E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Homecoming on the Ranch. PAGE 2B
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019
VOLUME 21, NO. 47
Area food pantries worry about survival
YOUR TOWN
Distribution changes cause angst among smaller pantries. PAGE 3A
Liz Ramos
Campus cleaning a family affair Four-year-old Matilda Hubbard (above) might have thought it was a strange way to get a math lesson. On Oct. 5, Hubbard; her 6-year-old brother, Sebastian; and her parents, Bjorn and Sara Hubbard, went to Gene Witt Elementary School’s Beautification Day, which was a community effort to clean the campus. Bjorn Hubbard said they used removing and stacking pavers — one paver, two paver, three paver — as a way to practice counting. The school’s PTO and Fathers Being Involved organizations presented the event, and at least a dozen parents, school administrators and students participated.
New digs for pigs District provides Haile Middle with a new swine facility. SEE PAGE 8A
Pam Eubanks
Liz Ramos
Gianna Silipo, an eighth grader, brushes Libby, who tried to gnaw on Silipo’s knee and boots. Libby shares a pen with Lennon.
Courtesy photo
Ex-county official now a candidate
Brownies love chocolate On Oct. 2, East County’s Allison Rothhaar and Alyssa Otterness (above) participated in a sweet field trip. They joined their fellow members of Girl Scouts of Southwest Florida Brownie Troop 524 for an interactive tour of Peterbrooke Chocolatier at University Town Center. Owner Karen Andrews taught them about being a female business owner and about how to make chocolate. Then the girls got to dip pretzels and Oreos in chocolate and learn how to decorate them.
Ed Hunzeker announces his bid to become a county commissioner. SEE PAGE 10A File photo
Former Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker announces he is running for the District 5 Commission seat.
Delores Barfield, of Bradenton, shops weekly at Woodland Community Church’s food pantry. She shares the produce and other items she receives with friends and family who can’t get out of the house easily.
A+E Pretty Dirty music. INSIDE