E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Dodging for charity.
SEE PAGE 10A
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
VOLUME 20, NO. 18
YOUR TOWN
Slim win for school tax
About 51% of Manatee voters approve 1-mill increase. PAGE 5A
Courtesy photo
Irish-style engagement East County’s Rachel Knipfer and Cory Quinn (above) donned their St. Patrick’s Day green and even competed in a “Irish spirits relay” race March 10 during the Irish Celtic Festival at Greenbrook Adventure Park, in Lakewood Ranch. That’s when Quinn asked his girlfriend to go on a walk — and he proposed. “He actually hid the ring all day in his Irish wristband that had a little pocket in it,” Knipfer said. The couple returned to the event to announce their news to friends and family.
ROAD TO GROWTH Changes are on the way for Lakewood Ranch’s northeast section. SEE PAGE 3A
Amelia Hanks
Delighted for brunch Tara resident Pat Babcock called the raffle number off and Christie Bendickson’s hand shot up at the back of the room. “That’s me!” said Bendickson (above), cheering when she heard she had won a free Sunday brunch for two at the Tara Golf & Country Club. “I love to eat brunch here. My favorite thing to get is shrimp.” Bendickson will treat her husband, Donald, to the brunch Sunday. She won the raffle item March 19 at the annual Spring Fashion Show hosted by Tara’s social committee.
Pam Eubanks
Uihlein Road at State Road 70 eventually will extend northward all the way to State Road 64.
BLACK
TIE
An evening of color. INSIDE
Top of class Retired educator Mona Jain becomes school namesake. SEE PAGE 8A Amelia Hanks
Dr. Mona Jain points at the words “East County Middle School” on the sign, where her name will eventually be.