E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Fall ball begins
PAGE 20
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
VOLUME 21, NO. 44
Work continues to make SR 64 safer A year after a double fatality, officials look for ways to speed up improvements. PAGE 3
YOUR TOWN
Pam Eubanks
The roar of remembrance Palm Aire resident Esther Halt (above) refuses to let people forget the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City. She and friend Rory MacConnell, of Mote Ranch, organized their 13th annual 9/11 Remembrance Ride on Sept. 11. More than 600 motorcycles drove from Naughty Monk Brewery in Lakewood Ranch to Tarpon Bay Grill and Tiki Bar in Sarasota. They made sure to go slowly and display American flags.
SWEET 15 Jay Heater
Dr. Richard Aranibar, CEO Andy Guz and Director of Surgical Services John Hall stand in front of the hospital’s new cardiac catheterization lab.
Besides delivering 10,787 babies in its first 15 years, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center has grown in many ways. SEE PAGE 8
A+E Films focus in on LGBTQ community. INSIDE
Courtesy photo
Elks dig deep to donate When Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge member John Jernigan donated to the organization’s collection for hurricane relief in the Bahamas, he couldn’t believe he was the only person to donate a shovel. So Lodge members Sarah and Brett Davis (above) started a shovel challenge as part of the collection. In less than a week, the lodge collected 10 shovels along with hundreds of other items that were flown to the Bahamas.
File photo
Survivors in Sync out of Nathan Benderson Park will be trying to qualify for the Club Crew World Championships to be hosted by Sarasota.
Sarasota bid fires up the dragon Nathan Benderson Park will host Club Crew World Championships in 2022. SEE PAGE 5