E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Wild about Wonka.
PAGE 1B
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020
VOLUME 22, NO. 19
YOUR TOWN
Pam Eubanks
Sweet on superstitions Mote Ranch’s Lynn Chancer has no superstition regarding black cats. On Friday the 13th, she spent her day grooming and petting her own three black cats — Lola, Tippy and Rocky. She has chosen to adopt black cats for the past 30 years because it is harder for them to find homes. She has never found them to be bad luck. “I think you’re always lucky when you have a cat,” Chancer said. “Black cats are the sweetest.”
LIFESTYLE INFECTED Need tension relief? Eat cookies. PAGE 2A
Nonprofits try to weather viral storm. PAGE 4A
Athletics halts competition. PAGE 17A
Schools, businesses consider online solutions. PAGE 3A
Columnist looks at politicians’ roles. PAGE 9A
Latest calendar cancellations. PAGE 8B
Liz Ramos
Virus ropes rodeo
A delicious celebration At least Faith Bench (above), a math teacher at Braden River Middle School, was able to pick out which kind of cream pie 16 students would use to hit her in the face. “The whip cream is delicious,” Bench said of her choice. “The extra creamy I did for myself. It was fun and yummy.” Her sixth period, seventh grade class lined up March 11 to throw pies in her face as a reward for winning Bench’s good behavior contest and in celebration of Pi Day, which was March 14.
Liz Ramos
A sign at My Pampered Pet Spa at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch reflects the times.
Jay Heater
Brian Jones displays how the rodeo’s cutting competition translates to everyday life on the ranch in Myakka City.
Local ranchers lose opportunity to ride due to the coronavirus. SEE PAGE 8A
BLACK
TIE
A purrrr-fect evening. INSIDE