E A ST COUNTY
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FREE THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020
VOLUME 22, NO. 21
YOUR TOWN
Liz Ramos
Trophy catch
Recipe for disaster COVID-19 sends noncooks into the kitchen. SEE PAGE 8
East County’s Scott Moes stood patiently waiting at Lake Uihlein behind Lakewood Ranch Town Hall March 27 with a fishing pole in hand. Suddenly, he felt a tug on the pole. He slowly reeled in a large mouth bass. “I’ve never had any luck [catching a fish] here,” Moes said. Moes usually fishes at James L. Patton Park, but due to COVID-19, Manatee County closed the park, so he tried his luck at the Lake Uihlein.
Courtesy photo
Gates Creek resident Michelle Clinton tests the prototype for her N95-based mask she is making for local health care providers.
Heroes behind the mask East County residents with sewing talent step up to produce much-needed masks. SEE PAGE 3
Liz Ramos
Message of support Josh Thornton, a physical education teacher at William H. Bashaw Elementary School, sat in the back of a pickup truck dressed as a bobcat, the school’s mascot. Thornton rode with fellow teacher Carly Brier while she held a sign saying, “We miss you Bobcats.” They drove in a line with dozens of cars filled with Bashaw teachers, staff and administrators in a “STEAM train” around neighborhoods to see students and share how much they missed and supported them while schools are closed due to COVID-19. “It’s been really hard not seeing [the students],” Brier said. “We wanted to boost morale with them starting e-learning [March 30].”
Pam Eubanks
River Club’s Denise Pope grills hamburgers for dinner. Her husband, Robert, helped her with flipping them. Although she claims to be “the worst cook,” she is in the kitchen more due to COVID-19.
Virus prompts a pet embrace Community gives rescue pets a temporary home. SEE PAGE 5 Liz Ramos
Susan Bellevue, a volunteer for the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch, has been taking Poppy home until she is able to be adopted April 1. “She is a love,” Bellevue says. “She’s so fun and wants to have affection and play.”
A+E Dodge the virus blues: Be a zombie. PAGE 19