E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
Stoneybrook sells
SEE PAGE 6A
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FREE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
VOLUME 20, NO. 14
Snarl sees the light
YOUR TOWN
Roadway improvements to 45th Street will shorten emergency response times. SEE PAGE 3A
PEN PALS
Courtesy photo
Plan with a hitch
The Lake Club’s Kevin Swan, who had set up an elaborate proposal plan Oct. 28 that included the Southeast High Marching Band, sealed the deal Jan. 26 when he married Shaina (Frisch) Swan in a private ceremony. Kevin Swan is head of A Life Story Foundation, which hopes to improve ALS awareness. The ceremony was at the Sarasota County Courthouse with photos taken near Marina Jack. “It was a perfect day,” Kevin Swan said.
MADE IN CHINA
Amelia Hanks
Abby Burns shows of her letter, which contains a picture her pen pal drew her. Amelia Hanks
Students prove kindness rocks Mia McClain (above) flicked paint onto her kindness rock in every bright color. The rock went from white to purple to blue. “I’m going to paint it in all different colors, and then I am going to write ‘splatter your life with color,’” she said. Mia is a fifth-grader at Braden River Elementary School. On Feb. 13, during her K-Kids meeting, she and her fellow Kiwanis service club members painted kindness rocks to hide around school in hopes that people will see the inspirational quotes attached. “I hope that people will see it and think before they say something,” Mia said. “Sometimes people can be bullies.”
Braden River Elementary students compare notes with new Chinese students. SEE PAGE 8A
BLACK
TIE
SPARCCle on the runway. INSIDE
Cadavers come to life MTC utilizes new technology to train its EMT and paramedic students. SEE PAGE 4A Jay Heater
The Anatomage table brings learning to life at MTC.