bserver O
EAST COUNTY
You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.
DIVERSIONS
Bello Nock is living large on his funny farm. PAGE 8B
OUR TOWN
Thursday, JANUARY 26, 2012
FOCUS
SCHOOLS
Polo fans don costumes for Rensaissance contest. PAGE 4-5B
Senior makes directorial debut at ODA. PAGE 1B
By Pam Eubanks | News Editor safety beauty and the feet
Leaders OK lights
caught on camera By Pam Eubanks | News Editor
Months after a series of armed home invasions rocked residents in Edgewater, the community will get improved street lighting.
+ Ranch drivers pause for pelicans The ‘80s had A Flock of Seagulls. Lakewood Ranch has a flock of pelicans. Dozens of pelicans took a rest Jan. 20 in a lake just south of Clubhouse Drive on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. The flock grabbed the attention of passersby and motorists, who stopped to snap pictures of the birds, which normally are not seen in the area.
LAKEWOOD RANCH — Taking the advice of a sub-committee of the Country Club Edgewater Village Association Safety Committee, supervisors on Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 2 on Jan. 19 approved the installation of about 20 bollard lights in the Edgewater community.
The lights will be installed near the community’s gazebo and park entry areas, among others, at a cost not to exceed $15,500. CEVA’s Safety Committee developed the recommendation following two armed home invasions in Edgewater in July. “It really did need to be done,” said Supervisor Dick Moran, who
serves as the liaison to the Country Club/Edgewater Village Association’s Safety Committee. “It’s a good move, both for safety and security.” “(The home invasions) changed the whole dynamic of people living here,” he said.
SEE LIGHTS / PAGE 10A
community hero By Pam Eubanks | News Editor
Doritos finalist has Ranch connection Britton Foster, son of Ranch Realtor Tierney Foster, is an aspiring filmmmaker in Hollywood, Calif.
+ Women’s Club makes donations Four local charities are off to great start for 2012 thanks to the Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club. The charities — Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, SOLVE Maternity Home, Meals on Wheels PLUS and HOPE Family Services — each received $7,000 from the club during its January meeting. Especially poignant was the acceptance by Donna Velinga, of SOLVE, who had a 2-day-old baby in her arms, demonstrating just who benefits from the club’s fundraising efforts. Nick Drizos, from SMART, applauded the members while announcing how their unrestricted donations continue to fund scholarships for needy participants. Laurel Lynch, of HOPE Family Services, and Kristen Theisen, of Meals on Wheels PLUS, also thanked the members for their support. The club will host its sixth Luncheon and Fashion Show Feb. 22, at Michael’s On East. For ticket information, contact Julie Smith at 373-6445, or Julie@propertyworldsmithrealty.com.
Courtesy photo
Britton Foster is excited about his group’s newest commercial.
Pam Eubanks
Matthew Baar, right, collected coins from friends and family to raise money for All Children’s Hospital, where his brother, Joey, left, received chemotherapy and other treatments for nearly four years.
Haile Middle School student wins $50,000 Lightning grant Matthew Baar was named a Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero and received $50,000 in grants for his charities of choice. MANATEE COUNTY — Although 13-year-old Matthew Baar has long been an advocate for children battling cancer, the Haile Middle School student has always preferred to stay out of the spotlight. But his actions have not gone unnoticed.
The East County youth scored big Jan. 15, for his favorite charities, as the Tampa Bay Lightning honored him as a Lightning Community Hero and awarded him $50,000 for his charities of choice — All Children’s Hospital’s Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders
Center and Children’s Dream Fund. Through a coin-collection initiative called “Change for Change,” Matthew raised more than $2,500 with which to purchase a Touch2Play game for the
SEE GRANT / PAGE 11A
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. — From his post in Hollywood, Britton Foster is hoping to find an East County-based cheering section. A commercial on which he worked, “Birds of Prey,” now is a top contender in the Doritos’ Crash the Super Bowl contest. Foster, son of Keller Williams Realtor Tierney Foster, now needs the help of friends and family back home to see it debut on national television. Through Jan. 29, five commercials are up for vote to see which film will earn $1 million and a prime-time spot as it airs during the 2012 Super Bowl. “It’s pretty exciting,” said Britton, who grew up in the East County. “I’ve done probably 20 of these (Doritos commercials) over the last couple of years. There was definitely an air of excitement around this (film).” The “Birds of Prey” piece depicts a man who turns into a bird whenever he craves Doritos— a fact his co-workers find entertaining as they watch “Gary” flap his wings and hop
SEE FINALIST / PAGE 10A
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INDEX Classifieds ........ 17B Cops Corner..........7A
Crossword.......... 16B Opinion.................8A
Real Estate........ 12A Neighborhood...... 1B
Sports................ 13A Weather............. 13B
Vol. 13, No. 4 | Two sections YourObserver.com