E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Area’s VIPs to watch.
SEE PAGE 12
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
•
FREE THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018
VOLUME 20, NO. 7
YOUR TOWN
Pam Eubanks
Sweet kind of treat East County 10-year-old Abbi Geiger (above) and fellow Junior Girl Scout Troop 788 members broke away from feasting on cookies Dec. 15 for a different kind of sweetness. The girls donated three tablets and birthday gift bags with party supplies to Denise Pope of Tidewell Hospice. The girls decided to help hospice after learning the nonprofit makes sure to celebrate its clients’ birthdays. They spent about half — $500 — of their Girl Scout cookie sales proceeds on the project. “It makes me feel good to help older people,” Geiger said. “It might be their last birthday and you want to make it special for them.” The troop meets at Braden River Elementary.
2018 MEANS MORE Growth will give area residents more options. PAGE 3A Transportation projects mean more delays. PAGE 4A Superintendent says district needs more teachers. PAGE 6A Pam Eubanks
Pam Eubanks Courtesy photo Courtesy photo
Set your calendar
Holiday tunes Manatee Tech practical nursing student Haley Springer (above) performed Dec. 15 for residents of the Bay Vue Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bradenton. She was among the practical nursing, medical assisting, and patient care technician students from MTC who donated their time to delight residents of Bay Vue with holiday songs and gifts.
Circus Sarasota among events not to miss in 2018. SEE PAGE 1B Courtesy photo
A+E
Look into the future.. INSIDE