E A ST COUNTY
ers Health Matt Observer
DECEMBER
Observer
2017
INSIDE
Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE ROAD TO A
BETTER YOU
. as our population yle are as varied DE for a healthier lifest you can do it. INSI successful goals can get motivated, The ways we set line is this: If you But the bottom PICTURE TEAM EFFORT
Dietitian’s plan brings in the pros.
PAGE 6
FEELING THE BURN
OF HEALTH
s Writer tackle fitness trend with style.
PAGE 8
Exercise is better than therapy.
PAGE 12
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FREE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017
VOLUME 20, NO. 5
YOUR TOWN
Beloved baubles
Holiday ornaments stir warm memories. SEE PAGE 6
Courtesy rendering
The new Lakewood Ranch middle school will reduce crowding at other area middle schools.
Berkley Mason
Molding minds
New school to offer relief
On Dec. 7, The Learning Experience in Lakewood Ranch held its first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Fair, which included various hands-on activities such as color fusion, building bridges and “gravity grabbers.” Lakewood Ranch’s Rachel Schwegel and her 2-year-old son Liam (shown above) attended because she knows how much Liam enjoys playing with “anything with wheels.” “Kids learn better when it is hands-on,” Schwegel said. “Liam loves looking, playing and experimenting.”
East County parents thankful overcrowding will ease in the short run. PAM EUBANKS SENIOR EDITOR
W
ith four children in East County schools, Central Park resident Kristina Engelsberg is thrilled the School District of Manatee County is opening a new Lakewood Ranch middle school in August 2019. Engelsberg, however, worries the school will not offer the Future Farmers of America program her oldest son, Connor, loves at R. Dan Nolan Middle School.
Pam Eubanks
Jim and Deb Kehoe put out red and white ornaments made by Jim’s late mother, Margaret Kehoe, every year.
SEE PAGE 3
A+E Courtesy photo
Jingle for a jog Students at Manatee Technical College’s East County campus celebrated the holidays with an act of kindness. Students and faculty of the optometric assisting department, including instructor Loren Hutchison and student Kayla Mathews (above) helped fill 2,000 bags for runners and walkers participating in the Dec. 22 Jingle 5K Run/Walk benefiting the Manatee Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit supporting Manatee County residents who have healthrelated needs.
SANTA TAKES THE HOT SEAT Santa provides answers in the nick of time. SEE PAGE 15 Jay Heater
The Meccage children, Hudson, 7, Rylan, 4, and Kyler, 9, of Heritage Harbour, garner some wisdom from Santa.
Communication through art. INSIDE