East County Observer 10.27.22

YOUR TOWN

A tasteful Oktoberfest event

Lois Walle, a resident at Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living, enjoyed a flight of German beer, a large pretzel with cheese and live accordion music during the facility’s Oktoberfest Oct. 13.

“It was fun, fun, fun,” said Walle (shown above with Linda Britt-Smith).

To finish off the festivities, Cypress Springs residents enjoyed a dinner of soup, beer cheese and bratwurst.

Britt-Smith, the activities coordinator, dressed for the occasion with a dirndl, a dress that originated in the German speaking areas of the Alps.

“My mom wore it when she came over to America from Germany on a boat over 60 years ago,” Britt-Smith said.

Keeping the flame alive for recycling

Looking at an empty champagne bottle during the COVID-19 pandemic, an idea sparked for Heritage Harbour’s Patrick Allen.

Allen, who owns the Wix N Wax Candle Company, decided he could repurpose the used champagne bottles and turn them into candle holders.

With the help of his wife, Gina Allen, and donations by six local restaurants, 5,000 candle holders were made out of the used bottles.

Allen showed off his creation at the UTC Night Market Oct. 20, and said he hopes people learn how to recycle items into something that can serve another purpose.

Patrick and Gina Allen (above) first scrape off the labels and score the glass where they want the bottles to be split horizontally. Then they shock the glass by placing it alternately in boiling and freezing water, before finally sanding it down along the edge.

The end product, he said, represents a service to both the new customers and the environment.

Tax break referendum on ballot

County officials say tax breaks for new and growing businesses are

important tool.

Rats become the big cheese

Orchids in a snap.

Liz Ramos

Ian Swaby

Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

Jay Heater

Bruce Davidson Jr. and his horse, Cerafino D, navigate the show-jumping course at TerraNova Equestrian Center of Myakka City at an Oct. 22 competition.

Building TerraNova Equestrian Center is a first step toward establishing an equestrian community.

Twelve-year-old puts her pet rats on display in new comic strip.

Courtesy photo

Dots walks out of a post office created by Lakewood Ranch 12-year-old Lily Wojtkowski. In her new comic books, Wojtkowski writes about Dots and her other pet rat, Pretzel, being postal workers.

Foundation presents Lakewood Ranch Library with $200,000 grant

Manatee Library Foundation gives $200,000 toward stocking the shelves of the new library.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Although the walls are now set in place, another important piece of the Lakewood Ranch Library has yet to be built — its collection of books.

The Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library, a nonprofit devoted to assisting the new library, is launch ing a “Fill the Shelves” campaign preceding the library’s expected opening late in 2023.

Kickstarting the campaign is a grant of $200,000 from the Manatee Library Foundation.

“We’re very happy, just thrilled with the foundation, stepping up to this request and going beyond what we expected,” said Sue Ann Miller, president of the Friends of the Lake wood Ranch Library.

Manatee County Library Services Manager Tammy Parrott thanked the Manatee Library Foundation and the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library for doing so much needed work for the library.

“It’s just a great example of a com munity group working with local government to create something of value for the community,” Parrott said. “I think Sue’s passion moved the Library Foundation, and we are just thrilled.”

Parrott said a year ago, Manatee County Library Services staff mem bers produced a cost estimate to fill the library with books, analyzing the shelf space and computing the aver age cost of the books. Staff mem bers estimated that about $990,000 would be required.

The allotted funds from the coun ty, however, remained at $580,000, an amount Parrott estimated would supply about 27,000 books. The library services staff estimated that

ABOUT THE LAKEWOOD RANCH LIBRARY

about 48,000 books are needed to fill the shelves.

With a $200,000 grant dedicated to the effort, the Friends of the Lake wood Ranch Library has initiated a challenge to raise an additional $210,000.

Don Janezic, president of the Manatee Library Foundation, said the county didn’t supply funds for books that would be appropriate for a library of this size, and based on the area it was serving.

The donation, he said, was provid ed for the Lakewood Ranch Library’s

collection of books specifically.

“Our purpose is to support the entire library system,” Janezic said. “Here we have a situation in our backyard that we need to step up to, so let’s do it.”

He said an initial donation was important with the hope other nonprofit organizations might be prompted to donate to the new library as well.

Miller said the grant was impor tant in Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library’s quest to secure other grants and funding.

She said her organization has been working on securing grants and donations toward the initial purchase of books since September, with a goal of having the $210,000 collected by April 2023.

Hurricane Ian’s impact did hinder the progress, she said.

Miller said the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund and SchroederManatee Ranch have each pledged $10,000 toward the collection of books.

The organization has filled out grant requests to philanthropic organizations, such as the Marie Selby Foundation, the Bishop Parker Foundation and the Rotary Club.

She said District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh was reaching out to numerous builders and other poten tial funding sources in the county with whom she has relationships.

“We need to make sure we have books for citizens to enjoy,” Baugh said. “The friends are doing a very good job trying to help. I’m honored to work with them, and they don’t get enough credit.”

Next, the organization will branch out to businesses and individuals.

“It’s a wonderful community, which is definitely dedicated to having the best library possible,” she said.

Currently, Friends of the Lake wood Ranch Library is raising money toward the purchase of multicul tural and bilingual resources, as well as children’s collections and large print collections. Miller said guar anteeing those resources at the new library will help in the grant-writing process.

She said it’s obvious securing chil dren’s publications will help those not reading on an appropriate grade level. Seniors often can’t see the print on many books or magazines, so having large print is invaluable. The multicultural and bilingual resources are self explanatory.

Parrott said she was looking for ward to bringing the opening col lection to fruition.

“It’s not every day that a librarian gets to participate in an opening day collection,” she said. “We’re just so excited to be able to do this and give it to the community.”

Parrott said the library will search through classics, bestseller lists, best of category lists, and other resources.

Parrott said the new library will include a slightly heavier number of juvenile materials than other county library collections and would feature genealogy items, which have become popular.

Sue Ann Miller, president of Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library, Library Services Manager Tammy Parrott, and Assistant Library Services Manager Lyn Begraft are involved in filling the new library with books.

Manatee County Library Services Manager Tammy Parrott said the county is seeking a “well-rounded” collection for the Lakewood Ranch Library.

Photos by Ian Swaby

The Lakewood Ranch Library, which is being built by Willis Smith Construction, is expected to open late in 2023.

COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE?

Officials say referendum needs to pass, allowing Manatee County commissioners the tools to attract new business.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

The general election in Mana tee County Nov. 8 will include a referendum that could continue a policy of allow ing commissioners to grant property tax exemptions to new and expanding businesses.

“It gives us a competitive edge,” District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said of the policy.

Known as the Economic Develop ment Ad Valorem Tax Exemption, the policy was originally approved by voters in 2013 but is now pending renewal after its term of 10 years.

Florida’s constitution specifically permits counties to hold a referen dum to grant commissioners this ability, while state statutes outline the specific situations in which incentives can be instituted.

The statutes permit commis sioners to offer tax exemptions to manufacturing plants, as well as other “target industries” which are defined by criteria of future growth and stability, relatively high wages, independence from local markets, the effect of diversifying local busi nesses and a positive impact on state and regional economies.

The statutes also limit these tax exemptions to businesses, which will establish 10 or more new jobs with above-average wages in one of the target industries, will create at least 25 jobs while selling more than 50% of products outside the county, or will be office spaces newly domi ciled in the state and employing 50 or more workers.

Exemptions are additionally per mitted for businesses located in enterprise zones or areas designated for a variety of tax breaks and eco nomic incentives, and in brownfield areas, which are abandoned or unde rutilized facilities where environ mental contaminants are considered to create barriers to development.

Although counties have the option to place an alternate referendum text on the ballot to limit the exemptions to businesses located in such areas, Manatee County has not opted to do so.

All exemptions would be approved individually and would involve a public hearing by the county com missioners.

PUBLIC OFFICIALS RESPOND

While the policy evoked a range of responses from members of the public, Baugh said it was essential to maintain it, for most other Florida counties provide similar benefits to businesses.

She said the goal of the policy is to draw many large businesses, includ ing corporate headquarters, to the area.

She said the county needs to diver sify the businesses that establish themselves in the area beyond the most common types, such as farm ing and real estate, with a particular focus on manufacturing.

“We want to have high-paying jobs,” she said. “Manufacturing is the way to go.”

Baugh said there was a place for manufacturing businesses in Lake wood Ranch, for they already exist in areas that include the Corporate Park.

She also said that incentives would be based on an analysis of the level of employment the companies achieve, with comparisons to the median sal ary.

She said the move would be a joint effort, with the county working with certain companies to train employees through county programs, including ones at Manatee Technical College.

Sharon Hillstrom, president and CEO of the Bradenton Area Econom ic Development Corp., also favored the policy.

“The only downside is not having it,” she said. “If we did not have it, we’d be the only county in the Tam pa Bay region that does not have this incentive.”

Hillstrom said policy’s effective ness can be studied in the grant ing of tax breaks to two companies brought to Manatee County in Allied New Technologies and Power Design Resources, both located in Palmetto.

She said those two businesses have spent a combined capital investment of $94.6 million into their business es and have created a combined 116 new jobs with higher-than-average wages.

She called the approval process for new businesses “very transpar ent” and emphasized the existence of specific guidelines in the state statutes.

“There is nothing that can be manipulated one way or another,” she said.

She also concurred with Baugh’s comments that the tax exemptions were necessary for the county to maintain its competitiveness.

“This is a tool that some business es interested in expanding and relo cating want to be able to pursue,” she said. “There are very specific quali fications necessary for companies to be eligible. Overall, if we don’t have this opportunity, we are at a com petitive disadvantage.”

CITIZENS RESPOND

Responses among citizens regard ing the referendum varied. Some of those interviewed were unconvinced that if the referendum was approved, it would be used in their best inter est.

“My concern is there is so much development going on, it is impos

“My concern is there is so much development going on, it is impossible to travel anywhere.”

ABOUT THE REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT:

Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions

Shall the Board of County Commissioners of this county be authorized to grant, pursuant to section 3, article VII of the state constitution, property tax exemptions to new businesses and expansions of existing businesses that are expected to create full-time jobs in the county?

FOR FURTHER REFERENCE: n State Statutes, Title XIV, Chapter 196, Section 1995 n State Constitution, Section 3, Article VII n FLSenate.gov/laws/statutes

sible to travel anywhere,” said Coun try Club’s Kerry Gordon, question ing whether tax incentives might be offered to businesses that would further increase growth in the area beyond what its infrastructure can handle.

He said he was finding it difficult even to visit stores such as Home Depot to fulfill basic needs.

Lakewood Ranch’s Paula Albero said she felt there was too much political turmoil and chaos in society for major policies to be implemented and did not want the measure to be renewed.

“People are not as available or aware of meetings and such that are going on, and it’s not enough of a percentage of people who are having a discourse about it,” she said.

Braden Woods’ Laura ZaneNwagbaraocha was not convinced the exemptions would be imple mented fairly.

“I feel like anytime you give people unchecked power, you don’t know whether or not they’re giving with out strings attached,” she said. “Are they giving because it’s benefiting the community or are they giving because of a quid pro quo? There are already too many questions about our commissioners to give them additional power.”

She also questioned why only certain businesses should receive exemptions. “Why do they get to pick and choose?” she said of the commissioners. “Either give an exemption, or don’t.”

She said she didn’t feel that a pub lic hearing would improve the situa tion, as the decision would ultimate ly fall on the commissioners.

Her friend, Esplanade’s Erika Walker, concurred.

“If I had a business, I would look at this as, ‘Why are they getting preferential treatment?’” she said.

“These people just come up out of nowhere, and you’re going to give them exemptions because they’re creating jobs while I still have a ‘For Hire’ sign out?”

Some residents said they were uncertain about the referendum.

Lakewood Ranch’s Steph Kane said the ballot item was too vaguely worded, and she felt that more effort needed to be put into conveying its meaning to voters.

“To an average person with a col lege degree, it doesn’t make sense,” she said.

Braden Woods’ Fernando Vega, who owns the cryotherapy business CryoXL, called the tax exemptions an example of why he preferred the area of Lakewood Ranch to open his business in the first place.

He said Florida offered multiple exceptions in the realm of taxes and he feels tax breaks are one of the main reasons he has been able to operate his business in Florida for the past seven-and-a-half years.

“I enjoy all these new businesses coming to where I live. But I can’t even afford to find a house. I feel like Lakewood Ranch is trying to separate itself and become its own entity, its own city. But they also have to think about the people who are going to live in that city.”

He said an additional tax break of $2,000 would be enough for him to bring on board a part-time indi vidual on weekends to help staff the trailers that provide services to stu dent-athletes.

He also said the referendum would benefit local businesses, as well as bringing in families to the environ ment of Lakewood Ranch.

He hoped the incentive could bring businesses performing clean manu facturing into the area. He said even small tool and dye companies are creators of jobs, employing around 300 people.

Lakewood Ranch’s Jan Diago said although he supported the goal of the referendum, it would be pointless without more affordable housing in the community.

“I enjoy all these new businesses coming to where I live,” he said. “But I can’t even afford to find a house.”

— Country Club’s Kerry Gordon

“If I had a business, I would look at this as, ‘Why are they getting preferential treatment?’”

— Esplanade’s Erika Walker

— Lakewood Ranch’s Jan Diago

Photos by Ian Swaby

Whether Manatee County commissioners can continue to grant tax breaks to businesses is a referendum on the ballot.

Stretch of Lorraine Road saved from rezone

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Sarasota County commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to decline a business corridor overlay designation for a strip of Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch from Fruit ville Road north to Blue Lake Road.

The decision will avoid the estab lishment of light industrial or office uses in that strip of Lorraine Road.

At the same meeting, commis sioners also voted unanimously to approve a major extension of Lake wood Ranch termed “Lakewood Ranch Southeast,” allowing the development of 5,000 homes on 4,120 acres generally between Uni versity Parkway and Fruitville Road and east of Lorraine Road.

Commissioners originally were set to decide whether to grant the busi ness corridor overlay designation for both that section of Lorraine Road along with a section of Lorraine far ther south from Clark Road to State Road 681. However, Commissioner Alan Maio made a motion to exclude the Lakewood Ranch stretch of the road from further consideration.

The commissioners then voted 5-0 to exclude the Lakewood Ranch sec tion before voting unanimously to pass the business corridor overlay designation for the strip of Lorraine from Clark Road to State Road 681.

“This is exciting; this is great,” said Waterside’s Maureen Weihs, who had helped to organize residents in opposition to the proposal. “We were

all ready to speak, and we didn’t have to.”

Although numerous citizens had turned in cards to offer public comments during the meeting, the motion resulted in most speakers waiving their opportunity to speak, with two attendees taking to the podium to thank commissioners for amending the proposal.

Maio said after extensive discus sions with individuals on both sides of the issue, including landowners in the area, he had made the decision to remove the corridor in the areas north of Fruitville Road.

Nonetheless, he said he would still “fiercely defend” business corridors in other areas of the county.

“I think the Lakewood Ranch Waterside community is a huge addi tion to our county,” said Commis sioner Christian Ziegler. “You just drive through there and it’s unbe lievable. It’s beautiful. I think it’s a great place to live. I think we need to do whatever we can to protect it.”

“The group was very happy that they made the amendment (to drop the section of Lorraine Road in Lake wood Ranch from consideration),” said Waterside’s Jacob Goodwin, who has helped organize residents

DR. NINA

Sarasota County Commission declines business corridor designation for Lorraine in Lakewood Ranch, and approves Lakewood Ranch Southeast development.

Ian Swaby Commission Chair Alan Maio and Waterside’s Maureen Wei hs interact with meeting attendees opposed to the development.

SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSION ACTIONS

n Declining of business corridor overlay along Lorraine Road (Blue Lake Road to Fruitville Road)

n Confirmation of business corridor overlay along southern Lorraine Road (Clark Road to State Road 681)

n Approval of Lakewood Ranch Southeast Development

n Approval of comprehensive plan amendment for the Future Thoroughfare Map series:

- Increases Fruitville Road from two to four lanes from Lorraine Road to Bourneside Boulevard - Increases Bourneside Boulevard from two to four lanes from University Parkway to Fruitville Road

- Adds a two-lane minor collector along Singletary Road from Verna Road to the county line.

opposed to the change. “We’ve been calling for the elimination of the overlay north of Fruitville for months now, and we think the commission made the right decision.”

“We’re very happy that the com mission decided to eliminate the north Lorraine Road corridor from the business park district map,” Weihs said. “We’re very happy that they listened to the residents of the community.”

The corridor along Lorraine Road had already been reduced in size during an Aug. 30 meeting, when an amendment removed a section of road running roughly from Blue Lake Road to University Parkway to the north.

Waterside’s Michael Chin said that despite the amendment, he did not want to let his guard down in antici pation of future issues that could impact the area.

“You never know,” he said. “Things can change in a couple of years or whatever. But for right now, we can breathe a little sigh of relief that nothing is going to be built on Loraine.”

LAKEWOOD RANCH SOUTHEAST APPROVED

Residents from the Old Miakka com munity were not pleased with the

outcome of the meeting later that day as the commission approved the development of Lakewood Ranch Southeast by Schroeder-Manatee Ranch.

The major expansion of the Lakewood Ranch area, which had been sent for review by the Florida Department of Economic Opportu nity Aug. 31, saw unanimous approv al by the commissioners, along with a concurrent amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan that would allow certain road expansions to accommodate the new develop ment.

The amendment will increase the number of lanes from two to four on Fruitville Road, from Lorraine Road to Bourneside Boulevard, as well as on Bourneside Boulevard from Uni versity Parkway to Fruitville Road, and will add a two-lane minor col lector along Singletary Road from Verna Road to the county line.

“For over 20 years, I’ve been say ing that you do not need to be a land planner to know that the growth is going to happen out east and down in the North Port area,” said Com missioner Mike Moran, who repre sents the Old Miakka area. “With that said, these are very large areas of land, and, if you ask me, it is in dire need of true master planning.

Frankly, master developers that can make it happen.”

Many of the public speakers voiced concerns about the loss of the reason they had taken up residence in the Old Miakka area.

Cindy Martin said she was con cerned about the development reducing required land buffers that could be as little as 50 feet.

“I feel like they’re listening to one side only,” said Martin. “I felt like it really made no difference. I was beg ging them to listen, and all I asked was to delay or defer it.”

Some residents pointed out con cerns mentioned in the review of the development by the state.

It said planners should ensure potable water and sanitary water facilities were able to ensure the development could be served at a level of service standard, and noted that segments of University Parkway from Lake Osprey Drive to Bourne side Boulevard would not meet the level of service standards for the long term, which extend to year 2045.

Sales strategy utilizes horse sense

RANCH LIFE

TERRANOVA EQUESTRIAN ESTATES

Where: Myakka City

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

As her 8-year-old daugh ter Addie rode her horse toward the cross-country arena Oct. 22 at the Ter raNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City, Winter Park’s Courtney Borton followed behind, wearing a smile that would not go away.

Besides the joy of seeing her daugh ter compete, Courtney Borton was enjoying all the amenities offered by Florida’s newest equestrian facility, including the VIP pavilion, six arenas and two barns (270 stalls).

“Oh my gosh, this is so beauti ful,” Borton said. “And the service is incredible.”

But how does it compare to estab lished equestrian centers in Welling ton and Ocala?

“This kind of facility just doesn’t exist,” said Borton, who has seen what Florida has to offer in the sport. “It is unmatched.”

COMMUNITY INTRODUCTION

Hosting an International Federation for Equestrian Sports event was the planned kickoff to sales in the Ter raNova Equestrian Estates, a sprawl ing community of ranches that start at 5 acres and above.

The new community and the cor responding equestrian center is the brainchild of owners Natalee and Steve Herrig and their daughter Hannah Herrig Ketelboeter, who serves as the equestrian center’s manager.

With show jumpers competing in the background at the center’s VIP Pavilion Oct. 22, Steve Herrig was asked when they planned to begin selling the estates.

Feature: The TerraNova Equestrian Center, a worldclass facility at 31625 Clay Gully Road, just east of the end of Fruitville Road

Ranches: Approximately 120 ranches planned for 1,500 to 2,000 acres, to be built by B&D Builders, from $2 million and up

Information: For information about TerraNova Equestrian Estates go to GaileyEnterprises.com

“Today,” he said. “We still have work to do, but now we are ready. This is a community like none other.”

Steve Herrig said he and Natalee bought some land off Fruitville Road about five years ago because Han nah was competing in equestrian events. He liked what he had pur chased, so he went a little farther east and bought another 100 acres, and then more. He now owns about 3,000 acres around the equestrian center, which is approximately 300 acres itself at 31625 Clay Gully Road. He said the ranch estates will take up another 1,500 to 2,000 acres and the rest of the property will mostly serve preserve-type purposes with perhaps a conservation easement.

Natalee Herrig said the vision to build an equestrian center, which broke ground in 2019, and develop a community around it was cemented by the fact that Southwest Florida had no such facility.

“It’s midway between Ocala and Wellington,” she said. “There wasn’t anything in this part of the state. And then there was the land itself.”

Rake In These Great Fall Rates!

Steve Herrig, an entrepreneur and the CEO and chairman of the board

Developer hopes ranchers will be drawn to new equestrian community.

— Mike Belisle

of Bradenton-based Sunz Holdings, said they want buyers to purchase at least 10 acres, and he anticipates a community of about 120 estates.

Those who decide to build will be required to use B&D Builders, a Para dise, Pennsylvania company that has a Florida office in Cape Coral. The company specializes in horse barns and equestrian areas. Sales are being handled by Gailey Enterprises Real Estate.

TerraNova Equestrian Center hosted a major event a year ago, but the facility was only in the middle stages of construction. The event at TerraNova Oct. 21-23 was a showcase for not just the sport in the area, but the facility.

Jaymie Klauber, who became the director of hospitality and logistics

at TerraNova in May, is a former Polo Club resident in Lakewood Ranch with her husband, Tommy, and she agreed the concept is similar to the beginnings of that neighborhood. Build a first-class, sport-related facility, and the estates will fill in around it.

ALIGNED WITH THE BEST

Since equestrian sports are the draw for TerraNova, event management expert Mike Belisle, of Toronto, was hired as a managing consultant.

Belisle, who has 30 years of experi ence in the sport, went through the “tedious” process of gaining all the

certifications necessary to have the event sanctioned by the top govern ing bodies.

“Obviously, the attraction is bringing people to the community,”

he said. “We can educate people about our sport.”

He said the IFE sanction gave the event a “world draw” and noted that TerraNova has become one of the few show grounds in the world for the sport. The IFE runs the Olym pic jumping, dressage and eventing competitions along with the FEI World Equestrian Games and the World Cup.

In the future, TerraNova will fea ture athletes who will be competing in those events.

However, those in the novice and beginner categories can develop at TerraNova, as well. And the fami lies who support those efforts won’t have to travel far to watch them.

“When you live here, you can ride your horse to the show,” he said.

BIG EVENT

The three-day Event at TerraNova was a kind of equestrian triathlon, with riders and horses being judged in dressage, cross-country and show jumping. Dressage measures the horse and rider’s ability to perform intricate movements. Cross-coun try is a test of speed, endurance and jumping ability. Show jumping is a test over 12 to 15 jumps in an enclosed arena.

More than 300 riders and their horses competed in the event. Klau ber noted that she arranged 61 hotel rooms for just the officials who worked at the event.

The event also was about charity.

With approximately 75 volun teers working the three-day event (actually comprised of two separate events, The Event at TerraNova and TerraNova Dressage II), the TerraNo va Equestrian Center was donating $20 per hour for each volunteer hour worked to the Florida Disaster Relief Fund.

The center’s foundation also was donating money from each ride to Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy and Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Southeastern Guide Dogs received $30,000, SMART received $23,000 and Meals on Wheels received $17,000.

ON THE RANCH FIND YOUR PLACE

All Ages - 5 Years Running!

COME

WHY LAKEWOOD RANCH IS AMERICA’S FAVORITE PLACE TO CALL HOME! | HOMES FROM THE HIGH $300S TO OVER $ 1 M*

PhThe VIP pavilion creates a great vantage point to watch equestrian events at TerraNova.

Fernhill Copain and Jonathan Holling put their best foot forward as they compete in show jumping at Terra Nova.

Photos by Jay Heater Addie Borton, an 8-year-old from Winter Garden, rides her horse, Connor, to the cross-country arena at the TerraNova Equestrian Center.

Make Believe and Jamie McAllister clear a jump easily while competing Oct. 22 at TerraNova.

“Obviously, the attraction is bringing people to the community. We can educate people about our sport.”

A vote to save the republic

OBSERVER RECOMMENDATIONS

FEDERAL OFFICES

U.S. Senate — Marco Rubio U.S. Representative, District 16 — Vern Buchanan U.S. Representative, District 17 — Greg Steube

The following is an excerpt from the Oct. 20 edition of the Ross Rant, the newsletter of Joel Ross, co-founder and principal of Citadel Realty Advisors:

MATT WALSH

This is our final installment of recommendations for the Nov. 8 elections.

Here is what too many elected politicians — of both parties — don’t get: Laissez-nous faire!

“Leave us alone!”

If you asked people what they want in life, we’ll venture to say one of their top answers would be: Let me live my life as I want to live. Let me live in peace. Let me live in peace and harmony with my neighbors. Don’t tell me what to do. Let me make my own decisions.

And when you ask them what they would want from their government, we’ll bet the top answer would be: Keep us safe from criminals and violence.

That is the way it should be. That simple.

That is the framework the Founders established and envisioned.

But as all of us have experienced and seen since Joe Biden took the oath of the presidency in January 2021, life for Americans is nothing close to Laissez-nous faire and feeling safe.

It has been the extreme opposite.

And it has been a complete disaster.

Think about then (2016-2020/ Trump) and now (2021-2022/ Biden). One of the best summaries of what we have experienced came last week from Joel Ross, co-founder and principal of New York-based Citadel Realty Advisors and a part-time Longboat Key resident.

Ross writes one of the most astute, insightful and unfettered critiques and analyses you will find of U.S. and world affairs, economics and politics. His voice and commentaries are unabashed, and thus appropriately named, the “Ross Rant.”

In his Oct. 20 edition, Ross perfectly summed up the past two years, which we have printed with his permission above.

We all know it and feel it every day. We have lived through nearly two years of economic and social decline and constant misery.

In an earlier editorial, we borrowed the title from the late Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises: “Planned chaos.”

That is what we have endured at every level of our society — from the diabolical, power-hungry Democrat elitists in the White House and Congress down to the authori-

The U.S. economy was doing very well when Trump left office.

We were energy independent, the stock market was still high, home prices were high, inflation was 1.4%, and consumers had a lot of money, and credit card use was very low.

The Federal deficit was too high, but not completely out of control and unsustainable.

We were still in Afghanistan holding off the terrorists and Taliban in most of the country, and the Iranians were struggling under serious sanctions.

Russia was not threatening Ukraine, and China was not obviously threatening Taiwan. Kim was quiescent.

The U.S. was still way ahead of the rest of the world in reducing carbon emissions and switching to gas and alternatives.

In short, things in the world were OK as the pandemic was getting under control.

Then Joe arrived with his band of social radicals and climate change crazies pulling the strings of the puppet. The decline of the U.S., and now the world, in under two years is a perfect example of how left-wing policies, and ESG, can destroy the world economy and peace in no time.

How anyone can embarrass himself or herself and vote for Dems this election is beyond me.

What is it they do not understand?

FLORIDA Governor/Lieutenant Governor — Ron DeSantis/Jeanette Nunez Attorney General — Ashley Moody Chief Financial Officer — Jimmy Patronis

Commissioner of Agriculture — Wilton Simpson State Representative, District 72 — Tommy Gregory State Representative, District 73 — Fiona McFarland Florida Supreme Court — Vote yes to retain Justices Charles Canady, John D. Couriel, Jamie Grosshans, Jorge Labarga and Ricky Polston Florida Second District Court of Appeal — Vote yes to retain Judges Patricia Joan Kelly, Nelly N. Khouzam, Suzanne Y. Labrit, Matt Lucas, Robert Morris, Stevan Travis Northcutt, John K. Stargel, Craig C. Villanti

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Amendment 1 / Limit on Assessment of Real Property — Yes Amendment 2 / Abolish Constitution Revision Commission — No Amendment 3 / Additional Homestead Property Tax Exemption — No MANATEE COUNTY County Commission, District 2 — Amanda Ballard County Commission, District 4 — Michael Rahn County Commission, District 6 (At-large) — Jason Beardon School Board, District 2 —

Economic Development Tax Referendum — No

SARASOTA COUNTY

County Commission, District 2 — Mark Smith County Commission, District 4 — Joe Neunder Charter Review Board, District 1 — Alexandra Coe Charter Review Board, District 2 — G. Matthew Brockway Charter Review Board, District 4 — No recommendation Hospital Board, Northern District, Seat 2 — Victor J. Rohe County Referendum to Continue One-Cent Sales Infrastructure Surtax — Yes County Bond Referendum to Accelerate Community Infrastructure Projects with OneCent Sales Tax Bonds — Yes Charter Amendment Question One: To Amend Section 7.1 Charter Petition Procedures — No Charter Amendment Question Two: To Avoid Conflicts with the Constitution, General Law or the charter — Yes

CITY OF SARASOTA Commissioner At-Large — Debbie Trice Charter Amendment: Increase City Commissioners’ Annual Salary — No Charter Amendment: Allow Option to Purchase Insurance Coverage or Surety Bonds — Yes

Charter Amendment: Charter Review Committee’s General Recommendations — No Charter Amendment: To Require Referenda on City Charter Amendments to Be Held Only on the Dates of General Elections in Even Years and Prohibit Special Charter Elections — Yes

tarian school board members and deviant, perverted teachers in our public schools.

All of their top-down, centralized government schemes, all of their “planning” to have us live according to their world views have brought nothing but chaos and misery for the American people.

We agree with Ross: “How anyone can vote for Dems this election is beyond me.”

With apologies to the many smart Democrats who also are good people, and not to be insulting, but it would defy logic to vote Democrat. To do so is to say you support the current course we are on as a nation, that you want more of the disasters we have been getting.

Yes, we know millions of registered Democrats will vote dutifully for Democrat Party candidates regardless of reality. That’s what lifelong Democrats do. That’s what

Many Sarasota and Longboat Key voters, no doubt, are being surprised and will be surprised when they look at their ballots and see that Congressman Vern Buchanan is not on the ballot. At least not on their ballot.

Because of the new districts that were redrawn in the most recent legislative session, Buchanan’s district boundaries shifted north. Even though he owns a home on Longboat Key and has been representing the northern portions of Sarasota County since 2007, Buchanan now represents only the Manatee portion of Longboat, all of Manatee County and the southeastern portions of Hillsborough County up to Brandon.

Now representing northern Sarasota County and the Sarasota portion of Longboat Key is Republican Rep. Greg Steube.

Steube is seeking his third term in Congress. Before that he served six years in the Florida House and two in the Florida Senate. The Club for Growth, a leading free-enterprise advocacy group in Washington, gives Steube a lifetime 97% conservative voting record, second to Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, in the Florida congressional delegation.

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lifelong Republicans do. They vote their party.

But here is an appeal, particularly to the 29% of Florida registered voters who are neither Republicans nor Democrats: Vote the country.

This one time vote Republican.

To be sure, Republicans are far from perfect. But at this moment in history, they offer the only chance to stop the annihilation of this great country and our communities.

America must be saved. It must be preserved — preserved as the one and only beacon of individual liberty and what is left of free-market capitalism, both of which are on the verge of becoming wisping ashes.

It is going to take years to undo what Biden & Co. have done in two years. And it will take a generation to restore and rebuild the way of life that made America great.

When Alexis de Tocqueville came to America in 1831 to see what this great, young republic was like, he was in awe. One of the characteristics that struck him most was the ingrained belief of the “sovereignty of the people” — the freedom of the individual to live his life as he sees it, not to live as the slaves of despots and their despotic cabals.

De Tocqueville wrote: “Providence has given to each individual, whoever he may be, the degree of reason necessary for him to be able to direct himself in things that interest him exclusively. Such is the great maxim on which civil and political society in the United States rests.”

That great maxim must be restored. You can start the rebuilding Nov. 8.

ABOUT THE JUDGES Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiaasen said it best in 1990: “Typically we are better informed about our choice of stick deodorant than our choice of judges.”

So true. Even so, Floridians go through the dance every two years with nary a clue of who these Supreme Court justices and District Appeal Court judges are and whether they deserve to be retained.

It’s an odd system. But it’s also a safeguard. It gives Floridians the opportunity to boot a judge who turns corrupt or incompetent — both of which have been exceedingly rare. Florida governors and the Judicial Nominating Commissions take great care in the selection of judges.

The Florida Bar also keeps tabs on them. Every two years, it conducts a retention poll of its members. For this cycle, the Supreme Court justices scores ranged from 59% to 85% to be retained and from 15% to 41% not to be retained. Ratings for the Appeal Court judges ranged from 64% to 86% for retention and 14% to 36% not to be retained.

The lowest rating? For Justice Jamie Grosshans, 59% to be retained, 41% not to be retained. She is the newest Supreme Court justice, appointed by Gov. DeSantis. We recommend: Yes for all

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“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.”

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Cindy Spray

“HOW ANYONE … CAN VOTE FOR DEMS THIS ELECTION IS BEYOND ME”

Days numbered for historic Mixon Fruit Farms

To keep their Mixon Fruit Farms thriving, Dean and Janet Mixon dipped into unfamiliar territory over the last 16 years, such as hosting weddings, creating a wildlife viewing area, growing bamboo and being a producer of broghies.

At this point, it just wasn’t enough.

The Mixons said their business, which started in 1939 at its current home at 2525 27th St. E., Bradenton, is likely to close in 2024. They sent out a press release Oct. 20 announcing their intentions to consider the many offers they have to buy their property.

“This is so hard,” Janet Mixon said from their farm on Oct. 24. “Anyone who knows farmers knows they love their land.”

She said her husband never gave much thought to selling the property, but a stream of negative factors affecting agriculture has changed his thinking.

In their release, Dean Mixon said the North American Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect in 1994, created an environment that allowed the citrus diseases now plaguing Florida to enter the U.S. He said COVID-19 created hiring and staffing issues, and Hurricane Ian just “knocked off half the fruit” from the farm’s trees.

The Mixons emphasized they have no standing offer on the property and they aren’t likely to reach any agreement until they find out what can be built on their land.

Janet Mixon believes most of the builders who have made offers are interested in building residential communities.

She also said that anyone who books a wedding with Mixon’s Fruit Farms through 2023 should be assured that no changes will be made until 2024 at the earliest.

At its height, the Mixon farms, owned by Bill Mixon and his sons,

Dean and Don Mixon, included about 350 acres and the market for produce. Janet Mixon said they all had expertise in different areas — Bill was great at researching agricultural concepts, Don oversaw the actual work on the land with the crews, and Dean was a “computer genius” — and that made them an effective force.

However, the citrus tristeza virus hit the Mixon’s crops hard in the early 2000s and ultimately convinced Bill and Don Mixon to sell their portions of the land — about 250 acres — in 2006.

That caused Dean Mixon to do some serious thinking at the time. He and Janet had married in 2003,

and they prayed about whether to continue the farm and market.

The courtship of Dean and Janet was interesting after both their spouses had died of cancer a few years before.

Dean’s previous wife, Wendy, had been with him since they were in ninth grade at Manatee High, while Dean and Janet knew each other as fellow students since they attended Manatee Elementary as kindergartners, eventually both graduating from Manatee High in 1969.

Janet eventually married Gerald Bennett and was enjoying life in Charleston, South Carolina.

After Wendy Mixon died, Dean Mixon heard that Janet was going

through the same kind of ordeal with her husband. Dean began to send her possible cancer treatments for her husband. After Gerald Bennett’s death, they struck up a relationship when their daughters — Lori Mixon and Julie Bennett — both ended up playing volleyball at Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina.

One of the problems, though, was distance. Janet didn’t want to move from Charleston because she loved the Seacoast Church she attended. As fate would have it, she said a member of that church established a new church in Bradenton that became Bayside Community Church. Janet moved back to Bradenton.

“My whole family lives here, so I knew I would be coming back,” Janet Mixon said. “Dean said ‘I think God wanted us to get married.’”

After their wedding at the Las Vegas’ Chapel of Love, which doubled as a Howard Johnson’s, the couple began to concentrate on the farm.

“I am a big memory maker,” Janet Mixon said. “I wanted the farm to go on.”

They made Mixon Fruit Farms into a wedding venue to attract new business. They added a children’s playground, and had to add astroturf in 2015 because all the kids were playing in the mud. They built a pond to enhance the grounds. In 2008, they added animals and a tram tour with Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center’s Damen Hurd overlooking the operation.

Their farm currently is down to about 40 acres. Besides the oranges and grapefruit, bamboo takes up about 10 acres. It was supposed to be a boost to the farm with the citrus industry suffering from greening.

“We began it six years ago,” Janet Mixon said of the bamboo.

“But it hasn’t been what they said. “We were supposed to make about $30,000 an acre. Last year it was $2,000. We are taking care of it, but we aren’t making any money.”

In 2021, the Mixons began producing broghies, a disc-shaped, low calorie, fat free bread substitute made by taking corn or wheat pellets and putting them under enormous pressure and heat. Interestingly, the Mixons are considering an expansion of their broghie business, if they do have to sell Mixon Fruit Farms, to help some of their “20some” employees keep jobs.

But they also are facing time.

“We are both in our 70s,” Janet Mixon said. “Dean does everything around here, and he loves going out there. Last summer, Dean put in all the irrigation for the bamboo.”

Finally, Hurricane Ian hit Florida.

“It already was hard getting citrus last year with all the farms going out of business,” she said. “And this time, the hurricane knocked out farmers we have been doing business with. The hurricane beat us to death.”

On top of the other hardships, Janet Mixon’s younger brother, Don Sandhoff, died in a helicopter crash June 22 in West Virginia.

“Nobody wants to lose their business,” Janet Mixon said. “Selling a farm is awful when you feel you have done everything possible to make things work.”

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s TOP PRODUCING TEAM in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Jay Heater

Janet and Dean Mixon might have to sell their beloved Mixon Fruit Farms in East County.

SIDE

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

Dog days at the library

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

Waterlefe’s Lisa Hantverk loves finding ways to get her granddaughter, Ana Hant verk, into a library.

She said it is an invaluable resource for children and something they can utilize for a lifetime.

But it’s not just books that attract children.

On Sept. 24, it was the free Read 2 Dogs program at the Braden River Library that interested 4-year-old Ana, who loved being close to the dogs.

Hantverk stood in the center of the room and smiled.

“I love that she uses the library,” Lisa Hanverk said.

Also enjoying the library was Lake wood Ranch 7-year-old Marissa Mae Famularo. Her mom, Jenelle Famu laro, also was smiling as she watched her daughter interact with the dogs.

“She loves animals, but we can’t get her a dog because her brother is allergic,” Jenelle Famularo said. “But she loves everything from a spider to a horse.”

Braden River Children’s Librarian Chris Culp said the program usually is held the third or fourth Saturday of each month. Anyone interested can check the county’s library calendar at MyManatee.org. The October event also was being held during the Friends of the Library Week.

“This is a nonjudgmental reading zone,” Culp said. “And these dogs are trained to be around children. They are good listeners, so the kids can practice reading aloud.”

They can read without being stopped or corrected.

While they are reading, the kids can pet and hug the dogs.

Parrish’s Kathryn Gover brought her service dog, Captain, to the event. The 7-year-old black Lab rador retriever has served at Read 2 Kids before and he also works around kids at the county’s Child Advocacy Center.

“He is great around kids, and they like him,” said Gover, who added that she volunteers at the event because

LIBRARY’S TALL TALES

WHAT: Read 2 Dogs reading program for pre-K through 10-year-olds WHERE: Braden River Library, 4915 53rd Ave., E., Bradenton

WHEN: Check the Manatee County Public Library calendar at MyManatee.org; usually the third or fourth Saturday of every month

THE DOGS: All dogs are certified therapy dogs

NO JUDGMENT: Read 2 Dogs is perfect for new readers who want to practice their skills in a low-stress environment

COST: Free. No registration necessary

“Captain likes it.”

Besides reading, Gover said the children love to tell stories about their own dogs.

Lakewood Ranch’s Mary Scharf brought her Labrador retriever, Mar jorie, to the event. A retired teacher, Scharf said she loves the no-judg ment atmosphere for reading.

Also a volunteer at Southeastern Guide Dogs, Scharf said Marjorie had a litter of four puppies who all became Southeastern Guide Dogs graduates.

Jay Heater Waterlefe 4-year-old Ana Hantverk gives Annie, a 10-year-old Sheltie, a hug after reading. East County’s Linda Moore brought An nie and McGee, another Sheltie, to Read 2 Dogs.

Safer

Fast Break

AMustang is headed to Rocky Top. Lakewood Ranch High softball pitcher Ella Dodge committed to the University of Tennessee on Oct. 23. Dodge went 25-2, setting a program record for single-season wins, with a 1.02 ERA in 2022.

… Hole-in-ones abound as Jane Imperiale sank one Oct. 20 on the 122-yard No. 6 hole at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s Cypress Links course by using a 7-iron; Richard Carroll sank one Oct. 21 on the 155-yard No. 22 hole at University Park Country Club by using a driver; and Paula LaPierre sank one Oct. 23 on the 110-yard No. 16 hole at University Park by using a 5-Hybrid.

… Braden River High Football Coach Curt Bradley commented on the team’s 28-3 home loss to Sarasota High on Oct. 21 — “We’re not exactly built to come back from a multiple possession deficit.” The Pirates fell to 4-3 but have key district games against Southeast High (1-6) and Port Charlotte High (4-2) remaining, both on the road.

… Want your exercise to be mental as well as physical? Sign up for the Lakewood Ranch Mindful Triathlon, held Nov. 12 at Waterside Place. The 5K run or walk will be followed by an hour-long yoga session and a 20-minute meditation session. Registration is $35. For more information or to register, visit RaceRoster.com or LakewoodRanch.com.

… East County sprint car driver Conner Morrell, 16, won the 410 Sprint class race at the Steel City Stampede at Lernerville Speedway in Fremont, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 15, besting 22 other drivers. It was Morrell’s second win in a month. He also won at Weekend on the Hill at Hilltop Speedway in Millersburg, Ohio, on Sept. 16.

…The Braden River volleyball team won its district tournament for the second season in a row, sweeping Port Charlotte 3-0 on Oct. 20 at home. Senior Courtney Kawcak led the way with 27 assists, 14 digs, three kills and one block.

Senior enjoys life in fast lane

East County greatgrandmother still can leave her competition in the dust.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

Braden Pines’ Faith Frost is a drag racer. She’s also a great-grand mother.

The combination might be uncommon on the regional drag racing circuit, but the 68-year-old Frost never has let her age or gender stop her from accumulating 10 wins and many other high finishes over an approximately 20-year racing career.

Frost’s initial fascination wasn’t with racing, but with cars. She had been attending car shows for years before finally trying her hand at drag racing when she was 48.

At first she was slightly intimi dated by being a rookie at such an advanced age, but once she felt the rush of the starting line, she was hooked.

“You don’t want to make mis takes,” Frost said of her introduc tion to drag racing. “It’s all about the reaction ... let go of the (throttle) button as soon as you see the light. If you miss it, you’re going home.

“And everyone is watching you. I still get nervous.”

Frost does not work on her race car — a 1967 Ford Mustang — as that is left up to Steve Cannizzo, her “crew chief” and boyfriend of 12 years. Anytime something goes wrong, Cannizzo is there to fix it, whether it is a blown tire or a mechanical throttle stop that needs a microadjustment to get the air flow to the car’s motor just right.

Frost has been racing that 1967

Mustang through her entire race career and she always has been loyal to the Ford brand. Whenever Can nizzo suggests putting a Chevrolet motor under the hood of a race car, she has had one response — absolute ly not. Frost gives a similar answer when asked about ever trading in the Mustang for a newer model.

“This one is perfect,” Frost said. “There’s no reason to change.”

Other than the tires and a handful of other parts, the car remains the same as it ever was, and that is how Frost likes it. It was once painted red, but now sits a cool blue, with flames licking its sides and a giant iron but terfly on the hood.

Smaller, realistic butterflies adorn the car’s back end. Frost said she ini tially wanted the more natural but terflies on the hood, but the person who painted the car’s decorations could not bring himself to create such a “girly” design in a prominent spot on the car.

An iron butterfly was a compro mise. Frost said her butterflies make her male racing counterparts feel the sting of losing to her just a bit more.

The car runs on an alcohol rac ing fuel infused with a scent called “Goofy Purple,” which carries notes of artificial grape flavors. The infused scent is necessary, as the burnt alco hol can get strong.

“When you’re inside of a building and you have the door closed, it (the alcohol) will burn your eyes out of your head,” Cannizzo said.

Butterflies or not, competitors need to take the Frost-Cannizzo team seriously. Frost won her class of the 2022 FL2K on Oct. 8-9. The FL2K is an annual drag race typically held at Bradenton Motorsports Park, but because of Hurricane Ian’s impact on the track and the surrounding area, this year’s event was moved to Gainesville Raceway. Unlike other

types of racing, the particular class she entered is about precision, not the fastest overall time, with the drivers aiming to complete the quarter mile (1,320 feet) race at a specified time.

The car that comes closest to the tar get time wins each two-person heat and stays in the competition, until only one car remains.

In the FL2K finals, Frost finished in 10.546 seconds, meaning she was 0.046 seconds off the target time. That was 0.005 seconds closer to the target time than second-place Austin Stephens of St. Petersburg.

Frost’s Mustang still went plenty fast at 126.83 mph.

“I was coming down the service road (to exit the track) and all the people in the stands were saying ‘Yeah!’ and high-fiving,” Frost said.

“To me, that was the most exciting thing of all. I was so proud of myself.”

Her winner’s check was $1,500, which she said is approximately the cost of driving to Gainesville with all of their equipment and entry fees. Frost is not in this sport for the money, she said, as it’s about the work, fine-tuning everything, then executing.

Frost said the FL2K win was per haps the most memorable and important of her career. Coming off Hurricane Ian, Frost and many of her family members had been with out power for days in addition to the other effects on the region. It was a tense time, Frost said.

She was not sure if she and Can nizzo would make the drive to Gainesville. At the last minute, they decided to go, knowing they would not get much time to test and tune the car. At the starting line before her first heat, she felt the nerves.

Frost and Cannizzo’s veteran sav vy carried them to victory.

There are not many drivers in Frost’s age range still competing, she said, and the ones who are her age or older are men. Frost said win ning against younger drivers, like she did at FL2K, always gives her an extra sense of accomplishment.

Are Frost’s days behind the wheel coming to an end?

She’s not sure. Frost said she has two more races scheduled, the Snowbird Nationals in December and the U.S. Street Nationals in Jan uary, both at Bradenton Motorsports Park. After that, Frost said, she’s not sure.

“There’s no age limit on racing, as far as I can tell,” Frost said. “It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun.”

“I never give up. If I’m down, I can always come back and get a good score.”

— Lakewood Ranch High golfer Lauren Hosier

File photo

Ella Dodge is headed to Tennessee.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

The inside of Faith Frost’s 1967 Ford Mustang is full of wires and instruments designed to make the car go fast. The car reached 126 mph in her win at FL2K on Oct. 8-9.

Faith Frost shows off her $1,500

check earned by winning her drag racing class at the 2022 FL2K race held at Gainesville Raceway Oct. 8-9.

Courtesy photo

Faith Frost poses in the winner’s circle after snatching a victory in the 10.50 index of the 2022 FL2K race at Gainesville Raceway. Frost was given a $1,500 check for the win.

Hapless to heralded

on a pass from senior quarterback Jack Hobson. Senior wide receiver/ running back Giovanni Giuliani, the fastest player Hollway said he’s ever coached, also had a rushing touchdown.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

It was obvious The Out-of-Door Academy’s varsity football pro gram couldn’t do any worse during Rob Hollway’s first season as head coach.

The program was coming off of back-to-back winless regular sea sons.

Of course, Hollway wanted more that just snapping the long regularseason losing streak. Hollway, who played college football at the Uni versity of Wyoming, had excellence in his background. He earned the 2016 Independent Football Coach of the Year award from the Florida Athletic Coaches Association after leading All Saints’ Academy to its first Sunshine State Athletic Con ference state championship win, 25-16 over Canterbury High.

Hollway wanted that kind of suc cess for ODA.

But even the most optimistic ODA fans couldn’t have expected what Hollway has accomplished since the 2022 season began.

PERFECT REGULAR SEASON

The Thunder (8-0) completed a perfect regular season Oct. 21 with a 37-21 road win over Bradenton Christian (2-6). Stats like the ones in that game mirror what has been happening all year.

Senior running back Griffin DeRusso, a transfer from Berean Christian in Walnut Creek, Cali fornia, amassed 160 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. Senior running back (and linebacker) Luca Marino had one rushing and one receiving touchdown, the latter

ODA has established itself as a heavily run-first team, yet even with that knowledge, no one can seem to stop them. The Thunder had 384 rushing yards as a team against Bradenton Christian.

The Thunder are making the winless-to-undefeated turn around look easy.

BOYS WANT TO HAVE FUN

The players and coaches said a lot of work has gone into the rebuild, starting with the program’s cul ture. Hollway began to change that immediately, making sure the play ers would have fun while training for the upcoming season.

“I admire fun coaches, like Dabo (Swinney) at Clemson,” Hollway said. “That is who I want to be. I’m a loose guy. I’m a good-vibe guy. The reason I played sports was to have fun and be with my team mates, so I try to emphasize those things. I think it is having a positive impact here.”

The sentiment from the players is that Hollway understands them like past ODA coaches have not. Hollway plays modern music from a boombox at practice. He talks to players like they are on his level, not beneath him. Hollway rarely, if ever, raises his voice, preferring to calmly explain any mistakes a play er makes. He then suggests a fix before sending the player off with a fist bump or a tap on the helmet.

After ODA’s 54-10 home win over Cocoa Beach High on Oct. 14 — the team’s Senior Night game — Marino called Hollway “the best coach in the nation.”

“He’s fun and he’s there for us,” Marino said of Hollway. “What more do you need?”

A lot of the attention during the turnaround has gone to the ODA baseball players pulling doubleduty on the football team, includ

ing Marino, Hobson, Giuliani and linebacker Brandon Beasley.

Some of them, like Marino and Hobson, played a few games at the end of this past season but were unsure about returning, while oth ers are new to the sport, at least at the high school level.

The baseball players joined the football team for summer practic es, changing Hollway’s perception of the team’s 2022 expectations after not having them for spring practices.

BOOST IN TALENT

Certainly, the Thunder’s skill posi tions have received a speed and ath leticism boost from those players. But the foundation of the program is the returnees, players like junior linebacker Charlie Tack, sopho more offensive linemen Chase Polivchak, senior cornerback Drew Hill and junior linebacker/running back Jack Meyers. All four players endured at least one winless season at ODA, and all four said there were tough moments when they ques tioned if the program would ever get going in a positive direction.

The team had just eight players listed as offensive linemen in 2021 and one of them, Max Polivchak, was an eighth-grader. Injuries to the line and other positions deci mated the team and turned each game into an impossible uphill climb.

While Tack said he’s too much of a football nut to give up the sport no matter what the situation was, Hill said after the 2021 season-ending game against rival Saint Stephen’s Episcopal was canceled because of ODA’s lack of healthy bodies, he thought he might have played his last football game. The program was low on athletes wanting to play, and after Head Coach Jon Haskins stepped down to take an assistant position at Cardinal Mooney High, it was unclear who would be lead ing the program. Why return to such uncertainty and such little reward?

“There was nothing positive happening,” Hill said. “We were stuck in that cycle (of losing).”

Ultimately, Hill decided to stick around when he attended the team’s seven-on-seven practices

in July. He saw that Hollway was upbeat about the team’s chances and he saw his friends, including the baseball kids, back on the field. The stress of previous seasons was gone, replaced by a back-to-basics attitude and a renewed sense of enjoyment.

THE THRILL IS BACK

Polivchak, who is 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, was one such player to suffer a leg injury and miss most of the 2021 season. He’s back now, and he said getting to play in Hol lway’s run-heavy scheme is allow ing him and his fellow linemen to thrive. Polivchak’s size gives him an advantage over most Sunshine State Athletic Conference defen sive linemen. The Thunder does vary its running scheme to keep defenses on their heels, utilizing reverses, counters and options, but no matter what play is called, the Thunder lets its linemen pound away while the skill position play ers make plays in space.

It’s not only the varsity football players benefitting from the team’s success. Jay Mahn, head of ODA’s middle school — located on the same campus as the high school — said the team’s success has sent good vibrations through the entire school.

Mahn said seeing the play ers walking through campus each Friday wearing their game jerseys gets the students fired up for that night’s game. When athletic teams are good, Mahn said, everyone has more fun. That includes the play ers on ODA’s middle school team. Mahn said he has noticed such players talking about the varsity team’s success and counting down the days until they are the ones get ting to represent the Thunder on Friday nights.

It’s time for the playoffs, and the players said their toughest tasks lie ahead of them. Ranked as the No. 1 seed on one side of the SSAC 11-man playoff bracket, the Thunder will host No. 4 seed St. Edward’s Academy (3-4) Oct. 28. A rematch with rival St. Stephen’s (3-5) is possible in the next round as the No. 2 seed Falcons will have to beat Santa Fe Catholic (5-2) to reach that game.

The Lakewood Ranch private school football program snaps two-year losing streak and posts undefeated regular season.

Ryan Kohn

ODA senior quarterback Jack Hobson is one of the Thunder players to come to the football team from the baseball team.

Lauren Hosier

Lauren Hosier is a senior on the Lakewood Ranch High girls golf team. As of Oct. 24, Hosier is ranked 17th in Class 3A in the Florida High School Athletic Association/iWana maker rankings. Hosier (73) finished second out of 25 golfers at the 2022 Riverview Ram Invitational, held Oct. 15 at Sarasota’s Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club. The Mustangs (322) won the event as a team.

When did you start playing golf?

I started playing competitively about five years ago. I first learned golf in seventh grade when I lived in Westfield, Indiana. I loved it then, but I needed to get better.

What is the appeal to you?

I like the people I get to meet through golf. I have met so many types of people, both professionals and average, normal people. On the weekends I like to go to a course and play with whoever I see. I’ll bet on myself to win against old men for like $5. I win pretty often.

What is your best skill?

My competitiveness. I never give up. If I’m down, I can always come back and get a good score. I have always had that.

What have you been working to improve?

My short game. That is always a key for me. If my short game is off, my whole game is off.

What has been working for you and the team this season?

I think our practice abilities have been a lot better this year. Everyone is putting in a lot more work. We had a good pep talk at the beginning of the year where we said, ‘Hey, we have a good chance of competing and doing well at states, but it starts now. It starts on the (driving) range and the putting greens.’ Everyone

recommendation for the

Athlete

feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

took that to heart and has been per forming. It has been awesome.

What is your favorite memory?

Back when I lived in Indiana, I got my first hole-in-one on some small par3 course while playing with my dad (Andy Hosier). It was the first year I had played golf and my dad, who had played 40 years, never had one. He was so mad, and I was so happy.

Which superpower would you pick?

I want super strength like the Hulk. I think it would be fun to pick any thing up and chuck it as far as I can.

What is the best advice you have received?

Stop caring about what other people think about you. I have found that the people who judge you are the most jealous of you. Just do what you want to do.

Finish this sentence: “Lauren Hosier is …” … Crazy. I love to have fun. If some thing isn’t fun, then I’ll make it fun.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

ABOUT THE ARTIST LILY WOJTKOWSKI

Age: 12

Residence: Park East at Azario

First book: “Pretzel Rat”

Second book: “Pretzel Rat, the New Era”

Favorite subject in school: Art Favorite animals: Cape lions, coyotes and rats

Favorite thing to draw besides Pretzel: Dragon characters

his comic so he could have a more adventurous life than he has right now,” Kate Wojtkowski said.

RAT-ICAL WRITING

Lily Wojtkowski turns her love of doodling into a comic book featuring her pet rat, Pretzel.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

No surface is safe from Lakewood Ranch’s Lily Wojtkowski.

The 12-year-old, who lives in the Park East at Azario neighborhood, will doodle literally anywhere.

When she was younger, she drew on the walls or would lie under neath the kitchen table and doo dle on the bottom side of it.

Her mother, Kate Wojtkowski, said her daughter has been draw ing ever since she could hold a crayon.

“I’ve stepped away from my desk a few times and come back to a little dragon or a little doo dle,” Kate Wojtkowski said.

“I’m not safe around empty papers,” Lily Wojtkowski said.

Lily Wojtkowski has found a new way to use her artistic tal ents. She has self-published a comic book, “Pretzel Rat” on Amazon. The hand-drawn comic book features the adventures of her pet rat, Pretzel, who works as a mailman.

She is working on her second book, “Pretzel Rat, the New Era,” which will continue to feature Pret zel as well as her new rat, Baxter, and other characters she’s developed.

In her second comic book, Pretzel stumbles across a new marsh and explores the area.

Lily Wojtkowski remembered when she was in first grade and she wanted to do animation but didn’t

WANT A COPY?

Lily Wojtkowski’s “Pretzel Rat” comic book is available on Amazon as well as at Suitcase Sweets on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

The book is $7.08 on Amazon and $7.50 at Suitcase Sweets.

have the necessary equipment. She had to find another creative outlet.

She had access to plenty of paper and markers, so she started creating comics.

“I fell in love with the concept of making comics,” she said. “You’re able to draw a story without writing every little detail about it. It’s more interesting because you could look at the pictures if you’re not into reading a chapter book. They can be funny, they can be adventurous.”

Kate Wojtkowski said her daugh ter always has been whimsical and imaginative. Lily Wojtkowski could channel that imagination into her comics, having Pretzel live on a marsh and travel to different places.

“She started creating

Lily Wojtkowski started working on comics based on Pretzel when she returned to school after she bought the gray and white rat from a pet store in January 2020. She didn’t want to go back to school after winter break because she wanted to spend more time with Pretzel.

Any chance she had, Wojtkowski was doodling him on paper. Her doodles then turned into comics.

“Every day I would make a comic and come back to Pretzel at home,” she said. “It was like I could have him both at school and at home.”

Lily Wojtkowski decided to get a rat after her mother suggested a rat as a pet. Kate Wojtkowski owned a rat when she was a child.

So the Wojtkowskis went to a pet store and met Pretzel.

“I fell in love with them,” Lily Wojtkowski said. “I had never met a rat in real life. I’ve only seen them on videos, but I was never afraid to see a rat. I just didn’t know what they were like.”

The family went to buy Pretzel in January 2020. Wojtkowski remem bers the day vividly. She was wearing a green sweater, and Pretzel immedi ately climbed into the sleeve of her sweater. He just sat there calmly.

“I thought it was lovely, and I was excited to meet him,” she said.

Since then, she’s learned more about rats, including that if she leaves a pet rat in her room outside

Lakewood Ranch’s Lily Wojtkowski, who is 12, loves her pet rat, Pretzel. She didn’t want to be away from him while at school, so she started drawing him. Now she has a comic book based on him.

of a cage and doesn’t pay atten tion, the rate is likely to tear apart the curtains. She said a rat is sweet, kind and smart. Teaching a rat to do tricks isn’t as easy as it might seem.

Lily Wojtkowski said Pretzel has fig ured out how to take a treat out of her hand before a trick is accomplished.

Lily Wojtkowski said Pretzel is adventurous and he always wants to try something new. His adventur ous nature rubbed off on his brother, Dots, whom the family bought soon after Pretzel.

In the comics, Pretzel works as a mail man, while Dots works at the post office. Pretzel travels around the marsh delivering mail and inter acting with various characters, including Guppie, a fish, a pair of dragons (Sprinkle and Leaf), and Buterscotch, a gray fox. He travels to a cafe, a convention, a festival, mar kets and more.

The last page of the comic book features photos of the real life Pretzel and Dots, so readers can see how her drawings compare to the actual rats.

Lily Wojtkowski said drawing Pretzel was difficult because she wanted to make sure her character actually looked and acted like her pet. For example, she wondered whether Pretzel would ask for food or if he would just take some.

“Sometimes I’m thinking I don’t know if this makes sense for the character,” she said. “Other times, I look at Pretzel and I’m like, no, he would do that.”

Lily Wojtkowski said she was excited when she saw her comic book as a finished prod uct.

Her dream of publish ing a comic book came true, and now she could entertain people while sharing stories about her rats.

Courtesy photo

Lakewood Ranch’s Lily Wojtkowski, who is 12, spends her free time doodling and making comics.

Photo by Liz Ramos

Courtesy of Lily Wojtkowski

Lakewood Ranch’s Lily Wojtkowski loves creating comics.

IF YOU GO KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CAR SHOW AND COOKOUT

State Road

a.m.

Car Show and Cookout at Our Lady of the Angels in Lakewood Ranch. Last year, Ken and Anne Donovan brought the car to the show for the first time because they had just moved to the Country Club and wanted to support the church. The car received the “Fan Favorite” award.

The Donovans laugh about it since they aren’t really the classic car show types. Although Ken Donovan Jr. spends his Sundays washing and tinkering with cars, he isn’t the type of owner who uses a tooth brush to get to those hard-to-reach places on his wheels. Last year’s Knights of Columbus event was the first show he ever had entered.

The reason he keeps the Excalibur is because it holds so many memo ries for his family.

The Excalibur is not alone in that regard. In fact, it is not even his favorite vehicle.

He still has the 1972 Triumph motorcycle he rode as a young man, a 1965 Mustang and a 1975 MG.

He loves them all, as he does his favorite, a 1967 International Scout.

The Scout itself is plenty of proof that Ken Donovan Jr., who is 69, isn’t concerned about show cars.

“The Scout is a step above a trac tor,” he said with a laugh. “But I took my driver’s license test in it. I learned to drive in it. It’s just the family his tory.”

The history is all-important.

“I want to be buried in it,” he said.

This time it was Anne who was laughing, possibly because she knows her husband was only halfkidding.

When they met in the 1970s, they quickly learned they both had a love of cars and motorcycles. Anne par ticularly loved the roar of a powerful engine.

On their first date, Ken Jr. drove the MG to pick her up.

“I saw Kenny drive up in this midget, and I was wondering how I was going to get into it with the skirt I was wearing,” she said.

She managed to slide in, and they drove off.

The couple has three children — Ken III, Patrick and Katherine — and the Excalibur continued to serve at special occasions, such as Ken III’s wedding to Tamara in 2016 and in the 2017 wedding of Katherine and Steve Young. Eventually, the car will be passed along to one of their children. And their children have six grandchildren, including Ken IV.

Ken Donovan Jr. was asked if he had any car care advice for those attending the show.

“Keep it in the garage,” he said. “The Excalibur isn’t a good car for rain.”

While the Donovans aren’t con cerned with the value of his classic cars, they admit the Excalibur draws interest whenever they drive it.

“When you drive the car, it makes people happy,” Ken Donovan Jr. said. “They wave and get excited.”

But he never will sell it or any of his other classic cars.

“I just don’t want to let them go,” he said. “Besides, by the time I get done with something, it is junk any way.”

Tamara and Patrick Donovan used the car for their wedding in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 2016. It was used many times over the years for special occasions.

Photos by Jay Heater

First Physicians Group Welcomes

Vosler,

Peter

MD,

Launch of ingenuity

Board

Head and

School

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Fellowship: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Gene Witt Elementary fifth-graders Ryker Gordon, Colton Smith and Yohmaris Terrero poured the bag of supplies onto the ground and spread it around so they could see everything.

They had a small block of wood, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, a paint stir and more.

On Oct. 15, their team, along with 19 oth er schools, had 90 minutes at Palm View K-8 School in Palmetto to use the supplies to create a catapult. They couldn’t prepare for the Catapult Challenge because the supplies were a surprise.

Smith said it was stressful. He and his teammates had trouble coming up with ideas at first, but once they decided to use the block of wood as a weight to ensure their catapult wouldn’t lift from the ground, they were on a roll.

“It turned out well,” Terrero said. “It’s hard when you don’t know what’s coming.”

East County teams from Gene Witt, Robert E. Willis, B.D. Gullett, Tara, William H. Bashaw and Gilbert W. McNeal elementary schools also participated in the Catapult Challenge.

— LIZ RAMOS

Tara Elementary School fifth-graders Kaylani Roney, Makenna Hutchinson and Annalise Jacobson celebrate scoring 50 points on the accuracy portion of the Catapult Challenge.

Photos by Liz Ramos

Gene Witt Elementary teacher Tom Brugos celebrates with Luciano Giallembardo, Emma Doyle, Noah Pelett and Liam Bralsand on their second-place finish for longest distance.

Ranch Nites return

ith the popular Ranch Nite Wednesdays back in business at Waterside Place after a summer break, many area

filled in a spot on their social calendars.

“We’ve been waiting to be able to participate in some of these events where we can get to know our new neighbors,” Central Park’s Crystal Selby said.

Features included a mobile bar by Cornerstone & Co., live music by Sarasota’s Sinewave Band and numerous food vendors.

The MVP Sports and Social Club’s cornhole league is again a regular attraction at the weekly event.

Amanda Champ, owner of Surfing Coconut, said it was her first time participating in the market, although she had already been involved in the Farmers Market at Waterside.

“It’s new, it’s different,” she said. “It’s more of a community, all-ages type of midweek break from the workweek,” she said.

“It’s nice to eat, drink, and support a local business,” said Sarasota’s Marissa Blardi, who was shopping for jewelry.

Country Club’s Karren Morgan said the event was an important gateway for newcomers.

“It’s a great way to meet lots of people that you wouldn’t have access to normally ... a lot of age groups,” she said.

— IAN SWABY

Austin DeGroot and Aaron DeGroot, of the Sinewaves Band, provide live music.

Sarasota’s Sophia Quickel and Katelyn Abel listen to the live music.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Amanda Champ, of Surfing Coconut, describes the offerings to Maria and Dmitri Topal, who came from New Port Richey.

Lake Club home tops sales at $3.25 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in Lake Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. James Ramage, trustee, sold the home at 7918 Staysail Court to Henry Katz, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, for $3.25 million. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,618 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.63 million in 2019.

COUNTRY CLUB

George Howard III and Deborah Vogel-Howard, of Bradenton, sold their home at 6903 Westchester Circle to William and Rebecca Manise, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.4 million. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,947 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2019.

Michael Gautier, of Nokomis, sold his home at 7732 US Open Loop to Victor and Sondra Prichard, of Double Oak, Texas, for $1,075,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,455 square feet of living area. It sold for $660,000 in May.

AZARIO ESPLANADE

John and Cherri Jones sold their home at 15227 Derna Terrace to Phillip and Catherine McMahon, of Elmhurst, Illionois, for $1,725,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,656 square feet of living area. It sold for $991,900 in 2020.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Mary Jo Tuori, trustee, of Elk Rapids, Michigan, sold the home at 14724 Castle Park Terrace to Richard Spriggle, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,225,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,762 square feet of living area. It sold for $674,900 in 2017.

Ronald and Terri Greenbaum, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 14508 Stirling Drive to Robert Harris, of Lakewood Ranch, for $940,000. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,419 square feet of living area. It sold for $845,000 in January.

Gary and Anne Briggs, of Harwich, Massachusetts, sold their home at 7130 Prestbury Circle to Chris Johns and Kevin Cingatura, of Bradenton, for $925,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,231 square feet of living area. It sold for $530,000 in 2020.

ESPLANADE

Darrell and Susanne Jackson, of Bradenton, sold their home at 13134 Sorrento Way to James and Mary Dennesen, of Bradenton, for $1.16 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,367 square feet of living area. It sold for $665,700 in 2017.

Henry and Amy Cernitz, of Westbury, New York, sold their home at 12741 Del Corso Loop to Fredric Lipton, trustee, of Bradenton, for $950,000. Built in 2013, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,888 square feet of living area. It sold for $649,900 in 2021.

PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGE

Amy and Thom Hunter, of Bradenton, sold their home at 22354 Panther Loop to Jeffrey and Carolyn Kuehl, of Bradenton, for $1,075,000. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,319 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2012.

RIVER CLUB NORTH Karen Kolbe, of Bradenton, sold the home at 6302 Spyglass Lane to Scott and Stacy Kolbe, of Bradenton, for $1 million. Built in 2000, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a

pool and 4,804 square feet of living area.

MALLORY PARK Thomas Gilbert Walsh and Mary Elizabeth Walsh, of Geneva, Illinois, sold their home at 11513 Golden Bay Place to Glenn Chisholm and Suzanne Littler, of Bradenton, for $950,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,987 square feet of living area. It sold for $925,000 in March.

MILL CREEK

Sean and Julie Budinich, of Winter Haven, sold their home at 15208 21st Ave. E. to Jay Lockaby, Tracy Bradford and Judy Lockaby, of Bradenton, for $920,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,225 square feet of living area. It sold for $585,000 in 2019.

Raymond and Donna Makovec, of Lake Wells, sold their home at 13707 18th Place E. to Mark and Tamara Mesesan, of Bradenton, for $705,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,038 square feet of living area.

Miranda McAvoy and Frank Garza, of Bradenton, sold their home at 113 137th St. N.E. to Huan Thanh Phan and Jacqueline Ho Phan, of Pensacola, for $610,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,497 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2020.

INDIGO Empire State Holding Group LLC sold the home at 2912 Sky Blue Cove to Bradley Ozenberger and Pamela Ozenberger, trustees, of Bradenton, for $852,900. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,305 square feet of living area.

SOLERA Magnus and Nina Lundberg, of Bradenton, sold their home at 5325 Halewood Court to Jason and Danae Schneider, of Oceanside, New York, for $723,000. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,995 square feet of living area. It sold for $478,400 in 2021.

ZIPPERER ROAD Theo Investments LLC sold the home at 2123 Zipperer Road to Devin Phillip Boersma and Amelia Boersma, of Bradenton, for $700,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,596 square feet of living area. It sold for $72,000 in 1992.

NOTTING HILL Jose Colon and Christina Juvel, of Miami, sold their home at 7302 Kensington Court to Thomas James Standridge and Joni Lynne Jones, of Bradenton, for $660,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,799 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2017.

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Robert Masters, of Safety Harbor, sold his home at 9102 Heritage Sound Drive to James and Pauline Daintith, of Rutland, U.K., for $640,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,033 square feet of living area. It sold for $354,000 in 2017.

GREENBROOK

Raymond Scott Redden Jr. and Angela Redden, of Bradenton, sold their home at 6563 Blue Grosbeak Circle to Marshall and Janet Gralla, of Bradenton, for $630,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,034 square feet of living area. It sold for $310,000 in 2016.

EAGLE TRACE

Brent and Tiffany McComas, of Bradenton, sold their home at 12704 Halfmoon Lake Terrace to John Schilling, Stephen Schilling and Tina Schilling, of Uniontown, Ohio, for $610,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,148 square feet of living area. It sold for $293,000 in 2015.

RIDGE AT CROSSING CREEK

Stephen and Mary Shrewsbury, of Mineral Ridge, Ohio, sold their home at 7766 Ridgelake Circle to Joseph John Seifert and Arlene Fishman Seifert, of Bradenton, for

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS OCT. 11-14

$569,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,814 square feet of living area. It sold for $292,200 in 2016.

MOTE RANCH

Nicolas Jarry and Maria Urruticoechea, of Biscayne, sold their home at 6825 Superior St. Circle to Nelly Campana, of Staten Island, New York, for $560,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,856 square feet of living area. It sold for $362,000 in 2020.

COUNTRY OAKS

Robert and Diane Pearce, of Sarasota, sold their home at 7972 Cypress Lake Drive to Cheryl Mercer, of Williamstown, New Jersey, for $555,000. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool

and 1,862 square feet of living area. It sold for $115,000 in 1994.

WATERLEFE

Carol Ann Vasile, trustee, of Englewood, sold the home at 635 Misty Pond Court to Gregory Cernigilia and Mary Elizabeth Cerniglia, of Arlington Heights, for $550,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,695 square feet of living area. It sold for $227,000 in 2003.

ONLINE

In with the new

Photo Courtesy of K.C. Wood

This Lake Club home at 7918 Staysail Court sold for $3.25 million. It has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,618 square feet of living area.

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

Strides gets ringing endorsement

Summerfield’s Betsy Young walked into her doctor’s office Oct. 21 and was surprised to find out it was her last in a series of breast cancer treatments.

She was able to ring the bell, signifying the end of her treatment.

Young celebrated with thousands of other breast cancer survivors, those going through treatments and those who support them during the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Oct. 22 at Nathan Benderson Park.

“I survived,” Young said. “I’m so happy and so optimistic for the future. A year ago, I never thought I would be in this position. I thought I was going to die.”

Lakewood Ranch’s Bob DeLosh only gets dressed up in a funky outfit once a year, and that’s for Making Strides. He was dressed from head to toe in pink including a large wig, shirt, bra, tutu and shoes.

DeLosh and his daughter, Abbey DeLosh, were walking in honor of DeLosh’s wife, Joanie DeLosh. She died from breast cancer seven years ago after fighting for six years.

— LIZ RAMOS

Lakewood Ranch’s Bob DeLosh and his daughter, Abbey DeLosh, walk in honor of his wife, Joanie DeLosh, who died from breast cancer seven years ago.

Photos by Liz Ramos

Port Charlotte’s Tina Tuzio and North Port’s Denise Wald and Karen Rodriguez walk in honor of Wald and Tuzio’s mother, Mary Dayton.

FORECAST

THURSDAY, OCT. 27

High: 84

Low:

Chance of rain: 24%

FRIDAY, OCT. 28 High: 86 Low:

Chance of rain: 24%

SATURDAY, OCT. 29 High:

Low:

Chance of rain:

SUNDAY, OCT. 30 High:

Low:

Chance of

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Oct. 27 7:37a 6:49p

Friday, Oct. 28 7:37a 6:48p Saturday, Oct. 29 7:39a 6:47p Sunday, Oct. 30 7:39a 6:47p Monday, Oct. 31 7:39a 6:46p Tuesday, Nov. 1 7:40a 6:45p Wednesday, Nov. 2 7:41a 6:45p

MOON PHASES

RAINFALL

Monday, Oct. 17 0

Tuesday, Oct. 18

Wednesday, Oct. 19 0.16

Thursday, Oct. 20 0 Friday, Oct. 21

Saturday, Oct. 22

Sunday, Oct. 23

celebrity

TO SHARE by Paul Coulter. Edited by Ross Trudeau

By Luis Campos

John Colon captured this photo

THURSDAY, OCT. 27 THROUGH SUNDAY, OCT. 30

LONG DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Begins at 8 a.m. each day at Premier Sports Campus, 5895 Post Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. The Ultimate Long Drive World Championships are a combination of the Amateur Long Drive and Xtreme (professional) Long Drive championships, both of which are aimed at one thing — hitting a golf ball as far as possible. The championships are for all ages, with age groups ranging from youth to 75 and older. The event is free to attend. For more information, visit PremierSportsCampus.com or UltimateLongDrive.com.

FRIDAY, OCT. 28

BOOFEST

Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. This free event invites children to wear their favorite Halloween costumes and trick or treat with various vendors supplying candy and treats. Live entertainment will be featured along with food and dessert trucks and more. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

FRIDAY, OCT. 28-SATURDAY, OCT. 29

HAUNTED NIGHTS

Runs from 7-10 p.m. at Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions, 32755 Singletary Road, Myakka City. Join those at Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions for a walk through some of Florida’s more infamous hauntings. Walking tours are recommended only for those 13 and older. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated. Concession and carnival game prices vary. Walking tours take 15 to 20 minutes over

uneven ground. Closed-toed shows and bug spray are recommended. A family friendly Dead and Breakfast will be offered for younger guests, where vampires, witches, pirates and fortune tellers go for a little rest and relaxation. For more information, go to HerrmannsRoyalLipizzans.com/ events.

SATURDAY, OCT. 29-SUNDAY, OCT. 30

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hunsader Farms, 5500 C.R. 675, Bradenton. The 31st annual Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival continues its run with a crafts show, live music and shows, lots of pumpkins, games, hayrides, pony rides, a corn maze, scarecrow displays, food, a petting zoo, the big train ride and more.

Admission is $15; children younger than 10 are admitted free. The event is cash only, although some vendors will accept cards. For a list of live entertainment and more information, go to HunsaderFarms.com.

SUNDAY, OCT. 30

FARMERS MARKET

Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch will run year-round every Sunday. Vendors will be offering seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. Other features are children’s activities and live music. For more information, go to www.MyLWR.com.

YOGA IN THE PARK

Begins at 9 a.m. at Waterside Place Park, 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities offers yoga

Made for where you live. Here!

BEST BET

THURSDAY, OCT. 27

THROUGH SATURDAY, OCT. 29

SLEEPY HOLLOW

Begins 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Lakewood Ranch. The Players Centre for Performing Arts is back with its annual presentation of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. See all the characters such as Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassel, Brom Bones, The Woman in White and the Headless Horseman played by the crew of The Players Centre for Performing Arts. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students 24 and younger. A family four-pack is available for $50. Call 3652494 to purchase tickets or go to ThePlayers.org.

that is free to residents and $10 for nonresidents. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2

SENIOR WELLNESS FAIR

Runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA, 5100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. The YMCA is hosting a Senior Wellness Fair that will feature products, services, programs and resources for seniors and caregivers. The free event is open to everyone and will include free giveaways, food and raffles. For more information, go to YMCASWFL. org or call 498-9622.

BINGO FOR ALL Begins at 10 a.m. at Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities hosts Bingo. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

RANCH NIGHT WEDNESDAYS

Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. Live music, food trucks, a market with rotating vendors, a mobile bar and a recreational cornhole league highlight this crowd-favorite event. Pets are welcome but no coolers or outside food or beverage allowed. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

THURSDAY,

Items Under $200

PHOTOSMART

KITCHEN

OFFICE

PICTURE

PICTURE: FRAMED/MATTED, 10”X14”, (“Siesta”) Very unique, asking $150. Call 941-952-1097

Items Under $200

TELESCOPIC GUTTER cleaner, $10. Antique travelers trunk, $50. Pick, wooden handle $15. 941-228-9467

TOOLS - Over 30 Piece Assortment. $10. (412) 527-7434

TOOLS -

HERE!

It’s time for the Fall LWR Community Yard Sale!

The Lakewood Ranch (LWR) Garden Club is sponsoring the LWR Community Yard Sale for subdivisions of Greenbrook, Riverwalk, and Summer eld is N November 5 2022 8 a m 2 p m

Rain Date: November 6, 2022

Those residents wanting to have a yard sale should take your $5.00 registration fee to LWR Town hall to obtain a yard sale permit by November 2nd at 4 p.m. Please wear your mask.

November 6, 2022

F FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT PENNY KRESS (443) 716 8189

Those residents wanting to have a yard sale should take your $5.00 registration fee to LWR Town hall to obtain a yard sale permit by November 2nd at 4 p.m.

File photo

Adult Care Services

Painting

Cleaning