bserver O
EAST COUNTY
You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.
IN FOCUS
SPORTS
Bible Baptist campers soak up some fun.
Kayla Sheckler accepted the Emanu-El Award from Temple President Michael Richker.
+ University Park woman honored University Park resident Kayla Sheckler was honored recently for her dedication and efforts on behalf of Temple Emanu-El, during a special temple board installation and awards dinner last month. Sheckler, the outgoing vice president of education, has helped with the synagogue’s adult learning, preschool and religious school programs. Under Sheckler’s leadership, the temple’s religious school doubled in size, completely renovated its youth lounge and inaugurated the Eunice Cohen Religious School Scholarship Fund.
+ Resident named consultant for Mote Mote Marine Laboratory has named East County resident Irwin Davis as its new senior consultant for economic and community development. Davis is a nationally recognized leader in regional economic development and urban planning. As a volunteer, he will assist Mote, an independent Irwin Davis non-profit for marine research and education, in its economic and business development efforts related to seafood production, intellectual property, economic development projects in Southwest Florida and the Mote-Israel Cooperative Marine Research Program, among others. He also will help Mote advance the goals in its 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan.
SEE OUR TOWN / PAGE 2
WEATHER
See this week’s Cool Today contest winner.
Dylan Buck helps lead 11-12 All-Stars to championship. PAGE 11
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OUR TOWN
FREE • Thursday, JULY 26, 2012
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By Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor roadwork beauty and the feet
S.R. 64 construction focused on drainage Contractors have relocated the majority of utilities associated with the widening of State Road 64 and will continue to address East County drainage improvements in the coming months. EAST COUNTY — Work to widen State Road 64 to six lanes from west of Carlton Arms Boulevard to Interstate 75 is well under way, but drivers-by won’t see any new pavement until January.
Contractors for the Florida Department of Transportation are about 16% complete with the project and are now focused on installing drainage. “They’re laying pipe force
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
main and storm drainage pipes,” Public Information Officer Trudy Gerena said. “They also are doing jack and bore, which is when
SEE ROADWORK / PAGE 7
By Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor
Great expectations
government
By Jen Blanco | Associate Editor
IDA approves funding proposal
Paul Reynolds grew up in poverty. But, after earning degrees in chemistry and a master’s degree in economics, he now helps educate the children in his community through hands-on activities.
EAST COUNTY — Manatee Palms resident and volunteer Paul Reynolds grabs a shovel as he steps into the garden he had planted with children from his neighborhood months ago at Bennett Park. Tropical Storm Debby may have drowned the group’s watermelon patch, but Reynolds and the children are eager to prepare the plot for a new project: a mix of pumpkins and more watermelons. As Reynolds transfers heaps of soft dirt from one spot to another, effectively widening each mounded row of the garden, he tells the children how the garden’s new design
Pam Eubanks
Construction crews have been working on a storm drain just west of 43rd Street Boulevard East.
Although Tropical Storm Debby wiped out the watermelon patch Emmanuel McDonald helped plant, he was able to salvage an unripe melon.
Maryann McDonald, 8, said, “I like going outside and digging plants.I learned all the steps to make a garden grow.”
SEE GARDENER / PAGE 6
The Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority voted 3-1 in favor of a 12-year funding proposal for its new maintenance facility. LAKEWOOD RANCH — Planning for the construction of a new maintenance facility has been under way for months, and now Lakewood Ranch is one step closer to seeing its vision come to fruition. Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority voted 3-1 July 19, in favor of pursuing a 12-year funding proposal for the construction of the 6,675-squarefoot facility. CDD 1 Supervisor Jean Stewart dissented on behalf of her district. The 12-year, bank-qualified loan would require the community to pay about $251,000 annually for an estimated total cost of $3 million. Homeowners would see an annual increase of $37 on their assess-
SEE IDA / PAGE 7
INDEX Calendar.................9 Classifieds ...........25
Cops Corner..........10 Crossword.............24
Opinion...................8 Real Estate...........22
Sports...................11 Weather................24
Vol. 13, No. 30 | One section YourObserver.com