Julie Carter, a Lakewood Ranch resident, is a speech pathologist who works at NeuroRestorative, a supported-living community for brain-injured adults in Sarasota. Brett Carson, of Sarasota, works alongside her as a physical therapist. Carter and Carson facilitated their weekly field trip to a local park where they take between four to six residents out in the sunshine. They switch up which parks they visit, including Greenbrook Adventure Park, Bayfront Park and Nathan Benderson Park, which they visited on April 23.
“The goal is to work on their speech intelligibility, following directions and having conversations with the community,” said Carter. They were joined by Carson’s therapy dog, Rosie, who lives with him. Rosie goes to work with Carson all day every day to brighten up the days of the residents.
“Pets in general have a healing effect to them,” Carson said.
a full-day event from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Faithful Captain Jerry Graceffo and Faithful Navigator David Lawson (pictured above) will be too busy working the event to play this year. Dogs Inc. will receive the proceeds to help match a veteran with a service dog. Tickets cost $175 a person, and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Visit UKnight.org/ Assembly.ASP?A=3192.
Madison Bierl
Courtesy image
Lakewood Ranch could be sold out by 2034
The community sits on 55 square miles and accounts for $15 billion in assessed property values.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Laura Cole, vice president of Lakewood Ranch, said the topselling community is projected to be built out by 2036.
Cole was the guest speaker at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance’s monthly luncheon at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club on April 23. She was asked to deliver the “development forecast for Lakewood Ranch.” Cole reported that Lakewood Ranch started 2025 with the second best quarter in its history with 616 new-home sales.
The ultimate goal for the community is to sell 48,829 residential units. Right now, 32,432 of those units are sold or leased.
While not all the units are built yet, Lakewood Ranch knows who the builders are because it has sold all of its residential land.
The company has also identified the market for those homes. Cole estimates they’ll be sold out by 2034. Waterside Place in Sarasota is 53% sold, while Taylor Ranch in East Manatee County was launched this year and is only 3% sold.
The current population of Lakewood Ranch is just over 74,200 residents and is projected to grow to over 107,200 in 2034.
DISPELLING MYTHS
Cole also used her time to dispel a few myths about Lakewood Ranch. First and foremost, not all growth, developments and developers are bad.
“We don’t start by selling,” she said. “We start with planning. We have vision and planning that drives everything we do.”
Cole’s one caveat was that Lakewood Ranch had the “privilege” of planning for green space and storm-
water systems because the land was owned for 100 years prior to development.
If bought today, the 55 square miles that make up Lakewood Ranch would need to be built out to the maximum capacity to see a financial return.
Lakewood Ranch planners were able to set a goal of retaining 40% open space. Currently, 46% of Lakewood Ranch is open space, which includes 13 parks and more than 150 miles of trails.
Another myth Cole tackled was that all residents of Lakewood Ranch are affluent and live in custom homes.
Cole said the first homes in Lakewood Ranch sold for under $100,000, and homes can be bought 30 years
later for under $300,000. The median selling price for homes in Manatee Counties is around $506,000 in comparison.
Lakewood Ranch also put 2,875 workforce housing units on the market because, Cole said, “it’s the right thing to do.” Workforce housing contributes to any thriving mixed-use community.
On the other hand, the customhome market in Lakewood Ranch is also thriving. The norm for custom homes used to cap out at about $2 million. Now, $3 million to $5 million homes are built routinely.
NONRESIDENTIAL FORECAST
With 12 shopping plazas, three town centers and Center Point, which falls
somewhere in between a plaza and a town center, most of the commercial and retail properties in Lakewood Ranch are also sold.
Only two opportunities remain — one commercial parcel for sale and one 1,500-square-foot, groundfloor retail space for lease in Waterside Place. There are 2,100 businesses in Lakewood Ranch that employ about 18,400 people.
“Our health care system continues to grow,” Cole said. “Orlando Health will be building a new hospital here.”
The land is bought, so Cole anticipates the hospital will break ground over the next five years. The 32-acre parcel is located on the northeast corner of State Road 70 and Crossland Trail.
Q&A WITH LAURA COLE
There are some questions Cole gets more than others. These are two she addressed at the luncheon.
Does Lakewood Ranch have a master homeowners association?
No. Each residential and commercial area has its own HOA. However, the closest thing to a master HOA would be the Stewardship District, which has mechanisms built into it to ensure that the parks, trails and everything else in Lakewood Ranch continues to look good and maintain the proper standards.
Why doesn’t Lakewood Ranch help build Lorraine Road?
Because Lorraine Road is not in Lakewood Ranch on the north side of State Road 70. Savannah at Lakewood Ranch would imply it is. However, the Savannah community was built on an out parcel owned by Lakewood Ranch.
Philip Reber, chief operating officer at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, was also on hand to update the alliance on the progress of the new patient tower that’s currently under construction.
The $120 million expansion is being phased, but will eventually double the amount of hospital beds from 120 to 240.
Overall, Cole told members of the alliance that Lakewood Ranch accounts for about $13 billion of Manatee County’s assessed values and about $2 billion of Sarasota County’s.
“This is the budget of San Francisco. This is the GDP of Honduras,” Cole said. “We can buy five NFL teams with it.”
Lesley Dwyer
Julie Fanning and Brittany Lamont from the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance stand with guest speakers Laura Cole, vice president of Lakewood Ranch, and Philip Reber, COO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
Lost and found tortoise
Since being adopted from a rescue in 2019, Darwin has endeared himself to his owners, extended family and neighbors.
STAFF WRITER
On most days, Braden Pines’ Derek White describes his approximately 90-pound, 12-year-old sulcata tortoise, Darwin, “like a lazy dog.”
However, every once in awhile, Darwin likes to roam.
For a notoriously slow-moving animal, White said he has to check on him nearly every five minutes when he’s out of his enclosure because Darwin can disappear quickly.
About three years ago, White received a call from a neighbor who said Darwin was spotted crossing State Road 70. White said the tortoise almost made it to the Goodwill in Ranch Lake Plaza.
For five long days between April 14-19, Darwin roamed only he knows where.
Tortoises like Darwin are known escape artists. A sulcata tortoise named Stitch made international news last August because he traveled three miles after escaping from an ostrich ranch in Arizona.
Stitch was found “inching its way across Interstate 10,” according to the BBC report.
‘DARWIN’S DAY OUT’
In 2023, a sulcata named Jeremy went viral for escaping his Texas home more than a dozen times in a year. Jeremy’s owners, Christian and Lisa Seger, described him as “smarter than a human toddler.”
White talks about Darwin like anyone else would talk about their dog, except that he noted Darwin doesn’t do tricks.
Because White handles the yard work, he spends the most time with Darwin. He referred to the tortoise as his “best friend.”
The family home sits on nearly two acres, and Darwin’s luxury enclosure is about 600 square feet. When Darwin is let out, he follows White around as only man’s best friend would.
Darwin also gets “sassy” if something is planted in his enclosure that he doesn’t like. He typically returns to his “cave” to sulk for the day. If he comes out, he refuses to make eye contact with anyone.
He doesn’t interact with the family cat or any of the dozen chickens, except Dolly. White said Dolly isn’t the prettiest chicken, but she has the biggest personality in the flock.
Dolly also follows White around like a dog, so she perches on Darwin’s back during the rounds sometimes.
Darwin is so thoroughly loved as part of the family that when he went missing, “Lost Tortoise” flyers were posted all over the internet and the area. White said the whole neighborhood was looking for him.
White and his wife, Amanda Yod-
Before Darwin’s recent adventures, a children’s book was already in the works. It’s written by Yoder and will be illustrated by White.
“Darwin’s Day Out” follows Darwin as he explores the yard outside of his enclosure. He passes through the gnome village and makes friends with the chickens.
“When he comes back, the lesson learned is that there’s no place like home,” Yoder said.
er, feared the worst because people often confuse turtles and tortoises.
The couple’s biggest worry, outside of Darwin being hit by a car, was that in an effort to help, someone would throw him in water.
Sulcata tortoises are native to the Sahara Desert. While Darwin has a small pond in his enclosure from which to drink, he would sink to the bottom if thrown into a pond.
Usually, if Darwin escapes, he’s found within a half-hour, so five days was nerve-wracking.
In addition to the stress of Darwin’s disappearance, White’s oldest child, 19-year-old Noah White, is a student at Florida State University, where a shooting occurred April 17.
Noah White was located unharmed, and Darwin returned to the front yard two days later.
“Oh my God, it was a stressful week,” White said. “It was early evening when Darwin showed back up, which makes me think maybe he thought, ‘I’m going home to sleep. I’ve had enough of this. There’s no cucumbers out there.’”
Yoder left a trail of cucumbers and watermelon leading home in hopes Darwin would pick up the scent of his favorite foods.
Noah White is the oldest child within a blended family of four children. As the oldest, White said he’s had several discussions with his son about Darwin being a “multigenera-
tional tortoise.”
Yoder’s father built the house, so the plan is to keep it in the family. Whichever child inherits the home also inherits Darwin. Sulcata tortoises can live to be 150, so the whole inheritance thing might happen a few times.
The whole family, immediate and extended, loves Darwin, and he loves them back.
Yoder said that when he hears music playing, he starts knocking at the door, so he’ll be let out of his enclosure.
It was actually a family game of cornhole that distracted the humans long enough for the tortoise to get away. The gate was accidentally left open.
However, Darwin was described as both strong and determined. When he was first brought home in 2019, he pushed over the first fence that enclosed him.
White installed a new fence and has had to regularly reinforce it since. He also buried rocks under the ground to prevent escapes.
Since Darwin’s recent escapades, White and Yoder found a veterinarian for exotic pets in Venice that will chip him.
While the chip won’t actually help locate Darwin if he goes missing again, it will identify him if someone brings him to a shelter or rescue.
“Oh my God, it was a stressful week. It was early evening when Darwin showed back up, which makes me think maybe he thought, ‘I’m going home to sleep. I’ve had enough of this. There’s no cucumbers out there.’”
— Derek White
Courtesy image
Darwin is a 12-year-old sulcata tortoise.
A healthy pursuit in Lakewood Ranch
Andy and Anna Mignery share their health journey by providing clean eating choices at The Thrivery in Center Point.
MADISON BIERL | STAFF WRITER
Through his own health struggles and recovery, Andy Mignery said he has been given the gift of exploring the world of health and wellness.
“Food is thy medicine. Medicine is thy food,” Mignery said, quoting Greek physician and philosopher Hippocrates, as he sat inside The Thrivery, the new restaurant he just opened in the Center Point development with his wife, Anna Mignery.
Before talking about his restaurant, Mignery thought back to his health concerns that started in May 2017. He had been unable to sleep and was putting on weight when Anna told him she thought something was wrong.
Both Andy and Anna were athletes at the University of Michigan. Anna started her college career in track and field as a long jumper but ultimately became a pole vaulter. Andy, who was recruited as a quarterback but transitioned to tight end, played football at Michigan from 1999 to 2003. His first year he played alongside Tom Brady.
“It taught me so much about life and competition and managing the mental side of sports, too,” Andy Mignery said.
Because of that involvement in sports, he had been taught to listen to his body when something didn’t feel right. In 2017, he didn’t feel right. He originally was diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder where the small intestine is triggered by gluten. But upon further examination, doctors told them he didn’t have the condition.
Andy and Anna went to Dr. Jay Sandweiss, whom they had seen through their years in Ann Arbor for sports-related ailments. Sandweiss remembered a previous patient who had similar symptoms and decided to test Andy for Cushing’s syndrome. The test came out positive.
Cushing’s syndrome is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Symptoms include weight gain, particularly in the face and torso, thin skin and bruising and high blood pressure.
Included in Andy Mignery’s treat-
IF YOU GO
The Thrivery When: Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Where: 6562 University Parkway, Suite 140, Lakewood Ranch. More info: Visit TheThrivery. com.
ment was having part of his right lung removed in November 2017.
“You don’t have anything in life if you don’t have your health,” Andy Mignery said. “You can’t be a great father, you can’t be a great religious leader, you can’t be a great husband, unless you feel well.”
Mignery was trying to be a good father at the time (in 2017) when his
“Once you see how much better you can feel by making really good nutrition choices, it’s something people just really gravitate to and want more of”
— Anna Mignery
children were 9 (Devin), 7 (Madi) and 5 (Wes). He and Anna sheltered them from Andy’s physical woes the best they could.
But as Andy recovered, the family converted to more of a plant- and nature-based diet. Anna Mignery said that they were lucky the children were so young so it was easier for them to change diets, not fully knowing what was going on.
“We took a deep dive and came to learn about how our food industry works,” Anna Mignery said. “The scary reality is that there’s a lot of stuff in our food that we don’t know about.”
Still living in Ann Arbor in 2017, they purchased a juicer. They began sharing the healthy food and drinks they were making with their neighbors as well.
“Before we even opened up our juicery, kids would be coming over, like ‘Hey, Mr. Mignery, can you make those smoothies again? Can I get some of that water that you serve?’” They realized that they were on to something.
In 2018, they opened the first of their restaurants in Ann Arbor: Thrive Juicery. They followed with two more locations in Ann Arbor.
“Let’s nourish each other and let’s nourish our community,” Anna Mignery said of their goal at the time.
“That’s really our passion.”
Years earlier, in 2010, the Mignerys had bought a vacation home in Siesta Key and had been taking many trips
to the area. Over the years, they had built relationships with locals. They moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2021 and eventually decided to open a restaurant in their new home. The Thrivery opened Feb. 17.
One reason they decided to move to Lakewood Ranch is they thought it would be a good environment for their kids.
Devin Mignery is a junior at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School and plays quarterback for the football team, which went to the 2A state semifinals in 2024. Andy said Devin is being recruited by multiple Division I schools for college football.
Madi Mignery also attends Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School and plays basketball. She is a sophomore and is rated in the top 25 in the nation and has 30 Division 1 offers. Wes is in seventh grade at Nolan Middle School and likes to play basketball and football.
“I’m a big believer that sports build a lot of work ethic that you can translate into life after sports,” said Andy Mignery.
Their lifestyle carries over into their restaurant life. Andy Mignery describes The Thrivery as an upscale, fast-casual grab-and-go juicery with a full menu. Its tagline is “the power of pure.”
“It’s not simply pure juice. It’s for a pure purpose,” Andy Mignery said.
Anna Mignery said one of their main goals for their business is transparency. Customers can see them make their products. There are windows everywhere where food and drinks are being created. They want to show that customers are getting exactly what they see, with no added syrups or sugars.
Andy Mignery said their unpasteurized, raw cold pressed juices have a shelf life of five days, as they want it to be fresh and provide all of the benefits.
Along with the cold pressed juices, they also offer complimentary ionized alkaline water.
“There’s an ionizer and it polarizes the water,” Anna Mignery said. “It attaches to your free radical, to all the bad things we all like to eat and it flushes it out of your system.”
Andy Mignery described their smoothies as dense — a meal within itself. The smoothies have no ice, refined sugars or syrups. They are dairy free. The Thrive Bites, made up of peanut butter, oats, chia seeds and more are their No. 1 seller.
They also make superfood bowls, which are acai bowls with overnight oats, granola, fruit, honey and more. They also have toasts, salads and wraps.
All of their menu items are their own recipes, created through trial and error.
“Once you see how much better you can feel by making really good nutrition choices, it’s something people just really gravitate to and want more of,” said Anna Mignery.
Publisher and President / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com
Associate Publisher — East County Observer / Lori Ruth, LRuth@YourObserver.com
Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com
Managing Editor / Jay Heater, JHeater@YourObserver.com
Staff Writers / Madison Bierl, MBierl@ YourObserver.com; Lesley Dwyer, LDwyer@YourObserver.com
Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana
Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com
Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com
Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com
Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@YourObserver.com
Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com
Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned. Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, Key Life Magazine, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin
Madison Bierl
The Thrivery employee Sarah Jennings makes the shop’s bestselling Thrive Bites.
The Mignery family at Thrive Juicery when they lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2018. Andy Mignery
Another record for Stillpoint Mission Appeal
It becomes almost expected, which is kind of a dangerous thing when you are talking about charity.
But Bob Smith and his Lakewood Ranch golf and poker buddies have managed to raise more money than the previous year each and every year for the Stillpoint Mission of Bradenton.
This year’s check was $84,017, which was a nice jump from the 2024 Stillpoint Appeal Drive that was a record $77,424.
The 14-year total, since Smith first organized the drive, is $467,639.
Wow.
This is not because of a golf tournament, or a fancy dinner, or a fashion show.
This is just people who agree to give because they know there are people out there in need. No questions asked.
When Smith began the 2025 appeal, he started by describing the exploding need of people who were crushed by COVID, or hurricanes, or inflation. He noted that 14 years ago, the Stillpoint Mission served an average of 150 people each Friday. That number has grown to 400.
In 2023, Stillpoint Mission distributed 293,264 pounds of food. In 2024, it was 364,973, a 20% increase.
But there are reasons for optimism, beyond the generosity of the primarily Lakewood Ranch residents who continue to support the drive every year. Smith said the Heritage Golf Group, which last year purchased Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, has named the Stillpoint Mission as the first charity recipient of its Heritage Cares event.
The Heritage Golf Group will host five days of fundraising events this fall to bring together members of the club for fun and social events with raising money for charity as
the main purpose. The events will include a tennis tournament, a pickleball tournament, a golf tournament and social gatherings.
REMEMBERING OLLIE
I receive a lot of emails. You probably do, too.
So it’s easy sometimes to dismiss them, hitting the delete button to make them go away as quickly as possible.
Dare I say, that more than half deserve to be purged.
And, as I was going down the line — delete, delete, delete — I came upon one from Aqua-Tots Swim School.
I was about ready to punch the delete button, too.
Then I started to think of another place and time. I was about 8 years old, which was almost 60 years ago.
The place I was remembering was a public swimming hole called Horton’s Beach in upstate New York.
The place no longer exists, either in Orange County or online. When
a place is dead to the web, you know it was either very small or gone a long, long time.
But I remember it clearly, because I almost died there.
It was a summer day and school was out. We had a recreational group that would go to Horton’s Beach at times, and this day was like any other, kids waiting in line at the snack bar to buy Popsicles and ice cream sandwiches. I can still hear the chimes and pops of a pinball machines, along with the clicking of the flippers.
Calling Horton’s Beach a beach was generous because there was very little sand. The water itself was a creak that slowed at a bend and produced a calm pool.
To an adult, the pool was as calm as could be, and only about 40 yards in width at its widest point. To 8-year-olds who were weak swimmers, though, it wasn’t so calm. The current, indeed, moved rather swiftly at times and the water was more than 10 feet deep.
The other side looked so close to me, a weak swimmer who usually spent more time in the game room than the water.
So there I was, looking across to the far bank and seeing some of my friends. I figured I would swim on over and join them.
Only three-quarters of the way across, I got tired. Real tired. And panicked. I started flailing. The current was way stronger than I anticipated. I was going down.
I remember being unable to make any noise, only gagging on the water that was flooding into my mouth.
I bobbed up and down a couple of times. There was nothing I could do.
I headed down the third time. If you research drowning, you will read that three times isn’t any sure thing for drowning victims, but it was going to be true for me.
As I slipped beneath the water that fateful third time, hands locked around my arm and pulled me along, all the way to the other side. It was Ollie Cutler, an athletic kid who eventually would play quarterback for our school until he got bored with it.
He dumped me off on land, and quickly went about his day. No big deal.
Nobody paid any attention to his heroism, but I almost lost everything. It’s been a fun 60 years since. So back to the Aqua-Tots email. It said it would dispel five common myths about drowning.
Here they are:
1. “I’ll hear my child if they’re struggling.”The release said drowning is silent, and victims rarely splash or call for help. When children are in or near water, parents should be distraction-free and actively supervising within arm’s reach.
2. “Floaties keep kids safe.”Inflatable arm floaties can
create a false sense of security and don’t teach real swimming skills. According to the United States Swim School Association, “Floaties put swimmers in a vertical position, which is the opposite of the position you want to be in when swimming. A horizontal position is essential for effective swimming and floaties can hinder achieving this posture.” Coast Guard-approved life jackets are the only recommended flotation devices.
3. “A lifeguard is watching, so I don’t have to.”Lifeguards are trained for emergencies but cannot replace constant parental supervision. Caregivers should always stay within arm’s reach of young swimmers.
4. “Drowning only happens in deep water.”Drowning can happen in as little as two inches of water, including bathtubs, kiddie pools and buckets. Vigilance is essential around all water sources.
5. “Swimsuit color doesn’t matter.”Light colors and blue, green and grey swimsuits blend in with the water, making it harder to spot a struggling swimmer. Bright, neon-colored swimwear improves visibility.
So take it from someone who wouldn’t have made it to the other side, whether it’s Aqua-Tots, or the Goldfish Swim School, a private instructor in the neighborhood, or a Manatee County-sponsored program, get your kids those swim lessons.
You can’t be sure that Ollie will be watching.
Jay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.
Jay Heater
Christopher Lesser, director of the Manatee County Mosquito Control District, said his department goes to extraordinary lengths to protect the safety of the public.
Eye on Business: Wellness the focus of new venture
The Wellness Space will provide classes to nourish, explore, soothe and thrive.
MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER
As a child, Maria Luedeke moved around a lot, living in Italy, Japan, France, Singapore and the United States. When Luedeke graduated college, her family was in Singapore, so she moved there expecting to stay for about six months. There, she met her now husband, Scott Luedeke, and instead stayed for 25 years before moving back to the United States.
In Singapore, she worked as a psychotherapist with yoga instructors, meditation teachers, nutritionists and doctors. She wanted to have a place where all of those different people could be under one roof.
Luedeke moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2021 and met Kyle Schauenberg at a coffee hour at The Out-ofDoor Academy, where their children attend school. They instantly felt a connection. Schauenberg has some international experience as an adult, too, having lived in Florence, Italy, for a year in 2019.
Schauenberg said her time in Florence allowed her to slow down and appreciate the little things.
“There was that immersion into a culture that was everything we needed at the time,” Schauenberg said. “You know, we needed deep connection, we needed joy. We needed the nourishment of great food.”
Schauenberg wanted to continue to feel deep connections and be nourished in her daily life after leaving Italy.
“It didn’t take us long to realize that we were in the same line of work, and we really feel really passionate about what we do,” Schauenberg said.
Kyle Schauenberg has been practicing meditation her whole life, but properly for the last 16 years.
“I love working one on one with people, but it’s been on my heart for a long time to create a space where people can come together in a community around all kinds of modalities of wellness,” Schauenberg said.
“We’re never going to come from the place where we tell people that they’re not enough, ever, ever, ever, ever,” Schauenberg said. “We have the absolute opposite view.”Schauenberg and Luedeke describe The Wellness Space as “A new sanctuary for holistic wellness, connection, and personal transformation.”Schauenberg and Luedeke decided they wanted to pursue opening their own self-care studio, and the planning began in February 2023. With permits, contractors and hurricanes, it took a while to put everything in place, but they are eager to welcome clients to their Waterside location, 561 Lakefront Drive, Unit 208.
The Wellness Space offers NEST classes which stands for nourish,
Discover Vinterra Townhomes in Nokomis FL, a
Madison Bierl
Kyle Schoenberg and Maria Luedeke are cofounders of The Wellness Space and quickly connected after they met as they share similar careers and views on wellness.
Wild Blue at Waterside captivates homeowners with its prime Lakewood Ranch location, exceptional residences, and resort amenities. This awardwinning Stock Development community features homes by notable builders and incredible amenities, including the new 13-acre Midway Sports Park with tennis, pickleball, basketball, outdoor sports and more. Opening in fall 2026, the 30,000-square-foot clubhouse will feature indoor/outdoor dining, pools, movie theater, fitness center, and 9-hole premier putting course. Come discover Sarasota’s most desirable nature-centric luxury community.
NOW OPEN. MIDWAY SPORTS PARK
Florence & the Spice Boys opens at UTC
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Florence & the Spice Boys started with a food truck in 2019.
Less than three years after opening the first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Sarasota’s The Landings in 2022, Florence & the Spice Boys opened a second location at University Town Center on April 25.
The food truck was simply called the Spice Boys, who are Steven Schmitt and Carl Kolber. That was until Schmitt’s wife, Florence Schmitt, started working the window.
She started helping out because the boys found it too demanding to take orders, cook and handle the register all at the same time.
When Schmitt took a day off, and nearly everyone that came to the window asked where she was, it was name-changing.
The restaurants are now known as Florence & the Spice Boys. With 145 seats, the UTC location is twice the size of the original.
Schmitt and her service staff greet every guest as a friend who’s been invited into their home for dinner, which is also how most of the dishes make it onto the menu. The chefs spend a lot of time tweaking recipes on Sunday afternoons at the Schmitts’ home.
Chef Collin Blakeman joined the trio before opening the UTC location. Schmitt said they’d always wanted to open a second location, but adding Blakeman to the team made it feel possible.
“Having someone like Collin with us is a game-changer,” she said. “He’s so experienced, and he has such an amazing talent for high volume kitchens.”
Blakeman’s local resume includes chef at Owen’s Fish Camp in Lakewood Ranch. He also worked under Michelin-star chef Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in California’s Napa Valley.
IF YOU GO
Florence & the
Where: 257 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit 90
Hours: Lunch hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bar stays open for happy hour until the restaurant reopens for dinner service at 5 p.m. There’s also a bonus happy hour from 5-6 p.m. that offers 99-cent martinis with a food order. More info: Visit FlorenceAndTheSpiceBoys.com.
tuce, pickles and “special sauce.”
The Jerusalem beef pita is the Middle Eastern version of a juicy hamburger.
But if wanting to try something new, Schmitt recommends the chicken shawarma.
“It’s one of our original dishes,” she said. “The boys created it through this mishmash of experiences between Los Angeles and Israel. It’s one of our favorites.”
Visually, the restaurant could be compared to one of the rainbow bowls on the menu. It pops with color and draws you in upon first glance. The bold pink building only needs a small sign out front because it can be spotted from two roundabouts away on Cattlemen Road.
But bite after bite, glance after glance, there’s more to taste and see.
The new Florence & the Spice Boys at UTC features a full bar and a few more dishes than the first location offers. Kabobs were added to the dinner menu to pack a lot of flavor onto a small plate. Because the plates are smaller, Schmitt suggests ordering three to four dishes per person and sharing.
For those guests who don’t want to share or are craving something familiar and filling all in one plate, there is another option — the Spice Boys burger aka Le Big Mac, an eight-ounce brisket patty served on a sesame seed bun with cheese, let-
A towering shelving unit filled with tchotchkes divides the kitchen from the entryway. An oriental rug is draped over the hostess stand, and an aviary sits in the middle of the veranda. It holds a plant instead of a bird.
The bar wraps around the far end of the restaurant from the inside out. Both the veranda and bar are open but covered to provide plenty of shade.
Panther Ridge resident Nancy Adkins had lunch outside. As she was leaving, she recommended ordering dessert, too.
“The buttermilk pie was absolutely amazing,” she said. “We’ll be back. I want to work my way through the menu.”
Lesley Dwyer
Collin Blakeman, Carl Kolber, Florence Schmitt and Steven Schmitt are partners in Florence & the Spice Boys at University Town Center.
Spice Boys
Hearing connects us. It makes us feel a part of our world. Whether it’s laughter at the family dinner table, a rousing debate at work, the eclectic energy of a live concert or even the quiet rustling of leaves on a warm summer night, hearing is so much more than a simple sense. It is simply part of who you are.
At AudioNova, we want to restore your sense of hearing so that you can get back what you’ve been missing. So you can feel like you again. If you’ve been putting off getting your hearing checked for another day, there’s never been a better time to take that important first step.
Call us today and receive a FREE DEMONSTRATION of the latest hearing technology!
SPORTS
FAST BREAK
The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team’s season came to an end with back-to-back losses to Cardinal Mooney in the 2A-Region 3 quarterfinals. The Thunder (15-11) nearly completed a comeback in the seventh inning of the first game on April 21 as Carter Malarstik hit a sacrifice fly and James White reached on an error to drive in a run. But the rally fell short in a 6-4 loss.
... The Braden River baseball team put away Cape Coral Mariner in the first two games of the best-of-three regional quarterfinal matchup last week. The Pirates won the first game 8-7 on April 23 and followed that with a 7-0 win on April 24. The win advances Braden River to the Class 5A-Region 3 semifinals against Manatee, which began on April 30.
... The Lakewood Ranch softball team earned the No. 3 seed for the 6A District 12 playoffs and a bye in the opening round. The Mustangs played at No. 2 Palmetto in the semi-final round on April 29.
... The Lakewood Ranch beach volleyball team won the Class 3A-District 11 championship with a 4-1 win over Palmetto on April 23. The third-seeded Mustangs hosted sixth-seeded Osceola in the 3A-Region 3 quarterfinals on April 29.
The Out-of-Door Academy boys track and field team finished fourth and the girls team finished fifth at the 1ADistrict 11 meet on April 25. The boys team was led by wins from junior Kevin Gyurka (4:23.66 in the 1,600-meter run) and freshman Michael Garzia (18.86 in the 110-meter hurdles). The girls team was led by a secondplace finish by sophomore Julia Dillingham (2:29.72 in the 800-meter run).
Former Lakewood Ranch beach volleyball player Ashley Pater will begin play in the beach volleyball NCAA Championships with the University of Southern California on May 2 against the University of North Florida in Gulf Shores, Ala.
“Even though we might not be the best team right now, we have a really good bond with each other. ”
SEE PAGE 18
First time’s a charm
Lakewood Ranch golfer wins in American Junior Golf Association debut.
VINNIE PORTELL SPORTS EDITOR
Lakewood Ranch junior Emily Storm has been working on her golf game for as long as she can remember.
Her father, Gene Storm, first put plastic clubs in her hands when she was 3 years old. By the time she was 8, she was playing at the local country club with real golf clubs. By 10, she had made her first holein-one.
These days, Storm often finds herself daydreaming about playing golf during the school day and hitting the range not long after the final bell rings.
Her dedication to the game is starting to reap her some rewards.
Storm won the American Junior Golf Association Destin-Fort Walton Beach Preview event on April 13. She shot seven-over-par 75-76 to win the event by one stroke at Shalimar Pointe Golf Club.
That win may prove to be monumental to her future beyond Lakewood Ranch.
SEIZING THE MOMENT
Storm has progressed steadily in golf since she first picked up a club.
She showed that at the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A state championship last fall, when she shot a four-over-par (7472) to place 10th in her classification.
For Storm, the golf season doesn’t end based on the high school schedule.
She tries to make it out to the driving range at Country Club East in Lakewood Ranch most days and takes lessons once a week with two different coaches — Ryan Macey, director of instruction at Bradenton Country Club, for her short game and Mark Rummings, general manager at Soleta Golf Club, for her long game.
Storm said she’s made strides with her irons recently, and that gave her the confidence to try competing in the AJGA for the first time.
Winning her debut was something Storm called the best achievement in her golf career, and it couldn’t have come at a much better time.
The 17-year-old is starting to map out her college future, and there’s
AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION NOTABLE ALUMNI
Tiger Woods
Phil Mickelson
Scottie Scheffler
Jordan Spieth
Rickie Fowler
Jim Furyk
Matt Kuchar
Patrick Reed
Bubba Watson
Sergio Garcia
Justin Thomas
Brooks Koepka
Nelly Korda
Lexie Thompson
not much time remaining to lock down a scholarship offer.
Gene said that he emailed several colleges about Emily’s AJGA win and has received interest from a few, including Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina and University of West Georgia — three NCAA Division I universities.
There’s still some business left to attend to in high school as well.
A state championship is still an unchecked box on Storm’s list of golf goals, and she’s feeling optimistic about the Mustangs’ chances next fall.
“We’ve always been a great golf team, especially for high school,” she said. “We’ve always been the team to beat. I definitely want to get my team up into the top five at states and then myself winning or getting pretty close to it.”
As Storm comes closer to her goals day by day, there is a tinge of bittersweetness that comes with her progress.
BONDED BY GOLF
Gene Storm, now 63 years old, had four children in his 20s, but didn’t have much time to spend with them due to a heavy workload.
When Emily was born, however, Gene had just picked up golf and was reaching the end of his career.
“I joined a country club because of my business, and it was the first time I ever joined,” he said. “It was an easy way to get her and her mom out to the country club. I’d say, ‘Let’s put a club in her hand, and then we’ll go to the pool.’”
It wasn’t long before Gene realized he had a special talent on his hands.
Emily started playing in PGA Junior leagues at a young age and would surprise Gene and his friends by beating them by the time she was 10 years old.
“It was just a bunch of these guys thinking they could beat a 10-yearold, but they can’t because I had a lot of practice with my dad,” she said.
Gene used his secret weapon to his advantage. The two played in a father-daughter golf tournament, which meant a young Emily was able to tee off on the closest tee box — often giving Gene a pitching wedge into most greens.
By the time Emily was 12, Gene moved the family from Chicago to Lakewood Ranch so she could play the sport year-round.
Now five years later, the two still compete in the game, and Gene said he can still beat her every now and again.
They’ve traveled across the country to play golf together, including stops in Las Vegas and the famous Pinehurst No. 2 course in North Carolina.
Though Gene and Emily soon won’t spend as much time on the golf course together, it’s a price that comes with the reward of all of those sessions on the driving range paying off.
“I’m so happy that he wants me to be a good golfer and wants me to follow my passion,” Emily said. “There’s times when I want to do certain things my way, and he wants to do things his way, but at the end of the day, we both want me to be on top.”
“I’m so happy that he wants me to be a good golfer and wants me to follow my passion.”
— Emily Storm on her relationship
— Maddie Kasch, Braden River freshman softball.
Vinnie Portell
The Out-of-Door Academy second baseman Carter Malarstik throws out a Cardinal Mooney batter during the seventh inning of a regional quarterfinal game on April 21.
with her father, Gene Storm
Photos by Vinnie Portell
Emily Storm practices her game at Country Club East in Lakewood Ranch, where she and her father, Gene, are members.
Gene Storm and Emily Storm have built a bond through golf over the past 14 years of playing the game together.
YOUR NEIGHBORS
MURAL, MURAL ON THE WALL
Alex Benson has painted three murals at the Lakewood Ranch school.
MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER
After drawing a mural April 10 at McNeal Elementary in Lakewood Ranch, Alex Benson received a series of high-fives from first graders while leaving the building.
They were congratulating him on his ability to beautify the school.
“They’re all cheering me on, saying ‘He’s a professional. Look at him. He’s an artist, a real artist,’” Benson said. “The kids, especially the younger ones, get a kick out of it.” He remembered when he was one of those young students. He remembered being inspired to become an artist through comic books and video games.
“Looking at all the artwork, it opens the imagination,” Benson said. “I just loved all the possibilities of it.”
Benson, who graduated from Indiana University with a degree in graphic design, has lived in Lakewood Ranch for 10 years. He has worked on three murals at McNeal Elementary to date, beginning with his first in summer 2022. Before beginning the process, he had no prior experience in painting murals. His work is all on a volunteer basis.
School Advisory Council Member David Havasi saw Benson’s elaborate Christmas cookie decorations and recommended that Benson do murals when school officials began talking about beautification projects.
Benson said he knew the basic concept of painting a mural and knew how to create images to scale. He decided to look for a crash course on mural painting before beginning. He used YouTube as his main source of information.
“There’s countless amazing mural artists on there that give so much knowledge away for free,” Benson said.
The first mural he did was about trust with the slogan “Wildcats build trust.” The original idea from
the school was to have a paw print of some kind, but Benson came up with the wood sign, spelling out “Trust.”
“I did that original trust concept for them and took it in and showed them, and it was way more than what they were expecting,” Benson said.
The mural took five weeks to complete in the month leading up to the 2022-23 school year.
“In the past, I’ve always done more lifelike realism paintings,” Benson said. “With the school, I’ve done a lot more cartoony style that is more vibrant and more rich in color.”
The next summer, he added onto the original mural to include a lighthouse when McNeal became a Leader In Me Lighthouse School. This part of the mural had the slogan “Wildcats shine bright.”
“He has poured so much work into our school to make it better and does anything to support us,” said school Principal Sheila Waid. “He asks for nothing in return, and he’s a parent who completely supports everything we do here.”
To scale up an image, artists typically use a grid format that begins by putting 1-inch squares all over the painting and scaling it up from 1 inch to 1 foot, for example. Benson said that would take far too long to do with murals, so he uses the scribble grid method.
“You just scribble random nonsense all over the wall and take a picture of it,” Benson said. “In Photoshop or whatever program you’re using, you put a transparent layer of your illustration on top of the wall and scale it to fit.”
Benson said it is a much faster and more precise way to figure out where each part of the mural needs to be.
“Depending on how many doodles you put in there, you can get detailed information of where to start your line and where the next line begins,” Benson said.
When Waid first saw all of the scribbles on the wall, she said she was confused and made fun of what he was painting.
Artist’s Advice
Mural artist Alex Benson, shares some advice: “If you can draw it small you can do it big, that’s the number one thing. Believe in yourself. If you can draw it once, don’t be intimidated by the size of the wall. You’ve already done the hard part, scaling it up is the easy part.”
“I was like, somebody go tell him that’s not what he drew for me,” Waid said. “It was so funny.”
The first two murals he did were outdoors, and the mural he is working on is indoors. Due to it being indoors, he decided to utilize a projector instead of doing a doodle grid.
To start the process of the mural inside, Benson lightly sketches out the design with pencil before going in with paint.
Waid said kids in the hallways mistakenly mistook those marks for graffiti one day and started to erase it.
“Oh no, we don’t erase that,” Waid told the children. “It’s supposed to be there.”
Benson began painting his newest mural after Christmas break and plans to complete it over the summer so it is ready for when students return.
The mural will be detailed with various parts to make up one big picture. First, there is a pirate ship with a captain on it with “GWM” on the side, representing Gilbert W. McNeal.
The ship is meant to travel using a treasure map. Several islands will be painted to represent the “seven habits of happy kids” that students learn at the Leader In Me School.
“Each island will be a fully rendered, detailed thing that you can visit. Then there’s going to be little dotted lines like the old Bugs Bunny cartoons when they show them going across the world,” Benson said. “It will be little hash lines going around from island to island that you’re stopping at along the way.”
Currently, the only parts of the mural in progress are the pirate ship and the first island.
The main challenge Benson has faced creating the murals has been knowing which paints will show up and stick to certain walls. He uses acrylic paint, but wants to experiment and test out better quality paint in the future.
“It’s just coat after coat sometimes to get that vibrant rich color to shine through, but I’ve learned a couple tricks to make it work,” Benson said.
For the current mural, Benson said the biggest challenge will be using ladders to reach high on the wall.
Benson said his family has been
supportive of his work.
“It’s a lot of time for me, so they’re sacrificing,” Benson said.
Benson’s daughter, Addison, is a fourth grader at the school. She has helped paint some of the solid colors, and she is the only other person to have put a brush on the wall.
“She always asks if she can come along with me to the school,” Benson said. “She gets a kick out of being there when the school is closed.”
Benson said he would love it if his daughter wanted to pursue art in the future, but has never been one to push his dreams onto others.
“I just want her to discover her own talents and figure out what she wants to do,” Benson said. “I would like it if she succeeded where I failed as an artist.”
Benson said he aspired to become a concept artist, something he never realized. If these mural begin to draw interest, he would like to contract out to do more.
He said he would love painting video game characters in a game room.
Benson said it would probably start with a project here and there until he got enough projects under his belt to make it a full time gig.
“I could see him doing this anywhere, because he is just so creative,” Waid said.
Courtesy image
Alex Benson and his fourth grade daughter, Addison Benson, enjoy working together on the murals at McNeal. Addison is not embarrassed by her dad being there, despite his worries.
Dr. Kansara
at Coastal Eye Institute, is a leading expert in the field of ophthalmology, specializing in:
• Glaucoma Management & Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Procedures
• Micro-Incision Cataract Surgery
• Routine Eye Care
His patient-centric approach ensures personalized treatment plans that cater to your unique eye health needs.
Whether you’re seeking preventative care or battling an eye condition, Dr. Kansara’s expertise and compassionate care can guide you towards improved vision and a healthier lifestyle. He is dedicated to staying at the forefront of ophthalmic advancements, offering the latest treatments and technologies to deliver the best possible outcomes for his patients.
Don’t miss this opportunity to receive compassionate and personalized eye care.
Dr. Kansara looks forward to helping you see the world more clearly.
Game on at UTC
UTC Kids Club offers small children a host of right-sized activities.
MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER
Stevie Drexelius, a 2-year-old Lakewood Ranch resident, asked her mother, Jessica Drexelius, if they could go to dance class Wednesday.
Unfortunately, Jessica had to tell her daughter there was no dance class scheduled. But there was something just as fun: UTC Kids Club.
“It’s a free, exciting thing to do that gets you out of the house,” Jessica Drexelius said. “You can’t go wrong.”
UTC Kids Club: Gameland, geared toward children younger than 6, happens at UTC’s The Green on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 9 a.m. An average of 20-35 kids come to participate at each event during the school year, and that number increases during the summer.
Various activities are set up for young children, including mini golf, a water table, bubbles, an oversized Connect 4 game and more.
Jessica Drexelius said her daughter enjoys the variety of toys. She plays at one station for a brief time and then moves to the next station.
“I play cars!” Stevie exclaimed as she crawled out of a colorful tunnel and headed toward a rug that resembled a street with toy cars.
Lakewood Ranch 1-year-old Ezra DuBose danced, chased bubbles and played with balls at the event. It was the fourth time his mother, Jessica DuBose, took him to Gameland.
Jessica DuBose said she enjoys the community aspect of the event and noted that it is held in the morning before it gets too hot.
Sarasota 2-year-old Vivian Bragg was among the children working their way around the stations as her mother, Rebekah Bragg, fol -
lowed along. Rebekah Bragg has three daughters, 10-year-old Claire, 6-year-old Julia and 2-year-old Vivian.
Rebekah Bragg said that spending time with Vivian on her own while the other girls are in school allows her to slow down and cherish the quiet moments with her youngest.
“Time goes by far too fast,” Rebekah Bragg said.
Jessica Rathbun, a host with Events Done Right who puts on the monthly Gameland, said there was a great turnout as usual.
“We love seeing kids enjoy themselves, that’s what it’s all about,” said Rathbun.
Photos by Madison Bierl
Besides playing at UTC Kids Club, 2-year-old Harper Kosek likes going up and down escalators at the mall.
Lakewood Ranch 3-year-old August Barnett was all smiles after making a basket.
Parrish 2-year-old Faris Akel decided to look through the holes of the giant Connect 4 game.
Jessica DuBose enjoys taking her son, Ezra, to play with the variety of different games.
Palm Aire 10-month-old Addie Carney-Debord crawls to the next game.
Mustang senior headed to Naval Academy
Vicente Rivera says he loves structure, so a military academy is a great fit.
MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER
Seventeen-year-old Vicente Rivera has known from a young age he wanted to be in the Navy.
After experiencing a seminar this past June at the United States Naval Academy, he knew his dreams would be secure.
It was during that five-day camp that he, along with the other potential recruits, were subjected to some screaming instruction by Charles Hale, a sophomore at the academy, for what is called an “induction day simulation.”
The purpose of the screaming was to show them just how real and tough studying at the academy and military service could be.
“My heart rate was a little up on my watch,” Rivera said. “It said, ‘Hey, you’re in a little stressful situation; try a breathing exercise. I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m in a stressful situation? Thank you for telling me.’” Rivera visited the Naval Academy’s Memorial Hall, and it made a huge impression on him.
There were stone engravings that listed all the Naval Academy graduates who have died in service. Rivera was told the reality of military service is that some soldiers face the ultimate sacrifice.
“I’ve accepted that I am willing to die for my country because it’s for something I believe in,” Rivera said. “I’m willing to die for you. I’m willing to do it for the people beside me, not just the government. I’m willing to do it for the people around me, for the people I’m serving with for the people back home.”
Since attending the summer seminar, the Lakewood Ranch High senior has been accepted into the United States Naval Academy.
“The thing about academy graduates is they’re a different caliber officer.
I would be the best of the best. I’d get the best training.”
— Vicente Rivera
Rivera also had been accepted into the University of South Florida while receiving a ROTC scholarship to attend there, but his first choice was the Naval Academy.
“I could have taken that, and that would be the easy route,” Rivera said of going to USF. “The thing about academy graduates is they’re a different caliber officer. I would be the
best of the best. I’d get the best training.”
Rivera said that his track coach Bill Zarrella has a saying that he stresses to his team, which is “Do you want to be good or do you want to be great?”
Rivera said he is determined to be great.
Zarrella said Rivera has a great work ethic and has grown as a runner and as a person right before his eyes.
“He’s a hard worker, so he’ll do fine there,” Zarella said of Rivera going to the Naval Academy.
Although Zarella knew Rivera was involved in ROTC, he had no idea his dreams included a military academy.
“I didn’t know it would be this great of an honor,” Zarella said. “A lot of kids go into the military, but it is hard to get into the academy.”
Rivera said he sees himself being a career Naval officer. “For me, I’m doing my 20 in the Navy,” Rivera said. “That’s my career.”
He would like to become a surface warfare officer or work in special operations.
“I feel like the goals of the academy fit with my ideals as a person,” he said.
Rivera said his leadership skills will help him succeed and he believes those skills led to his acceptance at the Naval Academy.
“They don’t just want academics, they don’t just want big football guys, they want somebody who could have the potential to be an officer and to be a leader,” Rivera said. “They want you to have the potential to develop.”
The Naval Academy has high expectations and standards for the students, but Rivera is not worried, especially for the physical requirements. He said his track skills have given him good cardio, strength and endurance.
He has been balancing academics and sports his entire high school
NAVAL ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT
“To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”
career and he is prepared to do the same at the Naval Academy.
He said he is nervous about adjusting to life away from home and finding a rhythm in his new surroundings.
Before Rivera knew he wanted to be in the Navy specifically, he was fascinated by uniforms in general. His father, Humberto Rivera, was in the New York Police Department for 26 years and retired in 2015. They moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2016.
“When he was little, 1 or 2 years old, he used to sit in the police car when I would pick him up from the day care center,” Humberto Rivera said. “He always liked the idea, but I always thought he would do better for his life. He’s very smart; he’s very ambitious. He did it himself, to be honest with you ... I did nothing.” Humberto Rivera is sad that he won’t be seeing his son every day, but proud of his accomplishment.
“Everything you could want as a son, I have,” Humberto Rivera said.
The younger Rivera said he is eager to begin the journey of becoming a Naval officer.
“I like having order in my life and a structure, and that place is so structured that I’ll really fit in there,” Rivera said. “I’m just excited to see the person I will become.”
Madison Bierl
Vicente Rivera, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, has been accepted into the United States Naval Academy in Maryland, which has a 9% acceptance rate.
“W DCWHR DCTST’V EWHB WH HXDOST. DCTST’V X UJLTS WH HXDOST ... X OHWPTSVXA UJLTS
SWEET TALK by Dylan Schiff, edited by Jared Goudsmit
By Luis Campos
INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888 redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages
DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card
The East County Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only.
*All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher.
*It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the East County Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property
Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis..
