NEXTGEN December 22 - January 23

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PUBLISHER

Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

EDITOR

Katelyn Disbro

DEPUTY EDITOR Kelly Harbour

DESIGN EDITOR Mara Stork

STAFF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER

Gabrielle Versmessen

PHOTOGRAPHY

Whitney Patton Wendy Dewhurst

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Carlee Colonneso, Sheri Roca, Colleen Hartnett, Merab-Michal Favorite Christa Hardin, Rachel Spivey

CALENDAR OF FAMILY EVENTS

Bradenton Macaroni Kid: Denise Granata

ADVERTISING SALES

Kelly Stasurak: kstasurak@elc-manatee.org

PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION PCI Communications, Inc.

CONTACT NEXTGEN

EDITORIAL 941-757-2912 ADVERTISING 941-212-4988 FAX 941-757-2917

EDITOR editor@nextgenmagazine.org

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EARLY LEARNING COALITION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEES

Adam Mohammadbhoy (Chairman) Robert Bell (Secretary/Treasurer) Andrew Minor

PRIVATE SECTOR APPOINTED MEMBERS

Michael Rampino, Christina Riggio, Karen Carpenter, Zack Kallis, Dr. Michael Mackie, Gary Scott, Caroline Halfacre, Tim Pye

LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED MEMBERS

Rachel Kendzior

Children With Disabilities Program Representative

Annette Larkin

Private, For-Profit Provider Representative Dr. Robin Thompson Manatee County School Board Designee

Jennifer Passmore

Board of County Commissioners' Appointee

Kathy Patreka Head Start Director Chantal Porte Department of Children and Families Designee

James Disbro CareerSource Suncoast Dr. Carla McGill County Health Department Designee Dr. Kristina DeWitt Florida College System Designee

Marjani Jones Faith-Based Provider Representative SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE BOARD Linda Guritz

BOARD OF EDUCATION MANATEE COUNTY

Gina Messenger, Mary Foreman, Chad Choate, Richard Tatem, Cindy Spray, Cynthia Saunders, Superintendent

NEXTGEN and the Early Learning Coalition do not endorse or warrant any

or

contained herein, unless otherwise expressly noted. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors. Submitted materials will not be

Whole or part of this publication may not be used or duplicated in any way without written permission from the Early Learning Coalition.

The Early Learning Coalition is a 501-C (3) nonprofit organization committed to ensuring affordable and creditable early child care and early education through School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs. Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning and Manatee County Government.

Nothing Stopping Santa This Year!

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Most people would be surprised to learn that Santa Claus lives in Bradenton, Florida, but chances are if you've attended Elementary school in Manatee County in the last 30 years, you've met Steve Hensell, or "Santa Steve," as he's better known.

Steve worked as a painter and then as a master mechanic for the Manatee County School District for over 30 years. In 1990, he went to the school board looking for a job, and Gene Witt told him he could have whatever position he wanted so long as Steve would be his Santa.

Even though he's retired from the school district now, he still dresses up as Santa each year for them. On average, Steve goes to about 20 schools a year and once had 34 schools on his roster! Although he'd be dressed in an all-white painter's jumpsuit, Steve says that since 2005, he wasn't able to paint an elementary school without a kid saying, "Santa's here!"

Steve beams: "What makes me come back year after year is when you're sitting on that chair, and the kids come in the room, and they gasp, their eyes get huge, and their faces just light up."

He first dressed up as Santa during his time in the Air Force. They could not find someone on his military base in Germany to be Santa, so they asked Steve if he would do it, to which he wholeheartedly agreed.

Steve considers himself a giver and has always loved Christmas and children and says he couldn't wait to have his own kids one day so he could share that love with them. He credits his parents and upbringing for his love of the season. Steve's mother had even made him a "naughty or nice" book to use when he dons the red coat.

Steve and his wife, Wendy, have three biological children and have adopted two after fostering 50 kids in the past 25 years.

They now have four grandchildren. Their daughter is due with the fifth, coincidentally in December.

However, this past year and a half has presented its fair share of challenges for Steve. In June 2021, his daughter brought her car to his house with two flat tires caused by nails. He plugged the holes, stood up, got light-headed, and had to sit back down. He asked his daughter to get him a couple of aspirin and a glass of water. After an hour, he asked her to take him to the hospital because the chest pain was unbearable. Steve compares the feeling to that of someone standing on his chest.

The ER took him in immediately, did a catheter procedure, and found that he would need a triple bypass because his aortic valve was 95% closed. He was having the widow maker heart attack.

Steve's response: "Well, 80 would be great! That's 14 more years!"

Then, just a few months later, Steve sat in his recliner after coming home from the North Pole Express in Parrish and took off his boots and socks when his wife said: "Your pinky toe is black!"

Steve turned on the light from his tableside lamp and, after taking one look at it, knew he had to call his podiatrist with Veteran Affairs. He de scribed what he was seeing to the doctor and was told to immediately get to the VA's medical center in Bay Pines.

Somehow, a tiny blister underneath his foot had contracted gangrene. They gave him two hours to live and told him they could either cut off the foot to save the leg or cut off the leg to save his life. Now, Steve was having to recover from a life-altering amputation after just recovering from the heart attack, and it didn't end there.

Steve came home from the hospital on January 4th, and the very next morning, he had to call 911. His left arm was completely stiff. "Frozen, like a block of ice," he describes it. The EMS workers thought he was having a stroke, but it turns out he had a 10mm blood clot in his arm. The doctors told him that 99% of the time, blood clots go straight to the brain first.

Before removing the clot, Steve's doctor, Dr. Shastri, wanted to make sure he knew that there is always a chance of not coming out of surgery alive. Steve says: "I looked him dead in the eyes and said, 'Listen, all you have to do is worry about doing your job. If God wants me, He's going to take me whether you're on top of me or not.' And he was shocked."

Steve's can-do attitude was an essential asset in his recovery. In March, the VA came to his house to build a ramp in his backyard. He put his cane and walker aside, and after four days, he learned how to walk up and down the ramp without assistance.

Four months later, he was sent to physical therapy, where they could not believe how advanced and strong he was. It didn't take long for the therapists there to clear Steve.

Steve says: "Well, I wasn't going to wait around for someone to tell me it's time to walk."

But don't worry! None of these health obstacles are stopping Steve from being Santa this year. He's used to kids staring at him, thinking he's Santa Claus anyway. While his coat is typically long enough to cover the prosthetic, he's not worried about a child seeing it or asking questions.

"Kids are smarter than people give them credit for, and they're pretty resilient. A little girl asked me what happened to my leg when I was visiting my wife at Prine Elementary. I told her gangrene got in my leg, how it got in there, and that they had to take my foot, or I'd be dead. And that was it!"

Steve's grandchildren were in shock after it hap pened, though. He joked with them to just call him "Papa Kickstand."

Although Steve can stand up fine, he might not be getting up and moving around the room like he was before. Even at that, he doesn't foresee any major issues getting in the way of his visits to the schools or the North Pole Express this year. "Whatever comes, I'm going to meet the challenge. It may take me one or two times to get it, but I'll get it. It's who I am."

DUCKS Manatee County

UNLIMITED

PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

Presented by The Manatee Arts Education Council, in partnership with the School District of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Foundation

Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres

Featuring K-12 performances, student art auction and recognition of exceptional arts education leaders

The Manatee Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution is deductible for tax purposes, subject to limitations established by IRS laws and regulations. Tax ID #65 0037457

Born for the role…

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Determined to have a career in a professional field, Tom McDougal first became a hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at just 27 years old. After running hospitals for 22 years, he is now the CEO at Manatee Memorial Hospital, having just celebrated his first anniversary of employment there in August. Coming from the coast of Mississippi, he saw the opportunity available here, researched the area and Universal Health Services, and fell in love with the company, team, and community.

Being a hospital's CEO requires many essential skill sets, but Tom also brings personality into his role. His leadership style might be considered a bit unusual to some in that he takes his job very seriously but doesn't take himself very seriously.

Tom describes his style: "I think I enjoy making people laugh more than anything else I get to do. I'm always looking to be very productive and impactful while I'm at work but also to make sure that everybody around me is having a good day and having some fun."

As one can imagine, hospital administration is never boring; thankfully, Tom's personality is one where he likes to do a multitude of tasks and go 100 miles per hour at any given time. It was important to him to find a professional career that matched his personality, or else he'd be bored. Once exposed to the hospital administration side of things, he realized the excitement and challenges the field can bring.

How He Got His Start…

Not knowing specifically what he wanted to go to school for, Tom's father encouraged him to look at pharmaceuticals, so he went to college thinking he would be a pharmacist. However, after a year, his father imparted some wisdom to Tom, suggesting that perhaps he should figure out what a pharmacist does before progressing any further. His father then connected him with a hospital leadership group in his hometown.

They introduced him to hospital administration, and from that, he changed his major and decided that after college, he

would go to graduate school. He received two Master's Degrees, one in healthcare administration and the other in business administration. After graduate school, Tom started working in hospitals. Years later, he received his Doctorate degree in healthcare administration.

He recalled: "I was extremely fortunate that my boss saw things in me that I didn't see in myself. When I was 27, he put me in my first hospital CEO job. I developed a real passion for leading teams and doing my part to make a difference for communities."

Tom's father had a significant influence on how he got to be where he's at now. His father had been a hospital administrator for most of his career and also got his start as a pharmacist before transitioning into management. But Tom says his father never pushed it on him.

"I think, like many kids, my dad had a job and profession, but I didn't really understand it. Then when I started getting exposed to it personally, I realized the excitement and developed my passion," he says.

Tom's daily tasks are quite extensive. On any given day, he will have anywhere from eight to 15 meetings, work on 10 to 20 projects, and have an additional 20 to 30 discussions with individuals. It's a lot of jumping between discussions and projects and working with the Manatee Memorial Hospital team as he relies heavily on the hospital's Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, the leaders in human resources and quality, and all department directors. He says that a hospital's CEO is only as successful as his or her team.

Early in his career, Tom would consider it a badge of honor to work 65 to 70 hours a week. However, he now realizes that the true badge of honor is to be really good at his job 50 hours a week. Even at that, he says, there is no "off switch." He's still available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. He said: "I really embrace my role of identifying and determining the organization's vision and strategy and bringing everybody together to pursue and achieve that. It's exciting to see things you thought of 18 months ago actually happening now. Just the opportunity to be a part of an amazing organization like this one is incredible. We are so impactful to the community. I couldn't imagine Bradenton without Manatee Memorial Hospital. I take that responsibility very seriously."

So, what does Tom consider to be his favorite parts of the job? The answer is simple: the constant challenges and neverdull moments.

Looking Forward

"Patient-centered care" is one of Tom's main focuses for Manatee Memorial Hospital. Tom recognizes that patients come to hospitals expecting to receive great care, or else they wouldn't have chosen that hospital in the first place. He says it's not about providing great care as expected but rather about the patient's experience. Were they treated with kindness and respect? Did the staff respect the patient's time and personal needs? At their facility, they have over 250,000 patient encounters per year. But the patient that's there today having surgery doesn't care about that. They care about how they are treated and how their time during their stay was.

Tom says: "That's ultimately what 'patientcentered care' means. We have to ensure personalized care to be specific to that patient's needs, and we are 100% focused on that one patient on that day at that moment."

To meet more needs in the community, Manatee Memorial Hospital opened its first free-standing emergency department in Sun City in April. It will be opening a second one in Bayshore Gardens in March.

In November, they also started a new home health agency. While the hospital field is a highly competitive environment, Tom did say they have 12 major initiatives that they're currently working on and, over the next five to 10 years, plans to transform the organization drastically.

1 9th Annual

Halloween Safe Kids Night

PICTURES: Whitney Patton

A place where you can gather with co-workers and classmates to learn hands on activities and education that promote social/emotional, fine and gross motor development, language/cognitive skills, self-help and moral values skills that defines school readiness. Classes follow the School District of Manatee County schedule and are conducted generally one night per week. Featuring a NEW childcare lab for hands-on classroom instruction.

100 Years in the Making!

The history of Bradenton Kiwanis Club

Little Girl Scout House

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

The Bradenton Kiwanis Club is wellknown around Manatee County for the many good projects they have done for our community. This year, the Club turned 100 years old, and to celebrate, they not only did things throughout town but also explored the history behind the Bradenton Kiwanis Club.

Established on August 22nd, 1922, the Club was initially named the Manatee River Kiwanis Club. It was later changed to the Kiwanis Club of Bradenton as more Kiwanis clubs were established, but it's better known as the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. In 1936, the Bradenton Chamber of Commerce asked the Club to develop the Bradenton Trailer Park, now Bradenton Tropical Palms, to attract tourists.

After only two years of being built, the park was generating a profit. The net proceeds from the park went to the Club, and then the interest collected from the proceeds was used to benefit local nonprofit organizations. It quickly grew to be the largest trailer park in the world. In the 1950s, the park held 1200 trailers. Judge Gilbert Smith Jr., the chairperson and historian for the 100th anniversary of Bradenton Kiwanis, describes the trailer park as an "economic engine for the community." In 1997, the trailer park was sold to the park's residents, and the proceeds from the sale were then turned back over to the Club's Foundation.

The Kiwanis Club of Bradenton would also organize various fundraising events over the years. This includes a carnival on the pier where Pier 22 now sits. Additionally, there were many members who sang and had musical talent, so they would perform a show at the Palace Theater in downtown Bradenton. What was unique about these shows was that they'd start at 11 o'clock at night and, oftentimes, sold out!

Only seven years after its start, Bradenton Kiwanis Club funded and built three cabins at Camp Flying Eagle. This particular camp is one of the oldest surviving camps in the state of Florida, and thus the Bradenton

Kiwanis and Boy Scouts of America have had a strong relationship since this time. In 1963, the Club also funded the construction of the dining hall.

Bradenton Kiwanis Club is the organization that brought the Boys Club of America to the area in 1945. Now a public works building, the first building was renovated by Bradenton Kiwanis for the Boys Club, but in 1951, they began a major building program that included a gymnasium. They raised $70,000 for this project. Unfortunately, both of these buildings are gone now, but in 1966, the Club purchased the land on 34th Street West for the Bayshore Branch

Bradenton Trailer Park

Camp Flying Eagle dining hall

of the Boys Club, and construction began the following year. Today, the Bradenton Kiwanis Club still supports and partners with the Boys Club and even has members serving on both boards.

In 1950, the Club provided the funding to build the Little Girl Scout House on 17th Avenue West. According to Judge Smith, the land was owned by the city of Bradenton, but the Bradenton Kiwanis Club worked with the city to have it designated to the Girl Scouts, and they assisted in renovating the building over the years. In the last 25 years, it hasn't been used as much and was turned into a police satellite station. This year, Bradenton Kiwanis donated money to build a space in the station to be a community center for the Girl Scouts.

In the late 70s, the Bradenton Auditorium downtown needed repairs, and community leaders believed that the city needed a civic center that would be large enough for graduations but also attract events that require a larger audience. Wanting to encourage and motivate the Manatee County commissioners and leaders to get the ball rolling, Kiwanis donated $500,000 in seed money to get the renovation process started. Construction began in the 80s to turn the building into what is now the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

This past year, the Bradenton Kiwanis Club organized a lot of different events to commemorate its 100th birthday. Judge

Smith is even writing a book covering the full history of the Club, and he hopes to have it published by the end of 2022. Over the course of 100 weeks, Judge Smith gave a five-minute presentation on the club's history with a slideshow and photographs at each weekly Kiwanis meeting.

Janene Amick, CEO of the Manatee Performing Arts Center, came up with the idea to do a time capsule to be installed at the Center, which will have mementos from Kiwanis Club members throughout the years. Every living president of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club has been asked to pick a president who is not alive anymore and put something representing them in the capsule as well.

Wanting to have a cohesive, visual impact, the Bradenton Kiwanis put together an enormous exhibit at the Manatee County Fair that showcased the places they've had an impact on, organizations they've volunteered with, and historical artifacts. A canoe from Camp Flying Eagle housed the various initiatives the Club has pursued for the betterment of children. Some of the memorabilia included a framed State College of Florida logo, a box from Kids Against Hunger, a 4H poster, a sign for Every Child A Reader, and a cover from the June/ July 2017 issue of Nextgen Family Magazine with Judge Nicholas and a few K-Kids on it. Hundreds of photographs were also displayed, including portraits of past Club presidents and old newspaper archives.

Kiwanis members Dennis Schooley, David Gratham, and Steve Tinsworth

Judge Gilbert Smith and Kiwanis President Neil Unruh

Another neat visual will be the historical markers placed throughout the county. These markers will go up throughout the year after permits have been approved to describe Kiwanis' connection to the landmark. Some places you'll be able to find these markers are the Little Girl Scout House on 17th Avenue, the old Kiwanis Hall on 14th Street at Bradenton Tropical Palms, the Bradenton Area Convention Center, Camp Flying Eagle, and more!

Like many other events, Hurricane Ian threw a wrench in the plans for the Bradenton Kiwanis to host its 100th Anniversary Gala. Originally scheduled for October 1st, the Gala would be a black-tie event catered by Rich Knowles of Innovative Dining. The Club was determined not to let the food go to waste while also being able to give back. Rich and President Neil Unruh decided to donate the food that was to be prepared for the Gala to the first responders stationed at the Operations Center at Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Young Children Priority One…

Young Children Priority One (YCPO) is a Kiwanis initiative, chaired by Lisa Morrison. The program was started by Kiwanis International in 1990, and Lisa describes it as an ongoing community service program that addresses the needs of prenatal children to age five. Over the last few years, YCPO has sponsored and partnered with the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County to create an annual reading program, Every Child a Reader (ECAR), for preschool children. In 2014, the program provided books to more than 2,000 children. This new year, they'll be participating and will help financially support ELC's new early literacy program, ReadingPals.

Additionally, the YCPO committee fills special community needs. They've funded toddler needs, like strollers, car seats, and Pack N Plays, that HOPE Family Services needed during the increase in domestic violence while COVID kept families at home. Kits were also provided during that increased time at home for Parenting Matters to help parents with instruction and family engagement.

The immediate impacts that the YCPO committee has made are evident. Lisa says: "We see that families escaping from domestic violence are getting the supplies needed for their young children. Through ECAR, we introduced community leaders to Early Education facilities and created an interest in books for the children who enjoyed having people come into the classroom and read to them."

Instead of having to settle for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, the officers received a steak, potatoes, asparagus, and salad meal, complete with cookies. Now, they're hoping to hold the Gala on January 7th, 2023. Another silver lining to the postponement of festivities is that Judge Smith will be able to give out his completed Bradenton Kiwanis history book to attendees as opposed to the twochapter preview that was slated to be given out at the October Gala.

They aim to create family engagement with the copy of the book that the child gets to take home with them, along with the tip sheets for parents. In the long run, the goal is to help increase literacy in the children they serve so that grade-level reading improves. Of course, they also hope that their involvement with parenting promotes stronger families.

Lisa says: "I believe that if we can give our children the care and educational foundation that they need today, then we, as a society, will be better off tomorrow."

Rich Knowles, Innovative Dining, and President Neil Unruh

Former Kiwanis Presidents David Bassett and John Vita with President-Elect Andrew Minor

Mac Aldrich volunteers in the Every Child a Reader program

Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more —so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.

With every generation, we get better at protecting our environment.

Nourishing communities.

We are proud to support those who nourish because when great life lessons are learned, great lives are lived.

Photo © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums

Helping Our Kids Soar

PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

Play a Vital Role in Shaping the Future

The Power of Block Play

WORDS: Rachel Spivey PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Ensuring children are ready for kindergarten is paramount to safeguarding success in school and beyond. The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) team has been focused on the transition to kindergarten initiative for years through their Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, School Readiness, and Community Education Programs. The community program, BLOCK Fest®, engages children and their families in readiness through play. Play is an activity one

wouldn't automatically associate with academics, but it is vital. Play is the work of young children and having ample time to engage in play with family members and peers is essential to the goal of kindergarten readiness.

Play is connected to learning in more than just one way. During play, children learn social and cognitive problem-solving skills, practice physical abilities such as balancing and strength building, learn new vocabulary, and apply learned literacy skills.

Play also has the power to reduce stress and helps children grow emotionally. When teachers, parents, and caregivers make space for play in a child's day, they provide an opportunity for children to practice and reinforce their learning.

For example, when children pretend to go shopping, they use known literacy skills to make grocery lists, math skills to sort fruit from vegetables, and social skills to organize the roles of shoppers versus store employees. As another illustration, when children play with dinosaurs, they learn the vocabulary associated with the creatures, imagine a world different from their own and step backward in time, helping them to start to understand natural history.

BLOCK Fest is a researched-based exhibit that helps raise awareness of early math and science learning by offering hands-on block play experiences to families with young children, eight months to 8 years. During BLOCK Fest, parents, teachers, and community members become more knowledgeable about how these skills positively impact school readiness and, later, math success. In addition to supporting academic growth, emotional bonding can also be strengthened as parents and children play together.

Starting in 2005, BLOCK Fest was developed and piloted by the University of Idaho Parents as a Teachers Demonstration Project. In 2006, BLOCK Fest reached thousands of families as a nationally recognized recipient of the Parents as Teachers Losos Award for Excellence. The developers of BLOCK Fest then conducted a pilot Train the Trainer program with organizations in North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, and Washington.

In 2009, the University of Idaho signed an agreement awarding exclusive licensing rights to produce and distribute BLOCK Fest to Twiga Foundation, Inc. Twiga Foundation trademarked BLOCK Fest and now trains individuals as certified trainers, hosts, or volunteers to promote the value of BLOCK Fest and what it

can bring to their communities. Twiga Foundation maintains an ongoing relationship with the developers of BLOCK Fest. Together, they are working on expanding the reach of this innovative and successful learning experience in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education.

BLOCK Fest is offered free to all community members by the ELC several times per year at various locations. Follow us on social media or visit our webpage to participate. While at a BLOCK Fest, families will rotate through block stations that introduce the whole family to the educational value of blocks. The ELC would like to thank the Island Beach and Braden River Libraries for hosting BLOCK Fest. The ELC also thanks Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources for providing a beautiful setting for block play at John H. Marble Park and Pride Park.

Childcare Provider Directory

A Child's Galaxy Preschool 4417 20th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-755-6302

Adventures In Learning 712 61st Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-1816

A Growing Start Childcare Center, LLC 525 3rd Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-9750

A Little Schoolhouse Christian Academy 11740 U.S Highway 301 North Parrish, FL 34219 941-776-1973

All About Children Christian Child Care Center 447 North Lime Avenue Sarasota, FL 34237 941-365-4172

All Gods Children Preschool 11107 Palmbrush Trail Bradenton, FL 34202 941-739-2776

Angel's Friends Child Development 611 North East Avenue Sarasota, FL 34237 941-953-3852

A New Beginning Early Child Care Learning Center 2185 Wood Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941-316-1555

A Plus Growing Academy 800 10th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-0797

A Readiness Learning Academy 9045 59th Avenue Circle East Bradenton, FL 34202 941-727-9354

A Readiness Learning Academy 2 6130 SR 70 East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-4927

Asprea Family Day Care Home 4010 Hina Drive Sarasota, FL 34241 941-378-1920

Baby Fox Academy 3755 South Tuttle Avenue Sarsota, FL 34239 941-953-1856

Bible Baptist Church of Palmetto Academy 1750 6th Avenue West, Unit 101 Palmetto, FL 34221 941-479-4958

Boys & Girls Club Daughtrey Elementary 515 63rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 (941) 761-2582 ext. 116

Boys & Girls Club DeSoto 5236 30th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-758-3828

Boys & Girls Club Manatee Elementary 1609 6th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 (941) 761-2582 ext. 119

Boys & Girls Club Oneco Elementary 5214 22nd Street Court East Bradenton, FL 34203 (941) 761-2582 ext. 118

Boys & Girls Club Palmetto 1600 10th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-1268

Boys & Girls Club Rogers Garden/Bullock Elementary 515 113 Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 (941) 761-2582 ext. 117

Bradenton Christian School West 1305 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-404-4491

Bradenton Early Learning Academy 2015 7th Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-216-3305

Bradenton Early Learning Academy (Downtown) 202 3rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-216-3060

Bright Angels Academy & Daycare, Inc. 1716 53rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-962-0472

Bright Beginnings Academy 614 10th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-479-7910

Bright Beginnings Preschool

4111 Webber Street Sarasota, FL 34232 941-921-6722

Bright Futures Daycare & Preschool, LLC 1617 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-251-5436

Bright Minds Family Home Daycare, Inc. 2101 32nd Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-565-9058

CapoKids Martial Arts Preschool 11534 Palmbrush Trail Bradenton, FL 34202 941-922-4520

Children's Nest of Manatee, Inc. 5051 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-753-9024

Children's Nest of Manatee 2 600 7th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34207 941-479-7789

Community Christian School 5500 18th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-756-8748

Community Haven for Adults & Children with Disabilities 4405 Desoto Road Sarasota, FL 34235 941-355-8808

CORE Early Education And Learning 605 13th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-9069

Countryside Academy For Children 5807 18th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-304

Creative Kids Connection 408 75th Street Northwest Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-8687

CRPE Academy 1621 66th Avenue Terrace East Sarasota FL, 34243 (941) 932-0984

DC's Child Care Center 5105 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-746-6090

Discovery Point Twelve Oaks 7218 55th Ave Bradenton, FL 34203 941-200-4250

Doodle Bugs! Children's Learning Academy 11015 Passage Drive Bradenton, FL 34221 (941) 721-0330

Doran Family Day Care Home 4719 Cayo Costa Place Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-4802

Easter Seals of Southwest Florida 350 Braden Avenue Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-7637

Education Time 5165 33rd Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-753-7332

Faith Preschool of Faith UCC 4850 SR 64 East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-7895

First For Kids Children's Christian Center 603 11th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-0824

Forza Child Development Center, Inc. 8605 Erie Road Parrish, FL 34219 941-545-6380

FORZA Child Development Center, Inc. 12214 US Highway 301 North Parrish, FL 34219 941-981-5885

Foundation For Dreams 16110 Dream Oaks Place Bradenton, FL 34212 941-746-5659

Foundations Christian Montessori Academy of Sarasota 4141 Desoto Road Sarasota, FL 34235

Free To Grow Academy 5304 7th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-254-4268

Grandma's Babysitting Center 1728 26th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-708-9864

Great Minds Childcare 1018 35th Avenue West Bradenton FL, 34205 941-896-5319

Growing Hands Learning Center 5743 69th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-845-4873

Happy Cubs

6207 21st Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-798-6173

Happy Go Lucky 1606 55th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-752-4608

Horizons Unlimited Christian Academy 2674 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Sarasota, FL 34234 941-957-0409

House of JBaby's Preschool 1300 Manatee Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-7415

Imagine Charter School at North Manatee 9275 49th Avenue East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-981-5345

In The Beginning Learning Center 5503 12th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-567-6106

Jackson Family Day Care Home 6715 36th Avenue Drive West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-5097

Johnson Family Day Care Home 2730 22nd Street Sarasota, FL 34234 941-365-1685

Jones Family Day Care Home 10447 Brendle Road Myakka City, FL 34251 941-219-3605

Joy Learning & Development Academy 2515 37th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-721-0684

Jump Start Preschool of the Arts 11005 Passage Drive Bradenton, FL 34211 941-747-8900

Just for Girls 1500 10th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-8988

Just Grow Harvest United Methodist Church 14305 Covenant Way Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-907-7333

Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch 4225 Concept Court Bradenton, FL 34211 941-727-9072

Kids Academy Plus 57th 5415 38th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-3678

Kids Academy Plus 57th 1415 57th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-727-1841

Kids Academy Plus HL 4635 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-345-4040

Kids Club Child Development & Educational Center of Bradenton, LLC 5231 4th Avenue Circle East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-900-2812

Kids On The Rock 1401 14th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-4567

Kidzone Preschool 116 27th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-2727

Lakewood Ranch Early Learning Center LLC 11520 Palmbrush Trail Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-727-9990

Lane Family Day Care Home 602 31st Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-1774

La Petite Academy 37th 4301 37th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-756-5227

La Petite Academy SR 70 6919 53rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-753-2336

La Petite Academy Vintage Road 4507 Vintage Drive Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-7677

Learning! Kidz Zone 2211 53rd Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-254-7859

Learning Unlimited 6210 17th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-5838

Learning With Love 2712 47th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-0442

Let's Learn Early Childhood Center

1415 7th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-567-4279

Lil' Angels Daycare, Inc. 1500 7th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-720-9640

Linda Evans Family Day Care Home 1500 7th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-720-9640

Little Einstein's Academy 3631 Tallevast Road Bradenton, FL 34243 941-894-6505

Little Manatee's Cove, LLC 707 3rd Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-405-7991

Little Peoples Place 374 Scott Avenue Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-8741

Love And Laugh Fun Care Center 2811 17th Street Sarasota, FL 34234 941-952-1626

Loving Hands Daycare 1204 60th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-755-6306

Manatee County Family YMCA 3805 59th Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-798-9622

Manatee United Methodist Preschool 315 15th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-750-6739

Morgan Large Family Day Care Home 2809 8th Street Court West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-745-2401

Myakka Early Learning Center, Inc. 37190 Singletary Road Myakka City, FL 34251 941-322-2605

Next Generation Academy 4636 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-251-2491

Our Kids West 2425 38th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-752-1715

Palma Sola Early Learning Academy

7315 1st Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-795-0788

Palmetto Youth Center

501 17th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-0783

Pathways to Learning LLC 2601 7th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-8802

Play & Grow Preschool Inc. 2435 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34237 941-366-7300

Portal To Adventure 911 Rye Road East Bradenton, FL 34212 941-739-3929

Precious Jewels Academy Learning Center 2700 Leon Avenue Sarasota, FL 34234 941-360-1122

Primrose School Lakewood Ranch North 5730 New Haven Blvd. Bradenton, FL 34211 813-230-2827

Primrose School Lakewood Ranch Town Center 9127 Town Center Parkway Bradenton, FL 34202 941-373-6363

Puppy Patch Preschool 1116 35th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-6648

Reaching For The Stars Academy 2239 14th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-3901

Risen Savior Academy 14605 59th Avenue East Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 941-756-7545

Sand & Buckets Daycare 3407 17th Street Court East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-748-4799

Sandman Preschool & Academy 924 Wilmerling Avenue Sarasota, FL 34243 941-755-2591

School District of Manatee County Professional Support Center 2501 63rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-6550

School for Constructive Play

6608 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, FL 34217 941-778-2210

Smarty Pants Preschool LLC

832 62nd Street Circle East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-7710

Smarty Pants Preschool 2 904 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-896-4796

Smiling Faces Academy, Inc. 910 19th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-756-1234

Smiling Faces Junior Academy, Inc. 1720 11th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-747-3925

Sproutlings Kids SFCP Too, Inc. 1222 36th Avenue East Ellenton, FL 34222 941-776-4947

Sproutlings Kids SFCP Too, Inc. 3411 US Highway 301 North Ellenton, FL 34222 941-845-4484

Stapleton Family Day Care Home 1110 42nd Terrace East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-580-0510

Step Up Suncoast

Rise & Shine Early Learning Morton Clark 1707 15th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-750-6667

Step Up Suncoast

Rise & Shine Early Learning Palmetto 1315 2nd Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-750-6667

Step Up Suncoast

Rise & Shine Early Learning Parkland 6432 Parkland Drive Sarasota, FL 34243 941-750-6667

Step Up Suncoast

Rise & Shine Early Learning Pine Village 1103 56th Avenue Drive East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-827-2887

Step Up Suncoast

Rise & Shine Early Learning West Bradenton 2531 9th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-750-6667

Sunny Daze Preschool East

9922 SR 64 East Bradenton, FL 34212 941-750-0042

Sunshine Academy & Daycare 2520 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-3143

Teachable Moments Learning Center LLC 3005 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-900-1022

The Center of Anna Maria Island, Inc. 407 Magnolia Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216 941-778-1908

The Goddard School 14534 Arbor Green Trail Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-752-6600

The Learning Experience Lakewood Ranch 14425 Arbor Green Trail Bradenton, FL 34202 941-251-4046

The Learning Post Child Care 623 30th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-536-4858

The Myakka City Community Center 10070 Wauchula Road Myakka City, FL 34251 941-322-8114

The Renaissance Preschool Inc. 2500 10th Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941-365-0749

Thompson Academy LLC 1212 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-748-2162

Tiny Tots University 930 9th Street Drive West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-723-9072

Toad Hall Children's Center of Bradenton 4004 8th Avenue Drive West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-746-3951

Toddler's Ark FCCH 711 36th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-879-2407

Toddler's Inn Child Care Center LLC 2611 9th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-4631

Tree of Life Preschool Inc

2200 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-747-1756

Trinity Children's Center 3200 Manatee Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-8608

Vanessa Hawkins Family Day Care Home 2674 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Sarasota, FL 34234 941-957-0409

Victoria Morgan Family Day Care Home 3311 Barstow Street Sarasota, FL 34235 941-957-0608

Walker Family Day Care Home 3213 44th Drive East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-6629

Wee Care Christian Academy 10540 Hamilton Way Myakka City, FL 34251 941-322-6409

Wee World Child Development Center 1020 4th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-0810

Weitz Family Day Care Home 6405 37th Avenue Circle West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-7257

Willis Family Day Care Home 3206 Clark Drive Sarasota, FL 34234 941-355-6574

Woodland Early Childhood Center 9607 SR 70 East Bradenton, FL 34202 941-753-8588

A Newborn Initiative…

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Did you know that when you read to your child, even as an infant, you are essentially building their brain? There is a common misconception that just because an infant can't talk or doesn't react much while being read to, they're not able to get anything from a book. However, this could not be further from the truth. You might feel hesitant or even awkward reading to your newborn, but you're creating sensory information in their brain.

They use sight to look at the pictures, touch as they feel or grab at the book, and hear unique and varied vocabulary that isn't necessarily part of their everyday vocabulary. As the baby gets older, it also helps them learn to coordinate their eyesight with the movement of their hands as they turn the pages.

All these wonderful benefits are the reasons why the ELC's latest program, Newborn to Read, was created. The desire was to share with parents how important it is to read to a baby while also creating the foundation for kindergarten readiness. Dr. Audrey Davis, a neonatologist at Manatee Memorial and Lakewood Ranch hospitals, reached out to the ELC looking to develop a program that would help dispel the misconceptions about reading to a baby and highlight the benefits.

"It was really this natural idea development where, if we could create the resources, then Dr. Davis would have the audience to share them with. We have the materials at the ELC, and she has the new parents with her," explained Rachel Spivey, Director of Grant Management at the ELC and one of the creators of Newborn to Read.

Rachel and Kelly Beavers, Director of Community Educational Initiatives, met with the staff at Manatee Memorial to have a conference brainstorming session. They also came up with the

design idea to make the resource flyer look like a prescription pad as a play on Dr. Davis' field. It's evident that the ELC cares about reading, as seen from the multitude of literacy and healthy child initiatives. However, Dr. Davis' endorsement helps emphasize why reading to your baby daily is essential. It gets the message across clearly due to her depth of knowledge in child development.

What Newborn to Read does is offer a care package to every family of a baby born at both Manatee Memorial and Lakewood Ranch hospitals. The package contains a book from the Florida Division of Early Learning, titled First Teacher: A Parent's Guide to Growing and Learning, an infant-friendly child's book from the ELC, other learning resources, and the prescription to read from Dr. Davis and the ELC. The "prescription" itself has information about the benefits of reading. On the back is other information for parents about resources they can continue to utilize as their child grows. Inside every book is the ELC's logoed sticker with more tips about reading and a QR code for families to fill out a survey on how they feel about receiving the books and resources as well as what they're going to do with them.

The Rotary Club of Bradenton generously donated a $2000 grant that the ELC currently has to support Newborn to Read. The funding will allow the ELC to give out 1,000 of these care packages to the families of newborns.

Rachel added: "Our hope for the future of this program is that we can continue it by connecting with other funders."

• If you are interested in donating to Newborn to Read to help continue the initiative, please contact Rachel Spivey at rspivey@elc-manatee.org or visit https://www. elc-manatee.org/Donate.

Stepping Up and

New CEO Darrell King shares his vision for the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

Stepping In…

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Just eight months after becoming the Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County following the sudden passing of longtime CEO Paul Sharff, Darrell King was officially appointed CEO by the Board of Directors on September 21st. Darrell has been with the ELC since January 2014, where he began as Director of Communications as well as Editor in Chief for Nextgen Family Magazine. For the past three years, he has held Officer positions, starting as Chief Communications Officer and then as Chief Operations Officer. Along with the knowledge and drive, Darrell brings a passion for his career. It's these qualities that make him an excellent leader and innovator in the early childhood learning industry.

Mr. Adam Mohammadbhoy, ELC Board Chairman, said: "Darrell has established himself as a remarkable leader of the Coalition since January. His vision for the Coalition, paired with his industry knowledge, community relations, financial management, and overall professionalism, ensure the continued success of the Coalition and expansion of quality services to the children in our community."

While the abrupt change in leadership happened under devastating circumstances, Darrell has gracefully stepped into his role as CEO with the full support of his staff and the Board behind him.

NG: What is your vision for ELC?

DK: Staying true to the three words that define us – Early Learning and Coalition. By that, I mean that Early Learning is our core mission; it's what we do. We should always stay true to that and be the leader in that space in Manatee County. There are many different aspects to our daily work, but the vision must keep us on the path of what we are here to do: giving local children the best shot at success when they start school. We are given substantial funding from the State, Manatee County, and other funders and donors for that specific purpose, and it must be at the heart of everything we do.

The third word in our agency name is Coalition. The very definition of "coalition" is to bring people together for a greater good or cause. That's where ELC has to be a standard bearer. How can we help others? How can we use our resources to get things done? What support can we offer to other non-profits and agencies who work so hard every day to help local children and families? That is an essential part of the vision – if ELC has a way of helping, whether that is resources, infrastructure, expertise, or helping with connections, we must always do that.

And what I think is absolutely critical when you are the steward of millions of dollars of public money is that your vision aligns with your values – to act with class, full transparency, and fiscal responsibility. I believe that on any given day, we should be able to throw open the doors for people to see our practices, policies, accounts, and budgets. When you are fortunate enough to be given public money, then you must always run an elite business and take the responsibility of spending each dollar as wisely as possible.

CEO Darrell King with COO Kerry Gaylord

NG: What changes would you like to implement in the 1st year to achieve your vision?

DK: I was fortunate enough to come into a really solid foundation built by our former CEO, Paul. The pathway we were on was a good one. When you have had a dramatic change as we had, then I don't think it's wise to try and change too much, too soon. We are in unprecedented times in terms of our budget this year being over $50 million, which was around $18 million - $20 million when I started back in 2014 at ELC. That is a big number and the first year for me is about focusing on the immediate challenges, stabilizing the staff, and ensuring we try and execute all the Federal money that has come to us to help our Providers and families.

Any new CEO has ideas of things you would like to change or tweak but having been at the agency for a long time. I know when the right time for that will be. Stability is crucial when you come in as an Interim, and I've tried to carry that into the first few months as the permanent CEO.

NG: What are your short-term goals? Long-term goals?

DK: Our immediate short-term goal is to try and make as big an impact as possible with the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding that we have to spend between now and June 30th, 2023. In this Financial Year, we will expend close to $20 million, the majority of that being in the form of more stabilization grants for our Providers who were so severely impacted coming out of

the COVID-19 pandemic and the workforce challenges that has created. We also have significant funding for Outreach initiatives to let the Manatee County community know what programs we have available to help children and families.

And crucially, we have funding to help recruit new teachers into the child care sector, upskill teachers and Directors, and assist with Professional Development. So that is front and center for us in the next six months. It's all hands to the pump at the ELC as we try to plan and get that financial support out into the right areas. In the long term, we want to be ready to meet the community's changing needs, the growth in certain areas, and the influx of new families into the County. We will be working on a new Strategic Plan early in 2023 that will be implemented when we come out of this current substantial Federal funding. There has been a lot of change since the Office of Early Learning moved under the State Department of Education and became the Division of Early Learning. There are new requirements for testing in VPK, all designed to raise Kindergarten readiness rates. In the long term, we need to do everything we can to keep raising the bar.

NG: What are your plans for current ELC programs?

DK: Obviously, our two biggest problems are School Readiness and VPK; that will never change. But we have invested a lot over the past few years in our Community Educational Initiatives department. We have three educational buses that go out into the community. We are always looking at new programs for them

ELC Leadership Team

and ways to maximize the program flexibility and technology they give us. We have some well-established, very impactful programs, such as Nemours and CATCH, and we will continue to grow them.

But a big push at the State level is the Transition to Kindergarten initiative, and we are heavily investing in early literacy programs such as ReadingPals, Words on the Bus, Newborn to Read, and Raising a Reader to align with that. We are also looking at whether we can start some kind of program to help identify mental health or learning challenge issues in our youngest children. That is a huge issue now and one that we need to try and assist with. ELC is in a unique position as we are the first touch point in a child's education before they get into the public school system. If we can identify issues, alert parents, and bring resources in, then all of that is going to help when they start Kindergarten. We have also stopped a couple of programs we didn't feel were quite getting us what we wanted in terms of return on investment. You have to be bold enough to do that; as I said earlier, when you are the steward of public money, it is crucial to try and spend it as impactfully as possible.

NG: What do you think the biggest challenges are in the early learning industry?

DK: I regularly speak with our Providers, and without a doubt, one of the biggest issues is in the workforce. Many centers lost staff during COVID-19, and like so many sectors, that is still having an impact today. It is a domino effect. If our Providers can't get staff, they can't open to full capacity and have some empty classrooms. That then has a ripple effect on our families who are approved for School Readiness funding by ELC to allow them to work or go to school but then face challenges finding child care for their kids due to the capacity issues. We are working hard on that to try and get more people into the Early Education field. We have a pre-apprenticeship program we have been funding at Manatee Technical College, allowing us to start a conveyor belt of entry-level teachers into our Providers. We hope to sustain and actually expand that as it is essential. The State is acutely aware of these problems and has reacted to the legislature this year by approving funding that raised the minimum wage for those working in the VPK program in child care sites to $15 an hour. All of these things help. So, yes, capacity is a big issue, and then you look at the growth in the Eastern part of our County. Will we have enough child care centers for VPK, for School Readiness? These are all things very much on the radar.

NG: How will you promote a positive image and provide community impact for the Coalition?

DK: I think over the past ten years, the community has really begun to see and understand what ELC does. When I started, there was a misconception that we were some kind of 'babysitting' agency. The launch of this magazine and a real push in Outreach and PR started to shine a light on the work we do. Coming from that media background, I felt we had so many things we were

Darrell King with Superintendent Cynthia Saunders

doing, so many programs changing lives and making an impact on children and families, that it was crucial we shared that information – not to make us look good, but to let the community know what we could help with. That is always a challenge. VPK in Florida is a free program for four-year-olds, but every year there is only around a 70% participation rate of eligible children. So, it is about pushing these programs out and getting that enrollment up. Our former CEO, Paul, was also a huge outside-of-the-box thinker. He loved new ideas, and that's why we have a fleet of educational vehicles and programs that other Coalitions don't. He was a tremendous influence on building our image in the community; for me, it is really about carrying that on. I learned a lot from Paul on many different aspects of running the agency but having that ability to be creative with ideas was a big one!

NG: What strengths/knowledge did you take from the COO position that can help you be a successful CEO?

DK: The simple answer is a lot! I started as a Project Supervisor in 2014 when Paul brought me in to launch Nextgen. I then became Chief Communications Officer and then the Chief Operations Officer, so I have been fortunate to be exposed to many of the different tasks and duties those positions have in supporting the Chief Executive Officer. The COO position is interesting and diverse as you handle a lot of different day-to-day aspects of the agency, which allows the CEO to focus on the bigger picture things and take the view looking down from 36,000 feet. I learned a lot about contracts, finance, and programs, on top of the experience I had from the Communications side, and I feel that has helped me move into the CEO position as I have full knowledge of how the agency works. That said, the transition has been made all the easier for me by the people I have around me. A lot of our staff have been at ELC for a long time. Most of the Leadership Team has been in place since I started, which

tells you a lot about the stability and continuity of the agency. The newer Leadership members have all been promoted from Deputy Director to Director positions; again, they have a sound knowledge of what their departments do individually and as part of the overall ELC fabric. Our new COO, Kerry Gaylord, has been on a similar journey to me, moving into senior positions, having started a few years earlier. Kerry was our Director of Grant Management, the Interim COO, and is now the permanent COO, and she deserves that role. She has a wide-ranging experience of so many things we do, and she is a tremendous help to me. The CEO/COO dynamic is vital in any business, and we work exceptionally well together. We are aligned on how we want ELC to look, operate, act, and improve – and with our outstanding Leadership Team, I always feel confident that we can meet any challenge. I am truly blessed to have the staff that I have.

NG: Why did you want to become CEO of the ELC?

DK: Having a job that can allow you to make a difference is an amazing feeling for me. I had never worked in the non-profit sector before, but quickly after starting at ELC, I saw the impact we could make on children and families, the support and partnerships we could build with other agencies, and the results of those collaborations. It is inspiring for me to see what the staff does on a daily basis, whether that is the Family Services Team, Quality Team, Provider Relations Team, or the Community Education Team. I am surrounded by talented, committed people who want to enhance the lives of the 6000 children we have every year in our programs, support their families, and look after our child care Providers who are the front line. To be the CEO is an honor and a privilege for me. I want us to keep moving the needle and do everything we can to meet the challenges. ELC is a great place to work. I want to build on the outstanding legacy that Paul left us, but also try to make my own mark too.

Children Luncheon

career and technical education programs fill the pipeline with skilled and motivated workers in building construction, hospitality, medical/ health related services, cosmetology, manufacturing, IT, communication, transportation and business. Many students find a new career in a year or less. We also offer evening and a mix of online and in classroom training to fit busy schedules.

Continuing education programs enable individuals and companies to upgrade job skills to keep pace with the changing business environment. Most classes take just a few months to complete and are offered in the evening or weekend.

We also offer Adult Basic Education (ABE), GED® preparation and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes.

DECEMBER

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Bradenton Macaroni Kid is one of the area's top resources for all things family-friendly! With a comprehensive listing of holiday events, play groups, classes, fes tivals, summer programs, shows and much more, Braden ton Macaroni Kid makes it easy for parents to keep their children busy and entertained all year long. Don't miss the exciting giveaways, promotions, timely bits of parenting advice and humor! Like us on Facebook and sign up to receive the FREE weekly e-newsletter with the latest scoop on fun outings and events in Manatee County at www.bradenton.macaronikid.com.

11 Sky Zone Sarasota

Little Leapers

9:00am-11:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Holiday Meadows Farmers Market

10:00am-2:00pm

Sarasota Fairgrounds Suncoast Renaissance Festival 10:00am-6:00pm

18 UTC Mall Hands on Hanukkah

4:00pm-6:00pm

Palma Sola Botanical Park Winter Nights Under the Lights 6:00pm-9:00pm

Tabernacle Church

The Living Nativity 7:30pm-8:15pm

12 Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

13 Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Play Date 10:00am-12:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

14

8 Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

9 Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

UTC West District Holiday Movie Under the Stars (The Grinch with special meet and greet) 6:00pm-9:00pm

Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm

EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-8:00pm

10 Siesta Key Beach

Sandy Claws Beach Run

7:00am

Manatee Village Historical Park An Old Florida

Christmas 9:00am-2:00pm

Sarasota Fairgrounds

Suncoast Renaissance Festival 10:00am-6:00pm

Florida Maritime Museum Christmas in Cortez 12:00pm-3:00pm

Anna Maria City Pier Park Movies in the Park 6:30pm-8:30pm

15 Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Palma Sola Botanical Park Winter Nights Under the Lights 6:00pm-9:00pm

Tabernacle Church The Living Nativity 7:30pm-8:15pm

19 Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm Selby Gardens Hands on Hanukkah 5:00pm-7:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

26

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

20

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am St. Armand’s Circle Hands on Hanukkah 4:00pm-6:00pm

21 Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

22 Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Waterside Place Hands on Hanukkah 4:00pm-6:00pm

27

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

28

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

16

Southside Christmas Town Celebration

5:00pm-8:00pm

Hunsader Farms Country Christmas 6:00pm-10:00pm

Palma Sola Botanical Park Winter Nights Under the Lights 6:00pm-9:00pm

Tabernacle Church

The Living Nativity 7:30pm-8:15pm

23 Christmas on LWR Main Street 4:00pm-8:00pm

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm Hands on Hanukkah at Temple Sinai 6:00pm-9:00pm

17 Southside Christmas Town Celebration

5:00pm-8:00pm

Benderson Park Sarasota Christmas Glow Run 5K 6:00pm-8:00pm

Palma Sola Botanical Park Winter Nights Under the Lights 6:00pm-9:00pm

Tabernacle Church The Living Nativity 7:30pm-8:15pm

24 South Florida Gymnastics Open Gym 12:00pm-1:30pm

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Saturday Studios 1:00pm-3:00pm

Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics Sweet Peas Open Gym 1:15pm-2:15pm

29

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Sailor Circus Arena Sailor Circus Holiday Special 2:00pm & 7:00pm

30 UTC West District Holiday Movie Under the Stars (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation) 7:00pm-9:00pm

Sailor Circus Arena Sailor Circus Holiday Special 2:00pm & 7:00pm

31 Downtown Sarasota New Years Celebration & Pineapple Drop 1:00pm-1:00am

UTC West District Holiday Movies Under the Stars 6:00pm-9:00pm (Frozen with Anna & Elsa)

Sailor Circus Arena Sailor Circus Holiday Special 2:00pm & 7:00pm

LWR Main Street Live 6:00pm-12:00am

Marina Jacks Fireworks on the Bay

JANUARY

Sky Zone Sarasota

Little Leapers

9:00am-11:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Show 2:00pm-3:00pm

1 2

8

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Anna Maria City Pier Park Movies in the Park 6:30pm-8:30pm

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

Bishop Museum Soar in 4 FREE Family Night 5:00pm-7:00pm

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

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6 Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm

EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-8:00pm

Music on Main Street Lakewood Ranch 6:00pm-9:00pm

Village of the Arts Artwalk 6:00pm-9:30pm

7 Home Depot Kids DIY Workshop 9:00am-12:00pm

South Florida Gymnastics Open Gym 12:00pm-1:30pm

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Saturday Studios 1:00pm-3:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Sweet Peas Open Gym 1:15pm-2:15pm

Bounce Down Under Par ents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm

Village of the Arts Artwalk 6:00pm-9:30pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

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Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Anna Maria City Pier Park Movies in the Park 6:30pm-8:30pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College

Wednesday Play Date 10:00am-12:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

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12 Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

13

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm

EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-8:00pm

14 South Florida Gymnastics Open Gym 12:00pm-1:30pm

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Saturday Studios 1:00pm-3:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm

UTC Mall Sarasota Annual Beer & Burger Festival 12:00pm-7:00pm

15 Sky Zone Sarasota

Little Leapers

9:00am-11:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Show 2:00pm-3:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

16

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Anna Maria City Pier Park Movies in the Park 6:30pm-8:30pm

17

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

18

19 Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Bishop Museum Teen Night 6:00pm-8:00pm

EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-8:00pm

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21 South Florida Gymnastics Open Gym 12:00pm-1:30pm

LWR Gymnastics Sweet Peas Open Gym 1:15pm-2:15pm

Bounce Down Under Par ents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm

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Sky Zone Sarasota

Little Leapers

9:00am-11:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Show 2:00pm-3:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

23

24

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Anna Maria City Pier Park Movies in the Park 6:30pm-8:30pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Play Date 10:00am-12:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

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26

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Nathan Benderson Park Free Children’s Concert with Sarasota Wind Quintet 2:30pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump

9:00am-10:00am

27

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm

EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-8:00pm

28 South Florida Gymnastics Open Gym 12:00pm-1:30pm

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Saturday Studios 1:00pm-3:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Sweet Peas Open Gym 1:15pm-2:15pm

Bounce Down Under Par ents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm

Sky Zone Sarasota

Little Leapers

9:00am-11:00am

29

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time

9:00am-11:00am

Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Show 2:00pm-3:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

30

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Anna Maria City Pier Park Movies in the Park 6:30pm-8:30pm

31

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Anna Maria City Pier Park Movies in the Park 6:30pm-8:30pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm

On The Bookshelf

REVIEWS: Colleen Hartnett

Winter

(Birth to 3)

Written and Illustrated by Ailie

Part of the seasons board books by Child's Play, Winter is the perfect introduction to northern winter for Florida's little ones. Throughout the book, children explore all the facets of a cold winter with indoor and outdoor experiences.

Busby

FLAT STANLEY

and the Very Big Cookie

(7-9)

By Jeff Brown

When another baker begins taking away all of the local baker's business, Flat Stanley and Arthur help come up with the next best idea - and it is big. This Flat Stanley adventure is an I Can Read level 2 book designed for developing readers that may need some assistance getting through the book on their own. Part of the Flat Stanley series by Jeff Brown.

THERE WAS A

COLD LADY

WHO SWALLOWED SOME SNOW

(4-6)

By Lucille Colandro, Illustrated by Jared Lee

Using the classic story and tune of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly," this modern take has a cold lady swallowing everything from snow to coal. The familiar rhyming text and charming illustrations will delight young audiences with a surprise ending! Part of the 26 Old Lady book series.

Winter According to Humphrey

(10-12)

By Betty G. Birney

This story is part of the Humphrey series that has been nominated for 24 state awards and the winner of seven. Humphrey, the favorite classroom pet, is all geared up for the Winter Wonderland pageant and helping all the students in Room 26 get ready for the holiday season.

The first 50 people to come into the lobby of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, 600 8th Avenue West, Suite 100, Palmetto can pick up free copies of the books reviewed.

OFFICE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

For the past 33 years, RITE Technology has been a leader in office technology. Our focus is providing comprehensive office technology solutions including SHARP copiers and printers, MPS (Managed Print Services), software solutions for document management, Dynabooks, the full line of SHARP/NEC commercial displays, directed audio components, and the latest in audio visual conference room solutions.

Driven by Service. Powered by Innovation.

How can we support your business technology needs?

JANUARY 14TH, 2023 - 8AM

Families are welcomed to come out to run for the stars, with proceeds benefitting the Stewart Stars PTO. Following the race, Kids 13 and under are invited to run on the track in a 4x200m relay. Runners will be chip-timed. All paces are welcome, including walkers, and every participant receives a race shirt.

Believing in

Girls Luncheon

PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

A Zig Zag

Christmas!

It's the most wonderful time of year… and if you are looking for handmade presents for your child to put together for family and friends, many of the parts are probably in your home in drawers or existing craft supplies.

Using buttons, beads, or pom poms, they can create a pattern on a craft stick to turn miscellaneous items into beautiful gifts. Families can also shape fuzzy sticks into wreaths, snowflakes, or bows and decorate them with items to add a little extra cheer. All you need is the glue to bring it all together and add a ribbon for a unique ornament.

My daughter and I used what we had on hand from previous crafts to make Zig Zag Trees. What is great about this activity is that it takes minimal materials and is so simple to make. It is a holiday craft that all ages can enjoy. Plus, it is excellent for hand-eye coordination and teaching colors to preschoolers.

If you would like to recreate this Zig Zag Christmas Tree Ornament, you will need the following:

• Red, Green, or Silver fuzzy sticks, AKA Pipe cleaners

• Craft sticks, painted or plain

• Mini bells

• Mini Pom Poms, beads, gems, or buttons

• Ribbon

• Safety scissors

• Glue

Tip: Looking for these supplies? All these items can be located at a Dollar Store or craft store.

Directions:

To get started with the Zig Zag Christmas Tree Ornament, my daughter and I selected green, red, and silver fuzzy sticks. We then chose red, green, and plain craft sticks to match. Next, my daughter selected a variety of mini pom poms to glue onto the tree. FYI, buttons, gems, or beads would also have worked for this activity.

Then, she started to form a Zig Zag shape with her fuzzy stick.

Tip: Make the Zig Zag larger on the bottom and smaller as you go up. This creates the Christmas Tree shape. Next, she placed the bell on the top of the Zig Zag. Glue was added along the craft stick, and she pressed the fuzzy stick onto the surface. We made sure that the fuzzy stick was lying on the glue in at least a couple of places to keep it from falling off the craft stick.

It was then time for my daughter to add her pom poms to the bends of the tree.

We then allowed this to dry and cut ribbon to loop into a knot. Next, the Zig Zag Tree was flipped over, and we glued the ribbon down, again allowing for this to dry completely.

Once the ornament is set, it can be hung on a tree, wrapped inside a box, or added in the place of a bow on a gift.

I love how this Zig Zag Christmas Tree Ornament Craft turned out. It has a great color, and if you shake it, you can hear the bell. It is a festive and fun gift, and with a longer piece of ribbon, it could also be a fun holiday necklace.

I hope you and your family also enjoy recreating this craft, and Happy Holidays!

WORDS & PICTURES:

Carlee Colonneso

Carlee Colonneso is a wife, and stay at home mother of three. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida and author of funlearninglife.com. Her website is a lifestyle blog that centers on family, crafts, recipes, and frugal living.

High School Students Take College Classes For Free

East Campus

Allied

Health

Spectrum Internet Assist is a low-cost, high-speed broadband service that provides qualifying households with Internet service for $17.99 per month.

To qualify for Spectrum Internet Assist, a member of the household must be a recipient of one of the following programs:

• The National School Lunch Program (NSLP); free or reduced-cost lunch

• The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (age 65 and over only) Programs that do not qualify for Spectrum Internet Assist: Social Security Disability (SSD), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Social Security Retirement and Survivor Benefits are different from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and do NOT meet eligibility requirements.

If you believe you may qualify, visit SpectrumInternetAssist.com.

• Enter in your 5-digit ZIP code to see if Spectrum Internet Assist is available in your area.

• If available, you will receive direction to call 1-844-525-1574 to start the qualification process.

• If Spectrum Internet Assist is not available in your area, you will receive a coming-soon message and be asked to check back for updates.

GET CONNECTED WITH HIGH-SPEED INTERNET FOR $17.99/MO

Spectrum Internet Assist gives your household a reliable, blazing-fast connection to the world of information, education, entertainment and services that are available online.

With Spectrum Internet Assist, you’ll enjoy:

• 30 Mbps of Internet speed with NO data caps

• FREE Internet modem • No contracts, ever • Add fast in-home WiFi for $5 more a month

REFOCUSING OUR KIDS…

WORDS: Christa Hardin

Still, what to do? This weird no man's land is murky territory, and every parent out there needs help navigating it. Since you can only ask, "What happened to playing with all of the Christmas items you got?" so many times, here are five simple and fun post-holiday tips for the kids and you to truly be part of the jolly season!

1. Take a walk. Actually, strut. Fitness walking is totally in right now. Thanks to Taylor Swift and MadFit workouts, kids are simply eager to strut and walk, sometimes even with their parents. Take it up a notch and bring a picnic to visit a park that makes walking more fun. You can even bring the fishing poles for some quiet time together.

Most of us love the idea of a full-fledged plunge into the holidays, and why not?

What's not to love about all things Elf for the twelfth time, baking endless rows of gingerbread cookies, hiding your Elf on the Shelf on the ceiling fan, and snagging tickets to the new Scrooge movie coming out?

We want – no, need - that Peppermint Chip Chick-fil-A milkshake accompanying us while we shop 'til we drop and deck the palm trees with twinkle lights. But let's face it after we enjoy all the holiday fun, we start to long for those cozy days that follow the jingle bells all the way home.

Post-holidays, it's not only genuinely wonderful to snuggle in new cozy pajamas with the family, but we adults also typically take time to catch up with our budgets, bills, and health. By the time we get to these last precious spaces on the yearly calendar, we task ourselves with getting back into the groove of normalcy, and we typically take the opportunity to get organized.

After the mad rush to malls to return your items that don't fit, eating lots of leftovers, playing late-night video games, and the new Taylor Swift album on vinyl, families face one more issue.

The kids get bored.

Not only bored, but bored and sluggish. Post-holidays, we find them hovering around the house with the classic "nothing to do" bit, and we get it. We remember saying the same thing to our parents.

2. Invest in simple gifts for the kids that involve music lessons of some sort they can take on YouTube. Ukulele or melodica, anyone?

3. While you're getting your finances back in line after holiday spending, have your kids sit next to you and learn about money. Offer them a Dave Ramsey course or help them to make a simple list and open a bank account. Need things organized around the house? Have the kids earn money doing things that will get their bodies moving and all of you ready to hit the ground running in the new year.

4. Get back together in the kitchen to create delicious and healthy meals. Use the app Tasty for some easy and simple recipe tutorials.

5. Volunteer for your community and help others by serving hurricane victims together on a parent-child or family date. Red Cross and area churches are still doing big work in this area, and it can help to get connected with bigger groups in Manatee County. Bridge a Life also does projects for foster families, and they have multiple opportunities for serving.

In essence, as you post-holiday plan, let the kids be part of getting back on track, resting, and then restructuring as a family! While you're at it, don't forget to plan a special New Year's (or surrounding) date night out for the parents! You all need to balance fun, work, and resting well!

Baby Navigator is an app developed through the Florida Department of Education, Division of Early Learning's Preschool Development Grant by Florida State University's College of Medicine, Autism Institute. The app provides resources and tools for families to celebrate and support their baby's early learning.

When You Join Baby Navigator, You Can:

Learn about your baby's social communication milestones and parenting strategies that support early development in short, fun video tutorials that you select from a menu by age or by question.

Explore video clips showing how babies are learning new social communication milestones. With each milestone clip, watch a companion clip that tells you about the tactics the parent is using. Explore the milestone and support clips to find out what your baby is learning, what is coming next, and how to support your baby's learning from month to month.

Chart your baby's social communication milestones every two months, starting at three months. Track your baby's growth and development to get ready for preschool. Celebrate these early critical milestones as you watch your baby grow.

How Much Does Baby Navigator Cost?

Baby Navigator is a grant-funded and FREE resource. All resources are virtual, so you can access them from anywhere, anytime.

What If Something Doesn't Seem Quite Right?

In Baby Navigator, you will have resources customized to your baby's results on the Social Communication CheckUp, or SoCo CheckUp for short. These help you learn how early signs of language delay and autism can impact your child's development, what you can do about it, and how you can build your care team.

The mission of Baby Navigator is to provide resources and tools for families to celebrate and support their baby's early learning and nurture the development of language and success in school and life.

Once you join Baby Navigator, you will receive weekly reminders and updates on resources in your account. You can decide what you want to do and use and fill out as your baby grows. You can opt out anytime. Baby Navigator is also available in Spanish and Creole.

Babies learn at an amazing rate. Learn the milestones that develop from birth to 24 months. Visit babynavigator.com for more information.

Summer Nights

At the Manatee Performing Arts Center, we believe every student, regardless of age or experience, deserves the opportunity to participate in musical theater and discover their creative potential.

Our program offers training in: • Dance • Singing • Musical Theatre performance • Acting & stage direction

• Public speaking Programs are led by professional directors and artists.

Don’t let your student miss out on developing self-confidence, personal life skills, and make new friends. Scholarships are available. Production Camps available Spring & Summer. Learn more about all of our events and programs at ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com or (941) 748-5875

Program Location:

Manatee Performing Arts Center 502 Third Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205

Remake Learning Days!

Join the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and The Patterson Foundation for these free events…

WORDS:

Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

Suncoast Remake Learning Days is a 10-day festival that celebrates the many learning opportunities in our community. This celebration highlights innovative experiences and opportunities for youth and participants of all ages to develop their sense of creativity, perseverance, and curiosity.

Establishments, including schools, museums, libraries, after-school organizations, early child care centers, colleges, universities, media centers, faithbased organizations, businesses, tech startups, and other entities, will open their doors to welcome families. Operations will also travel into neighborhoods to host hands-on, engaging educational experiences for pre-K through high school youth and their families, caregivers, and educators. These events are free and open to all!

All Suncoast Remake Learning Days events will follow the CDC COVID guidelines. Inperson Suncoast Remake Learning Days events may be canceled or moved to a virtual platform if the community positivity rate warrants.

Suncoast Remake Learning Days events are organized by different learning themes such as arts, maker, outdoor learning, science, technology, and youth voice. In addition, there are professional development sessions for school, outof-school, childcare, and non-traditional educators. Events can fall under one or more learning themes, and each event's learning themes will be identified by the icons below:

Arts – Arts features hands-on learning and expression through theatre, dance, visual art, music, photography, and other creative outlets.

Maker – Making is about taking things apart and putting them back together. Tinker, build and create with all kinds of materials. Try a 3D printer, take apart a toy to see inside and then rebuild it, or create a marshmallow tower!

Outdoor Learning – Outdoor Learning is about experiencing and learning about the natural world. How can we think about the environment, sustainability, and more by exploring our very own backyards?

Science – Science is all about experimentation! How does our world work? What can we test and discover in the world around us? Participants will have the opportunity to explore chemistry, biology, geography, and other sciences.

Suncoast

Technology Technology gives kids a chance to investigate their digital world. Want to try coding? Build robots? Learn circuitry? Look for technology events that help you discover new things.

Youth Voice – Youth voice-related events highlight how youth express themselves in their own ways through audio, video, art, music, and other outlets.

Professional Development –For traditional and non-traditional educators, credited and noncredited professional development featuring STEAM-inspired learning is offered by various organizations.

Why are The Patterson Foundation and the Suncoast Campaign for GradeLevel Reading sponsoring Suncoast Remake Learning Days?

The Patterson Foundation works with people, businesses, nonprofits,

government, and the media to catalyze efforts toward shared aspirations through five key actions: Connecting → Learning → Sharing → Evolving → Strengthening. Remake Learning Days provide an opportunity for wide community participation and strong family engagement across five sectors to work toward the greater good of strengthening our learning ecosystem.

How can an individual or organization become involved in the 2023 Suncoast Remake Learning Days?

Individuals, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to get involved! There are numerous ways to participate, from promoting events to customers and employees to partnering on specific events to hosting an event of your own.

The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading will host numerous webversations about the 2023 Suncoast Remake Learning Days, sharing information on social

media through electronic newsletters and reaching out to community members. To become part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days, an individual or organization should indicate their interest by filling out the form attached to this QR code. A Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Engagement Team member will reach out to assist.

No Soft Touches...

WORDS: Sheri Roca PICTURES: Whitney Patton

What is it that constitutes a great team? Is it defined by the number of games they win or how many points they score? Would you describe it as a group of players with unparalleled talent honed to perfection? Or is it simply that a great team is the one that takes home the largest prize or wins the major game of the season? I suppose all those things are true, but what ultimately makes a great team is how well they work together. When a group of people come together and truly mesh, working for the whole with the same goal in mind and boosting each other up to their greatest potential, that is when the magic happens. And that is exactly how the Florida Select 12U girls' softball team has begun to take Florida by storm. This is a very new and very young travel softball team led by Head Coach Billy Cole and Assistant Coach Kenny Diab. They built the team from the ground up, starting in 2020 as a 10U, or ten and under, team. The team, at that time, consisted of girls primarily between the ages of 8 and 9. More than half of those original team members are still playing on the team today, and although most of them are now only 10 and 11 years old, they have moved up to a 12U team and are winning! Their success is directly related to the amazing bond that they have created. According to Coach Billy, "They have top-tier team chemistry. These girls just mesh so well! Even the newer girls bought into the culture." He continues, "They genuinely care for each other, unlike any other team I have worked with." Billy proudly describes the girls, "They are a wild group, with loads of personality, and very accepting of each other and to the game of softball."

According to the girls, these young ladies are always trying to support each other and help to build each other's confidence. So much so that they describe the team as their "safe place." Never wanting someone to feel bad, they have created a game for when a team member falls. The first player to notice is to yell, "sniper," and they all fall to the ground in solidarity. Although they all have varying reasons for joining the team, their favorite reason is their connection to their teammates. One of these exceptional players even wrote a poem that describes herself and how she feels about her team and, along with a few of her teammates "giving her a beat," they like to perform it as a rap.

"First base is where you'll find me. They call me Miller-Time. My number is 3. Softball is the game I play. You can tell I'm always covered in clay. Hitting, stealing, running the bases. Hopefully, this sport will take me places. My team wants to win, and we know we could. We have each other's back; we're a sisterhood."

It is not just on the field that these girls have bonded. They come from different schools with varying backgrounds and have very diverse interests, from Vex Robotics Club to Swine Club. Still, they have become the best of friends, giggling together at sleepovers and birthday parties when they aren't playing or practicing together—even showing up to support one another at their other sports games and competitions. A self-proclaimed "Mom Squad" member acknowledged, "The one thing ALL these girls have in common is the way they work so hard for their coaches and their softball sisters."

One of the young athletes travels over an hour each way to practice and play with this team. Initially, she was playing with a team much closer to home, but they did not have the same enthusiasm for the game that she did. A friend had recommended the Select 12U team, and as soon as she started practicing with the team, she knew she had found her softball family. After becoming part of the Florida Select teams, they did find that there are other travel teams closer to home, but as her mother explained, "Once you've become part of a team like this, how can you leave it?"

Despite the team's recent accomplishments, it has not come without lots of hard work and perseverance. Coach Kenny recalls the first years, "This team started as a bunch of underdogs. It was over two seasons before they started winning games. Now, two years later, they are competing and WINNING at a higher level than we could have expected! We were told many times that this team didn't have what it takes to be champions. Now they are a run or two away from the championship game every tournament or claiming the championship title for themselves."

The Mom Squad certainly remembers the struggles of the first years, one confiding with a grin, "I used to call them 'Bad News Bears'!" While another mom recalls, "The first three seasons were rough, but by the fourth season, these girls had worked so hard they were winning or placing in every tournament they entered." And it is not just their remarkable girls that deserve their kudos; they give a ton of credit to the coaches, acknowledging, "Both coaches are amazing leaders that help the girls become better people and better ball players." Finally, they qualified for the World Series in Vero Beach. Always working as a team, even off the field, the girls raised more than $20,000 for the trip in just three months. It was an amazing week and an experience the girls will never forget. They even placed fourth out of 28 teams. Many of the girls made it to the top 10 leaderboards for their stats. Players, umps, and coaches from all over were starting to recognize them and praise their skills and sportsmanship. And the cherry on the cake of this fantastic week

was when they had the opportunity to meet some of their heroes from professional teams, like the Pride and the Vipers. One of the teammates was heard saying, "This is the best day of my life."

Playing on a travel team is a commitment. All 11 members of the team attend travel ball practice two days a week and play from 5-8 games a weekend. They are also involved in recreational ball at both Miss. Palma Sola Park and Miss. Manatee Park, where they participate in another practice and game each week. During the off-season, December and January, these athletes participate in off-season training, which includes endurance, agility, fielding, batting, weight training, and yoga. More than half of the team also participates in private one-on-one lessons at Square Up Academy in Bradenton. And somehow, these wonder girls are still doing well in school! But they all seem to agree that their parents feel that school comes before sport, so it is important to keep their grades up so they can continue playing. "They are more than amazing athletes," declares Coach Kenny. "All students are A and B honor roll; most are multi-sport athletes, involved in extracurricular activities such as band and STEM. They helped clean up the community after Ian and have proven to be well-rounded young ladies who will continue to crush every goal they set," says Kenny, continuing his praise of the girls, "This team has faced adversity and overcome every obstacle in their way with grace and resilience. They are truly best friends on and off the field. This is what softball and youth sports should be about, and this is what our team strives for."

copacabana CasinoNight

PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

A Family Tradition SINCE 1926