badowski, Bradenton, sold their home at 7624 Camden Harbour Drive to Paul Mazure, of Reston, Va., for $405,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,975 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $385,200 in 2003.

Bem and Dori Smith and Robert and June Jordan, Naples, sold their home at 9052 Willowbrook Circle to James and Tina Magrin, Bradenton, for $230,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,356 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $384,900 in 2006.

Misty Oaks

Myron and Lynn Thompson, of Palm Harbour, sold their home at 6115 Misty Oaks St. to Randall Gilmore, Sarasota, for $390,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths, a pool and 2,882 square feet of living area.

Pomello Park

Chris and Heidi Sagar, Bradenton, sold their home at 22004 73rd Ave. E. to Jay Hsu of Wichita, Kansas, for $375,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,691 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $249,800 in 2005.

Steven and Joan Johnson, Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 25216 65th Ave. E. to Carmelo and Teri DiBella, Myakka City, for $312,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 3,078 square feet of living area.

Palm-Aire at Sarasota

Frank and Linda Calderone, Sarasota, sold their home at 5640 Country Lakes Drive to Darren and Traecy Brunner, Sarasota, for $370,000. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths, a pool and 2,914 square feet of living area.

Visit our website to read about more real estate transactions. www.YourObserver.com

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

Florida’s Best Weekly Newspapers

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1st — Longboat Observer 2nd — East County Observer 3rd — Sarasota Observer

Overall Graphic Design 1st — Longboat Observer 2nd — Sarasota Observer 3rd — East County Observer

As judged in the largest-circulation category by newspaper professionals in three states for the 2010 Better Florida Weekly Newspaper Contest sponsored by the Florida Press Association.

Additional Awards Best Website — YourObserver.com First Place Special Section — Gulf Coast Business Review Religion Writing — Robin Hartill, Longboat Observer Community History — Loren Mayo, Sarasota Observer Sports Game Day Story — Jen Blanco, East County Observer Sport Feature — Jen Blanco, East County Observer Spot News Photo — Michael Eng, East County Observer

Second Place General Excellence — Gulf Coast Business Review Editorial Award — Longboat Observer Special Section — Season Magazine, Stephanie Hannum Sports Photo — Jen Blanco, East County Observer Portfolio Photography — Michael Eng, East County Observer Business Writing — Carl Cronan, Gulf Coast Business Review Investigative Reporting — Stan Zimmerman, William Mansell, Pelican Press Editorial Page — Pelican Press, Rachel Hackney

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

gymnastics By Jen Blanco | Sports Editor

Five-Time Champ LAKEWOOD RANCH — Darinka Angelova walked into the gym for the first time 21 years ago, and from that moment on the then-6year-old had her heart set on becoming an elite gymnast.

Although at 6, Angelova never could have imagined that not only would her dream come true, but also she would still be competing more than two decades later.

“I didn’t think so because of the age limit is 18 or 20 at the most,” Angelova said of the notion of competing as an adult. “But then, life takes you somewhere else. I didn’t think I would be doing it for so long.”

Angelova has been flying high for the better part of 21 years, and the 27-year-old Kids Supergym gymnast doesn’t show signs of stopping anytime soon.

On July 3, Angelova captured her fifth-consecutive all-around national title at the Amateur Athletic Union Age Group National Gymnastics Championship at ESPN Wide World of Sports, in Orlando. Competing in the Level 8 Women’s Division, Angelova finished first on the vault (9.275), uneven bars (9.4) and balance beam (9.15) and second on the floor exercise (9.475) for a combined allaround score of 37.3.

“They’re all the same,” Angelova said of her titles. “Although now as it comes (closer), I’m getting more relaxed because I know what to do. It’s all fun. There’s not that competition type of feeling between the girls. We were all cheering each other on, and I remembered some of the girls from last

year, and they remembered me.”

Angelova put together one of her better all-around performances at this year’s AAU Age Group National Championship, but she admits it didn’t start off the way she had hoped.

Angelova drew the uneven bars as her first event — an event that up until recently had always been her favorite. But as she warmed up her routine, Angelova struggled to hit one of her skills. It was a skill Angelova had been doing since she was a little girl and one she could practically do in her sleep.

Filled with frustration, Angelova walked up to the apparatus and began her routine. She continually progressed throughout the routine — eventually hitting the skill and putting together one of her best performances on the uneven bars.

“The best part was afterwards when I was done,” Angelova said with a laugh. “I had a really rough time warming up bars. I didn’t get my skill, so I was really frustrated.

I went out and did it and completed my skill. It was a relief knowing I did my best, and I proved it.

“A lot of people are like, ‘That’s so awesome,’” she said. “It’s really nice. The thing that’s the best is that I didn’t forget even the harder stuff that I did when I was little. It’s hard to reach. It gets harder.”

A native of Bulgaria, Angelova began taking gymnastics after her mother signed her up for recreational gymnastics classes.

Angelova spent four years competing for the Bulgarian national team before joining in 2002 the

21

Kids Supergym’s Darinka Angelova captured her fifth national title in the Level 8 Women’s Division of the AAU Age Group Gymnastics National Championship July 3.

Jen Blanco

Darinka Angelova finished first on vault, balance beam and uneven bars to secure her fifth-consecutive all-around national title July 3.

Moscow State Circus, where she performed acrobatics. Angelova spent three years touring globally before moving to the United States in 2005 after the circus got a contract.

After leaving the circus, Ange-

lova began working in September 2006 at Kids Supergym.

In addition to coaching, Angelova began competing again as a way to maintain her performer’s visa while fulfilling her childhood passion.

“I still feel the pressure every time,” Angelova said. “It never goes away. Maybe it was a little more intense when I was little, but you still get it.”

Since then, Angelova has won numerous state and national titles. She practices every Saturday during the school year for three hours, making sure to make the most out of each practice.

“Your body doesn’t (move) the same way, so you have to workout every day,” Angelova said. “If you go to work and stay home your body is very sore. You definitely have to keep moving, so you don’t lose your form.”

Angelova is now in the process of renewing her performer’s visa and also has applied for her green card. Once her visa is renewed, Angelova will continue competing for Kids Supergym until she receives her green card.

And with another competition season behind her, Angelova will now spend the remainder of the summer focusing on coaching some of the East County’s future elite gymnasts.

“I’ve always wanted to be a coach,” Angelova said. “Not in Bulgaria — they’re so strict there.

Here it’s much nicer. It’s better for the kids and the coaches. In Europe they pressure you a lot, but here it’s all about having fun.

“I love the feeling when a kid gets a skill and they start jumping around and laughing,” she said.

“Sometimes, they even come up and give you a hug.”

Contact Jen Blanco at jblanco@ yourobserver.com.

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EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

nothing but net By Jen Blanco | Associate Editor

Hoop dreams soar at basketball camp Dozens of aspiring basketball players hit the court for Braden River High School’s seventh Summer Basketball Camp July 5-8.

Students participated in skill stations, competitions and team games while learning the basic fundamentals of the game. Camper of the Day, Hustle and Best Attitude awards were handed out at the end of each day of camp.

Fifth-grader Tristan VanTil attempts to dribble the ball around fourth-grader Garrett Murphy.

Thirteen-year-old Tyler Dyson was one of the leading scorers in the Hot Shot challenge.

Eleven-year-old Sarah Fazio worked on ball handling between games.

Fifth-grader Jonathan Reid couldn’t wait for his team to take the court.

Brett Thoma, 10, attended Braden River High’s basketball camp last summer.

Ninth-graders Matt Muscara and Tripp Knapp played a competitive game of one-on-one.

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EAST COUNTY Observer

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THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

23

COMMUNITY GOLF

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Frank Darling, Grant Dazey, John Gerber and Phil Warren finished -5.40 to win the scramble MGA event June 22.

Mary Sarro shot 40 to win the individual low net WGA event June 23.

Jerry Robinett, Sam Richard and Steve Goodwin finished +1 to win the step-aside scramble nine-hole mixer June 24.

Richard Albrecht, Richard Walser and John Belcher all scored 116 to tie for first place in the two best balls of four MGA event June 22.

Joyce Furman, Linda Kubiak, Tonya Spires and Deme Kavis scored 18 to win the one best ball, four odd holes nine-hole event June 23.

Andy Kufta shot 65 to win the individual low net MGA event June 29.

Mickey Boughton, Linda Kubiak and Deme Kavis shot 73 to win the one net star ball, one best ball low net nine-hole event June 30.

Gene Fadely, Diane McDonald and Dennis and Irene Ras scored 52.7 to win Flight 1 of the Fourth of July scramble event July 4. Joe and Elaine Drewniak, Ken Each and Evelyn Parcels scored 57.3 to win Flight 2. Bob and Lynda Mackin and Tom and Carol Younger scored 54.7 to win Flight 3.

Anna Musser shot 73 to win the low net individual WGA event July 5.

+ River Club The teams of Jack Bostrom and John Yoakum and Ed Rowland and Jack Bostrom both finished +8 to win the twoman quota points MGA event June 22.

Gary Robson finished +8 to win the individual quota points MGA event June 29.

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Cheryl Moyer shot 59 to win the throw out two designated holes Hate that Hole event June 23.

Roger McShane, Ron Lang, Neil Hamje and Dick Siegel scored 144 to win the hero plus bum MGA event June 29.

The teams of Darci Allilow, Bill Fridlington, Joy Dropp and Steve Despot and Mike and Gail Zinn and Howard and Barbara Ellfeldt both scored 132 to tie for first place in Flight 1 of the best ball Red, White and Yellow event July 4. Tom Trovell and Cheryl Moyer scored 130 to win Flight 2. s s llow e pi rdine 2 fren of sase of a a a c h & a h purc or set wit matt

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Carol Leshyn, Joan Bornstein and Mickey Seidholz shot 49 to win the low team putts plus long drive No. 26 nine-hole LGA event June 23.

Katy Arrilllaga, Susie Melum, Karen Wilson and Pat Helpbringer scored 124 to win the two best balls of four LGA Bronze Tees event June 28.

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Featuring Grandma & other spectacular international circus acts…fun for “children all of ages”!

N O W – S u n d a y, J u l y 3 1 A ffordable Family Fu n at the Historic Asolo Theater!

57889

THE STATE ART MUSEUM OF FLORIDA THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

TO PURCHASE TICKETS Visit www.Ringling.org or call 941.360.7399

Com

e in for f r 2 Ho ee a ur nap

discount sleep center

!

MON-FRI 8:30-8:00 • SAT 8:30–6:00 • SUN 11:00–5:00 • 30 Day Comfort exchange • removal and set Up • Discount prices on Adjustable Beds • locally Owned and Operated • same Day Delivery

NEVER KNOWINGLY UNDERSOLD!

1901 HAnsen sT., sArAsOTA, fl - 1 BlOCk sOUTH Of Bee riDge Off 41 - TUrn @ Tire kingDOM

lBk

& GARDEN GIFT SHOPPE SECRET GARDEN GIFT SHOPPE • OVER 20 ACRES OF PLANTS & TREES

Great Savings Opens

• Open Daily: Sarasota Urgent Care Mon - Sat 8am 8pm We are redesigning ourtoUpstairs Gift Area…

6272 Lake Osprey Drive • Sarasota Sun 9am to 6pm (941) 907-2800 • No Appointment Necessary www.SarasotaUrgentCare.com • Walk-Ins Welcome Lakewood Ranch Urgent Care • Lowest Rates 9908 S.R. 64 East • Bradenton • Digital X-rays, labs (941) 747-8600 Trouble with getting & EKG’s on-siteblooms? No Problem!! www.LWRUC.com • Free Blood Pressure Bradenton Urgent School Care & Sports An organicScreening Potassium-Iron mixture with over 30 Trace Everyday!

25

$

*Fertrell Greensand

PHYSICALS

4647 Manatee Ave. W. • Bradenton Elements. Great for greening up all your plants and (941) 745-5999 even betterFind for your lawn.

Meets all of the Fertilizer Us on Ordinances in every county. 50lb Bag covers 5,000 sq. ft. www.BradentonUrgentCare.com Facebook! of Lawn - Shurbs Shrubs 1/2 Cup per ft. of height.

60113

Manatee Ave W

1

64

2

70

University Pkwy

3 Lake Osprey Dr

1 - Bradenton • 4647 Manatee Ave W • (941) 745-5999 • www.BradentonUrgentCare.com

941.747.0499 OPEN: Monday–Friday 9am–5pm Saturday 8am–4pm

Now Offering the Same Great Patient Care at all Three Locations!

2 - Lakewood Ranch • 9908 S.R. 64 E • (941) 747-8600 • www.LWRUC.com

5020 Lorraine Road • Bradenton, FL

www.mariposanursery.com

3 - Sarasota • 6272 Lake Osprey Dr • (941) 907-2800 • www.SarasotaUrgentCare.com Some physicals may incur additional fees. Insurance co-pays will not be accepted as payment for the physical.

60029

Not Good on Items Already reduced or fountains.

7/13/11-7/21/11 Offer good from 7/8/11 - 7/21/11

Sports Physicals

March 1st

EVERYTHING MUST GO! All marked items up to 50% OFF!!

MUST HAVE COUPON

Sprains Strains and Broken Bones

Digital X-Rays, Labs & EKG’s On-Site Open 7 Days a Week • 8am-8pm No Appointment Necessary • Walk-Ins Welcome

ST06424607

25% OFF ALL POTTERY

Our Professional & Knowledgeable Staff Will Answer All Gardening Questions!

Back to School Physicals

52976

941-922-5271 • TOLL FREE 800-265-9124 www.sleepking.net

Lakewood Ranch Blvd

Posturepedic

60335

Authorized Dealer

24

EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

JUST THE STATS 37 2

athlete of the week

AUSTIN BRINLING Ten-year-old center fielder Austin Brinling maintained a positive attitude and displayed good sportsmanship during the District 26 All-Star Baseball Tournament, helping lead Braden River Little League’s 9- and 10-year-old All-Star team to the division title July 6.

“He’s a great kid — every day he comes out here to play with a positive attitude,” coach Austin Pearson said. “He is always ready to play, and he gives 110% effort both on and off the field.”

Here is an inside look at this week’s Athlete of the Week.

The combined number of runs Braden River and Lakewood Ranch Little League’s 11- and 12-year-old All-Star teams have given up so far this season.

0

How long have you been playing baseball?

I have been playing baseball since kindergarten, so probably about four or five years.

What is your favorite TV show?

I like “Sports Center.”

Do you have any siblings?

Yes, I have two sisters: Alyssa, 9, and Giana, 6.

What is your favorite part about baseball?

I love it all.

Who is your favorite professional athlete?

For baseball, it would be Evan Longoria. He is a good player, and he plays for the home team.

When you’re not playing sports, what do you like to do?

Playing baseball is my favorite thing to do.

What is you favorite school subject?

Reading Do you have a favorite videogame?

Major League Baseball Do you have a favorite baseball team?

The (Tampa Bay) Rays

Do you have any idea what you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a baseball player.

— Christopher Miller

“Look for the Orange & Green Building!”

8,600 sQ FT oF unIQue AnTIQues WITh 30 deALeRs!

941-966-9800 941-966-9800

The combined number of runs Braden River and Lakewood Ranch Little League’s 11and 12-yearold All-Star teams have scored heading into the finals July 13.

4

The number of sports leagues who have now signed as tenants at the Premier Sports Campus of Lakewood Ranch.

Ed’s Tavern

A Jersey Joint in Lakewood Ranch is serving up...

Summer Sizzlin’ Steamers Icy Cool Cocktails on the Patio!

&

59974

Hours: Hours: Mon-Sat Mon-Sat 10-5 10-5 Sun Sun 11-5 11-5

Quilts • Linens • Period Furniture Vintage Chandeliers & Lighting Primitive Iron • Wicker • Rattan Clocks • Tools • Mirrors • Fine Art Bronzes • Collectibles • Pottery Art Glass • Books • Military • Postcards Jewelry • Bakelite • Toys

113 113 Tamiami Tamiami Trail Trail in in the the town town of of OSPREY, OSPREY, FL FL 1 Block South of Spanish Point

The age of Tiffany Butz, who finished first at the U.S. Open Martial Arts Competition in Orlando.

120

Do you have a favorite food?

Yes, pizza and crab.

What is the best baseball memory you have up to this point in your baseball career?

One of them was helping my team win Districts this year.

13

The cost in dollars for children ages 15 and under to golf at Stoneybrook Golf Club this summer with the purchase of a paying adult.

The number of Manatee Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth Little League AllStar teams who captured district titles and will represent the league in the State All-Star Tournament.

Enjoy Steamed Clams and Peel & Eat Shrimp!

Sign up for 15% savings Every Sunday and Monday

1

$ .50

16Oz. bud select drafts All Day Every Day

BaseBall Fans Catch All MLB Games Here At Ed’s

Ed’s Tavern

60316

VIP Industry Cards now aVaIlable!

A Jersey Joint in Lakewood Ranch 907-0400 • www.edstavernlwr.com

Open Daily11:30 am-2 am • 10719 Rodeo Dr. • Lakewood Ranch

FAMILY • COSMETIC • IMPLANT • PREVENTIVE • EMERGENCY

Now Accepting New Patients Complementary 2nd Opinions

Complete Dental Checkup Includes x-rays, exam, intraoral photos, periodontal charting

couples

SEXUALITY & INTIMACY

Kennedy Dental

Not Valid with other offers or insurance discounts. Offer expires 8/15/11

Regain or strengthen your connection

www.KennedyDentalCare.com

FOR MARRIED COUPLES • FIRST TIME YOU&ME.WE PARTICIPANTS ONLY

941-351-9900

Aaron Kennedy D.M.D.

American Dental Association American Dental Implant Association Academy General Dentistry FL Dental Association International Congress of Oral Implantologists West Coast District Dental Association

Dentistry For All Ages Most PPO Dental Insurance Accepted

DaySpring Conference Center • 8411 25th Street E. . Parrish, FL 34219 Retreat Leader: Earl Nichols, Ph.D., LMFT, Certified Sex Therapist For married couples who attend & complete. 1 per couple (lifetime).

Benefits of Attending: 3 Better sex 3 Restore playfulness in your relationship 3 Understand physical, emotional & spiritual intimacy 3 Forgive each other for the past to start anew in the present

American Dental Hygiene Association President-Elect of FL Dental Hygiene Association Manatee Sarasota Dental Hygiene Association Past Delegate of FL Dental Hygiene Association

Not valid with other offers, prior services, and/or insurance discounts D0150, D0210, D0330 THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS A RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT, OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT THAT IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED FEE, OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, OR TREATMENT.

Saturday, July 30 • 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.

$50 Publix Gift Card.*

Joleyn McClemens, RDH, BS, CDHC

LUNCH INCLUDED! • No Children (under 15). Free Admission

60014

8198 Tourist Center Dr. Located off University Pkwy. (across from Super Target)

60032

49

$

REGISTER AT www.youandmeWE.org • Questions? Call 941.708.5894 Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant Number 90FE0132/01. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. You&Me.WE programs and services are not intended to address the very serious issue of domestic violence. Abuse is never OK. If you feel you may be in an abusive relationship, call the Florida Hotline at 800-500-1119 (www.fcadv.org).*Participants must attend all 8 hours. Relationship coaches have the right to question/refuse gift card distribution.

EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

TemperatureS

Temps.

High Low Sun., July 3 89 71 Mon., July 4 88 73 Tues., July 5 89 73 Wed., July 6 90 75 Thurs., July 7 84 75 Fri., July 8 86 75 Sat., July 9 88 73 Average Gulf water temperature: 86.2

Sunrise/sunset

July 15 Full

July 23 Last

July 30 New

August 6 First

WIND SPEED

Manatee/Sarasota Sun., July 3 0.39 1.12 Mon., July 4 Tues., July 5 0.00 0.00 Wed., July 6 Thurs., July 7 1.57 0.39 Fri., July 8 Sat., July 9 0.00 Year-to-date:

WEEKLY WINNEr: WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

MOON PHASES

Sunrise Sunset Thurs., July 14 6:45 8:28 Fri., July 15 6:45 8:28 Sat., July 16 6:46 8:27 Sun., July 17 6:46 8:27 6:47 8:27 Mon., July 18 Tues., July 19 6:47 8:26 Wed., July 20 6:48 8:26

RAINFALL

25

2011 2010 22.89 in 14.71 in.

2010 1.02 in.

Visit YourObserver.com to click on our interactive weather button, which features current weather conditions, weather radar and a five-day forecast.

Lois Braley took this photo of a double rainbow July 4 over the Manatee River at Braden Castle Park.

PHOTO CONTEST: Enter your sunset, sunrise or weather-related photos for The Observer’s weather photo contest, sponsored by Cool Today. Each week’s winner will receive a $50 restaurant gift card. Send your photos to the East County Observer, 1970 Main St., Fourth Floor, Sarasota, FL 34236, or email them to jeng@yourobserver.com. Please include the name and contact information of the photographer and when and where the photo was taken. Also, please include “photo contest” in the subject line.

59484

Month to date: 2011

6.35 in

Manatee/Sarasota 11.4 Sun., July 3 8.7 Mon., July 4 8.3 Tues., July 5 6.3 Wed., July 6 6.3 Thurs., July 7 17.4 Fri., July 8 Sat., July 9 8.1

T H E O B S E R V E R C R O S S WO R D Edited by Timothy E. Parker

C R Y P T O G R A M S by Myles Mellor 1. T G ’ E W K T K G O Q O E G T K U W K A B T G G B O R K A O Q E G F F A G Q R T E D G V W G E F D O J O FJ B O E J Q O W A V W J J T K O E E Z V O Q O X O Q G V O C U F, Z V T B O F G V O Q E U O K O Q W G O T G Z V O K O X O Q G V O C U F. 2. Q B O F Y T V H Z C V X O O P Z S I Q Z O E , Y B I K O C V J I W O CBO

JIWC

CBIC

BO

BIX

FOKOE TYKOF

INKYWO. BO XOSSX YC CV PO!

PO

HIN

GOT YA COVEREd by Steven L. Zisser

ACROSS

1 French clergyman’s title 5 Abyss 10 Shoemaker Thom 14 Relative of jot or tittle 18 “Here ___ nothing!”

19 Top part of an application 20 BP brand 21 Carl Sagan wrote about his brain 22 Onetime NHL team 25 Fruit with zest 26 Gardner’s Mason 27 Website for those seeking a kosher romance 28 Trebled trios 29 On a ___-to-know basis 30 Garfield’s nemesis 31 Gomez and Morticia’s dance 32 Whitewater 35 Actress Moorehead 37 Like a desert 38 Weekly stipend, for many 41 Fields of interest 42 Many a slot machine 45 “___ to Run” (Springsteen hit) 46 Long John, the golfer 47 90 degrees from norte 48 Delivery persons’ assignments (Abbr.)

49 Florida’s Mr. Football, e.g.

54 Alpine ski racer Phil 55 Kickoff prop 56 Tiny workers 57 Illegal sports juice 58 James and Jackson 59 “500” race 60 Tridents have three 61 Units of exposure 62 It’s fun for girls and boys 65 Coop alternative

66 Weighty sport?

67 He was a thriller in Manila 70 They drop down on your computer 71 Features of some telephone plans 74 Prefix for “freeze” or “lock” 75 “Nuh-uh” 76 Lofty poems 77 Sound made by a bell 78 Communist agronomist 83 Wave foam 84 Dearie 85 K-12 86 Pension legislation acronym 87 Some Greek consonants 88 Pierces with horns 90 “But what good would ___?”

91 Russian river or mountain range 92 Snake oil in a bottle 94 Personal plus 95 Liquid overflow 99 Exxon merger partner 100 They may be filed by the theme entries 102 Like really old bread 103 Hawaii’s secondlargest island 104 Old car starter 105 U-shaped part of a drainpipe 106 “... so long ___ both shall live?”

107 Proofreader’s “leave it” 108 Jessica of “Driving Miss Daisy” 109 “___, meeny, miney ...”

dOwn 1 Title with Khan

(Var.) 2 It may have a glass

54 French wine region bottom 58 Outlaw Jesse 3 Lahr who played 59 People in umiaks the Cowardly Lion 60 Tribal pole 4 Neighbors of 61 More discourteous Latvians 62 Boffo show 5 Genetic duplicates 63 Slow, on a score 6 Added to the staff 64 Not substantially 7 Mayberry lawman 65 Italian resort island 8 Make one’s own 66 The front of a 45 wardrobe 67 Type of 59-Down 9 Chinese tile game 68 Woolly South 10 Mild depression American mammal 11 Where the Minotaur 69 Archipelago parts roamed 71 Beery and Webster 12 Good-sized plot 72 Stir-fryers 13 “Terrible twos” 73 Type of court turndowns 75 Lion or Raven, e.g.

14 Squeeze out water 79 In a macabre 15 New Age medical manner practitioners 80 Scuba gear 16 “Law & Order: 81 Word yelled while SVU” actor banging a gavel 17 Russian news 82 It may be read source before a grounding 21 Like Marilyn 83 Ten Monroe Commandments 23 Sanford and Mertz verb 24 Dangerous snake 87 Hard to unravel 28 Easily duped 89 Nitrous ___ 31 Overused, as a (laughing gas) phrase 90 Disputed matter 32 Moroccan capital 91 Overturn 33 Have ___ in (be part 92 Thompson or of) Bovary 34 Famed hostess 93 “Gentlemen Prefer Mesta Blondes” author 35 Where Van Gogh Anita lost his ear 94 Med. school subj.

36 Painter of “The 95 Read, as a bar code Naked Maja” 96 “Million” or 37 Mgr.’s aides “billion” suffix 39 For ___ pittance 97 Fed 40 Positive survey 98 Cable TV sports responses award 42 Actress Duke 43 They often get byes 100 Alternatives to email 44 Common knee stain 101 Lobby with for kids firepower 46 Fine’s partner 50 Battlefield vehicles 51 Singer Lopez 52 1953 John Wayne classic 53 Rest atop

Last weeks Cryptograms 1. I come from a very musical family. I found out that almost everyone has a record.

2. His civic life has been full of trials. But so far no convictions.

Thursday, July 14, 2011 Items Under $200 For Sale

Merchandise Wanted

ELLIPTICAL: EPIC E950, 12 workouts, MyCalories heart monitor, two Coolaire fans, $200. 941-807-2487.

SENIOR LOOKING to buy precious metals, time pieces, coins, jewelry and antiques. Please call Marc, 941-321-0707.

ENTERTAINMENT CENTER: Macy’s, 6 months old, takes large TV, perfect. $200. Fruitville, 941-896-4256.

GIRLS BED w/trundle: White-washed, solid wood, mattress included (matching pieces available). $200. 941-323-2929.

MEN’S FRAGRANCES: Drakkar Noir 6.8 fl. oz., $75. Tuscany EDT 3.4 fl. oz., $40. 941-744-5222.

STEP2 DOLLHOUSE - like new, clean, includes accessories, $50.00. 941-807-5671.

WATERBED KING size, pillow top Soma tubes, $200. 941-745-2202.

Plants/Trees LARGE WHOLESALE TREES 14-15’ Maples, Cypress, Sycamore, Sweetgum: $95.00 each.

16-18’ Maples, Live Oak, Laurel Oak, Cedars: $275 each.

15 Acres of native trees to choose from.

40 varieties, various sizes available.

Delivery & installation available. By appointment only. Contact Eddie @ 941-232-9377 or eddie@mckeithen.net

Schools/Instruction PRIVATE PIANO INSTRUCTION in your home. All ages. 20 years experience. Bachelor Music Piano.

1st Lesson Discount. 941-776-7381.

Classified Ads Bring Results 941-955-4888

Autos For Sale 2006 LEXUS SC 430 Convertible. Excellent condition. Every option. Garage kept. Never wrecked.

Non smoker. 941-809-3260.

Storage STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

941-809-3660, 941-809-3662.

Furnishings

Help Wanted

LAKEWOOD RANCH ESTATE- Aluminum 5-piece patio (cost $1700-Restoration Hardware) now $699; Sofa & loveseat (Robb & Stucky) like new $850. Henredon and Drexel bedroom sets, Stearns & Foster Beds, Stiffe lamps, Stanley Entertainment Center for plasma/LCD ($350@Robb &Stucky) $995. 5-piece Cherry Home Office w/2-lateral files, La-Z-Boy sleeper, much, much, more.

Manatee Furniture 3015 1st St. Bradenton, 10 Blocks north of DeSoto mall on US Hwy 41.

941-745-2596

Homemakers/ Companions CNA’S/ HHA’S

SARASOTA BARGAIN Thrift Store & Consignment Center. 1635 12th St., Sarasota. Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Freezers. Furniture, Beds, Dressers, Sofas, Tables, TV’s, Records, Books, etc. Don’t give your items away, let us sell them for you!

Delivery & pick-up available. 941-812-0587.

Garage/Moving/Estate Sales

Homes For Rent LUXOR MHP

$425mo-1 bed/bath mobile homes.

55+ community. No Pets.

5811 14th St. W. Bradenton.

Sarasota Real Estate Assoc, Inc. Greg Nowak 941-809-6034

Adult Care Services IN-HOME CARE/ COMPANIONSHIP/ HOMEMAKING available all hours; days, nights, weekends. Call 377-4465 for more information or visit our website @ www.eldercaresarasota.com Lic. #30211372 Bonded & Insured.

ESTATE SALE ** SATURDAY** JULY 16 - 9:30 - 3P.M. 3962 Voorne St. Winds of St. Armands MHP (Mobile Home Park located at 4000 N. Tuttle)

PRIVATE DUTY HOME CARE

Contemporary: coffee, end and sofa tables.

Wrought iron table, chairs and bakers rack, bar stools, mirrors including Pier, grandfather clock, leather sofa and love seat, large and small curios, Lexington dining room table and chairs, king bedset, desk and chair, area rugs, lamps, armoire, Waterford, collection of tea pots, decorative accessories and more.

A NICE SALE!

You Can Make a Difference. Help seniors stay independent. We provide: non medical care, personal care, meals, light housekeeping, transportation & companionship. Flexible hours available- F/T, P/T, Overnight, Weekends and Live-In. Positions available in Sarasota/ Bradenton/ Venice. To work now fax resume to 941-929-7438 or email: joanieck@comcast.net

THE EAST COUNTY OBSERVER SALE CONDUCTED BY PALMA SOLA SALES Thursday, July 14, 2011 **Numbers given out at 8a.m.

Licensed Practical Nurse, Insured, experienced, for full or part time. Your cherished one deserves extra special attention and compassion.

Geriatric, respite care, cleaning, meals, errands, caregiver relief. Call 941-928-4611 or email: PrivateDutyHome@aol.com

Cleaning A CLEANING EVEN YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW WILL APPROVE! Every time, guaranteed! Lic./Ins. Bonded. Pamela, 941-320-0023. www.CleanTimeServices.com BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service by Maria.

Residential/ Commercial. Meticulous Cleaning.

Excellent References. Free Estimates. Reliable.

Lic./ Ins. 941-400-3342

ACCOUNTING

Cleaning

Personal Services

FREE ESTIMATES! Call Dottie, detailed cleaning. 24 Years Exp. Lic./ Ins. Residential/ Commercial. Dottie, 941-321-6645.

YOUR PERSONAL BOOKKEEPER, LLC Gail Sunray, Owner

GREENMAGIC CLEANING. Residential & Commercial. Great work. Excellent references.

Affordable Rates. Come home happy. Lic./Ins. 941-780-4248.

GULFBREEZE CLEANING. Residential & Commercial. Move/ins-outs. Weekly, Bi-weekly, Monthly. References. Lic./Ins. God bless you.

941-923-4030.

HOME CLEANING. Let us worry about your cleaning needs! Take back your precious time! Call Jenni today for a free quote (941) 822-1837.

Lic./Ins.

Computer Services APPLE COMPUTER REPAIR, On-site service, software/hardware, data recovery, new system setup and configuration, upgrades, internet access. Certified Apple Technician. Call Pete, 978-394-4260.

OWN A MAC/IPHONE/IPAD? MacTutor offers 21 years experience. Unlimited free telephone follow up. (941)812-3887 www.FLMacTutor.com PC TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Repair hardware/ software/ Internet problems, remove viruses/ spyware. Navy veteran - electronics. 941-364-2109, 941-225-0046.

Home Improvement/ Remodeling R.J. DAVIS WHOLESALE FLOORING, LLC. Tile Setter, Wood Floor Installer. Lic./Ins. 10 Years working in Lakewood Ranch custom homes.

You buy the material, we install. 941-586-8996.

WATER HEATERS, faucets and small plumbing repairs. Reasonable rates. License #CFC1426756.

941-737-0349.

Landscaping & Lawn Service BERRYS LAWN & LANDSCAPING. Over 25 years of experience . Best prices in Manatee. Please call 941-713-1742 for a free and fast estimate.

BUSH HOG MOWING. Fast. Free Estimates.

941-773-4808.

Personal & Business Bookkeeping Accounting/ Taxes I come to your home or office.

   

Bill Paying & Account Reconciliation Organizing Personal and Business Files Budgets & Financial Reports Federal and State Tax Returns BONDED & INSURED Over 25 yrs. experience Telephone: 941-749-5646 yourbookkeeper@tampabay.rr.com

Pressure Cleaning PRESSURE & WINDOW CLEANING. Affordable, environmentally friendly. July special: free driveway cleaning with any roof AND window cleaning.

Call: 941-879-3683.

Tile STEVE ALLEN FLOOR COVERINGS PROFESSIONAL TILE & MARBLE INSTALLATION 20 YRS. EXPERIENCE CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE 726-1802 LIC/ INS

Tutoring KEEP THOSE SKILLS SHARP! Reading and math tutor for elementary age students. Donna, 941-907-3096.

Woodworking

Painting/Wallpapering CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & insured.

Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing. Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable. Free estimates.

941-744-1020. 35+ years experience.

CABINETRY WOOD custom/manufactured for kitchens, baths and office, crown molding and trim work. 941-238- 8033.

This week’s crossword answers

Personal Services DEPENDABLE, HONEST, punctual, Sarasota resident for 31 years. Housecare or housewatching, will provide transportation or be personal assistant. Good at small repairs. References available.

Ken Emshoff, 941-400-8864.

PROFESSIONAL SEEKING permission to hunt wild hogs on private property. No friends, just me.

Have character references. Bow or gun, your choice. 941-962-8290.

Reserved Space Visit us online at LP Reserved Space www.yourobserver.com www.yourobserver.com

COMPUTER

THE OBSERVER LP # 56733

Classifieds 27A ELECTRIC

6HUYLQJ 6DUDVRWD DQG 0DQDWHH %XVLQHVVHV

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60193

Call (941) 747-1968

58814

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EAST Observer OBSERVER THE COUNTY EAST COUNTY

REMODELING/HOME IMPROVEMENT

Fire Ants, Carpenter Ants, White Footed Ants Do you know the difference or how to treat them?

Are You Thinking About Renovations?

SARASOTA

BRADENTON

No job is too small, We will do it all!

Servicing the Residential and Commercial MENTION Communities THIS AD 10% OFF for over 25 Years

3790 14th St. W.

5900 S. Tamiami Trail

528 Brandon Blvd. E.

746-6654

922-1817

813-651-4477

Cindy Wells 941-322-6381 941-928-2168

Ask us about Superscreen Rescreening pool cages, lanais, etc.

POOLS

Call Now for a Free Estimate (941) 962-0395

1 FREE MONTH OF POOL SERVICE! Pool. $899 Installed Turn Your Pool into(With a Agreement) Salt

Re-Screen gulfcoastscreenscapes.com

9800-610-4570 41-776-7517

RedeďŹ ning Interior Design

345-6081

Swimming Pool

941.726.1560

TILE

*Service *Repair *Equipment Upgrades *Remodel

www.dripsnpuddles.com

LANDSCAPING & LAWN

59806

A Professional Licensed & Insured Pool Company

56383

www.chiconthecheap.net chiconthecheap@gmail.com

SCREENING

60178

59850

Beautiful Interior Design on a Budget

Lic. CPC1457144

Native Son Landscape Services, Inc. GO GREEN!

BETH BARNETT â&#x20AC;&#x153;East Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s #1 Agent!â&#x20AC;?

Lakewood Ranch announces

Pretty Tile, Ugly Grout?

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MOVERS

*****

TUTORING

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Danielle Rogers & Diana Simone

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MO V I N G

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denyoder@verizon.net

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Will move anything from a couch to a householdâ&#x20AC;?

Owned & and Operated by NRT LLC

The Soda Group

Phone (941) 704-4278 Fax (941) 538-3781

Dave McCarthy Operator/Owner

#1Real Estate Group in Lakewood Ranch*

58906

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Follow us on Twitter: sodasells@gmail.com lakewoodjim www.lakewoodranchlistingalerts.com See us on Facebook: Jim Soda* Visit us at: www.JimSoda.com

Environmentally Friendly

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Š Interior & Exterior Painting & Wallcovering Š Full Service Interior Design & Color Selection Assistance Š Over 30 Years Experience Need a Referral? Matt Arndt, Owner Call today for

Lic./Ins. se Window Washin i r n Su and Pressure Cleaning g

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Rental agent on staff

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Fully Licensed and Insured

E-mail: rogersd@manateeschools.net dsimonestout@yahoo.com

WINDOWS

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U.S. DOT No. 1915800

941-744-9640 or 215-906-2806

www.thesodagroup.com

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Specializing in Math & Reading

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27 Classifieds 27A

www.yourobserver.com

Thursday, July 14, 2011

59276

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

in the Service Directory Call today to advertise 955-4888

28

EAST COUNTY Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, july 14, 2011

You may not know what you’re looking for, it. but now you know where to

find

To be notified of special events and open houses, we invite you to join our private registry at SignatureSIR.com

100 Osprey Point Drive This private estate, Malvern Oaks, sits gracefully on a double bay front lot adjoining the gardens of Historic Spanish Point and is the crowning jewel on one of Sarasota’s most prestigious avenues, Osprey Point Drive behind the gates of The Oaks Bayside.

The grandeur of this Georgian-style home is steeped in the English tradition of the village that bears its name and has been masterfully renovated by National award winner Gary Roberts of Bamboo Homes. $6,400,000 Carol Clark & Joel Schemmel 941.350.4500

$1,590,000 941.468.8439

712 Riviera Dunes Way Arnie DuFort

624 Casey Key Road S Sandy Gillette

$1,246,000 941.504.0170

3336 Founders Club Drive Don Carroll

113 12th Avenue E Gary Janaczek

941.364.4000

$1,300,000 941.224.8602

$1,200,000 941.539.2132

$1,695,000 941.685.0973

877.317.7003

6424 Gulf Drive, 7 Terry Hayes

$1,299,999 941.302.3100

811 The Esplanade, 501 Bradway Price Team

$1,195,000 941.809.8431

2043 79th Street NW Martha Marlar

7475 Preservation Drive Cindy Migone

$1,175,000 941.812.7438

486 MacEwen Drive E Brian Snyder

$1,175,000 941.376.2005

121 12th Avenue E Arnie DuFort

$999,999 941.224.8602

2035 79th Street NW Martha Marlar

$950,000 941.812.0455

7107 Keswick Lane Pat Warren

$790,000 941.350.7044

1012 Rainbow Court Patricia & Peter Evans

$779,000 941.928.8529

SignatureSIR.com

©MMX Signature Sotheby’s International Realty, licensed real estate broker. ®,™ and SM are licensed trademarks to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

$1,750,000 941.812.0455

To preview open house selections from your phone, scan this code.

51220

443 S. Creek Drive Terry Herschberger