bserver O Remember our bravest
EAST COUNTY
You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.
BLACK TIE
Thursday, MAY 24, 2012
SPORTS
SCHOOLS
Dick Vitale East County Little raises $1.6 million Leaguers take the field for County Cup. at annual gala. PAGE 4B-5B
OUR TOWN
+ U.S. Marine commends patriotism Braden River Middle School students and staff members were greeted with a patriotic surprise recently when former Braden River student Jake Mullery, a U.S. Marine now stationed in California, stopped by the school to thank students for showing their support of the U.S. military. Just before Christmas, students at Braden River had sent approximately 200 boxes filled with goodies — called HeroBoxes — to soldiers in four different units stationed in Afghanistan. Unbeknownst to the school, Mullery received one of those boxes while on a tour oversees. Mullery, who was in town for two weeks on leave, stopped by Braden River to thank students personally for showing their support of the troops through the boxes and the letters contained within them. While at the school, Mullery also spoke with students in the class of his former teacher, David Barcena, and recorded an interview for the school’s morning news program.
+ Memorial Parade slated for Sunday
It’s time to honor the nation’s fallen heroes. The Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 27, on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. The parade will start at 6 p.m. Parade organizers are seeking donations of non-perishable items such as beef jerky, power bars and toiletries, to send to troops oversees.
Tara Elementary dancers take center stage.
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PAGE 1B
GOT MILK?
beauty and the By Pamfeet Eubanks | News Editor in memory
By Pam Eubanks | News Editor
American to the core
Students drink up lunch offering After receiving a petition from students at Gene Witt Elementary School, the Manatee County Public School District is offering strawberry milk — while it lasts — once again at the school.
Courtesy photos
Above: During World War II, Joe Nocco and his unit landed in Italy on D-Day. Top: Nocco enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, after being declined by both the Air Force and the Army.
East County resident and Word War II veteran Joe Nocco, 94, died May 2. EAST COUNTY — This weekend, as the nation remembers those who have lost their lives while serving in the nation’s military, East County residents will remember one of their own. Local World War II veteran Joseph Samuel Nocco died May 2. He was 94 years old. Family and friends gathered Tuesday, May 22, at Braden River Presbyterian Church to celebrate his life during a special memorial service. Nocco will be buried in July in Naperville, Ill. “We will all miss Joe and his warm smile he always had on his face,” local VFW Post 12055 Cmdr. Dave Daily said. “He was one of those people who brightened a room. His smile was contagious.” “Post 12055 lost a valued
member and friend,” he said. “Our great nation lost a hero.” Nocco’s children said their dad, a conservative, was toughas-nails and loved a good political discussion. A consummate salesman, he was outgoing and personable and loved to dress up when going out. His love for his country extended beyond his military service, as well, because Nocco served in political positions in his home state of Illinois and locally served as an election judge for more than 20 years. With the VFW, Nocco helped raise funds for national and local programs such as the VFW National Home for Children and VFW Adopt-AUnit, among others.
SEE NOCCO / PAGE 9A
POLITICS
Joe Nocco loved politics and was a strong conservative, his children said. In 1964, when Arizona’s Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater was running for president, he even took out a full-page ad in the Chicago Tribune to promote Goldwater, his candidate of choice.
EAST COUNTY — Gene Witt Elementary School students Ashreeti Sharma and Yohki Paschalidis, both 11, took a lesson from American history and made it their own. The 11-year-old girls collected 256 signatures of students and staff members at their school and then petitioned the Manatee County Public School District to reinstate deliveries of strawberry milk. Witt got its first monthly shipment of reduced-sugar strawberry milk in March and has gotten one delivery at the start of each month since. The milk, which will be delivered through the end of the school year, typically sells out within two or three days. “It’s a little treat for us,” Yohki said, smiling. “I think of it as dessert.” Ashreeti said she came up with the idea to petition for strawberry milk, which the school took off its menu a few years ago, while learning about how the American colonies protested taxes from Britain during a social studies unit. Her teacher, Debra Barnard, was talking about how petitions worked, and as an example of items that could be petitioned, she mentioned Witt no longer served strawberry milk — Ashreeti’s mind began to reel. “At my house, my mom wants me to stay healthy,” Ashreeti said. “She doesn’t keep much junk food, which I think is good. But when I
SEE MILK / PAGE 10A
INDEX Black Tie.............. 4B Classifieds ........ 13B
Cops Corner..........7A Crossword.......... 12B
Opinion.................8A Real Estate........ 10B
Sports................ 11A Weather............. 12B
Vol. 13, No. 21 | Two sections YourObserver.com