East County Observer 4.23.26

EAST COUNTY

Lesley Dwyer

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Laundry tops list of safety protocols

Special washing machines help cut cancer risk on the job.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

At home, laundry is a simple chore. At a fire station, laundry is an evolving safety protocol.

For the East Manatee Fire Rescue, the death of Edward Wadlinger III in 2017 gave then-new Chief Lee Whitehurst added incentive to make changes to how lingering carcinogens on gear were handled after a fire.

Wadlinger retired because of a cancer diagnosis and died two years later. He was 42.

“It affected us,” Whitehurst said. “I colluded with our union, so it wasn’t me alone. But I thought, why don’t we make Ed’s passing not for not. We came up with a program using his nickname, Wad, to remind these guys when they’re on the scene that cancer awareness starts with the individual.”

WAD now stands for Wash your face and hands, Avoid breathing smoke and Decontamination.

For the decontamination, each firefighter has two sets of bunker gear and every station has a Speed Queen Extractor, an industrialsized washer that weighs about 500 pounds.

EMFR received $12,248.25 from the Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Grant to buy a Speed Queen for its new Station 9 that is anticipated to break ground in May on Bourneside Boulevard.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia presented the check during a news conference April 9 at Station 1 on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. Whitehurst described the machine

ADDITIONAL AWARDS

East Manatee Fire Rescue was not the only fire district to receive a check from CFO

Blaise Ingoglia during the April 9 press conference.

EMFR received $12,248.25, and the town of Longboat Key Fire Rescue received $7,976.29 from the Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Grant. The Parrish Fire District received $20,672.20 from the Firefighter Assistance Grant.

Hardee County and DeSoto County received much larger state appropriations. Hardee County received $400,000 to purchase two brush-fire trucks, and DeSoto County received $1 million to build a fire training tower.

DeSoto County has had a fire department since 1905, but it’s never had a training tower.

“This is a big deal for us,” Fire Chief Chad Jergensen said. “We’re hopeful that we’ll see a fire academy emerge from this to give the men and women of DeSoto County another alternative, someplace to go with additional training and capability.”

as “a fancy washing machine on steroids.”

“It’s built to clean the products of combustion and carcinogens in our firefighting gear,” Whitehurst said.

“Currently, one-third of our firefighters will contract some form of cancer. Those are the statistics as of right now, and our goal is, of course, to reduce that.”

The Speed Queen Extractor is about the size of a washing machine at a laundromat. It can handle an extra large load of laundry, but only

one set of bunker gear at a time because each set has four layers that have to come apart before being washed — the outer shell, inner layer, thermal barrier and moisture barrier.

Lieutenant Jack Gamble estimated the gear weighs about 40 pounds

when soaking wet.

“The suits would tear up our other washing machines,” he said. “And (the Speed Queen Extractor) does a better job of cleaning the gear.”

CitroSqueeze is used instead of regular laundry detergent.

It’s specially formulated to remove hydrocarbons and soils that come from fires and chemical spills.

Doubling up on the bunker gear was a much more expensive decontamination effort.

Just one suit costs about $4,000. Given a staff of about 130 firefighters within the district, the gear cost more than $1 million.

“That’s something we had to execute over time,” Deputy Chief Paul Wren said. “Even as large as we are and as well as our budget is funded, we couldn’t cover all of that expense in a year.”

Gamble explained that without the second set of gear, firefighters would opt not to wash their sooty gear after a fire because wet gear is worse in the moment.

“When you go into a fire, it turns into steam and you’re steaming yourself,” he said.

Now, firefighters wash their gear immediately because a backup is ready to go if they get another call.

But sometimes, even the Speed Queen isn’t enough to fully decontaminate the gear.

In 2017, a fire broke out at Callaghan Tires at 1301 44th Ave. E.

“We had guys cleaning their gear three, four times, and they were still getting soot out of it,” Gamble said. “Everything that’s in those tires created a black, nasty, carcinogen-laden smoke, so that was the push to figure out how to (further) decontaminate this gear.”

Uniform T-shirts and pants that have been exposed to that kind of contamination are thrown out. But there were about 50 firefighters on that scene, which is approximately $200,000 worth of gear.

That gear was sent out for a liquid CO2 cleaning, which removes even more toxins than the extractor. Since then, each set of gear gets a CO2 wash at least once a year.

Ingoglia noted that fighting fires today is much different than fighting fire 30 or 40 years ago. For the most part, structures were built of wood and concrete. Now, chemicals, petrochemicals and plastics are burning inside the structures, too, creating a multitude of carcinogens.

“That’s why we’re seeing firefighters with a higher rate of certain types of cancer,” Ingoglia said. “We need to recognize that.”

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Lt. Jack Gamble loads a set of bunker gear into the Speed Queen Extractor at Station 1 in Lakewood Ranch.

Drawing a line

Sadie Barbour, a junior at Braden River High School and the president-elect of next year’s Student Government Association, is passionate about standing up for what she believes. This includes being able to talk with her teachers about social movements.

“Countries can’t thrive unless people have disagreements and are able to talk about them and come together,” Barbour said. “School is a place of learning, and you should be able to learn about different things.”

On March 31, the School District of Manatee County discussed potential changes in school board policies, which might include disallowing the on-campus expression of views on social movements and politics.

The potential policy sparked a conversation that questioned what is considered political. Donald Trump lanyards, rainbow stickers (which support the LGBTQ+ community) and Black Lives Matter were all mentioned.

Jack Lowrance, senior at Lakewood Ranch High School and a member of the Gay Straight Alliance at his school, said consideration of a policy such as this isn’t right.

“This shows that certain board members don’t want LGBTQ students to feel safe in school, amidst an already worsening social climate,” Lowrance said. “My identity is not a political movement, but the students who go unpunished for harassing people like me, and the teachers who ignore the harassment, seem to have a political message.”

He went on to say that history teachers should be allowed to display bipartisan campaign posters as they are in fact educational.

Heather Felton, a school board member, was an adviser of the Rainbow Alliance at Southeast High School for five years until she left the school in 2023.

She brought up the Equality Florida v. DeSantis settlement and warned her fellow board members that they cannot prohibit things like rainbow stickers (such as Richard Tatem suggested) or personal photos of families (like Cindy Spray suggested).

Kalianna Finan, a senior at Braden River High and a member of the Student Government Association, said she doesn’t think teachers should be allowed to talk about politics or social movements. She said her peers have become pretty verbally opinionated and she has had multiple teachers express their beliefs, as well. Finan said she has experienced differing of opinions with a teacher and felt her points were brushed off and her words twisted.

“While I have been given the gift of being firm on where I stand and not afraid to speak my mind, I do think

School board begins to tackle the question of politics on campus.

Camden Bedinghaus and Jonathan Mullis, who are both running for the District 5 school board seat, discussed their opinions on politics in schools.

FACT OR FICTION?

During the discussion of politics and social movements in the classroom, Camden Bedinghaus said he visited Lakewood Ranch Library and saw all sorts of political symbols in the children’s book section. He stated he picked up a book — “In My Daddy’s Belly” — about a man being pregnant.

“This is the type of things that are in public libraries,” Bedinghaus said. “So imagine what’s getting into the school libraries that parents never get to see.”

Casey Zempel, communications manager for Manatee County, said “In My Daddy’s Belly: The Story of a Transgender Dad Giving Birth” has never been offered in Manatee County’s catalog.

that closed off the ability to have a healthy discussion in front of the class without one side looking like the right answer, and that can affect

the learning of many.”

Daniel Bryan-Beachler, now retired, taught at Lakewood Ranch High School from 2001 to 2025.

“The school board lawyer has to come up with the right words, because it’s all about law,” BryanBeachler said. “There’s already plenty of wording to guide teachers when it comes to politics.”

Bryan-Beachler said teachers should be able to know their boundaries when in the classroom. He said the teacher should be able to throw out a question and have the students debate without including their own opinion.

“They have to help the kids pass the test that the state has required the kids to pass,” Bryan-Beachler said. “They don’t have time to try and get creative with ways to influence kids to one political way or another.”

Politics and social movements in schools was also a topic of conversation at the Women of Manatee County Republican Club Candidate Forum, which was held on April 10. Four school board candidates — JT White, Camden Bedinghaus and Jonathan Mullis — and current School Board Chair

School Board Member Heather Felton, who was an adviser for the Rainbow Alliance at Southeast High School for five years, had a pride flag hanging in her classroom.

POLICY 3232

The proposed Policy 3232 currently states, “Pursuant to State law, instructional staff members who are employed by the School Board shall not participate in any political campaign for an elective office while on duty; and are prohibited from engaging in political activities on campus as defined by verbally or displaying on self or in the classroom any political or campaign-related materials (which includes any 501(c)4 organization).”

“Social media is extremely divisive. We don’t need any more division in the classrooms. We don’t want kids at this age getting into politics. The holes that they can go down are just crazy and we need them focused on their future.”

Jonathan Mullis

Cindy Spray answered how they feel about the topic.

Spray and White are running for District 2 and Bedinghaus and Mullis are running for District 5.

“I have toured schools and seen some things — posters, flags and other propaganda stuff — that I came back to my superintendent and the principal and said, ‘Get it out,’” Spray said at the forum. “This is a government entity and protesting, feel free, but you can’t do it on our campus.”

Bedinghaus said the only flag he believes should be present in classrooms is the American flag.

“We’re (Gen Z) the most anxious, confused and suicidal generation in American history,” Bedinghause said. “To fix that, we’ve got to make sure our classrooms are a place of truth and knowledge.”

Mullis said he believes there is no place for politics in schools, because kids are already overwhelmed from things like social media.

“Social media is extremely divisive,” Mullis said. “We don’t need any more division in the classrooms. We don’t want kids at this age getting into politics. The holes that they can go down are just crazy, and we need them focused on their future.”

Barbour said school years are when children are finding themselves and discovering their beliefs.

“They can decide for themselves what they think,” Barbour said.

“Trying to ban support of political advocacy limits the right to free speech that Americans are guaranteed to have. Not being shown or taught about different groups of people and what they fight for limits diversity and allows for hate to be spread.”

The School District of

County is working on finding the right wording for Policy 3232, which states staff will not be allowed to display anything of a political nature.

MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER

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Manatee

Madison Bierl

NEWS BRIEFS

Benderson boathouse contractor sought

Setting a completion date for May 2028, the organization that runs Sarasota County’s Nathan Benderson Park last week released a request for proposals to build a new boathouse and events center at the park. Long proposed as the next development step at the park, the project is expected to cost $65 million, funded by a combination of tourist development tax money and private donations. According to the request, which potential general contractors would use to ascertain the scope of the work, the project will feature, at a minimum:

■ Eight full‑size indoor basketball (16 volleyball) courts, with baskets and nets

■ Concession, full kitchen and food service area(s)

■ Multiuse/flexible programming space

■ Boathouse facilities (including storage and support areas)

■ Weight rooms and fitness training areas

■ Administrative and office space

■ Boardroom and VIP space

■ Restrooms, locker rooms, and support spaces

■ Technology: Digital signage, scoreboard, IT infrastructure

■ Building systems, site coordination and all associated infrastructure

Groundbreaking is envisioned in late summer or early fall. The 2028 completion date is key to hosting that year’s World Rowing Championships following the Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles.

High school edges closer to formal name

Nearly 1,200 people suggested a total of 732 names for Manatee County’s under construction high school in Lakewood Ranch, and school board members say they’ll vote on a final choice at an upcoming meeting. The top five names shared in the presentation were Rangeland, Lake

Manatee, East Manatee, East Ranch and Lakewood Ranch East. School board members said earlier they did not want to consider naming the new school on Rangeland Parkway for a person.

Thus far, it has been referred to as AAA High School, and it is set to open in August 2027 to freshmen and sophomores.

Smaller Ikea still a plus, Realtor says

When global furniture retailer Ikea revealed its plan to open a new store in Sarasota this summer, it made a move that one commercial real estate broker calls “huge” for the region.

“To have Ikea come here, it’s huge for commercial real estate,” says Adam Seidel, broker associate at commercial real estate firm American Property Group in Sarasota, who was not associated with the deal but provided context on it. “It’s going to be a huge driver for bringing more brands and increasing value,” since Ikea is “one of the major brands that when another major brand is looking at an area, it is on the short list.”

The Sarasota Ikea will be 48,000 square feet — on Cattlemen Road between DSW and Golf Galaxy near Target and REI — in the University Town Center shopping district. It will have a smaller footprint than the traditional big box Ikea store, which spans about 300,000 square feet. Says Seidel: “It’s very telling that they’re willing to open a store, no matter the size.”

The company selects all its locations following “extensive market research,” according to Ikea Tampa Market Manager Laetitia Gouverneur.

“Moving into existing retail locations is part of our strategy, which helps us move with speed, test and try new formats, while also decreasing our environmental impact as compared to new construction,” Gouverneur says.

Commission candidates argue the issues

District 6 candidates spoke their minds about roundabouts, campaign contributions and more.

The

didates vying for the Republican nomination for Manatee County’s District 6 commission seat in the Aug. 18 primary.

District 6 is an at-large seat that represents the entire county. It’s the only commission seat for which Lakewood Ranch residents can cast a vote during this year’s election.

The Republican candidates for District 6 are Tony Barrett, John Calovich, Ed Ference and Tara Poulton. Club president Bruce Stamm served as the moderator.

Here’s a look at where each candidate stands on some of the most hotly debated topics in Lakewood Ranch and Manatee County since the 2024 election.

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

Campaign contributions were highlighted during the 2024 election after certain commissioners and candidates were accused of being “puppets for special interests.”

So Stamm asked the candidates who their major donors are and if they’ve accepted campaign contributions from any of the following:

■ Developers and their attorneys or law firms

■ Firms in the building and construction industry, such as engineers, architects, trade associations

MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS AT A GLANCE

and political action committees

■ Individuals employed by developers

Ference answered that all his donors have either been friends or supporters he’s met along the campaign trail with one caveat — engineers.

He explained that those engineers are friends and former coworkers from his time working at Manatee County Utilities. All four engineers that are listed on the Supervisor of Elections website as campaign contributors either did or still do work for Manatee County.

Poulton said her donors are family, friends, residents and small-business owners. She hasn’t accepted money from developers and doesn’t

intend to. However, Calovich called her out on accepting a check from the law firm of Grimes Galvano, PL, a firm that represents developers.

“I did receive $1,000 from the law firm from Bill Galvano,” Poulton said. “He’s been a longtime friend, and I’ve known him for years.”

Poulton also accepted $400 from Fawley Bryant Architecture, the firm that designed the town center at Waterside Place. But overall, she’s received over $19,000 in contributions.

As for Calovich, he said he will not take “one single dime from any builder, any PAC or any attorney at all.” He added that he would publicly give back any such contribution if one is received.

Calovich is largely self-funding his campaign, having contributed $20,000 of his overall $22,071.77 in monetary contributions.

Barrett said he’s not taken any money from builders or engineers. His campaign records confirm that and show about a quarter of his contributions came from real estate agents, as he is also a real estate agent.

ROUNDABOUTS

Only one of the four candidates, Calovich, is against roundabouts. The overall consensus among the other three candidates is that roundabouts keep traffic moving and save lives.

“I worked in emergency services (as a firefighter and paramedic),” Barrett said. “I’ve seen fatality crashes at traffic lights many, many times. I’ve never seen a fatality traffic accident at a roundabout.”

Calovich argued that people stop in roundabouts and cause even more accidents than before the roundabout was installed.

“And they’re about $6 million to

build,” he said. “My other problem is what do we do if we have a hurricane out in Lakewood Ranch, and it really affects us. How are you going to evacuate everybody trying to get around a roundabout to get to Interstate 75 to get out? It’s not going to happen, so people are going to have a lot of people losing their lives because of it.”

According to the Federal Highway Administration, “Roundabouts can reduce fatal and serious injuries by up to 82% at intersections” and improve traffic flow.

ROAD

LORRAINE

Lorraine Road is by far the most complained-about road in the Lakewood Ranch area, and the answers varied as to how each candidate, if elected, would deal with the road’s widening project that was deferred by Manatee County.

Barrett and Poulton both noted they would be serving the entire county if elected to the District 6 seat, so Lorraine Road is one of many roads they’d have to consider improving.

Barrett pinpointed the Fort Hamer bridge as another important thoroughfare that’s in need of additional lanes. Poulton said the focus should be on getting the traffic lights working properly so they improve the traffic flow on Lorraine Road.

Ference said he’d look toward long-term planning to find a solution and reevaluate projects like the $10 million parking lot that’s being proposed with a private ice rink at Premier Sports Campus North to see if those funds can be allocated toward roads instead.

Calovich was the only candidate who placed Lorraine Road among his top priorities.

“The first thing I’m going to do is make sure we start it,” he said. “If we don’t have all the funds for it, we’re going to start sections at a time to get it done, but you are going to see results on Day 1. And I encourage you, if you haven’t driven in the traffic, give it a shot. You’ll hate it.”

Lesley Dwyer

Tara Poulton and Ed Ference are two of the four candidates vying for the Republican nomination in District 6.

From advocate to candidate

Glen Gibellina is challenging incumbent Mike Rahn for the District 4 seat.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Bradenton’s Glen Gibellina, 74, has been an activist since the days of the Vietnam War when his brother Gary was drafted. Gibellina’s draft number was too high to be called on to serve.

He was a student at Arizona State University and enrolled in the Air Force ROTC at the time.

“I’d be there in my uniform at 5:30 in the morning,” Gibellina said. “About 4 in the afternoon, I had my tie-dyed T-shirt on protesting at the same building.”

Gibellina loves a good T-shirt, especially the blue one that reads “free range gadfly.” But the casual attire should not be confused with a flippant attitude.

Gibellina is serious about Manatee County government. He pays attention and stays involved — so involved that he was labeled a gadfly by Commissioner Amanda Ballard.

In nature, gadflies bite livestock. In the commission chambers, gadflies ask questions and hold elected officials accountable for their actions.

Now, Gibellina wants to be the elected official taking action. He’s challenging Commissioner Mike Rahn for the District 4 seat in the Republican primary this August.

District 4 starts at University Park and runs west to Bayshore Gardens.

“I want to focus on District 4,” Gibellina said. “Stay in your lane. When (the other commissioners) run over (the late District 1 Commissioner) Carol Felts and (District 5 Commissioner) Bob McCann, they’re acting as at-large commissioners. You didn’t get the votes from that district for you to make that decision. You should respect that district commissioner’s

MANO A MANO

District 4 is the least crowded race for county commissioner.

District 1 has 10 candidates.

District 2 has six candidates, and District 6 has five candidates.

But in District 4, the only two candidates are Glen Gibellina and incumbent Mike Rahn. Both candidates are Republicans, so they’ll face off in the Aug. 18 primary election.

wishes.”

Gibellina was referring to votes cast for developments in East County. He noted that there’s enough work to be done within District 4.

But one issue that Gibellina is especially passionate about, which spans all five districts in Manatee County, is the lack of affordable housing.

The Manatee Tiger Bay Club honored him with the Nonprofit Leadership Award in 2025 for his advocacy with local nonprofits and the nonprofit he founded, Uncontained 360.

The nonprofit is attempting to turn repurposed shipping containers into affordable housing.

Helping the homeless is not something Gibellina only addresses through nonprofits in the community; he brings those who are homeless into his own home, as well.

Gibellina met Ron Melichar more than two years ago standing outside Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in Bradenton. Melichar had been sleeping inside a car wash for six months after hitting hard times.

He’d always worked odd jobs, so he does the same for Gibellina now.

When the East County Observer visited Gibellina’s home, Melichar was doing some maintenance around the property and feeding the flock of chickens homegrown sweet potatoes.

“Glen helped me out a lot,” Melichar said. “Anything he needs fixed or repaired or cleaned up, I do that.”

While Melichar is not a veteran, Gibellina mainly houses homeless veterans. He accepts Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and covers all the veterans’ utility bills.

Most of the veterans are referred by the Sarasota Housing Authority, which also controls Manatee County vouchers. Gibellina has taken six veterans off the streets over the past five years with not a ton of space or resources — just a lot of willingness and patience.

“We should never have any homeless veterans here,” Gibellina said. “Veterans jump in front of the line (for vouchers). They can live wherever they want, but you have to find a landlord that’s willing to take them, and that’s the problem because they come here with issues that most landlords won’t put up with.”

Gibellina’s background plays a large role in his dedication to veterans. He described his brother postVietnam as “disabled and a different person.” It took 33 years and a class-action lawsuit before he was compensated for exposure to Agent Orange.

Gibellina has another tenant, who isn’t a veteran, but she struggles with a son who has been diagnosed with autism and bipolar disorder. Denise Jones lives in a home Gibellina built out of shipping containers.

She pays $1 per square foot. The 745-square-foot home survived all three hurricanes in 2024. It’s made of three metal shipping containers and sits on a 16-post pier system and foundation that used about 40,000 pounds of concrete.

While the house is built like a bunker, it feels like a home.

With a small front porch and Cuban oregano climbing up the sides, the containers resemble a cottage from the street.

The inside is cozy and provides

“You didn’t get the votes from that district for you to make that decision. You should respect that district commissioner’s wishes.”

Glen “Gadfly” Gibellina

everything a tenant could need, including a washer and dryer.

Jones painted her cabinets “blue suede” because her mom loved Elvis Presley. She had photos turned into magnets to decorate the metal walls.

Gibellina understands affordable housing. He’s in his fourth term on Manatee County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board. He quit during his third term when the last commission was in place because he didn’t feel heard. He was fighting for longer-term Land Use Restrictive Agreements to keep designated affordable housing

units affordable for longer periods of time.

Gibellina wanted affordable units set at lower income requirements to make them truly affordable. A single mother with two children living in any one of the affordable housing units that have been approved for the Lakewood Ranch area will need to earn between $72,350 and $108,600 to qualify because the rent on a twobedroom unit will cost between $1,937 and $2,907.

But the biggest pushback Gibellina received was in regards to charging developers added value when issuing a rezone from agriculture to residential zoning. Once developed, the land values spike.

Gibellina said Manatee County is about 30,000 units behind in workforce housing, and the county has given away too much money by not requiring developments to either devote 10% of the units to workforce housing or to pay the difference. “You can force (developers) to do that, but nobody has had the (nerve) to do it,” he said. “I will.”

HOME GROWN

Lesley Dwyer

Glen “Gadfly” Gibellina announces his candidacy at the Dec. 16 Manatee Patriots meeting at the John Marble Park Recreation Center.

Felts’ family, friends deliver a whip-cracking salute in farewell

The late commissioner had a Myakka City preserve named in her honor.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Flags flew at half-staff in Manatee County and at the state capitol

Saturday to honor the late Manatee County Commissioner Carol Ann Felts, who died Feb. 24 at her home in Myakka City.

About 100 residents, family members, dignitaries and Manatee County staff gathered under a canopy of trees at David J. Crane Park in Myakka City on April 18 to share stories and honor the quirky commissioner, who was often referred to as the mayor of Myakka.

“My mom, first and foremost, was a beautiful, brilliant badass,” her son Nicholas Felts said. “She got things done. She also smoked like a chimney and swore like a sailor.”

Nicholas Felts’s eulogy brought the crowd to tears from both laughter and sadness.

His brother, Kiel Felts, stood by his side. Together, they unveiled a new sign at Crane Park that reads, “Carol Ann Billberry Felts Preserve at David J. Crane Park.”

Billberry was Felts’ maiden name, and her sons asked that it be included in the dedication.

Commissioner Amanda Ballard said dedicating the additional 16 acres of Crane Park that Manatee County acquired in June 2025 was a fitting tribute, but only the start of honoring Felts’ legacy.

“By creating our rural citizens and lands advisory board, that is something that will live on,” she said. “That will give a voice to citizens in our rural areas for many years to come.”

Even before being elected to represent District 1, Felts used her voice and encouraged others to do so, as well.

Myakka City’s Heidi Minihkeim recalled meeting Felts 13 years ago.

“Carol kept encouraging me to be an activist,” Minihkeim said. “She wanted to protect Myakka City and the river.”

Felts’ passion not only inspired residents, it inspired Manatee County staff members, too.

“She was such a huge proponent of environmental protection in our

rural lands,” said Kara Koenig, Environmental Lands Program section manager. “I’m so appreciative of her determination to protect these lands. All we can do is continue in her honor.”

Koenig noted that Felts wanted all her staff briefings conducted in person, so Koenig knew firsthand how proud Felts was of the county’s recent negotiations to purchase easements on Mossy Island Ranch and Thundercloud Ranch, two massive properties that total 1,483 pristine acres, now protected in perpetuity from development.

“(Felts) didn’t just talk about preservation,” Commission Chair Tal Siddique said. “She lived it. She fought for it and she made sure those conversations happened even when they weren’t easy. If you ever sat through a board meeting with her on either side of the dais, you’ll remember it. Her passion wasn’t quiet. It wasn’t reserved. It was real,

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

Nicholas Felts lovingly referred to his mother as “a crazy horse lady.” Carol Ann Felts loved her horses. They led her into all sorts of adventures. At 38, Felts started barrel racing. About two decades later, a horseback ride led her into politics. She became a commissioner at 66. But five-plus years earlier, she had spotted a little, yellow sign on one of her rides. It was announcing a development in a place only a horse could reach. It made her start asking questions, which led her to become an activist and then a commissioner.

During the April 18 memorial service, a video presentation shared Felts’ views on herself and Manatee County in her own words. Here are a few snippets:

“Here’s my words as to what I am first and foremost, and that’s a Floridian.”

“There is a motto that was instilled in me: If it is to be, it is up to me. You could fuss. You could fight things. You could do all kinds of stuff, but the thing is, you’ve got to do it.”

“There are still people out there that value an agricultural lifestyle, whether it’s a large farming corporate concern or it’s what we call those 5-acre cowboys. I work very hard to make sure that we remember the past because it’s what we were built on here in Manatee County.”

“Our first tourists, or snowbirds, in Florida were farmers. I think that the best defense of having a strong America is to take care of ourselves and not rely on imports. We can’t ignore our heritage in Manatee County.”

“Don’t forget where you came from because you never know where you could go.”

“The best part (of being a commissioner) is when you can actually be effective, when you can actually solve a problem or you can work directly with staff to address an issue and you come up with something really good. Those are the best days.”

and it came from a place of love for this community.” Siddique emceed the service, which included a ceremonial whipcracking salute performed by members of the Florida Cracker Trail Association.

Felts’ best party trick was to crack a whip, and anyone who wanted to learn, she’d teach. She’d been taking the annual cracker trail ride across the state for decades.

Nicholas Felts, 42, recalled missing a week of school for the ride when he was 17 years old. He carried with him the whip he kept from that 120mile trek with his mother.

“I wasn’t tearing up until they did that whip salute,” Ballard said. “I think she really would have loved that. She served for almost a year and a half, but her legacy will be much, much longer than that.”

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Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Carol Ann Felts’ sons, Kiel and Nicholas Felts, unveil the new sign at David J. Crane Park.

There were quite a few black cowboy hats in the crowd to honor the late Carol Ann Felts, who represented the rural parts of Manatee County.

Commission Chair Tal Siddique serves as the memorial’s emcee.

East Coun-

ty’s Heidi Minihkeim and Ed Ference catch up after the service.

App makes local news even easier to find

On the final day of my vacation (you might have noticed I wasn’t around last week), I decided to catch up on the news around East County.

So I pulled out my phone, swiped down to the Your Observer app, and punched the big, white O with the red background.

Bam! What do you know? This stuff really works.

Oh, the choices!

I immediately called up reporter Lesley Dwyer’s story about the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club hosting the Manatee County Commission’s Republican candidates. Those of you who are regular readers of the East County Observer know that Lesley stays all over the local news scene. She is passionate.

Then I checked out some upcoming events, since I did have a little vacation time remaining.

Next, I read Madison Bierl’s story about the possible names for the new Lakewood Ranch High School. Looks like Rangeland High School is in the lead, and I guess, as an editor, I should be happy. Short and to the point. It could have been Doctor Livingston Gireau Junior Memorial of Manatee County High School.

Rangeland is a lot easier in headlines.

Since I was in Honduras last week without cell phone reception, I didn’t know who won the Senior PGA Championship at The Concession Golf Club. My finger pressed on Jack Nelson’s coverage. Way to go, Stewart Cink. A course-record 63 in the final round does it.

After reading about Cink’s victory, I even checked out one of my past columns. It was easy. The old Yellow Pages advertisement came to mind ... “Let your fingers do the walking.”

My point is that the Observer app is easy. Now I will admit, I needed a little help from a coworker to load up the app, because this kind of stuff intimidates the heck out of

me. She did it in a couple of minutes ... easy peasy. The QR codes (quick response) never have been very quick for me, but it was a snap for her.

You can find the information you need to download our app by going to YourObserver.com/app.

If you struggle with apps — like me — you probably know a 14-yearold who can help you load up the Observer app. If not, no worries, you can call 877-231-8834 and ask for help, or you can send an email to CustomerService@yourobserver. com.

Since I have lived a little, I always have loved having an actual print newspaper edition in my hands. I would run to the end of my family’s driveway and pick up the Times Herald Record (Middletown, N.Y.) and the New York Daily News.

I was the first one in my family to get a college degree, and yet we were a two-newspaper family. I feel blessed because it spawned my love of newspapers.

You, too, might love having the paper in your hands, and I get it. But having the app doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the printed edition. In fact, one of the features is you can see the print version replicated in the app as an e-edition. You can still see the layout, the pages, the whole print product, without ink on your fingers. It’s fantastic on a tablet.

But if you’re a print diehard, it could be just a supplement. Think about when you travel, or if you are a snowbird — or when your favorite local place to pick us up is out of papers — that the East County Observer is just a swipe on your phone away. You literally can stay in touch with local news.

And, one of the best parts is, you have access to all the Observer news, including what’s happening in the Sarasota and Longboat Observers and our magazines, LWR Life, Key Life and Season magazine.

All without leaving your house to chase down print copies. Intimidated? I don’t know too many people who are more technologically challenged than I am. But I am doing what I can to keep up. From time to time I look at those icons I somehow have acquired. I look at my phone and have no idea where the Roblox or Clash of Clans icons came from, and then I struggle to delete them. I play around for 20 minutes, and eventually manage to uninstall the ones I don’t use. Ever notice how fast you have to be to hit the uninstall button?

I had plenty of room for the Your Observer App icon. Now I am glad it’s there.

If you have doubts whether you can handle all this, consider my own voyage through technology.

Challenged? Consider I still have the same America Online address from 1981.

At that same time in the early 1980s, our industry was beaming because we were using IBM Selectric typewriters, which could produce copy that could be fed into a reader and then, through a computer, was rolled out on film, then eventually cut out in columns and pasted on a page.

Sportswriters of the time were introduced to the Teleram Portabubble/81, which could be carried to an event so you could type your story, connect to a telephone using couplers, and send your home office a signal that the computer on the other end would recognize and configure for your copy desk.

The only problem was the computer screen was 6 inches by 6 inches, even though the entire unit weighed about 50 pounds. I don’t know if it made me a better writer, but it sure made me stronger.

Before the Portabubble, I had to dictate my stories over the phone, reading from my notes. Being able to forgo that process for journalists was like man landing on the moon.

“Trash 80,” as it was affectionately called, or the TRS-80 (Tandy Radio Shack) that made remote coverage much easier.

The “Trash 80” was light and portable, but the screen was black and white, monochrome, and pretty hard to see. And it only displayed a few lines at a time.

Flash forward to today, and I am writing this column on a MacBook Pro laptop that is sitting on my chest as I lay back on my couch. The screen is bigger than the blackand-white TV I had in my room as a kid to watch the Yankees play baseball, the Rangers play ice hockey, and the Knicks play basketball.

We’ve all come a long way.

I just bought a new car where I can tell my screen on the dashboard that I want a driver’s seat massage or my sunroof to open. It’s about all I can do so far — other than play the radio — so I have an appointment with a sales rep in an attempt to have me program a least some primary items.

PLEASE, TAKE US WITH YOU!

Just go to your device’s app store and download the YourObserver app (or use the handy QR code here) and start reading.

If you are like me, and perhaps you have lived a little, too, all this technology can make you want to lock yourself in your room. But, since we all like to laugh at ourselves, if you want to share your stories about your technological misgivings, email me at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.

Until then, take that step and download our app. I think you are going to like it. There’s even a QR code above to help. And I’ll only be a swipe away.

Jay Heater

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Mallard mayhem at The Meadows

Homeowners of Springlake go to great lengths to win a game of duck, duck, poos at their community pool.

LESLEY

DWYER STAFF WRITER

The pool at Springlake in The Meadows has gotten several new decorations over the past few weeks — an owl statue, CDs hung from strings, a flamingo float, several inflatable snakes and one inflatable alligator.

It takes a lot of effort to deter a few determined ducks.

Ducks gliding around a lake is a pleasant addition. It’s not so pleasant when they’re paddling through the crystal clear water of a community pool, and their feces is cascading to the pool’s cement bottom.

That requires additional cleaning and chemical treatments. It also causes disrupted pool hours and unhappy residents.

“It’s just like if a child goes to the bathroom, they have to close down the pool, shock it and do all the stuff they need to do to bring the pH back to the level that it’s safe for people to swim,” said Sharon Godlewski, a director on the Springlake Homeowners Association.

The pool was shut down for over a week before the last mallard finally took the hint. Godlewski noted that the community has another pool that sits right on a lake, but the mallards have no interest in that pool.

The problem started with four ducks, but three were easily deterred by the host of fake wildlife. The last flew right past the faux snakes and larger-than-life flamingo as if he found a new friend.

The mallard had made a routine of an early morning swim.

The owner of the pool company that services The Meadows’ pools told Godlewski that ducks especially prefer pools over lakes in the early morning hours because the water in a pool is warmer.

DUCKS ON VACATION

Ducks are snowbirds, too, so swimming in pools is not uncommon.

Ducks are regularly spotted in the lazy river at Universal Orlando’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Even rambunctious children swimming beside them is not a deterrent. After a few turns around the river, the ducks often waddle over to the Atomic Tonic pool bar for lunch scraps.

Ducks swimming in pools is so prevalent that even the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service addresses the issue on its website with tips to discourage the behavior and also help save ducklings. The website recommends providing a ramp for ducklings because they can’t fly out of a pool on their own and can drown from exhaustion. For more tips, visit FWS.gov/Story/DucksYour-Pool.

The solution that stopped the mallard from flying into the pool were low lying strings in a crisscross pattern.

The strings deterred the duck, but also posed a major tripping hazard for poolgoers.

But as the saying goes, don’t fix what’s not broken. The strings remain, but they’ve been elevated and now include CDs.

Gardeners all over the internet swear by the method that deters birds with irregular shiny reflections.

Courtesy image

Strings finally deter the ducks from flying into the pool, but they were strung so low that they deterred the people, too.

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Day of dogs

Woofstock at Lakewood Main Street, which took place April 18, provided a space for all sorts of dog lovers to come together. There were more than 30 pet-centered vendors, a Puppy Pals Live (as seen on “America’s Got Talent”) show, free pet caricatures and more.

Proceeds from beverage sales are to be donated to Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue Center.

Samantha Davis, volunteer and event coordinator at Nate’s, said it was a fun way to spread the word of their mission.

“No matter how big our small events are, we love to get our puppies out there, socialize them and get our name out and change the stigma of what shelter life is,” Davis said.

Dog trainer Brittany James led all of the tricks during the Puppy Pals Live show. She said she enjoys performing for pet owners.

“All of these tricks that we do in the show anybody can teach their dogs,” James said. “We hope that after they see one of our shows, they go home and work with their own dogs at home and try to strengthen that bond and have a little bit of fun.”

— MADISON BIERL

Nokomis’ Holly Williams says the free caricature she had done at Woofstock really captured the smile and personality of her dog, Zuzu.

Photos by Madison Bierl

Lakewood Ranch’s Kara Song, Camryn Palazzolo and Susan Palazzolo test the “Kissing Boof” with their dogs Arlo, Chase and Nacho.

Brittany James and Yonelle Otero swing the rope to allow Static, a 5-year-old border collie, to jump rope during the Puppy Pals Live Show.

SPORTS

Birdie or bogey?

PGA of America, The Concession reflect on Senior PGA Championship.

JACK NELSON SPORTS REPORTER

Bruce Cassidy Sr. and Brian Weimann shared a dream. They imagined a major golf tournament in their backyard, and over the last five years, worked tirelessly to make it happen.

The majority owner and general manager, respectively, of The Concession Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch strolled around their dreamturned-reality from April 16-19. They saw legends of the game competing on their course. They saw spectators crowding the paths. And they saw a champion crowned on the 18th-hole green.

The 86th Senior PGA Championship is in the books, held at The Concession for the first time. It’s scheduled to return for 2027 and 2028 as part of a three-year agreement.

Stewart Cink shot 19-under par 269 across his four rounds on the par-72 course to secure the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy. In doing so, the 2009 champion of The Open Championship made Lakewood Ranch the home of his first senior major title.

“It’s definitely lived up to what we were thinking,” Weimann said. “It has been a dream, and we put that dream into a plan starting in ’21. So for the last couple years, we have been working up to this.”

From 2001-25, the Senior PGA Championship had never been held in the same location for consecutive years. PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens played host from 1982-2000.

This year’s tournament was a trial run for 2027 and 2028. The PGA of America had four days of competition to identify the positives and negatives of how the club performed.

Eric Nuxol, championship director for the 2026 Senior PGA Championship, outlined the metrics used to evaluate The Concession.

“One of the first things is the amount of community support we see. Attendance is a number we use

“Just keep doing what we’re doing, practicing, watching film and continuing to prepare like we have been. The sky’s the limit.”

ABOUT THIS YEAR’S CHAMPION

Stewart Cink put on a record-setting display April 19 to win the Senior PGA Championship. He shot 63 in the final round to set a competitive course record at The Concession and finished at 19-under par overall.

The 52-year-old Ameri can’s scorching fourth round featured seven birdies and one eagle against zero bogeys. He entered Sunday one stroke behind the leader, but wound up with a six-stroke margin of victory over runner-up Ben Crane.

Cink boasted six wins alltime on the PGA Tour Championship entering the tournament, and proceeded to notch his fourth victory in his last six individual tournaments played. He was named the senior circuit’s player of the year for 2025.

Jay Haas (2008, 2006), Steve Stricker (2023) and Rocco Mediate (2016) all withdrew from the field before Friday.

John Daly, who attracted large crowds during the tournament’s first two days, ultimately shot 3-over par and missed the cut by one stroke.

as a metric, but that’s not the only metric,” Nuxol said. “The impact that we have on the community, the relationships that we build (and) the amount of volunteers that we’re able to get are all things that help us determine (success).”

But the PGA of America, which has operated separately from the PGA Tour since 1968, wasn’t the only side with metrics in mind.

Cassidy and Weimann had targets of their own.

“It was kind of a short runway, and this being the first of the three years, we’ve had some internal goals that we’ve been looking at,” Weimann said. “Thursday exceeded those goals. Some of the hot weather (Saturday) afternoon may have pushed people out of here, because it got pretty steamy.”

Both Nuxol and Weimann pointed to weather as an overarching positive for this year’s tournament.

There was no rain during play.

Saturday was the hottest day, averaging 80 degrees with 70.2% humidity. The coolest was Thursday — 76.8 degrees and 54.1% humidity, on average.

That’s not something The Concession or the PGA of America could control, but plenty of sun throughout the tournament ensured no delays.

“(We heard) from multiple folks within our company and people we run across that this is the best weather we’ve had at this event in a long time,” Nuxol said.

On Thursday and Friday, there were more than twice as many golfers in action as there were Saturday and Sunday. Those who missed the cut went home Friday.

Past champions of the Senior PGA Championship in Ángel Cabrera (2025), Alex Čejka (2021) and Ken Tanigawa (2019) missed the cut.

“There (were) still some Hall of Fame golfers out there — major winners,” Weimann said. “People that follow golf, that know golf (know) the guys that are here are the best of the best.”

The focus now shifts to preparations for 2027 for Weimann and Co.

Chief among them is strengthening the connection between the Senior PGA Championship and the surrounding communities of Bradenton and Sarasota.

“Bringing in more of the local businesses, trying to get some more of that corporate hospitality would be, really, No. 1,” Weimann said. “Once you bring the corporate hospitality in, the spectators follow. And then getting (the tournament) out into the market a little bit more.”

Nuxol served as operations manager for the 2025 PGA Championship, and was also involved in operations for 2023, 2022 and 2020.

Having been with the PGA of America for nearly nine years now, he believes The Concession will have no issues hosting in 2027 and 2028.

“Their club leadership, with Bruce Cassidy and Brian Weimann and their team, has really set themselves up for success going into the next two years after this,” Nuxol said.

Cassidy and Weimann hope this realized dream will eventually lead to another — bringing the PGA Championship to The Concession.

The Senior PGA Championship is their opportunity to court the PGA of America for a bid at that prestigious major, though hosts have already been determined up through 2035.

So Cassidy and Weimann will continue to dream.

“Them leaving here now knowing our property, knowing our golf course and knowing what we can do goes a long way,” Weimann said. “We’ve got to date them before we can marry them.”

a dramafree

FAST BREAK

Braden River High softball continues to tear through its regularseason schedule. The Pirates are 18-2 as of April 19, and have won 12 games in a row. Their only two losses this season came against Sarasota (17-5) and Venice (17-5) on March 9 and 11, respectively. Junior center fielder/left fielder Leighton Paul has a team-high .591 batting average among players with 14 or more games played, and freshman center fielder/left fielder Sarai Castro has hit .607 across 10 games played.

Zachariah Kersey, a senior for Lakewood Ranch High boys track and field/cross-country, was selected to the Florida Dairy Farmers Academic AllState Team and will receive a $1,700 scholarship. He also placed second in the 800-meter run (2:03.50) at the FHSAA Class 4A-District 11 meet on April 17. Additionally, he teamed up with juniors Jacob Gomez Colton Prater and Kenneth DeStefano to win the 3,200-meter relay (8:12.28). Kersey is Lakewood Ranch High’s valedictorian for the Class of 2026 and will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. Lakewood Ranch boys lacrosse lost 16-7 to Manatee in the FHSAA Class 2A-District 12 championship on April 15. It’s the second consecutive year the Mustangs surrendered the district title to the Hurricanes, having previously lost on that stage, 15-1. Lakewood Ranch (11-5), seeded No. 2, will host No. 7 seed Sickles (11-6) in the 2A-3 regional quarterfinals at 7 p.m. April 24. Ashley Pater, a 2022 graduate of Lakewood Ranch High, has a 22-7 record for USC beach volleyball as of April 14. The junior has split time at the No. 1 and No. 2 flights in 2026, and as a sophomore, finished the year at 31-5 overall. The Trojans (26-7) are ranked No. 3 in the country, as of April 14, and have won six national championships.

Lakewood Ranch High girls lacrosse Gabbie Hotaling

Jack Nelson Leighton Paul has helped Braden River softball to a dominant season in which the Pirates have outscored opponents by an average of 8.9 runs per game, as of April 19.

Stewart Cink (left) embraces his caddie after winning the Senior PGA Championship on April 19 at The Concession Golf Club. It marked his first major title on the PGA Tour Championship.

The Alfred S. Bourne Trophy sits by the firsthole tee. At 36 pounds, it ranks among the heaviest awarded in professional golf.

Spectators surround Stewart Cink by the 18thhole tee in anticipation of his winning moment. It was

finish with Cink leading by 6 strokes over Ben Crane.

Photos by Jack Nelson

Letting pictures do the talking

FSarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.

The Alfred S. Bourne Trophy is heavy —

it. He jokingly

Eshleman.

words exchanged between Ben Crane (left) and Stewart Cink (right), but you can tell by Crane’s face that he got

Photos by Jack Nelson

Gabbie Hotaling

It’s sweet, sweet revenge for Lakewood Ranch High girls lacrosse. After falling to Riverview High in last year’s FHSAA Class 2A-District 12 championship, the Mustangs won their April 14 rematch 15-8 to secure the first district title in program history. Senior midfielder Gabbie Hotaling contributed nine points via four goals and five assists. Across the team’s three district tournament contests, she tallied 16 goals. Hotaling is the East County Athlete of the Week.

For this team to be district champions, what does that mean to you?

I’ve been on varsity all four years, and we have never won a district title — this is our first in school history. That just makes it even more special, and I couldn’t imagine doing it with a different group of girls.

To win the title against Riverview, does that make it sweeter?

I definitely think it does. It’s been a long time coming, and we’ve lost to them year after year, so having them as our competition just made it all that much better.

What do you think is possible for this team?

It’s possible to go as far as the team wants, as motivated as we are. Just keep doing what we’re doing, practicing, watching film and continuing to prepare like we have been. The sky’s the limit.

When and why did you start playing lacrosse?

I first started playing lacrosse in the summer before seventh grade. I had been a gymnast since I was about 3 years old, so following an injury — and after a long transition period — it was just sort of a natural choice for me. I had a couple former gymnastics teammates who

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.

switched to lacrosse, so I decided

What were your goals this season?

This year, my goal was to win districts, since we haven’t done that in the past. And then just to make it further than we have in years past — make it past the first round of regionals.

After all these years, what’s motivated you to stick with this sport?

This sport is really cool because what you do outside of practice does have a direct translation to your performance on the field.

Hours I’ve put in — I’ve been able to make those show in my abilities. Being able to see that progress over the past six years just has been really motivating.

What’s a fun fact about you not many people know?

I love to travel, and I’ve been to over a dozen countries. (My favorite) is probably a tie between Rome and hiking in Montenegro. Those are my top two. I would love to go to South Africa and go on a safari.

Finish this sentence.

Gabbie Hotaling is ...

Rethinking the Dental Chair

For a lot of people, going to the dentist has always been pretty straightforward: fix the tooth, handle the issue, move on. And for some, that works just fine. But for others— especially those dealing with bigger health concerns—it can start to feel like something’s being missed.

World Class Dentistry works from a very different perspective: your mouth isn’t separate from the rest of your body.

“Traditional dentistry often centers on teeth and gums,” says founder Dr. Jill Morris. “We look beyond symptoms to understand how oral health connects to overall health. It’s about supporting the whole body.”

That shift matters, especially for patients who’ve been searching for answers. Many come in dealing with chronic issues like Lyme disease or autoimmune conditions, and at some point start to wonder if their oral health could be part of the puzzle.

That’s where the World Class team steps in.

Dr. Sydney Johnson, a holistic and cosmetic dentist currently advancing her training in naturopathy and biologic dentistry, often helps patients address one of the most overlooked stressors on the body: old mercury amalgam fillings. “These materials are neurotoxic and can place a significant burden on the body,” she says.

But removing them isn’t a quick swap. Safe removal requires specialized protocols—advanced technology, protective barriers, and a highly trained team—to minimize exposure and support the body along the way. From there, treatments like ozone and laser therapy can help reduce infection and encourage healing, often without more invasive procedures.

That same root-cause mindset carries into orthodontics. Dr. Cameron Johnson looks beyond straight teeth to how the jaw develops—and how well a patient is actually breathing.

“When a child’s airway is compromised, it can affect everything from jaw growth to brain development,” he explains. Mouth breathing, tongue ties, even chronic allergies can show up as snoring, trouble focusing, or behaviors often labeled as ADHD.

Using advanced imaging and a comprehensive exam, he evaluates the full picture—airway, tongue position, movement—not just alignment.

It’s a different kind of dentistry. One that asks better questions first.

And it’s very much a family approach. Drs. Cameron and Sydney Johnson grew up in this philosophy, shaped by their mother, Dr. Morris, and their father, dental surgeon and naturopath Dr. Burr Bakke.

Because here, the goal isn’t just a better smile.

It’s a healthier patient.

Lakewood Ranch’s Carrie David founded the club because she wanted to give community members a space to play soccer for free with

Solidarity through soccer

MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER

hen Lakewood Ranch’s Mateo

WOrlandini, 16, moved to the area two years ago, he had lost interest in the sport he had loved most of his life — soccer. He didn’t know anyone and was expecting to attend Lakewood Ranch High School as the quiet new kid.

Orlandini was at Summerfield Park when he noticed a group playing the very sport he loved, including four other kids with whom he would go to school. Once he found out it was free to play, he joined in.

The soccer spark quickly

“I like the passion, running and watching soccer,” Orlandini said. “I like the feeling, the adrenaline. It’s just something that nothing else can replicate.” The Lakewood Ranch Resident Soccer Club was founded by Lakewood Ranch’s Carrie David in 2024. With Lakewood Ranch being such a soccer community, she wanted to give players of all ages the opportunity to play for free. It started with 20 players and has

Five years ago, David, who had grown up playing basketball, started playing soccer. She compared it to learning a new language and she wanted to create a

With soccer such a popular sport in Lakewood Ranch, Carrie David wanted to provide a free option for players of all ages and skill levels to play together.

space for players of all ages and abilities to come together.

“Parents and some of the adults were in tears after it really started to kick off,” David said. “They left their own home states and had nowhere to play. It’s basically unaffordable, and so their parents and adults would come up in tears to hug me and thank me, and still do.”

Andy Rodríguez, a 33-year-old Lakewood Ranch resident, joined the group in a similar way to Orlandini — by simply asking to play. He said there was no hesitation to let him join. Since then, the group has been like a family. He knows he will always have someone to turn to that would help him overcome any situation life might throw at him.

“It feels great to be able to play this beautiful sport and get to de-stress from the life that we all carry while meeting people that also share the same love and passion for this city and club,” Rodríguez said.

East Bradenton’s Alex Molina and his dad have been part of the group for a couple years after being invited by a friend. Alex played soccer in college and professionally in Venezuela for a year.

Alex Molina has been playing soccer since he was 4 years old and appreciates that it gives him an opportunity to have fun and not think about work. He loves that even when the sun goes down, the players still play because they are having so much fun.

LAKEWOOD RANCH RESIDENTS SOCCER CLUB

The club meets at Summerfield Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. until sunset and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. No equipment is needed, but shin guards are recommended. Ages 13 and older recommended, with kids as young as 6 years old accepted as long as a parent is present.

“There’s no judgment, so that’s why it’s welcoming to people that want to play,” Alex Molina said. “It’s not too serious, but at the same time it’s competitive. As long as you like the game and you want to play, you can play here.”

David said it can be intimidating to try something new, but she encourages anyone interested in joining to try it out.

“It’s intimidating enough to get out there with a ball and not trip,” David said.

“They make it just so amazingly fun, and that’s why I’m so proud of everyone here. Not one person out of all the 153 people, there’s never been one moment of aggressive behavior, arguing, fighting or conflict. It’s beautiful — it really is.”

“When I come out here, everything just disappears,” Orlandini said. “It’s just me and the ball, having fun with my friends. Having fun with people I never knew I’d know — people from different countries, different ethnicities — and we all play the same game.”

The Lakewood Ranch Residents Soccer Club was founded in 2024 with 20 members. Now it has 153.

Photos by Madison Bierl

Lakewood Ranch’s Mateo Orlandini and East Bradenton’s Alex Molina both have a passion for soccer and love to play with new people at the Lakewood Ranch Residents Soccer Club.

GOLFING FOR GOOD

Since 2013, Rosedale’s Kathi Skelton and Deb Kehoe have been raising money for Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds homes to accommodate veterans.

Wesley Chapel’s Roberto Cruz had been deployed in the Army for eight-anda-half months when he was shot by a sniper in Iraq in 2005. He felt numb, falling on his back. He was paralyzed.

“When I got home, it was very challenging to do things in daily living in a house that is not adapted for you,” Cruz said. “You have to deal with all these challenges that you never thought you were going to deal

with, like steps in the kitchen.”

He went through years of therapy and now is able to walk. On some days, his legs still get stiff and he loses his balance. He uses a wheelchair whenever he sees fit.

The 2026 Rosedale Golf Classic, which was founded by Rosedale’s Kathi Skelton and Deb Kehoe, took place April 15 at the Rosedale Golf and Country Club.

It benefits Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds modified and specialized homes for veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan and

have lost a limb, the use of one, or their eyesight. Typically, the fundraiser helps one veteran receive a new home. This year, it helped two — Cruz and Eddie Ward. Ward is living in San Antonio, and Cruz is in Wesley Chapel. They will both be moving to San Antonio on the same street. Ward served in Afghanistan and leaned on a landmine in 2011, which resulted in the loss of his right leg above the knee. He lives in a twostory house and is excited to be in a one story, built just for him. He is

also a diving instructor and is excited to be near the water.

“That was probably one of the biggest changing moments of my life, when they gave me that certificate of acceptance,” Ward said. “I’m just speechless, have deep gratitude and just over the over the moon. It’s something I haven’t felt in awhile.”

Bill Ivey, executive director of Homes for Our Troops, said the homes will have over 40 major adaptations to be fully accessible when

Ward and Cruz are in their wheelchairs.

These include roll-in showers, roll-under countertops, roll-under sinks, a rolling stove top and more.

“Folks see veterans on their prosthetics and they’ve got mountain climbing prosthetics, running prosthetics, walking prosthetics, but they don’t see when you get home, they would take those legs off and be in the chair and be functional.”

Cruz said it means the world to him knowing he’s not alone and that there will always be support available for him and his family.

Skelton and Kehoe, who are 82 and 78, respectively, said they have been glad to have raised more than $1.7 million for the nonprofit since 2013 (not including this year’s amount). They hope the event continues and estimate their leadership will be present for a couple more years.

“We just want people to understand what we’re trying to do,” Skelton said. “It’s not just about giving money, they (the donors, participants) see the results.”

“It puts a face to the dollar, which makes them want to give more,” Kehoe said.

The 2026 Rosedale Golf Classic for Homes for Our Troops honors two veterans, Eddie Ward and Roberto Cruz, who will move into specially designed homes in San Antonio.

Rosedale’s Greg Deringer putts a ball during the 2026 Rosedale Golf Classic at Rosedale Golf and Country Club on April 15.

Aaron Cornelius, who was an honored veteran at last year’s event, returned this year. He is excited for his new chapter when he moves into his new home in Lithia in June.

Photos by Madison Bierl

The Rosedale Golf Classic for Homes for Our Troops was founded by Kathi Skelton and Deb Kehoe in 2013. Prior to this year’s event, $1.5 million had been donated to the organization from their efforts.

THURSDAY, APRIL 23

BINGO NIGHT

5-8:30 p.m., The Peculiar Pub, 8141 Lakewood Main St., Suite N-103. Progressive jackpots and drink specials. $1 a bingo card.

LIVE MUSIC WITH JOE THAYER

6-9 p.m., Remy’s on Main, 8138 Lakewood Main St. Joe Thayer performs classics from such artists as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Billy Joel and others.

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 includes Steve Arvey (Thursday), Bonfire Band Jam (Friday), Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones (Saturday) and Rev. Billy Wirtz (Sunday). The Friday and Saturday shows are $5; the others are free. Visit JiggsLanding.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24

FREE CHOICE FRIDAY

9-11 a.m., Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway. Art supplies, blocks, sensory bins and more help children from 18 months to 7 years old learn motor skills and express themselves creatively.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

SHRED DAY AND FOOD BANK DRIVE

9 a.m. to noon, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Two cartons of personal documents per each participant will be shredded free of charge. Participants are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food donation in a nonglass container or package.

ROOFTOP YOGA

Begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway. Adults (18 and older) can participate. All levels of experience are welcome. Donations accepted. Those who participate are asked to bring a yoga mat. Visit MyLWR.com. SC.

SCIENCE STARS

10-11 a.m., Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway. A student-led exploration of different fields of science through hands-on experiments. Registration required

BEST BET

FRIDAY, APRIL 24

SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE

ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

7 a.m. to noon at Nathan Benderson Park. Collegiate rowers from 11 Division II women’s teams around Florida compete for the Sunshine State Conference title.

for the first 20 children ages 8-12. Register at ManateeLibrary.LibCal. com/Event/15687143.

SUNDAY, APRIL 26

FARMERS MARKET

Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place. Yearround 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. Visit MyLWR.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 28

MARKET AT THE PARK

Runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The Market at Nathan Benderson Park runs on Tuesdays and features local artists, small businesses and crafters from all walks of life. In addition, there will be a kids zone, food trucks, live music and themed events. Visit NathanBendersonPark.org.

The Art of Waterfront Living at

Life revolves around the spectacular 30,000-square-foot clubhouse, now under construction and opening this fall. Designed as the heart of the community, it’s where neighbors gather around resort-style pools, enjoy shared meals at indoor-outdoor dining venues, and take a swing on the premier putting course. With a golf simulator, state-of-the-art fitness center, private cinema, and newly opened model homes showcasing stunning waterfront designs by the region’s most sought-after builders, this Lakewood Ranch community stands apart for those who value connection as much as luxury.

We’re

looking

Braden River High’s production of the musical “Godspell’’ was the 23rd production directed by Tabetha Walter, the school’s theater and dance director, but her first here.

The shows were performed on April 16, 17 and 18.

Senior Alexis Huffstutler has been part of the theater department for the past three years. When she first joined, she had a lot of stage fright.

“Throughout the years, I’ve learned that through expressing myself on stage, I become alive,” Huffstutler said. “I feed off of audience interaction.”

Throughout the rehearsals of “Godspell,” Huffstutler tried to be a role model and help out the students who were new. She said she was especially proud of freshman Naya Cordero.

Cordero had never sung in front of an audience previously. She appreciates being able to learn and get critiques from older students to improve in both singing and acting.

“I just love theater, and it’s given me so much confidence,” Cordero said. “Before I joined theater, I would never talk to anybody. Now, I feel so confident on stage, and the presence and the atmosphere is so amazing.”

John Franco, a senior at Braden River, played the lead role of Jesus.

“It was really excited and was a surreal moment, because I saw the crowd before everybody else did,” Franco said. “It was really amazing.”

Franco encourages anyone interested in theater to come support the program.

— MADISON BIERL

Photos by Madison Bierl Freshman Regan Abdulla and senior Aaron Gordon perform in the Braden River High School production of “Godspell.”

Senior Alexis Huffstutler says she enjoys helping younger students, like freshman Naya Cordero, to come out of their shells and express themselves through acting.

Sophomore Lizzy Vogt went into the production as stage manager, but stepped in to cover two roles on stage, as well.

Mix and match

Through trial and error, fourth and fifth graders from Willis and McNeal are gearing up to put their robots to the test.

With Vex Robotics, everything is about problem-solving. When team Thunderbolts’ robot wasn’t picking up pins efficiently, they had to figure out through trial and error what works best.

Complicated stuff but all in a day’s work for the fourth and fifth graders.

Three elementary school Vex robotics teams — two from Willis (all in fifth grade) and one from McNeal (fourth grade) — are headed to compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship from April 28-30 at the America’s Center in St. Louis. They are competing in this year’s game “Mix and Match.”

Fourth graders Matteo Saviano, Kenny Van Slyck and Avery Szuma make up team Thunderbolts from Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School. They were on different teams, but teacher Vic Kolomiychenko, decided to put them together. “We worked so hard on this robot,” Van Slyck said. “We had to make three quarters of the robot out of no instructions and we’re all feeling happy.” Kolomiychenko said the team works hard, at home and at school.

He said it took the team time to realize what Vex is all about — it’s not just about being the best from simply ratings or points. It is about being creative and innovative.

“It’s awesome as a coach, seeing them grow during this time from knowing very little about Vex to knowing as much as I do,” Kolomiychenko said.

The White Geckos team consists of Willis students Shaan Kuchibhatla, Chris Hoke, Keira Summerlee and Parini Adsod.

Keira Summerlee said being part of

VEX IQ ROBOTICS

In grades 4-8, more than 17,000 teams from 54 countries play in some 1,200 tournaments. There are local, regional, national and world competitions. There are different challenges in teamwork, skills and more. To learn more, visit VexRobotics.com.

If you would like to support McNeal Elementary’s team Thunderbolts, visit GoFundMe. com/F/HELP-McNeal-Students-Compete-At-Vex-Worlds.

Vex has done wonders for fulfilling her love of science and teambuilding. Even when things go wrong, she knows she can problem solve and trust her teammates.

“You can’t just sit there like a blob, not doing anything about the problem,” Summerlee said.

“That wouldn’t help anybody. That wouldn’t help your score, wouldn’t help your team, wouldn’t help your robot.”

Also from Willis is The Sesame Squad, which includes Ayansh Agrawal, Austin Chen, Alia Kovacs and Lydia Tuncaci.

“This robotics program is more than just technology,” Hanna Cuervo, one of two Vex advisors at Willis, said. “It’s an opportunity to develop independent learners, engineers, teamwork, leadership and a strong work ethic.”

Team Thunderbolts members

Kenny Van Slyck, Avery Szuma and Matteo Saviano won a Create Award, which rewards unique approaches to gameplay over the standard design, to qualify for The VEX Robotics World Championship.

Madison Bierl

Country Club East home tops sales

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Michael Kennedy, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 15621 Linn Park Terrace to Julie Tirella and James Nesci, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2,525,000. Built in 2012, it has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,671 square feet of living area.

ISLES Victor Prichard and Sondra Prichard, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 8281 Redonda Loop to Arielle and Radley Haddad, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.95 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,004 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.98 million in 2025.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Brett and Meredith Hellman, of Mequon, Wisconsin, sold their home at 15810 Castle Park Terrace to Thomas and Kelly Lerman, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.73 million. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,006 square feet of living area.

Thomas and Kelly Lerman, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 15909 Castle Park Terrace to William Kershaw and Alexandra Magub, of Bradenton, for $1,625,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,373 square feet of living area.

Adam and Shari Manuel, of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, sold their home at 7606 Windy Hill Cove to Susan Ellen Stephens, of University Park, for $1.5 million. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,085 square feet of living area.

Robert Mode and Debra Carpenter, of The Villages, sold their home at 16532 Hillside Circle to Christopher Francis Xavier O’Sullivan and Jessica Macsyne O’Sullivan, of Bradenton, for $825,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,224 square feet of living area. It sold for $661,000 in 2021.

ESPLANADE

Larry and Carrie McQueen, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4744 Benito Court to Grace and Robert Carpinello, of Bradenton, for $1.5 million. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,536 square feet of living area. It sold for $903,500 in 2018.

Michael and Diane Vranich, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 5013 Benito Court to Ruth Isaac, of West Union, South Carolina, for $1.44 million. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,852 square feet of living area. It sold for $836,200 in 2016.

Sean Evans, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 13118 Sorrento Way to Joseph and Jana Krause, trustees, of Boston, for $1,075,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,362 square feet of living area. It sold for $662,000 in 2019.

LAKE CLUB Qian Xu, trustee, of Andover, Massachusetts, sold the home at 16907 Verona Place to Scott Scharles Zone and Heather Dudley Zone, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.47 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two-and-two-half baths, a pool and 2,459 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,389,900 in 2022.

RIVERDALE REVISED

David and Susie Cashon, trustees, of Parrish, sold the home at 537 Fore Drive to Matthew and Allison Bassett, of Bradenton, for $1,272,000. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,280 square feet of living area. It sold for $699,900 in 2017.

at $2,525,000

LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE

Rayna Old Farm LLC sold the home at 990 Seascape Place to Alexander and Helen Levine, of Sarasota, for $1,205,000. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,886 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,223,200 in 2024.

MONTEREY

Toll Southeast LP Co. Inc. sold the home at 2620 Waterfront Circle to Reed Wolfe Coots and Nicole Mary Colucci, of Sarasota, for $1,140,800. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,811 square feet of living area.

BRIDGEWATER

Scott and Susan Holzborn, of St. Pete Beach, sold their home at 5626 Nectar Cove to Michael and Katie Bernas, of Bradenton, for $1,075,000. Built in 2016, it has six bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,950 square feet of living area. It sold for $673,0500 in 2016.

STANHOPE GATE

Victor Loeherer and Cathy Zenner Loeherer, of Everett, Washington, sold their home at 7009 Stanhope Place to Jonathan Sorbo, of Ontario, Canada, for $1.05 million. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,837 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,000 in 2016.

ROSEDALE ADDITION

Anita Seligman, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 9734 Carnoustie Place to Christopher David McClellan and Karen Marie McClellan, of Bradenton, for $1,045,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three-and-twohalf baths and 3,151 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,125,000 in 2023.

TIDEWATER PRESERVE

Xin Zhang and Xiaofeng Gao, of Japan, sold their home at 5120 Tidewater Preserve Blvd. to Craig Merritt Walters and Michelle Rae Walters, of Bradenton, for $1,035,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,805 square feet of living area. It sold for $605,700 in 2014.

PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGE

Frank and Allison Dippold, of Bradenton, sold their home at 21803

Deer Pointe Crossing to Andrew and Jennifer Houser, of Bradenton, for $1.03 million. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,932 square feet of living area. It sold for $989,900 in 2023.

Clifford Temps, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 8116 Panther Ridge Trail to Robert Maloney and Heather Michele Wende Petrelli, of Bradenton, for $1,005,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,220 square feet of living area. It sold for $495,000 in 2003.

COUNTRY CLUB VILLAGE

Dana Satir, trustee, of Lafayette, Colorado, and Deborah Albero, of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, sold the home at 7012 Twin Hills Terrace to Gregory and Mechelle Ladehoff, of De Witt, Iowa, for $1 million. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,487 square feet of living area. It sold for $689,900 in 2004.

Patricia Kaplan, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her home at 7072 Twin Hills Terrace to Patrick and Kathryn Beach, of Lakewood Ranch, for $950,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,835 square feet of living area. It sold for $563,000 in 2018.

EDGEWATER VILLAGE Nicholas Bullins and Patricia Sabatini, of Wakefield, Massachusetts, sold their home at 6669 Windjammer Place to Steven and Karmen Wilhelm, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1 million. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,505 square feet of living area. It sold for $760,000 in 2022.

Randall and Jennifer McClintock, of Reston, Virginia, sold their home at 6619 Waters Edge Way to Mary Picerno, trustee, of Lakewood

Ranch, for $905,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,121 square feet of living area. It sold for $730,000 in 2021.

MARLOW

Thomas Robert Wall IV, trustee, sold the home at 7242 Marlow Place to David Doyle, of Birmingham, Michigan, for $950,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,094 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,000 in 2008.

SAPPHIRE POINT

Jonathan and Ashley King, of Medina, Ohio, sold their home at 16316 Hidden Oak Loop to Eric and Cindy Schmittdiel, of Bradenton, for $910,000. Built in 2023, it has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half

baths, a pool and 3,443 square feet of living area. It sold for $761,300 in 2023.

AZARIO ESPLANADE

Linda Menshon and David Vaudreuil, of Naples, sold their home at 16109 Umbria Place to Roger and Stacy Siegel, of Lexington, Kentucky, for $892,500. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,101 square feet of living area. It sold for $861,000 in 2023.

Courtesy image

A Country Club East home at 15621 Linn Park Terrace sold for $2,525,000. Built in 2012, it has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,671 square feet of living area.

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SQUARED UP by Dylan Schiff, edited by Jared Goudsmit

By Luis Campos

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