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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
JULY 2018
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FREE THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018
VOLUME 20, NO. 32
YOUR TOWN
Funds pour into parks Manatee County’s capital improvements include millions for parks. SEE PAGE 3
Amelia Hanks
Tug at the heartstrings It was the kind of letter Lydia Gartner, director of the Foundation for Dreams, loves to read after a child attends the organization’s Dream Oaks Camp in East County. Bradenton’s Lilliann Bridges, a 10-year-old who has cerebral palsy, was moved to write Gartner during her visit June 18-22. “I felt accepted and everybody loved me for me,” Bridges wrote in the letter. “Everyone didn’t stare at me everywhere I went.” Bridges (above with camp counselor Hannah MacDonald) especially loved the camp’s talent show and the tug of war contest.
Repeat business East County sanctuary has grown to almost 400 parrots. SEE PAGE 8 Jay Heater
Debbie Huckaby, executive director of Birds of Paradise Sanctuary & Rescue, visits with Aquiel, a Moluccan cockatoo.
A+E Pam Eubanks
Happy warrior Seven-year-old Braden River Lakes resident Caden Welch, pictured, may not have wanted to go to Oasis Church’s Vacation Bible School on June 20, but after just one visit, he was hooked on the “Ninja Warrior”inspired obstacle course. “It was fun,” Caden said. “I like racing.” His mom, Melanie Welch, said the experience, which also includes a variety of crafts and music, gives him confidence.
More bang for the buck SANCA expands its Fireworks on the Lake event at Nathan Benderson Park. SEE PAGE 6
Debating the Van Wezel. INSIDE