EAST COUNTY
Observer
Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Creating young chefs
PAGE 18
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023
VOLUME 25, NO. 15
YOUR TOWN Tick, tock. Turn forward your clock! Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. March 12.
MTC pumped up by donation East Manatee Fire Rescue presents fire truck to be used as a teaching tool. SEE PAGE 3
Sweet taste of gold
Jay Heater
Shedding some light on a new career It’s been a year since Lakewood Ranch’s Monaca Onstad broke away from her job as Schroeder-Manatee Ranch’s lifestyle director to form her own company — OnPlace. So the time was right for a party. Onstad and her husband, Eric Onstad, hosted about 90 guests in a “shed party” that was held March 4 at the Hidden Acres Barn in Palmetto. The party featured the 301 Travelers Band, a bonfire, barbecue, brews and a lot of boot-scootin’. OnPlace develops lifestyle programs for communities all over the U.S. Among the awards Onstad (shown above with Eric) won for her lifestyle programing in Lakewood Ranch were the 2017 Lifestyle Director of the Year award she received from the National Association of Home Builders and the “Bull by the Horns” award she received from the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance in 2018.
Braden River High wrestler Jessey Colas wins a state championship and finishes undefeated at 71-0. SEE PAGE 15
Ryan Kohn
Braden River senior wrestler Jessey Colas captured the Class 2A title in the 182-pound division March 4 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
A+E
Lori Ruth
Everyone loves a parade For John Gahan of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury in Lakewood Ranch, the big prize of the day was seeing all the new homes that will be showcased in the 2023 Parade of Homes as presented by the ManateeSarasota Builders Industry Association. But before he could leave, Gahan (above) also had another score. He won the East County Observer’s raffle prize. The event was held March 1 at the Grove in Lakewood Ranch. More than 200 Realtors were in attendance to meet the builders and learn more about new communities and homes in Manatee and Sarasota counties. The Parade of Homes runs through March 26. For more information, go to ParadeofHomesinfo.com.
Tara’s dance program back in step The popular program was dropped during the pandemic, but it has made a triumphant return. SEE PAGE 14
Liz Ramos
Tara Elementary School’s Sophia Johnson leaps into the air during a practice for the dance team.
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