East County Observer 6.25.26

EAST COUNTY

Full STEAM ahead

Observer

Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

PAGE 6B

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

VOLUME 27, NO. 46

YOUR TOWN

County considers regulations for short-term rentals

Residents currently have little recourse if rental properties turn into horrible neighbors. SEE PAGE 3A

Lesley Dwyer

Recycling is the goal for Paradise Hugo Backstrand (above) is normally aiming for a goal as part of the Sarasota Paradise soccer team. Instead, here he’s aiming for the Recycling Rhino.

Manatee County opened a new recycling drop-off location at the Premier Sports Campus South on the corner of Premier Sports Boulevard and Rangeland Parkway.

Recyclable paper, glass, aluminum and plastics can be dropped off at the site.

“We’ve offered public recycling drop-off locations throughout Manatee County since 2013 because recycling remains an important part of reducing waste, keeping recyclables out of the landfill and protecting our environment,” said Tina Saldana, communication coordinator for Manatee County.

Long face leads to happy days Madison Bierl

Learning with lemonade Greenbrook’s AJ Batsch and Michael Pawlak (above), both 12, decided to take action to get what they want. With a handmade lemonade stand sign, a folding table and red solo cups, they slowly but surely attracted customers June 22.

Batsch and Pawlak said they wanted to spend their summer raising money through their lemonade stand and also by providing services like dog walking, yard work and power washing.

They are saving up for Meta glasses and Pawlak said he wants to raise money to make upgrades on his bike. Batsch wants to donate to Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue.

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First foal in eight years has both humans and animals excited at Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions in Myakka City. SEE PAGE 8A Jay Heater

Sydney McCullough takes mom, Belle, and 2-week-old foal, Nezuko, for a walk June 17 at Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions in Myakka City.

A+E

Courtesy image

Gordie Zimmermann, of Icemann Development, said this is what the multiplex could look like. Renderings have not been completed yet to be presented to Manatee County commissioners.

Not a rinky-dink project for Premier Commission approves $80 million public-private venture. SEE PAGE 5A

Low cost to see rich collection.

PAGE 13A

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

CAM Plan joins race

CAMDEN BEDINGHAUS Bedinghaus was a student at Sea Breeze Elementary School, Martha B. King Middle School and Lakewood Ranch High School prior to COVID-19. He then was enrolled in the dual enrollment program at Bayside College in East Bradenton where he graduated. He attended State College of Florida in Bradenton before going to University of South Florida to study economics.

For more information, visit CamForSchoolBoard.com.

Camden Bedinghaus created his plan to improve common sense academics, accountability and transparency and mastery of real-world skills.

MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER

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or Camden Bedinghaus, a phrase he hears quite often is “you’re too young” in regards to him running for the Manatee County District 5 school board seat.

He said he wanted to be involved on the school board because his generation (Gen Z) is “the most anxious, confused and suicidal generation in American history.”

“Regardless of your age, you need to have that thing called common sense to do something with

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Camden Bedinghaus, a freshman at Lakewood Ranch High in 2019, was visited by his older brother, Carter, who was a freshman at University of South Florida at the time. They are two of six kids in the Bedinghaus family.

these systems and I said, ‘Why not?’ Bedinghaus said. “Instead of watching this, why don’t I get involved with the very systems that shape the next generation?

“I just went through it, and that’s my answer to being young. I just went through the system, I know the ins and outs. I’ve seen what students are struggling with.”

Bedinghaus said he has friends who can’t do basic math at a cash register and he refuses to watch it all happen. He wants to stand up and be part of the solution.

Bedinghaus was a youth coordinator at Bayside Community Church for three years and was on the campus council at the University of South Florida, from which he just graduated with a degree in economics. He is currently the director of Turning Point USA Manatee County, the local chapter of the nonprofit co-founded

by Charlie Kirk that advocates for conservative ideals in education.

“As director of the Club America Hub of Manatee County, my work has centered on civic engagement, leadership development and encouraging young people to understand the principles and founding documents that shape our country,” Bedinghaus said.

“Those experiences have strengthened my belief that schools should equip students with knowledge and critical-thinking skills rather than promote any particular political viewpoint.”

Bedinghaus said “running for public office is inherently political, but educating children should not be.”

“I believe schools should focus on their primary mission — providing students with a high-quality education and preparing them for success in life,” Bedinghaus said.

“No child should be subjected to

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Camden Bedinghaus said his main goals as a school board member would be working on common sense academics, accountability and transparency and mastering real world skills.

political activism or ideological agendas in the classroom, regardless of where those ideas fall on the political spectrum.”

For his campaign, Bedinghaus created the “CAM plan.” The C stands for common sense academics, the A is accountability and transparency and the M is for mastery of real world skills.

Bedinghaus said he wants to prioritize reading, writing and arithmetic. He said if he is elected, he will declare a reading emergency on his first day to create urgency around a problem that is prevalent in the level of success a student might achieve.

“Reading proficiency affects every subject area,” Bedinghaus said. “If students struggle to read, they struggle to learn. Addressing that challenge must be one of the district’s highest priorities.”

Bedinghaus said he was the only candidate to qualify by petition, which provided a lot of social-

ization and insight into the idea that many parents feel they are “shut out of the conversation with what their children are learning in school.”

He wants to create a “transparency dashboard” that would show what is in the instructional programs being taught, what supplemental programs are being used, how instructional time is being allocated and what curriculum content is actually being taught to children. The goal would be that parents can access this information from their phones or computers.

“This is about building trust between families and schools,” Bedinghaus said. “When parents are informed and engaged, they are better equipped to support their children’s learning at home and they can raise serious questions when something seems off.”

Bedinghaus said he taught himself the financial knowledge he has and didn’t get it from school.

“I want to change that for future generations, because my generation is drowning in debt,” Bedinghaus said. “I believe one of the major problems is we were never given a proper financial education in school.

“For so long, school has been all about the test — teaching how to pass the test. We’ve gotten too far away from teaching real world skills that students need for when they graduate, how they’ll get a job, what skills they’ll need to get a job and succeed in their future.”

Bedinghaus said he believes the board is lacking a drive to do better and said the current board has “become OK with being average.”

He further clarified he is not running to replace the board as there is a lot of business experience present. There are still positive things happening in Manatee schools, but he wants to bring a fresh perspective.

“We can keep doing the same things and nothing will change, or we can try something new,” Bedinghaus said. “I’m someone who’s actually been through the modern system of what students are going through right now. We should have the students’ best interests at heart, and that’s what I plan on doing by being a board member from the next generation.”

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VOTE 2026

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

COUNTRY RENTALS

This house in Plantation Oaks is advertised on several booking platforms as sleeping up to 32 guests.

Plug Myakka City into the Airbnb search bar, and the results will return all sorts of unique lodging opportunities.

For about $100 a night, up to five people can glamp in a turquoise-painted barn in Myakka City that’s advertised as a “shedcation on the outskirts of town.” Mingling with cats, dogs and chickens is included in the nightly rate.

For about $150 a night, up to six people can sleep in a camper parked on a farm. The listing reads like an Eric Carle children’s book: “You’ll hear roosters crowing in the morning, turkeys gobbling, pigs oinking, donkeys braying and other farm animals throughout the day.”

For about $400 a night, up to four guests can sleep in a remodeled 1937 house that was moved from Siesta Key to the 1,100-acre Triangle Ranch. The two-story, 1,400-square-foot house overlooks the Myakka River.

Lesley Dwyer

No peace for residents

living next to vacation rentals Plantation Oaks residents’ complaints spur Manatee County commissioners to consider a registry, along with occupancy and parking restrictions.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

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lantation Oaks is normally a quiet District 5 neighborhood, until a mariachi band starts playing or a girls flag football team blares what neighbors call “vulgar music.”

A large house on a sprawling corner lot has been converted into a shortterm vacation rental that sleeps up to 32 guests and offers a game room, movie theater, pool, hot tub, pickleball court, mini golf course and an outdoor kitchen.

Collectively, a group of surrounding neighbors has had enough of the party atmosphere.

Plantation Oaks is located near Manatee Charter School (4550 30th St. E., Bradenton) off 44th Avenue East. The first homes were built in the mid-1970s.

Homeowners like Terri Waag are as rooted in the community as the oak trees. She moved into her home 36 years ago and has had the same neighbors for no less than a decade.

The rental house was bought by an out-of-state LLC in 2024. If not living under the protective umbrella of a homeowners association, it’s a scenario that other residents might be facing countywide.

Manatee County commissioners discussed passing an ordinance to regulate vacation rentals at the June 16 meeting.

Manatee County resident Laurie Dills, who doesn’t live in Plantation Oaks, said the last four houses sold in her District 3 Bradenton neighborhood were bought to be used as short-term rentals.

Bradenton’s John McNaught has built a career buying and renting vacation homes in Manatee County.

He doesn’t want a few “bad actors” to impact his business.

“Many vacation rental owners are not large corporations of wealthy investors. They’re teachers, firefighters, retirees, veterans and working families who have invested their savings into a property as part of the American dream.” McNaught said.

“Good government should target bad behavior, not create bureaucracy for thousands of responsible citizens.”

RESIDENTS RESPOND

Some Manatee County residents expressed concern over short-term vacation rentals long before the June 16 meeting.

In January 2025, Commission Chair Tal Siddique attempted to tackle the issue. He gained the support to direct staff to draft an ordinance that would establish a registry of vacation rentals and set some restrictions.

But in May 2025, staff returned with a presentation, not an ordinance.

Siddique made another motion for staff to draft an ordinance, but the motion failed in a 3-3 tie, with commissioners Jason Bearden, Carol Felts and Bob McCann in opposition.

Siddique, along with commissioners Amanda Ballard and George Kruse, voted in favor of drafting an ordinance.

Kruse’s vote came with the caveat

that he was more in agreement with Bearden but wanted to see what an ordinance would look like.

Bearden’s opposition stemmed from the possible costs and bureaucracy that an ordinance could create.

“Conservative values (are based on) limited government, not the expansion of bureaucracy or burdensome regulations on private citizens,” Bearden said. “Instead of more regulation, we should focus on improving enforcement and using existing tools more efficiently.”

At the June 16 meeting, McCann reintroduced a plan to regulate short-term rentals within unincorporated Manatee County. He brought a drafted ordinance.

McCann worked on the ordinance with an attorney and received input from the Manatee County Attorney’s Office and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

His motion was to direct staff to review, revise and bring back an executable ordinance as soon as practicable. The motion passed unanimously, with Bearden absent.

Several residents said “the existing tools” Bearden mentioned don’t work.

Homeowner Sean Davila said the typical law enforcement action for noise violations is a written warning, which is not a “real punishment” because it’s given to the guests, who are always changing.

Davila also noted that “rules are being broken and bypassed” by property owners.

“This particular owner behind me has four properties that aren’t registered properly (with the state), and I had to figure that out, not someone (at the county),” Davila said.

On the morning of June 16, an East County Observer reporter was in Plantation Oaks when a solid waste enforcement officer for Manatee County arrived to issue a third warning notice for garbage bins lined up on the curb in front of the shortterm rental house.

Garbage bins in Manatee County can only be put on the curb up to 24 hours before the scheduled pickup.

The officer said she would be referring the case to Code Enforcement because of the repeated violations.

One of the co-owners of the property, reached by the East County Observer by phone, refused comment.

Code Enforcement records show complaints about trash, debris and overgrown grass dating back to Aug. 21, 2024, only months after the Plantation Oaks home was purchased by the LLC. The latest Code Enforcement report, dated June 1, cites more serious issues of “possibly unpermitted” gas lines, an outdoor kitchen and a pergola. The inspector also noted that the garage was possibly converted into additional sleeping quarters without a permit.

The Manatee County Property Appraiser has the house listed as having four bedrooms, two bathrooms, one half bath and a two-car garage. On Airbnb, the house is listed as having nine bedrooms, three full

bathrooms and sleeping up to 32 people.

According to reviews on Airbnb, the two-car garage was converted into two more bedrooms, and one of the three bathrooms does not have a sink. “(The county) would never allow me to change my home into a Motel 6. Why is this allowed to be basically a motel accommodation?” Waag said. “We need strong regulations, not just a slap on the hand.”

THE ORDINANCE

The ordinance drafted by McCann contains five sections, which are summarized below: Section 1: Administration & Registration Fees If owners rent their property more than three times a year, they’re already required to have a Transient Public Lodging Establishment license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and a Florida Department of Revenue sales tax account.

The ordinance would also require a Tourist Development Tax account with the Manatee County Tax Collector for local bed tax remittance and an application to Manatee County Code Enforcement that includes a $250 registration fee.

(Annual renewals would be $150.)

A Life-Safety Inspection would need to be completed within 30 days of the application to ensure the property meets the Florida Building and Fire Prevention Codes.

Section 2: Maximum Occupancy

& Parking Caps The maximum overnight occupancy would be capped at 12 occupants per property, regardless of size. Parking would be limited to the driveway and garage. Street parking would be prohibited, and the rental would need to provide a minimum of one off-street parking space for every four guests.

Section 3: The 24/7 “Responsible Party” Requirement Every vacation rental owner would be required to designate a responsible party who will be available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week to show up on-site within one hour.

Section 4: In-unit Mandatory Postings Every registered vacation property would need a posting near the entryway that includes the rental certificate number, the name and number of the responsible party, the guest occupancy limit, a parking map and the scheduled collection day.

Section 5: Violations & Escalating Penalties FIRST OFFENSE Fine amount: $250 Penalties and impacts: Formal warning recorded to property file SECOND OFFENSE (within 12 months) Fine amount: $500 Penalties and impacts: Mandatory property reinspection at the owner’s expense ($100 fee) THIRD OFFENSE (within 12 months) Fine amount: $1,000 Penalties and impacts: Suspension of the Vacation Rental Certificate for a period of 90 days FOURTH OFFENSE Fine amount: $5,000 Penalties and impacts: Revocation of the Vacation Rental Certificate (ineligible to reapply for 12 months) The revised ordinance will not be heard before July 28.

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Plantation Oaks residents complain that trash and trash bins are often left on the curb at the short-term rental property in the neighborhood.

SWIMPLY Maybe renting an entire house is too much, how about just the pool by the hour? There’s an app for that, too.

Swimply launched in 2018. If the app sounds vaguely familiar, its founder Bunim Laskin pitched a $300,000 investment for a 5% stake to investors on the TV show “Shark Tank” in 2020.

Shark Lori Greiner called Swimply an “Airbnb for pools.” Although every shark passed, six years later, over 15,000 pools in 125 cities are for rent through the app.

An outdoor, saltwater pool is available for rent in Mill Creek for between $97 to $167 per hour, depending on how many people would like to swim.

The pool maxes out at 30 guests, and up to 20 cars can be parked on-site.

The rules state that smoking, nude swimming and commercial uses are prohibited. However, alcohol and loud music are allowed. But beware of guzzling alcohol because a restroom is not included in the hourly rate.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier is inside The Mall at University Town Center, near Saks and the Apple store

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here’s a new sweet spot in The Mall at University Town Center, outside Saks Fifth Avenue. Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier began welcoming customers June 11 in a space across from the Apple store.

Founded in 1668 in Paris, Bissinger’s once counted King Louis XIV and Napoleon Bonaparte among its fans, according to the company. In the 19th century, a member of the Bissinger family moved to the United States, and the chocolatier now has its headquarters in St. Louis.

There are just 11 Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier retail boutiques nationwide, including three others in Florida: in Tampa, Key Biscayne and inside The Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach. A location in Boca Raton is coming soon.

“We wanted to focus on Florida for our primary retail expansion,” Bissinger’s Chief Chocolate Officer Dan Abel Jr. said in an email to the Business Observer.

The Tampa store is outside Neiman Marcus on the first floor of International Plaza Mall, where it opened in March.

“The landlord at International Plaza also suggested we take a look at UTC Mall, so after a site visit to Tampa, we stopped by UTC — and after I

was at the mall for 10 minutes, I told them this will be our next location,” Abel said in an email, in response to a question about why the chocolatier chose UTC. “The ‘jewelry box’ style of the retail store spoke to me,” Abel said.

“I was with my brother, and he said we need to be in this mall. It is so new, clean, well-lit and the location next to Apple and Saks worked out perfectly.”

Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier has an 800-square-foot store on the main level in the UTC mall.

There, customers “can hand-select their own assortment of chocolates from our candy case as well as explore our core and seasonal offerings,” Abel says.

The business is a “big gifting company,” Abel says, noting it offers gifts for holidays like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, Easter and more.

It has seasonal collections, too, like chocolate-covered raspberries in July and blackberries in September, that Abel says give people a reason to visit the store.

“We also encourage our team to reach out into the community and work with other partners,” Abel adds, “whether it is corporate gifting or working with local tourist attractions for wholesale.”

EAST COUNTY

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

$80 million multiplex skates into Premier Manatee County will contribute $5 million to the approximately $80 million facility.

ELIZABETH KING BUSINESS OBSERVER

A

n approximately $80 million indoor sports multiplex project that features three full-sized ice rinks and a warm-up rink is moving forward in East County, after commissioners unanimously approved a motion June 16 in support of the public-private partnership.

Wesley Chapel-based Icemann Development will design, build, maintain, and operate the venue, which is being planned for land owned by Manatee County near the Lakewood Ranch Library at Premier Sports Campus North.

“We’ve got a lot of experience in the building process,” Icemann Development CEO Gordon Zimmermann told Manatee County commissioners at the meeting. His firm built the TGH Iceplex, where the Tampa Bay Lightning train near Brandon.

A rendering presented to the commissioners showed the complex in Lakewood Ranch would occupy roughly 190,000 square feet.

A site plan is presented to commissioners during the June 16 meeting.

“We’re doing a few more facilities in the state of Florida, but this is our prized area that we’ve always wanted to be in,” Zimmermann said of Lakewood Ranch.

The facility would be able to host sports like hockey, figure skating, curling, basketball, volleyball, cheer and dance, as well as consumer shows, tournaments and community events.

Free surface parking would be available and so would an 800-spot paid parking garage. A garage was something the county had been interested in building but was not sure how to fund, Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, told county commissioners.

According to the county’s business terms, it would receive 20% of gross parking garage revenues starting in year two after opening.

TOURIST ATTRACTION

“Time is of the essence,” Falcione told county commissioners in presenting the project.

Icemann Development “has

Sheriff Station by others 29,000SF

Multiplex ice center 191,500 SF (Footprint)

Parking Garage 66,000 SF (Footprint)

Official renderings for the multiplex will be completed after the site boundaries are finalized, but this rendering offers a glimpse of what the facility at Premier Sports Campus North could look like.

MORE THAN AN ICE RINK The ice rinks will be the main attraction, but what’s being built at Premier Sports Campus North is being called a “multiplex” and will include space for other events.

■ Four sheets of ice rinks ■ 2,500 permanent seats ■ Floors to cover at least one sheet of ice to allow for non ice sports such as cheerleading and volleyball ■ Free surface parking and a pay-to-park garage ■ Food and beverage services ■ Pro shop/apparel/retail ■ Orthopedic/medical services and athletic training

investors ready to invest” in the project and has preapproval from the bank, which “needs you all to consider this to continue to move the ball forward,” Falcione said before commissioners voted to authorize the county administrator to advance the proposal. That includes agreeing to specific business terms such as a 60-year land lease for a 22-acre county-owned parcel on the Premier Sports Campus North.

“The construction cost for this model is in (the) $75 to probably $85 million range,” Falcione said, calling the public-private partnership a “very unique opportunity.”

Manatee County’s Tourist Development Council recommended in April to provide up to $5 million for horizontal infrastructure through the Tourist Development Tax on a reimbursement basis.

Falcione emphasized the importance of sports tourism to the county’s economy. Tourism has three segments in Manatee County, he said: leisure, which generates $1.95 billion in economic impact a year; sports, which brings in $400 million annually; and corporate, which nets $100 million a year.

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“What’s amazing is that (the Premier Sports campus) in 2025 generated about $100 million for the local economy,” Falcione said.

Once it is built, Falcione said the multiplex would have a projected $30 million economic stimulus impact annually, according to Tallahassee market research firm Downs & St. Germain.

“I think it’s going to drive a lot of tourism dollars,” Commissioner George Kruse said in support of the project. “The goal of Premier is to have everything be tournament level,” which he said aligns with what the multiplex would offer.

Kruse did have one request regarding sponsorship opportunities. “Don’t include Sarasota” in the name, he said.

“We’ll make sure that it integrates with the county brand (and) Lakewood Ranch,” Falcione said. The county attorney would help to create language around naming opportunities, he added.

LAND LEASE TERMS

Manatee County plans to lease 22 acres on the Premier Sports Campus North to Wesley Chapel-based Icemann Development so the company can build and operate an indoor sports multiplex there.

According to the county’s proposed terms, it would lease the land to the developer for $1 a year for the first three years.

That would “give the private company a chance to ramp up” as it builds

TIMELINE

The multiplex could be built by summer 2028, according to projections from Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Falcione outlined the timeframe for development: AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER 2026 Commission reviews land lease OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2026 Site plan approval JANUARY 2027 Groundbreaking for the multiplex JUNE TO AUGUST 2028 Project completion

out the project, said Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione.

Starting in year four, the lease would be for $100,000 a year; then in years five and thereafter, rent would increase 2% unless the fair market value of the premises decreases from the prior year, in which case it would remain equal to the immediately preceding year’s rent.

There would be a 30-year lease extension, subject to Icemann’s or the tenant’s compliance with lease requirements.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

Commissioner George Kruse said the first segment of the trail is “critically important” because it will serve as a connector, will bring another amenity to East County and will build funding momentum.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Manatee County staff and key stakeholders toss ceremonial dirt to kick off construction on a half-mile trail segment that will span from the Lake Manatee Water Treatment Plant to Rye Preserve.

Manatee breaks ground on trail system The half-mile trail segment will lead from the Lake Manatee Water Treatment plant to Rye Preserve.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

C

ommissioner George Kruse’s first priority after being elected in November 2020 was building a trail system in Manatee County.

At the time, Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker showed Kruse a newspaper article about a proposed trail system for Manatee County. The article was dated 1999.

“Now, a short quarter of a century

STAGE 1 Length: About a half-mile Cost: $1,015,000 Construction: Eight months Trailhead and parking: Rye Preserve Restrictions: Motorized vehicles, including golf carts, are prohibited

later, we’re here for Stage 1 of our trail system,” Kruse said June 18 at the groundbreaking. “Fortunately, people still ride bikes.”

Commission Chair Tal Siddique joked that Kruse had been threatening to dig the trail himself.

The groundbreaking was held next to the Lake Manatee Water Treatment Plant off Dam Road. The trail will extend about a half-mile to Rye Preserve.

While possible property cuts are looming over the county because of a state-led ballot initiative to increase homestead exemptions, Kruse said the estimated $1,015,000 to build the half-mile trail segment is fully funded.

In 2024, Manatee County received a $1 million appropriation from the federal government for the segment.

In total, the trail system has received federal appropriations of $7.75 million since 2022.

Kruse pushed building trails over roads during the 2025 budget cycle due to cost, a message he reiterated

Luxury Villas

at the groundbreaking.

“People need to understand this importance because roads are expensive,” Kruse said. “Trail systems are much more affordable and allow people a safe way of both recreational and commuter transportation, and we don’t have to guess on this. Look at what Legacy Trail has done in Sarasota. They built a small segment in Palmer Ranch to see if it works, and now it’s everywhere.”

The Friends of the Legacy Trail’s website keeps track of the trail’s usage. Users have logged over 600,000 trips every year since 2022.

The trail system cost $102 million.

The estimated cost to build out the entire 140-mile trail network throughout Manatee County is $130 million.

To Kruse’s point, it would cost over a billion dollars to build 140 miles worth of two-lane roads.

When finished, the overall trail network will link to Sarasota’s Legacy Trail and Florida’s Shared Use Non-motorized Trail, familiarly known as the SUN Trail.

‘CRITICALLY IMPORTANT’

Kruse called the segment of trail between Rye Preserve and the water treatment plant “critically impor-

tant from Day 1.”

“This segment is going to connect to the one preserve — the one outdoor space — our fastest growing part of Manatee County has: Rye Preserve,” Kruse said.

He rattled off names of preserves on the west side of the county — Robinson Preserve, Perico Preserve, Neal Preserve and Emerson Preserve — and then noted Rye Preserve as the only county-owned preserve in East County.

Kruse also noted that most trails in Manatee County are loops within parks and preserves that don’t go anywhere.

When finished, Lakewood Ranch residents will be able to take Bourneside Boulevard, which turns into Dam Road on the north side of State Road 64, hop on the trail and arrive at Rye Preserve.

Headed south, Kruse said residents will be able to park at Rye Preserve and ride their bikes all the way down to Waterside Place for breakfast because of what Schroeder-Manatee Ranch built — bike lanes and sidewalks along the entirety of Bourneside Boulevard, which stretches from State Road 64 to University Parkway.

Bourneside Boulevard ends at University Parkway, but there is a network of sidewalks and bike lanes that lead to Waterside Place.

“At some point, you just have to get started,” said Charles Hines, the program director for the Florida Gulf Coast Trail. “You got started. That’s the key because it builds momentum, and you’re part of a much larger trail system.”

Spearheaded by the Trust for Public Land, “the Florida Gulf Coast Trail is an ambitious plan to create a 420-mile regional trail in Southwest Florida” that spans seven coastal counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier.

Kruse noted that the first segment can be “the proof of concept” for Manatee County.

“You need something in the ground for people to enjoy,” he said.

“That starts building the friends of nonprofits and the opportunities for future funding elsewhere.”

Now that construction has started, the half-mile segment is anticipated to be completed in eight months.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

Operation Warrior Resolution offers brain-based healing to help veterans deal with past trauma.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

D

donate &&shop donate donate &donate shop shop & sh

Lesley Dwyer

Dan Bue, a U.S. Navy veteran, is both a client and a team member at Operation Warrior Resolution.

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Mission statement: To transform veterans to health and wellness. To provide innovative, holistic treatments for mental health to veterans and their family members; alleviating PTSD, anxiety and other mental health related issues.

spouses and children of participating veterans.

Prior to treatment, if Dan Bue “hit a down slope” of depression or anxiety, he could stay down for a week.

Now, he can find his way out of that state in a matter of hours.

“I realized I can shift it,” he said.

“Am I perfect? No. It’s a work in progress every day for the rest of my life. Some things take a little longer to process than other things. But I know I’m getting better.”

Bue is helping heal others at OWR through one of its ancillary services SEE NONPROFIT, PAGE 10A

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an Bue serves as the retreat logistics lead for Operation Warrior Resolution, but in 2022, he was one of the military veterans receiving care from OWR. Bue, 51, spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy before retiring at the end of 2018. He experienced a difficult transition from military life to civilian life, so he attended a Tactical Healing Retreat at OWR. The retreats offer brain-based healing sessions, equine therapy, yoga classes, breath work, meditation, holistic nutrition coaching, and chiropractic and medical massage therapy.

“The impact was huge,” Bue said.

“I noticed that I smile more. People pointed it out to me because prior to the retreat, I didn’t smile much. My voice and expressions were monotone.”

Bue’s healing impacted his family, as well. He realized how much so during an OWR couples retreat with his wife, Jen Bue. At the end of the retreat, participants were asked what OWR has done for them.

Jen Bue replied, “It gave me my husband back.”

Dan and Jen Bue share 33 years and three children — Avery, Noah and Alec Bue. “She brought me to tears,” Dan Bue said. “Sometimes in relationships, we don’t realize what we do, the impacts we have — good or bad.

To hear that, it was unexpected.”

The core service OWR offers is brain-based healing, a process that speeds up recovery from trauma by using neuroscience to “rewire” the brain. The service is also available to

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Vets find help in managing trauma

7A

8A

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

ABOUT LIPIZZANS Average height: 14 to 15 hands (approximately 60 inches tall) Average weight: 1,000 to 1,300 pounds Body type: Compact, muscular Big eaters: Lipizzans can eat an average of 22 pounds of hay a day Origin: Crossbreeding of Spanish horses with other bloodlines Did you know?: The Lipizzan is the national animal of Slovenia How many are there?: The Lipizzan International Federation estimates approximately 12,000 purebred

Photos by Jay Heater

Nezuko, and mom, Belle, come out of the stall at Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions in Myakka City.

Welcome ranch to the

A little horsing around led to the first foal at Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions in eight years.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

I

t was a major change on the grounds of Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions,

and the 13 horses on the property all knew it.

So did the cows.

Rebecca McCullough and her daughter, Sydney, were keeping an eye on the Myakka City ranch’s new foal, the first born on the property in eight years.

As they walked to check her out — she was born June 7 — they couldn’t miss that all the horses and cows were “screaming.”

Everyone on the property was excited about a new addition.

“I don’t know how they knew,” Rebecca McCullough said of her animals. “It’s not like there is a horse gossip phone. But they all did, and even the cows knew. They were all screaming because they knew something had changed.”

For those who live in the community, the change was a sign that the McCulloughs are committed for the long run to keep their ranch alive.

Since Gabby Herrmann’s death in 2021, the responsibility of running the ranch has been inherited

by Rebecca McCullough, Gabby’s only child. Although she works as a nurse, she has taken on that responsibility with the help of her daughter, Sydney, who was 12 when her grandmother died.

Now 17, Sydney has completed her general education development degree and, after taking a year off from studies, will begin studying to become a veterinarian. She also has agreed to work with her mom to keep the Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallion legacy alive.

The Herrmann family has operated the ranch in Myakka City since 1962, when Col. Ottomar Herrmann, who was born in Slovakia, moved there.

Before that, the family’s ties to the stallions traced back more than 300 years in Europe.

But with the family all-out to keep the ranch and its shows alive, no foal had been born on the property in the three years prior to Gabby Herrmann’s death. The workload was just as heavy after Rebecca McCullough took over.

But with Sydney willing to share the workload into the future, the two of them decided it was time to begin restocking the ranch. They bred Argento, one of their star performers, to Belle, a 20-year-old mare.

“It was 11 months of stress,” Rebecca McCullough said.

The result was a beautiful brown foal that was born approximately 3

Two-week-old Nezuko is exploring her new world at Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions ranch in Myakka City.

Rebecca McCullough, front, says it takes foals such as Nezuko approximately four years to mature so they can be trained for shows.

a.m. June 7 while McCullough was working the night shift.

She had a camera set up in the stall and during a break, she checked her phone and saw two little legs. She began calling Sydney.

“You know how hard it is to wake up a teen?” Rebecca McCullough said.

But everything was just fine. “(Horses) really don’t need any assistance,” Rebecca McCullough said. “You keep an eye on them in case there is a problem.”

From that moment, though, Belle has had to share mothering duties with Sydney McCullough.

“If you think the mare is protective ... Sydney is worse,” Rebecca McCullough said. “She doesn’t let anyone near the baby.”

Volunteers on the ranch have been coming to see the new baby, under Sydney’s watchful eye, “She came out looking so nice,” Rebecca McCullough said of the foal.

“She has nice, long, straight legs and a long back.”

Lipizzans are born dark colored but usually turn white by the time they are 8 to 10 years old, Rebecca McCullough said the foal already has shown some white, including a rare, white blaze on the bridge of her nose.

Rebecca McCullough estimates she will weigh about 1,000 pounds when fully grown, just like her mom.

When out of the stall, she has shown lots of energy, running short sprints around her mom.

“She kicks,” Rebecca McCullough said. “We found that out. She has been challenging. She definitely is her father’s daughter.”

They decided to name the baby, Nezuko, after Nezuko Kamado, a fictional character in Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga and anime series, “Demon Slayer.”

“We try to name horses after what is popular,” Rebecca McCullough said. “Honestly, you try to pick something that mirrors the personality of the characters.”

Sydney McCullough said Nezuko is curious about everything, and tough.

Visitors to Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions aren’t likely to see much of Nezuko for quite some time.

“The horses are a very long-term investment,” Rebecca McCullough said. “It is four to five years before Lipizzans mature (to be trained). All the groundwork is done after they turn 4.”

More babies are in the ranch’s future.

“We’ve been breeding this year,” Rebecca McCullough said. “I am feeling a lot more confident (in the breeding process) and all our guys in the barn are getting old.”

She said they are hopeful that they will add two more foals in 2027.

“We also are going to give Belle a year off, and then we will breed her one more time,” Rebecca McCullough said. “She is 20.”

What does the breeding mean for the ranch?

“It just means we will keep going on,” Rebecca McCullough said. “We are adding horses here. This is like a big step for us.”

EAST COUNTY

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

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“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher and President / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Publisher / Lori Ruth, LRuth@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Jay Heater, JHeater@YourObserver.com Sports Reporter / Jack Nelson, JNelson@ YourObserver.com Staff Writers / Madison Bierl, MBierl@ YourObserver.com; Lesley Dwyer, LDwyer@YourObserver.com Digital News Analytics and Marketing Strategist / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Digital News Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com Chief Revenue Officer / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Advertising Director / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Senior Sales Executive / Richeal McGuinness, RMcGuinness@ YourObserver.com; Toni Perren, TPerren@ YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Jennifer Kane, JKane@YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@ YourObserver.com; Marcus Ponce, MPonce@YourObserver.com; Anna Reich, Anna@YourObserver.com; Brenda White, BWhite@YourObserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Sydney Schunk, SSchunk@YourObserver. com Head of Sales Operations / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Account Managers / Lori Downey, LDowney@YourObserver.com; Caitlin Ellis, CEllis@YourObserver.com Advertising and Event Coordinator / Marisa Merlino, MMerlino@YourObserver. com Director of Strategic Growth / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Strategic Marketing Coordinator / Landyn Park, LPark@YourObserver.com Social Media and Content Manager / Emma Burke, EBurke@YourObserver.com Tributes Coordinator / Kristen Boothroyd, Tributes@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services and IT / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver. com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@YourObserver.com Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com

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9A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

JAY HEATER

The world changes, but fireworks remain a joy

A

s we approach a very special July 4 celebration — our country’s 250th birthday — I reflect back on my own time on the planet and how things do change as the decades pass.

For example, back when I was in ninth grade (in the 1970s), our high school French class took a trip from upstate New York to Montreal, Canada.

A dozen 14-year-old students piled into a short school bus with our French teacher and her husband, and headed out on a six-hour drive that began our three-day, two-night road trip.

The first morning we spent in Montreal, our French teacher told us that she and her husband were going to take the eight girls to the botanical gardens, so the four boys were free to explore the city and practice our slim French-speaking abilities.

Can you imagine a school today allowing a sanctioned trip where 14-year-olds could roam unsupervised through a foreign city (even though it was, after all, Canada)?

Being boys, we chose to find Jarry Park to attend the Philadelphia Phillies-Montreal Expos game. It ended up being a somewhat famous game (June 25, 1972) as Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton beat up on Expos manager Gene Mauch, who had charged the mound.

In today’s world, I would have been at the botanical gardens.

And in today’s world, I certainly wouldn’t have been buying any Canadian fireworks.

At the end of the trip, we were heading back to New York when our teacher’s husband, who was driving the bus, pulled over at a fireworks store right before we reached the border. Like today, it was illegal to bring fireworks into the U.S. from

Canada, but with fireworks stores all along the border, it was obvious that authorities were ambivalent about you breaking a dozen state and federal laws by doing so.

We pulled up to the border, and an endless stream of signs directed us through and around the authorities, so we thought. Our teacher’s husband was confused as he slowly bypassed the various checkpoints, and we were on our way.

Since we were all loaded down with firecrackers, roman candles and M-80s, we were happy we weren’t subjected to an inspection.

But the New York State Troopers weren’t so pleased we had skipped the checkpoints. We actually were supposed to stop, and didn’t. So three or four miles down the road, two police cars screamed up behind us and pulled us over. We all pictured a bunch of teens being thrown into jail.

It only took 15 minutes, though, for our teacher’s husband to explain his confusion and apologize. We watched as the Troopers laughed about our ignorance before allowing our bus to continue without a search.

My fireworks stash was safe, and I was stocked for July 4 that year, and for years to come.

With all the changes in the world, my love of fireworks has remained relatively the same. I can’t easily get the M-80s anymore like I could in the 1970s. (The U.S. banned use of M-80s in 1966, but believe me, at the time, I still could get them easy enough.) But I still have firecrackers in a drawer at home.

Years ago, while living in California, I “knew a guy” who could get me whatever I wanted, so I would put on a neighborhood fireworks show on the road in front of my house. Those days are long gone,

so now I rely on others to produce the sis boom bah. In East County, you have plenty of options in that regard.

If you don’t have your own fireworks stash, or if those neighborhood shows are limited because of the current burn ban, you will have some wonderful alternatives here in East County. Whatever you decide, please be safe and plan ahead.

Enjoy the fireworks while you can. The first official fireworks celebration to celebrate our nation’s independence came on July 4, 1777, on the Commons in Philadelphia.

Will there still be fireworks 25 years from now or 50 years? The world continues to change, and there has been a growing anti-fireworks movement.

So here are two holiday events — one for those who love fireworks, and one for those who prefer laser lights.

1. Fireworks on the Lake (Friday, July 3) It’s hard to believe this is the 10th year of Fireworks on the Lake at Nathan Benderson Park, but time flies ...

If you haven’t done this one before, it is time you did. Sure, there are thousands of spectators who pack Regatta Island and various parking lots around the park (Gates open at 5 p.m.), and no doubt, it can be a pain to leave after the event because of the traffic.

But with patience, this is a truly fantastic event from beginning to end. The live music is taking a turn for the America 250 celebration.

The band Sugar Vibe will entertain from 5-8 p.m. before the Pops Orchestra takes over at 8 p.m. and plays through the fireworks show that runs from just after 9 p.m. for 18 minutes. The Pops is something

Jay Heater

The fireworks show at Nathan Benderson Park went forward despite the rain July 3, 2025, to cap Fireworks on the Lake.

new for the event, but should add an extra flair with its patriotic tunes.

The Der Dutchman’s Apple Pie Eating Contest should be interesting, as well.

Parking on Regatta Island is $35 per carload, and there is no charge to get into the park. Parking in the South or Special Event lots is $25.

RVs cost $55 in those lots.

2. Star Spangled Spectacular (Saturday, July 4) So those who are not fans of fireworks, this Waterside Place event is perfect. Thousands will pack the entertainment hub to see the drone show that is scheduled to begin approximately at 9 p.m.

I can attest that the Circus Arts Conservatory show (8 p.m.) was terrific in 2025, and I look forward to seeing what they have in store for

us this year. Plenty of kids activities line the streets and entertainer, juggler and sword-swallower Noah Royak performs at 7 p.m.

Plan your arrival early for this one. The 2025 event tested the parking limits of Waterside Place, and by 8 p.m., people were making their own spaces wherever they could find grass. Free shuttles will run from Grace Community Church all during the event and that might be a great alternative.

Jay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.

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— Combat Conscious Yoga.

He teaches at retreats, at the American Legion in Venice (Classes are free, but all donations go to OWR.) and, on occasion, at the Myakka Elephant Ranch. The elephants serve as an unusual, but peaceful, backdrop.

Another program OWR offers is workforce training, but veterans are required to complete brain-based healing before starting the program.

Since launching the program in July 2024, OWR has covered tuition for over 200 veterans to attend Commercial Driver’s License Training.

The average entry level salary for Florida CDL drivers is $78,000, and OWR’s program has seen a 96% completion rate.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County awarded OWR a $25,000 grant to expand the training program earlier this month.

Through a partnership with Operation Lifeline (a north Florida nonprofit that assists veterans with affordable housing and workforce training), veterans and transitioning service members will learn trade and construction skills while building and rehabbing affordable housing for veterans.

OWR was initially established in Sarasota, but flooding from Hurricane Debby in August 2024 forced the nonprofit to relocate.

CEO and founder Kendra Simpkins said everything OWR had left after Hurricane Debby fit on a 6-foot table.

The heartache led to a blessing.

OWR had been renting a house in Sarasota. Now, the nonprofit owns two houses on 6 acres off Water Line Road. The site was purchased for approximately $1.7 million in June 2025 and is gearing up for a $1.7 million expansion.

The expansion will include an addition to one of the existing homes to add more session rooms and one large group space. And a new six-bedroom home will be built to expand the retreat capacity.

Construction will begin once the permits are issued. Work is anticipated to take about a year to complete.

The project is almost entirely funded, with the exception of

JULY 4TH SAVINGS EVENT

Courtesy image

Tito and Kerri Vargas do yoga during a couples retreat.

Lesley Dwyer

$300,000, but there’s something else Simpkins is even more short on — volunteers.

With a 6-acre property, periodic retreats and community outreach events to attend, there’s always something to do.

During retreats, volunteers help cook and clean. At events, they man tents and tables. On-site, you name it.

Over the past few months, a garden club spent hours weeding and mulching, and a church group spent four days painting and laying flooring.

“If someone has a particular skill or expertise, especially as it comes to property, we definitely welcome that,” Simpkins said.

Operation Warrior Resolution’s facility feels like a home.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

Lesley Dwyer

Mike Harrison attends the Manatee County land use meeting June 4 to speak about the comprehensive plan amendments.

Myakka resident throws cowboy hat into commission race Mike Harrison is vying for the Republican nomination in District 1, and he’s up against five other candidates.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

W

hen Myakka City’s Mike Harrison, 65, graduated from high school, he said finding animal feed “in town” was easy.

Off the top of his head, he rattled off six store names. Today, he can only name two feed stores in Bradenton — Tractor Supply and Come See Come Sav. As the livestock continues to move farther

DISTRICT 1 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES The primary election is Aug. 18.

■ Elizabeth Arnold ■ John Dunn ■ Mike Harrison ■ Adam Johnson ■ Mark Stanoch ■ Leland Taylor

east, so do the feed stores.

“That’s a lot of movement because of a lot of development,” Harrison said. “Development in rural areas has affected us. It definitely has affected me. It’s affected the feed stores and the large animal

veterinarians.”

Harrison is affected because he’s a farrier by trade. Farriers specialize in hoof care and horseshoes.

Now, he’s looking to fill another set of shoes, those of the late Commissioner Carol Ann Felts. Harrison is running to represent the rural areas of District 1 on the Manatee County Commission, but he will first have to win the Republican nomination in the Aug. 18 primary election.

“Carol and I had talked about it before,” he said. “She told me, ‘When I’m done with this, you should think about it. It’d be a great job for you.’”

If elected, Harrison plans to follow Felts’ lead and protect rural Manatee County from development many of the residents don’t want.

Mike Harrison and his horses have followed the Florida Cracker Trail across the state for the past 35 years. The ride, held in February, used to start near Lorraine Road, but development has pushed the start further east to Falkner Farms in Myakka City. The weeklong ride ends in Fort Pierce.

The ride’s aim is to “keep history alive” by traversing the same route across the state that the original Cracker Cowmen took because it was the only dry route.

The cowmen were coined “crackers” because their whips made loud cracking sounds that could be heard from miles away. The cracks would clear cows out of brush and were also used as a means of communication between cowmen.

“Right now, development is the biggest issue in Manatee County,” he said. “Anyone I talk to in the streets — in Parrish, Myakka, Ellenton — nobody wants any more development until we figure out the flaws that we already have.”

Harrison noted that developers aren’t “evil.” They simply “do what big developers do: They develop land and make money.”

Harrison has never run for office before, but he currently holds two leadership positions. He’s served as pastor at the New Wine Worship Center in Sarasota since 2004 and has served as president of the Florida Cracker Trail Association since 2019.

He’ a self-described “nice guy,” who knows how to be firm and say, “No,” which he is prepared to do if elected.

Because of recent “government overreach” by the state, Harrison noted that he would be walking into office with “one arm tied behind his back,” but he can still “stand up for what’s right.”

“If the zoning isn’t changed,

“Development in rural areas has affected us. It definitely has affected me. It’s affected the feed stores and the large animal veterinarians.”

— Mike Harrison

don’t change it,” he said. “You just have to stay within the perimeters of the law.”

Harrison sees Myakka City and Parrish as being “overlooked and bypassed.” All Manatee County residents pay taxes at the same rate, but Myakka City barely has any amenities and Parrish is being “totally engulfed by development” and still doesn’t have a community center.

He called it a “sad state of affairs” when even the roads don’t get the county’s attention in rural areas.

Harrison lives on a private, dirt road in Myakka City, which many residents prefer because dirt is easier on a horse’s feet and drivers don’t speed as fast as they would on asphalt.

However, Harrison pointed to Wauchula Road and County Road 675 as paved roads that need work.

Harrison was involved a wreck on County Road 675. Another driver entered his lane. When he swerved to avoid the car, his car dropped off the ledge into an approximate 9.5inch ditch because the road has no shoulder.

The animals are overlooked, too.

Harrison said “Lord, have mercy” if anyone tried to move a sea turtle. Residents turn down their lights and can’t touch the nests.

Yet gopher tortoises are regularly relocated in District 1 because of development.

Harrison called himself a “true Floridian” who has been fighting to preserve rural Florida and its history for 35 years. He said what you see is what you get.

“I’m Mike Harrison wherever I go,” he said. “I’m the same person at church as I am out here working on horses and when I’m campaigning. I don’t know how to change.

I’m not a chameleon.”

VOTE 2026

FLORIDA CRACKER TRAIL

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YourObserver.com

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

LETTERS

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Waste has led to tax amendment In response to your article (Tax shift could affect our luxury living, Jay Heater, June 18), the proposed property tax relief amendment serves as a necessary financial adjustment that protects residents from being priced out of their homes while fostering local economic growth through increased consumer spending.

Far from causing a financial crisis, this measure promotes municipal accountability and maintains essential funding for schools, challenging the notion that tax relief requires sacrificing community amenities.

The Manatee commissioners have been spending money like they just won the lottery. They are wasting our money on buildings and additional staff to name the biggest waste. We need to stop this before the shine tarnishes on our area.

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Taxes fair, but amendment might be necessary

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I had come to Lakewood Ranch 26 years ago. I am retired and I live on a limited income.

Originally from Chicago, I lived in Missouri, Kansas and New York before coming here. I love it here.

People complain about taxes and insurance who have lived here for years. Do they think the taxes remained the same from where they came from 10 years ago. How naive.

I feel after having lived in other states that the taxes are fair here.

And there are safeguards in the tax law that limit the increases.

I do, however, mind paying the taxes when it’s used unwisely. For the most part, I feel the taxes are used properly. I do, however, know human nature. The more we make, the more we spend. Not everyone, but many.

There is wasteful spending all over the country. So I know it’s not unusual. It’s a problem that begins when lawmakers know about it and don’t do anything about it.

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Resident’s concerns get little response I recently wrote to the Manatee County Board of Commissioners, urging them to place greater priority on our county’s much-needed infrastructure projects — such as the Lorraine Road widening project, storm water management and traffic improvements.

Regrettably, of the six commissioners (the District 1 seat is empty at this time), only Mike Rahn took the time to respond to my letter.

The silence from the remaining five, including my own District 5, is disappointing. It raises questions about accountability and responsiveness to constituents’ concerns.

Our county faces growing challenges with infrastructure, population-driven demands on roads and utilities, and the need for responsible budgeting. These core governmental responsibilities should take precedence over animal-related projects when resources are limited.

Residents deserve commissioners who actively listen, respond and prioritize basic services.

ROBERT WINSLER LAKEWOOD RANCH

CORRECTION In the East County Observer June 18 article, “Manatee commissioner calls the county ‘poor,’” the Judicial Building was the correct building that needs over $600,000 in repairs due to termite damage.

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So whether we pass the bill or not, it’s probably a good thing that our counties, Bradenton and Sarasota, look at what they spend. Our commissioners are the ones who spend our tax money. And those commissioners can decide if they can offer relief to those taxpayers who would welcome relief.

It would be nice to have it come by their choice instead of a bill. But if they can’t, a bill is necessary.

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JUNE 25, 2026

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

COLLECTORS’ EDITION

‘Something Borrowed, Something New’ features contemporary art on loan to Sarasota Art Museum. on their work. Salzberg, who is also in the business of collecting and authenticating rare coins, got ribbed

by Storer. “Because I’m not married, I don’t have to check with anybody to see if it’s OK to buy something,” Storer teased Stanton.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER A+E EDITOR

Vik Muniz’s “Shoeshine Boy, After Lewis Hine (2005)” is on loan to the Sarasota Art Museum from Frank and Katherine Martucci for “Something Borrowed, Something New.”

Image courtesy of John Berens

Derrick Adams’ “Floater,” from the collection of Elizabeth and William Kahane.

Courtesy image

Stanton Storer loaned William Villalongo’s “Mother Tongue” for “Something Borrowed, Something New.”

Ai Weiwei’s “CocaCola Vase” (2014), is on loan from the Mark and Donna Salzberg Collection.

A

s F. Scott Fitzgerald so astutely observed, the very rich “are different from you and me.”

To begin with, they like to live in very big houses and often have several of them. To fill up these spaces, they tend to accumulate stuff — fancy cars, fine wines, custom-made furniture, antiques and valuable art.

Unless you have very rich friends, you might not see these treasures until they end up in a museum or up for auction at Sotheby’s or Christie’s, which publicly display pieces before they go under the gavel.

Until now.

Unless you’re the kind of person who reads Artforum magazine, you might not be aware that a major exhibition of contemporary art loaned by collectors from southwest Florida is happening in your own backyard. If you’re familiar with 21st-century culture, you’ve heard names like Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, David Hockney, Yoko Ono, Kara Walker and Ai Weiwei before.

But did you know some of their artwork is currently on display in the old Sarasota High School? Located at 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, the red brick building houses the Sarasota Art Museum.

Run by Ringling College of Art and Design, SAM also hosts the local outpost of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The lifelong learners have no doubt heard about the breathtaking exhibition “Something Borrowed, Something New.” But it was easy to miss its April 27 opening at the end of a busy Sarasota social season marked by some centennial celebrations.

You don’t have to be an art connoisseur to see that the exhibition of 85 pieces loaned by 10 collectors from Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota is nothing short of a cultural coup. It’s also testament to the much-vaunted generosity of the region.

“Something Borrowed, Something New” marks the capstone of Rangsook Yoon’s tenure as senior curator at SAM. Yoon left in May to join the Frye Art Museum in Seattle.

“Something Borrowed” is evidence of Yoon’s ability to identify rising stars in the contemporary art scene.

In addition to the boldface names already mentioned, the exhibition includes such cutting-edge artists as Derrick Adams, KAWS, Cara Romero, Hank Willis Thomas, Wil-

MICKEY’S EYELESS COMPANIONS

Images courtesy of Ryan Gamma

A close-up of the artist KAWS’ “4 Ft Companion (Gray), (Brown) and (Black)” on loan from the Mark and Donna Salzberg Collection.

liam Villalongo and others.

To be sure, these artists represent eyes and hands that have been long ignored in the art world. But no one should dismiss “Something Borrowed” as a survey of “woke” art or an overdue nod to representation.

This is a stunning assemblage of what the very rich among us consider worth collecting.

The diplomacy and negotiating skills that Yoon and others at SAM must have employed to bring the paintings, photographs, sculpture and multimedia works to SAM’s galleries can only be imagined.

We’re talking about hours, if not weeks and months, of courting and cajoling. And there are strings attached. Certain twin images like Hank Willis Thomas’ “Silver Lining A (No Flash)” and “Silver Lining A (With Flash)” from the collection of Stanton Storer must always be reproduced together. A minor detail to be sure, but one that demonstrates how the owners of artwork still want control over their acquisitions.

But even if the very rich are different from you and me, they are not, like Chekhov’s proverbial happy families, all alike. Some flaunt their wealth, while others keep a low profile.

The rare opportunity to see how the other half lives drew an SRO crowd to a Q&A session moderated

by Yoon on April 18 that brought together Storer and Mark Salzberg, both major lenders to “Something Borrowed, Something New.” Salzberg’s wife, Donna, was in the front row, lending support to her husband.

Like big-game hunters back from safari, Storer and Salzberg traded war stories about discovering artists at Art Basel Miami and traveling to galleries around the country to bid

IF YOU GO ‘SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW’ When: Through Sept. 27 Where: The Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail.

Tickets: $20.

Info: Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

Image courtesy of Harry Sayer

A visitor to the Sarasota Art Museum takes a photo of David Hockney's "Inside It Opens Up As Well," which collector Stanton Storer loaned to the museum for "Something Borrowed, Something New."

When you enter the “Something Borrowed, Something New” exhibition, you are greeted by three Mickey Mouse-like sculptures by the artist KAWS on loan from the Salzberg Collection. Titled “4 Ft Companion (Gray), (Brown) and (Black),” the painted vinyl figures have Mickey’s shoes and gloves, but not his ears. Where an eye would normally be found, there is the letter X. “What does it mean?” pondered a group of SAM visitors on a recent tour led by docent Diane Farber. Like all the docents wearing signature pink aprons and nametags at SAM, Farber is quite knowledgeable about her subject. She confirmed someone’s suspicion that “X’s instead of eyes means erasure or invisibility.”

Erasure is a thread that runs through “Something Borrowed.” In Kara Walker’s “Lost Mountain at Sunrise,” on loan from the collection of Keith Monda and Venorica Brady, the artist has embellished a picture from “Harper’s Pictorial History of the Civil War” by adding Black characters.

Some of the artwork on display in “Something Borrowed” take images that have been appropriated and reclaims them. Foremost among this genre is the huge sepia-toned print

by Cara Romero called “TV Indians,” on loan from the Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Collection.

A registered member of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, Romero photographed family members outdoors under a majestic sky. Dressed in traditional Native costumes, they are flanked by vintage TVs and computer screens with such familiar characters as “Tonto and the Lone Ranger.”

Ai Weiwei’s “Coca Cola Vase” from the Salzberg Collection and the bright red “The Papercut Portfolio (Cats and Dogs; Citizen’s Investigation; New York; Furniture; Haircut; Map of China; River Crabs; Zodiac)” on loan from Storer depict an ancient culture being enlivened but also corrupted by American-style capitalism. Follow the progression of papercuts and you’ll discover the Chinese artist’s disillusionment with life in New York City.

Hard as it may be to believe, the vase with the familiar soda logo is at least 2,000 years old and dates to China’s Han dynasty. Incredible!

To describe “Something Borrowed, Something New” as awe-inspiring is an understatement at best. It’s worth seeing several times.

Before you go, spend a few minutes in front of David Hockney’s “Inside It Opens Up As Well,” which contains many artworks within a piece that is 90 inches wide and 33 inches high.

Hockney, an unapologetically gay Yorkshireman who fell in love with California, died at age 88 on June 11.

Try to spend 10 minutes looking at “Inside It Opens Up As Well.” The artwork-gazing challenge is a TikTok staple and was recently embraced by The New York Times.

As you lose yourself in one of the stupendous pieces at SAM, you’re likely to overhear comments such as, “Do people really keep these pieces in their living room?” Yes, they do.

During the opening day panel discussion, Storer and Salzberg showed photographs of art in their homes.

Lest there was any doubt, the photos confirm that the very rich are different from you and me.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

THURSDAY SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Historic Asolo Theatre, 5401 Bay Shore Road $15-$20 Visit Ringling.org.

The Ringling and the Circus Arts Conservatory join forces for their annual Summer Circus Spectacular in the Historic Asolo Theater.

Ringmaster Ashley Vargas, a veteran of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and circuses around the world, presides over a showcase of circus artists in a show designed to appeal to all generations. Among the circus arts represented are clowning, juggling, hand balancing, aerial arts and duo roller skating. For $5 more, make it a circus day and tour The Ringling’s Historic Circus Galleries and Tibbals Learning Center, which contains a miniature circus of 42,000 pieces built by Howard Tibbals. Runs through Aug. 8.

‘DOG MOM’ 7 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $25-$46 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

A New Play National Rolling Network premiere by playwright Tate Elizabeth Hanyak, “Dog Mom” is

DON’T MISS

‘LADY DISDAIN’ Lauren Gunderson, one of America’s most produced playwrights, takes on the world of romantasy audiobooks with “Lady Disdain,” a rolling world premiere at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Like their models in “As You Like It,” audiobook narrators Beatrice and Ben trade witty barbs that mask sexual attraction. Runs through June 27.

IF YOU GO When: Through June 27 Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $31-$77 Info: Visit AsoloRep.org.

being produced by regional theaters in Portland, Oregon, Sunnyvale and Sacramento, California and Sarasota’s own Florida Studio Theatre. Directed by Nancy Rominger, “Dog Mom” follows a hard-nosed New Yorker whose heart begins to melt after she fosters a stray dog. Runs through July 26.

‘HONKY TONK ANGELS’ 7 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $25-$59 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

THIS WEEK

Country legend Vince Gill brings his “50 Years From Home” tour to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Friday, June 26.

OUR PICK

VINCE GILL Vince Gill is back on the trail again with his “50 Years From Home” tour.

In the years since Gill first hit it big with “When I Call Your Name” in 1990, he has released 20 albums, sold over 30 million records and won 18 CMA Awards, including Song of the Year four times.

Follow three Dolly Parton wannabes on a road trip to Nashville as Angela, Darlene and Sue Ellen chase their dreams of country music stardom and forge lasting bonds of friendship along the way. This tale gives its performers the chance to belt out country favorites like Parton’s “9 to 5” and Tammy Wynette’s “Stand

By Your Man,” among others. Runs through June 28.

IF YOU GO When: 7 p.m. Friday, June 26 Where: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $85-$187 Info: Visit VanWezel.org.

FRIDAY ‘LOST & FOUND’ 5 p.m. at Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N. Palm Ave. Free Visit CreativeLiberties.net.

Join Creative Liberties galleries co-founders Barbara Gerdeman and Elizabeth Goodwill for the opening of their joint art show, “Lost & Found” at Art Ovation hotel. The exhibition features Gerdeman’s photos alongside Goodwill’s weavings and 3D work using fiber and found materials. In addition to the reception, the artists will be at the hotel each evening from 4-8 p.m. on June 22-28.

CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘SILENT MOVIE’ 7 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

Fifty years ago, we were celebrating the Bicentennial so you can be forgiven if you missed one of Mel Brooks’ signature comedy films. Now, as we prepare to toast America’s semiquincentennial, you

Courtesy image

can go back to 1976 with “Silent Movie,” a dialogue-free slapstick comedy where Brooks plays a washed-up director who enlists the help of celebrities to make his comeback project a reality. See Brooks, Sid Caesar, Marty Feldman and Dom DeLuise show us how it’s done in the magnificent, 100-yearold Sarasota Opera House.

‘ROMEO AND JULIET’ 7:30 p.m. at Dingbat Theatre Project, 7288 S. Tamiami Trail $15 and up Visit DingbatTheatreProject.org.

You may have seen “Romeo and Juliet,” but you haven’t seen Dingbat Theatre Project’s version of the Bard’s tale of star-crossed lovers.

This adults-only show features burlesque and drag performances interwoven with club music. This adaptation is created and directed

by Dingbat founder Luke Manual with choreography by Yasha Wilson.

Runs weekends through June 28.

SATURDAY COMEDY LOTTERY 7:30 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $15-$18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Florida Studio Theatre’s own improv troupe takes over Bowne’s Lab with “Comedy Lottery,” giving the audience the chance to select the night’s games. If FST Improv isn’t on your radar, it’s time for a new machine.

MONDAY ANCIENT ART FROM CYPRUS AND THE MEDITERRANEAN 10 a.m. at The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with $30 admission; Mondays free Visit Ringling.org.

In 1928, circus magnate John Ringling moved beyond collecting Baroque paintings with a major acquisition of more than 2,000 pieces of Cypriot art at the Anderson Galleries in New York, where the Metropolitan Museum was selling parts of its ancient art collection. For the first time, Ringling’s treasures have a permanent home in Gallery 12 after a decadelong project.

WEDNESDAY PATRIOTIC CLARINETS CONCERT 4 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free Visit SarasotaMusicArchive.org.

Get the party started early for America’s 250th birthday with a free concert of patriotic music featuring three clarinets. Co-sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund.

Register in advance to guarantee a seat in the Geldbart Auditorium.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

Meet the Chesleys Retired teachers Jerome and Kathryn are Sarasota cultural ambassadors.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER A+E EDITOR

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Jerome and Kathryn Chesley pose in their living room surrounded by colorful glass art that they’ve collected over the years.

12 & UNDER

1874 by a Methodist minister and an inventor, the adult summer camp is dedicated to lifelong learning.

For Jerome and Kathryn, Chautauqua is their summer retreat after a busy season in Sarasota, where Jerome teaches watercolor classes locally and gives workshops throughout the state besides leading excursions with Discover Sarasota Tours.

Asked the secret to their marital longevity, Kathryn says communication is key. Each morning over breakfast they review the day’s schedule to “stay on the same page,” she says.

It’s a tradition that dates back to the beginning of their relationship.

The couple first met in 1972 at a community theater in Cheektowaga, New York, called The Apple Town Players.

The newfound little theater took its name from the Indian meaning of Cheektowaga, “Land of the Crab Apples,” but left the “crab” out because it “sounded better,” Jerome says.

He ended up at the troupe because a friend told him they needed someone who could paint sets.

“The theater was just starting,” recalls Kathryn. “Our first show was ‘The Mikado.’” At the cast party, Kathryn was swept off her feet by Jerome’s jitterbug moves. This led them to team up on the competitive dance circuit and ultimately marry.

Perhaps because they spent their careers teaching, both Chesleys are still constantly learning, whether to prepare a new script for a tour, create a class outline (Jerome) or research a historical figure (Kathryn).

Though not identical to Chautauqua, the idea of a community where residents are devoted to art and education is also part of Sarasota’s history.

Unlike Chautauqua, the Sarasota Art Colony wasn’t a formal institution. But its members revitalized an association that today is known as Art Center Sarasota. This year, Art Center Sarasota celebrated its centennial by reviving its famed Beaux Arts Ball.

Unfortunately, the Chesleys weren’t able to attend because they were in New York City for the Broadway debuts of two of Kathryn’s stuents. Had they gone, they would have fit right in. But their dance of choice would have been out of sync. Even after all these years, they still prefer the jitterbug to the Charleston.

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Monica Gagnier

ADULT

e’ve all heard variations on “the couple that (fill in the blank) together, stays together.” For some, it’s “the couple that plays together.” The more devout might favor “the couple that prays together.”

We’re not going to get a rhyme, but for Sarasota snowbirds Kathryn and Jerome Chesley, who’ve been together for more than 50 years, the expression would be: “The couple that enjoys the arts together, stays together.”

If you’ve spent any time at Sarasota’s cultural attractions, you’ve probably seen Kathryn and Jerome in action, both separately and together. Both retired schoolteachers from Buffalo, New York, the Chesleys can be found leading trolley excursions at Discover Sarasota Tours, ushering at Asolo Repertory Theatre performances and making the most of Sarasota’s arts scene.

A former drama teacher, Kathryn portrays local historical figures, including Bertha Palmer, Marie Selby and Mable Ringling, on trolley tours and at library, club and historical society events.

In addition to elaborate period costumes, Kathryn’s life as a “reenactor” involves a stunning collection of hats with lots of feathers. Some mirror the millinery of the 20thcentury aughts, the heyday of the Gibson Girl, while others are straight out of the Jazz Age. When Tammy Hauser founded her trolley tour company in 2018, she asked Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall General Manager Kyle Turoff to spread the word “through her Big Apple network,” Hauser says.

Turoff’s parents, Bob and Roberta Turoff, ran the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre in downtown Sarasota for more than 40 years.

Chesley showed up not long after the casting call went out. She was a perfect fit. “As a historic character performer, she has so much knowledge about the history of Sarasota.

She can talk about any aspect, anybody, any street, any place. She’s wonderful, a real gem,” Hauser says.

Chesley was Discover Sarasota Tours’ fifth employee. Today, it has 23 full- and part-time employees, from the actors who perform on themed tours like “Who Killed the Circus Queen?” to the people who run the gift shop.

Hauser hired Jerome when Discover Sarasota Tours expanded from three tours to nine in 2019. “When I heard from Kathryn that Jerome was an artist, I decided he would be perfect to lead a tour of all the public art on display in Sarasota,” Hauser says.

A retired high school art teacher, Jerome is an accomplished watercolorist who is a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society, where he served as president in 2018. He is also a past president of the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society.

During the summer, Jerome teaches at the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York. Founded in

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1350 MAIN STREET, SARASOTA, FL 34236. 941.867.6199 © 2026 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. *REALTRENDS VERIFIED BASED ON 2025 SALES. **BASED ON CAREER SALES. ***BASED ON 2026 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN TRANSACTIONS (BOTH PENDING AND CLOSED).

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JUNE 25, 2026

YOUR NEIGHBORS When it comes to art, these sisters know where to draw the line Scarlett and Amelia Evancic share a common passion for art, but what role it plays in their future has yet to be decided.

Scarlett and Amelia Evancic express art through various mediums, including pencil, paint, photography, digital art, cardboard and more.

MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER

W

hen art becomes as natural as breathing, it can shape more than technique.

It shapes identity.

For 14-year-old sisters Scarlett and Amelia Evancic, art has been part of their world for as long as they can remember.

“It’s a freeing feeling to just dabble on a canvas and have at it,” Amelia Evancic said. “There’s no expectations, no structure of time, no dedication to it. You can set the pencil down and leave — for a day, a week, a month — and you can come back and it will still be waiting for you. I feel art is an open concept that you can just walk up to when you need it or when it needs you.”

Scarlett Evancic said a person can express themselves in any way through their art and people will understand and appreciate it.

“Art is an open platform that can be used by anyone, and that’s what I love about it,” she said.

Scarlett and Amelia are two of three triplets along with their brother, Jameson, who prefers sports over the arts. All three grew up doing artistic activities, including sidewalk chalk on their driveway, painting rocks and more, but Jameson gravitated away from it.

“We have an idea in our heads and we just can replicate it a lot better than some other people,” Scarlett Evancic said of the sisters.

They credit their artistic ability

largely to their father, Scott.

Scott Evancic said he has always had a great love of art himself but said his daughters took an interest in art early on and quickly surpassed his abilities.

“For me, it helps me understand what’s going on in their minds in a way that words can’t always capture,” Scott Evancic said.

For Scarlett, her favorite piece is a collage titled “Persistence of the Past,” which received an Honorable Mention award at ArtCenter Manatee her seventh grade year.

When she earned that award, it was a wake-up call that told her she does, in fact, have talent.

Amelia Evancic said she particularly enjoys working with cardboard.

She also enjoys digital art because she doesn’t have to wait for paint to dry.

Amelia and Scarlett Evancic credit a lot of their confidence and passion for art to Katelyn Reyes (center), their Mona Jain art teacher, who assigned the mural.

Courtesy image

“I do make mistakes — that’s what makes me human — and I like having an eraser at the tip of my fingers,” Amelia Evancic said. “It’s nice to have an exit in case I want to go back, make changes and make edits.

That’s why I like pencils more than paint brushes.”

During their last year at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, the girls did do a lot of waiting for paint to dry.

In Katelyn Reyes’ art class, Reyes assigned her students a mural for the hallway. Scarlett Evancic’s design – a bull, which is the school’s mascot – was chosen and painted on a large wall.

The process took from September to May. “I have such a hard time when it comes to procrastination, especially through the rough stages of artwork,” Scarlett Evancic said. “It was so hard for me to look at it unfinished. I just had such a freezing moment, but eventually Reyes brought me back.”

Scarlett said if it wasn’t for Reyes, she doesn’t think the mural would have been finished.

“I tried to keep the steam running because I knew if I slowed down and Scarlett also slowed down, the entire mural would have slowed down,” Amelia Evancic said.

Reyes said she was glad to see Scarlett take charge in both the creative process and by leading her classmates.

“She’s taken on roles that she’s never expected, and she’s handled them with grace and dignity,” Reyes said. “I’m very proud of what she’s done. She’s super creative and definitely needs to believe in herself more.”

Photos by Madison Bierl

The Evancic family all agreed Reyes was a big part of their middle school experience.

“Art was just a piece that tied them to her and how they met her,” said Katie Evancic, the triplets’ mom.

“She gave them the confidence that I don’t think they would have ever had if they hadn’t met her.”

Both Scarlett and Amelia Evancic are looking forward to attending Lakewood Ranch High and taking as many art classes as possible. Scarlett said as much as she loves art, she might pursue a career in engineering.

“I compared myself to a lot of different artists, including ones at the same age as me,” Scarlett Evancic said. “It was always a little bit conflicting and caused a lot of hesitation toward continuing art. Comparison is the thief of joy, so if you compare yourself to others, you’ll lose that kind of connection to it.”

Amelia Evancic wants to stick with art for her future but doesn’t know quite in what capacity yet. She is OK if she veers off a bit, as long as art is still in her toolbox.

Scarlett Evancic said the art project she is still most proud of is a collage titled “Persistence of the Past,” which received an Honorable Mention award at ArtCenter Manatee her seventh grade year.

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Stewart Moon Macey moon Henry Moon

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

Little Medical School Suncoast’s Katarina McCall demonstrates to the Little Vet School campers how to use a syringe to give a dog medication.

Isabelle Robinson, a rising third grader at Rowlett Elementary Academy, practices cleaning the ear of her dog with a cotton ball at the Little Vet School camp held at The Out-of-Door Academy.

Cooper Heim, a rising first grader at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, attends the Little Vet School camp in full scrubs ready to learn on June 18.

Photos by Madison Bierl

Little Medical School Suncoast’s Little Vet School summer camp teaches campers many veterinarian skills, including how to remove a tick, how to remove an animal’s earwax and how to give a dog a pill.

This camp fires up future vets

A

lthough Connor Barreiro is allergic to cats, he is still a lover of animals, especially

dogs.

He described them as energetic and always ready to play.

Barreiro, a rising fourth grader at Gene Witt Elementary, was among the campers to attend the Little Medical School Suncoast’s Little Vet School summer camp at The Out-of-Door Academy from June 15-19.

During the week at Little Vet School, students learned about what it is like to be a veterinarian and how to be a good pet owner.

Hands-on activities included removing ticks, learning about different eye injuries, such as scratches, tears and divots, and running their own mock vet clinic. They took turns acting as a receptionist, vet

tech, veterinarian and patient.

On June 18, the focuses were learning how to clean a dog’s ears, recognizing different dog body languages and understanding how dogs use their noses to locate scents.

Katarina McCall, an instructor at Little Medical School Suncoast, said teaching the kids has been nothing short of amazing. Her favorite part is watching their curiosity grow throughout the week and she is surprised how much information they retain.

“I hope they leave camp with a love of learning, a greater appreciation for animals and science and maybe even some inspiration to pursue a career in a sciencerelated field one day.” McCall said.

Sienna Linn, a rising first grader at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, says she has no pets at home but has had a blast with her dog, Mia, at the Little Vet School camp.

Connor Barreiro, a rising fourth grader at Gene Witt Elementary, and Annie Mlynarski, a rising fourth grader at Sarasota Christian School, are both eager to answer any and all questions at the Little Vet School summer camp.

— MADISON BIERL

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2B

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

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1350 MAIN ST, SARASOTA, FL 34236. 941.867.6199 © 2026 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

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YOUR CALENDAR

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE

COMMUNITY THURSDAY, JUNE 25 AND EVERYDAY

MALL WALKERS CLUB Begins at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday at the Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. Join the Mall Walkers Club, a program sponsored by the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

For more information, go to Simon. com/Mall/The-Mall-At-UniversityTown-Center.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25 THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 28

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING Runs from 5-8 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup includes Raiford Starke (Thursday), Terry Helm (Friday), Santiago (Saturday) and Al Fuller (Sunday). For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION

FRIDAY, JUNE 26 AND SATURDAY, JUNE 27

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Acoustic cover artist Mike Williams will play a variety of songs for those strolling the streets of Waterside Place on Friday. On Saturday, singer-songwriter Doug Burns will be performing. For more information, go to WatersidePlace. com.

JULY 3, 2026

SATURDAY, JUNE 27

PRESENTED BY

RED & WHITE BLUEBERRY CELEBRATION Runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Fiorelli Winery, 4250 C.R. 675, Bradenton.

Celebrate the July 4 holiday early at Fiorelli Winery, which will have live music (Raiford Starke at 2:30 p.m. and Rye Road at 7 p.m.), food trucks, children’s activities, and more. For more information, go to FiorelliWinery.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 27 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 28

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 Barcode on Saturday and Monty Swinford on Sunday. For

★ LIVE MUSIC BY SUGAR VIBE

BEST BET SUNDAY, JUNE 28

FARMERS MARKET Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch, which is 2025 was selected as the nation’s best Farmers Market, runs 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. Go to MyLWR.com for more information.

more information, go to LingerLodge.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 3

FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE Gates open at 5 p.m. and the event runs through 9:30 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. Nathan Benderson Park and The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota host the 10th annual Fireworks on the Lake at Nathan Benderson Park.

This year’s event is themed America 250 and will feature an 18-minute fireworks show. Live music begins with Sugar Vibe at 5 p.m. and the event also features a food truck zone, a Mote Kids Zone and a community mural project. Der Dutchman is holding a pie-eating contest with prizes. Oh What Fun Party Co. will provide patriotic photo backdrops.

The Pops Orchestra provides patriotic music beginning at 8 p.m. and running through the conclusion of the fireworks.

SATURDAY, JULY 4

STAR SPANGLED SPECTACULAR Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch. Light up your July 4 with a free event that features circus acts, classic carnival games, a kids’ zone and local food and drinks. Comedian, juggler and sword swallower Noah Royak performs at 7 p.m., the Circus Arts Conservatory begins its show at 8 p.m. and the drone show begins at 9 p.m. Complimentary trolleys run from various parking lots at Grace Community Church. For more information, go to LakewoodRanch.com.

FROM 5-8PM

★ PATRIOTIC CONCERT FROM

POPS ORCHESTRA 8-9:30PM

★ FIREWORKS SHOW AT 9:15PM & ★ FOOD TRUCKS ★ GIVEAWAYS COMMUNITY MURAL

EARLY

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JULY FOURTH

★ APPLE PIE EATING CONTEST,

DEADLINES

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FireworksOnTheLake.com SPONSORED BY

JULY 9TH EDITIONS Longboat, East County, Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers, Arts & Entertainment/Black Tie, Business Observer Space Reservation: 11am, Thursday, July 2 Materials Due: 3pm, Thursday, July 2 For more information contact your advertising sales representative.

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4B

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

5B

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for Sandhill Cranes Residents and newcomers: please drive cautiously. These gray birds blend

into the pavement and, due to their size, cannot fly away quickly from approaching cars. Because urban development has destroyed much of their nesting territory, their population is declining. Please reduce your speed to ensure you can stop for

THE OBSERVER SALUTES A WEST POINT GRAD: Marion Clarke took the East County Observer with her to great-nephew Andrew Yagen’s West Point Class of 2026 graduation at the United States Military Academy.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

ADVERTISEMENT

Photos by Madison Bierl

Eadon Foster, a rising fourth grader at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, and Zion Stenzler, a rising fifth grader at Rowlett Elementary Academy, each use microscopes to look at a goldfish scale, dandelion fuzz, pollen and more.

These kids don’t blow off STEAM

IS IT TIME TO TAKE A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD OF YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN?

F

or Eadon Foster, a rising fourth grader at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, science ignited a passion in him he didn’t know he possessed.

While he looked through a microscope at dandelions, fish scales and rabbit fuzz during the STEAM Kids of the Future Mad Scientist Adventures Week at Braden River Middle June 15-19, his excitement grew.

“I just love learning about such new things, things I never saw, never heard or never even felt in my life before,” Foster said. “I love all sorts of things that you can actually sense without even seeing it.

Things you can’t see, but they’re there. It fascinates me so much.”

Foster was among the campers who attended the camp. The campers were immersed in activities in engineering, biology, forensics, environmental science, space exploration and weather science.

“We want students to experience science the way scientists do,” said Camp Director Brittany Dunfee. “That means getting their hands dirty, making mistakes, testing ideas, and discovering solutions for themselves.”

On June 17, there were different rotations that focused on biology and environmental science: Microscope Lab, Animal Adaptation Challenge, Skull Investigation Station, Lego Habitat Engineering Challenge, Leaf Art Ecosystem Project and an animal guessing game.

Ellie Rimer, a rising sixth grader at Braden River Middle School, attended the camp for the first time and highly recommends it.

One of the experiments they conducted was the oil spill challenge, where the campers worked in pairs to test different clean-up methods to remove oil from bird feathers and from the water.

“The activity introduced students to environmental engineering, conservation, pollution management and the challenges involved in protecting wildlife and ecosystems after environmental disasters,” Dunfee said. “One of the things we emphasize throughout camp is that engineers solve problems that affect real people and real communities.”

You wouldn’t drive for years without checking your engine so why do it with your wealth?

When it comes to your health, getting a second opinion is common and encouraged. Doctors even recommend it. But when it comes to your wealth, some people may stay the course without ever pausing to ask a simple question: Is everything working the way it should?

With markets that can move up and down, inflation’s potential to quietly impact spending power, and financial lives evolving, possibly becoming more complex over time, now may be a good time to check under the hood.

• Are there gaps in my tax, retirement, or estate planning?

• Is my current strategy still right for me today?

Sometimes, the result is reassurance you’re right where you should be.

Other times, it uncovers opportunities to improve. Either way, you walk away more informed. In today’s environment, doing nothing can feel easier but for some it may also mean missing the opportunity to learn new approaches that may be important to your financial future.

And yet, some investors may not be There’s real value in stepping back, clear about the following: asking questions, and making sure • How their portfolio is really your financial plan reflects your life not performing just your past decisions.

• What they’re paying in fees • Whether their plan still aligns with their life today • Whether their current level of service meets expectations.

A second opinion isn’t about replacing your current advisor. It’s about clarity. At JL Bainbridge, we offer an introductory Wealth Clarity Review designed to help you evaluate your current financial plan and its alignment with your future goals.

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A second opinion can help you evaluate: • Is my portfolio aligned with my long-term goals?

• Am I taking the right level of risk for my circumstances?

Aria Volpe, a rising sixth grader at Woodland Academy, and Ellie Rimer, a rising sixth grader at Braden River Middle School, say their hands are slimy and wet due to cleaning their feathers as part of the oil-spill activity.

Dylan Wallace, a rising fourth grader at Freedom Elementary School, looked through the microscope at sheep hair and makes sure to note he saw “a bunch of squiggly lines.”

— MADISON BIERL Complimentary reviews are general in nature and are not intended to be individualized investment advice.

jlbainbridge.com | (941) 365-3435 J.L. Bainbridge & Company, Inc. | 1582 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236

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Any views and opinions expressed in this article are those of JL Bainbridge and are subject to change and reflect our judgment as of the publication date. This content is for general educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment advice. Likewise, financial reviews are meant for educational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Specific recommendations and Investment advice are provided only to clients pursuant to a to a written advisory agreement.

JL Bainbridge is a registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply any level of skill or training.

JL Bainbridge is not a broker-dealer and does not offer tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax or legal professional for assistance regarding your individual situation. For more information about our firm and our investment adviser representatives, please review our Disclosure Brochure (ADV Part 2A), Privacy Notice, and Relationship Summary (Form CRS) at jlbainbridge.com or reference the SEC website for more information on the firm and its advisers at: https:// adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/108058.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Market conditions and events can cause stock prices to fluctuate rapidly and unpredictably. Past performance is not indicative of future results. AD26

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

7B

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8B

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

THE CONCESSION 20906 Parkstone Terrace 4 Beds 5 Baths 6,486 Sq. Ft. Laura Naese 941.350.3657 A4674842 $6,500,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB 13716 Red Rock Place 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,718 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941.587.4359 A4695070 $2,195,000

EAST BRADENTON 520 Rye Road NE 6 Beds 5/1 Baths 5,200 Sq. Ft. Kevin Moran & Jill Berg 941.920.8600 A4655587 $2,195,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB 7431 Greystone Street 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,170 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941.587.4359 A4690054 $1,995,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB 7527 Greystone Street 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,850 Sq. Ft. Victoria "Tori" Turner 662.614.2783 A4692043 $1,950,000

THE ISLES 8276 Redonda Loop 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,566 Sq. Ft. Kathy Barrie 941.757.7872 A4679617 $1,649,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB EAST 14511 Leopard Creek Place 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,479 Sq. Ft. Tina Ciaccio 941.685.8420 A4695172 $1,159,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6427 Moorings Point Circle #101 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,983 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941.587.4359 A4688766 $1,147,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB 13911 Siena Loop 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,216 Sq. Ft. Deborah O'Mara 941.730.0777 A4678185 $1,095,000

GREENBROOK VILLAGE 14806 Bowfin Terrace 5 Beds 4 Baths 4,188 Sq. Ft. Stuart Lawrence & Laura Lawrence 941.894.4001 A4693544 $995,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB 7210 Lake Forest Glen 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,500 Sq. Ft. Kathryn Dieter 941.299.2089 A4693706 $959,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6465 Watercrest Way #301 2 Beds 3 Baths 2,287 Sq. Ft. Deborah O'Mara 941.730.0777 A4683907 $949,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6435 Moorings Point Circle #201 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,963 Sq. Ft. Tina Ciaccio 941.685.8420 A4694896 $935,000

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Lake View Estates at the Lake Club topped the week’s sales at $4.45 million. Bukovyna Enterprises LLC sold the home at 14758 Como Circle to Daniel Stevens and Parul Stevens, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $4.45 million. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, four-anda-half baths, a pool and 4,520 square feet of living area.

LAKE CLUB

Thomas and Kimberly Grimme, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 16420 Daysailor Trail to John and Amanda Inhouse, of Lakewood Ranch, for $3.69 million. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,992 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,653,100 in 2015.

Randi Booth, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 7959 Matera Court to Congju Chen and Rong Liu, of Irvington, New York, for $2.05 million. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,988 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,125,000 in 2022.

Lee Tornavacca-Triesch and Susan Triesch, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 8273 Grande Shores Drive to Linda Burgos, of Sarasota, for $1,325,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,945 square feet of living area. It sold for $651,400 in 2020.

AZARIO ESPLANADE

Terence and Tracey Murphy, of Melbourne, sold their home at 4625 Trento Place to Jennifer Cohen and Todd Claire, of Bradenton, for $1.3 million. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,025 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.05 million in 2025.

TIDEWATER PRESERVE

Rachel Becker and Joshua Ledford, of Kailua Kona, Hawaii, sold their home at 5607 Tidewater Preserve Blvd. to Jovan and Brie Blackwell, of Fenton, Michigan, for $1,175,000.

Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,661 square feet of living area. It sold for $493,100 in 2015.

LORRAINE LAKES

Jember Kebede, trustee, of Fairfax, Virginia, sold the home at 15311 Golden Beam Place to Mark and Deborah Passerotti, of Canfield, Ohio, for $1,037,000. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,647 square feet of living area. It sold for $854,400 in 2024.

Slate Non-NC/Non-WA Property Owner LLC sold the home at 16325 Tradewind Terrace to Steven Robert Oles and Alexis Cady Oles, of Lakewood Ranch, for $775,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,455 square feet of living area. It sold for $740,100 in 2014.

CONCESSION

Benjamin Vella, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 17920 Palmiste Drive to Warren and Marta Ross, of North Port, for $930,000.

Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,569 square feet of living area. It sold for $880,000 in 2025.

Hans-Peter Kuny and Ursula Kuny, trustees, of Newnan, Georgia, sold the home at 8411 Broadstone Court to Albert and Kathleen Fierro, trustees, of Bradenton, for $2.65 million. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,821 square feet of living area.

SHELLSTONE AT WATERSIDE

HBT at Waterside East LLC sold the home at 796 Blue Shell Loop to GCR Investments LLC for $2,295,000.

Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,889 square feet of living area.

HBT at Waterside East LLC sold the home at 9271 Auger Lane to Christopher and Abby Carnicer, of Sarasota, for $629,000. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,977 square feet of living area.

LORRAINE ROAD

Gregory and Colleen Lowe, of Bradenton, sold their home at 5007 Lorraine Road to Chassa Holdings LLC for $1.65 million. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,812 square feet of living area.

It sold for $750,000 in 2021.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Victor and Margaret Baga, of Bradenton, sold their home at 16613 Berwick Terrace to Steven Robert Burns and Milvia Burns, of Bradenton, for $1.55 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,842 square feet of living area. It sold for $910,000 in 2020.

Adam Rex Hodge, personal representative, Eric Anthony Hodge and Ashley Hodge sold the home at 15308 Helmsdale Place to Maura Gordon and Aileen Kim Raskin, of Lakewood Ranch, for $685,000.

Built in 2010, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,028 square feet of living area. It sold for $515,000 in 2020.

JUNE 8-12

LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE

Bernard and Elizabeth Calasans, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, sold their home at 17114 Verona Place to John McKinley and Suzanne McKinley, trustees, of Bradenton, for $1,895,000. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 3,572 square feet of living area. It sold for $814,800 in 2021.

Gerard and Martha Colagiovanni, of Venice, sold their home at 19428 Ganton Ave. to Brian Gorham and Lydia Phillips, of Bradenton, for $2.97 million. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 7,005 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.9 million in 2021.

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Courtesy image

This Lake Club home at 16420 Daysailor Trail sold for $3.69 million. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,992 square feet of living area.

and 2,319 square feet of living area.

It sold for $404,000 in 2020.

square feet of living area. It sold for $952,900 in 2023.

RIVER PLACE

TREYMORE AT THE VILLAGES OF PALM AIRE

John William Segars and Joenlly Lopez Segars, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7122 68th Drive E. to Dennis Wayne Mazaris and Bonnie Mazaris, of Myakka City, for $774,900. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,896 square feet of living area. It sold for $570,000 in 2015.

DEL WEBB

Shani Gordan, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7710 Summerland Cove to Carol Anne Massi, of West Windsor, New Jersey, for $755,000.

Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,084

Martin and Terri Hill, of Manchester, Maryland, sold their home at 6914 Treymore Court to Phyllis Rose, trustee, of Sarasota, for $730,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,495 square feet of living area. It sold for $697,500 in 2021.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com.

ISLES

MARSHALL’S LANDING

John and Dolores Littlejohn, of Lady Lake, sold their home at 5497 56th Court E. to Simon and Candace Reed, of Bradenton, for $885,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,480 square feet of living area. It sold for $640,800 in 2021.

COUNTRY MEADOWS

Celene Amabile Crowley, of Bradenton, sold her home at 709 Country Meadows Way to Tillie Allison and Jason Harris, of Bradenton, for $880,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,338 square feet of living area. It sold for $910,000 in 2021.

POMELLO CITY CENTRAL

Samuel and Doris Natal sold their home at 7601 226th St. E. to Jeffrey and Wynne Bader, of Bradenton, for $845,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,611 square feet of living area. It sold for $515,000 in 2020.

CRESSWIND

KH Lakewood Ranch LLC sold the home at 4918 Kiva Circle to Jeff Picchiottino and Nancy Picchiottino, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $835,000. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,555 square feet of living area.

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ARBOR GRANDE

Matthew Paul Edwards and Amy Rene Edwards sold their home at 12007 Perennial Place to Terry Wilkins and Christopher Lawrence Pernishek, of Bradenton, for $825,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,448 square feet of living area. It sold for $481,800 in 2020.

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COUNTRY CLUB

Harald and Maureen Kachele, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 13804 Siena Loop to Steven and Margoe George, of Bradenton, for $790,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool

Prices as of January 2025

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ADAM HUGHES

REAL ESTATE

Lake Club home tops sales at $4.45 million

9B

JUNE 25, 2026

SPORTS SOARING BREAK FAST

SUCCESS JACK NELSON SPORTS REPORTER

Jack Nelson

Sarasota Paradise midfielder Ethan Bryant (left), pictured here during an April 22 game against Corpus Christi FC, has nine shots in 16 appearances this season.

T

he Sarasota Paradise’s hot streak hit a snag June 20 as the team lost 4-1 to Corpus Christi FC on the road. Going into that game, the first-year professional soccer club had won four of its five previous matches.

The Paradise players were coming off a 2-0 victory over the USL League One’s first-place team — Union Omaha — at home June 13. Now, they’re 5-10-1 on the season and in 11th place among 17 teams. Sarasota acquired forward Emiliano Terzaghi from Portland Hearts of Pine on June 12, bringing in the league’s all-time leading scorer and three-time MVP from 2020-22. He scored in the 55th minute against Union Omaha for the game’s first goal, and his first with his new club. The Paradise’s next home match at Premier Sports Campus is set for 7:30 p.m. July 11 against Miami FC of the USL Championship league. ... Ryan Waldschmidt’s journey in professional baseball took a detour June 15. The 2021 Braden River High graduate was optioned to the Reno Aces of Triple-A after making his MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 8. As a 23-year-old outfielder, he recorded eight RBIs and 29 hits across 33 games played with Arizona. A homecoming was in store for Waldschmidt this weekend, with the Diamondbacks visiting the Tampa Bay Rays from June 26-28. “He held his own, but there’s more to him than just holding his own,” said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo during a press conference. ... Season openers have been set for all local high school football teams. The Out-of-Door Academy will host Babcock, Braden River High will host Pasco and Lakewood Ranch High will visit Parrish Community — all at 7 p.m. Aug. 21. The Thunder finished 8-3 last season and reached the SSAA 11man state quarterfinals, while both the Pirates and Mustangs failed to qualify for the postseason with 4-6 records.

CROWDED POOL PAGE 11B

“It takes a lot of time. It’s definitely stressful, but it just worked out in the end. You just have to push yourself.”

“I just want to keep throwing farther and farther, because I want to win.”

— Lakewood Ranch rising senior Kiki Bullas SEE PAGE 12B

Mia Busser, a 16-year-old Level 10 gymnast, has her eyes on a college scholarship following a podium-worthy performance on the national stage.

T

his isn’t the first time gymnastics has dictated Mia Busser’s schedule.

She’s accustomed to traveling all over the country for training, camps and competitions.

Busser forfeited a traditional education for homeschooling so she could dedicate more hours to the gym, hoping to keep improving.

Finding time just to be a kid wasn’t easy.

Last week, though, was unlike any other the 16-year-old has experienced. Recruiting is sure to dominate her future schedule.

“This is, for sure, the busiest I’ve been,” Busser said.

Her recruitment opened June 15 following the completion of her sophomore year, which she spent training with Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics. That was the first time NCAA Division I coaches could officially contact her, and more than a few reached out — many more.

She juggled 18 phone calls that day alone. Two days later, she got in a car with her mother, Lyndsey Busser, and drove to Clemson, South Carolina, for the Eye of the Tiger Camp from June 18-20.

It was a particularly eventful week for someone who’s already had her fair share of events across 12 years and counting of gymnastics.

Mia Busser competed at the USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program National Championships from May 8-10 in Oklahoma City, turning in a career-best performance. She placed fourth in the all-around (38.375), second on floor (9.625) and fourth on vault (9.775).

“It was just a beautiful, perfect storm of preparation physically and mentally,” said Laura Parraga, coowner of Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics with her husband, David Parraga. “Just did her thing — didn’t do more, didn’t do less. Trusted her training, obviously believed in herself, and she killed it.”

Busser’s performance dwarfed any other from her previous appearances at the national championships. In 2025, she earned sixth on vault and 12th in the all-around, and in 2024, she finished ninth on beam.

She’s now entering her fifth year competing at Level 10. Before Elite — the highest level of the USA Gymnastics Development Program — which is organized from Levels 1-10 for athletes to progress from beginner to advanced skills.

Elite serves as a pipeline for USA Gymnastics at the Olympics and all other world championships. Busser tried her hand at Elite from 11-12 years old, but Laura Parraga said the physical and mental burden became too heavy to bear.

So the young gymnast altered course and set a new goal — an NCAA scholarship.

“I was in the gym for five or six hours (a day) when I was little, working up

Images courtesy of John Cheng/Team Photo

Mia Busser’s ultimate goal is to earn a scholarship to an NCAA women’s gymnastics program. There were 63 programs in Division I, 18 in Division III and four in Division II for the 2026 season.

INJURY BATTLE From 9 to 10 years old, Mia Busser suffered from osteochondritis dissecans in her elbow. That meant part of the bone in her joint had begun to break loose due to a lack of blood of flow.

The healing process lasted 18 months. The Busser family — which was in the process of moving to Florida — saw several doctors, and ultimately, they found one in Atlanta who offered a nonsurgical treatment plan.

Busser was able to practice during her recovery, but couldn’t use her arms. She said those 18 months were the toughest experience of her gymnastics career so far.

to this point,” Busser said. “It takes a lot of time. It’s definitely stressful, but it just worked out in the end. You just have to push yourself.”

Her parents, Brian and Lyndsey Busser, put her in the sport at 4 years old. That was when they lived in Illinois, well before they moved to Florida in 2021.

Mia Busser’s earliest coaches saw something in her they don’t see in every girl who enters their

Gymnastics has been in Mia Busser’s life since she was 4 years old. She began training in Illinois before moving to Florida and joining Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics in 2021.

gyms. They quickly communicated that to her parents, advising she be homeschooled so she could maximize her time in training.

While in kindergarten, Busser attended school from 8-10:30 a.m. and hit the gym from noon to 5:45 p.m. on weekdays. Most of her learning occurred on mats — not at a desk.

“We were taken aback, because gymnastics was a sport that we knew nothing about,” said Lyndsey Busser.

“We were just putting her in it for fun and as something to do … it was a total whirlwind.”

The Gymnastics Academy of Rockford in Illinois was Mia Busser’s longtime home away from home. It’s where she reached Level 9, developing into an advanced gymnast.

Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics moved into her family’s radar when they moved to nearby Parrish. When Parraga watched Busser in action for the first time, she identified her potential.

“She was just this tiny, quick, very self-driven, very focused little girl,” Parraga said. “She had a lot of gymnastics skills and was powerful, but kind of wild. We had to rein her in and get her to focus on the little things and the details of making her gymnastics beautiful.”

That first year with the club was all about going back to basics. Parraga wanted to clean up Busser’s fundamental skills at Level 9 before she moved to Level 10.

Since making that move, not once has Busser failed to qualify for the national championships.

And it’s on vault, Parraga said, where the 16-yearold shines most.

“My vault is what I’m working the hardest on,” Busser said. “I’m doing a front handspring pike right now, so I want to improve that for a pike half, which will hopefully get a lot of college attention.”

Last month’s national championships gave coaches a taste of what she’s capable of doing.

Mia Busser’s recruitment opened June 15 following the USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program National Championships. There, she placed fourth in the all-around, second on floor and fourth on vault.

YourObserver.com

NELSON’S NOGGIN

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

11B

JACK NELSON

YMCA dives into the local pool of competitive swim teams The new team, called the Hurricanes, wants to have success with a smaller, family-based squad.

L

earning to swim is a must for kids in Florida.

That’s just the way it is, and the way it always has been.

In this peninsula state, many organizations have been founded on the belief that swimming is an essential skill.

The Sarasota Sharks, Sarasota Tsunami and Lakewood Ranch Swim Association Lightning already feed local athletes’ aquatic addictions. The Lakewood Ranch YMCA wants in as well.

Since May 4, the Lakewood Ranch YMCA has fielded what will be a year-round, competitive swim team associated with USA Swimming. It competes as the Hurricanes under the umbrella of the Venice YMCA, which since 2017 has run a competitive swim team bearing that name.

It isn’t the first time the Lakewood Ranch YMCA has put together a team. Just over a decade has passed since the Blackfins were dissolved in April 2016 — a move that stranded nearly 70 swimmers and was announced only 10 days before their final practice.

The reasons for that dissolution, as outlined by then-Manatee County YMCA CEO Sean Allison, were as follows — no Olympic-size pool, lesser opportunity for the YMCA’s nonteam members to use the pool, and the YMCA’s inability to afford a full-time, professional coach.

Bringing a team back has been on Executive Director Jen Haughey’s radar for the last year or so.

“One of the things we’re very passionate about is safety around

Photos by Jack Nelson

During a drop-in practice, 11-year-old Cara Johnston swims at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA. Head swim coach Jack Belshe said the Hurricanes have around 35 members, as of June 18, following their May 4 launch.

water (and) teaching kids to swim,” Haughey said. “As we’ve built our swim lesson program and our aquatics programming, it just makes sense — that next level is the swim team.”

The Lakewood Ranch YMCA already offers competitive programs in volleyball and basketball. The Hurricanes’ inception is in line with that path the organization seems to be heading down.

Olivia Haughey, the branch’s program director, has overseen that new approach. Lessons, clinics and recreational leagues are no longer “the big thing,” she said.

“Now, we’re in that standpoint where we see all the competition around us and we want to keep up with that,” Olivia Haughey said.

“We tend to see — in the past — (our members) hit a level where they don’t feel challenged as much anymore, so they end up leaving and going somewhere else.”

The competitive swimming scene, though, is plenty saturated already in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. This team has to be different.

It needs to offer something the Sharks, Tsunami and Lightning can’t, and it needs to avoid the Blackfins’ fallout. Time heals wounds, but local families who were frustrated by that situation are unlikely to have forgotten entirely.

Jack Belshe, head swim coach at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA, believes he’s the man for the job.

Haughey said the branch was waiting for the right coach to start the team, and that’s him.

He’s coached at YMCAs for 50-plus years. He was the head swim coach/aquatics coordinator at the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA in Marietta, Georgia, before moving to Florida in July 2025.

With the Hurricanes, he wants to create a pressure-free space for swimmers to improve. He will push

Jen Haughey, executive director of the Lakewood Ranch YMCA, said Jack Belshe (above) is the coach she sought to start a competitive swim team. The YMCA’s inability to afford a professional coach was one of the reasons its last team dissolved.

those who want to be pushed, but is uninterested in strict practice schedules.

“You’ve got to have the right environment,” he said.

Belshe sees the family atmosphere of the YMCA as a differentiating factor that will attract swimmers to his program. He pointed to the fact that members of the swim team will have access to the entire YMCA, so when they’re not in the pool, they can get into another activity without parents having to pay more.

Their goal — as a USA Swimming-associated team — is to be at the same level as nearby clubs, being well-represented on the podium at meets. He said they’ll do it their own way.

“I believe we do not have to swim the amount of yardage and stuff

that (other teams) do to be competitive with them,” Belshe said. “We just have to swim smart.”

Nearly two months have passed since tryouts began. As of June 18, the team had approximately 35 swimmers ranging from 5 to 16 years old. Belshe said that number will grow to 40 in the next week or so.

Building a mega team of 200-something swimmers is not his goal. This team is shooting for 80 to 100 members so that each and every swimmer gets a quality experience.

Belshe — as well as Jen and Olivia Haughey — aren’t oblivious to the aquatic game-changer coming to their area. Premier Sports Campus North will be home to an Olympicsize pool when its Athletics and Aquatics Center opens this fall.

He said if the YMCA swimmers need a 50-meter pool to use, they’ll send them to the Venice YMCA. Premier is a 4.2-mile drive from the Lakewood Ranch YMCA. The Venice YMCA, by comparison, is a 30.9-mile drive away.

If meets are held at the new pool at Premier, the Hurricanes are prepared to attend and compete, but nothing more.

“I think it’s going to be a beautiful facility, but we have our own facility,” said Jen Haughey. “We’re good here where we are.”

They plan to compete at a high level by sticking to their own vision.

In a busy pool of local teams, the Hurricanes of Lakewood Ranch are happy to stay in their own lane.

Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

12B

Kiki Bullas Sports didn’t stop for Kiki Bullas with the end of the academic year.

From June 25-28, the Lakewood Ranch rising senior will throw a javelin in the AAU Region 9 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships at Cypress Creek High School.

She wrapped her junior season by placing 16th in javelin at the FHSAA Class 4A state championships with a 30.21-meter mark. Bullas is the East County Athlete of the Week.

What did you hope to accomplish last season?

My goals were to try to make it to states and get as far as I could. After I finished my sophomore year, that’s when I started focusing more on javelin and realized I want to put the work into making myself go as far as I could. I started competing over the summer, going into my junior year, so being able to aim for states was a higher goal I set for myself. Making it that far was such a good feeling.

When and why did you start competing in the javelin?

I’ve been playing soccer since I was little, and once I was around 13 or 14, I realized I could do a really, long throw-in — almost half-field. Then I was guided by coaches and teachers who would see videos of me doing it. They were like, “Oh, you should try this track and field event,” and I never knew of javelin until my freshman year of high school. My teacher that I had at the time (Erika McCarthy) also competed in track and field when she was in high school, so she told me about this event, and she brought me out to meet her dad (Bill Zarrella), who was the director of the track and field team. He led me straight to where the practice was, and I haven’t put down a javelin since.

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.

that it brings ... With each throw, I just want to keep throwing farther and farther, because I want to win.

What quote or piece of advice have you always carried with you?

“Do the work when no one’s watching.”

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

I like to bake, and I bake brookies (a mix of a brownie and a cookie) a lot.

Do you have any summer plans you’re excited about?

I am competing in track and field, and I’m off to the (USATF Region 4 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships from July 9-12 in Carrollton, Georgia) and AAU regionals. I’m hoping to make nationals again, like I did last year. That will lead me to Iowa (for AAU) and California (for USATF) if I make both.

If you could go anywhere for a dream vacation, where would you go and why?

The Bahamas, because I like the outdoorsy, beachy vibe, and I’d like play with those little pigs that are in the water.

Finish this sentence. Kiki Bullas is ...

Positive. I try to stay very positive.

How would you describe your passion for this sport?

I feel that drive to beat your competition. You want to get as far as you can, throwingwise, and the adrenaline

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YourObserver.com

13B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

THURSDAY, JUNE 25

Sunrise Sunset

High: 94 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 17%

FRIDAY, JUNE 26 High: 94 Low: 77 Chance of rain: 57%

Thursday, June 25

6:36a

8:28p

Friday, June 26

6:36a

8:28p

Saturday, June 27

6:36a

8:28p

Sunday, June 28

6:37a

8:28p

Monday, June 29

6:37a

8:28p

Tuesday, June 30

6:37a

8:28p

Wednesday, July 1

6:38a

8:28p

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FORECAST

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JUNE 27 High: 95 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 48%

June 29 Full

July 7 Last

July 14 New

July 21 First

RAINFALL

SUNDAY, JUNE 28 High: 95 Low: 78 Chance of rain: 60% Gordon Silver took this photo of a honey bee gathering pollen off of a peregrina in Del Webb of Lakewood Ranch.

Monday, June 18

0

Tuesday, June 16

0

Wednesday, June 17

0

Thursday, June 18

0

Friday, June 19

0

Saturday, June 20

0

Sunday, June 21

0

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/Contests. All submissions will be entered in the 2026-27 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2027, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE: 2026 12.32 in.

2025 20.20 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2026 0.01 in.

2025 11.53 in.

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Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

By Luis Campos

ACROSS 1 Many a toddler’s room 5 Make a query 8 Golden Gate Park has 1,017 of them 13 Elaborate party 17 At any time 18 Village People hit named after a community org.

19 Show to be true 20 Oral vaccine developer 21 *Irate?

24 Part of a pitchfork 25 One, in French 26 Direction on a gift box 27 Wrestling surface 28 Throws with effort 29 Boba shop handout 31 *Ideal?

34 Lavish celebrations 36 Homer’s bartender 37 Zen garden tool 38 Folk singer Guthrie 39 Norse god foretold to be swallowed by Fenrir 41 Person seeking office, for short 42 Eyelid issue 46 *iPad? 50 Olive oil and ghee 51 Flabbergasted 52 Peeps heard by BoPeep 53 Salad-grabbing tool 54 Makes illegal 55 Star-studded group 56 Old dartboard wood 57 Beach castle material 58 Players in a play 59 Some songbirds

54 Chesapeake ___ 55 Dog park sounds 57 Protester’s placard 58 Exec who may oversee digital infrastructure 59 Something unconvincDOWN ing, or a watery drink 1 Bistro handouts 62 Dull impact sound 2 Wedding or surprise 63 Neither Dem. nor Rep. party 64 Urge relieved by a 3 Drainage system fingernail 4 Soon-to-be alums 66 ___ review (evaluation 5 Current measure process) 6 Parts of improv shows 68 Meshes together 7 Cosmic comeuppance 72 Future prof’s test 8 National Pet Day month 73 Go on a shopping spree, (Abbr.) say 9 National color of Nepal 74 ___ Peacock (Clue 10 Turn in a circle suspect) 11 Musical set in Argentina 75 Have some jiaozi 12 “Give me a ___!”

76 Emmy winner Glazer 13 Bargain hunter’s haunt 78 Slimy garden creature 14 Superior to 79 Kind of list with tasks 15 Summer fabric 80 Up and about 16 Existential dread 83 Cuddly kitties 18 Yammer 86 Egg parts in orange 20 Say something curd 22 Sprinter Asafa 87 Hate with a passion 23 Cartoon frame 88 Formally withdraw 28 Gets better 89 Used a stencil 60 ___ Speedwagon 85 “Sinners” director 30 Natural hairstyles 90 Inventor Nikola with 61 *Icon?

Coogler 32 Dubai dignitary a coil 65 Dot on a domino 87 Parent honored on the 33 Moves like a pony 91 Shenanigan 67 Chica who has your third Sunday of June 35 Crunchy tortilla dish 92 Kimchi liquid back 88 Lip tint alternative 38 Instant when every93 Showed again on TV 69 “That’s terrible!”

90 *Islander? thing clicks 94 “Barbie” actress Issa 70 GPS predictions 96 Cook quickly in a wok 39 www.good360.___ 95 Test out in a fitting 71 “Where ___ They Now?” 100 Register for a class 40 ___ Moines River room 72 “Hoodwinked!” actress 101 And so on (Abbr.)

41 Some big felines 97 Data plan measurement Close 102 Understood by few 43 Double-item bundles 98 Foods often filled with 73 Small earring 104 Charlie Parker’s jazz 44 “You betcha!” carnitas 74 Eli Lilly competitor instrument 45 Summer hrs. in Philly 99 Crowd member on a 76 Slurpee alternative 105 Corn dog holder 46 App similar to Lyft film set 77 Payment for a flat 106 Lose a staring contest, 47 Beers lighter than 103 Turndowns 78 Floored it or a phonetic hint to mak- stouts 106 ___-free plastic ing sense of the starred 79 *Islam?

48 Muscle quality 107 Decryption tool clues 81 Direction 90 degrees 49 References in the back 108 Actor Curry 109 Parts of a chain from norte of a book 110 Thick adhesive 82 Snow Bros. console 50 Like some fashion and 111 Celebratory poems 83 Completely stumped food 112 Henchman in “Anora” 84 Stretches of time

“WGZHZ GQLZ TZZX CIVZHGZHB RMUAC WGQW M WGMXJ QHZ THMUUMQXW VMZYZC BR QHW ... OZ OQXW WB TZ YQVWMLQWZF QXF WQJZX QOQK.” HKQX HZKXBUFC

“OXZ FYM’B LX CSXML UO CSTBTML CAYB OXZ RMXC. IJIM TW OXZ’SI Y AXSSTUKI CSTBIS, OXZS XCM RMXCKINLI YMN IQDISTIMFI TV ZMSTJYKIN.”

TVVY SYI

“CW HEGTYAPO PNALI AB PT NEGO PZT BJYAVPB EP PNO BECO PACO, ELQ BPMQW PNOC BACMXPELOTMBXW AL PNO UAPJNOL.” JNYABPTVNOY ZEXUOL Puzzle Three Clue: L equals N

113 High euchre cards 114 Unable to sit still 115 Nancy Drew’s beau 116 Painted Desert landform

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: Z equals U

SPACE OUT by Zhouqin Burnikel, edited by Jared Goudsmit

©2026 Universal Uclick

celebrity cipher

Puzzle Two Clue: C equals S

crossword

Flooring Made for Your Family

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at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

sudoku

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2026 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

06-25-26

Made for where you live. Here!

Cleaning

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

Homes for Sale

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon

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The East County Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the East County Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis..

Merchandise Wanted

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 words or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236

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

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

Doors

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

Screening

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

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Issa Rae Puzzle Three Solution: “My favorite thing is to have two scripts at the same time, and study them simultaneously in the kitchen.”

Christopher Walken

This week’s Sudoku answers

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15B

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

The Shanahan team was great to work with. Honesty, knowledge of the market and efficiency best describes the service you’ll receive with Katina, Ken and Tyler! Thank you for all the help and advice in selling our home.

— Deb B., Lakewood Ranch Country Club

Model Leaseback

View Listing

263 Crystal Waters Drive | Wild Blue $3,178,655 | 3,362 Sq Ft | 3 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | Office | Bonus Room | Pool/Spa

Under Construction

8613 Sandpoint Street | Wild Blue

8249 Pavia Way | The Lake Club

$3,479,875 | 3,632 Sq Ft | 3 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | Office | Bonus Room

$1,950,000 | 3,871 Sq Ft | 5 Bedrooms | 4.5 Bathrooms | Office | Bonus Room

7207 Ashland Glen | Country Club

7872 Mainsail Lane | Waterside Shoreview

$1,625,000 | 3,152 Sq Ft | 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | Office | Bonus Room

$1,495,000 | 3,857 Sq Ft | 4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms | Office | Bonus Room

New Price

Sold

7241 Orchid Island Place | Country Club

17022 Cresswind Terrace | Cresswind

$589,000 | 2,260 Sq Ft | 2 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | Office

$690,000 | 2,318 Sq Ft | 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | Den

Interested in Private Listing options? Contact us | 941-702-0437 SHANAHAN LUXURY GROUP 941.961.8205 | 941.702.0437 ShanahanLuxuryGroup@CBrealty.com 8334 Market Street | Lakewood Ranch, FL TOP PRODUCING LAKEWOOD RANCH TEAM 2023, 2024, 2025 for Coldwell Banker Realty Contact Us to Learn More or to Schedule a Showing.

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16B

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