East County Observer 6.26.14

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bserver O EAST COUNTY FREE • THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SPORTS REAL ESTATE

NEIGHBORHOOD

Rippin at the Ranch takes over Premier campus. PAGE 12A

Stacey Byczek competes in first flight contest. PAGE 1B

D.R. Horton opens Stoneledge community. PAGE 3A

by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer OUR TOWN money troubles

Creditor downgrades district Fitch Ratings says ‘outlook negative’ for the Manatee County School District’s credit rating.

Courtesy photo

Program Committee member Helene Levin poses with instructor Patricia Bonarer and club President Trish Newman.

EAST COUNTY — Manatee County School District Chairwoman Julie Aranibar smiled, despite the district’s most recent blow. At a workshop June 23, the school district received a report that its credit rating had decreased in certain areas studied by Fitch Group — a finan-

cial information service that issues credit ratings and research through Fitch Ratings. “Yes, we are on the line here, but we’re putting the house back together,” Aranibar said. “It’s more about where we go from here. We can’t change what has already happened.” Low credit ratings may make it

difficult for the school district to receive loans in the future, unless the rating increases, officials said. Fitch Ratings issued the district a downgrade for its implied unlimited tax general obligation and for $185 million in certificates of participation (COPS) series 2005A, 2007, 2008A, 2009 and 2011A.

+ Women’s Club enjoys girls’ day Ladies in the Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club enjoyed a special girls’ day out June 4, at the Selby Gardens in Sarasota. The women learned to arrange flowers and plant material in the “Ikebana” style, which is the Japanese art of flower arranging.

BOREDOM BUSTER

+ Temple to hold study, social Temple Emanu-El will sponsor an outreach summer study and socializing event for Jewish and interfaith East County residents. The event, chaired by Mallitz Lakewood Ranch resident Susan Mallitz, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon July 8, at the Lakewood Glickman Ranch Golf and Country Club, 7650 Legacy Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman will lead a session on “The Most Fascinating Woman in the Bible.” Participants also will enjoy socializing and refreshments. The event is part of Temple Emanu-El’s ongoing outreach to the Jewish community in the East County area. Although the event is free, space is limited and advance reservations are required by emailing felicehedge@gmail.com.

The rating for the selected categories decreased from “BBB+” to “BBB” in investment grade — categories that indicate relatively low to moderate credit risks. One notch lower and the credit score will enter the speculative grade zone, which ranges from “BB” to

SEE RATING / PAGE 8A

TRANSPORTATION

by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

County requests 44th Ave. funding The MPO approved Monday its five-year road plan and its 2014 road project priorities list.

Pam Eubanks

Park Ranger Mike McLaughlin helps Alexia Fuentes, 8, shoot water from a hose, during the Manatee County School District’s Science Summer Camp. For more photos, see pages 4-5B.

MANATEE COUNTY — As members of the SarasotaManatee Metropolitan Planning Organization approved a new five-year transportation improvement plan Monday, they also looked for ways to speed up improvements to the East County road network. MPO officials will insert a new project into their 2014 project priorities list — the extension of 44th Avenue East from Caruso Road to Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. It replaces a project related to bus rapid transit infrastructure. Although Manatee County has had the 44th Avenue extension in its plan for decades and has been designing and constructing the roadway farther west, the project’s inclusion on the MPO’s priorities list marks Manatee’s first attempt to secure state funding for the East County portion of

SEE MPO / PAGE 8A

INDEX Building Permits....9B Classifieds ........ 17B

Cops Corner....... 11A Crossword.......... 11B

Neighborhood...... 1B Real Estate.......... 8B

Sports................ 12A Weather............. 11B

Vol. 16, No. 33 | Two sections YourObserver.com


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