Mote opens educational floodgates
Educators say they will arrange field trips, virtual tours, and take advantage of Mote’s outreach teams.
MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER
Having been a science teacher at Braden River High School for 17 years, Sharon Itts is hoping her students feel her enthusiasm for the marine world, especially as the Mote Science Education Aquarium opened Oct. 8.
Originally from Ohio, Itts didn’t get to experience the ocean and gulf waters until moving to Florida, but certainly she has loved being near that environment. Now she hopes she can inspire her students to share her love of marine life.
The new aquarium will provide hands-on experiences, if students decide to embrace it.
“So many of our students are so connected to their electronics that they don’t often get to have that ‘wow factor,’” she said. “The opportunities that Mote is going to bring to our local students, as well as everybody who has the opportunity to visit, is that wow factor. They’re going to see this impressive facility with these innovative ideas and the opportunity to see it, touch it, and in some cases, potentially even taste it.”
Itts said the appearance of the building alone has sparked student conversation and interest.
Tiffany Spradling, the secondary curriculum director at the School District of Manatee County, said subjects such as science can be difficult to fully learn and comprehend through just books and videos.
“When information sticks, we’re
either going to get students who perform better in science or become lifelong learners in science,” Spradling said.
Amber Platowski, the secondary science coordinator for the district, agreed.
“Many of our schools just don’t have the room or time to be able to work with students hands-on in marine science. Since it’s such an important part of our local community, a partnership with Mote is an incredible resource that our teachers can collaborate with to provide enrichment for the students.”
Spradling said her district is lucky to be on the coast.
“Florida is surrounded by water, and we want to keep Florida kids in Florida and to help them find careers that are new or not even developed yet,” Platowski said. “We want to build foundations at the elementary level, reinforce them in middle
FOR TEACHERS
school and then expand them into colleges and careers in high school.”
Aly Busse, the vice president for education at Mote Marine Laboratory, has been with Mote for 15 years. She said Mote SEA’s staff did a needs assessment where it reached out to all of the Manatee county principals. Feedback came back from about half of them.
“We started building the curriculum around what the teachers and the schools wanted and needed,” Busse said. “We are incredibly excited that we’re going to be offering free educational programming in our three STEM teaching labs.”
The teaching labs offer education around marine ecology, biomedical and immunology, and ocean technology. They are available for students from kindergarten through high school, with pre-K to be added in the near future.
Mote is open for school field trips starting Oct. 20 and registration is open. Beginning in January, Title I students will receive a family pass for the year so they can explore the aquarium at their convenience any time they want.
If schools are unavailable to visit the aquarium, there are still educational opportunities. Mote will have an outreach team that will visit schools. The team will bring “biofacts” — parts of nature that are no longer alive such as skulls — when the students can’t see the live animals in the aquarium.
Along with resources for students, there are also opportunities for staff development. There are two different teacher preview nights on Oct. 16 and 30 for teachers to have a sneak peak at the aquarium and curriculum. Registration is required but all Manatee and Sarasota County teachers should have an invite in their inboxes. MOTE SEA
Tracy Bohlmann, a chemistry teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School, said she would love to work with Mote to have a guest speaker discuss ocean acidification.
“I have a saltwater aquarium in my room, so I often refer to it when discussing things like pH, nitrates, chlorine and more,” Bohlmann said. “I always try to tie what we are learning in chemistry to real life and the ocean has lots of chemistry.”
“For the younger grades, we’ve got a curriculum that we’ve developed that aligns to the standards and that follows the school curriculum calendar,” Busse said. “We like to work with the teachers directly to have them tell us what they need and make sure that it works for them.”
There are also virtual field trips available with supplies and lesson plans that can be checked out.
“Maybe they (the students) will be the next Guy Harvey who takes conservation to art,” Itts said. “Maybe they’ll be the next Eugenie Clark who takes that passion and does research. Maybe they’ll be the person who wants to be a volunteer and meet new people and share what they’re learning. There’s so many levels of opportunity out there, I just hope they embrace it.”
For more information on Mote Sea, Mote.org/Aquarium/.
Photos by Jay Heater
Mote’s Brad Tanner, the manager of school programs, is ready to coordinate visits from students to the aquarium’s teaching labs.
SEA opens to wave of excitement
Sneak preview for members precedes the $130 million aquarium’s Oct. 8 opening to the general public.
JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR
TIF YOU GO
What: Mote Science Education Aquarium Where: 225 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
FUN FACTS
the beaches, the sunshine and the aquarium.”
Architect: TVS Design
Builders: Willis Smith Construction, Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.
Opened to pubic: Oct. 8, 2025
Square footage: 110,000 in the three-story facility
Gallons to fill exhibits: 1 million
Lot acreage: 12
Cost of facility: $132 million
Sarasota County’s financial commitment: $20 million
Manatee County’s financial commitment: $5 million
They were laughing, having the time of their lives.
“Awesome,” Higgins said of the new aquarium.
“Amazing,” Scanlon added faster than an otter could break the surface of the water.
here they were on Oct. 6, Lakewood Ranch’s Leslie Higgins and Sarasota’s Nancy Scanlon, with their bodies crunched down on the floor as they tried to get a better angle to take photos at the one of the huge fish tanks in the Mote Science Education Aquarium. The two seniors had a bit of trouble getting back up, but they didn’t care.
They weren’t alone in their jubilation. A stream of patrons gave their evaluation of the facility with oneword superlatives.
“It’s the dynamics,” Scanlon said.
“The design. The colors.”
“I appreciate the education,” Higgins said. “I can’t wait to bring my grandchildren.”
Those who were visiting Oct. 6-7 were being treated to a Mote members’ sneak preview. The aquarium opened to the general public Oct. 8.
That ended a process since November 2020 in which architect TVS Design and builders Willis Smith Construction and WhitingTurner pieced together the dream of CEO and President Michael Crosby and his Mote Marine family. Crosby called it a long Mote SEA voyage.
The $132 million aquarium can now begin to host the projected 700,000 visitors annually along with more than 70,000 students a year from the region.
Tickets: Tickets prices vary by day of week, but here are prices for Saturday, Oct. 11 — Adult (13-plus), $37; Youth 3-12, $29; 2 and younger, free (You must buy tickets online at Mote.org/Location/ Mote-Science-EducationAquarium/.) Discounts also are available for buying tickets more than 30 days in advance.
“When we started, even the land didn’t exist,” said Kevin Cooper, Mote’s vice president for communications and strategic initiatives.
“It was a lake (at Nathan Benderson Park), so we had to build the ground upon which the facility was built. It took us a couple of years just to do site preparation.”
Although Cooper said a few animals are still waiting to be added because of a challenging permitting process, the scheduled lineup of attractions is pretty much complete. He said over time, Mote will continue to add other species as warranted.
Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn was among the dignitaries who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 3.
“It’s a top-notch marine research facility,” Rahn said. “As far as tourism, it’s going to take the region to another level. You are going to have
Willis Smith President and CEO John LaCivita took a photo with his team at the entrance to the aquarium after the ribbon cutting.
“We couldn’t be more proud,” LaCivita said. “It’s a landmark, and Willis Smith is known for landmarks.”
Willis Smith Vice President Dave Otterness added, “We’ve never done a project like this, but we helped to bring the Gulf of Mexico out to Lakewood Ranch and UTC.”
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan said it took Crosby to steer the ship to the finish.
“You can have someone who has a vision, but can he execute?” Buchanan said. “(Michael Crosby) is an incredible salesman. This was a combination of everyone working together.”
State College of Florida President Tommy Gregory said the educational component will be a game-changer, not only for grade school students, but for college students as well, and even his faculty members.
“We are going to be looking into partnerships with our faculty and Mote,” he said. “It will provide a great hands-on experience.”
Florida Rep. James Buchanan called it a “great day for STEM, for my kids, and for future generations. Kids will be inspired to be our next scientists.”
12million Gallons of water drained to empty the lake to put in the pad for the aquarium
140,000
7,000
380
80
22,200
How about some peanut butter with that jellyfish?
Photos by Jay Heater
Bradenton’s Jennifer Shaw gets a close-up of a manatee.
Lakewood Ranch’s Julia Bakker and her 3-year-old daughter, Aubrey, were able to crawl into a window that put them in the middle of the penguin habitat.
File
Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch is No. 1 in the nation
The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch has been named the nation’s No. 1 Farmers Market by American Farmland Trust’s annual contest — the American Farmers Market Celebration.
For the past two years, the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch has been the No. 1 market in Florida, and held that standing for a third consecutive year. However, on Oct. 3, it was announced the market also earned the overall title, as well. The winner is decided by a public vote held Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Every Sunday, more than 100 vendors sell fresh produce, artisanal goods, prepared foods, and crafts, at Waterside Place, which gives the market a lakeside home. Live music each week adds to the character of the event. Children enjoy a Kids Zone and learn from monthly STEM programs.
Other features at the market include a subscription-based Community Supported Agriculture box that helps shoppers experiment with seasonal vegetables and learn more about Florida’s growing cycles. The Market partners with Harvest SRQ, a food gleaning initiative where volunteers work with farmers to collect surplus produce and deliver it to local shelters and nonprofits, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
“From location to atmosphere, our market has become more than just a place to shop. It’s a gather-
ing place, a weekly tradition, and a true community hub,” said Nicole Hackel, Lakewood Ranch’s events and resident experience manager, in a release.
For vendors, the market has served as a launching pad for small businesses. Michael Top, owner of Camelot Breads, retired from banking at 55, earned a culinary degree, and began baking small batches of bread to the market. According to the release, he now mills his own flour, sources organic ingredients from Florida farms, and produces hundreds of loaves each week. He offers free loaves to customers over 90 and invites local kids to work at his booth.
“This market is really the grassroots of the American dream,” Top said in the release. “It supports the idea that some businesses might have started in a garage, but here they are now, a success. They are selling their products to people who appreciate quality and want to support small businesses.”
Government efficiency liaison committee member needed
Manatee County is seeking a new member for its Government Efficiency Liaison Committee.
Formed earlier this year, the Government Efficiency Liaison Committee works with the Executive Office of the Governor Department of Government Efficiency Team, as well as with the county administration. The committee will meet monthly for one year.
Applicants for the Government Efficiency Liaison Committee must complete the online application on the Apply for an Advisory Board page, which includes answering the supplemental questions, completing a background check, and providing a current and comprehensive resume. All documents must be completed and submitted by Oct. 24. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday each month. The next meeting is 10 a.m. Nov. 10. For information, contact Stephanie Garrison at 7484501, ext. 5323 or email Stephanie. Garrison@MyManatee.org.
Drone medical service about to take off
The Lakewood Ranch coverage area expanded from serving about 5,000 residents to about 42,000.
pilot program that uses a drone to deliver lifesaving medical supplies is poised to take off after the Federal Aviation Administration updated its regulations on public safety drone operations in April.
Gordon Folkes is the founder and CEO of ArcherFRS, the company that partnered with Tampa General Hospital to launch the pilot program that operates out of the Lakewood Ranch EMS station on Malachite Drive.
“We’ve had the infrastructure in place,” Folkes said. “So I’m grateful the FAA has created a clear path for public safety operations.”
ArcherFRS was operating in compliance with the standard the FAA’s updated regulations set — the drone must remain at or below 200 feet and be equipped with an ADS-B receiver to detect aviation in the area.
Folkes noted that the changes have also expedited FAA approvals. Before the changes, FAA waivers to fly a drone beyond the visual line of sight took about a year to be issued. Over the past two months, Folkes has seen those same waivers issued in less than a week.
The drone has sat ready and waiting in a ground hub outside the Lakewood Ranch EMS station since May 2024, but hasn’t been deployed yet.
One reason is that its FAA-approved coverage area was only 3.5 square miles.
The drone is stocked with supplies to treat a wound, cardiac arrest or a drug overdose, but only about 5,000 people live within 3.5 square miles of Malachite Drive. Given the limited population, just one call in over a year required the drone’s supplies.
However, that call was made on a day that the drone didn’t pass its pre-flight checks because of a thunderstorm.
On a clear day, the drone is meant to reach an emergency faster than an ambulance, but it’s not meant to replace an ambulance or the care paramedics and EMTs provide.
Until an ambulance arrives, the dispatcher will stay on the line to direct the caller on how to retrieve and use the necessary supplies — an
automated external defibrillator for a cardiac arrest, a tourniquet for a wound or Narcan nasal spray for an opioid overdose.
The drone is an added service that, as of now, costs Manatee County $1 a month. The regular rate is $10,000 a month, but commissioners would have to approve those costs.
James Crutchfield, deputy director of Public Safety, noted that the average response time is about eight minutes for an ambulance and fewer
than three minutes for a drone.
“What matters most is giving residents greater access to care,” Crutchfield said. “We’re excited to expand this program so more people in our community can benefit from this service.”
As of Sept. 29, the drone can respond within 35 square miles of the Lakewood Ranch EMS station.
About 42,000 residents live within the expanded coverage area.
The hours of operation are also expanding from daylight hours on weekdays to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. all week.
Folkes said the initial operation was limited by the FAA to the “visual line of sight,” which required staff to be on site at the EMS station anytime the system was active. The operator had to keep the drone within their eyesight, which is about 1.2 miles in any given direction.
While the FAA approved the program to operate “beyond the visual line of sight,” ArcherFRS staff will continue to remain on-site when the system is online.
PROGRAM EXPANSION
The drone operates out of the Lakewood Ranch EMS station located at 10311 Malachite Drive.
■ Extended hours of operation from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
■ Extended coverage area from 3.5 square miles to 35 square miles
For now, hours are limited by manpower. ArcherFRS has four pilots on staff, which man the program in two eight-hour shifts a day.
The company is currently hiring and building out its flight operations team. Once additional personnel are trained, the program can transition to 24 hours a day.
Prior to the expanded coverage area and hours, Folkes said the system was using 4% of its capacity. Now, it will use up to 95% of its capacity.
While it took well over a year to move the pilot program through the FAA restrictions, Folkes described the time operating under Manatee County EMS as greatly beneficial. It’s allowed his team to make software improvements and harden the resiliency of the system staying online.
“Without a real world implementation and pilot, there’s just a lot of unknowns,” he said. “Before the pilot program, there was no operating procedure on how a 911 dispatcher even goes about requesting a drone delivery for a life threatening event.”
Folkes credited Manatee County as being an excellent partner in helping to define the standard operating procedures and how the process fits into the workflow of 911 dispatchers and EMS staff.
With the system online and operational, the ArcherFRS team was also able to monitor the weather and air traffic systems to collect data and perform testing.
“This has never been done before,” Folkes said. “(The pilot program) is introducing the next generation of emergency first response, and it’s really awesome that Manatee County is the tip of the spear on it.”
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Gordon Folkes explains how the drone works to members of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance in August 2024.
Supplies to treat a wound, cardiac arrest or a drug overdose are packed inside the drone.
The drone sits inside a ground hub, ready to deploy, in the side yard of the Lakewood Ranch EMS station
This Baar’s goals set high
At 14, Matt Baar received a dream from the Children’s Dream Fund. At 27, he wants to grant dreams in Manatee County.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
When Matt Baar was diagnosed with cancer at 14 years old, he was never told he only had a 15% chance of surviving the next five years.
“They kept a lot from me,” he said of his parents, Jim and Mary Jo Baar. “I’m always told I had a positive attitude, which I think helped.”
It was 2013, and Baar didn’t have an iPhone yet. He couldn’t research his odds of beating the rare abdominal cancer defined by a desmoplastic small round cell tumor.
But another comforting factor was that he had met most of his doctors because five years earlier, his brother, Joey Baar, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Around that same time, Amanda Griffin Walker was an intern for the Children’s Dream Fund. She’s now the nonprofit’s executive director and is working with Baar on a fundraiser scheduled for Nov. 22 at his Myakka City home.
The first-annual Turkey Toss is a cornhole tournament that will also include games other than cornhole, as well as lunch, drinks, a DJ and a “Walk of Dreams” that will display photos and stories about some of the children who have received dreams from the Children’s Dream Fund.
“I’m definitely here to help, but Matt is the one making the dreams come true,” Walker said. “You can’t describe (the Baar family) as ‘nice.’ It’s so much more in depth. They are kind to their souls.”
Both Baar brothers were granted dreams, and their father, Jim Baar, now sits on the fund’s board. Joey Baar chose to visit Walt Disney
THE CHILDREN’S DREAM FUND
The Children’s Dream Fund was founded in 1981 with the mission to fulfill dreams for children ages 3-21 who live in West Central Florida and have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
Since its inception, the fund has made more than 4,000 dreams come true. Over 50% of dreams are paid for by inkind donations, and 87% of the nonprofit’s expenses fund the dreams directly.
IF YOU GO
First Turkey Toss. Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 8223 Verna Bethany Road, Myakka City. Visit TurkeyToss.com or email Matt.TurkeyToss@gmail.com for more information or to become a sponsor.
The entry fee to play in the cornhole tournament is $200 for a team of two. Spectator passes, which include lunch and a drink, cost $25, and sponsorships opportunities range from $500 to $5,000.
World, while Matt Baar chose a trip to Hawaii.
“I was still sick at the time, so I couldn’t take it all in,” Matt Baar said.
“But it was such a fun trip. There was
a luau, swimming with dolphins and a submarine ride.”
Now, Baar wants to ensure that every child with a life-threatening illness in Manatee County receives a dream, too.
Each dream costs $5,000, and Walker said there are 29 children in Manatee County on the waiting list.
The goal might be lofty in the first year, but Baar has already raised $24,000 between players and sponsors.
“I’ve learned that fundraising is a lot more work than I thought,” he said with a laugh. “But I enjoy doing it.”
He was also raised to be charitable. Mary Jo and Jim Baar are founding members of Manasota BUDS, a local nonprofit that supports individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
Because Mary Jo Baar was formerly Mary Jo Hunsader, Jim Baar has also created a legacy through the Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival’s Charity Games. He handmade most of the games, some of which will be “reimagined” for the Turkey Toss to include more adult prizes, such as a free drink from the cash bar.
Jim Baar is currently busy crafting drink stands to accompany each cornhole board, while Matt Baar is busy organizing and fundraising daily.
The tournament is still seeking players, sponsors and raffle items.
But some nice prizes have been secured so far, including a one-week boarding camp at the IMG Academy and a two-night stay at the Tampa Hilton Garden Inn.
While they haven’t been determined yet, the winners will receive
prizes in addition to commemorative plaques.
While he describes the tournament as a learning experience, the Turkey Toss is not Matt Baar’s first foray into fundraising.
A year before his diagnosis, he raised over $2,500 through a change drive to purchase a Touch2Play gaming system for the infusion center at All Children’s Hospital, where Joey Baar had been receiving leukemia treatments.
The hospital nominated Matt Baar to be the Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero, and he was awarded $50,000 to give to his charities of choice — All Children’s Hospital’s Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Children’s Dream Fund.
Lesley Dwyer
Matt Baar is hosting the first-annual Turkey Toss cornhole tournament in his Myakka City backyard Nov. 22 to benefit the Children’s Dream Fund.
Courtesy image
The Tampa Bay Lightning named Matthew Baar, pictured with his brother, Joey, left, a Lightning Community Hero on Jan. 15, and donated $50,000 to the charities of his choice. Published Jan. 26, 2012.
THE FRUIT OF THEIR LABOR
ODA seniors help clean up the Mixon Fruit Farms property as part of the Alliance Gives Back program.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Seniors from The Out-ofDoor Academy filled dumpsters and relived childhood memories at Mixon Fruit Farms on Oct. 3.
The students participated in the Alliance Gives Back, an annual volunteer drive organized by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, of which ODA is an executive member.
Dylan Walker brought a picture of himself in fourth grade eating a Mixon Swirl — the ice cream cone that became synonymous with the farm, a soft serve combo of vanilla and orange ice creams.
Eight years later, Walker is a senior in high school, and Manatee County owns Mixon Fruit Farms. Commissioners approved purchasing the former citrus farm for $13.5 million in July.
“(The Mixons) were here for 80 years,” said Crystal Scherer, Manatee County community engagement division manager. “We’re starting to clear it out, so we can start using the spaces.”
ODA students were tasked with
clearing out and cleaning the warehouse, catering kitchen and Honeybell Hall, the main event venue.
While the school has been a member of the Alliance since 2014 and this is the eighth year for the Alliance Gives Back, this is the first year students have had a chance to participate in the volunteer days.
For the Alliance, it’s a large group to accommodate in one place, as 56 students volunteered. For ODA, it’s not always easy to take students out of class.
However, Camela Giraud, the director of collaborative learning and education outreach, said they hit “a sweet spot” this year because
a
at The
the ninth through 11th grade classes were doing college testing, which left seniors with a free day.
It’s also the first year ODA is having each grade complete a service project, so the seniors were able to kick off the new initiative.
Mixon was chosen as their project after LWRBA President and CEO Brittany Lamont had a conversation with Manatee County Commissioner Amanda Ballard.
“I realized we had a chance to expand our reach and give back to a landmark in the community,” Lamont said. “Mixon’s history is in the fabric of Manatee County, and we are so glad this next generation will see it continue.”
Scarlette Moyer had never visited Mixon Fruit Farms before sweeping the warehouse floor, but her mom knew of the farm.
“It’s definitely going to be cool seeing it when it’s all done,” Scarlette Moyer said. “We can come back and know that we played a part.”
While the students were busy cleaning out the indoor spaces, Manatee County had a crew outside leveling a huge field of dirt because the original event area is being expanded.
Parks Operations Manager David Shurmur said the cement was starting to be poured that day, and the field will be sodded next.
Manatee County is preparing the facility for its first public event on Nov. 7, Mixon in Bloom. A week later, the farm will host its first Manatee Movie Night from 6-8 p.m., followed by two more on the second Fridays of December and January.
While Mixon is an exciting project for the community, the farm was not the only stop for Alliance Gives Back. The initiative provided nearly 400 volunteers for over 30 projects this year alone.
LWRBA members are a mix of both for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations. Lamont said the three-day effort “bridges the gap” between them and allows the nonprofits to gain volunteer support.
Serving nonprofit members is the main mission of the Alliance Gives Back, but volunteering also encapsulates the alliance’s tagline, which is “the power of connection.”
Volunteering fosters connections between members “because of the shared core values that bring them together.”
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MIXON
IN BLOOM
Manatee County is preparing Mixon Farms for its public grand opening on Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. — Mixon in Bloom. A “Passing of the Key” from the Mixon family to Manatee County will kick off the event. The celebration to follow will include live music, food trucks and some light gardening.
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Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Seniors at The Outof-Door Academy volunteer to do some heavy lifting for Manatee County.
Scarlette Moyer and Anya Morrell sweep the warehouse at Mixon Fruit Farms for the Alliance Gives Back on Oct. 3.
Kenji Katz,
senior
Out-of-Door Academy, volunteers to help clean out the warehouse.
Dylan Walker holds up a photo of himself in fourth grade eating a Mixon swirl ice cream cone.
As aquarium opens, transparency is an issue
This is another entry into the “two things in opposition can still be true” category.
The past week has been a well-deserved celebration of Mote Marine’s quest to open the Science Education Aquarium, by all accounts, an incredible achievement in terms of fundraising and educational advancement.
Besides the gains in serving the area’s students and cultivating future scientists, the tourism gains should flow right off the charts. I think we are going to find that people love to stare at fish, and they are going to be doing it at Nathan Benderson Park.
I bow to the expertise and passion of Mote President and CEO Michael Crosby, who might someday be credited with saving the gulf, or at least lessening red tide. I am not saying that he will come up with a formula himself, but his drive with Mote obviously is creating awareness in the rest of the world that will lead to a collaboration of all the top minds and solutions to our marine problems. They can go ahead and hire an artist to do a bronze statue. And while all that is true, we can’t escape the fact that the last 12 months has been an example of a nonprofit acting badly.
Heading into November 2024, I was checking with Mote executives in trying to update the aquarium’s progress. Since the groundbreaking in 2020, I was trying to provide our readers with regular updates about the progression. I also was attempting to photograph the various stages of construction because that is something you don’t care about until 30 years down the road, when you wish you would have done it.
To that point, Mote was very forthcoming — call it transparent — about everything aquarium related. It was smiley faces and high fives all around.
Until it wasn’t.
Somebody flipped the switch, and if you support the buck-stopshere mode of operation, you have to figure that person was Crosby. Suddenly, not only would Mote executives not comment on the process, but they wouldn’t even return an email, or a phone call. Crickets.
Being a journalist means that you have taken an oath to be a pain, so I continued to call and send emails, hoping that everyone had gone on vacation to Greenland together and they would eventually be back. Nope.
Although media outlets touring the aquarium Oct. 6 were told that no interviews of Mote executives
would be granted, Kevin Cooper, the vice president for Communications and Strategic Initiatives, graciously made himself available.
We spent most of the time talking about Mote’s accomplishment, with people streaming into the new facility, but then I asked Cooper why Mote had shut down communication with the media a year ago.
“We had nothing to tell,” he said. That’s a bad answer. It goes right along with the guy who thought out the term “quiet phase” when it came to nonprofit fundraising. Usually the quiet phase is code for “something has gone wrong and we don’t want to talk about it.” It’s just easier to say, “We’re in the quiet phase.”
I can only speculate as to what happened at Mote. Is that what you want? A journalist speculating?
My thoughts were generally that Mote was slightly annoyed or embarrassed that it wasn’t going to open at the original target date. On its website, Mote had posted some stories earlier in 2024 that suggested the new aquarium might be open by December 2024. Of course, our region was crushed by hurricanes, just one reason that any opening in 2024 or early 2025 wasn’t likely to happen.
The words of wisdom here? Get over it. Nobody in this area is going to complain about a nonprofit being a bit delayed after a stream of hurricanes hit.
I would imagine that the transfer of wildlife to the new aquarium also presented some unforeseen problems. I can’t speak for my fellow residents, but I would imagine that we all get it. It’s not like Mote is building aquariums all over the place and has experience transferring penguins. There are going to be bumps in the road, and the ice pack. We get it. No worries. I also asked Cooper about not allowing any photos as the aquarium turned into the home stretch.
He explained that Mote wanted to retain its wow element, not allowing photos out that showed its exhibits. I understand that concern, and I would like to note that no photo can come close to providing the in-person reaction you will have when you walk through the SEA’s doors. It is spectacular.
So the aquarium is open now, we all lived through the process, and we have a landmark facility that should draw attention worldwide.
So what’s the beef?
In a world where Mote scientists are consumed with protecting our waters, journalists have to be concerned with protecting what
little transparency we have when it comes to our tax dollars.
While I heard over and over about how the SEA was paid with mostly private donations, I wondered why a nonprofit — one that did $80 million in revenue in 2024 against $39.5 million in expenses — wouldn’t have more respect for $25 million in donations from our county governments ($20 million by Sarasota County and $5 million by Manatee County).
What I respectfully would hope Crosby and his fellow executives would try to understand is that chatting with a commissioner, or your donor base, about all your trials and tribulations is not the same as making yourselves available to answer questions from the general public, which has a stake in that aquarium, too. Those people read the newspapers and watch the television reports to get their news, and you offered them nothing for a year.
Did Mote provide speaking engagements to local organizations? Of course, but it was cherry picking spots, and preaching to the choir.
Tax dollars are a different animal. They come from folks on both ends of the passion spectrum when it comes to an aquarium. They could be your biggest fan, or they might rather that money be used for other purposes to make their lives a little better.
They deserve a little consideration when you spend their money.
Jay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.
You’re Invited to the
New single-family homes now selling from the high $200’s New townhomes now selling from the mid $200’s Saturday, Oct. 11 | 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Stop by anytime!
You’re invited to celebrate the grand opening of Firethorn and The Towns at Firethorn, sponsored by GE ® Appliances! Come explore our beautifully crafted homes, connect with our sales team, and enjoy family-friendly fun, including a charming flower truck! First 50 guests to attend will receive a $10 American Honey Creamery Gift Card!* Tour our beautifully designed model homes and see why you’re going to love your new Taylor Morrison home at Firethorn or The Towns at Firethorn!
Jay Heater
You can stay dry, and have a shark swimming right above you, at the Mote Science Education Aquarium.
Local heroes stepped up when home caught on fire
I would like to let the East County Observer know about a few local neighborhood heroes.
We were in North Carolina this past September. We received a call on Sept. 16 from our neighbors, Geoff and Carla Durr, that our house was struck by lightning and was on fire.
Can you imagine the sudden shock and stress of this? We had hired a house and dog sitter, but she was not at the house at the time. The neighbors called 911 and East Manatee Fire Rescue was en route.
Our neighbors down the street, Sharon & Emma Yonker, just happened to be driving past our house and stopped to pound on our doors and windows, trying to get the attention of anyone inside.
In the meantime, a tree trimmer — Jeff Snyder of Axes Tree LLC — and a lawn service (Native Lawn Service) were working next door at a neighbor’s house and they saw the smoke coming from our roof.
Both men rushed over, grabbed our garden hoses and were frantically trying to keep the fire at bay until the fire engines arrived.
We then received a call from Deputy Nico Lee of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office saying they were on the scene. We told the deputy that our son (Ryan Banning) is also a deputy with the Sheriff’s Office and we would call him to help manage the scene.
We also called our daughter (Rachel Judd) who was just leaving work to assist. Two of our other neighbors, Claire Marshall and Veronica Cunningham, rescued our four dogs from inside the house.
We were a wreck, wishing we could be there to help and do whatever it took to save our home. A couple close friends, Rob Ault, John Kipp and Tito Caro, also stopped by to help as well as neighbors Miguel and Nathalie Noa.
The quick response of our neighbors, friends, the Sheriff’s Office and East Manatee Fire Rescue, saved our home.
The only damage was to the corner of our master bedroom. The
East Manatee Fire Rescue team covered our bed and bedroom furniture with tarps to protect from damage from the spraying water!
These people are our heroes. We would have lost our home if not for these people paying attention and lending a hand to help.
The best part that gave us peace was that after hearing the fire was out, God gave us as a sign that everything was okay. It was a rainbow directly over our house.
We can’t thank these people enough for coming to our rescue. It’s good to know that in these times, there are still heroes that rise to the occasion to help others.
CHERYL BANNING
LAKEWOOD RANCH
Reporter aced this business story
I wanted to send a note to thank and give kudos to (East County Observer) reporter Madison Bierl.
I’m trying to put things in words, but I just cannot express what a wonderful thing she did for our new business and our family (Teen starts on the grounds floor of business, Oct. 2).
We have such big smiles and happy hearts by her choosing to write an article for our business.
From a father raising our daughter and then for her to be featured in the article for all the community to learn about us is just an overload of emotions.
The time Madison spent with all of us, learning about our story and what made us tick and even talking to some customers is just so amazing.
I highly suggest rewarding her. She is definitely going places. Thank you!
ADRIAN DIAZ
LAKEWOOD RANCH
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
Have something to tell us? Send your letters to Jay Heater at JHeater@YourObserver.com.
IT’S READ EVERYWHERE
Headed on a trip? Snap a photo of you on vacation holding your Observer, then submit your photo online at YourObserver.com/ItsReadEverywhere. Stay tuned for this year’s prize, and happy travels!
TWO GREAT VIEWS ... HAWAII AND THE OBSERVER: Sophia and Melanie Tabb enjoying the great view with their East County Observer papers from Kalalau Lookout in Kauai, Hawaii.
New sushi restaurant opens on Main Street
Kuro Sushi aims to bring multiple cultural influences to its menu.
MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER
When Brian Briones, a chef at Kuro Sushi on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, smells fresh food, he is transported back to when he was young.
At the age of 6, his cooking journey began with the help of his grandfather, Rene Briones Sr.
His grandfather taught him to cook foods of Filipino origin, including pancit, which is the name for a wide variety of noodle dishes that can be made with meat, seafood and vegetables.
“Food has always correlated to comfort, peace and tranquility,”
Brian Briones said. “The reward of being able to enjoy it and break bread with the family, or whoever you’re creating it with, is fun.”
Briones brings Filipino influence to Kuro Sushi, a new Japanese restaurant that will open on Lakewood Ranch Main Street on Nov. 1.
Of Korean descent, Kuro Sushi owner Daniel Dokko said the restaurant will have a wide range of cultural influences in their food. He said Kuro Sushi has a “mixed team” with
IF YOU GO
Where: 8126 Lakewood Main
St. Unit 102
Phone number: 941-422-5876
When: Beginning Nov. 1, the restaurant will be open everyday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 4:30-9:30 p.m. for dinner
More info: Visit KuroSushi. Bar/.
employees of Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese and Thai descent.
“Chef Daniel has taught me a lot in creating some new dishes that are not traditional Japanese,” Briones said. “They’re Japanese inspired, but they’re not limited to that, so there’s excitement there.”
Kuro Sushi will be Dokko’s fourth restaurant in the area. He also owns Kore Steakhouse at Waterside and the two JPan Sushi and Grill locations on Siesta Drive and University Town Center. He was 25 when he opened his first restaurant on Siesta Drive.
“When you’re young, you’re less scared to fail,” Dokko said.
“Now I’m scared to fail because I have a lot to lose and I’m older. Back then, I had to make it happen so I did
everything I could.”
Dokko has worked as a dishwasher, bus boy, server, chef, sous-chef, and manager before he opened his first restaurant in 2008. He said he is lucky to still have loyal customers 17 years later.
“I was always first to come and last to leave, and that was the reason why I was able to move up,” Dokko said. “I always wanted to learn.”
Dokko is eager to open on Main Street because he said Lakewood Ranch feels like a community where everybody knows everybody.
“I try to know everybody’s name,” Dokko said. “To me, everybody’s the same, if you’re a dishwasher or you’re the general manager, and I’m so happy to be with them.”
Dokko said Kuro Sushi is going to be upscale fine dining, but also casual at the same time. He wants everyone to know they are welcome, including kids and people celebrating special occasions.
“The servers will wear jeans and T-shirts with the apron, but the servers will be trained to provide
really high class service,” Dokko said. “Without the shirt and tie, it’s more casual.”
The restaurant is meant to be tapas style, which means you are meant to order smaller plates that are meant to be shared. Dokko recommends ordering three plates if you’re a good eater. Menu items will range from $7-$30.
Beginning Nov. 27, they will offer omakase, which means you don’t order anything, and it is the chef’s choice on what they decide to make and serve the customer.
Dokko said one of his goals of the restaurant is to teach Japanese words to his customers little by little. The rolls on the menu will not be given fancy names, but instead numbered to expose them to Japanese words.
The restaurant will be open everyday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, and 4:30-9:30 p.m. for dinner. They are aiming to have a total of 35 employees including eight chefs, three bartenders, a manager and servers.
Madison Bierl
Kuro Sushi is owned by Daniel Dokko, which will make Dokko’s fourth restaurant in the area. He also owns two
JPan Sushi & Grill locations and the Kore Steakhouse.
Kuro Sushi, owned by Daniel Dokko, is set to open on Nov. 1 on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
Multiple lenders accuse Sarasota brewery of not paying millions in loans
Big Top Brewing Co. is involved in multiple lawsuits over allegations it has not made loan payments.
LEGAL ISSUES
ASarasota brewing company with multiple locations is embroiled in lawsuits with two lenders claiming it owes anywhere from $600,000 to more than $4 million. Berkeley Alternative Income Fund LLC and SouthState Bank, in separate lawsuits in Sarasota County Circuit Court, claim Big Top Brewing Co. has not made payments this year on its loans.
Michael Bisaha, co-owner of Big Top Brewing Co., declined to comment for this article due to the ongoing litigation. However, Big Top has filed a counterclaim against Berkeley alleging the business was overcharged, which court filings contend “sets off any claim of default for failure to pay on the loan.” All three Big Top Brewing locations remain open.
Big Top Brewing Co. faces multiple nonpayment lawsuits, in addition to the allegations from Berkeley Alternative Income Fund LLC and SouthState Bank. Other lawsuits, according to Sarasota County court records, include: ■ North Mill Equipment Finance: $131,655.72 ■ Matthews Homes: $123,193.75 ■ American Capital Group: $78,219.36 ■ Pawnee Leasing Corp.: $41,302.58
CONSTRUCTION LOAN Berkeley Alternative Income Fund LLC alleges Big Top Brewing Co., an affiliated LLC and its owners owe
BIG TOP, PAGE 14A
Jay Heater
Big Top Brewing Co. co-owners Mike Bisaha and Seth Murauskas stand next to the art that greets patrons when they enter the Fruitville Commons location.
Family Medicine
WELCOMES
WELCOMES
$4,036,000 in principal plus prejudgment interest. It is suing Big Top and owners Bisaha, Seth Murauskas and Josh Wilson, as well as their company Sixty Seven Fifty Ventures LLC for breach of contract and foreclosure of mortgage, among other claims.
BOTTOM LINE
Key takeaway: Multiple lenders are suing Big Top Brewing Co. for not paying on its loans.
Core challenge: In one case, Big Top filed a counterclaim, saying it made “exorbitant” interest payments.
What’s next: The company to which Big Top owes the most money — in the millions of dollars — plans to file for summary judgment in the next two months, the lender’s attorney says.
Monica Drummond, DO, MPHC, MHS
Keyur Kurani, MD
Board Certified, Family Medicine
Board Eligible, Family Medicine
Berkeley and Big Top signed an agreement for the more than $4 million loan on Sept. 30, 2021, according to court filings. It involves property at 3045 Fruitville Commons Blvd., which Sixty Seven Fifty Ventures LLC purchased for $1.4 million on Sept. 13, 2021, according to Sarasota County property records.
ceeds which caused Defendants to incur damages.”
Dr. Keyur Kurani brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Cattleridge office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine.
Dr. Monica Drummond brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Lakewood Ranch I office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Family Medicine.
Undergraduate:
Undergraduate: University of South Florida, Sarasota, FL
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
The loan was for construction of the Big Top Brewing building at Fruitville Commons, which the Business Observer previously reported spans 18,000 square feet and opened in spring 2024. (When that location opened, the owners told Observer Media Group they knew it was a big expansion risk, with Bisaha saying he and his business partners aren’t a large corporation with endless resources. “We have it all on the line here,” Bisaha told Observer Media Group for a story April 3, 2024.)
From the first draw in November 2021 until the last draw in February 2024, Berkeley required Big Top to pay $30,400 a month plus extension fees, the counterclaim says, adding: “This resulted in an overpayment of interest in an amount exceeding $500,000.”
Medical School:
Graduate School: Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts, Basseterre, SKN
Medical School: Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC
Residency:
Residency: Colquitt Regional Medical Center, Moultrie, GA
Certification:
Family Medicine Residency, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Jackson, TN
Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine
Certification: Board Eligible, American Board Family Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (AOBFP)
Hospital Affiliations: Sarasota Memorial Hospital; Doctors Hospital
Hospital Affiliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL 941-907-6019
Cattleridge Medical Building I 3333 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, FL 34232 www.intercoastalmedical.com
Lakewood Ranch I 11505 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, FL 34211 www.intercoastalmedical.com and most
In early January 2025, Berkeley sent notice to Big Top that it had defaulted under the terms of the loan for nonpayment as of Dec. 1, 2024, calling for the business to pay $4.27 million. That includes the principal, interest and a construction overage agreement, in addition to more than $976 a day, according to court filings.
In a counterclaim that Big Top Brewing’s attorney filed Sept. 15, the business alleges Berkeley has charged “an exorbitant amount of interest” on the entire loan of $4,036,000 when the business “had not drawn down on the loan anywhere near the full amount.”
The interest rate on the loan was 9%, but the counterclaim says the business was required to pay 30% interest instead.
“The loan in question was part of an SBA loan package. SBA regulations do not allow a lender to charge interest on undisbursed construction loan proceeds,” the counterclaim says, alleging Berkeley “breached its contract … by charging interest on undisbursed construction loan pro-
As a result of the overpayment, Big Top incurred damages including being forced to borrow other funds, loss of revenue since the building did not open as soon as it should have and loss of the SBA loan that would have paid off the Berkeley loan, according to the counterclaim.
Berkeley believes the counterclaim regarding the overcharging of interest is “factually incorrect,” according to the company’s attorney, Steven Hutton. In addition, Hutton, in a phone interview with the Business Observer, says Big Top released Berkeley from any counterclaims by signing four referral notes and a deferral agreement.
Big Top disagrees it has waived its right to file counterclaims. The contract with Berkeley “should be declared unenforceable as it was procured by fraud, misrepresentation and/or economic coercion,” according to its counterclaim, which says the lender improperly administered the loan and threatened to accelerate it or sue for foreclosure if Big Top did not sign documents extending the contract.
In a separate lawsuit, Winter Haven-based SouthState Bank claims Big Top Big Top Brewing Co. owes it more than $600,000.
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Always a Wildcat
Zachary McClellan, Bella Rubal and Makenzie Legg walked the McNeal halls as students, and now are teaching their own lessons.
MADISON BIERL
STAFF WRITER
Astudent support specialist at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, Lillian Matazinski was in the lunch room last August when she passed by a substitute who had a familiar face.
But she couldn’t put her finger on who he was.
“I’m standing there, I’m looking at him and I’m sure it is pretty awkward,” Matazinski said. “It’s that hard stare, and then I could see it in
his eyes.”
Matazinski racked her brain for another hour, and asked around if anyone knew his name to confirm her suspicion. She then went through old yearbooks and found a picture of Zachary McClellan, who was a former third grade student she knew from the playground. She made a photocopy of the photo and handed it to him at recess.
“She actually gave it to me when I was subbing, and I was at recess,” McClellan said. “I was shocked when she showed me. I was a little nervous to acknowledge her because it was like being star struck by one of your favorite teachers.”
There are three staff members at McNeal who were once students walking the same hallways. McClellan, who now works as a para educator, is working toward his elementary education degree. Bella Rubal teach-
es first grade students and Makenzie Legg teaches fourth grade. All three of them have parents who pursued education, as well.
Matazinski had both McClellan and Rubal when they were in third grade, and she said they still have the same essence, core values and work ethic.
“You could always see how conscientious they were as kids and how caring,” Matazinski said. “They just had a way of being dynamic leaders, even within their peer group, and were able to build on those relationships and help others.”
Rubal said she has wanted to be a teacher since middle school. By chance, her student teaching assignment was at McNeal, which led to a full-time position.
“It’s cool to see just how much love and care goes into our happy memories,” Rubal said. “Now I’m doing the same thing.”
Rubal said she has always been organized and meticulous, even as a student. She said it has been interesting as a teacher to see students struggle with perfectionism, as she
FUN FACTS
■ Zachary McClellan knows how to swing dance and his favorite restaurant has been Cracker Barrel ever since he was a kid.
■ Isabella Rubal loves going to Disney, golfing and has cats named Benny and Archie.
■ Makenzie Legg likes to read, bake and has a dog named Archie. She likes to travel and has been to France, Italy and the Netherlands.
All three of them studied or are currently studying elementary education and have a parent who also pursued education.
McClellan now works as a para educator at McNeal, but once attended the school as a student. His third grade teacher was Lillian Matazinski, now the student support specialist.
did before, as well.
“It’s definitely affected how I speak in my classroom and how I talk to my students,” Rubal said. “Grades are not the end of the world, and it’s OK if you don’t get 100%. I make sure I’m not putting too much pressure on my students, because I put a lot of pressure on myself as a kid.”
Matazinski said working alongside her former students has been seamless — it was never awkward — instead it was met with enthusiasm and joy.
McClellan said he vividly remembered Matazinski as a teacher and
enjoys seeing the other side of her as a colleague.
“She’s an insanely cool person, super nice, super sweet,” McClellan said. “Seeing her switch in real time from teacher mode into just having a conversation about what’s going on is so cool.”
McClellan said there is a good sense of community at McNeal, which is probably the reason some of the same teachers that he had as a kid are still teaching there. McClellan said the staff has been supportive and willing to jump into whatever he needs in terms of assistance.
“They have such a wealth of knowledge, especially being at the school and working in this area, that they understand the students very well,” McClellan said. “They understand the parents very well. They’ve seen just about every situation you could think of, and I’m listening and sponging up all that information.”
Legg said none of the teachers she had at McNeal are still there, but she still reflects on her experience. She said teaching is about more than the curriculum, and the emotional wellbeing and behavior management of her students are things that she greatly values.
“Something that’s important to me now as a teacher is building relationships with my own students,” Legg said. “It was something I experienced as a kid, and now something I try hard to do.”
Legg said it is important for students who might want to become educators in the future to find a good support system, including educators who truly love teaching to provide motivation and inspiration.
McClellan said teaching the fundamentals such as adding and subtracting have a real impact on who the students will be as adults.
“Find that passion and keep it because it’s so strong seeing your ability to change small minds into actual comprehendible human beings that can function in society,” McClellan said.
“We always say, ‘Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat,’” Matazinski said. “Even though I’ve left to explore my career and grow in different capacities, and that required me leaving to get different experiences, I’ve always come back to my home. It’s cool that I have former students coming back.”
Madison Bierl
Makenzie Legg, Zachary McClellan and Isabella Rubal are teaching at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, which is the elementary school they attended as children.
Courtesy image
Zachary
“We connected really well, and we’ve grown as (friends). Just being able to play with everyone — it’s a great team.”
FAST BREAK
THE NEXT STEP
After placing second in the state the past two years, the Mustangs have high hopes for a title despite heavy graduation losses.
JACK NELSON
SPORTS REPORTER
The Mustangs have spent over a decade chasing the pinnacle they once knew so well.
In recent years, they’ve been so very close. They settled for state runner-up in 2023, 23 strokes short of the champ, and last year, the squad was only six shots shy, again finishing second. New season. Different journey. Same mission. Their goal is to rediscover that championship level.
“It’s a good group, because everybody can beat each other on any given day,” said senior Jack Wessinger. “We have five players who, if they play a really good round, they’ll shoot anywhere from a couple under to even par.”
Lakewood Ranch boys’ golf is less than one month away from the postseason. Boasting the reputation of a regular contender in FHSAA Class 3A, coach Dave Frantz and his players are hunting for the school’s first state title in 12 years.
A gold standard was set for the program back then, when the Mustangs turned their first state championship into a renaissance, ultimately producing a three-peat from 2011 to 2013.
Now, they’re relying on a revamped roster to try to scale the mountain.
Four of their top five golfers from last season are gone. Parker Severs — current freshman for Florida men’s golf — was the biggest loss, having tied for second individually at the 2024 FHSAA 3A state championship.
Henry Burbee, who placed T-20th in the state tournament, moved on as well, to West Florida in Division II.
Another loss was Luke Wilson, and though he’s not competing at the next level, he was a premier player.
The exit of now-junior Brett Traver to become starting quarterback for the school’s football team only accelerated the turnover.
But at Lakewood Ranch High, someone always is waiting in the wings.
“I think it’s the record that we have over the past couple years, and our coach has a great reputation,” said sophomore Will Thomas. “(Aspiring golfers) just see our team’s past, and that’s what makes it attractive.”
Frantz has seven players listed on his varsity “green team” roster this season. Among that group, junior Owen Gellatly offers continuity.
Transferring into Lakewood Ranch from Canada ahead of last season, the then-sophomore quickly established himself as one of the team’s premier young talents, carding a combined 152 to finish T-23rd individually at the 2024 state championship. He was just one stroke behind Burbee.
That also makes Gellatly the only player still on the roster who placed at those championships.
In 2025, the Mustangs’ top-two players by average score are Wessinger and fellow senior Brock Blackwell, as of matches completed through last Thursday.
Blackwell finished fourth individually at 1-over par in the East Coast PGA High School Championship — staged from Sept. 19 to 20 — as Lakewood Ranch (+31) wound up second behind Oxbridge (+15).
For Wessinger, the weeks to come are about rounding out his game to complement the power he’s already getting off the tee.
“I’m hitting the ball pretty well,” Wessinger said. “I’ve just got to work on a little short game stuff, a little irons, and then I think I’ll be in a pretty good spot for the rest of the year.”
As a whole, the team strung together several quality outings last month after three finishes of fifth or worse across their first four tournaments. The Mustangs found a groove, beginning with second place at the Lakewood Ranch Invitational on Sept. 5-6.
LAKEWOOD RANCH BOYS’ GOLF
HISTORY
■ 2024 3A state runner-up (302-296—598)
■ 2023 3A state runner-up (307-299—606)
■ 2013 3A state champion (298-295—593)
■ 2012 2A state champion (309-301—610)
■ 2011 2A state champion (317304—621)
■ 2010 2A state runner-up (300-294—594)
“We have five players who, if they play a really good round, they’ll shoot anywhere from a couple under to even par.”
Jack Wessinger
Three consecutive title performances followed.
Winning the George Jenkins, Mooney Match Play and Crutchfield-Hawkins Invitationals on Sept. 8, 13 and 15, respectively, they had success in the tee box, on the fairways and on the putting greens.
“We definitely have high expectations for ourselves, always. For any tournament we go to, we’re always trying to win,” Wessinger said. “Put ourselves in good spots, and then see where we go from there.”
The playoffs are fast-approaching, with the FHSAA Class 3A District 11 tournament set for Oct. 27 at Venice’s Jacaranda West Golf Club. And tuneup opportunities are quickly evaporating — three contests remain in the Mustangs’ regular-season slate.
Lakewood Ranch will travel to Sandridge Country Club for the Vero Beach Invitational on Oct. 11. Afterward comes the Manatee County Championship on Oct. 13, followed by a multiopponent home match on Oct. 23, playing Cardinal Mooney, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal and Sarasota.
It’ll be the first time Thomas experiences the rigors of postseason preparation. He was on junior varsity — the silver team — as a freshman, but has earned his way into the program’s top seven.
Even with talents of years past no longer in the picture, he senses something that could bode well for the Mustangs in pursuit of a team title.
“I’ve noticed it seems more together than last year,” Thomas said. “I feel like everybody’s a lot closer than everybody was last year.”
an approach shot at the Qdoba Tournament of Champions on Oct. 3 in Davenport. The sophomore is in his first year on varsity for the new-look Mustangs.
Utah women’s tennis sophomore Hayley Roberts — a Lakewood Ranch native — picked up a win at the Big 12 Individual Tournament from Sept. 25-28. After falling in the Blue Draw’s Round of 16 to Texas Christian’s Raquel Caballero Chica, she cruised past Cincinnati’s Caterina Greco by a 6-0, 6-1 score in backdraw action. Roberts played No. 5 singles for most of her freshman campaign with the Utes, racking up a 5-10 record in singles play. She also went 8-11 on the doubles courts. Utah posted a 9-15 overall record last spring and went 3-10 in Big 12 play.
... Lakewood Ranch girls’ volleyball has won five of its last seven contests as of Oct. 6, including three in a row from Sept. 25 through Oct. 2, as the postseason looms. The Mustangs rank No. 22 in Class 6A and No. 113 in the state according to the Sept. 30 edition of the FHSAA rankings. Senior outside hitters Kora Yanes and Ava Collins have both reached 200 kills this season, while sophomore setter/middle blocker Adalynn Lund owns over 100. Lund also leads the squad with 44 blocks, followed closely by junior middle blocker Avarie Tholl’s 39. Additionally, balanced defense has been crucial — four different players have 200-plus digs.
... Parrish Community’s football team emerged from a tough fight against Winter Haven on Oct. 3, advancing to 5-1 with a 12-3 road victory. Senior quarterback Brycen Volz now has 13 touchdowns with no interceptions, as well as 1,089 passing yards.
... Georgia Tech women’s cross country junior Gracie Marston finished seventh among 137 competitors in the 6K run at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational on Oct. 3. The Lakewood Ranch High graduate’s mark of 21:17.7 was fifth best among all Yellow Jackets in the race.
Jack Nelson Lakewood Ranch native Hayley Roberts is off and running in her sophomore season with Utah women’s tennis, recently securing a straightsets win at the Big 12 Individual Tournament.
Owen Gellatly chips a shot toward the green on Oct. 3 at Davenport’s Providence Golf Club. The then-sophomore placed fifth-best among all underclassmen at the 2024 FHSAA Class 3A state championships.
Photos by Jack Nelson Will Thomas follows through on
Points parade marches forward for ODA football
No amount of glamour or ceremony accompanied this beatdown delivered by The Out-of-Door Academy football team.
In the grander scheme of the ODA season, it seemed a formality.
Diesel-powered lights on wheels encircled the Faith Christian field in Orlando on Oct. 3. Yard lines became barely visible as the stadium darkened with the passing hours.
Only a few hundred spectators peppered the stands, and by the second half, that number dropped dramatically. The inhouse announcer never sparked any excitement — no matter how hard he tried.
But the Out-of-Door Academy players weren’t concerned with the sorry state of the field. The Thunder just wanted to defeat the hosts, and in doing so, the players left no doubt as to what they can accomplish as they move forward.
ODA’s all-out blitz on the Lions, which resulted in a 50-0 triumph, was a display of sheer dominance.
“Our guys have been working so hard for so long,” said head coach Rob Hollway. “They’re finally getting the reward of the summer workouts, the throwing, the 7-on-7. We’ve had a great team since last December, and now, just to see them come out and execute, they’ve earned it based on what they’ve done off the field.”
The Thunder — victors of five in a row — scored on seven of eight drives, missing a field goal attempt well after starters had taken their seats. Rocking and rolling its way to a 43-0 halftime advantage, the group was within reach of 70 points had it not taken its foot off the gas.
ODA has now scored 40-plus points in four consecutive games, outscoring Saint Stephen’s Episcopal, Sarasota Christian, IMG Academy State and Faith Christian by a combined 178-36. The feat has
come with efficiency, too, as the Thunder only gained more than 400 yards of total offense twice in their past five wins.
The 348 yards produced against the Lions marked the fewest offensive yards during the Thunder’s dominant stretch, and was accomplished with a perfectly balanced pass/run split. Three touchdowns and 156 yards came through the air, while another three scores and 192 yards came on the ground.
Such successes stem from the team’s commitment to spreading out the ball and keeping opposing defenses guessing.
“The way you do anything is the way you do everything, and so our philosophy on offense is to do anything out of everything,” said offensive coordinator Nate Strawderman. “We want to run the ball (and) we want to throw the ball
in the same look, with the same motions, with the same exact shifts and formations.”
ODA has the luxury of having dynamic players at all skill positions — something the squad hasn’t necessarily had in the past. That’s paved a path for the Thunder to become a true contender in the Sunshine State Athletic Association.
Allen Clark is ODA’s great ignitor. Every time the senior running back/linebacker steps out from the sidelines and into the Friday Night Lights, he makes history.
His 3,019 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns through three years on varsity were both program records entering 2025. Following a 126-yard, two-score performance against Faith Christian, he’s now up to 679 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
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Clark is a game-changer, and even in a year where the running game has been scaled back for ODA, his impact remains immense. It’s evident in every juke, every stiffarm and every broken tackle.
“If I need him, whether they stack the box or they’re sending pressure, Allen’s going to step up and he’s going to make a big play,” Strawderman said. “His endurance is beyond anything I’ve ever seen in a football player.”
Unlike in 2024, the Thunder don’t need him to dominate in order to win ballgames. Guys like senior quarterback Edouard Chaput, sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Brady Cleveland and senior wide receiver/safety/kicker Dylan Walker all make big things happen, too.
Chaput — a Canadian transfer — needed only a few months to do
something no signal-caller has ever done at ODA: set the program’s single-season passing touchdown record with 14. Cleveland, meanwhile, is a shining example of the talents Hollway and Co. can develop, having reeled in eight receiving touchdowns for the single-season program record.
All those crucial cogs play into a commitment by the Thunder to become “multiple” on offense. They seek to overwhelm any opponent on any given day with a wealth of playmakers.
“We’ve just got to stay locked in and follow what the coaches are telling us,” Clark said. “They have the blueprint, we just have to follow it.”
Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.
Photos by Jack Nelson
From left, Allen Clark, Edouard Chaput and Cameron Yates line up in the backfield. The three featured prominently in The Out-of-Door Academy football’s commanding win over Faith Christian in Week 8.
Brady Cleveland tosses the ball during pregame catching drills on Oct. 3. The sophomore wide receiver leads all Thunder pass-catchers in 2025 with 634 receiving yards.
Adalynn Lund
Adalynn Lund has given the Lakewood Ranch High girls volleyball team a shove in the right direction as the playoffs approach. The sophomore setter/middle blocker racked up a personal season-high 13 kills in a 3-0 win over visiting Manatee on Oct. 2. She also posted four blocks in four of last five matches. Lund’s 48 total blocks are the team high while her 30 aces and 122 kills rank second and third, respectively. She’s even further facilitated offense with a second-best 292 assists. Lund is the East County Athlete of the Week.
When and why did you start playing volleyball?
I started playing in third grade, and it was just a sport that my mom (Stephanie Lund) played. She wanted me to start playing it, so I started joining clubs and just got into it from there.
What were your goals entering your sophomore season with Lakewood Ranch?
Just to improve as a whole, in every position that I was in, and also to get to know others.
What’s been the highlight of your season so far and why was it so memorable?
Probably just all the great plays that we’ve had and the excitement that we get from every cheer that we have. Any play that happens, we all get excited and cheer ful.
How have you been trying to improve your game recently? Trying to jump higher and being able to hit the ball harder. Just trying to work on placements and where to hit.
What do you love about playing on this Mustangs team?
The great chemistry that we have. We just all connected
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.
really well, and we’ve all just grown as (friends). And just being able to play with everyone — it’s a great team.
What’s one quote, if any, that you live your life by?
“Play every game like it’s your last.”
If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why?
Probably Hawaii, because it’s just a warm and tropical place.
If you were stuck on a desert island with only one item to survive, what would you bring and why?
Probably water, just to stay hydrated.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Just keep trying your hardest and never give up.
What’s your favorite movie?
“The Greatest Showman.” It has a lot of music to it and it’s exciting.
What’s your favorite meal?
I’ve had a lot ... probably spaghetti. Finish this sentence.
Adalynn Lund is...
The annual Youth and Teen Fishing Tournament on Lake Uihlein had a record-breaking year.
Not only did 92 kids participate, four of them tied for third place in the 10-14 age group.
Keith Pandeloglou, CEO and president of Lakewood Ranch Activities, said Wesley Helm, Cora Ortega, Ally Miller and Jeffrey Millea will each get a trophy, but he has to order three more and put them in the mail first.
While most of the anglers between the ages of 5 and 19 were from Lakewood Ranch, kids from all over the area signed up to compete in the tournament held Oct. 4.
Sarasota’s 6-year-old Tori Bruinsma had a whistle in her mouth throughout most of the morning. She had to alert rangers to all the fish she was catching.
Volunteers from the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club and Premier Tackle measured each fish that was reeled
The club organizes the catch-and-release tournament each year with the help of Lakewood Ranch Activities. Premier Tackle
is a sponsor. The tackle shop provided volunteers and a custom rod and reel for the raffle.
Bruinsma’s dad, Kevin Bruinsma, said his daughter might not have been as successful without the help of the volunteer rangers.
“I’m not very good at putting the hook on,” he said. “(The rangers) are very helpful for people that might not know exactly what they’re doing.”
Tori Bruinsma got hooked on fishing over the summer when she won the first tournament she entered in Grand Rapids, Michigan by catching 16 fish in 45 minutes.
The tournament at Lake Uihlein was the 6-year-old’s second fishing competition. Catching eight fish earned her second place in the 5-9 age group. She caught a 6-inch turtle, too, but only the fish counted.
The winners were determined by the total inches of all fish caught within an hour-and-a-half.
“Fishing is the first thing she’s gravitated toward,” Kevin Bruinsma said. “She’s not on any sports teams yet, so it’s been fun to watch her actually want to be involved in something.”
While the tournament is only held once a year, the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club hosts several “Learn to Fish” events throughout the year. The next one is scheduled for Nov. 15 at Patton Park. Register at MyLWR.com.
— LESLEY DWYER
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Irelynn and Rick Denike pose with the 8-year-old’s catch of the day.
Sarasota’s Tori Bruinsma, 6, blows her whistle after catching another fish. Dad Kevin Bruinsma says that fishing is the first activity his daughter has gravitated toward.
After Lakewood Ranch’s Alessia Affinito, 11, and Luca Affinito, 7, get their fishing lines tangled together, mom Valerie Affinito seeks help from volunteer Allen Pfaadt.
RANCH NITE RETURNS
From goat yoga to recreational cornhole, Ranch Nite Wednesdays are back with a little something for everyone in Lakewood Ranch.
On Oct. 1, Star Farms’ 6-year-old Carson Roy was jamming to the music of No Filter.
Robin Roy, Carson’s mom, said he dreams of being a country singer, so he is quick to perform for anyone and everyone.
“It was impossible not to dance while they were playing, their setlist was unreal,” Robin Roy said.
The band played hits from “Dancing Queen” by ABBA to “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan. They will be back performing at the same spot for New Year’s Eve.
Robin Roy she loves the event because there’s something for everyone — food, drinks, music and designated areas for kids to play.
“It’s the perfect midweek break for the whole family,” Robin Roy
said. “My kids count down to Wednesday every week.”
Liz Gutierrez said she had the best time participating in the recreational cornhole league sponsored by MVP Sports & Social. She looks forward to having a mom’s night out.
Lakewood Ranch resident Yvonne Diorides brought her daughter, 3-year-old Nevada Diorides, for the festivities. She grew up in the Lakewood Ranch area and appreciates how there are regular events that cater to all ages.
“Since having kids, I’ve always wished for a place where parents can relax and kids can play safely, and Waterside is exactly that,” Diorides said. “We’ve met so many amazing families here, and it’s become our go-to spot for any occasion. I’m grateful for this community.”
— MADISON BIERL
The Lakewood Ranch Medical Group General Surgery Team — David Dexter, MD, FACS, Samuel Yelverton, MD, Alexa Kinder, MSPAS, PA-C, and Kimberly Laguatan, PA-C — provides individualized care to the Lakewood Ranch community. They currently see both elective and acute care general surgery patients at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
The team’s surgical services include:
• Minimally invasive robotic surgeries, including anti-reflux, hernia, colon/rectum, gallbladder, appendix, spleen, and adrenal glands
• Management of benign and malignant breast disease
• Benign and malignant skin disease
• GI Tract Procedures
• Robotic Weight Loss Surgery
To make an appointment, call 941-254-6767
Pete Capobianco, also known as Pickleballing Pete, is heading to Texas in November to compete in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour 2025 World Championships.
A former tennis instructor, he switched to pickleball after retiring from the automotive industry and moving to Florida a few years ago. He quickly became adept at his new sport, earning him his new nickname and a second career.
Not only is Pete an international competitor,
but luckily for Florida’s Gulf Coast residents, he also teaches lessons and clinics as a Professional Pickleball Registry certified teaching professional.
“It wasn’t something I was planning on,” he said of his pickleball career. “I don’t consider it work. You know, when you’re doing something you love, it’s not work.”
With a motto of “Don’t just play pickleball. Play BETTER,” Pete offers instruction to everyone from beginners to intermediate-level players who want to improve specific skill sets.
“Regardless of where you find yourself, everyone can benefit from some type of coaching and or evaluation,” he said.
Pete will travel as far north as Tampa and as far south as Fort Myers to give one-on-one or small group lessons.
“As long as there’s a court available, we’re going to teach,” he said.
Pete’s schedule is seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., except for November 3-9, when he’ll be participating in the PPA Tour World Championships.
Samuel Yelverton, MD
David Dexter, MD, FACS
Alexa Kinder, MSPAS, PA-C
Kimberly Laguatan, PA-C
Pete Capobianco
Lakewood Ranch’s Payton Marshall, along with her motherin-law, Marie Marshall, cheer for No Filter at Ranch Nite Wednesdays on Oct. 1.
Photos by Madison Bierl
Singer/songwriter Chaz Robinson and drummer Natalie Mustang perform as part of the band No Filter.
Lakewood Ranch 1-year-old Alaska Muñoz gets a better view of No Filter when her father, Eduardo Muñoz, picks her up.
Lakewood Ranch sisters Angelina Vanslyck, 7, and Carmela Vanslyck, 5, dance along as No Filter performs a cover of “Dancing Queen” by ABBA.
Sarasota’s Emily Lugo says she wants to dance all night and is hungry because of the smell of good food in the air at Ranch Nite Wednesdays.
Mark Eubanks, Vika Tyujina, Georgia Eubanks and Nevada Diorides play with Chloe, a shetland sheepdog, during Ranch Nite Wednesdays.
YOUR CALENDAR
COMMUNITY
THURSDAY, OCT. 9 THROUGH
SUNDAY, OCT. 12
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), Blue Grass Pirates (Friday), Bonfire Jam Band (Saturday) and Raiford Starke (Sunday). The Friday and Saturday shows are $5 each; the others are free. For information, go to JiggsLanding.com.
FRIDAY, OCT. 10 AND
SATURDAY. OCT. 11
MUSIC AT THE PLAZA
Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Singer/songwriter Sara Nelms is the featured entertainer on Friday at Waterside Place, while acoustic cover artist Mike Williams performs on Saturday. For more information about the free music series, go to WatersidePlace. com.
SATURDAY, OCT. 11
ROCKTOBERFEST
Runs from 6-9 p.m. at various restaurants in University Town Center. Rocktoberfest returns as a live music event that features seven bands at seven venues throughout the UTC District. The event raises funds for Suncoast Charities for Children, which helps children, teens and adults with special needs. The Green at UTC serves as the main hub, where those who attend can grab an all-access pass
with special venue offers. Host restaurants include Ford’s Garage (the band KJB), Popstroke (Jack’d Up), Florence and the Spice Boys (Nauti Girl Band), Anna Maria Oyster Bar (The Phil Harmonica Band), Oak and Stone (Blasters SRQ) and Origin Craft Beer and Pizza Cafe (Rear View Mirror). Admission to the venues is free. For more information, go to UTCSarasota.com/Event/ UTC-Rocktoberfest/.
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. The donation-based group class is designed to inspire and invigorate. Beginners are welcome as are those with experience. The workout focuses on balancing effort and ease through breath work and postures. Those who participate are asked to bring a yoga mat. For information, go to MyLWR.com.
SATURDAY, OCT. 11 AND SUNDAY, OCT. 12
HARVEST FESTIVAL
Runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dakin
Dairy Farms, 30771 Betts Road, Myakka City. Dakin Dairy Farms Harvest Festival runs every Saturday and Sunday through the end of October. The event includes food trucks, vendors, live music, a kid’s zone, pumpkins, a corn maze and more. Admission is $20 per person; children 5 and younger admitted free. The event has free parking. For more information, go to DakinDairyFarms.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 Brooke Hargrove on Saturday and Scotty Yates on Sunday.
SUNDAY, OCT. 12
FARMERS MARKET
Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch, which was voted as the top farmers market in Florida for the second year in a row in 2024, will run year-round every Sunday. 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.
YOGA IN THE PARK
Runs 8-9 a.m. at Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Sarasota. Start the morning off with gentle yoga with lake views. For information, go to MyLWR.com.
MONDAY, OCT. 13
GARDEN CLUB SPEAKER
Begins at 1 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Robert Toale and Sons Celebration of Life Center, 4310 Solutions Lane, Lakewood Ranch. The Gardeners Out East Garden Club is hosting Ryan Gandy, the science and restoration manager at the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. Gandy, a former administrator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
BEST BET
SATURDAY, OCT. 11 AND
SUNDAY, OCT. 12
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
Runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Hunsader Farms, 5500 C.R. 675, Bradenton. The 34th annual Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival begins Oct. 11-12 and runs every Saturday and Sunday for the rest of October. Enjoy the festival’s live music and shows, crafts, pumpkins, the Tiny Town, Pioneer Trades Village, hayrides, pony rides, scarecrow display and more. For more information, call 322-2168 or go to HunsaderFarms.com.
Conservation Commission, is known as the “Stone Crab Guru.” He will be speaking about the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program’s restoration and research initiatives along with discussing bay-related information. All are welcome to attend.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15
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 each week in Gateway Park. The third Wednesday of each month features Sunset Drop-In Pilates with Bodybar. No outside food or beverage is allowed. Visit MyLWR.com.
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 25, 2025 | 6PM St. Martha Catholic
Kristyn Lubrano at 941-953-4181 or email at klubrano@stmarthaschool.net.
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We the people learn from students
Kylie Scott, Zachariah Kersey and Chloe Drapak wrote about what the Constitution means to them.
MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER
William Scott already had retired as a U.S. Army sergeant at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
It took him two days to reenlist, to return to his unit, and soon after, to be deployed to Iraq.
He went on to serve in the military for 26 years.
His devotion to duty inspired his daughter, Lakewood Ranch High senior Kylie Scott, to strengthen her beliefs in freedom and patriotism.
“To me, that moment (reenlisting) shows exactly what the Constitution means,” Kylie Scott said. “Selfless sacrifice, a willingness to defend our freedoms, even after already having served, and the courage to stand up against those who threaten our country.”
Scott, along with two other Lakewood Ranch High School seniors Zachariah Kersey and Chloe Drapak, entered and won awards in the Rotary Club of Bradenton’s essay contest on what the Constitution means to them.
The essays had to be 800-1,200 words and the writers were instructed to use at least three sources besides the Constitution itself. Scott placed first and won $1,500, while Kersey was second for a $750 award, and Drapak collected $500 for third place. They were honored at Pier 22 on Sept. 22.
Kylie Scott’s father is not the only military member in her family to serve with U.S. military. Her grandfather, Oliver Scott, uncle, Robert Scott, and two cousins, John and Jamie Scott, also pursued the same path.
“Instead of being just a historic
THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRADENTON
document behind glass, the Constitution has always felt like the reason my family members put on the uniform,” Scott said.
She said her family member’s experiences connects them.
“That promise, to protect the freedoms guaranteed to every American, connects them across decades, countries and conflicts,” Scott said. “It shows me that while the challenges America faces may change, the duty to uphold liberty and democracy stays the same. That unbroken chain of service is what makes the Constitution feel alive.”
She wants to carry that same spirit of service forward, whether it be as a nurse or perhaps even enlisting herself.
“Nursing is about selflessness and sacrifice, too, just like the military,” Scott said. “It requires compassion, courage and a willingness to put oth-
Courtesy images
William Scott, Kelsi Scott and Kylie Scott attend a Veteran’s Day parade in Petaluma, California, in 2014. Scott
total of 26 years in the United States Army, which inspired Kylie Scott’s patriotic beliefs.
ers first. One day, I might even enlist as a nurse or combat medic, blending both paths together. Whether in a hospital or on a deployment, I see nursing as my way of honoring the Constitution’s promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by making sure people have the chance to live healthy and fulfilling lives.”
Zachariah Kersey also comes from a military family — his parents, Angel and Charles Kersey, served 22 and 25 years, respectively, in the Army. While he is influenced by values they gained through the military, Kersey took a different approach to the essay. He focused on freedom of speech and thoughts for young people, especially students.
Kersey said he feels as though society puts pressure on kids to “lay low” and not share their opinions until they are adults. He said it’s important for young people, especially students, to explore and express their opinions in their developmental years.
His mom, Angel Kersey, has always told him to form his own opinions and not rely on others’ perceptions. Kersey said he is not being rebellious when he disagrees with something. He is practicing civic responsibility that is demanded by the Constitution.
“Independent thought is not always so clean-cut, it requires questioning and responsibility,” Kersey said. “In the digital age, where
information spreads quickly regardless of its truthfulness, it requires everyone to think for themselves, whether they are an adult or student.
To me, the Constitution is not just a document written centuries ago by a group of old men, but the provider of what I believe to be one of the most important freedoms: the freedom to think for myself.”
Drapak said she approached the essay from a feminist angle, as an “All-American girl” today.
She said that means knowing the Constitution applies to everyone regardless of gender, race or background. She said protection from gender-based violence, underrepresentation in leadership, and unequal pay are relevant issues.
“As a young woman on the cusp of adulthood, the Constitution is a mirror reflecting both the progress we’ve made and the gaps that still exist,” Drapak said. “It’s a reminder of where we come from, and a challenge to help decide where we as a society are going.”
Scott, Kersey and Drapak all applied to the contest through their AP government class with teacher Benjamin Hall. Hall said he assigned it during the first week of school, so he gives credit for their work to the teachers the trio had before him. He said the students’ success is a testament of the quality teaching and academic rigor at Lakewood Ranch High School.
Lakewood Ranch High School seniors Zachariah Kersey, Kylie Scott and Chloe Drapak were the winners of the Rotary Club of Bradenton’s essay contest on what the Constitution means to them.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Steve and Natalee Herrig for donating the outstanding lead
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Beginners receive instruction, patience when they join the Lakewood Ranch club.
n June 5, Mercedes Andrus nervously walked into Lakewood Ranch Town Hall and didn’t know a soul. It was her first time joining the Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club Canasta/Mahjong group and she could tell there were already many solid relationships formed among the players there. She said coming in as a stranger was scary, but that feeling quickly subsided.
Helene Levin, who founded the Canasta club and who is a “teacher by trade,” took Andrus under her wing to teach her the game of Mahjong. Mahjong is a game of Chinese origin played with tiles that is usually played by four people. Andrus said Levin was clear in her teaching methods that came with plenty of encouragement.
“I didn’t win any hands at all, but I enjoyed the camaraderie and learned something brand new,” Andrus said. Andrus has been a resident of Lakewood Ranch for 12 years and was searching for a new way to connect with other women. She said she appreciates how punctual and orga-
MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER
Photos by Madison Bierl
Catherine Lane, Sheryl Gold, Linda McMillan and Karen Coplan play Mahjong on Sept. 25 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
Gail Edelman plays Canasta at the Canasta/Mahjong Club on Sept. 25 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
nized
Although Andrus began her time in the club playing Mahjong, she said Canasta came easier to her since she is a card player. Canasta is played using two decks of cards with the goal of scoring 5,000 points.
Linda McMillan is the founder of the Mahjong portion of the club. They combined the previously separate Canasta and Mahjong groups this year. Like Levin, McMillan was also a teacher. Her teaching career ranges from early childhood to college education.
“I could just come and play, but I like to play and I like to teach,” McMillan said. “I don’t want the headaches of having a regular job, but this way, I get my teaching fix without any commitment.”
McMillan said teaching players a new game can like herding cats. But she said it is also like teaching a kindergarten student, because kindergartners come with no prior knowledge.
“In Mahjong, it’s the same thing because of the nature of the game,” McMillan said. “It isn’t like any other game you’ve played. As a brand new learner, it’s rewarding.”
Aside from the teaching, McMillan said it’s a neat way to have social interaction. She appreciates that it is a no risk and low intensity game.
“Some of the players who were new are good players and they’ve gone on to be patient with the new players who come in,” Levin said. “Everybody plays and everybody helps each other. It’s not cutthroat. We don’t play for money.”
Levin said it takes some skill to know when to do certain things and to be defensive in the game of Canasta.
“The thrill of it is actually making the Canastas and winning the game,” Levin said. “That’s what’s fun about it. It’s a social game and it’s a lot of luck. You can get lousy cards and not win, but it’s fun to be with the other women.”
Levin said she created special interest groups within the Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club because there were over 300 members and more wanted to get involved. In order to be part of a special interest group,
Andrus began attending the Canasta/Mahjong Club in June
MORE ON CANASTA/ MAHJONG CLUB
The group meets on Thursdays from 1-4 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall. Upcoming dates include Oct. 9, 23, Nov. 13 and Dec. 4, 11. Starting in January, the meetings will be weekly.
To learn more about the Canasta/Mahjong Club or any other special interests groups within the Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club, visit LWRWC. org.
members need to be part of the women’s club which has a $40 dues for the year.
Along with the Canasta/Mahjong group, they also have a book club, bunco group, cooking club, a moviegoers club, a group that makes blankets for babies, and a group for “sassy singles.”
“I have several lifelong friends from it, that’s how it benefits me,” Levin said. “They say that you need to be social to keep your mind active.”
Mercedes
and her nerves quickly subsided when Helene Levin took her under her wing to teach her Mahjong.
WOW ... What a ride!
s
A200 women crunched together Oct. 5 for the start of the 11th annual Women on Wheels Ride in Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, Village Idiots Cycling Club President Dawn Zielinski followed her race instructions with a great reason to participate.
“If you came by yourselves ...” Zielinski said. “... you’re going to leave with a lot of friends.”
Indeed, it was smiles all around as riders came to Women on Wheels to support their fellow female riders along with the nonprofit Selah Freedom.
“It’s great to see women coming together,” said Village Idiots board member Meredith Smith. “This sport traditionally is dominated
by men. We can all lift up other women. If I am riding along and a see another rider (struggling), I will slow down to help bring her pace back up.
“We’re riding here in Lakewood Ranch on great roads, in great neighborhoods.”
“We have men who don’t think we need a day,” Zielinski said. “But it is phenomenal to get the women together.”
Zielinski emphasized that the male members of the club come together to support and set up the event.
“It’s nice to be taken care of for one day,” Zielinski said. The event was divided into 20-, 40- and 62-mile rides.
— JAY HEATER
Sarasota Lakewood Ranch
Stephanie Garrison of the Village Idiots and the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club begins the Women on Wheels Ride in Lakewood Ranch on Oct. 5.
Village Idiots Cycling Club board
members Meredith Smith, Dawn Zielinski and Ann Drummond prepare for the Women on Wheels Ride on Oct. 5 in Lakewood Ranch.
Alisa Ousley, Gail Hardy and Katherine Hinsch came from Lakeland. Hardy says “we would come just for the awesome jersey” that is given to participants.
Photos by Jay Heater
The Women on Wheels Ride participants were pumped up before the start of the 11th-annual event Oct. 5 on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
Lake Club home tops sales at $3.5 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Ahome in the Lake Club topped the week’s sales. Vasilios and Jennifer Kiritsis sold their home at 8537 Pavia Way to Charles Kenneth Bartz, of Bradenton, for $3.5 million. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,291 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,987,700 in 2022.
WILD BLUE AT WATERSIDE
SDWB Waterside LLC sold the home at 1166 Blue Shell Loop to Anthony Wasson and Rebecca Wasson, trustees, of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, for $3,488,900. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,287 square feet of living area.
SDWB Waterside LLC sold the home at 1043 Blue Shell Loop to Jesse and Katherine Zuckerman, of Sarasota, for $2,314,100. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,756 square feet of living area.
AZARIO ESPLANADE
Michael and Laura Goehring, of Orlando, sold their home at 15037 Montello Way to Joseph Dziezynski, of Alexandria, Virginia, for $1.5 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,206 square feet of living area. It sold for $806,700 in 2021.
WINDING RIVER
Robert and Rebecca Hadesman sold their home at 1111 143rd St. N.E. to Yallappa and Renukadevi Hadiminti, of Bradenton, for $1.2 million. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,528 square feet of living area.
PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGE
Scott Paul Rattigan and Linda Marie Matteoli, of Superior, Colorado, sold their home at 7832 Panther Ridge Trail to Ronald and Wendy Williams, trustees, of Bradenton, for $1.04 million. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,546 square feet of living area. It sold for $718,500 in 2021.
RIVER PLACE
Bernard Timms, of Bradenton, sold his home at 6918 73rd Court E. to Douglas Zandstra, trustee, of Bradenton, for $950,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,352 square feet of living area. It sold for $130,000 in 2008.
Tyler and Lindy Rummery, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, sold their home at 6845 74th St. Circle E. to James Ryan Parrish and Tara Parrish, of Bradenton, for $495,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,162 square feet of living area. It sold for $307,000 in 2018.
COUNTRY CLUB EAST
John and Karen FitzGerald, trustees, of Hampton, New Hampshire, sold the home at 7036 Highgate Lane to Karim Sabeh and Sarah Altajar, of Miami Beach, for $855,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,231 square feet of living area. It sold for $829,900 in 2021.
SHOREVIEW
Marcia Hendler, trustee, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 8033 Grande Shores Drive to Kevin Heidy and Stacy Eicheldinger, of Lakewood Ranch, for $825,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,494 square feet of living area. It sold for $906,400 in 2022.
LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE
Maggie Ann Misch and Harry Francis Haring III, of Bradenton, sold their home at 8069 Tidal Pointe Way to Ted Fredric Thomsen and Amber Kay Thomsen, trustees, of Sarasota, for $820,000. Built in
RESIDENTIAL
22-26
2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,555 square feet of living area. It sold for $688,400 in 2022.
MOTE RANCH
Michael Becker, trustee, and Genesis Becker, of Bradenton, sold the home at 6115 Stillwater Court to Charles Collins Jr., of University Park, for $804,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,942 square feet of living area. It sold for $315,500 in 1999.
COUNTRY CLUB
Eckhard Kuesters, trustee, and Barbara Kuesters, of Sarasota, sold the home at 8005 Royal Birkdale Circle to Thomas and Deborah Nevadomski, of Lakewood Ranch, for $770,300. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,531 square feet of living area. It sold for $522,000 in 2014.
RIVA TRACE
Clayton and Carol Prowls sold their home at 7215 San Miguel Cove to Thomas and Linda Giroir, of Bradenton, for $640,000. Built in 2014, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,061 square feet of living area. It sold for $388,500 in 2014.
WINDWARD
Lydell Eugene Troyer and Karmen Renee Troyer, of Goshen, Indiana, sold their home at 2803 Butterfly Jasmine Trail to Michael and Julie Dooley, of Sarasota, for $575,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,862 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,300 in 2022.
Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 2321
Blue Mahoe Lane to William Morris Lamb and Roxanne Nedine Benoit, of Fredericktown, Ohio, for $459,000. Built in 2024, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,527 square feet of living area.
SABAL HARBOUR
Ladislav Rasl, of Czech Republic, sold his home at 4531 Useppa Drive to Kyle Savage and Amanda Sanders, of Bradenton, for $555,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,794 square feet of living area. It sold for $338,000 in 2009.
TIDEWATER PRESERVE
Barbara Blackman, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 5060 Lake Overlook Ave. to Renee Dettmann, of Bradenton, for $555,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,288 square feet of living area. It sold for $424,500 in 2017.
PALM AIRE AT SARASOTA
Drew and Susan Najjar, of Boca Raton, sold their home at 5646 Country Lakes Drive to Robert and Eva Cowles, of Fort Myers, for $550,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,142 square feet of living area. It sold for $175,000 in 1989.
ROSEDALE ADDITION
Joan Covell-Tocci and Mark Tocci, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4406 Baltry Court to Gregory and
Kassandra Franklin, of Bradenton, for $550,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,016 square feet of living area. It sold for $381,000 in 2020.
GREYHAWK LANDING
HPA Borrower 2019-2 LLC sold the home at 246 Petrel Trail to Francisco Pere Arenas and Allison Perez-Coats, of Bradenton, for $545,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,095 square feet of living area. It sold for $348,000 in 2016.
SUMMERFIELD
Charles and Sandra Teresa, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 6567 Meandering Way to Brandi
Lee Clement and Quinton Stephen Clancy, of Ontario, Canada, for $520,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,990 square feet of living area. It sold for $308,000 in 2017.
AVANTI AT WATERSIDE
John Zalikowski, of St. Petersburg, sold his home at 6612 Silverstar Drive to Richard Mancuso, of Sarasota, for $495,000. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,990 square feet of living area. It sold for $490,200 in 2024.
Photo by Courtesy of Detlev von Kessel
This Lake Club home at 8537 Pavia Way sold for $3.5 million. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,291 square feet of living area.
PALISADES
AVAUNCE
Michael Rubenstein and Gina Blair, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 14355 59th Circle E. to Clell Marshal Tarbet Jr. and Amber Tarbet, of Bradenton, for $470,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,576 square feet of living area. It sold for $336,400 in
ESPLANADE
Juan Marrero, trustee, of Fairfax, Virginia, sold the home at 12659 Sorrento Way to George and Angela Davos, of Naples, for $450,000. Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,685 square feet of living area. It sold for $640,000 in
EAGLE TRACE
Ronnie and Jeri Martin sold their home at 1739 Lake Verona Circle to Kevin and Kaylee Lekawa, of Bradenton, for $450,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,932 square feet of living area. It sold for $329,400 in 2018.
Larry William Labanics and Dawn Elizabeth Labanics, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 13804 Woodbridge Terrace to Avery Elizabeth Goelz and Jackson Thomas Hughes, of Bradenton, for $408,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,649 square feet of living area. It sold for $296,000 in 2020.
HIDDEN MEADOWS
John and Debbie Ecker, of Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 6104 26th Ave. E. to Kathy Cunnien and Barbara Lynn Steiner, of Palmetto, for $400,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,441 square feet of living area.
SWEETWATER
Ana Marisa Lima De Oliveira and Andre Lima De Oliveira, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, sold their home at 17902 Cherished Loop to Glenda Sue Smith, of Sarasota, for $400,000. Built in 2023, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,672 square feet of living area. It sold for $520,000 in 2023.
HERITAGE HARBOUR
Mary Denise Sparker sold her home at 2111 Crystal Lake Trail to Mari Blewitt, of Bradenton, for $399,900. Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,525 square feet of living area. It sold for $293,000 in 2019.
VERANDA AT LAKEWOOD
NATIONAL
Carolyn Card, of Bradenton, sold the Unit 2212 condominium at 5674 Palmer Circle to Matthew McGrath, of Bradenton, for $440,000. Built in 2021, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,329 square feet of living area. It sold for $469,000 in 2023.
CENTRAL PARK
Gerald Cote, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 11610 Griffith Park Terrace to Peggy and Robert Brown, of Bradenton, for $410,000. Built in 2012, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,863 square feet of living area. It sold for $233,000 in 2013.
Gary Docks and Mary Kathryn Waller, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, sold their home at 6547 Willowshire Way to Kenneth Thomas Hamilton and Nancy Clare Hamilton, of Bradenton, for $399,900. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,649 square feet of living area. It sold for $283,000 in 2017.
VILLAS OF EAGLE CREEK
George and Patricia Saxon, of Bradenton, sold their Unit 6208 condominium at 6208 Country Club Way to Richard and Joyce Giberti and Lorine Giberti, of University Park, for $375,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,604 square feet of living area. It sold for $229,000 in 2010.
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