E A ST COUNTY
Summer Fun Obser ver
Observer
2020 Guide
Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Your guide to summer camps in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
INSIDE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020
VOLUME 22, NO. 29
YOUR TOWN
THEY ‘LET LOVE WIN’ Pandemic affects grandeur, not emotions, of couple’s wedding. PAGE 8
Courtesy photo
Sweet appreciation Manatee Technical College wanted to show its appreciation for nurses at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center on May 12. Linda Lysinger, MTC’s nursing program coordinator, delivered bundt cakes to Danielle Ford (above), a nurse at the hospital. Caitlin Roberts, one of MTC’s culinary staff members, made the cakes. Lysinger delivered the treats May 12, the last day of National Nurses Week and the birthday of Florence Nightingale, a British nurse known as the founder of modern nursing.
Pam Eubanks
East County resident Hyejung Clendenon says she is excited the Y reopened May 20. She normally does classes but decided to use the fitness center May 22.
Pandemic puts YMCA at risk Courtesy photo
Pam Eubanks
Picnic at a distance Tara Elementary School pre-K student Nathan Klein (above) had a special lunch May 21, when he joined his teacher, Creekwood’s Bunni Roberts, for a picnic in her front yard. He and fellow student Grayson Eaton sat on blankets with their families and ate while spaced more than 6 feet apart. Roberts orchestrated the picnic with them — and other students — over the last few weeks of school as a way to see them before the end of the school year. “If we were in school, we’d be having end-of-year parties,” Roberts said. “I felt like we needed closure.”
Conner and Spencer Young say they are looking forward to their wedding reception in August. The couple had to postpone their original reception due to COVID-19 but decided to get married in a small ceremony May 16 without a reception.
After nonprofit was making financial gains, COVID-19 cut its membership in half. PAGE 3
A tip of the cap
Financial relief on the way?
Parents honor graduating Mustangs. SEE PAGE 13
County wants to find grants for businesses. SEE PAGE 5
Liz Ramos
Stacey Gadeken and Alison Denboggende hold signs to honor Lakewood Ranch High School seniors, including their sons Branden Gadeken and Andrew Denboggende.