A world of talent on display
Students at Art Planet in Lakewood Ranch are passionate about art, but they also enjoy the opportunity to make a little extra money.
“This fall, many students decided to try selling their masterpieces,” said Natalya Irlin, owner of Art Planet (pictured above with student Ethan Carr). “It’s turning out to be a very successful decision, as five pieces were sold during the opening and a couple before the show.”
The exhibition is open through Nov. 1 at the ComCenter at 9040 Town Center Parkway. The artwork on display uses several different mediums, including oil pastels, chalk, graphite pencils and watercolors When brains pop, it’s bubble time
In Kelly Kolomiychenko’s STEM class at Robert E. Willis Elementary School, brain breaks are held by turning on a bubble machine.
“You can make anything a teachable lesson,” Kolomiychenko said.
She tells students that with bubbles, air is trapped inside a soapy layer. Gloves allow them to hold the bubbles without them popping.
Kindergarten student Christopher Murphy (above) said the bubbles remind him of clouds.
The Soar Lab is geared for children in pre-K to third grade and offers an abundance of learning activities.
MADISON BIERL
STAFF WRITER
Eight-year-old Max Mattei, a lover of math and engineering, was immediately drawn to 3D printers when he explored the Soar Lab. Filled with enthusiasm and curiosity, he watched as nothing turned to something (a bright yellow dinosaur) within the printer. Always up for an investigation, question after question popped into his head and those questions were answered by Soar Lab facilitators.
He was brought to the space by his grandmother, Lakewood Ranch’s Cathy Mattei. She is a retired pre-K teacher who worked at Blackburn Elementary School from 2015-2019.
Mattei called the Soar Lab a gem to the community. It is a collaboration between Steve and Carolyn Roskamp (the primary financial backers), and The School District of Manatee County’s Early Learning and Family Support Team, which coordinates the lab’s events. Mattei said she was blown away by how the space is utilized.
As a former educator herself, Mattei said it is important that children learn through touching, feeling, exploring and being active. The space gives children that opportunity.
“It’s so engaging and developmentally appropriate for early childhood,” Mattei said. “It makes my heart happy.”
The Soar Lab, 6423 Ninth St., E., Bradenton, aims to enhance early learning (specifically for infants to children in third grade) through hands-on activities. Within the space, there are various areas that focus on different areas of learning. They include “The Thinkery Room,” “Tinkering,” “Engineering,” “Creative Arts,” “The Cozy Corner” and the Backyard.
Lorraine Lakes resident Kimber Kettler has two children — 13-yearold Lilly and 1-year-old Skyler — who are homeschooled. She said she searches for community-driven, early learning opportunities, so they visited the Soar Lab July 29. She said the lab left a strong impression. Kettler said exploring the space was both collaborative and joyful. Although the space caters to younger children up to third grade, it was a hit for both her children.
What: The Soar Lab
Where: At the Sara Scott Harllee Center, 6423 Ninth St. E., Bradenton
Hours: 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Cost: Free for students 4 and under with one adult; free for School District of Manatee County students kindergarten to third grade with one adult; go to SoarIn4.org/Soar-Lab/ for other admission prices and more information.
She discovered Lilly has a “knack for visual and creative expression” through using Draw Alive software, where you can scan your artwork and it becomes an animated character on screen.
Skyler had “a budding interest in tactile and kinesthetic exploration” when testing out the various activities on the walls, such as mazes.
“The space absolutely encouraged me to participate alongside them — it had interactive stations designed for all ages,” Kettler said. “Family friendly prompts made it easy to jump in together, even adapting for our older homeschooler. That said, my 13-year-old preferred some independent time sketching and tinkering, which was great to see her confidence grow without hovering.”
Angela Knapek, Soar Lab coordinator for the School District of Manatee County, said the Soar Lab was first discussed and then opened within 18 months after the decision was made to go forward. They had three soft launch “trial run” days, which were July 29, 30 and Aug. 1. Knapek said they heavily involve the parents and encourage further learning for when they leave the Soar Lab.
“It was a great opportunity to see what worked for families and what didn’t work, what kids were interested in,” Knapek said. “The first kid that left on the first soft opening had to be carried out screaming (because they didn’t want to leave). They were a satisfied customer.”
In the “Thinkery” room, children
can explore puzzles and engage in math games and work on early literacy skills. They aim to build concentration and problem solving. In “Tinkering” the focus is to build innovation and creativity through building and using fine motor skills. In “Creative Arts” there are various art mediums such as markers, paint, Play-Dough and costumes in order to enhance their imagination and creativity. In “Engineering” they can learn about gravity, force, acceleration and more with cars and ramps. There are also Legos, large building blocks and more.
The grand opening was Sept. 19 with its first public hours Sept. 23. Each school year, all Manatee County pre-K students will have a field trip to the Soar Lab. The first field trip was on Oct. 21 with students from Gene Witt Elementary School.
Sheila Halpin, the Early Learning and Family Support director, said their approach to the space differs from children’s museums because everything in the space relates to Florida’s early learning developmental standards.
Halpin said that accessibility was an important factor when putting together the space and planning out activities. Furniture can be moved for wheelchairs and there are translation devices for non-English speakers available to check out.
When you enter the space, there is a “lesson pick board” where children who are nonverbal can point at different options.
For students who might get overwhelmed or overstimulated by loud noises and a lot of people, there is a quiet room, called the “Cozy Corner” where they can go to engage in quiet activities.
Throughout the space, there are puzzles in frames that were put together by adults from The Haven, a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities.
“If you’re suspecting that your child has a disability, it can be isolating, especially when they’re little and you’re trying to navigate that system,” Halpin said. “We love to have these inspirational works of art prominent so that families can start to understand that it might be scary right now, but those with differing abilities can go and accomplish great things.”
The second floor buildout is expected to be complete by April.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
While Manatee County has delayed several key projects, it is moving forward with its plan to build out the Lakewood Ranch Library, which could be functional by April.
“Don’t hold me to that because you know how construction goes,” said Lyn Begraft, Manatee County’s assistant library services manager. “But it’s coming.”
The second floor buildout in Lakewood Ranch is only one of several large projects Begraft and Library Services Manager Tammy Parrott will be taking on in 2026.
Just as the Lakewood Ranch Library buildout wraps up in April, an 8,000-square-foot expansion of the Rocky Bluff Library in Ellenton is due to begin. Other projects include a bookmobile that will be hitting the road, and a library at the former Mixon Farms will enter the design phase.
As of now, the library system in Manatee County is, according to state recommendations, underserving its residents. The state suggests 0.6 square feet of libraries per 1,000 residents.
With 144,000 square feet of library space, Manatee County comes up 125,000 square feet short of service, so the aforementioned projects will chip away at that gap.
The second floor at Lakewood Ranch and the expansion at Rocky Bluff will add 33,000 square feet of space.
“The figure will be at 64% of the goal (to meet the state recommendation),” Parrott said. “We cannot predict any specific square footage for the Mixon property as that will need to be determined by the Board of County Commissioners.”
LAKEWOOD RANCH LIBRARY
Construction on the second floor buildout is anticipated to start later this fall.
The layout is still in progress, but the 25,000-square-foot second floor will feature flex space that includes study rooms, county offices and a workroom for the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library.
While not official yet, Parrott said the Adult Nonfiction section likely will move upstairs. The collection lends itself to the space because the library’s only study rooms will be on the second floor.
Since the Lakewood Ranch Library opened in January 2024, patrons have regularly requested study rooms, according to the staff.
The first floor will remain the same, except that moving the nonfiction collection upstairs will give it “a little more room to breathe.”
The Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library has also been asking for space upstairs. Members of the group run the Book Nook, which is the book store in the lobby of the library. All profits go straight back to the library.
Last year, the Friends group raised $13,590 that supported author fairs, library programs and staff training.
President Sue Ann Miller has been pushing for space on the second floor because the group has no place to inspect and clean the books that are donated to the Book Nook. Books in substandard condition are not resold.
The group also needs storage. Right now, books waiting to hit the shelves are stored in Miller’s garage and a guest room at Treasurer Steve Borkenhagen’s house.
Having the books stored off-site forces the volunteers to set up special collection days, but a room upstairs will allow volunteers to accept donations whenever the Book Nook is open. The aforementioned uses are the only ones specifically tied to the library. The space leftover will be used for county offices and commu-
nity meeting space.
Partitions will be used, as they are on the first floor, to easily reconfigure the community space from smaller rooms to one big room depending on what’s needed.
At the start of the project, there were discussions about Veterans Services and even parole officers having county offices on the second floor.
That idea has morphed into a more general flex space, where anyone from a commissioner to an IT worker could have an office to use when working in East County.
It’s a concept that’s being introduced across county buildings.
As many county departments move from the administration building in downtown Bradenton to the $23.5 million, 101,312-square-foot second administration building on Town Center Parkway in Lakewood Ranch, flex space is being reserved in both of those buildings, too.
Workers won’t have to crisscross the county to have someplace to sit down and work.
Through membership dues, donations and Book Nook sales, the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library raised $13,590 over the past year to support the Lakewood Ranch Library and its staff. President Sue Ann Miller provided an overview of how that money was used.
■ $5,277 — Author fairs
■ $3,300 — Workshop equipment and supplies
■ $2,360 — Library programs
■ $1,585 — Summer learning programs
■ $1,068 — Library staff training and appreciation
Carolina sometime in early 2026. It can carry up to 2,500 books and has everything a librarian could need to provide programs like story time in a park or a parking lot.
The bookmobile comes equipped with desks, Wi-Fi, audio and visual equipment, cabinets, brochure racks, indoor and outdoor TVs, a PA system and a kitchenette. Everything is built in, so all library staff will need to do is stock it with books and supplies.
What might be slightly more difficult for the staff is learning how to drive and park the bookmobile.
Parrott said it’s a big bus, but it weighs just under what requires a commercial drivers license. The county’s fleet department will be maintaining the bookmobile, so it will also train library staff on how to drive it.
The county’s prior bookmobiles were before the current staff’s time, so Parrott and Begraft weren’t sure when the last time a bookmobile served county residents.
However, the Manatee County Public Library Long Range Plan 2012-2017 indicates that the last bookmobile was deactivated in 2011.
The plan provides a brief history of the service:
One less tangible goal for Manatee County libraries this upcoming year is to expand its digital collection. The price difference between paperbacks and digital books is surprisingly vast. Library Service Manager Tammy Parrott offered some example prices: Mass market book: $8 Trade paperback: $14
Hardback: $27
Ebook: $80
Ebooks’ pricing depends on the licensing. Some companies license for a certain amount of time; others license for a certain amount of checkouts.
tinued in September 2010. Although for some time the Bookmobile was utilized as a marketing tool at special events, as of May 1, 2011, the Bookmobile will remain parked.”
In the 1960s, the bookmobile was used as an indicator of where the next libraries should be built. The purpose of the new bookmobile is to serve those areas where libraries were not built.
THE BOOKMOBILE
What will be crisscrossing the county is a library on wheels.
The $587,100 custom coach bookmobile is anticipated to arrive from Matthews Specialty Vehicles in
“The first Bookmobile went into service in Manatee County on Aug. 18, 1964. The purpose of the Bookmobile was to serve library users all over the county and to determine locations where future permanent libraries needed to be built. The economic recession of 1981-1982 caused the demise of the Bookmobile service. There was no Bookmobile service until January 2002. Numerous retirement homes, childcare centers, preschools and locations far from a physical library were regularly visited by the Bookmobile with drivers and staff from the Central Library Circulation Department. The economic recession caused the Bookmobile service to again be discon-
Parrott confirmed that Myakka City will be one of the “underserved” stops, but she said an exact location has not yet been determined.
The plan is to have the bookmobile in service at least five days a week.
MIXON FARMS
One of the ideas behind Commissioner Amanda Ballard advocating for Manatee County to purchase Mixon Farms was that the former store could be converted into a library, and the commercial kitchen could be used for culinary classes.
The county purchased the property in July for $13.5 million, but the main focus right now is rehabbing and expanding the event lawn. Starting in November, Manatee Movie Nights will be hosted at Mixon on the second Friday of each month.
The first goal for Library Services is to get a design in place and then possibly establish a nonprofit like the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library, but for Mixon.
To form the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library, the county held a public meeting and asked for any interested parties to step up and start a Friends group. Nothing has been finalized, but Parrott said it’s under consideration to do the same for Mixon.
“Then, they’ve got skin in the game and even more impetus to get this library built,” said Bill Logan, Manatee County information outreach manager. “Having a Friends group that’s putting forth that kind of an effort shows that the community is behind it.”
County’s Development Services moves to Lakewood Ranch
Manatee County announced Oct. 29 that it is moving its Development Services Department to its new administration building in Lakewood Ranch.
The department currently is located in the Manatee County Administration Building at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., in downtown Bradenton.
The office will be closed Nov. 14 and Nov. 17 as the staff completes the move. In-person services will resume at the new office at 9000 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, on Nov. 18.
Development Services will join the Property Management Department as offices operating at the new administration building.
The Development Services Department assists hundreds of residents, contractors and developers each month according to a Manatee County release. The release also noted that the new facility offers expanded parking, upgraded service areas and improved accessibility.
“Our goal is to make Development Services more accessible, efficient, and responsive to the community we serve,” said Nicole Knapp, Manatee County’s Development Services director, in the release.
“This new facility provides the space and resources needed to continue improving customer service and to support the fastest-growing areas of Manatee County.”
Services remain available through the Accela Online Services Portal at MyManatee.org.
Manatee County is hosting Reptifest 2025 at The Nest of Robinson Preserve, 840 99th St., N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 22.
A county release notes the free event invites visitors of all ages to explore the vital role reptiles play in Manatee County ecosystems through interactive exhibits and hands-on learning.
Those who attend will learn what to do if they encounter a gopher
tortoise, what it’s like to get up close with reptiles, and what a gopher tortoise burrow looks like.
Wildlife experts will be on hand from Jerry’s Wildlife, Anna Maria Turtle Watch, and the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.
“Reptifest is a fun and educational way for families to connect with Florida’s native wildlife,” said Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique in a release.
For more information or to register for the event, go to Events. Humanitix.com/Reptifest-2025.
Two seats on the Manatee County Planning Commission currently are available as the terms expired in October.
One of the two planning commissioners, Jeff Eslinger, is seeking reappointment. Cindy Kebba is not seeking another term.
The planning commission is a citizen’s advisory committee that makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on land use issues.
The two positions carry four-year terms.
More information about the Planning Commission and applications can be found at MyManatee.org.
Planning Commission members can’t be employed by Manatee County or serve with a land development-related advisory board.
The Planning Commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Manatee County Administrative Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. Applications are due Nov. 17. Manatee County also is seeking applications for three seats on its Historic Preservation Board.
Members serve a four-year term on the five-member board, made up of qualified electors of Manatee County. More details and applications can be found at MyManatee.org.
Applications are due Nov. 17.
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Work is wrapping up on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, but lane closures continue on State Road 70 and Upper Manatee River Road.
LESLEY
DWYER STAFF WRITER
Orange barrels appear and disappear from Lakewood Ranch Boulevard like a rabbit in a magician’s hat.
Just when the disappearing barrels suggest that reconstruction of the road might be finished, crews produce more barrels.
Manatee County notes that it is trying to help motorists by not keeping cones and barrels out unnecessarily, and also offers that the final disappearing act should take place by the end of November when Lakewood Ranch Boulevard between State Road 70 and University Boulevard will be nearly finished.
Ogden Clark, communications coordinator for Manatee County Public Works, said the actual road work is expected to be completed by Nov. 1. The traction coat, which prevents skidding, was the last layer to go down.
The road was rebuilt, not resurfaced. It took multiple layers of different materials to finish, which is why the project spanned nearly a year.
While the major road work is wrapping up, the striping will take another few weeks and could require one last traffic shift. But it’s possible the contractor will do some of that work at night, Clark said.
The striping on the road now is only temporary.
The contractor will have to apply permanent striping, markings and thermoplastic paint before the job is fully complete. When finished, the bike lanes will be marked with a “high-intensity green.”
There was one hiccup along the
way — when the inspector didn’t approve the thickness of the road after it had been completed. The asphalt was ripped up and put down again, but even that didn’t delay the project from its original date of completion.
The construction contract ran through December, so the approximately $16 million project is on track to finish ahead of schedule.
UPPER MANATEE RIVER ROAD
To the north of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, across State Road 64, Upper Manatee River Road will move beyond the current utility work and start construction on the southbound lanes in November.
The road is being widened from two lanes to four at an estimated cost of $99.8 million. Construction is due to finish in December 2028.
Clark noted that motorists should be mindful of construction crews and changing traffic patterns when traveling the road. The speed limit is 35 miles per hour, and speeding fines
Ordinary paint isn’t tough enough to endure the kind of wear and tear put on roads. Instead, thermoplastic paint is used to stripe and mark streets and parking lots. Heat is applied to a granular powder until it melts into a paint. Glass beads are mixed into the thermoplastic paint to make it not only more durable, but also more reflective than regular paint.
are doubled when workers are present.
“When this phase gets underway (in November), there will be some impacts on residents’ access to and from Waterlefe,” Clark said.
Currently, the county is installing a 42-inch water main on the west
side of Upper Manatee River Road.
The work started north of Waterlefe Boulevard and is moving south.
Preparations for a traffic shift to the new roadway on the west side, north and south of the intersection at Upper Manatee River Road and Fort Hamer Road, are expected to start Oct. 29.
STATE ROAD 70
Construction continues on State Road 70, between Lorraine Road and Waterbury Road, Monday through Saturday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The Florida Department of Transportation is widening the road from two lanes to four and six lanes, along with performing intersection improvements at Lorraine Road and Greenbrook Boulevard and adding roundabouts at Uihlein Road, Del Webb Boulevard, Bourneside Boulevard, Lindrick Lane, 213th Street East, Panther Ridge Trail and Waterbury Road.
The project includes a new drainage system, street lighting, land -
A LETTER FROM NICK VANDENBREKEL, OWNER OF ORION SKY CHARTERS
scaping and 10-foot shared use paths.
Uihlein Road, between State Road 70 and Sapphire Point Drive, is closed in both directions while the northern portion of the roundabout is being built. And 213th Street is closed while the southern portion of the roundabout is being built. Traffic is not allowed to enter or exit 213th Street from State Road 70 until the first week of November.
FDOT provided message boards to guide drivers through both detours, and will do the same Nov. 10 when Panther Ridge Trail closes. As with 213th Street, traffic will not be permitted to enter or exit from State Road 70.
Construction is expected to continue through early 2027. The estimated cost is $98.4 million.
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the 2025
Jules Whittemore leads a group of six students who volunteer their time at Gulf Coast Music Therapy.
ithin the walls of a music therapy room, two brothers with autism — 12-yearold Everett Wyckoff and 10-year-old Zachary Wyckoff — began their session.
They were led in song by Virginia Bibler, the founder of Gulf Coast Music Therapy, as she played guitar. Close by was Lakewood Ranch’s Jules Whittemore, a junior at The Out-of-Door Academy, who was ready to assist as a volunteer.
“It astonishes me how music can have such a connection with nonverbal or less-verbal patients,” Whittemore said. “The saying ‘actions speak louder than words’ speaks to me with this.”
Whittemore, who was on hand because she had formed a group of volunteer students at ODA to assist at Gulf Coast Music Therapy, said music can create a bond in children with autism that they can comprehend.
Jennifer Weiser, the mother of Everett and Zachary, said music is a language that is universal. Her sons have been patients at Gulf Coast Music Therapy, which is located at 4744 S.R. 64, Bradenton, for seven years.
Weiser said Zachary, who plays the piano, wants to be a performer in the future and is learning how to read music, which she said now provides a creative outlet for him. Music therapy has also impacted Everett in
meaningful ways.
“Everett has come so far,” Weiser said. “We went from just trying to get him into the door to participate, to now participating in the whole session. He’s asking for the things that he wants to do in the session as well, which is huge. The communication and the social piece, it’s been outstanding for us.”
Whittemore’s inspiration to volunteer stemmed from personal experience, and seeing what music therapy can do for someone she loves. Her brother Max, now 23, has autism and was a patient at Gulf Coast Music Therapy from age 5 to 15.
“I remember seeing photos of him with this giant guitar pick and playing the ukulele,” Whittemore said. “I always thought it was so cool. He had the biggest smile on his face, which was rare to see sometimes.”
Marla Whittemore, the mother of Max and Jules, said Max learned three important things in music therapy — taking turns, fine motor skills, and referencing.
“There’s just so many trickledown effects that music can touch — not just the life of the patient, but the life of the family and the community as a whole,” Marla Whittemore said.
Jules Whittemore decided to not only volunteer herself, but to organize a group to make even more of an impact. Six students, including Jules Whittemore, have donated their time, assisting children by playing instruments and singing with them.
Maria Whittemore said music therapy is a way students, or even parents, can contribute their music skills to society.
“We’ve all grown in patience and creativity, and I can’t wait for another session after each one ends,” Jules Whittemore said. “I’m excited to continue a partnership throughout the years with ODA and Gulf Coast Music Therapy.”
On Oct. 14, the Art Alliance Board, a parent-run organization at ODA, presented Gulf Coast Music Therapy with a gift of three percussion instruments — a cajon (a box-shaped percussion instrument), a glockenspiel (a percussion instrument consisting of pitched aluminum or steel bars arranged in a keyboard layout) and a gathering drum (a large floorstanding drum).
“The cajon is cool because you sit on top of it to play, and you get a vibration,” Bibler said. “You can feel the music in a different way that’s
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About Gulf Coast Music Therapy
Gulf Coast Music Therapy was founded in 2006 in Bradenton by Virginia Bibler upon return to her hometown after graduating from Florida State University. Bibler said she has partnered with medical and nonprofit organizations to provide music therapy services to the community. Gulf Coast Music Therapy offers group music therapy, individual music therapy, and adapted lessons for individuals of all ages and abilities. For more information, go to GulfCoastMusicTherapy.com.
good for sensory engagement. The same is true for the big drum. It’s so loud and resonant that it provides a lot of sensory feedback for the kids when they’re playing.” Gulf Coast Music Therapy sees between 85 to 90 clients a week.
“If we have kids who love ‘Moana,’ we are singing ‘Moana’ because
they’re going to have a connection to that song,” Bibler said. “They’re going to engage more with the music and then we can use that to address goals. We address things in our clinic such as motor skills, speech and language, and functional communication.”
Whittemore was thrilled when Bibler accepted her as a volunteer. Bibler said she wasn’t sure what to expect at first since they’ve never brought in volunteers.
“We love having extra hands so they can help the students,” Bibler said. “Jules will tell you that I’ve asked her to sit behind a client and help guide (the client) as he’s playing to make sure that he’s doing what I’m asking.”
Bibler said Whittemore had a unique perspective because she has a brother with autism. She thought the other volunteers might have been taken off guard at certain moments, such as when a client would throw something.
“The opportunity to be in a room with someone who is neurodivergent and different at learning often just builds compassion,” Bibler said. “(The volunteers) will walk away with more understanding of other humans, which I think is invaluable.”
WWII codebreaker Bernard Greenberg will serve as the 2025 Tribute to Heroes Parade grand marshal.
HEATER MANAGING EDITOR
At 100 years old, Bernard Greenberg sat on a chair at his small Bradenton apartment with a reporter hanging on his every word.
“I guess I could lie, but I never saw actual combat,” he said of his time as an Army staff sergeant in World War II’s Pacific Theater. “You could find guys who did more than me. The last time I marched in a parade was in 1935 when I was a member of the Boy Scouts. They gave me a flag to hold. It was Memorial Day in the Bronx.” Greenberg was speaking of his selection as the grand marshal for the Tribute to Heroes Parade that will be held Nov. 9 at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
THE TRIBUTE TO HEROES PARADE
When: The pre-parade festivities begin at 2 p.m. and the parade begins at 4 p.m. Nov. 9
Where: Main Street at Lakewood
Ranch
Features: A block party that begins at 2 p.m. features patriotic entertainment, food and drinks, fun activities for the kids and more. The parade, which is expected to draw thousands of spectators, has entries that include a high school marching band, community groups, and veteran groups. The main sponsor is Veteran Air.
Cost: Free
Benefits: Proceeds benefit the Del Webb Lakewood Ranch Association of Veterans and Military Supporters and VFW Braden River Post 12055
Did you know?: Those who attend are asked to wear red, white and blue to help celebrate those who have and are now serving the country.
While technically, the combat part might have been true, Greenberg served a key role at a time when approximately 160,000 U.S. soldiers in the Pacific Theater died with 111,606 being killed in combat with the rest dying because of illness or poor living conditions.
Greenberg and the other members of the 126th Signal Radio Intelligence Company received presidential citations for their valuable codebreaking that alerted the allied forces to Japanese troop movements, base locations, and other key information.
At his base in New Guinea, Greenberg’s living conditions weren’t ideal.
“I was sent to New Guinea, which is the world’s second largest island (to Greenland),” Greenberg said. “We were in the jungle and we built a building and set up a radio station. There were 20 of us intercept operators. It was a 24-hour operation and we would send the information back to Brisbane (Australia).”
Although they had plenty of bananas and coconuts, they mostly ate canned food. The soldiers at the camp all would get sick due to the environment, and he remembered spending three days in the hospital with dengue fever. He was told he had to return to work even though the average recovery time among the soldiers was about two weeks.
“It rained there just about every day,” he said. “When you were off your shift, you would just lie there on your cot. It was hot, but it was the humidity that got you. You would just lie there and you would see all these lizards crawling on your body.
“Once a month, we would get a PX (post exchange or retail store) call. You could buy candy. I used to love Baby Ruths, but where do you keep them? We would sleep under a net so I put the Baby Ruths on top of the net, just above my body. One night, I woke up to this damp, furry smell.
This huge rat (he held his hands apart about 20 inches) was gnawing on the box of Baby Ruths. It was this far away from my face (holding up his fingers about 3 inches apart).
“I didn’t have a Baby Ruth for the next 20 years.”
Time passed slowly in New Guinea, and during that time, he received word that his brother Murray had been shot down near the Erfurt airfield in Germany. Murray spent the next 18 months as a prisoner of war, but survived.
In October 1944, with the war against Japan raging, Greenberg and his fellow soldiers woke up one morning in New Guinea to find hundreds of U.S. ships in the bay.
“They were aircraft carriers, cruisers and destroyers,” he said. “Then a couple of days later, we woke up, and they were all gone. They were going to invade the (Japanese-occupied) Philippines.”
In August 1945, Greenberg’s unit was issued “brand new carbines and submachine guns — we called them grease guns” — to get ready for an invasion of Japan. His unit had been carrying “03s,” which were the U.S. Model 1903 Springfield rifle that was the standard infantry rifle in World War I.
Greenberg knew things were getting serious as his unit loaded up equipment on a ship to head for Japan. It was during that loading that they learned the U.S. had dropped
Lakewood Ranch Communities’ Nicole Hackel and Grace Flowers present Bernard Greenberg with a certificate for being named the 2025 Tribute to Heroes Parade grand marshal.
ABOUT THE GRAND
MARSHAL
Who: Bernard Greenberg
Age: 100
Family: Late wife Roberta; two daughters. Jan Rubenstein of Lakewood Ranch and Caron Walshaw of Boston; five grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren
Born: Mount Vernon, New York
Grew up: The Bronx, New York City
Drafted: 1943 into the U.S.
Army
Rank when military service ended: Staff sergeant
Job in Army: Japanese code breaker
two atomic bombs on Japan.
They eventually received word the war was over.
Ironically, he said his scariest moment came after the war ended. Some Japanese submarines still didn’t know the war was over, and the ship that was taking him to Japan before the ride home was under a submarine alert, which sent all the soldiers up on deck. Fortunately, they weren’t hit by a torpedo.
Upon arriving home, by way of Hawaii and California, he said the first thing his mother did was count his fingers.
Greenberg was 18 in 1943, when he was drafted and sent to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey to be a radio operator.
“I was good at code work, so this colonel asked if I would like to get into something special,” he said. “I was sent to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, which was a Japanese Code School. They taught me Japanese radio codes in six weeks. I was good at it, and I picked it up, so I was told, ‘You are going overseas.’”
He took a troop train to Pittsburg, California.
“I was a kid, so to me, this was exciting,” he said.
To that point, the hardest Army task he had done was to “cut up 900 pounds of bacon.” The scariest moment he had endured was when a brigadier general caught him sleeping during a code class.
The general simply warned him, “Don’t fall asleep!”
There was little sleep to be had during his service.
He still remembers the stories.
“But all my contemporaries are gone,” he said.
“In certain ways, after the war, my life was different,” he said. “But I think I did my job, and I was proud.”
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ould you sell your child? Hopefully, the answer is “No!”
But Emily and Kevin Kasperski had to deal with something similar.
Emily had a 1994 Chevrolet Corvette C4 that was her baby.
The Kasperskis, who now live in Panther Ridge Preserve, came upon the used car and bought it on April 3, 2013.
“I had fallen in love with Corvettes when I was 10,” Emily said. “My neighbor had a 1981. I used to think, ‘Someday, I would like to have one of those.’”
Her love for the Corvettes grew because it was “the” car to have when she was in high school.
The Corvette C4 was named the MotorTrend Car of the Year in 1984. Everybody wanted one.
So she was in car heaven when she slipped into the front seat of her dream Corvette.
For Kevin, who owns KAC Enterprises Services, an electrician and handyman business, it was a lovehate relationship. The love part was tearing every last part of the Corvette down to the ground and rebuilding it. He meant every part.
“My goal was to teach myself the inner workings on a Corvette,” Kevin said. “I was going to flip it.”
As far as Emily was concerned, Kevin was just raising Bam to a higher level for her. She fulfilled the duty of finding parts for Kevin.
“I remember going to the auto parts store and asking for 37 light bulbs for the dash,” Emily said. “The guy looked at me, ‘Thirtyseven?’ Kevin replaced every one.”
The hard part for Kevin about Bam had nothing to do with the engine.
What: The Knights of Columbus Car Show and Cookout
Where: Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, 12905 S.R. 70, Lakewood Ranch
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 1
Cost: Free to attend, $20 to show any car
More information: Call 516512-1193 or go to Knights13341.
org
Featured car: Bam, a 1994 Chevrolet Corvette C4 that has a long story behind it. The 1994 Chevrolet Corvette C4 is a rear-wheel-drive sports car featuring a 5.7L LT1 V8 engine producing 300 horsepower.
“The biggest problem was how do you get in and out of it?” he said. “The frame rail is a pain in the (butt). You have to be good at gymnastics.”
Emily laughed as she listened to her husband.
“Or you can’t be 6-foot-4,” she said.
Nevertheless, Emily loved the car so much that she named it Bam.
The couple nourished Bam over the next six years until they were faced with a tough decision. Living in Illinois, they needed to move to the Lakewood Ranch area to be closer to Kevin’s mom, Terri Kasperski. They had to downsize their collection of cars to make the move. In January 2019, Bam was sold.
Emily cried.
“It was a sacrifice we had to
make,” Kevin said.
But children have a way of finding their way home.
On Mother’s Day 2022, Kevin received a call. The guy from Corpus Christi, Texas, who had bought Bam was selling it online.
“I bought it back for $7,500, sight unseen,” Kevin said. “I had sold it for $12,500.”
Still, it wasn’t exactly a bargain.
“He had beaten the hell out of it,” Kevin said. “It was a mess. I basically needed to rebuild it all over again.”
Although Bam was back, Emily was in distress.
“I was bummed that somebody didn’t take care of it,” she said. “It was like he had spilled a Big Gulp in it. Everything was sticking together. I wanted new seats because I wasn’t gong to sit on those. The carpet was so bad. He destroyed the thing.”
With Kevin’s mechanical background — his father John was a former mechanic who got out of the industry because he got lead poisoning from the workplace — Bam
was simply the next challenge. His wife is now riding high again.
“I love jumping into it,” she said. “I love it because Kevin’s done all the work on it. Little girls love it because it is a girl’s car — it is a pretty color (aqua blue).”
Little girls, and anyone else who attends the Knights of Columbus Car Show and Cookout Nov. 1 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, will get a look at Bam. They also can hear the Kasperskis’ stories about Bam as well as stories from all the other car lovers who nurture their babies.
Attending this event on an annual basis always is a joy for me, and I don’t have a mechanical bone in my body. My auto stories are different in nature, such as the time when I was a teen and I owned an American Motors Ambassador.
The car, which was more than 10 years old, had blown its engine and a mechanic had put an undersized engine into what was a full-sized car. Since I was 16 and driving, I was a very popular kid on school
mornings. The phone would ring off the hook from local kids who were trying to avoid the 12-mile bus ride. With myself and five passengers, that poor engine had a hard time pulling us up over hills. My passengers got into the habit of chanting “Go ... go ,.. go ... go,” as we got to the top of a hill. Yes, there are all kinds of stories about cars.
What is yours? This is a great opportunity to tell them, and all the proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While you are at it, stop by and said hi to Bam.
Jay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.
What Does Your Investment Firm Actually Give You?
When you’re choosing a financial advisor, it’s tempting to compare just one thingfees. After all, that number is often front and center in the conversation. But here’s the reality: cost is only one piece of the puzzle. The real question is, what are you actually getting for that fee?
Not all wealth management firms are created equal. Services, depth of expertise, responsiveness, and even the way they communicate with you can vary widely. Some advisors offer a full suite of services and a proactive team. Others simply manage your investments and send you a quarterly statement, leaving you on your own to connect the dots.
So, before you make a decision, ask yourself: Are you looking for a true partner to help manage your family’s financial path or just someone who offers one or two services?
MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS ON A STATEMENT
At JL Bainbridge, we believe wealth management is more than just making trades - it’s about being a guide for our client’s wealth journey. As a result, our clients benefit from 12 integrated service offerings designed to support every aspect of their financial lives from retirement and financial planning to charitable giving and 401(k) strategies. We focus on client service and even offer guidance to teach the next generation about responsible wealth. Most importantly, we speak in plain English, so you understand exactly what’s happening with your money and why. We want you to feel empowered, not intimidated.
RESPONSIVENESS MATTERS
One of the most overlooked factors when choosing a financial advisor is accessibility. How quickly does your advisor respond to calls or emails? Do they proactively reach out when market conditions change or do you have to hunt them down for updates?
At JL Bainbridge, responsiveness is part of our culture. Our team includes financial advisors, client services professionals, and compliance experts who work together to anticipate your needs, not just react to them. That’s one reason many of our clients have been with us for decades - they know we’ll be there when it matters most.
When you’re evaluating advisors, it’s important to compare the full picture:
• Services Included – Is it just investment management, or do they cover your broader financial needs?
• Depth of Expertise – Are you working with a single person, or a team with decades of combined experience?
• Approachability – Do they make you feel comfortable asking questions, or talk over your head with technical jargon?
• Responsiveness – Do they treat you like a priority or like a number in a database?
Once you look at the full range of what a firm offers, you may find that the “cheaper” option actually costs more in missed opportunities and gaps in your financial plan.
READY
Whether you’re currently working with another advisor or managing your investments yourself, our Free Financial Review gives you an honest, objective look at your portfolio. We’ll explain your performance data, uncover any red flags and show you where you could improve. No cost. No obligation. Just straightforward advice from a fiduciary team that’s legally and ethically committed to acting in your best interest.
It’s your money. You deserve to understand it. Schedule your free review with JL Bainbridge today and see how your advisor stacks up!
Owned and operated by Mark and Carrie Botros, Carved Crafted Sandwiches makes its debut early in November.
or Mark Botros, experimenting in the kitchen has been a lifelong endeavor.
Alongside his brother, Peter Botros, they grew up in New York City, always using all sorts of ingredients to create food combinations.
Their parents, Joseph and Violette Botros, had one rule — they had to eat the food they made and no food was to be wasted. Some combinations worked out, while others Botros still looks back on years later as “disgusting.”
“One time, my brother decided to try ketchup on pancakes, and I made sure I wasn’t involved in that one,” Mark Botros said. “Needless to say, it wasn’t very good, and I sat there trying to hold back the laughter as I watched him painfully eat the whole thing. You don’t know unless you try.”
Although pancakes and ketchup didn’t work out, that didn’t stop the Botros brothers from creating new combinations. Peter went on
Carved Crafted Sandwiches. 1551 Lakefront Drive, Suite 100, Lakewood Ranch. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Visit CarvedCraftedSandwiches.com.
to open several restaurants, with his first being The Stone House at Clove Lakes in Staten Island.
Mark went on to work in sales, but is now opening Carved Crafted Sandwiches at Waterside Place, with his wife, Carrie Botros, and Peter, who still lives in New York, as his business partners. The tentative opening will be “early in November.”
The menu will contain hot and cold sandwiches, salads, bowls, soups, beer and wine. They will also have grab and go items. Carrie Botros said many of their sandwiches have a classic traditional feel with an “elevated twist.”
“I enjoy sandwiches because the possibilities of what you can put between two slices of bread and make it taste great are seemingly endless,” Mark Botros said. “I love a good steak, for example, but there are only so many ways you can prepare it and only so many things you can prepare it with.”
The menu for Carved was created through trial and error and will change based on community feedback and seasonal specials. Mark Botros makes sandwiches for his family often and gets good honest feedback from the children (Emily, 13, James, 11 and Matthew, 9). His grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a shining example.
“Everyone liked it, but my son, James, had some honest feedback,” Mark Botros said. “‘It’s fine but I feel like it’s missing something.’ I asked him what he thought it needed, and he said, ‘Something to make it extra special.’ After experimenting with a few ideas, we finally found the winning touch — a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on the outside.”
The couple invites any and all feedback from their children, customers and staff. To see what the local community is seeking, they are doing a contest on social media. To enter, customers must follow Carved on Instagram or Facebook, like the post, and comment describing their all-time favorite sandwich. The winner will win a free sandwich every day for a year and will be announced on social media on Nov. 1.
“We want an environment where they can be brutally honest with us,” Mark Botros said. “If something can be improved, let us know because we want to get better and better and better.”
Carrie Botros was a teacher for 17 years, including three at Robert E. Willis Elementary School in Lakewood Ranch. Because of her experi-
ence with families and students, the children’s menu was of great importance to her.
“Kids are known for being picky, but we tried to take those things that they like (including pizza and grilled cheese) and put a twist on it,” Carrie Botros said.
Kids’ menu items are chicken tenders and fries, pizza grilled cheese, grilled peanut butter and jelly and the chicken tender melt.
When the Botros family moved to the area four years ago, they knew Waterside Place would be the perfect spot for them to open a sandwich shop.
“We want the place to be filled with happy people who are enjoying themselves,” Mark Botros said. “I want to enjoy it myself. We’ve been so busy getting this up and running that I’d love to one day be sitting at the pavilion, eating one of our sandwiches, and have this be a well-oiled machine where I can just sit back and relax.”
Carrie Botros said it has been a slow process, but she sees it as a blessing because it gave them time to perfect everything from the menu, the staff, and the space itself.
“We want to have exceptional service and provide exceptional food,” Carrie Botros said.
The staff will be 15-20 people. The space will have seating available for approximately 30 customers — 18 inside and 12 outside. They wanted it to be welcoming and inviting and not too cramped.
Courtesy image
For the interior of Carved Crafted Sandwiches, it was important to Mark Botros that the space was comfortable, with good flow and functionality.
A LASTING PLACE OF PEACE AND REMEMBRANCE
Our new mausoleum is now under development, and we are accepting pre-sales for those who wish to plan ahead with peace of mind.
Also introducing our Cremation Garden
A beautifully landscaped setting designed for families who choose cremation.
Offering permanent memorial spaces where loved ones can be honored and remembered with dignity. Planning today ensures your wishes are respected tomorrow, while easing the burden on those you love. Contact us for a personal consultation.
Kelly Kolomiychenko wants the readers of ‘Dreaming Through History: Merida in Scotland’ to learn real-world lessons.
MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER
With 19 years of experience as an educator at Robert E. Willis Elementary School, Kelly Kolomiychenko decided to flip the script and assign herself some homework.
Inspired by her daughter Hailey’s fiery red hair and personality, as well as books like the 1950s novel “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” Kolomiychenko wanted to create a story with a mix of the real world and of an alternate reality. What evolved from that desire was “Dreaming Through History: Merida in Scotland,” a historical fiction novel that now is available on Amazon.
“I always liked the idea of finding yourself somewhere that’s not your normal world, and trying to navigate that,” Kolomiychenko said.
She wanted to create a story that would both entertain and educate her readers. She used humor for the young readers (fifth through ninth grades) while also writing real world scenarios. That included information about the women’s suffrage movement and then relating it to something her students can relate to — school uniforms.
“There’s the friendship dynamic, where it’s the two of them who start to have issues because Ellie’s handling it one way, and Merida feels like there’s got to be a different way,” Kolomiychenko said. “Then she ends up in 1914 Scotland with Maggie, who is protesting and getting thrown in jail.”
Kolomiychenko’s three books “Dreaming Through History: Merida in Scotland,” “Making Forward Progress” and “Are you obsessed with slime, too?” are all available for purchase on Amazon.
To learn more about Kolomiychenko and her work, visit KellyKoloBooks.com
me feel special because not a lot of people are inside of books,” Hailey Richards said.
Kolomiychenko began writing the novel in summer 2024, but buckled down during summer 2025 because she knew she was nearing the finish.
“I like ‘aha’ moments as a teacher,” Kolomiychenko said. “You want the reader to make connections. I tried to include a lot of elements that are woven together to get the kids so engaged they don’t want to put it down. I basically wrote a book of what I wanted myself at that time.”
not in front of them in real life.”
Fifth grade teachers at Willis are using the book in some shape or form in their classrooms. On top of writing the book itself, Kolomiychenko also created printable classroom resources. Those are worksheets that include different activities such as crossword puzzles, vocabulary riddles, character breakdowns and more.
Being a STEM teacher while also being an author allows Kolomiychenko to connect to more students in a variety of ways.
“You can be someone who likes science, but you can also enjoy reading and writing as you merge the subject areas,” Kolomiychenko said. “I think the kids were surprised. They probably wouldn’t have immediately thought that I would want to do this. Sometimes, there’s a perception that STEM people might not be also good at language arts and English.”
Fifth graders Anika Crvenova and Noelle Nordine are currently reading the book and they appreciate that Kolomiychenko uses elements from her personal life along with humor to connect with kids their age. Nordine said she is an avid reader and wants to read ahead, but is holding back because she is reading it as part of a class.
“It’s cool because when she becomes famous, I’ll say she was my teacher,” Crvenova said.
Kolomiychenko wants her readers to walk away from the book wanting to know more about the topics, characters, stories and journeys.
From author Kelly Kolomiychenko about her book: “Merida is a bright, young lady who doesn’t step outside the lines of expectation. She certainly doesn’t want to attract attention. Merida finds herself immersed in a fight for more than just voting rights or uniform policies. She learns how to speak up when it matters, finds her ability to lead, and discovers her real-life connections to the past.”
slime, too?”
She is eager to hear feedback about her book and writing style. She compared it to “American Idol,” saying she doesn’t want to be laughed at after thinking she’s good at something.
“The support I’ve received is amazing,” Kolomiychenko said. “People all throughout the school are getting the book and then asking me to sign it. That makes me feel so special, that people are giving me a chance at this.”
The character of Merida is heavily inspired by Merida in the Disney movie “Brave” as well as Kolomiychenko’s 9-year-old daughter, Hailey Richards. Hailey said she does recognize herself in the character and her friends do, too.
“It’s kinda scary having my friends read about a character like me because I’m a little shy, but it makes
Kolomiychenko is still working at Robert E. Willis Elementary School as a STEM teacher and she also teaches courses in early childhood and elementary education at the State College of Florida’s Lakewood Ranch campus.
The book’s chapters are split between two timelines and places. For her real world, a symbol of a sun is present on the page. For her dream world, 1914, there is a moon symbol. This is something that is not explicitly stated in the book, but Kolomiychenko hopes the kids pick up on it.
“I feel like it’s got enough real history that connects with students’ real world experiences,” Kolomiychenko said. “They can relate, but they can also dream a little bit and be excited about other types of things that are
“I tried to be encouraging to students and teach them how they can use their smarts and their intellect, instead of rushing into handling things,” Kolomiychenko said. “I would like them to learn there’s ways to handle challenging situations, and not everybody has to agree on what that right way is. Ellie and Merida definitely look at things differently.”
Besides “Dreaming Through History: Merida in Scotland,” Kolomiychenko has two other books on Amazon: “Making Forward Progress” and “Are you obsessed with
Amy Noaker, the school’s media specialist, said she loves working with Kolomiychenko, as she always has a smile on her face and brightens everyone’s day. Noaker wasn’t surprised that Kolomiychenko published another book, but had no idea she loved history so much. Noaker is not a huge history buff, but still loved the book. She especially enjoyed how Kolomiychenko balanced the fictional story with real historical elements. It made her want to read more historical fiction. Noaker said Kolomiychenko’s book will inspire students to follow their dreams.
“It also helps to foster a love of reading and writing,” Noaker said. “I am so excited to see her book take off and get into classrooms everywhere.”
YMCA members can learn Spanish or take art classes in addition to working out.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
The YMCA of Southwest Florida thoroughly believes in its slogan, “We’re more than a gym.”
At the Lakewood Ranch YMCA, members can learn Spanish, take an art class, or play bridge, too.
At 6 weeks old, babies can be dropped off in the Kids Zone while their parents work out.
One of the newer programs at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA is Little Scholars, a drop-off preschool program.
“We just keep growing and expanding,” Executive Director Jen Haughey said. “If there’s a need, we’re going to make it happen.”
That includes helping those who have financial hardships.
Associate Executive Director Rhiannon Blaney noted that memberships pay to keep the lights on and cover payroll, but fundraising covers scholarships for dues and summer camps for those in need.
The YMCA is continually seeking Cause Champions, who are community leaders and private partners who help cover programming and scholarship expenses.
The Lakewood Ranch YMCA Charity Golf Classic will be held at The River Club on Nov. 8. The YMCA is still seeking golfers and sponsors. Individuals, twosomes and foursomes can register for $150 per golfer. Sponsorships range from $150 up to $5,000. Visit YMCASWFL. org/Upcoming-Events.
If the scholarship fund is depleted, Blaney said the staff will find a way to make it work for that individual or family, even if that means pulling from the operating expenses.
Both Haughey and Blaney met their husbands and raised their children at the YMCA, so they have a love for their workplace that extends beyond the pay.
“It’s our second home, sometimes our first,” Haughey said. “It’s a way of life. We all just live The Y and love the people we serve.”
Blaney used the recent Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 18 as an example.
“My daughter had a trunk and was handing out goodies. My husband and two
Associate Executive Director Rhiannon Blaney has worked for the YMCA for 15 years, and Executive Director Jen Haughey has worked for the YMCA for 25 years.
younger boys were in the haunted house scaring people, and my oldest son showed up after a travel tournament where he was working for The Y,” Blaney said. “We were here until 10 o’clock at night, but we were all together and having fun. What other place can you go to work and have your kids running around and be happy?”
That sort of personal investment leads to a vast array of programming and services because Haughey and Blaney want everyone to love the YMCA as much as they do.
When several Lakewood Ranch high school students were trying to do their homework in the lobby after school, the staff reconfigured a few things to create a quiet, teen-only space for them.
When Spanish classes were first introduced, they were designed for kids and early teens. But the classes ended up being packed with senior adults.
Once staff realized they had an older crowd, too, they created a second Spanish class especially for those adults. The class focuses on learning Spanish to travel.
Of course, the gym stays busy, too, even for adults. The Lakewood Ranch YMCA offers an adult basketball league, along with its other programs.
“That’s been fun to watch,” Haughey said. “The kids that we see in our recreation programs, you’ll see
them come to games to cheer on their parents.”
The focus for the youth rec leagues was traditionally placed on basketball and soccer, but the volleyball program has “exploded” lately.
Haughey noted that boys and girls are playing, but it’s become especially popular with the girls.
It’s a newer program that was introduced when Haughey’s daughter, Olivia Haughey, became the branch’s sports director in 2023. She played volleyball in school.
That’s all it takes to introduce something new — an expert in the field.
“We’d love to introduce lacrosse,” Blaney said. “What stopped us is nobody knows how to play lacrosse, so it’s a matter of finding those people with special abilities. If you have a skill, come talk to us.”
Of course, the YMCA also has extensive pool programming that includes swim lessons, a swim team, water exercise programs, lifeguard certifications and water safety programs.
Besides the aforementioned programs, residents might want to stop to check out Lakewood Ranch’s Wellness Center, which was revamped last month with new equipment.
The spin bikes and cardio equipment were replaced, and a turfed functional fitness area, which focuses on strength and mobility for daily movement, was added.
Lakewood Ranch YMCA, 5100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Call 798-9622 or visit YMCASWFL. org.
Mission statement: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
East Manatee Fire Rescue Engineer
Dominick Reale said it is important for the local firefighters to be seen by residents, and especially children, as something other than the people who only show up in emergency situations.
So with that backdrop, Reale was tasked with setting up the district’s Trunk or Treat event Oct. 25 at Station 1 in Lakewood Ranch.
“It’s community outreach,” Reale said.
Judging from the hundreds of children who attended and who were having a marvelous time, Reale succeeded.
Besides East Manatee Fire Rescue, other agencies, such as Florida Fish and Wildlife and the Florida Forest Service, were also represented. Children not only picked up candy, but they were able to explore many of the different agencies’ emergency vehicles.
JAY HEATER
The Braden River High girls’ volleyball team (19-10) was still alive in the FHSAA Class 5A state tournament as of Oct. 29, when it was slated to play Port Charlotte (13-16) in the regional finals. The Pirates cruised past their first two foes of the tournament — Northeast and River Ridge — by way of 3-0 sweeps. Dating back to Oct. 2, coach Matthew McElhiney’s squad has won 10 of its last 12 matches, and this postseason, has taken 12 of 13 sets played. Braden River and Port Charlotte split two regular-season matches.
... The Out-of-Door Academy girls’ swimming and diving team placed first at the Class 1A, District 8 championship on Oct. 25 at Berkeley Prep in Tampa with a score of 346. The team brought home four golds and three silvers, blowing by Keswick Christian’s nextclosest mark of 266. Junior Zoe Gruber earned two first-place finishes in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:07.66) and 200-meter individual medley (2:08.53). The quartet of Gruber, junior Arabella Newport Derbyshire, freshman Helaina Gunn and freshman Georgia Henry also claimed top honors in the 200-meter medley relay (1:53.63). Newport Derbyshire won the 100-meter butterfly (58.92) to round out the winners. Myles Straw, a 2013 graduate of Braden River, is playing for the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 31-yearold center fielder had two at-bats without a hit in Game 1 on Oct. 24, and did not play in the second game. Overall this postseason, has tallied one RBI on two hits.
... The Lakewood Ranch girls’ volleyball team (19-9) fell to Steinbrenner 3-2 in the 6A regional quarterfinals on Oct. 22 with a 3-2 result. The Warriors ended the Mustangs’ season 25-17, 25-27, 25-18, 23-25, 16-14.
“I just make sure to show up to every practice and try my best — even on days that I don’t really want to.”
— Out-of-Door Academy’s Zoe Gruber SEE PAGE 18
The Pirates enter 2025-26 with their top-three points leaders back from last season’s regional finalist team.
JACK NELSON SPORTS REPORTER
Some losses linger well after the final whistle. They can carry a certain sting, synonymous with an abrupt end to a season.
The Braden River High girls soccer team players know that feeling.
More than eight months have passed since their hopes of 202425 championships came crashing down, but still, regrets cross their minds every now and then.
“We should have won,” said junior striker/midfielder Victoria Caiazzo.
“I know we didn’t deserve to lose. It was a rough one.”
opinion, were the best two goalies in the county. I had them both.”
Lis and Kaele surrendered 13 goals combined across 20 matches a year ago. That helped Braden River blow by opponents while scoring 91 goals on the season.
There’s turnover on offense, too.
Former seniors Maddie Epperson and Abbey Jackson — responsible for 56 of the Pirates’ 251 overall points — are both out of the picture.
Countering those departures is returning talent, and lots of it.
Caiazzo is off and running in her second season with the program, having transferred from Lakeland, New York ahead of 2024-25. Her impact was tangible in more ways than one with team highs of 48 points and 19 goals as a newcomer.
For the entire way, though, Baehr was right alongside her. The thenjunior midfielder racked up 47 points in her own right as the Pirates’ primary facilitator, ending up with 23 assists in all.
BRADEN RIVER GIRLS’ SOCCER 2025-26 SCHEDULE
■ Oct. 27 at Bloomingdale, 6 p.m.
■ Nov. 3 vs. Palmetto, 7 p.m. ■ Nov. 4 at Riverview Sarasota, 7 p.m. ■ Nov. 12 vs. Manatee, 7 p.m. ■ Nov. 13 at Palmetto, 7 p.m. ■ Nov. 18 at The Classical Academy of Sarasota, 5 p.m.
■ Nov. 21 vs. Cardinal Mooney, 7 p.m.
■ Dec. 1 at Manatee, 7 p.m.
■ Dec. 2 at Parrish Community, 7 p.m.
■ Dec. 4 vs. Sarasota, 7 p.m.
■ Dec. 9 vs.
“That loss is only motivation for us, honestly. That shows us how far we really can go.”
Victoria Caiazzo
Caiazzo was talking about Braden River’s final game last season, when the Pirates were undefeated going into the FHSAA Class 5A Regional finals this past February. The Pirates had made their deepest playoff run since at 2011-12, but a double overtime loss to North Fort Myers ended their season.
A state semifinals berth became a forever what-if.
The time has come for new beginnings. The Pirates began the 202526 regular season Oct. 27 with two weeks of practice in the books, as well as an understanding of what they’re all about.
Expectations won’t change with a changed roster.
“We’re keeping our standards the exact same. I don’t think we want to let up,” said senior midfielder Maddie Baehr. “We actually have more of a fire under our butts.”
Part of the process in building their identity has meant answering the question marks in net. Both of Braden River’s goalkeepers from a season ago — Lorelai Lis and Smith Kaele — have since graduated, stripping the squad of any continuity at the position.
Competition for the starting role came down to sophomore Sofiya Garasic and junior Chloe Russell. Garasic played between the posts for Lakewood Ranch Prep as a freshman, but hadn’t worked on the position much entering Braden River’s tryouts.
This will be Russell’s first season in the sport. She was the starting catcher for the softball team this past spring, but as a close friend of multiple girls on the soccer team, volunteered to help out in goal. She’s worked closely with the Pirates’ coaching staff since the summer to learn the position and prepare accordingly.
“They’re both working very hard, but they both have some big shoes to fill,” said coach Don Engelberger. “The two girls we had last year, in my
She has a legacy to polish off before joining Division I McNeese State in the fall.
“I definitely want to just leave my mark. Seeing those results last season was awesome,” Baehr said. “I’m hoping we raise those numbers even higher this year, and I hope that we get the results we want.”
Sophomore midfielder Jordynn Roberts rounds out the core of crucial contributors. A season ago, she flashed plenty of promise with a second-best 16 goals en route to 39 points. Her maturity around the program has been “night and day” relative to 2024-25, per Engelberger.
That means all of Braden River’s top-three scorers are back in the fold. And they just so happen to be the three reigning points leaders, as well.
But to Engelberger, there’s much more to each of them than big numbers.
“Those three … they have so much humility. Of course, they want to score. They want to out-do each other, but they also root for each other,” Engelberger said. “It’s just nice to see. I’ve had teams where that
wasn’t the case.”
He still loves what he does entering Year 17. At an afternoon practice on Oct. 23, he joked about walking back his plan to trade one of his players to Parrish Community after her strong play. Then he warned about putting her back on the trading block after a missed shot.
At the same time, he takes all the little details seriously. Two players didn’t have shinguards at practice, so as a consequence, everyone was required to do 10 burpees before a water break.
Engelberger is realistic about the fact that uncertainty in net will increase the burden on his offense.
“We’ve got to score a lot of goals, because we’re going to get scored on,” Engelberger said. “(Baehr, Caiazzo and Roberts) have got to pick it up and take quality shots and make them count.”
The Pirates haven’t forgotten the pains of the past. What already happened can’t be changed, but the season ahead is a blank slate.
“That loss is only motivation for us, honestly,” Caiazzo said. “That shows us how far we really can go.”
The Florida golf community has waited 37-plus years since the last time a Major championship was played within its borders.
In the self-titled “golf capital of the world,” that might come as a surprise, but it’s a reality nonetheless. Every club wants a Major. Few are awarded one.
A drought began when Lanny Wadkins missed a 4-foot putt for par on the first playoff hole at the 1987 PGA Championship in Palm Beach Gardens, clinching the win for Larry Nelson.
The Concession Golf Club, though, seems poised to bring major golf back to the Sunshine State.
The Concession was selected in May as the site of the Senior PGA Championship for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Those senior Majors might set up The Concession for a future PGA Championship.
A senior Major hasn’t been staged in Florida since 2000, so that is a major step forward. Next April 16-19, The Concession will draw the attention of the entire golf world.
“I truly feel in my heart this golf course is a championship golf course,” said Brian Weimann, The Concession’s general manager.
“We’re a championship golf course pretty much all year. We proved that back in 2021 when we hosted the World Golf Championships, which had the 70 best players in the world, on a 45-day notice.”
The Lakewood Ranch-area based club boasts a convincing resume.
After hosting the 2015 men’s and women’s NCAA Division I championships, it welcomed the 2021 WGC-Workday Championship and the World Champions Cup in 2023.
Just under six months before some of the PGA Tour’s most distinguished alumni hit the links, there were even more signs last
ing as a professional pathway for minority golfers, the developmental tour made one of its 16 stops this year at The Concession and its third in Florida.
Horschel is an eight-time PGA Tour winner, and as of Oct. 25, is ranked No. 40 in the world. The University of Florida alumnus serves on the APGA board, but also played The Concession himself at the 2021 WGC-Workday Championship, finishing in a second-place tie with Viktor Hovland and Brooks Koepka behind winner Collin Morikawa.
He never forgot what it was like to play the course. Before heading off to Ivins, Utah, to compete in the Bank of Utah Championship, he was on site Oct. 20 for the pro-am.
He said The Concession checks all the boxes with regard to what he looks for in a premier destination.
“One thing I wanted to do when I got involved with APGA Tour, and knew we were going to host an event, is make sure that they were playing quality, high-level golf courses,” Horschel said. “That’s what needs to happen, because that gives them a better blueprint of what they need to focus on going forward to get to the next level.”
Everett Whiten Jr. wound up as the victor with a 2-under score as the only golfer in the 18-deep field to finish under par — a fitting case study of the challenges The Concession poses.
The 24-year-old former Howard University golfer spent three days on the course, formally competing during the latter two days in the tournament and in the first day in the pro-am. He carded a 69 in round one and a 73 in round two of the tourney.
week that The Concession continues to move up the ladder in attracting attention.
The Billy Horschel Invitational of the Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour was played on its grounds from Oct. 20-22. Serv-
Earlier this year, Whiten Jr. also made the final round of qualifying for the U.S. Open, just missing out on the opportunity to play alongside the best golfers in the world. But the Concession became a memorable site for his first APGA win of the season.
That’s something he won’t soon forget.
“I loved the golf course,” Whiten Jr. said. “You’ve got to give yourself
looks, try to hit the greens, which are really good here. And if you just roll on your line, I think you can make some putts.”
There’s no specific set of requirements the PGA of America enforces in its process of selecting hosts for the PGA Championship or the Senior PGA Championship, but there are several ways in which clubs can boost their chances when it comes time to submit bids. At the top of the priorities’ list, naturally, is a championship-level course. The layout should be nothing less than gorgeous, and playing it needs to be difficult for elite golfers, including fast greens, long yardage and tricky hazards.
Plenty of space for large crowds and tournament infrastructure is also crucial. The Concession is unique from other local private clubs since it’s not built into a neighborhood — something the PGA of America looks favorably upon.
Prestige only helps, and though Florida has courses capable of offering all of the above, it’s the stifling summer heat which has historically hurt its candidacy. The PGA Championship is now held in May, moving from its previous spot in August in 2019.
Along with President Bruce Cassidy Sr., Weimann has his sights firmly on hosting a PGA Championship in the future, and potentially as early as 2035.
“We’re building a 14-acre tournament event entrance for that reason,” Weimann said. “Some things we’ve done on the golf course this summer (were) in preparation for that, not just for ’26, but for the future,” Weimann said. “So 100%, that’s what we’re thinking, and that’s what we’re planning for.”
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The Out-of-Door Academy swimmer Zoe Gruber collected three gold medals and one silver at the FHSAA Class 1A District 8 meet to lead her team to a championship. Gruber — who also swims for the Sarasota Sharks — topped the field in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:07.66), 200-meter individual medley (2:08.53) and 200-meter medley relay (1:53.63) along with fellow junior Arabella Newport Derbyshire, freshman Helaina Gunn and freshman Georgia Henry. Gruber is the East County Athlete of the Week.
When did you start swimming? I started swimming (competitively) when I was 6 because I had been doing lessons since I was 2.
What do you enjoy most about getting in the pool?
Definitely my teammates. They make practice a lot more fun.
What has been the highlight of your high school season so far? So far, I guess just all the meets. The smaller meets are fun because you get to talk to the whole team. They’re not very stressful.
What has been the most humbling moment of your swimming career?
A few weeks ago, I almost missed one of my events. I had to run over.
What were your goals entering your junior season with The Out-of-Door Academy?
I definitely wanted to get topeight at states in my events again, and I just really want to drop time.
What has been your recent focus? I just make sure to show up to every practice and try my best — even on days that I don’t really want to — and work on the small details, too.
If you would like to make a recommendation for the East County Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to JNelson@YourObserver.com.
How do you like to spend your free time? I like to spend time with my friends and go to the mall and the beach.
If you could meet any professional athlete, who would you meet? LeBron James. He’s a big inspiration for a lot of people.
If you could go anywhere in the world for a dream vacation, where would you go and why? Brazil. I’ve been to a lot of countries, but I haven’t been there before. I feel like it seems very interesting.
What’s your favorite meal? Pasta. Just any kind of pasta.
If you could co-star in a movie with any actor, who would it be and why?
Probably “Top Gun.” I don’t think (Tom Cruise) is my favorite actor, but that’s my favorite movie. I want to go on one of the planes with them.
What’s your go-to hype music at the pool? I usually listen to Drake at meets. Finish this sentence. Zoe Gruber is ...
Shawn Nick-
Cooper
1, and
Lakewood Ranch’s Amelia Fitzmorris, 4, dresses as a mermaid, Isaac Fitzmorris, 8, dresses as the
and
Lakewood Ranch Main Street came alive with mystical creatures and lovable characters during the annual BooFest celebration Friday night.
Costumes ranged from “Toy Story” to “Monsters Inc.” and to spookier get-ups like witches and scary clowns. There was something for everyone.
For Lakewood Ranch’s Dani Borges, Halloween is about being creative and dressing up with her family. In years past, her family has dressed as ghosts, zombies and police officers and prisoners.
For Boo Fest, she dressed as Jessie from “Toy Story” alongside her son. Pedro, who was Woody.
“It’s great and it’s alive,” Borges said. “Even though it’s at night, you see all the kids running around, so it’s a happy environment and so festive.”
Lakewood Ranch’s Lieeza Nicklaus has attended Boo Fest for the past four years but came this year as a first time mom, which gave her a new experience. Lieeza dressed as Cinderella, while her husband, Shawn Nicklaus, was Prince Charming. Their son Nicklaus, dressed as the mouse named Gus Gus.
“I’ve always wanted to be Cinderella; that’s my favorite Disney princess,” Lieeza Nicklaus said.
— MADISON BIERL
For 22 years, the Boo Run has been an annual tradition for the Tullio family. Grayson Tullio, a 22-year-old with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, looks forward to what he refers to as “the day of Gray.”
“I don’t want to be the main center of attention,” Grayson Tullio said. “It’s not just about me. It’s about all those with Duchenne who need a cure to be found.”
A portion of the proceeds of the Boo Run will be donated to Another Day for Gray, Big Bill’s Foundation and the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch.
Monika Oberer first ran in the Boo Run in 2013 when she met Grayson Tullio. She said meeting him helped open her eyes to the reality of life.
Despite his condition, Oberer said Grayson Tullio is a fighter,
stubborn, and extremely loving.
Since meeting, Oberer and Tullio have gotten together, usually twice a week, and do activities such as trips to the movies, the mall or Mote Marine. They have participated in the race together for the last nine years.
“She is caring, kind, outgoing, and someone who tells people how it is,” Tullio said. “She doesn’t sugarcoat things. She helps me be the best person I can be.”
“Having this day with Grayson is always great because I see him smile,” Oberer said. “I see him happy. His life is so hard, and a day like this is cool because he deserves good days. I’m very blessed to be on his side.”
This year, the pair dressed as Russell and Carl Fredricksen from the Disney movie “Up.” — MADISON BIERL
Liddell
“Actually,
The
After the
— JAY HEATER
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Ahome in Wild Blue at Waterside on Blue Shell Loop topped the week’s sales. Anchor Builders Concession 9
Phase 3 LLC sold the home at 1158 Blue Shell Loop to James Jones and Christy Jones, trustees, of Blue Springs, Missouri, for $4.43 million. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, four-anda-half baths, a pool and 4,523 square feet of living area.
SDWB Waterside LLC sold the home at 568 Blue Shell Loop to Liam McCauley, of Sarasota, for $3,208,300. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,350 square feet of living area.
SDWB Waterside LLC sold the home at 1070 Blue Shell Loop to Theodore and Jennifer Levin, of Sarasota, for $2,537,600. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,756 square feet of living area.
COUNTRY CLUB
Jay and Carolyn Eliason, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7934 Royal Birkdale Circle to A&C Property 7934 LLC for $1,425,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,465 square feet of living area. It sold for $775,000 in 2014.
LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE
Richard Allen Penezic Jr. and Joanne Elizabeth Penezic, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 749 Tailwind Place to Ann Marie Defries and Kenneth Bueg, trustees, of Sarasota, for $1.4 million. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,138 square feet of living area. It sold for $902,700 in 2022.
LAKEWOOD NATIONAL
Kristi Michelle King Nelson and Trent Carl Nelson sold their home at 5569 Mulligan Way to Stephan Nebbia and Leslie Krentz, of Bradenton, for $1.37 million. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,074 square feet of living area. It sold for $655,000 in 2020.
SWEETWATER
Russell and Tracy Patsel, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 4610 Rainwater Glen to Judd Burstein and Evelyn Stephens, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,325,000. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,817 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,118,300 in 2023.
TIDEWATER PRESERVE
William and Michelle Thompson, of Wilmington, North Carolina, sold their home at 1110 Overlook Court to Christopher and Heather Vinas, of Bradenton, for $1.22 million. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,942 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,375,000 in 2024.
EDGEWATER
Terese Joyce, trustee, of Avon, Ohio, sold the home at 8358 Sailing Loop to Priya Arora and Kyle Morhardt, of Lakewood Ranch, for $989,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,617 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.05 million in 2024.
SHOREVIEW
Kevin and Patricia Burke, of Boerne, Texas, sold their home at 7801 Grande Shores Drive to James Lutz and Christine Lutz, trustees, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, for $939,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,486 square feet of living area. It sold for $561,900 in 2018.
ISLES
Mitchell Davidson and Mindy Ann Chernick, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 17675 Azul Drive to Per and Deirdre Ekholdt, of Lakewood Ranch, for $895,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,328 square feet of living area. It sold for $640,500 in 2019.
COUNTRY CLUB EAST
Murray Snow III and Sally Ann Snow sold their home at 7050 Highgate Lane to Ellen Sue Rebne and Rob Thomas Rebne, of Bradenton, for $820,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,236 square feet of living area. It sold for $565,000 in 2021.
MILL CREEK
Cornelis and Shannon Van Den Bosch sold their home at 13640 Second Ave. E. to Colleen and Kyle Dicke, of Bradenton, for $750,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,462 square feet of living area. It sold for $590,000 in 2021.
RYE WILDERNESS ESTATES
Bryce and Vinita Ann Davis, of Parrish, sold their home at 385 165th Court N.E. to Donald and Vahida Riecker, of Rutland, Vermont, for $720,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,609 square feet of living area. It sold for $328,000 in 2009.
ESPLANADE
Rosemary Villanella, Claudia Murdoch and Giancarlo Villanella, of Southampton, New York, sold their home at 13338 Torresina Terrace to Michelle Bouffard, of Bradenton, for $670,700. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,912 square feet of living area. It sold for $750,000 in 2022.
RIVER PLACE
James and Karen Tuitt, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7003 74th St. Circle E. to Michael Sean Boyle and Amie Renee Boyle, of Sarasota, for $660,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,894 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2015.
The Lagoon at Tidewater Preserve Higgins Gayheart, of Sarasota, sold his Unit C condominium at 1109 Riverscape St. to Roberta and Dennis Kuhlmann, of Ontario, Canada, for $655,000. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,332 square feet of living area. It sold for $680,000 in 2022.
COUNTRY CREEK
James Waid and Sheila Waid, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 14711 First Ave. E. to Cody and Casey Kincheloe, of Bradenton, for $650,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,671 square feet of living area. It sold for $339,000 in 2004.
EAGLE TRACE
David and Juanita Bonnell, of Parrish, sold their home at 2240 Crystal Lake Trail to Kurt Bigeau and Ginette Nakashoji, of Ontario, Canada, for $650,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,266 square feet of living area. It sold for $355,000 in 2016.
GREYHAWK LANDING
Collin and Tara Tyler, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, sold their home at 1314 Brambling Court to Andrew Michael Randenburg, of Bradenton, for $650,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,462 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2023.
WOODBROOK
Kenilworth Properties LLC sold the home at 4720 Woodbrook Drive to Geary Pellegrini and Lynn Perone, of Bradenton, for $627,500. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,222 square feet of living area. It sold for $600,000 in March.
Keith Hunt, of Ontario, Canada, sold the home at 4578 Cedar Brush Terrace to Nathan Gil and Liliana Coronado-Gil, of Sarasota, for $460,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and
13-17
1,552 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,000 in 2021.
DEL WEBB
Beverly Girard, trustee, of Castle Rock, Colorado, sold the home at 6854 Chester Trail to Kenneth and Jane Landeau, of Bradenton, for $620,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,994 square feet of living area. It sold for $835,000 in 2023.
COACH HOMES AT LAKEWOOD
NATIONAL Alexander and Mary-Jane Pazda sold their Unit 821 condominium at 5830 Wake Forest Run to Timothy and Ann Daly, of Ridgewood, New
Jersey, for $610,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,108 square feet of living area. It sold for $319,000 in 2017.
Bo Zhang and Xiuchun Xie sold their Unit 3922 condominium at 17825 Gawthrop Drive to Stephen and Lisa Poitrast, of East Falmouth, Massachusetts, for $575,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,108 square feet of living area. It sold for $357,000 in 2020.
BRIDGEWATER
Mary Ann Russell sold the home at 13004 Belknap Place to Stephen Frederick Sylvia, of Bradenton, for $600,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,221 square feet of living area. It sold for $417,900 in 2014.
PALM GROVE
Ranchland Investors LLC sold the home at 17646 Meandering Palms Crossing to Edward Saa and Timothy Barry Ridley, of Bradenton, for $599,000. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,212 square feet of living area.
CENTRAL PARK
Isao Haraguchi, trustee, sold the home at 11907 Forest Park Circle to Christopher Gary and Maranda Gary, of Bradenton, for $590,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,131 square feet of living area. It sold for $359,000 in 2018.
Kenneth and Jane Landeau, of Bradenton, sold their home at 11723 Cullen Park Terrace to Matthew and Constance Baluch, of Medina, Ohio, for $570,000. Built in 2011, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,871 square feet of living area. It sold for $295,000 in 2013.
DESOTO WOODS
George Kricos, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 8047 Desoto Woods Drive to Bill and Patti Phillips, of Parrish, for $549,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,634 square feet of living area. It sold for $290,000 in 2014.
GREENBROOK
Robert and Kerry Andrews sold their home at 15624 Lemon Fish Drive to Taylor Compton, of Lakewood Ranch, for $545,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,094 square feet of living area. It sold for $337,500 in 2015.
HERITAGE HARBOUR
George and Gayle Towns, of Venice, sold their home at 8820 Heritage Sound Drive to Greg and Sharon Dynan, of Pembroke, Massachusetts, for $525,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,036 square feet of living area. It sold for $510,000 in 2021.
Jeffrey Paul Kneisler and Jean Elizabeth Kneisler, trustees, of Georgetown, Texas, sold the home at 427 River Enclave Court to Virginia Anna Scala, of Miller Place, New York, for $490,000. Built in 2010, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,672 square feet of living area. It sold for $302,500 in 2017.
BRADEN PINES
Wendy Dodge, Gary Coburn, of Townville, Pennsylvania, Lisa Coburn, of Titusville, Pennsylvania, and Kent Coburn, of Townville, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 10009 Oak Run Drive to Samantha Dzembo, trustee, of Sarasota, for $500,000. Built in 1981, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,224 square feet of living area. It sold for $193,000 in 1989.
RIVER SOUND
Harold and Rebecca Rarey, of Baltimore, Ohio, sold their home at 5333 Tide Point Way to Nicholas Jank and Kayla Gateson, of Bradenton, for $480,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,130 square feet of living area. It sold for $207,900 in 2012.
THURSDAY, OCT. 30 THROUGH
SUNDAY, NOV. 2
LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING
Runs from 4-7 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Steve Arvey (Thursday), Santiago (Friday), Side Two (Saturday), and Santiago (Sunday). The Saturday show is $5; the others are free. For information, go to JiggsLanding.com.
FRIDAY OCT. 31 AND
SATURDAY. NOV. 1
MUSIC AT THE PLAZA
Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Singer/songwriter Paul Fournier entertains the crowd on Friday while Dana Lawrence performs rock, blues, reggae and New Orleans soul on Saturday. For more information about the free music series, go to WatersidePlace.com.
SATURDAY, NOV. 1
ROOFTOP YOGA
Begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch. Adults (18 and older) can participate in the Rooftop Yoga program. For information, go to MyLWR.com.
SATURDAY, NOV. 1 AND SUNDAY, NOV. 2
SARASOTA MEDIEVAL FAIR
Runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 29847 S.R. 70, Myakka City. The 21st annual Sarasota Medieval Fair returns with five weekends of jousting, music and medieval merriment, running every Saturday and Sunday in November. Among the events are human combat chess, washing well wenches, the New Riders of the Golden Age jousting and the Knightwings Birds of Prey. For more information, go to SarasotaMedievalFair.com.
MUSIC AT THE LODGE
Runs 6-9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday at Linger Lodge, 7205 85th St. Court E., Bradenton. Linger Lodge’s live music schedule includes The Divebombers on Saturday and Steve Cherubino on Sunday.
SATURDAY, NOV. 1
SUNCOAST FOOD AND WINE FEST
Runs from 1-4 p.m. at the Premier Sports Campus, 5895 Post Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Approximately 50 local restaurants and food sources provide a taste of their best dishes while those who attend also can pair each taste with a wine to match, or can enjoy the beer garden while grooving to the live music. Tickets are $100 general admission; VIP tickets are $195. To purchase tickets, go to SuncoastFoodandWineFest.com/. Proceeds benefit local charities through Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch.
SUNDAY, NOV. 2
FARMERS MARKET
Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. Vendors offer seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. Other features are children’s activities and live music. For information, visit MyLWR.com.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5
RANCH NITE WEDNESDAYS
Runs from 6-9 p.m. at 1560 Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place. Join the crowd at Waterside Place enjoying the food trucks and live music or playing in the cornhole league during Ranch Nite Wednesdays. Weekly programming is offered. For more information, MyLWR.com.
SATURDAY, NOV. 8
ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW
Runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Waterlefe River Club, 995 Fish Hook Cove, Bradenton. The Manatee River Artists Guild at Waterlefe is hosting its annual Arts and Crafts Show and Sale. The free event raises funds to benefit visual arts programs for local school-aged children. A silent auction will be held that will have a handmade electric guitar by Scott Nuss, as its featured item. The auction will have more than $11,000 in items up for bid. For information, send an email to JudyKS1013@ gmail.com.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025, 11am-1pm Lakewood Ranch Main Street 8131 Main Street, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 EXCLUSIVE
For 40 years, The Food Bank of Manatee has been feeding our neighbors in need and relies 100% on the community. Your sponsorship or ticket purchase directly supports our vital hunger relief efforts. Together, we can fill every bowl and every heart.
Here’s how you can help:
Be a Sponsor – Align your business with a powerful local cause!
Donate Soup – Local restaurants are invited to donate soup for this fun event! To learn more call us at 941-747-4655 or visit our website at www.MealsOnWheelsPLUS.org/soup
Buy Tickets – Enjoy a meaningful meal and take home a handcrafted bowl—a reminder of the many empty bowls in our community. Visit our website at www.MealsOnWheelsPLUS.org/emptybowls
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