E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Eat your heart out this year. PAGE 6A
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019
VOLUME 21, NO. 7
YOUR TOWN
The Ranch turns 25
Music on Main will celebrate Lakewood Ranch’s 25th. PAGE 3A
Time to think tank
Courtesy photo
Championship moment
New aquarium planning begins in 2019. SEE PAGE 10A
Kendyl Brahler and Carli Kasten (above) had something to celebrate Dec. 1 as Lakewood Ranch High School’s JROTC program took top honors with both men and women’s Raiders teams winning first place in the state for their divisions. They beat out 72 teams and more than 40 schools. That day, they carried the student ID card of Abby Barbarena-Rojas, a cadet who died in September. Lt. Col. Richard Roller had saved it and gave an inspirational message to the teams.
Jay Heater
Dan Bebak, vice president of aquarium, education and outreach at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, says 2019 will be a huge year for the new aquarium planned for Nathan Benderson Park in terms of planning and design. Courtesy photo
Time to celebrate
Premier design year
Lakewood Ranch’s Kareena and Anita Kunwar (above) enjoyed a special holiday breakfast Dec. 8 at Kareena’s preschool, Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch. Four-year-old Kareena was excited to see Santa, ride the train and hunt for Christmas nutcrackers during a scavenger hunt around the school. Anita and Shawn Kunwar’s older children, Dhaven (13) and Rithik (10) are graduates of Kiddie Academy. “I’m so happy to have Kareena enjoy the festivities in this amazing school that cares about their families,” Anita Kunwar said.
Manatee County will spend 2019 planning future improvements at Premier. SEE PAGE 5A File photo
A+E
Get creative this year. INSIDE