Living Bradenton Area 2021 | Published by SRQ Magazine

BRADENTON AREA AND BEYOND | LIVE LOCAL, LOVE LOCAL

PUBLISHED BY SRQ MEDIA | 2021 SUMMER EDITION

LIVING BRADENTON AREA

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VILLAGE OF THE ARTS LEGACY FAMILIES SHARE THEIR STORIES OF THE AREA

THE ADAMS-BIVENS, BISHOP-PARKER, BLALOCK, CHILES, GLASS AND ROBINSON FAMILIES

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Summer 2021

Below: The biking and walking trails of Robinson Preserve in Bradenton, courtesy of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

LIVING BRADENTON AREA TM

Love It Like a Local

Authentic Living

Welcome to Living Bradenton Area! As the Bradenton Area’s tourism department, it is our job to share all that makes our home special. Fortunately for us (and readers like you), that list goes on and on. Our world-class beaches are found on the idyllic barrier islands of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, offering 16 miles of sugarwhite sand and low surf. Here, cozy beachfront cottages, intimate resorts and smaller, low-rise condos dot the shores but never block the views. Just minutes away, the City of Bradenton provides a break from the beach, offering a vibrant arts and culture scene, award-winning dining options, nature preserves and more. Easy to get to (thanks, in part, to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport), but with an off-the-beaten-path feel and an unwavering commitment to preserving Real. Authentic.

Florida, the Bradenton Area is worth discovering and exploring again and again. We hope you agree!

Bradenton is one of Florida’s best-loved hometowns, where people are welcoming and the authentic Florida experience wafts on the breeze in the form of salty sea air, sweet of night blooming jasmine, and the smokey “yum!” Of a road side BBQ shack.

Bradenton (and all of Manatee County)has kept it’s charm as ever more people are attracted to the laid-back lifestyle that stretches from beaches to ranches and river to downtown. In this edition of SRQ we celebrate the uniqueness of Bradenton, and, especially, the people of Bradenton. Our community has grown under the caring watchful attention of local families with well-known names like Carty, and Blalock, Robinson and Glass, and others. We think you will appreciate the positivity and love that the families of our highlighted community leaders share. Once you get a sense of the warm heart that beats in these locals, your pride will grow, whether you are a true local, or just “local for as long as your vacation lasts.” It’s also a community that puts action behind words - most recently highlighted in the launch of the “Love It Like A Local” campaign, headed by the team at the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor Bureau, the outreach is designed to welcome visitors, and inform then as to how to be great guests in our community, while accepting them with open arms. We know you will enjoy sending time reading about these great Bradenton families.

E L L I O T T FA L C I O N E

WES ROBERTS

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director

SRQ MEDIA | Executive Publisher

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LIVING BRADENTON AREA

CONTENT Good Fortune Juicery, 4 Check out the creative-minded community at Bradenton’s new Good Fortune Juicery and Kitchen and Adobe Graffiti Lounge.

Village of the Arts, 8 The boutiques, galleries and eateries of Village of the Arts.

Bradenton Area Family Legacies, 12 For multiple generations, six local families have made their historic mark on Manatee County—leaving behind an honorable legacy that will continue to positively impact the area for years to come. Theirs are household names: Robinson, Chiles, Glass, Blalock, Parker and Bivens. And there is a rich history behind each and every one.

This page: Dragon Fruit smoothie bowls at Good Fortune Juicery and K Mose drink from Adobe Graffiti Lounge & Kava Bar, photography by Wyatt Kostygan. The Blalock family, photography by Wes Roberts.

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A WHOLESOME, WHOLE-FOODS HANGOUT IN BRADENTON, GOOD FORTUNE IS SPREADING THE LOVE.

Good Fortune and Friendship

ZOOM SCRATCHES AN ITCH, but waving to a friend through a computer screen never quite takes the place

of a real-life hug. Good Fortune Juicery and Kitchen—an outdoor, fresh-air hub of hangouts and good vibes in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts—rebuilds that sense of in-person community. Bri Dine-Stisser, the owner and chef behind Good Fortune’s vegan eats, teamed up with Andrew Schroeder of Adobe Graffiti Lounge and Kava Bar to create this mindfulness mecca. “People tend to stick around all day and get to know each other,” Dine-Stisser says. “It’s an open-minded and open-conversation kind of place.” On any given day, you’ll find Schroeder serving his alcohol-alternative Kava cocktails to visitors in the cozy firepit surrounded by couches, and Dine-Stisser whipping up cult favorites like her Portobello Reuben—the plant-powered version of a classic deli sandwich, featuring grilled marinated mushrooms on classic rye with a house-made aioli and requisite sauerkraut.

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Above: Operating out of a kitchen shared with Adobe Graffiti Lounge and Kava Bar, Good Fortune visitors can sit in the open-air bar or fire-pit seats. Good Fortune owner chef Bri Dine-Stisser adds health-conscious food and feel-good juices to this creative atmosphere with her fully vegan menu. Good Fortune, 1302 13th Ave. W., Bradenton, 941-920-1556, weregoodfortune.com, @good_ fortune_kitchen

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN.

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LIVING BRADENTON AREA

This page: Eclectic and eyecatching graffiti murals cover walls, fences and houses in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts.

Dragon Fruit smoothie bowls and tofu stir-fry are popular picks for this plant-based haven.

Surrounded by commissioned graffiti and colorful pop art of local artists, patrons soak up the eclectic vibe—from tabletop game night to art markets and yoga accompanied by an ever-rotating schedule of live music. Saturday nights host DJs like Titus, who spins house music with beatboxing performances from local artist Karim Manning.

Drop by for Freestyle Open Mic Night and you’ll catch a tight-knit group of traveling fire spinners twirl flaming ropes. For more mellow moments, enjoy acoustic open mic on Thursday nights, and holistic sound healing sessions or tarot card readings on Saturday afternoons. Dine-Stisser is close to seeing her all-vegan menu go completely local as well, mixing and matching produce from four different farms to fill her fruit and veg needs— one farm even has a dedicated plot of land to grow products just for Good Fortune. Aside from sitting down to eat in a cabbage patch, that’s about as farm-to-table as it gets, folks. The spiritual free thinkers who frequent this fortuitous destination know it’s a place serving much more than just food or drink. “People looking for a place to go have found a little bit of a home here,” Dine-Stisser says. SRQ —A. Chates 6 | srq magazine_ LIVING BRADENTON AREA 2021 live local

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN.

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GET YOUR VILLAGE OF THE ARTS ON

DESTINATION | VILLAGE OF THE ARTS An eclectic live-work community of restaurants, studios, galleries, healing arts and specialty shops housed in colorful cottages that have been restored from the 1920s and 30s.

DINING Adobe Graffiti Lounge

Adobe Graffiti Lounge is Bradenton’s Premier Kava Lounge and Café serving tea, coffee and kava drinks at an outdoor bar. Featuring artwork painted and curated by Paulie Nassar. 1302 13th Ave. W, 941-708-0345

Arte Caffé

Village of the Arts has welcomed a taste of Italy. Remo and Meridith Mambelli opened Arte Caffe to offer true Italian flavors and a place to relax in the Village of the Arts. “I’m trying to bring the real deal,” Remo Mambelli said. “A simple taste of Italy.” He arrived in the United States in 1990 after years of watching his mother cook in Italy. Her techniques and recipes stuck with him through 15 years of restaurant management in Manhattan, where he met Meridith and he hired her as a bartender.

1302 13th Ave. W, 941-920-1556

Bird Rock Taco Shack

Florida’s hottest taco spot is in the Village of the Arts. Bird Rock has great food, cool people, and the tacos, oh my, the tacos. They’re open most days and are a great way to start the night off. Birdrock is located right behind Motorworks Brewing. Birdrock Taco Shack offers an outdoor patio, fun vibe and colorful, funky decor among the Mexican staples on its menu.

Shiplett puts his creative spin on southern classics and will change how you think of Bradenton Southern food. All in a 100-yearold cottage that doubles as an art gallery. 1114 12th St. W, 941-243-3735

Good Fortune Juicery and Vegan Kitchen Each time you choose

Good Fortune, you are not only supporting a small local business, but you are supporting a handful of surrounding farms and growers in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The produce is the most important aspect of the work here, this is why they’ve chosen to make the commitment to source all of their produce locally.

This ensures freshness, stimulates the local economy and makes the operation as sustainable as possible.

1302 13th Ave. W, 941-920-1556

serving southern soul cuisine and live music on a beautiful patio in the Village of the Arts. Dave Shiplett and crew are here to serve you a meal to remember, with seating inside and outside and art from local artists on display. Cottonmouth is the place to hang and feed your soul. The Southern Soul kitchen is known for eclectic southern dining. Chef Dave

Currently featuring 1800s to Mid Century items with re-purpose or up-cycling. Industrial as well as steampunk items. Whether it’s antiques, mid-century, flea market finds or re-purposed gems, they hunt for it all and bring it here.

1015 12th St. W, 941-565-8858

Jerk Dog Records

A small vinyl record shop focusing on the niche of garage/punk rock but not to the exclusion of other good music. Jerk Dog records is the way to go to spot for garage punk rock ‘n roll. They specialize in vinyl lps and 7in’s, while new record players are available for purchase as well. 1119 12th St. W, 941-243-7426

Joan Peters Gallery

Converting a charming cottage in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts into “Ortygia”. Here, Chef Gaetano serves up “Monzu” cuisine, a hybrid of Sicilian-French cooking that dates back to Napoleon’s time. Chef Gaetano embraces the diverse culinary influences found in Sicilian cuisine, including Arab, Greek, Spanish and North-African. 1418 13th St., W,

Paris born Joan Peters opened her Gallery in the Village of the Arts in 2002. Since then it has become a favorite for art lovers. Currently, Joan particularly enjoys Plein Air painting which is the art of painting on location, braving the elements and capturing the essence of the scene. An Art Walk occurs on the First Friday of the month from 6pm to 9:30pm and continues the following Saturday from 11am to 4pm. 1210

941-741-8646

11th Ave. W., 941-365-9960

Ortygia

BOUTIQUES + STUDIOS

1004 10th Ave. W., 941-545-9966

Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen Bradenton’s newest venue

Frank Peter Antiques

Bite Me Cookies by Cindy

Since 2015, Bite Me Cookies by Cindy has been delivering happiness one cookie at a time. The Cindy in Bite Me Cookies by Cindy is Cindy Unzicker, whose love for baking, specifically cookies, began Bite Me as a passion project with just a brochure and a ton of ambition. Bite Me’s business recipe is the perfect mix of passion, the finest ingredients and a whole lot of love. Mobile Cookie Van and Mail Order, 941-812-2238

Left of Center Gallery Left Of Center Gallery, the oldest continually open gallery, is celebrating its 16th year in the Village. Resident artist Randy Blahna is a contemporary, multi-media painter using unique canvas sizes and forms. Left Of Center represents three glass artists utilizing different methods. Patty Haeussler works in stained and slumped glass, Michael Hatch is a glassblower and the crew at Bottle Benders make chimes from recycled glass bottles.

1013 11th Ave. W, 941-518-3687

Monark Custom Framing and Art Gallery A custom rrame shop

and art gallery currently scheduling custom framing appointments. 1207 13th Ave. W, 941-216-9349

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GET YOUR VILLAGE OF THE ARTS ON

ReWorked Creations ReWorked Creations is an interactive art gallery located in the Village of the Arts in Bradenton, Florida. ReWorked Creations specializes in offering art created from a wide variety of reclaimed and repurposed materials including many different types of papers, maps, sheet music, buttons, broken jewelry, pallet wood, mardi gras beads, scrap fabric, egg shells, found objects and much more. 1227 12th St. W., 919-306-5745 The Baobab Tree Gallery and Studios Christine and Gordon Turner,

the founders and owner/artists come from rich backgrounds in the arts and education. The Baobab Tree Gallery and Studios (name influenced by Antoine de Saint Exupery’s The Little Prince) opened its doors on First Friday, March 4, 2004, after a year of extensive renovations on their 1952 bungalow. Their philosophy in putting together our eclectic collection is threefold. First, both must like the

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work. Next, they believe their customers will like the work as well and finally, it must be affordable. They are drawn to unique, well-designed and crafted work with a leaning towards the colorful and whimsical. All media are represented. 1113 12th Street West,

and it worked. Now they have a little gallery and studio in the Village of the Arts. They want to show you something beautiful, pass along a great idea, clue you into some super cool music and invite you to do the same. 1414 11th St. W., 941-900-5503

941-744-7465

The Dancing Crane Gallery The

Dancing Crane Gallery is the place to shop for those artistic gifts for any occasion. From fine art to funky art. Many gift ideas under $50 including our famous dancing birds, jewelry, prints, soy candles, stained glass pyramids, crystal and so much more. 1019 10th

Avenue W., 941-744-1333

The Dude and Mary’s Life of Art and Music Art of life & music is

about living creatively, following your passion, and making it up as you go along. A while ago they bet everything on a house they’d never seen in a city they’d never been to

Yoga Arts An in-person and online yoga studio with a focus on people 50 years and over. In its membership offerings, detailed below, Yoga Arts is mindful of the characteristics that come with 50 years-plus life experience. The design of sessions is to build your strength, agility and balance within a context of mindfulness and breath. The goal of Yoga Arts is to offer clear, careful and compelling instruction in practices of yoga — alignment of posture, balance, agility and strengthening exercises, breath training, mindfulness and relaxation — that significantly enhance well being.

1122 12th Street W., 941-747-9397

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FAWLEY BRYANT ARCHITECTURE RICK FAWLEY AND MIKE BRYANT envisioned a long, thriving future for Manatee County

941-343-4070 (MAIN) BRADENTON 1001 MANATEE AVE. W. BRADENTON, FL 34205 LAKEWOOD RANCH 5391 LAKEWOOD RANCH BLVD. N., SUITE 300 SARASOTA, FL 34240 FAWLEYBRYANT.COM

COMPANY BIO Fawley Bryant Architecture is a full-service, integrated architecture and interior design firm that works together with a passion for bringing clients’ unique visions to life. Their partnership-driven approach fuels every relationship and truly sets them apart.

Their process allows them to listen, learn and adapt to determine the needs of each client and create solutions through a culmination of conversations, creativity and care.

The 19-person team takes pride in their reputation for results by innovating, iterating, and improving until, together, they reach the desired combination of smart, beautiful spaces.

To learn more, visit www.FawleyBryant.com. shown left: stu henderson (left) and steve padgett.

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“We’re dedicated to help this area grow in a smart, sustainable way. This is our home – our roots are strong and we’re not going anywhere.”

- STEVE PADGETT,

MANAGING PARTNER

BRADENTON AREA VISIONARIES

when they decided to form an architecture firm in May 1994. Since its inception, created over a beer at the Lost Kangaroo Pub, Fawley Bryant Architecture (FBA) has been immersed in designing Bradenton’s community and culture through lasting and strategic partnerships.

Whether sketching on a napkin with local leaders or volunteering on a redevelopment committee, FBA’s team has been committed to the betterment of the Bradenton region for nearly 27 years. Rick Fawley once said, “If it’s good for the community, it’s good for Fawley Bryant.” The essence of those words is clear in the firm’s extensive list of non-profit partnerships, in-kind community contributions and a plethora of volunteer hours. With nearly 800 projects completed within Manatee County, the design team has helped bring some of the area’s most notable projects to life. FBA’s client collaboration has allowed the vision of Bradenton to truly evolve, from designing the Bradenton City Center project in 1996 to the recent completion of the Bradenton City Center Parking Garage and Manatee Chamber of Commerce in 2020. FBA bridges the past and future of Manatee County, evidenced in a 26-year partnership with the Pittsburgh Pirates, 15-year relationship with IMG Academy, a bevy of construction projects worth hundreds of millions within Bradenton and nearly 100 projects collaborating with the School District of Manatee County.

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WRITTEN BY ABBY WEINGARTEN AND BRITTANY MATTIE | PROFILE PHOTOS BY WES ROBERTS AND COURTESY OF THE FAMILIES

BUILDING A LEGACY OF PLACE For multiple generations, six local families have made their historic mark on Manatee County— leaving behind an honorable legacy that will continue to positively impact the area for years to come. Theirs are revered names in the region: Robinson, Chiles, Glass, Blalock, Bishop-Parker and Adams-Bivens. And there is a rich history behind each and every one.

The Robinson Family

AS TOLD BY WILL ROBINSON JR. AND PARKS ROBINSON THE WONDER OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS has captivated the Robinsons for

decades. And that love has run through every aspect of the family’s ventures— from opening sporting goods stores to designating nature preserves in Manatee County. It all began with H.L. “Robby” and Genevieve Robinson, who moved from Pikeville, Kentucky, to Southwest Florida in 1948. The couple wanted to escape coal country and settle in a healthier landscape, so they chose Sarasota (at first) over their second pick, Colorado. But Genevieve Robinson did not enjoy the taste of the water in Sarasota, so the couple decided to live in Bradenton instead, according to Will Robinson Jr. (their grandson). The couple’s son, Bill (Will Robinson’s late father), was born in 1949, and was one of four children, including John, Penny and Becky. Together, the two generations of Robinsons would make themselves known to the local community (and to the rest of the country) by one name: Robby’s.

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This page left to right: Genevieve Robinson, Parks Robinson, Kate Robinson, Parker Robinson, William C. Robinson, Jr., William Blaise Robinson, Peggy Robinson, Wesley Robinson

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“Robby (my grandfather) and Uncle Penny started a pop-and-son retail sporting goods store called Robby’s Sports (with fishing poles, golf clubs, tennis rackets, etc.),” Will Robinson Jr. says. “The first store they had was on Manatee Avenue in Bradenton, just west of 43rd Street, back in the 1960s.”

Bill Robinson joined the company in the early 1970s after finishing college. He later married Peggy, who he met at the University of Alabama, and the couple moved back to Bradenton to make their home. “My dad and uncle grew Robby’s and, at one point, there were nearly 50 stores in the southeastern United States,” Will Robinson Jr. says. “They sold the company in 1988 to Woolworth Co., and Robby’s merged with Champs Sports, which had several locations in malls all over the country.”

After the chain was sold in the late 1980s, Bill Robinson bought some land in Manatee County and became a tree farmer. This move would embed the Robinson name in the local landscape forever. “A lot of that land—about 1,000 acres or so, which was originally supposed to be a golf course and subdivision—was donated to Manatee County toward the Robinson Preserve,” Will Robinson Jr. says. “That preserve is very important to my parents. My dad had always been an environmentalist, and loved nature and being outside, and he passed that along to his boys.”

Robinson Preserve in Northwest Bradenton currently consists of 682 acres of mangroves, tidal marshes and former agricultural lands that have been transformed into a coastal wetland habitat. The preserve protects the living space of 75 species of fish and marine invertebrates, as well as more than 100 species of birds.

It was Bill Robinson’s tranquil sanctuary, especially in his later years. “My dad passed about one-and-a halfyears ago. He was going through some very serious cancer treatments, and he and my mom would walk Robinson Preserve,” Will Robinson Jr. says. “To his last dying days, he loved the outdoors. He was just very proud of his community and always tried to give back.”

It was a way of life that his children have gone on to perpetuate. Will Robinson Jr. is now a real estate lawyer/partner at Blalock Walters Law Firm. He is also a Republican member of the Florida Legislature, representing the House of Representatives District 71 (which encompasses parts of Sarasota and Manatee counties). His brother, Wes Robinson, is a ticket marketer; and his other brother, Parks Robinson (who has three children with his wife, Kate: Parks Jr., Genevieve and William Blaise Robinson), is the owner of Fit2Run.

B U I L D I N G A L E G A C Y O F FA M I LY

Bill and Parks Robinson launched Fit2Run, a successful runner’s superstore, together in Manatee County in 2006. The company now has 15 stores (14 in Florida and one in Puerto Rico), and sells running shoes, accessories, apparel and gear. The concept carries on the Robby’s tradition—a family-run, father-and-son sporting goods retail empire. “I’m a third-generation retailer, and I couldn’t have wished for a better mentor than my dad to help me with understanding the retail world and the culture that is needed to run a company,” Parks Robinson says. “It was great learning from my dad and growing with him.

It was always a friendship and partnership.”

As a tribute to his father, Parks Robinson and his family started the Big Bill Foundation (named after the late Robinson patriarch)—a nonprofit organization that awards scholarships to cancer survivors who are on their way to college. Watching his father battle leukemia inspired Parks Robinson to launch the effort, he says. “We participate in a lot of community runs and events with Fit2Run, and our proceeds from our races go to scholarships for these awesome kids,” Parks Robinson says. “It is something that makes us very proud as a family—to hand out these scholarships— and to honor the memory of my dad and our family.”

That memory is steeped in tradition. Will Robinson Jr. has beautiful recollections of his parents taking him to St. Joseph Catholic Church on Sundays. He even officiated as his parents renewed their vows at NotreDame Cathedral in France on their 40th wedding anniversary. “My parents are very Christian-based, so church is very important to us. And, to my mom, attendance on Sunday at church was not optional,” Will Robinson Jr. says. “My dad and mom passed on this love of Bradenton, and that was also why I ran for the Legislature, to make sure our legacy (and my home community) is well-represented in Tallahassee.”

Robinson Preserve undoubtedly represents that legacy in Manatee County. “That was one of the greatest things my dad said he accomplished,” Parks Robinson says. The Robinsons have remained in this stretch of Florida for a reason. It will always be their home. And every corner of it is imbued with nostalgia and natural beauty.“This area is very special to me. It has a smalltown feel in a somewhat modern city,” Will Robinson Jr. says. “It’s a place where I can go into a restaurant and know several people, but it also has enormous beauty in our beaches, parks and preserves. It’s a very special jewel in Florida.” —A. Weingarten

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This page top to bottom: Bud and Ed Chiles; Ed Chiles and daughters Ashley and Chrstin.

The Chiles Family AS TOLD BY ED AND BUD CHILES

SUSTAINABILITY. SEAFOOD. Small-town solidarity. Civil service. These terms are all

synonymous with the Chiles family, which has made an indelible mark on Manatee County for generations. Restaurateur Ed Chiles has helped transform the landscape of Anna Maria Island—and its surrounding beachfront areas—into an eco-conscious stronghold. A commitment to locally sourced food, green buildings and a communitycentric economic model are all aspects of the Chiles family signature. And carving out the Chiles name locally began during some of the earliest days of Anna Maria Island.

“My whole life, we always came to Anna Maria for the summers. Some of my relatives owned a bunch of property on the north end of the island,” Ed Chiles says.

“And there was so much history here. The Anna Maria City Pier was built in 1911 and The Sandbar was built in 1912. People came in by steamer. They promenaded down Main Street (Pine Avenue), came straight across the island from the bay to the Gulf, and a bathhouse sat right there. My uncle, Alfred Chiles, had a house that was built in the 1940s. So, I don’t remember ever not being on Anna Maria. I guess I came in utero, even before I was born in 1955.” Ed Chiles’ grandfather, Lawton Mainor Chiles Sr. (a railroad worker from Polk County), vacationed in the area during the summers. He gave birth to a son: Lawton Chiles Jr. (later married to wife, Rhea), who served three terms as a Florida Democrat in the U.S. Senate and two terms as governor of Florida.

He was known for being a champion of tax and health reform.

Lawton Chiles Jr. also helped launch a father-and-son venture with Ed Chiles: The Sandbar Restaurant on Anna Maria Island, which the two opened in 1979. Ed Chiles went on to own two other waterfront eateries that continue to thrive: Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant on Longboat Key (opened in 1990) and The Beach House Waterfront Restaurant on Bradenton Beach (1993). Ed Chiles and his partners developed Anna Maria Island’s Pine Avenue into what has been dubbed “The Greenest Little Main Street in America.” The historic boutique business district (dating back more than a century) has been lovingly preserved but also modernized.

Today, the buildings are all certifiably green.

The same is true of Ed Chiles’ restaurants. The culinary hotspots carry items that make the local community proud. For example, the menus feature a sustainable delicacy that is sourced straight from the Cortez historic fishing village in Manatee County—grey striped mullet, dried and cured into a product called bottarga.

Ed Chiles recognized that the processing of bottarga had been outsourced overseas, so he and island native Seth Cripe created the Anna Maria Fish Company to keep the production in the community. The company now produces more than 5,000 pounds of bottarga each year—a huge economic boon to Cortez.

To further fortify the Manatee County economy, Ed Chiles owns Gamble Creek Farm in Parrish, which supplies fresh, organic produce to his restaurants. Composted material from the restaurant kitchens, and from the Anna Maria Fish Company, are returned to the farm to create fertilizer.

“What we’ve done, in terms of working on sustainability and the environment, has been critical,” Ed Chiles says. “We have intrinsic resources here in Manatee County that we can utilize to hopefully turn back the clock on things we’re dealing with—like climate change—and feed people high-quality, sustainable seafood, too.”

Ed Chiles had the foresight, long before many others in his industry, to go green locally. And that vision has had a domino effect for decades.

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Left to right: Gardner Sherrill, Dannie Blalock Sherrill, Bob Blalock, Marlene Blalock, Charlie Sherrill

“If we can be a model for sustainability, as big as we are as a restaurant group, then we can encourage others to do it,” Ed Chiles says. “If we can compost and create soil, then maybe we can even encourage Manatee County to get a composting project going (which is what we’re doing). We really better be doing everything we can, and we’re not shy in that regard.” Supporting sustainability is an ongoing family initiative (carried on by Ed Chiles’ two daughters, Ashley and Christin; as well as his wife, Tina). Ed Chiles’ brother, Bud Chiles, also runs an organic blueberry farm in Lakeland called Jubilee Orchards.

“I’m happy to see that more and more people are caring about green issues. When you take that first step in sustainability—when you look at who is growing your food and where it’s coming from, it all just builds,” Ed Chiles says. “And that’s what happened with us when we got on the road to sustainability and understanding the economics of buying local.” This mission matters to Ed Chiles, both as a businessman and an Anna Maria Island resident. But he is also driven to preserve his childhood summertime memories— to cherish and protect the town his family has known and loved all his life (and longer).

“I remember those days of being on the beach, getting coquinas, catching mackerel with my dad at the City Pier and fileting them when they were still flopping,” Ed Chiles says. “I remember the peppermint ice cream at Key Sundries. The smell of the salt. The side streets that were all shell. Just the way the salt felt when it baked your little body. You could go out all day and come in at 9 p.m., and your parents never had to worry about anything. The best thing we can do is have a light footprint and leave Anna Maria the way we found it.” Bud Chiles agrees, as he shares the same nostalgic memories with his brother. “My parents would bundle us up into the station wagon and take us there. We learned to cast mullet nets, and wade in the ocean at night to scoop up crabs in buckets,” Bud Chiles says. “My brother and I would explore the whole island during hot summer days, grabbing ice creams at the drug store. It’s truly a home away from home for all of us.” —A. Weingarten

The Blalock Family

AS TOLD BY BOB BLALOCK AND DANNIE SHERRILL BUILDING BRIDGES—ACROSS CITIES AND THROUGHOUT COMMUNITIES—has made the Blalock name well-known in the world of local philanthropy and history.

Manatee County has grown in its capacity to help its residents and make their lives better, ever since attorney Robert “Bob” Blalock became a public fixture in Bradenton. He is a principal behind the full-service business law firm, Blalock Walters—a company that has thrived for more than 90 years. But his family’s impact on Manatee started long before he arrived. Bob Blalock’s maternal grandparents, E.P. and Gertrude Green, first came to Bradenton in 1906 from Marietta, Georgia.

“They’d visit Cortez fishing village and decided to settle in downtown Bradenton (‘the center of the universe’),” Bob Blalock says. “My grandmother had double pneumonia and doctors said that, if she came to a warmer climate, she would have more time to live. So, to Florida they came.” E.P. Green started buying real estate—vacant land from 59th Street to the waterfront. He and his law partner, A.F. Wyman, helped develop Bradenton Country Club.“The governor appointed E.P. to the Road Board. He helped develop Tamiami Trail,” Bob Blalock says. “And the Green Bridge, from Bradenton to Palmetto, was named after him.”Bob Blalock’s paternal grandfather, A.O. Blalock, was a Georgia business phenom. With his wife, Danny, he had three children: Dan, Winter and Madelina (and Catherine from another marriage).“He was headed to Fort Myers, but a storm came in and he stopped at the Manatee River Hotel and just stayed,” Bob Blalock says. “He came to Bradenton with a shotgun, a dog and a Model A Ford.”

A.O. Blalock’s son, Dan Blalock Sr. (Bob Blalock’s father), joined Wyman, Green & Blalock Real Estate and Insurance in 1927 (the oldest company of its kind in Manatee County, originally established by E.P. Green and A.F. Wyman in 1908). The firm became a flourishing father-and-son operation, passed down through the Blalock generations—with the late Dan S. Blalock Jr. and William M. Blalock both eventually joining. Wyman, Green & Blalock Real Estate is known for its professional offices, industrial and medical parks, and shopping centers throughout Southwest Florida: The Fairway Center, the General Telephone Building, the Tanglewood Professional Complex, Beachway Plaza and Manasota Industrial Park, among others. The company has also reached further along Florida’s West Coast, handling agricultural, timber and development land tracts. Dan Blalock Jr.’s son, Bill Blalock, now runs the firm.

While Bob Blalock’s father and brothers were changing the Manatee County landscape through real estate development, he was actively involved in numerous other aspects of community building. Bob Blalock, his grandfather and his father all served as presidents of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “Service to the community was instilled in me by my father,” Bob Blalock says.

Bob Blalock entered the now-named Blalock Walters law firm in 1963, soon taking on the role of managing partner. He and his colleagues helped establish the Manatee Community Foundation—a public charity that enhances the lives of local citizens through philanthropy, education and service (as does the personal Marlene and Bob Blalock Fund, named for himself and his wife).

Bob Blalock has devoted his time and career to numerous other nonprofit initiatives in Manatee County. He has served as chairman or president of such organizations as the Sarasota Orchestra, The Ringling Museum, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, the United Way Suncoast Manatee and the New College Foundation. He was named a “Manatee Distinguished Citizen” in 2017; given the “Lifetime Spirit” award at the 2012 Manatee Community Foundation Spirit of Manatee Awards; deemed a 2017 “Good Scout” by the Southwest Florida Council Boy Scouts of America; and recognized as a “Legal Legend” by Legal Aid of Manasota. Bob Blalock’s professional and personal service ultimately evolved into overseeing the Bishop Foundation—a charitable organization with a vibrant backstory. The Bishop family is beloved for having founded the Bishop Animal Shelter, the Manatee

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Performing Arts Center and the Bishop Museum. Much like the Blalocks, the Bishops have put their charitable stamp on Manatee County—and the two families have come together as mutual champions of local causes.

“Ned and Patty Bishop were active in the civic and cultural life of the Bradenton area. They made generous and impactful gifts, anonymously when possible, to many of the organizations and institutions in the area today,” Bob Blalock says. “The Bishops met Mary Parker (a graduate nurse) in New York in 1934 and invited her to be their nurse/companion—a role she had until the passing of Ned in 1962 and Patty in 1972.”

The Bishops established the Edward E. and Lillian H. Bishop Foundation in 1953, and Parker established the Mary E. Parker Foundation with her own assets in 1986.

Parker passed away last year at age 108, leaving behind an incredible track record of giving, and Bob Blalock serves as the administrative trustee of her estate and trust (along with four other trustees).

“The trust assets all go to Manatee County nonprofit organizations (intended to last in perpetuity),” Bob Blalock says. Bob Blalock, in multiple ways, continues to give to the community. And Manatee County gives back to his family—with its charm, its bank of memories, and its historic places that bear the Green and Blalock names.

“I can’t think of a better place to grow up, and for my husband and I to raise our family, than Bradenton.

Although Manatee County has grown considerably over the last few decades, it still has a small-town feel to me,” says Dannie Sherrill, Bob Blalock’s daughter. “I loved my childhood here, and a large part of that was the beauty of this community that allowed me to grow up enjoying the beaches, the waterways and the neighborhoods (where I played until it was time for dinner). People who live in Manatee County truly embrace this community and support it.” —A. Weingarten

The AdamsBivens Family AS TOLD BY CHANDRA BIVENS CARTY ONE OF 12 SLAVES BROUGHT TO MANATEE COUNTY

in 1844 to build Gamble Plantation, Nelson Burton arrived from Leon County, FL with Major Robert Gamble. There was no “Bradenton” yet. Manatee was made up of dense hammock along the Manatee River, and Nelson was one of 181 slaves who helped

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construct Gamble Plantation in Ellenton. Following the Civil War and freedom, Nelson and his wife, Mariah Washington Burton, left the plantation to live in an area called Gates Creek (where they began purchasing property). The 1916 Bradenton City Directory had Mariah Washington Burton living with her daughter, Malissa, and her husband, Juneous (June) Adams, on Midway Avenue in Bradenton as shared owners of a rooming house. Mariah Washington Burton’s youngest, Bessie Adams Williams (Chandra Carty’s grandmother), lived with her husband, Cleveland Williams, on South Street (they are also listed in the city directory as owners of a “lunchroom”).

“I have used the Sanborn Map Company’s maps to try to locate the area where my family lived,” Carty says. Between Malissa and Bessie and their husbands, the family bought up numerous properties in the area, adding to the family real estate. Bessie and Cleveland Williams’ children: Irma, Carl, Frances and Naomi, inherited the family properties and real estate. “My mother, Naomi Bivens, remembers her grandfather, Juneous Adams—describing that he came to Manatee County to pick the citrus fruit,” Carty says. “He worked on the Foster Plantation. Later, he worked in John Harlee’s store in Old Manatee, then for Major A.J. Adams.” June Adams, along with others, established St. Paul Baptist Church in 1886, located on Seventh Street near the old fire station.

Later, in 1899, he established and helped build St. Stephen’s A.M.E. Church, at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Ninth Street. June Adams was also the first Black person to contribute money ($100) for the building of the new Manatee Hospital. “The registration Book of District Five, Manatee County, shows Juneous Adams registered and voted on Sept. 12, 1888,” Carty says. “He was most proud of his philanthropic support of Manatee County and helping to organize the churches—also where Black kids would attend classes, since there were no actual schools for them at the time.”

Joseph Bivens (Carty’s father) was the principal at Bradenton Elementary School, 1st Street School, Lincoln High School and Lincoln Middle School. He served on numerous boards—including the Housing Board and Draft Board, and was a member of the Deacon Board at St. Stephens AME Church. “I remember my father assisting students in applying for community grants,” Carty says.

“My mother, Naomi, also understood the importance of an education—taught by her parents and great grandparents before her to work hard, save her money and give back to her community. Through her careful planning and hard work, she has been able to leave a legacy that will live on through generations.” And, according to Carty, the education community of Bradenton has grown from one school for Blacks to more than 78 public schools serving the entire Manatee community. “She would be proud to know that Manatee has seven institutions of higher learning—including four private colleges and three public colleges,” Carty says. “The opportunity for advanced education is now available for those students who can demonstrate the ability to perform scholastically.”

Revitalization of Carty’s old neighborhood, where she grew up on Ninth Avenue (now Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) had a variety of businesses—including a local grocery store, cleaners, a gas station and churches. “That area has such potential. I would love to see a multi-use business located on Third Street. The area is only blocks from the Bradenton Riverwalk and a beautiful community garden,” Carty says. “I am hopeful that I can make suggestions to the city planner for Third Street and Ninth Avenue. I would also like to see a monument recognizing the slaves who built Gamble Plantation, including my grandfather.”

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The Glass Family AS TOLD BY MARY AND DIANNE GLASS

Above: Chandra Bivens Carty, MMSC, Dietician, Nutritionist and Founder of Nutrition In The Now. Photo courtesy of Chandra Bivens Carty.

Aside from the visions of the aforementioned areas, Carty hopes that the legacies of her family will be recognized and remembered: Nelson and Mariah Burton, who overcame slavery and purchased real estate after freedom; Juneous and Malissa Adams, who helped to establish two churches and donated to Manatee Hospital; Bessie and Cleveland Williams, who were among the community to support the efforts to establish the first school for Blacks; their children, Irma and Carl Williams, who were teachers at the school; Naomi and Joseph Bivens, who were key educators in Manatee County, and whose strong leadership guided numerous students to pursue an education beyond Bradenton. “The Joseph T. and Naomi W. Bivens Scholarship Fund will continue their dream for minority students in Manatee County,” Carty says with familial pride. —B.Mattie

PUBLIC SERVICE AND EDUCATION have been longtime cornerstones of the Glass family—and the Manatee County community continues to thrive under their watch. Ever since Patricia “Pat” and Henry “Hank” Glass relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, to Siesta Key in 1955, the local landscape has shifted toward the greater good. The Glasses settled in Manatee County in 1960, owning homes in the Whitfield Estates neighborhood and on Snead Island. They had five children: Michael, Mary, Marty, Dianne, and the late Tom Glass—the siblings made their homes locally, too.

Hank Glass was a World War II Navy veteran, a pioneer behind the Visioneering company, and the devoted husband of Pat Glass for 61 years until his death in 2010. Pat Glass, who passed away last year at age 93, was Manatee County’s first female county commissioner. Appointed in 1978, she served for more than 25 years, ultimately earning the “Distinguished Citizen of the Year” award in 2011.

“Our family rallied around my mother’s campaigns and championed her causes. It was fun to help put up the signs, design the brochures, silk-screen the T-shirts and go to the rallies,” says Mary Glass, who has been the president of the Manatee Education Foundation since 2006. “My mother was a fighter for her constituency, and she was very popular for her advocacy and spirit of tenaciousness in getting things done.”

To help provide the local homeless population with healthcare, Pat Glass helped bring about the sale of Manatee Memorial Hospital in the mid-1980s. The proceeds from the sale covered the costs of indigent healthcare for more than three decades.

She also helped the mentally ill and those battling substance addiction by lobbying the Florida Legislature for funds to build a nonprofit hospital. This project would become Manatee Glens (later Centerstone), which assists thousands of residents with behavioral and mental health challenges.

In the 1990s, Pat Glass worked to establish the Children’s Services dedicated millage—a special tax that would provide the most significant social service funding for children and families in the history of Manatee County. She was instrumental in building public facilities, such as the Manatee County Administration Building and the Manatee County Detention Center (the latter is bordered by her namesake, Pat Glass Boulevard). Pat Glass helped bring srq magazine_ LIVING BRADENTON AREA 2021 live local | 19

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about the acquisition and restoration of the Powel Crosley Estate—a seaside home built by American radio pioneer Powel Crosley Jr.—and negotiated the purchase for the county (Pat Glass’ celebration of life was held on the property).She retired as a county commissioner in 2006. And, in 2018, the Manatee County Commission named its meeting chambers in her honor: the Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers.

“Our family has always supported my mother in her public service endeavors—affordable housing, the environment, water, social services and more,” Mary Glass says. “I have so much respect for how my mother worked with the community and made it a full-time commitment to make Manatee County a better place to live.”

That compassion was felt equally in the family home in Whitfield Estates when the Glass children were growing up.“The Glass kitchen table was a hotspot for

people to sit, talk and share ideas. I think that’s where a lot of our real foundations started about politics and preserving the water (the things my mother believed in so much),” Mary Glass says. “We were water kids— skiing, going to the beach—and I wonder if that isn’t just a great introduction to how it shapes you later in life. You just appreciate the beauty of nature as a kid.”

An appreciation of nature, and of learning and teaching, were upheld throughout the generations. Five members of the Glass family graduated from the University of South Florida (Pat Glass even earned a master’s degree in gerontology while her daughter, Dianne Glass, was still in grade school). Dianne Glass now does body rolling work (teaching and holding retreats), Michael Glass is a retired accountant, Marty Glass is a cartoonist and graphic designer, and Mary Glass supports teachers and students in the Manatee County School District.

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Left to right: Dianne Glass, Michael Glass, Mary Glass, Marty Glass

“I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps, to help people, and to support our community,” Mary Glass says. “I remember, when they read her proclamation of accomplishments at the naming of the county chambers, the list was astonishing. At the dedication, the family was so happy to be together with her, just two years ago, before she passed. After she heard all the accolades, she said, ‘In the end, it’s all about love. I have all my children here with me today and that’s all I need.’”

Her children share that sentiment about the profound importance of family, of home, and of the magic of a cherished hometown. The love of this landscape—and the memories made in Manatee County—has kept them here. “There’s something about living here in Manatee County, still, where we all grew up,” Mary Glass says. “And I think that’s why we’ve stayed. It’s a feeling you have—that there’s just no place like it.” For Dianne Glass, living in the family home in Whitfield Estates (a 100-year-old, Spanishstyle residence she has owned for 25 years) helps preserve the wonder of her childhood memories. “The Whitfield Estates neighborhood was magical when we were growing up—completely undeveloped, with white sand beaches along Bowles Creek, wooded fields where we had tree forts, and where our dogs ran free with no fences. It was a much simpler time,” Dianne Glass says.

“I’ve always been a world traveler, but this is my home and the place where I find refuge. It was a great place to raise my daughter, Nikki. Even though there’s been explosive growth, it still feels like a smallish town and a place where I can connect with the people I’ve known all my life. To me, that’s something to be treasured.” —A.Weingarten

The BishopParker Family AS TOLD BY MARY JARRELL THE STORY BEGINS WITH AN ENGLISH IMMIGRANT NAMED JOHN HUNTINGTON.In 1854, at 22, he came

to Cleveland, OH, with his wife, Jane Beck. He began working as a contractor in slate roofing and, in 1863, he joined Clark, Payne & Co. (an oil refining firm).

“During his time there, John developed and patented many inventions for improving furnaces, oil refining methods, and machinery used to produce barrels for storage and transportation of oil,” Mary Jarrell says.

“In 1870, Clark, Payne & Co. was taken over by John D. Rockefeller’s original Standard Oil Company, and

John became very prominent in the business affairs of Cleveland’s oil industry.” He became part owner of a large fleet of lake vessels in 1886, and later vice president of Cleveland Stone Company. Huntington served for 13 years on Cleveland’s city council, supporting many significant and historical city improvements.

On his 57th birthday, Huntington established a benevolent trust, based mostly on his 500 shares of Standard Oil stock, Jarrell says. “The fund provided charitable benefits to more than 40 cultural and educational institutions in the Cleveland area,” she says. He also recorded his will in 1889, establishing the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust with the goal of producing a “gallery and museum” and a “free evening polytechnical school.” Upon his death in 1893, the trustee of his estate, Henry Clay Ranney (who was also the trustee for the estates of Hinman Hurlbut and Horace Kelley) channeled bequests from all three estates toward the establishment of the Cleveland Museum of Art. “Today, the Cleveland Museum is internationally renowned for its substantial holdings of Asian and Egyptian art, and it provides general admission free to the public,” Jarrell says. “With a $755 million endowment, it is the fourth wealthiest art museum in the United States.”

Huntington was survived by five children—one of whom was William Robert Huntington, a successful businessman and the commodore of the famous Put-in-Bay Yacht Club on Lake Erie. Lillian E. Huntington was the daughter of William and Marie Baldwin Huntington. “She and her mother, Marie, first visited Bradenton in 1904, where they stayed at the A.F. Wyman home,” Jarrell says. “She and her mother were later among the first guests to register in ‘Braidentown’s’ new Manavista Hotel— currently the site of the Courtyard retirement center in downtown Bradenton.”

Marie and Lillian Huntington eventually moved to Bradenton permanently after William Huntington’s death. In 1914, Lillian Huntington married Edward Everson Bishop in her home in Ohio. “The newly-wedded couple built their honeymoon home on the Manatee River in Bradenton,” Jarrell says. After a few years, the Bishops built their lifelong residence, also on the Manatee River. The Bishops were active in civic and cultural life (in both Bradenton and Sarasota, as well as in various other communities along the east coast of the United States). The major turning point in this family history would be in 1934, when the Bishops met Mary Evelyn Parker, a recent graduate from the Metropolitan Hospital in New York City. Parker would come to be Mary Jarrell’s late aunt and namesake. “Due to the fragile nature of Edward’s health, the couple invited Mary to become their full-time nurse and companion--a position which Mary held throughout their lifetimes,” Jarrell says. “During the time Mary lived with the Bishops, their relationship evolved into deep-seated feelings between them.” So much so, the Bishops legally adopted Parker as their daughter.

The Bishops had no children of their own, Jarrell explains, but Parker remained, at all times, close like family to the Bishops.

The value of charitable contributions given during the Bishops’ lifetime, as well as Parker’s, is inestimable, and has had a profound impact on both Manatee and Sarasota counties. “Their philanthropic gifts have usually been made privately, often anonymously, and where possible (as was the case with John Huntington before them), accomplished on a person-to-person basis rather than through organizations,” Jarrell says. “Their giving reflected their personal interests in a variety of organizations and nonprofits working to build better communities. In fact, it would be hard to name worthy projects in the Manatee area that did not receive generous contributions from the Bishops and Mary—including the Conquistadores, the Pram Fleet, Boys Ranch and so many others.”

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Left Mary. E. Jarrell, RN, BSN, HCRM, one of three trustees that help lead the newly-merged Bishop-Parker Foundation—formed in 2021 to strengthen the Manatee County community by providing financial support to nonprofits improving the lives of individuals and animals.

Photo courtesy of Mary E. Jarrell and Cliff Roles.

an interest in nursing and, for several years, worked both day and night shifts as a volunteer operating room nurse in the Bradenton General and Manatee County hospitals. When these hospitals became overcrowded, the Bishops matched community donations and grants—creating a new wing for Manatee Veteran’s Memorial Hospital (now Manatee Memorial Hospital). This new two-story wing contained operating rooms, an orthopedic operating room, a tumor clinic and a recovery room suite. The Bishops provided surgeries for numerous patients at no cost, as well as other medical care for people who were indigent. They were interested in theatre and were among those who founded the Players Theatre in Sarasota. Lillian Bishop especially took an active interest in Bradenton’s Manatee Players Theatre– participating financially in the operation and construction of the original theater building (situated on 12th Street in downtown Bradenton), and serving for many years as chair of the theater’s properties committee.

Another one of the Bishops’ contributions was the South Florida Museum, which originally began its operations in a warehouse located on Memorial Pier in downtown Bradenton. “The museum was able to remain solvent, largely as a result of anonymous gifts from the Bishops and Miss Parker. Lillian played a major role in the 1966 construction of the new museum and the subsequent construction of the planetarium,” Jarrell says. Only after the planetarium was completed did Lillian Bishop most reluctantly allow the naming of the planetarium after her departed husband. Parker then donated funds for Snooty, the resident manatee, to have a larger aquarium (and she provided substantial funding to increase the museum’s

overall permanent endowment). Before their passings, the Bishops had an abiding love for and understanding of animals. According to Jarrell, their genuine interest in animal welfare resulted in the establishment of many local foundations for the benefit and care of animals.

The principal beneficiary of these foundations is the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Manatee County. This foundation was created in 1957 and deeded two tracts of Manatee County land, both of approximately 40 acres. The SPCA established an animal shelter on the tract, which is across from what is now Blake Memorial Hospital, at the northeast corner of the intersection of 59th Street and 21st Street West in Bradenton. The hospital was not there when the land was donated. “After the death of both Mr. and Mrs. Bishop, the SPCA directors determined it was in the best interest of all that the animal shelter be known as the Bishop Animal Shelter,” Jarrell says. “These trusts, established by the Bishops, are for the sole benefit of the Manatee County SPCA.” In July 1986, Parker created the Mary E. Parker Foundation with her own assets. “While the Bishops left considerable income and assets to Mary without restriction, the majority used for her Foundation was due to the major land sale of her family’s farm in Maryland,” Jarrell says. “On March 30, 2020, Mary passed away quietly in her sleep at home in Bradenton, at the age of 108 years. Mary felt strongly about continuing the legacy of the Bishops, and she took an active interest in ensuring the enrichment of the community throughout decades of financial support.”

Some of those institutions that are continually benefiting from her generosity include Manatee Memorial Hospital, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, the Manatee Performing Arts Center, State College of Florida, Manatee Community Foundation, Turning Points, Bishop Animal Shelter, Southeastern Guide Dogs Inc. and Mote Marine. Additionally, Parker sought out and supported many organizations around the county in the interest fields of animal welfare, supporting vulnerable people, nursing education, medical research and the arts. “Mary E. Parker was a very humble and private person. She preferred to support the community anonymously when possible. Her support had a huge impact on the healthcare of low-income families as well as nursing education,” Jarrell says. “Her focus was on the health, education and welfare of the community as a whole, which included the environmental preservation of Manatee and Sarasota counties.” —B.Mattie

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