bserver O
EAST COUNTY
You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.
spotlight
celebration
SPORTS
Lakewood Main Street glistens at holiday bash.
The staff of the East County Observer wishes you a happy and festive Hanukkah.
Pirate refocuses on grades, returns to basketball court.
PAGE 1B.
OUR TOWN
Thursday, DECEMBER 15, 2011
PAGE 15A.
leading by example By Pam Eubanks | News Editor beauty and the feet
DeSoto queen spearheads letter-writing campaign Lakewood Ranch graduate Ellie Ohlman visited elementary schools to help them pen letters for soldiers stationed overseas.
+ Siblings show community support Someone give these kids an award. Kaitlyn Duquette, 7, and her brother, Keegan, 6, showed true communityservice spirit when they volunteered to pick up trash along State Road 70 and Lorraine Road earlier this month. Their mother, Tara, who helped them pick up the trash, sent this photo of the two superstars as they completed their task. “Kaitlyn asked me if we could pick up trash over the weekend near her school,” Tara says. “I asked her who told her that? She replied that when she goes to school she sees trash along the road and she wants to clean it up. “I am so proud of my kids, and I wanted to share their willingness to help their community,” she says.
RIVER CLUB — Standing before a classroom full of fifth-graders at Braden River Elementary School, Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Ellie Ohlman felt right at home. The current Miss DeSoto Queen
is combining her two passions as she prepares for the upcoming Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant. “I absolutely love children and community service,” said Ohlman, an elementary education major at the University of South
Florida. “If I needed to be passionate about something, that was it.” Ohlman spent the morning Dec. 6 with fifth-grade students at Braden River Elementary School,
SEE LETTERS / PAGE 8A
Blast from the past
kick-off
By Pam Eubanks | News Editor
East County welcomes polo season The Sarasota Polo Club will host its season opener Dec. 18. Polo matches run Sundays through April 8.
+ Shoebox drive to help local seniors East County residents wishing to spread holiday cheer and wishes to local senior citizens can help provide shoeboxes filled with treats to brighten their holiday season. The annual Community Shoebox Drive and Reception will be held from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 18, at The Polo Grill and Bar, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. Organizers are asking individuals to fill shoeboxes with items such as toiletries, slippers, socks, books, puzzles, playing cards, lotions, pens and hard candy to be distributed to senior citizens in need. Admission to the reception event is a shoebox filled with goodies or a donation of $20 to Meals on Wheels PLUS. To prepare the shoebox, wrap the top and bottom of a shoebox separately in Christmas wrapping paper. Place a rubber band around the shoebox and attach a tag designating whether the box is for a man or woman.
Pam Eubanks
Paulina Medrzycki, 10, wrote a letter to a soldier while in class Dec. 6.
Pam Eubanks
Corey Palmer Sr., portrayed by actor Larry Hickman, told the story of his senior year of high school to the audience during Lakewood Ranch High School’s production of “Back to the ’80s — The Totally Awesome Musical” Dec. 8-10. For more photos, see page 2B.
LAKEWOOD RANCH — Polo professionals will swing into action this weekend with the first public match of the new polo season. The Sarasota Polo Club will host its season opener, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Cup, at 1 p.m. Dec. 18, at the club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Sarasota. Gates open at 10 a.m., and entry is $10 per person. Children ages 12 and under are free. “It’s a perfect outing for the family,” Polo Operations Manager Rebecca Gutierrez said. “You are out in the fresh air. The kids enjoy it. You are able to (tailgate). It’s very rare to find something that will amuse and entertain the whole family.” This year’s season consists of 16 Sunday matches spanning from Dec. 18 to April 8. Match-ups include the Suncoast Porsche Cup, the MGA Insurance Super Bowl Cup and The
SEE POLO / PAGE 8A
INDEX Black Tie.............. 8B Classifieds ........ 16A
Cops Corner....... 14A Crossword.......... 15A
Opinion.................6A Real Estate........ 12A
Weather............. 15A Weather............. 15A
Vol. 12, No. 11 | Two sections YourObserver.com