E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Festival takes off.
SEE PAGE 1B
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018
VOLUME 20, NO. 17
YOUR TOWN
MORE MONEY, MORE MINUTES How the proposed tax increase would add 30 minutes of instructional time. PAGE 4A
Pam Eubanks
Tooth Fairy’s tale Manatee Technical College Dental Assisting freshman Kassie Fountain (above) could only watch as the program’s upperclassmen greeted pediatric patients, showed them how to brush properly and provided fluoride treatments during the March 9 Project Smart Smile at the Lakewood Ranch campus. Freshmen aren’t allowed to volunteer, so Fountain took on another role. She dressed in a white, sparkly gown and brandished a wand to transform into the Tooth Fairy.
PET
PROJECT Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue plans $8 million expansion.
SEE PAGE 3A
Pam Eubanks
Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue Director of Development Rob Oglesby and his wife, Dari, the executive director, give some newly vaccinated puppies a snuggle. The couple announced an $8 million expansion of the nonprofit’s Lakewood Ranch facility. Amelia Hanks
A+E
Catapults launch creative minds Samantha Baker (above), a fifth-grader at B.D. Gullett Elementary, beamed as she held up her catapult consisting of two spoons and some ice pop sticks. She and her teammates Cooper Addison and Hayden Kudelko finished second March 1 in the Technology Students Association catapult competition. Their catapult was named “The Flaming Gullett Gator.” “We were judged on distance, the colors and the name,” Samantha said. “We chose the ‘Gator’ because of the Gullett Gators and the ‘Gullett’ because, well, you get it.”
Multiple tasks for tower Pam Eubanks
East County resident Charlie Skryzpkowski, who turns 2 in April, plays during a session with The Brats Club SRQ at the Benderson Park finish tower.
SANCA works to build a business base for its finish tower. SEE PAGE 8A
Melba Moore honors Billie Holiday’s legacy. INSIDE