bserver O
EAST COUNTY
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEWS
SEASON Y | FA L L 2 0 1 4 RTS AND SOCIET GUIDE TO THE A THE OBSERVER’S
Jim Hill seeks more Ranch representation. PAGE 7
OUR TOWN
SEASON
Look inside for our quarterly guide to arts and social events.
privacy protocol
FREE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014
SPORTS
Swimmer Charles Hayes is back in the pool setting records. PAGE 15
by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor
Gate policies irk residents Guards at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club gates are trained to ask questions and record data on those entering. But residents say the practice creates annoying backups.
Courtesy photos
+ Ashlynn Martin put her “paws” to action Ashlynn Martin’s dance-athon fundraiser Sept. 7, at Jump Dance Co., benefitting Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue and its Lexi’s Paw Pals program, welcomed more than 60 participants. The event began with a presentation from Nate’s and a visit with Alf, one of its dogs, and was followed by a performance by Jump Dance Co. and the Lakewood Ranch Silver Stars dance team. Martin organized the event in pursuit of her Gold award for Girl Scouts. “It made me feel so happy to see everyone come together to support me and such a great cause,” she said.
LAKEWOOD RANCH — If Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club residents don’t want to sit in line at the visitor entrance to their gates, Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority Director of Operations Ryan Heise has a suggestion: Get a transponder. In the ongoing battle of security versus convenience at Lakewood Ranch community gates, the lack of convenience has emerged once again as security
FACES OF UTC
guards ask each and every guest who they are and where they are going. Although it’s always been protocol for guards to ask the questions, residents without transponders are getting annoyed as they sit in longer visitor lines behind lawn and maintenance vehicles. Residents are getting annoyed further, Heise said, when they are also asked by the guards whom they are and where they
are going. For the past few months, Lakewood Ranch Community Development District supervisors have complained that security was lax and guards weren’t consistently documenting who enters their communities and asking those questions. Heise and his staff responded to the complaints. “Complaints from residents about security have now de-
creased,” Heise said. “Now the complaints have increased about the guards asking too many questions and holding residents up.” Heise, though, said the convenience issue for residents would go away if more residents purchased the $50 transponders. Residents aren’t required to have transponders, and many residents opt not to use them and
SEE SECURITY / PAGE 14
by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer
UTC attracts diverse workforce The Cheesecake Factory has team members transferring from cities more than a 30-mile radius away to come work at the mall. Others are coming from out of state.
MALL REMARKS Jeff Culhane, executive chef at The Cheesecake Factory
Photos by Amanda Sebastiano
With two weeks to go until The Mall at University Town Center opens Oct. 16, mall businesses are interviewing prospective employees and going through extensive training.
+ Honor seeks home for Petey A 1-year-old hound dog named Petey has been waiting to find a new home for more than 6 months at Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. Petey loves to play with toys and other dogs and thoroughly enjoys running through water puddles. He also enjoys long walks in the woods. To volunteer at Honor or to adopt Petey, call Nate’s at 7474900.
EAST COUNTY — When he heard of plans for The Mall at University Town Center last year, Matt Shapiro’s mind instantly jumped to job creation. A local veterans employment representative for CareerSource Suncoast, Shapiro’s title means exactly what it says; he finds work for unemployed formermilitary men and women.
As part of an initiative set by the career resource a few months ago, Shapiro interviewed hiring managers and other business representatives from the estimated 96 UTC retail and restaurant businesses, such as Macy’s and The Cheesecake Factory. During his research on whether UTC is a good fit for veteran employees, he unearthed trends
on what the mall’s new workforce looks like. The mall’s employees are typically local residents or individuals who moved from other cities within the state. Their demographics are as diverse — in age and race — as the stores within the mall.
SEE MALL / PAGE 2
Culhane transferred to Sarasota from Orlando to work at The Mall at University Town Center.
Before I moved here, I thought Sarasota was mostly an older crowd, but, I’m seeing it’s a mix, every age group is here. I’m excited to learn about the area.”
INDEX Building permits...25 Classifieds............29
Cops Corner..........10 Crossword.............28
Neighborhood.......19 Real Estate...........24
Sports...................15 Weather................28
Vol. 16, No. 48 | Two sections YourObserver.com