East County Observer 12.08.22

EAST COUNTY

Observer

Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

Bird’s eye tour

PAGE 4B

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

VOLUME 25, NO. 3

YOUR TOWN

Administrator says county ready to rock

Scott Hopes said his Manatee County administration will be more equipped to handle a growing project list.

SEE PAGE 3A

Ian Swaby

Enjoy a slice of ice at the Rink at UTC Growing up in the Florida climate, East County’s 6-year-old Arden Misiewicz and 8-yearold Giada Misiewicz were not as familiar with ice skating as their mother, Cara Misiewicz, who comes from Ohio.

Cara Misiewicz said The Rink at UTC, part of University Town Center’s holiday celebrations, provided an exciting opportunity for her children to try the sport, something they had only had the opportunity to do once before.

Arden Misiewicz said he was beginning to enjoy the experience, finally gaining enough balance to let go of the railing and glide across the ice.

“I feel like it’s my favorite sport,” said Giada Misiewicz.

“This is phenomenal,” said Cara Misiewicz. “It’s wonderful we can be outside but still enjoy a winter sport. It’s nice to wear a T-shirt and watch the kids skate.”

PICK YOUR SCHOOL Shifting enrollment allows East County parents to have more school choices for their children. SEE PAGE 8A

Liz Ramos Ian Swaby

Sylvie Theis, a seventh grader at R. Dan Nolan Middle School, helps care for the cows on campus. Programs like Future Farmers of America are one of the reasons why families choose to participate in school choice.

Two kids, one Christmas wish Greenbrook 6-year-olds Jasmine and Benjamin Pearsall found exactly the person they were looking for on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, after the Holiday Tree Lighting that marked the start of Music on Main on Dec. 2.

The children were delighted at the chance to meet with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus beneath the newly lit Christmas tree.

It turned out the twin siblings both wanted the same item.

Jasmine Pearsall offered a hint by saying it was “something big.”

The siblings eventually revealed they had asked Santa Claus for a dirt bike.

“That way you don’t have to pedal,” said Benjamin Pearsall.

Whether or not they receive a dirt bike, it appeared their family was going to enjoy a festive evening.

“We just got here, but so far we love it,” said their mother, Petra Pearsall.

A+E

New title for exec, but fresh challenge

The keys to great theater INSIDE

Former school district executive joins Manatee County’s staff.

SEE PAGE 6A Ian Swaby

East County’s Mitchell Teitelbaum has assumed the role of deputy county administrator.

2A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

Educator of Year finalists named

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MANATEE COUNTY FINALISTS Educator of the Year finalists ■ Tiffany Barrett-Greer, second grade teacher at Braden River Elementary School ■ Kelly Smith-Williams, anatomy and physiology teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School ■ Kendall Carrier, director of bands at Parrish Community High School ■ Michelle Dowell, biomedical science teacher at Palmetto High School

Two East County teachers and two support staff members were named finalists for the Educator of the Year and Support Employee of the Year awards. her lesson on identifying muscles on a cartoon character in motion.

As her students searched for cartoon characters, Smith-Williams played Disney music to match the theme.

“If it’s fun, memorable and interactive, they’ll remember it for the exams,” she said. “They’ll remember it going forward.”

Whether it’s cartoon characters or drawing facial muscles on balloons, Smith-Williams tries to incorporate hands-on assignments into her anatomy and physiology class.

Smith-Williams, who is in her seventh year of teaching, started out as a physical education teacher before being asked to teach anatomy and physiology last school year.

“I absolutely fell in love with it,” she said. “The ability to take what I know from P.E. and health and apply it to a core honors class is a huge deal, especially because we have such amazing, high-level honors students here. To think I’m teaching a student now who one day could be my son’s pediatrician is just incredible.”

Tiffany Barrett-Greer: At the beginning of the school year, one of Barrett-Greer’s students knew her letters and sounds, but she didn’t want to read.

Barrett-Greer made it a mission of hers to get her student to love reading.

“She didn’t believe me and thought I was being ridiculous,” BarrettGreer said. “Now she’s reading, and she came back to me the other day and said, ‘You were right. You told me you were going to get me to read, and now I’m reading.’ It was such a special moment.”

Barrett-Greer focuses on building relationships with her students and families to not only help academical-

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, made surprise visits to four East County school employees.

At each visit, Saunders presented the employees with balloons and an award.

Kelly Smith-Williams, an anatomy and physiology teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School, and Tiffany Barrett-Greer, a second-grade teacher at Braden River High School, received recognition for being School District of Manatee County Educator of the Year finalists.

Gena Case, a guidance clerk at Myakka City Elementary School, and Marisol Hernandez, a school secretary at Braden River High School, received recognition for being finalists for Support Employee of the Year.

Other Educator of the Year finalists are Kendall Carrier, director of bands at Parrish Community High School, and Michelle Dowell, a biomedical science teacher at Palmetto High School.

Other Support Employee of the Year finalists are Latisha Jones, a guidance clerk at Southeast High School, and Brianna Hall, a clerical assistant at Lincoln Memorial Middle School.

The winners will be announced at the district’s 2023 Excellence in Education Awards in February at Parrish Community High school.

Each of the finalists were honored for their dedication and passion.

Kelly Smith-Williams: On Nov. 30, Smith-Williams gave an example of why she is being considered for the Educator of the Year award when it was obvious she couldn’t wait to start

Liz Ramos

Tiffany Barrett-Greer, a second-grade teacher at Braden River Elementary School, is a finalist for the School District of Manatee County’s Educator of the Year.

ly but also socially and emotionally.

She has a saying in her classroom, “I can’t do this ... yet.”

“We learned that even though we can’t do it right now, it doesn’t mean in a month, two months, three months, we’re not going to be able to do that,” she said. “Second grade is such a magical grade level because they jump so many levels. It’s amazing to watch that happen and to be a part of it.”

Barrett-Greer, who has been teaching for 17 years, uses real-world examples to help her students understand lessons. For example, when her students are learning about money, she opens a donut shop in class. She works with them to understand the value of each coin and how to add everything up to then afford a donut.

“We make learning fun here,” Barrett-Greer said. “Everything we do in this classroom has a purpose.

Everything’s so engaging here that they don’t want to miss school, and that is so important to me.”

Gena Case: Whether it’s organizing a Teacher Appreciation lunch or assisting administrators with students, Case does all she can to support students, teachers and staff at Myakka City Elementary School.

“If I get to help a teacher, whether it’s giving them an extra break or a

treat or do something to put a smile on their face when they go back to class, that is probably the best part of my job,” Case said. “They work so, so hard. I might not be in the classroom with children every day, but knowing some of the things I get to do behind the scenes is so fulfilling. It’s more than just getting a paycheck.”

When Case started at Myakka City Elementary in 2016, she was a paraprofessional. She took on the role of guidance clerk in 2020. She uses her experiences from being in the classroom and her experiences as a guidance clerk to help Principal Carol Ricks, Assistant Principal Betsy Bickel-Perry and guidance counselor Debbie Veldkamp with whatever they need.

“Being in the office now, I never, ever take for granted that those teachers are working from the first bell to the last bell,” case said. “If I get a phone call during the day from a teacher saying, ‘Can you run down here and give me five minutes?’ I love doing that because I have been on the other side and have seen how hard those teachers work.”

Marisol Hernandez: When Hernandez started working at Braden River High School four years ago, she saw it as an opportunity to help others.

Support Employee of the Year finalists ■ Gena Case, guidance clerk at Myakka City Elementary School ■ Marisol Hernandez, school secretary at Braden River High School ■ Brianna Hall, clerical assistant at Lincoln Memorial Middle School ■ Latisha Jones, guidance clerk at Southeast High School

As a secretary in student services and the discipline department, she could encourage students who were struggling academically or personally.

As someone who speaks Spanish, she could serve as a translator to help Hispanic families.

“I wanted to make a difference,” Hernandez said. “It means a lot knowing you are doing something to help other people.”

Hernandez was surprised to see the impact she was making on students when she received notes during a Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week earlier this school year. She received notes from students telling her how her simple “Hellos” in the morning start their days off well and that they appreciate how she’s always there to listen and help them.

“Those are things that make it all worth it,” she said. “I love knowing that maybe it’s the little things that you do that can make a difference.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

LAYOUT OF MANATEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT SCOTT HOPES County Administrator ■ County Administration ■ Civic Center ■ Chief Information Officer/Information Technology ■ Financial Management ROBERT REINSHUTTLE Deputy County Administrator ■ Attorney General Extension Services ■ Public Safety ■ Community and Veterans Services ■ Natural Resources CHARLES BISHOP Deputy County Administrator ■ Property Management ■ Sports and Leisure ■ Public Works COURTNEY DE POL Deputy County Administrator ■ Development Services ■ Utilities MITCHELL TEITELBAUM Deputy County Administrator ■ Human Resources ■ Transit/Fleet/Code Enforcement ■ OPS/Economic Development ■ Public Records/Information Outreach

Photos by Ian Swaby

County Administrator Scott Hopes describes his redesign at the Nov. 29 commission meeting.

Restructured county administration complete Administrator Scott Hopes says the reorganization will allow Manatee County to keep up with infrastructure needs.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

M

anatee County Administrator Scott Hopes said Manatee County commissioners will now be running a government that is set up to run more efficiently for its residents.

Hopes, who took his current job in May 2021 after serving as an interim administrator for two months, completed a reshuffling of the county’s departments and responsibilities on Nov. 29 when he hired Mitchell Teitelbaum to be his fourth and final deputy administrator.

Also on Nov. 29, new commissioners Jason Bearden, Mike Rahn and Amanda Ballard took office.

Before Hopes’ hiring, Manatee County utilized two deputy administrators.

Hopes said the reorganization will help the county complete needed work on its infrastructure faster.

“We’ve grown a lot,” said District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh. “We are not the same county we were a year and a half ago. With growth comes the need to react faster.”

Hopes said it’s been several months that his three deputy administrators —Courtney De Pol, Charles Bishop and Robert Reinshuttle — have been overwhelmed with projects. He expects the addition of Teitelbaum to create a more manageable workload.

Teitelbaum’s other primary responsibilities include public records, information outreach, code enforcement and economic development.

FLEET SERVICES AND TRANSIT

The Fleet Services and Transit divisions used to be contained in the Public Works department currently overseen by Bishop. Teitelbaum now assumes those duties.

The fleet includes a large series of county vehicles, which must be managed, maintained, and acquired, while transit involves the beach trolley, the special needs transportation service, and the regular Manatee County Area Transit services.

Hopes said this change has provided the Public Works department with the freedom to focus on roads

“We’ve grown a lot. We are not the same county we were a year and a half ago.

With growth comes the need to react faster.”

— Vanessa Baugh, District 5 Commissioner

and bridges. He said in the past 12 months, Public Works has increased its project list by over 105%.

A statement from Public Works Director Chad Butzow said his department now can concentrate more on its project list and it provides senior leadership with the ability to focus on those projects while providing better direction.

UTILITIES

Changes to the utilities department began with the retirement of former Utilities Director Mike Gore, on Aug. 2, and have continued since.

Hopes said two critical positions in utilities have been filled, with new director Evan Pilachowski, who was appointed Oct. 9, as well as a new deputy director of solid waste, The new deputy director of solid waste is Rebecca Kwiatkowski.

After Gore’s retirement, his role had originally been filled by Director Jeffrey Goodwin, as well as Deputy Director Kevin Morris.

However, Goodwin retired from the county in October.

Hopes said Goodwin had “stepped up to the plate” as an employee, but said he felt the position of utilities director required an engineering background, while Goodwin brought an undergraduate degree in biology as well as years of experience work-

FEWER ADMINISTRATORS, MORE WORKERS

Although Manatee County now has two additional deputy administrators, Hopes said his redesign did not grow the size of the administration.

He said prior to his term, the county had 14 executive positions, while the number now sits at 12. He said the resulting reduction in salary dollars for executive administration has been $270,563.

However, the county has seen a net gain of about 280 employees overall during his tenure.

The system leaves Hopes with six officials reporting to him including De Pol, Bishop, Reinshuttle, Teitelbaum, Chief Financial Officer Sheila McLean and Chief Information Officer Drew Richardson.

Hopes said he had been handling fleet services and transportation responsibilities until Teitelbaum’s arrival.

ing his way through the department.

Pilachowski possesses a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in civil engineering. He is certified as a Professional Engineer in New York and will soon be certified in Florida as well.

“One of the most important aspects of both the redesign and reorganization is to dramatically elevate the quality of the experience and education of the leadership team,” Hopes said.

The 62-year-old Hopes said with younger individuals such as Pilachowski, and Deputy Director of Utilities Courtney De Pol, who is also a deputy county administrator, he hopes to have staff who can serve the county long-term.

“These are all individuals that I will have an opportunity to mentor and prepare to be the future leaders of Manatee County government,” he said.

PLANNING

Another major change that has occurred, Hopes said, is that all planning functions have been centralized.

Planners from departments such as utilities, transit and transportation are now interacting, he said, while previously, projects would go from planner to planner without significant direct interaction.

“You had paper moving back and forth, all around the county, and it was just stifling effectiveness,” he said.

He said once an ongoing renovation of the county administration building reaches its completion, planning staff will be housed on one dedicated floor. Hopes described the change as allowing staff to “sit around a table together.”

He also said the county had completely filled a 50% to 60% vacancy among planners that existed earlier in his tenure.

OTHER CHANGES

Hopes additionally said that he had moved parts of the department of Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity to Community and Veterans Services.

He said he also began utilizing more services of the private Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation, downsizing the county’s department of Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity by nine employees for a reduction in $800,000 in salary.

POSITIVE RESULTS

Deputy county administrators Courtney De Pol, Charlie Bishop, and Robert Reinshuttle attend the confirmation of new deputy county administrator Mitchell Teitelbaum.

Baugh said the new system, due to its use of numerous deputy administrators, would provide a more efficient response during public interactions with the county.

She said the deputy county administrators have more freedom to address the concerns of the public than department directors.

At-large Commissioner Jason Bearden said he likes the redesign.

“One of the things I like to look at, is, how can we be more effective?

How can we bring the best services to the residents of Manatee County, at the highest level?” he said.

He said it is important to reduce the workload on upper management.

Hopes said the county had planned to perform an employee satisfaction study in order to receive feedback on the redesign.

3A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

NEWS BRIEFS

4A

Ian Swaby

Construction crews contracted by Braden River Utilities perform work on the void.

Water leak causes Lorraine Road backup

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Two turn lanes on northbound Lorraine Road at its intersection with State Road 70 were closed Dec. 2 while a private construction crew worked to fill a void beneath the road.

A directional drill hit a Braden River Utilities reclaimed water line during construction in the area and the leaking water undermined the roadway at that intersection.

Ogden Clark, the strategic affairs manager for the Manatee County Public Works Department, said workers, under county supervision, had to fill the void with dirt and concrete, and then had to complete a compaction test, which had to be approved before traffic was allowed to resume.

Both turn lanes were reopen by the end of the day.

Traffic along State Road 70 was not impacted by the construction, although there was a slight backup for northbound motorists on Lorraine Road.

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Pro soccer team will train at Premier The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau on Dec. 5 signed a deal with professional soccer team Hartford Athletic on a cross-promotional partnership.

The Connecticut-based Athletic play in the USL Championship League, a Division II league just

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The deal calls for the Premier Sports Campus to be the official spring training home of Hartford Atlantic. A Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau release stated that “Premier Sports Campus features 23 FIFA-regulation sized fields for play ranging from community level to national and international events, with a 3,000-plus seat stadium with scoreboards and a press box.

The Hartford Athletic will wear the bureau’s logo on their jersey sleeves for both home and away games. The BACVB logo will be placed on the Athletic’s marketing and advertising promotions throughout the Hartford area, and also will be featured on TV broadcasts of Athletic matches.

The bureau announced the partnership during a World Cup Watch Party during the USA-Iran game Nov. 29.

Initiating the deal was Breeze Airways’ decision earlier this year to provide nonstop service between Hartford and the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

5A

Pilot program intensifies early focus on reading School District of Manatee County begins a new ‘screening’ program to identify possible reading problems, such as dyslexia.

The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity provides signs of dyslexia by grade levels. The center said signs of dyslexia can appear as early as pre-K. Here are some of the signs: Pre-K ■ Trouble learning common nursery rhymes ■ Difficulty learning and remembering letters ■ Mispronouncing familiar words ■ Doesn’t recognize rhyming patterns

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Alison Yawn, a kindergarten teacher at William H. Bashaw Elementary School, was working with three students at a small table in the back of her classroom.

She would point to a letter on a card with the alphabet on it and have each student say all the sounds each letter makes. That would be followed by the students naming the object in the picture that accompanied the corresponding letter.

Meanwhile, in another kindergarten class at Bashaw, half the class was reading while the other half was completing literacy activities on their computers.

The focus on reading has increased at Bashaw Elementary students in pre-K, kindergarten and first grade as the School District of Manatee County pilots its EarlyBird Screener program.

Kindergarten and first grade ■ Doesn’t associate letters with sounds ■ Can’t sound out simple words like “cat” or “map” ■ Complains about how reading is hard Second grade through high school ■ Trouble reading unfamiliar words or guessing words because they cannot sound out the word ■ Avoids reading out loud ■ Very slow in acquiring reading skills ■ Searches for a specific word and ends up using vague language such as “stuff” or “thing” ■ Poor spelling

ASSESSING LITERACY SKILLS

Alison Nichols, the interim director of elementary curriculum and instruction for the school district, said the screener not only will help teachers and paraprofessionals identify potential students with characteristics of dyslexia but also identify students’ strengths and weaknesses in reading.

“Each of the sub-tests are targeting different literacy skills,” Nichols said. “So it’s things like letter naming, letter sounds, anything around phonological awareness. Then the screener assesses those key literacy skills.”

She said the screener will help make predictions about the student’s future reading success, including whether the student will be reading

ANALYZING DATA

SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA

at the current grade level by the end of the school year.

The earlier the district can identify and remedy literacy gaps, the better, Nichols said.

“There’s all kinds of studies out there that show us the earlier we intervene, especially when we’re talking pre-K, kindergarten and first grade,” she said, “then they’ll have significantly fewer problems in learning to read at grade level.”

The sub-tests, which will be completed all at once in 30 to 45 minutes

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Kindergartner Jay Dan Roux uses his finger to keep track of his place while reading. Kindergartners like Roux will be tested on their literacy skills using the EarlyBird screener.

depending on the grade level, are like a game, Nichols said. When students log onto the screener, it will look like a game board, and students will click on the different sub-tests as if entering different lands in the game.

Nichols said students most likely won’t realize they’re being tested because it will be as though they’re playing games.

QUIET SETTINGS

The window for testing the entire grade is nearly a month because screening must occur in small groups in quiet spaces as there are speaking components. For example, a student will be recorded to analyze how he or she is pronouncing words and reading aloud.

“We’re trying to minimize distractions so we can get as accurate results as we can,” Nichols said.

Nichols said certain sub-tests are more aligned with the risk flags for dyslexia, such as difficulty with accurate and fluent word recognition, poor spelling and deficits in phonological awareness.

Although teachers and parapro-

fessionals might see risk flags for dyslexia after analyzing the results of the sub-tests, Nichols said that is not a diagnosis, and the district, under law, cannot diagnose a student with dyslexia.

The district will send a written response to the parent so the district can have a conversation with the parent about the screener, what it does and the data collected. Then the teacher will explain what is being done in the classroom to help and what can be done at home.

If the parent chooses, the parent can request a comprehensive evaluation for the student through the district or take the student to be medically diagnosed.

Nichols said the screener can be a resource to help all students regardless of whether they see risk flags for dyslexia.

“It’s helping inform teachers which particular skills a student might need work on and which fields a student has that are strengths,” she said. “Overall, it’s giving us an accurate picture of where a child is with literacy.”

Once screenings are complete, teachers and paraprofessionals will gather in January for a professional development on analyzing the data from EarlyBird. Teachers and paraprofessionals will learn how to discuss the data with parents. They’ll have the opportunity to see what resources are available to help students and learn how they can adjust their lesson plans to better suit the needs of students.

For example, teachers might have students look into a mirror to see how their mouths should look into order to form a certain word or sound.

“We would want to hit all the different learning modalities, including visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile, to get in that multisensory instruction, which has been shown to help students who have cognitive reading disabilities,” Nichols said.

In April, students will be screened once again to show the progress made. All the data will be collected and analyzed and then passed onto the student’s next teacher to provide continuity of instruction.

Nichols said sharing data with a student’s teacher the following year will be crucial to tracking a student’s progress.

“Let’s say a child leaving kindergarten had one of those risk flags,” Nichols said. “They’re going to first grade and right as they walk through the door, that first-grade teacher already knows what this particular child needs.”

Nichols said the screener can assist in ensuring the district is providing a solid foundation in literacy that will ultimately help students as they continue in their education.

“Studies out there show students who are poor readers in third grade remain poor readers in ninth grade because they’re not getting structured literacy instruction early,” she said. “If we can fill in gaps or not have gaps right away starting in pre-K, it means that hopefully we’re moving kids all the way up through high school reading on grade level, and they’re going to graduate.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

NEW DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR MITCHELL TEITELBAUM WILL OVERSEE: ■ Fleet Services ■ Public Records ■ Information Outreach ■ Code Enforcement (magistrates and hearings) ■ Economic Development ■ Human Resources

Ian Swaby

Mitchell Teitelbaum (left) is introduced as a new deputy administrator by County Administrator Scott Hopes

Growing with the county GreyHawk Landing’s Mitchell Teitelbaum says he is excited to continue serving Manatee County in a different capacity.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

G

reyHawk Landing resident Mitchell Teitelbaum said he remembered a different Manatee County 10 years ago, when he first moved to the area.

He recalled a scene of more pastures and farmlands, and a Main Street at Lakewood Ranch that was far less active than it is today.

So he started to think it was time for him to grow as well.

Teitelbaum accepted a role as Manatee County’s newest deputy county administrator and was unanimously confirmed by county commissioners on Nov. 29.

He had been serving at an assistant superintendent and general counsel of the School District of Manatee County.

“I want to express not just my appreciation for being selected for this position through County Administrator Dr. (Scott) Hopes, and our county commissioners, but I also want to say how excited I am for this opportunity to continue my role in community service,” he said.

Teitelbaum will hold the position alongside fellow deputy commissioners Robert Reinshuttle, Charles Bishop, and Courtney De Pol. His responsibilities primarily will focus on fleet services, public

records, information outreach, areas of code enforcement including magistrates and hearings, economic development and human resources.

Although that seems like a long list of responsibilities, Teitelbaum said his previous job with the school district was somewhat on the same scale.

He said his experience juggling responsibilities with the school district will help him handle many departments with the county.

Teitelbaum has worked for the school district since 2014, first as a staff attorney before moving to general counsel and then finally receiving the added role of assistant superintendent.

He said he does expect challenges in his new role, but his district experience should help him overcome them.

One example, he said, is the work he has been performing with the communications department at the school district to ensure the correct messaging is provided to the public, conveying what he called “the prosperity and growth of our students and the success within our schools.”

He also said his involvement with the economic development within the school district would provide him with knowledge he can use as he encourages growth and prosperity within Manatee County.

Some examples of economic development by the school system, he said, include the introduction of community partnership schools, the birth of dual-language programs, the addition of new technical education programs through Woz U, the expansion of programs at Manatee Technical College, the introduction of the upcoming Guy Harvey school on Anna Maria Island, along with other specialized offerings.

He said all the School District of Manatee County was doing to promote noncollege-bound students into secondary education could be considered part of economic development.

“It is showing the growth of the workforce,” he said.

When it comes to Manatee County’s growth, he said one of his responsibilities will be to make sure new resources are available and sufficient to promote growth.

Another area where he can use his school district experience is transit.

Teitelbaum gave legal advice to those managing the school district’s bus system.

He called coordinating school buses “one of the hardest jobs you could imagine.”

The operation is extremely timesensitive, he said.

“You’ve got to pick them up at a

designated time; and you must drop them off before the first bell rings,” he said of the morning run.

He also pointed to other responsibilities of managing operations he held with the school district.

Starting with the beginning of the term of Superintendent Cynthia Saunders in 2018, he was assigned to oversee 14 charter schools in the county for their day-to-day operations. His duties included compliance issues.

For a year, he managed the district’s guardian program, created in 2018 after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

He was also assigned to the area of risk management to perform fiscal analysis in terms of the purchase of insurance, the payment of claims, workers’ compensation and general liability, and he also was assigned to public records for customer service and compliance.

While he did serve as the district’s legal counsel, he said he will not provide legal services to the county in any way. He said that capacity belongs strictly to County Attorney William Clague.

Nonetheless, he said he believes skills that he acquired as an attorney, such as providing guidance during conflicts, will bring value to his role.

“Those qualities transcend to this next position. There’s no question about it,” he said.

He said one of his next duties will be to help the big picture of county government come together.

“It’s utilities, it’s water, it’s waste, it’s all pieces of a very big puzzle, part of a master plan for the county that’s approved by the Board of County Commissioners upon the recommendation of the county administrator,” he said. “You don’t look at the trees. You must look at the forest at all times.”

He said his first move will be to become thoroughly acquainted with staff members and their operating procedures.

He will meet with team members and assess departments, structures, and organizational charts, discussing each department’s greatest challenges and what must be done to increase efficiency.

“You’re as good as your team,” he said. “Your success is never as an individual. If you have a great team, you will have great results.”

389850-1

6A

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Lakewood Ranch IDA urges CDDs to consider upgrades Some CDD board members, however, say maintaining their villages’ status should be the focus.

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

7A

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Inter-District Authority board members in Lakewood Ranch said on Nov. 29 they need to refocus their efforts to keep their communities as viable alternatives to those looking to buy in the many new neighborhoods of the region.

That includes spending more money for upgrades when necessary.

The topic was discussed at a Nov. 29 IDA workshop at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.

The IDA, which has a board made up of select CDD board members, can only suggest courses of action for CDDs to take.

It was noted that many of the original villages in Lakewood Ranch were built 20 years ago or more so the landscape must be kept pristine.

Part of accomplishing that task involves raising salaries of operations workers.

The IDA board reached a consensus to suggest raising operations’ worker salaries by 4.4%. “(CDD residents) are all going to have to be ready to pay more,” Vice Chair Nancy Johnson said. “Lakewood Ranch residents want a high level of service. If we keep losing people in operations, the beds are going to get messy.”

Treasurer Alan Silverglat pushed for an approach to evolving the community.

“You need to have a vision and a focus that makes you better than you are today, not just maintain where we are, and I feel our focus is on maintaining, not moving forward,” Silverglat said.

CEO Steve Zielinski said the dis-

File photo

tricts are making improvements and it remains to be addressed whether communities would buy into the idea of increasing fees for continued improvements. However, he said at the board level that he would consider it.

“I will promote that, certainly encourage it,” Zielinski said. “But again, it’s the appetite of each (CDD) board.”

CDD1 Chairperson Alan Roth, who oversees the Summerfield and Riverwalk areas, and CDD4 Chairperson Michael Griffin, who oversees Greenbrook, said their focus is on maintaining the levels of service.

Roth said he does not see it as especially likely that plans will grow in ambition this year.

“It’s just not a good year for that,” Roth said.

He said the district is constricted by increased costs for services including salaries, as well as landscaping costs that have nearly doubled.

He said the community always tries to stay “reasonably close” to the previous year’s assessments, which he said he expects to be slightly higher this year with robust reserves helping to cover costs.

Griffin said CDD4 was similarly focused on maintaining quality rather than surpassing it.

“We don’t have any grand ambitions, we don’t have any major plans for projects. We can’t let the community go backward,” he said.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

EAST COUNTY

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

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher and President / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Associate Publisher — East County Observer / Lori Ruth, LRuth@YourObserver.com

Photos by Liz Ramos

Braden River High School seniors Nathan Zapote and Grace Pino are happy to be at the school, which is open for school choice in the 2023-24 school year.

More room to make a choice High school students have fewer options in East County as only Braden River High is open for school choice.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

F

amilies will have more schools to choose from during the School District of Manatee County’s school choice period for the 2023-24 school year.

In Manatee County, only five elementary schools, one middle school and two high schools are closed to school choice.

In the 2022-23 school year, 12 elementary schools, four middle schools and two high schools were closed to school choice in the county.

Several elementary and middle schools saw a decrease in enrollment compared to this past year, resulting in more schools being open to school choice.

The School District of Manatee County is accepting applications for school choice now through Dec. 31.

Don Sauer, the director of the School District of Manatee County’s Office of Student Demographics, said although Manatee County has seen tremendous growth even during the pandemic, especially in the greater Lakewood Ranch area, not all people who have moved to the county have school-age children.

With inflation and higher interest rates, the growth in Manatee County as a whole has slowed, impacting the number of students enrolling in district schools.

Sauer said when the school district went through redistricting of elementary and middle schools in 2019 with the new boundaries being put in place for the 2020-21 school year, it allowed for the decrease in enrollment at certain schools.

The large overall enrollment of fifth graders in some schools have since moved on to middle school, which also factored into several elementary schools seeing fewer enrolled students in this school year.

“Because we redistricted, you didn’t get as many kindergartners now in the second year,” Sauer said.

“Those kindergartners are now firstgraders, so you have smaller classes on the other end. That helps it as well.”

Another reason for the decrease in enrollment is the opening of a new charter school in Lakewood Ranch and the expansion of another charter school in Parrish.

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy opened on White Eagle Boulevard in August with 740 students in kindergarten through sixth grade and ninth grade.

In the northern part of the county, Sauer said Parrish Charter Academy also added sixth grade to its school with the eventual goal of becoming a K-8 school.

“Some of the students that would normally transition into Buffalo Creek (Middle School) stayed at Parrish Charter and went into sixth grade,” Sauer said.

As those charter schools continue to add to their enrollment, Sauer said traditional schools will continue to see a decrease in enrollment.

Sauer said more families are becoming aware of the state’s Family

Beckett Laughlin, a third-grader at Robert E. Willis Elementary School, looks for microorganisms with a microscope. Willis Elementary is open for school choice after being closed for the 2022-23 school year.

SCHOOL CHOICE TIMELINE Now through Dec. 31: Application window January: School District of Manatee County reviews applications February: Parents will be notified of school choice assignment and have five days to accept

Empowerment Scholarship, which was expanded in 2021. The program now includes the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, which is based on family income and the McKay Scholarship, which provides scholarships for families of students with disabilities.

The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options provides the option for students to attend a participating private school, which would open space at their existing schools.

The McKay Scholarship, which now falls under the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, gives families an opportunity to enroll students in another public school that is not their

zoned school or they can receive a personal education savings account to use toward a private school, online learning programs, private tutoring, community college costs, higher education expenses and more.

“What’s happening with Family Empowerment is that more people are becoming aware of it,” Sauer said.

“It’s parents choosing options. As a district, we want to offer as many options as we can. The state is offering this one.”

While several elementary and middle schools saw a decrease in enrollment this year compared to last year, each of the district’s seven high schools saw an increase in enrollment this year.

“When we were really growing and we built those elementary and middle schools, those kids are now high school-aged kids,” Sauer said.

“They’re going through the system.”

Each of the high schools is open to school choice except Lakewood Ranch High School and Parrish Community High School.

Lakewood Ranch High is 132% over its capacity of 1,818 students, while Parrish Community is at 100% capacity with 2,042 students enrolled. Parrish Community’s capacity is 2,043 students.

“Those two areas are growing the most now,” Sauer said.

Sauer said as Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy adds its upper school next year, Lakewood Ranch High School could see fewer students enrolled.

“I can follow that and start to develop trends to see how many students are actually in that attendance zone that go to them so we can start to project out when they add 11th and 12th grade,” Sauer said. “In the next year or two, that could play into whether Lakewood Ranch is going to be open for choice.”

Both Lakewood Ranch and Parrish Community high schools are having additions constructed on their campuses that will increase their capacities.

The completion of additions at Braden River Middle and Gene Witt and Willis elementary schools in the past three years has increased capacity at those schools, allowing them to move to open for school choice.

Although a majority of schools are open for school choice, Sauer said some schools might have a limited number of seats available.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS When can families apply for school choice?

Now through Dec.31 Where do families apply?

On their FOCUS Parent Portal account Does the School District of Manatee County provide transportation for school choice students?

No. A transportation hub only is available to students in the Johnson K-8 International Baccalaureate Special Program and Advanced International Certificate Education Program, or International Baccalaureate students at Palmetto and Southeast high schools.

Who is given priority for school choice?

District employees, active-duty military families, foster care or courtordered custody arrangements and siblings within the same school.

Do families need to apply for school choice every year?

No. Students who are attending a school through the choice program should not apply if they want to remain at their choice school. The choice assignment lasts through the highest grade level of the school.

PICK YOUR SPOT School Capacity

Bashaw Elementary 770

Percentage of capacity 84%

School choice status (2023-24) open

Braden River Elementary

647

84%

open

Freedom Elementary

746

73%

open

Gullett Elementary

927

120.0%

closed

McNeal Elementary

752

85%

open

Myakka City Elementary

397

75%

open

Tara Elementary

701

75%

open

Willis Elementary

818

89%

open

Witt Elementary

930

71%

open

Braden River Middle

1250

66%

open

Haile Middle

889

83%

open

Mona Jain Middle

1128

88%

open

Nolan Middle

924

82%

open

Braden River High

1860

94%

open

Lakewood Ranch High

1818

132%

closed

Parrish Community High

2043

100%

closed

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SIDE OF RANCH

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

9A

JAY HEATER

A tall tale about love and relationships wasn’t using the party line.

Those of you who think flip phones are old school should ask your grandparents about party lines.

Jim, who was living in Valparaiso, Indiana, worked doing a variety of tasks at the airport. In his off hours, Jim, who was 20, would take flying lessons from his boss, and would pay him for the lessons a bit at a time out of his meager pay.

He was only working at the airport because he had to drop out of Purdue University due to a lack of funds. He didn’t know at the time it would change his life, in a good way.

Vera pointed out that she always has been a “cheap date,” saying how their second date was to A&W. “He bought me a 5-cent root beer,” she said.

The next 65 years saw a lot of frugal days, such as when, after a 27-year career, Jim was laid off as a pilot by Eastern Airlines, which went under in 1991. Since they packed up following their Thanksgiving Day wedding and left for Sarasota as Jim had landed a job at the Sarasota Airport, their life has been a series of moves.

Part of that journey meant living in an 18-foot travel trailer as Jim pursued his career at different places around the country.

Their travels eventually took them to Villa Rica, Georgia, about 30 miles west of Atlanta, where they lived on a farm for 47 years.

Although they never had lived on a farm before, they raised beef cattle and chickens, among others, while Jim continued his career as a pilot.

Before they moved to the farm, they had moved 15 times following their marriage.

While some wives might had pushed back against the constant moves (before the farm), Vera said she always was happy.

“It was exciting wherever we moved,” Vera said.

So why the farm?

“My daughter (Lynn) had a horse,” Jim said. “And I loved to ride dirt bikes. We had 68 acres and it was very quiet. As a hobby, farming was great, but I wouldn’t want to make a living doing it.”

They eventually moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2020.

They have three children, Lakewood Ranch’s Lynn Rainwater, Clearwater’s Jimmy Slocum and Birmingham, Alabama’s Karen Wolfe.

While Jim’s time took him away from home for days at a time, Vera said it never was a strain on their marriage.

“I kind of liked it,” she said. “It was sort of like a military life. You take over when he was gone. He never had Saturday and Sunday off, but it never bothered me. I even drove a small tractor on the farm.

Karen used to think we were going on nature walks on the farm, but actually I was just checking on the cows.”

And when Jim returned home?

“He would chop up some wood,” she said.

Jim said he never minded being on the road, or in the air.

“It was kind of fun,” he said. “I would go out for a run (when he was between flights). Then we would go drink a couple of beers.”

Without cell phones, Vera said a lot of trust was key to their relationship.

“He is as trustworthy as the day is long,” Vera said. “And he always has been extremely considerate.”

One factor that led to a long relationship was that while Vera was the “feisty” one, Jim was laid back.

He called it their yin and yang.

“She stands up for herself,” Jim said. “But that has helped her to deal with things when I was gone.”

Jim said Vera’s great sense of humor helped over the years and noted that she has been “an easy

Jay Heater

River Club’s Vera and Jim Slocum celebrated 65 years of marriage with a dinner cruise on Nov. 28.

person to be with.”

These days, they both stay active, which they believe is important for 85-year-olds.

Jim said other keys to a long relationship are being forgiving, not holding grudges, not getting caught up in “silly stuff,” and laughing a lot.

Vera said “loving a lot, laughing a lot, and enjoying the little things along the way,” are most important, along with a little “me time.”

These days, Vera says she has shrunk a bit, now down to 4-foot8.

She said people continue to look over her, as if she doesn’t exist.

She said, as an example, she once had to wave around a $50 bill above

her head to get the attention of a department store clerk.

Not wanting that to happen to her own children, she picked a tall guy when it came time to marry.

“Short people get slighted a lot,” she said.

Especially when they date.

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

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B

eing 4-foot-11, Vera Stewart didn’t particularly like those who discriminated against short people.

Well, except when it came to her selecting a boyfriend.

Sixty-five years ago, Jim Slocum showed up at Vera’s home in Hobart, Indiana, ready to go on a blind date.

Then she saw her date. Yikes! He was a runt.

Fortunately for Vera, she was looking at her friend’s date. Her guy was standing in the background, all of 6-foot-1.

“My mom and my grandmother were in the house, and I told them, ‘He is so good looking.’”

How good looking?

On Nov. 28, River Club’s Jim and Vera Slocum celebrated their 65th anniversary with a Marina Jack dinner cruise.

“My girlfriend had set us up on the blind date,” Vera said while sitting in her living room, her husband right next to her. “The fellow she was going to see didn’t want to go on a single date. I don’t think our paths would have crossed.”

But their paths did cross, and they headed to the drive-in.

“I felt comfortable,” Vera said.

“He was a perfect gentleman. And the happy chemistry was there.”

Jim was just as pleased.

“She was a nice and beautiful girl,” he said.

How long ago was that first date?

Consider that Vera was a telephone operator at the time, sitting in front of a board that would light up when one of her 500 customers tried to make a call.

“Number please,” Vera said with a smile as she remembered back to the job when she was 20.

She would then plug the caller into the hole in the board that corresponded with the number being called. And the call could only be connected if someone else already

10A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

WELCOMES WELCOMESRetired Air Force colonel begins new duty

Jessica Jessica Kassover, Kassover, DO Internal Internal Medicine Medicine WELCOMES WELCOMES WELCOMES WELCOMES WELCOMES WELCOMES

Lakewood Ranch’s Richard Tatem says his priorities as a school board member include the search for a new superintendent.

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R

iverwalk’s Richard Tatem isn’t worried about his lack of experience as he takes over as the District 5 representative on the School Board of Manatee County.

But he also understands he has a lot to learn.

Tatem was sworn in Nov. 22 and joined newly elected Board Members Cindy Spray and Chad Choate and incumbents Mary Foreman and Gina Messenger.

He said he is ready to dive into learning more about the school district and his new responsibilities.

“It’s a new job, it’s a new experience, and the more you learn, the better you get at it,” he said. “You have to go through that initial kind of new-guy-on-the-job period, but the sooner you get started with being the new guy, the sooner you stop being the new guy.”

Tatem said one of his priorities will be joining with the other board members to begin the search for a new superintendent of the district.

In October, Cynthia Saunders, the current superintendent, announced her intentions to retire in June.

Tatem looks forward to being a part of the school board that will choose the next leader of the district.

“I’d like to ensure the person who is in that seat is patriotic and focused on the heads, hands and hearts of students and not just providing them with job skills,” he said.

The connection between patriotism and schools is another priority for Tatem, a retired Air Force colonel.

Tatem said being sworn in to the school board means another opportunity for him to “support and defend the Constitution.”

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“Being a former military guy, it was kind of interesting to once again have that duty,” he said.

He said he wants to “infuse patriotism into curriculum,” such as the social studies curriculum that the board will review in the spring.

“It means we don’t skim over the bad, but we also emphasize the good so when students leave the public school system they have a respect and admiration for the United States of America,” Tatem said.

Before he participates in his first regular school board workshop Dec. 8, Tatem went through Florida School Board Association training Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 in Tampa.

Tatem said the training sessions gave him an opportunity to learn the rules and guidelines for being a part of the school board.

Although Tatem said he will follow all rules school board members are required to follow, he said he doesn’t agree with the law that does not allow two or more school board members to meet without calling a public meeting.

“They inhibit school board members from developing relationships and to effectively discuss topics,” Tatem said. “That doesn’t mean I won’t follow them. It just means I’m going to try to mount an effort to potentially challenge them in court because they’re a violation of our First Amendment rights.”

Riverwalk’s Richard Tatem has been sworn in as the District 5 representative on the School Board of Manatee County.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

11A

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12A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

IN T R

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

ODU

CING They LAB a re o a re c re CRE ated ptica AT E in cr D DI t o n a l l y, p h AMO y s i c a y s t a l fo tura l l y, a NDS l dia rm b mon nd c y ! s cien hem ds at t i s i ca ts a mo re a f l l y I D E N a n d fo r d able TICAL price .

Ian Swaby

East County’s The Twig provides for the needs of foster children.

’Tis the Twig season IAN SWABY

IF YOU GO

STAFF WRITER

What: The Twig, a nonprofit that serves foster children When: Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 10 and Wednesdays by appointment Where: 9706 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton Website: TheTwigCares.com Phone: 941-220-7958

A

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s foster kids visit The Twig in East County on Dec. 10, they will see proof that it is, indeed, the holiday season.

The nonprofit’s vision is listed as “To provide a haven for the foster care community where needs are met, hearts are encouraged, and God’s love is shown in a practical way.”

The Twig’s staff members and volunteers are working hard to make sure each child who enters the store will walk away with an unexpected gift.

“Shopping at our store is almost like holiday shopping every month because (foster children) are able to come in and shop for free,” Program Coordinator Lindsey May said.

Children who visit the store can take home seven items of clothing, which includes a pair of shoes. They also receive two books and other items.

On Dec. 10, though, and other Wednesdays in December by appointment, they will be able to choose more items than usual along with an item from The Twig’s Christmas table and a gift card to a big box store.

“That’s an additional gift that we give to the kids so that we let them

know, ‘Merry Christmas, this is from us to you,’” May said.

The organization is giving away many board and interactive games.

The Twig also has been working to provide a different selection of cooler weather clothing than usual.

The staff is trying to acquire more hoodies, sweatpants and joggers and holiday-themed apparel.

May said monetary donations are crucial because it allows The Twig to buy less common clothing items.

For example, she said some boys wear a size 15 shoe, which seldom comes into the store as a donation.

While the store seeks items for newborns through age 18 and older, she said The Twig also is seeking more items for preteens through teenagers.

Additionally, the store is seeking volunteers for January due to efforts to increase its capacity.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

13A

UROLOGIC CARE

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

We’ve got this down to a ‘P’ Excellence is never a one-time thing. And consistency is the difference between practice and perfection.

At Sarasota Memorial, our multi-disciplinary team of urologists and urologic surgeons knows this. And armed with the latest in diagnostic technology and trained in the latest interventions — including minimally invasive robotic surgery — they have consistently led the way in treating everything from chronic kidney disease and acute bladder dysfunction to troublesome prostate enlargement and complex genitourinary cancers, earning national recognition for both innovation and excellence along the way.

So it’s no surprise U.S. News & World Report has named SMH the #1 hospital in Florida for urologic care.

After all, we’ve got this down to a, well, you know.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

EYE ON BUSINESS

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

The Perfect Gift

Courtesy photo

Naked Farmer offers a variety of regionally sourced produce.

Almost time to go Naked Naked Farmer will join the restaurant lineup at UTC in Sarasota early in 2023.

There is no better gift than a membership to The Pickleball Club

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Opening in downtown St. Petersburg during the midst of the pandemic, Naked Farmer owner Jordan Johnson was surprised at his immediate success.

He said the restaurant was able to transport food from regional farms to the table at a time when food was rapidly disappearing from grocery store shelves.

However, he said the ultimate goal of the restaurant was not quantity, but integrity of sourcing.

“Many of the vegetables we serve in our restaurant were picked days ago, and not weeks ago, and we feel like that’s important,” he said. “The idea is that when the food is fresh, you don’t have to do much to it, so we leave it naked.”

Johnson said his upcoming expansion to Cattlemen Road in the University Town Center (opening is

Gift of healthy lifestyle Gift of membership Gift of improved play Gift of new friends Build It and They Will Come.

expected in mid-2023) was inspired when many customers at the St. Petersburg and Tampa locations asked whether he would open a location in Sarasota.

After speaking with the Benderson Development staff, he decided there was a demand among customers there for the product he could offer.

The restaurant, described as “finecasual,” opens in late summer or early fall 2023 in the space between Blaze Pizza and Crumbl Cookies.

The operation grew out of a desire to feed his own neighborhood and community the way he fed his own family, Johnson said.

He said it began after he was alarmed to find out that while threequarters of a person’s daily diet, as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture, should consist of fruits and vegetables, only a third of America’s farmland is devoted to growing them.

He said as a result of this discovery he began reading books including “Food Fix: How to Save Our Health,” and “Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet — One Bite at a Time,” by Mark Hyman.

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14A

IF YOU GO

Where: At UTC, between Blaze Pizza and Crumbl Cookies When: Mid 2023 Other locations: ■ 200 Central Ave., St. Petersburg ■ 1001 Water St., Tampa

growing at farms nearby, and will change every two months.

“We think it’s important for our menu to reflect the seasonality, because that’s how mother nature works,” he said.

For instance, he said watermelons do not grow year-round in the Southeast, which means that if one is purchased at the grocery store during January, it will not have the same freshness due to having travelled from locations such as Mexico or Guatemala. Other items that are seasonal include marinated English cucumbers, which tend to grow in the summer, and Brussels sprouts, which grow in the winter.

He said seasonality is important for the taste of food, as well as its nutritional value.

“It’s so much better when a vegetable is picked days ago and travels only as far as it needs to, to be served in our in our restaurants,” he said.

The menu does not have a fixed set of items that it serves in a cycle.

Instead, chefs are constantly working on new ideas.

“We’re always looking forward to the new season and menu planning,” he said.

He said due to the changing menu, he cannot guarantee particular items will be available when the restaurant opens at UTC. However, he said his favorite current item is the Blue Oyster mushroom harvest bowl.

“It’s flavorful, it’s vegan and it’s popular with our guests,” he said.

He also listed his other favorites including the charred broccoli with lemon and garlic.

“It’s so simple,” he said. “It’s literally broccoli roasted in the oven with olive oil, Melvin’s sea salt, pepper and a little squeeze of lemon when it comes out. It’s nothing you can’t cook at home. It’s naked, it’s simple, it’s delicious for that reason.”

He also spoke highly of his mac and

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

cheese.

“It’s gooey, stringy. It’s extremely flavorful,” he said, noting that it includes four different cheeses, as well as a homemade Bechamel sauce.

He recommended the charred chicken thigh due to its preparation as well as its origin.

“It’s got the perfect char on the outside, and it’s really juicy and moist inside,” he said of the item, which features free-range chicken.

He said he believes the free-range nature of the chicken’s life improves the quality of the meat. “The chicken lives a better life, and I think you can taste it,” he said.

Some popular items on the menu currently, he said, are roasted squash, street cart corn and roasted carrots with spicy vegan ranch.

The restaurant sources its produce from small and medium-sized farmers within a 500-mile distance.

He said his staff is still determining the farms that will serve the UTC location, but that some existing ones from Tampa and St. Petersburg will be incorporated. One farm the restaurant works with in St. Petersburg is Black Street Farms.

The restaurant knows the farmers on a first-name basis, he said, visiting the farms to examine their practices including their volume of production, safety and sanitation.

It prefers those that practice regenerative agriculture, which Johnson called a way of growing plants that is “better for the planet and better for our bodies.”

The focuses of this practice include increasing biodiversity within the topsoil that hosts the plants. Johnson said it is the soil which provides produce with its nutrient density.

One aspect of the practice that improves the soil, he said, is a lack of tilling, while another is cover cropping, or planting plants for the purpose of rehabilitating the soil between seasons, rather than for harvesting.

He said the restaurant also emphasizes organic farms, although not all ingredients will be organic.

Education will be a component of the experience as well, he said. He said as guests ask questions about the source of the food, he hopes to provide answers.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

15A

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He completed hisare General Wright State University and Wright-Patterson USAF Integrated What is the treatment SurgicalWhen Residency in Dayton, Ohio.plan He also served on active duty should someone to see a doctor? as a General Surgeon at Wright-Patterson U.S. Air Force Medical for umbilical/abdominal hernias? should consult with if youas suspect Center.You Dr. Dexter comes to ouryour areaphysician after serving a Trauma and have a in hernia.

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Abdominal and umbilical hernias are relatively common, but many people aren’t familiar with what they are.

Hernias occur at all ages. While they are an urgent matter, they don’t have to be scary. David W. Dexter, MD, a general surgeon with Lakewood Ranch Medical Group, shares important information for those struggling with common hernias.

David W. Dexter, MD, FACS

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

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16A

DECEMBER 8, 2022

SPORTS

“I’m always trying to increase my basketball IQ, especially now I have signed to play at the next level,” — Cardinal Mooney’s Olivia Davis SEE PAGE 19A

PASSION IS Break THE POINT

Fast

As the 2022 FIFA World Cup rolls along, members of the community talk about how the sport’s popularity has grown and where it could go from here.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

N Courtesy photo

Ryan Neuzil

A

fter signing with the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad earlier this season and being elevated from the team’s practice squad for three games, former Braden River High and Appalachian State offensive lineman Ryan Neuzil was rewarded on Nov. 22 when he was officially signed to the Falcon’s 53-man roster. So far, Neuzil — who is 6-foot-3, 301 pounds — has seen time on special teams. … David Dahl and Robert Steinbock (135) were crowned overall champions at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s 2022 Uihlein Cup, held Dec. 3-4. … Great game alert: On Dec. 12, the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team (6-0 as of Dec. 4) will host Parrish Community High (5-3) at 7 p.m. The Bulls will be one of the tougher tests the Mustangs have faced thus far. … The Parrish Community boys basketball team defeated Braden River High 52-49 at home on Dec. 2 when East County athlete Ian Rodriguez, a senior, hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Rodriguez finished with 14 points and five rebounds. … Don’t forget to sign up for the Christmas Glow Run, scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at Nathan Benderson Park. Bright lights and holiday music will accompany runners as they complete their 5Ks. Registration is $45 and parking is $5. For more information or to register, visit RunEliteEvents.com. … Putting out a final call — If you know of any area athletes doing something charitable during this holiday season, let us know soon by sending an email to RKohn@YourObserver.com. We love to feature athletes doing right by their community.

IRON WILL PAGE 18A

ick Leduc and his brother, Nathan Leduc, knew instantly that things could go one of two ways.

On Nov. 21, they found themselves in Ye Old Mail Coach, a tiny pub that has been serving beer in Conwy, Wales, since 1520. They were there out of tradition.

Every four years — the time between FIFA World Cups — the Leduc brothers travel to a country the U.S. Men’s National Team is playing in the World Cup, to watch the team from another country’s perspective.

They’ve done this since 2010 and experienced a lot of fan shenanigans in those years. When the Leducs walked into the pub just before the Group Stage match’s kickoff and saw a sea of dark red, the Welsh team’s primary color, they knew their presence and their American cheers would either be fondly embraced or rejected, perhaps sternly.

On that night, it was the former.

“It was honestly one of the four or five best nights of my life,” said Nick Leduc, the Braden River Soccer Club Academy director/coach and a teacher at Barbara A. Harvey Elementary in Parrish.

It likely helped that the brothers bought those in the pub a round of drinks before they bonded over their passion for the game. Nick Leduc said the game, which ended 1-1, gave him a chance to celebrate the United States’ improvement on an international stage while also taking in the spirit of a country where soccer is the only sport that matters.

Nick Leduc, who lives in East County (Nate Leduc lives in Sarasota), said the pub patrons did not just sing their own national anthem, they screamed it, and they did not just high-five when Wales scored to tie the game, they reacted like their world had just been saved from destruction.

Of course, there was some friendly trash talk between the patrons and the brothers, but there was always a warmth in the room. There were real, human connections made in that pub that will likely never extend past that night but were important nonetheless.

Leduc was particularly struck by something a man named Martin — no last name given — told him while walking down the street and chatting after the contest.

“I actually wrote it down, because I knew I would forget it later,” Leduc said. “Martin said, ‘If this isn’t what it’s all about, then it’s all about nothing.’”

This brand of friendly but ultrapassionate soccer fandom is not limited to Wales. According to a 2018

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Nick Leduc, Braden River Soccer Club Academy director, said he hopes U.S. soccer popularity reaches the levels it enjoys in other areas of the world.

Chargers U10 boys soccer coach Eldin Hadziabdic says the U.S. needs to create more competition at the youth soccer level to develop players.

Nielsen survey, 43% of people 16 or older worldwide consider themselves soccer fans. But in the United States, the sport still finds itself lagging. A Morning Consult report released April 12 found that just 32% of Americans consider themselves soccer fans, and 25% of those people said they were casual fans, not avid fans. Those numbers rank soccer seventh in popularity among U.S. sports, behind football (the leader at 67%), baseball (55%), college football (52%), basketball (46%), college basketball (43%) and hockey (38%).

Despite trailing behind other sports, soccer’s popularity in the U.S. has been on a slow, steady climb for decades. U.S. soccer fans tend to be younger, which has earned it the nickname of “the sport of the future” in this country. This is true of the country in general, but also in the Lakewood Ranch area, where youth clubs like Braden River Soccer Club and the Lakewood Ranch Chargers have experienced growth.

Chargers U10 boys soccer coach Eldin Hadziabdic said the club nearly doubled the amount of players at its competitive-level tryout this season compared to last season. Having a place to play like Premier Sports Campus helps. The facility hosts Chargers practices and games but also larger events that attract teams from across the state and beyond.

People moving to the Sarasota-Bra-

Fahd Khair, David Simonov and Jack Goehring say they hope Americans get into soccer because of the excitement surrounding the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The three play for the Lakewood Ranch Chargers U10 team.

Courtesy photo

denton area see the quality and size of the facilities and can’t help but be impressed, Hadziabdic said.

Hadziabdic said his current crop of players have been talking about the World Cup nonstop at practice, and they emulate not only American players, but players from other countries.

“Having (games played between countries) makes soccer more interesting,” said David Simonov, a 9-year-old on the Chargers. “I like to watch how they play (differently).

And it’s fun. Sometimes you get sad and sometimes you get excited.”

Chargers teammates Fahd Khair and Jack Goehring, both 9, said they have noticed a few students — nonsoccer fans — talking about the World Cup in school. Goehring said he hopes those people decide to give soccer a try once the World Cup is over.

“I think if people try it, and try their best, they will realize how fun it is,” Goehring said.

The U.S. men’s team still has a ways to go to compete with elite teams, as shown by the team’s 3-1 elimination loss to The Netherlands on Dec. 3.

Hadziabdic said to develop players on the level of other countries, the U.S. needs to create more competition at the youth level.

His U10 team is an example of what Hadziabdic thinks is possible.

Despite being U10, the team plays in a U11 division, giving them tougher tests. The Chargers have passed those tests and as of Dec. 1, the team had only lost one of its seven games.

“We have to get more competitive,” Hadziabdic said.

Whenever top-tier success arrives, the passion should follow. In the U.S., hardcore fans of the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball throw parties in the streets when their team wins a championship. Nick Leduc does not think that would happen if the U.S. were to win a World Cup — but he believes, and hopes, that type of unrestrained passion might come to the country someday.

Once people see what it’s all about, Leduc said, it will be hard to let go.

“Our brand of soccer is getting better,” Leduc said. “I don’t think people realize it yet, but soccer is an addiction. It’s a game you can play or be a part of for your whole life.”

Nathan Leduc and Nick Leduc, in the center in American blue and dark hats, spent the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup opening game in Wales, getting to know the country’s people and soccer culture at Ye Olde Mail Coach, a pub in Conwy.

U.S. WORLD CUP RESULTS 2022 GROUP STAGE ■ Tied Wales 1-1 on Nov. 21 ■ Tied England 0-0 on Nov. 25 ■ Defeated Iran 1-0 on Nov. 29 KNOCKOUT STAGE ■ Lost 3-1 to The Netherlands on Dec. 3

18A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Endurance athletes stand and deliver didn’t feel the pain of the blisters covering his hands or the exhaustion, physical and mental, of going so long without a stretch of sleep longer than five minutes, or eating anything other than the vegan snacks he brought. He certainly did.

But instead of feeling miserable, he forced himself to think of it as a type of experiment.

“There were a lot of low moments, mostly on the second night after a hot day,” Marconi said.

“But you think about your family and your good memories and what you can learn from pushing the limits. You go into that pain cave and you bring something out of it with you.”

As proud as Marconi was of his own accomplishment, he emphasized that the race was not solely about winning. Doing it at all is an accomplishment, too.

“These were shared emotions (among the competitors),” Marconi said. “It’s cool. You get to a point of suffering and you ask yourself, ‘Why?’ I think everyone has a different ‘why.’ Some have multiple. I think this race is about the search of that ‘why.’”

In his case, Marconi said, his why was learning. He went into his “pain cave,” as he called it, and learned how well he can function while sleep deprived — and that he can push himself farther than he thought possible.

Marconi said he dreamed of winning the race ever since signing up. To be able to win the race, to go head-to-head with other great endurance athletes and outlast them, is a special feeling, one that is tough to express in words.

Marconi was pushed by secondplace finisher John Knippers, 50, who elected to stop after 47 laps.

Knippers’ decision to stop was a mental one. He simply did not want to another lap. He was dead tired,

and he was proud of how far he got anyway.

“I never thought I’d be the type of paddler to last this long,” Knippers said. “I didn’t always want to, but there were people cheering me to continue.”

For Knippers, the lowest moment came around the 33-hour mark.

The sky was dark and the water was cold. He had barely napped, and the only thing he had to eat was a homemade health bar made of sweet potatoes, spinach and other good-for-you but boring ingredients. The last thing he wanted was to return to the water.

Then someone handed him a Mountain Dew and half of a cheeseburger wrapped in aluminum foil.

If the race was hell, the cheeseburger was heaven.

“It lifted me,” Knippers said. “It was enough calories to get me back out there.”

Knippers soldiered onto lap 34, then didn’t look back until faced with lap 48, which would have been an extended lap of approximately five miles. The prospect of that was not worth it to Knippers, he said, when he had already proven himself to be capable of more than he thought. Instead, he let Marconi take the victory lap, while Knippers sipped coffee on the park’s Finish Tower steps and dried his feet with a towel.

There’s not much I know about this life we all live, but I know that I am nowhere near strong enough to do what these competitors did.

Against each other and themselves, they all came out winners, even if Marconi is the only one with a trophy.

Wingo said there will be another Last Paddler Standing event in 2023, with sign-ups beginning early in the new year. While there is nothing official yet, Wingo said he hopes Benderson Park will again

Ryan Kohn

Paolo Marconi comes ashore after the final lap of the Last Paddler Standing event at Nathan Benderson Park. Marconi said he learned a lot about what he is capable of while sleep deprived and that every participant in the race should be proud for attempting it at all.

host. The inaugural event went better than he could have hoped, and a livestream hosted by commentators from SUP Racer brought in hundreds if not thousands of viewers over the 48 hours, which means interest should be higher for the next race. Wingo said he’s going to cap the race, likely around 50 participants or so, to ensure that the quality of the event does not suffer.

“We want this to feel like a family,” Wingo said. “I like knowing every racer’s first name so I can talk to them directly throughout the race and they all can talk to each other.”

The family aspect showed. Multiple racers stuck around for hours after dropping out to see who won, then congratulated each succes-

sive dropout on a job well done. I like a little trash talk in sports as much as anyone, but it’s also nice to see athletes excel in a supportive atmosphere.

Just don’t ask me to compete in one of these myself. I’d shrivel like a raisin after one lap. That is my “why.”

Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

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E

ven the participants were not sure when the race — and the pain — would end.

It turned out to be the 48-hour mark.

That’s how long it took for the Last Paddler Standing event, held Dec. 3-5 at Nathan Benderson Park, to find its winner. Paolo Marconi, 31, a professional stand-up paddler from Italy earned the victory.

Being a professional did not necessarily give Marconi a leg-up in this competition, though, because this event was unlike anything the paddling world had seen.

The race, created by endurance athlete Greg Wingo, went like this.

The 30 paddlers competing started at 9 a.m. Dec. 3, doing one 3.3-mile lap around the Benderson Park lake.

All they had to do was finish the lap in under an hour. Most finished well before that time. Easy, right?

Not so fast. At the start of the next hour, they had to do another lap. Then another, and another, with no stoppages other than the time between finishing a lap and the top of the next hour, until there was only one paddler left. If that paddler completed one final lap alone, that paddler would be crowned the winner.

Wingo said the idea was inspired by the Big’s Backyard Ultra running marathon. No such race existed for stand-up paddling, and Wingo saw an opening. Being an endurance athlete himself, Wingo knew the competitors who took this challenge would be kindred souls.

“The people here, they know how to fight through demons and move on,” Wingo said. “They persevere.

They dig deep, even when they don’t want to sometimes. That’s so impressive.”

The format meant two mostly sleepless nights for Marconi, who decided to take the experience in stride. That doesn’t mean he

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

When did you start playing basketball?

I started playing so young that my parents (Jodi Davis and Nate Davis) don’t even remember. It was probably around 4. My parents played basketball, so it was just one of those things that happened. I started on boys teams and eventually switched to girls teams and now I’m here.

What is the appeal to you?

Ever since I tore my ACL as a freshman I have seen the game from a different perspective. Being unable to play for 11 months made me miss it and love it even more. The gym is somewhere I go to have a safe place.

I don’t have to worry about anything but basketball there.

What is your favorite memory?

Last year we played Carrollwood Day at home in the regional finals.

It was a packed house. We won that game by 19 (62-43) and it was like, ‘Oh shoot, we have a chance at a state title this year.’ It didn’t work out, but we’re getting closer each year.

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What is your favorite movie?

‘Hoosiers.’ I was born in Indiana and it’s a classic to me.

Finish this sentence: “Olivia Davis is …” … A competitor.

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What is your best skill?

I think it’s my leadership. It’s not a physical skill but as the only senior on the team I feel like I have to lead the younger girls. It’s a big priority for me. I’m trying to get everyone involved in each game, putting them before myself.

Why did you sign with the University of Tampa?

I could tell right away it was a special place. It was right for me. On my official visit, I bonded with the girls on the team and coach (Tom) Jessee, I feel like he prioritizes me even outside of basketball. He knows what I can do and embraces me as a point guard.

BUSY BEE TUTORING

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

^

Olivia Davis is a senior on the Cardinal Mooney High girls basketball team. Davis, who lives in Lakewood Ranch, leads the 4-0 Cougars with 19.3 points per game and 3.8 assists per game as of Dec. 5. She is signed to play for the University of Tampa next season.

If you would like to make a recommendation for the East County Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Olivia Davis

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YourObserver.com

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(NEW GOLF MEMBERS ONLY)

What have you been working to improve?

I am always trying to increase my basketball IQ, especially now that I have signed to play at the next level.

I still am working on the defensive side also, things like foot speed and lateral quickness.

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20A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

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DECEMBER 8, 2022

YOUR NEIGHBORS Shoebox content the perfect fit

L

akewood Ranch’s Diane and Bob Collom drove up to the entrance of the Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge Saturday with shoeboxes filled with gifts.

Each of the 13 shoeboxes was wrapped and ready for Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee’s Shoebox Drive and Reception.

“We’ve donated 13 boxes every year for the past eight years,” Diane Collom said. “(Meals on Wheels) helped my parents, and it’s a wonderful organization that we had to give back to.”

Dozens of people donated hundreds of shoeboxes for the Shoebox Drive at the Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge. Each shoebox is delivered to a Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee’s senior clients.

Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch’s Gwyneth Paget and Sarah King, who are a part of the community’s Crafts for Cause, said the organization donated 150 shoeboxes, $365, 325 pairs of socks and any extra items that didn’t fit in the shoeboxes to Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee.

“We’ve done this for at least the past 10 years, and this year we had 50 more shoeboxes than we’ve ever had,” Paget said.

Photos by Liz Ramos

Lakewood Ranch’s Diane Collom and Bob Collom donate 13 shoeboxes to the Shoebox Drive and Reception. Diane Collom says they have donated 13 shoeboxes to Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee for the past eight years.

— LIZ RAMOS

Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch’s Gwyneth Paget and Sarah King drop off shoeboxes. They are a part of Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch’s Crafts for Cause, which donated 150 shoeboxes and $365 to Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee.

Bradenton’s Gini Mitchell, East County’s Shawna Cranston and Lakewood Ranch’s Christina Ballard greet people and collect shoeboxes.

The Shoebox Drive and Reception includes dozens of raffle prizes.

391713-1

Sarasota’s Melissa Ferlazzo, a database administrator for Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, and Lakewood Ranch’s Julianne Niebour sell raffle tickets.

Maddox Towery, who is 11, and his 13-year-old brother, Lou Towery, act as Santa’s helpers and organize the shoeboxes in the vans for delivery.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

lookout for elves hidden on store shelves.

When locating an elf, record what the elf is doing and where and drop an entry form off at the Lakewood Ranch Information Center, 8131 Lakewood Main St. Entry forms for the contest, which runs through Jan. 1, can be picked up at the information center.

If you locate the elf with genie’s magic lamp, you are entered into a drawing for a family four-pack of tickets to Disney’s Aladdin at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall that runs Jan. 24-29 in Sarasota.

Among the big events at Main Street is the 11th annual Jingle 5K Run/Walk Dec. 16 that benefits the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Foundation and the Health Careers Scholarship Program.

Children’s races begin at 6 p.m. and the 5K race begins at 7 p.m., followed by a 1 mile Fun Run at 7:10 p.m. A post-race holiday festival follows at Main Street and will include live music.

Race information can be found at www.RaceRoster.com/events.

NEIGHBORS NOTES

2B

SANTA PHOTOS

Waterside Place is offering lots of opportunities to take Santa photos with your family members.

The next opportunities are Dec. 10, Dec. 14, Dec. 17 and Dec. 21, all from 6-9 p.m. Also a daytime session will be held Dec. 17 from 9-11 a.m.

Santa also will be posing for photos in front of the Main Street at Lakewood Ranch Christmas tree 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

Most Main Street at Lakewood Ranch restaurants have breakfast or lunch outings with Santa. Check with the restaurants for dates.

LAKE CLUB’S TURKEY RUN TURNS INTO A CHARITY FEAST

Ian Swaby

The holiday season rolled into high gear as the annual tree lighting was held at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch on Dec. 2.

LET THE PARTY BEGIN With the lighting of the Christmas tree at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch and Music on Main packing the streets all around it, the holiday

With more than 225 runners and walkers and 30 sponsors, the Lake Club’s third annual Turkey Trot raised $17,500 for the Food Bank of Manatee, a Meals on Wheels Plus Manatee program.

The event, which was hosted by race directors David Ahrens,

season got underway in full force Dec. 2.

Events will be taking place all through New Year’s Day, including the Elf on the Shelf Holiday Contest.

Those shopping at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch should be on the

Jeff Waddle and Elizabeth Waddle, was held Thanksgiving Day in the Lake Club, starting at the Grande Clubhouse It consisted of 5K-, 10K- and 1-mile races. The race directors worked with the Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle to put on the event.

Ahrens said the donation of $17,000 will be used to provide approximately 25,000 meals for those in need.

NEW EVENT

A New Year’s Eve celebration is making its debut at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch from 6 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31.

DJ Truth will keep everyone dancing and food will be available from the Good Liquid and Kore restaurants along with food trucks.

Adult beverages will be available for purchase.

The event is free.

AWARD WINNER

Sarasota nonprofit Resilient Retreat, which provides support for survivors of trauma, such as that needed by first responders, presented a first-place award to Amy Towery for her “Journey to Healing” artwork that was entered in a local art competition sponsored by the Halo Arts Project.

Towery, who is executive director of Meals on Wheels Plus Manatee, received $1,500 for winning.

According to a Resilient Retreat press release, she said she would donate the money to Resilient Retreat, the Halo Art Project and Meals on Wheel Plus Manatee.

“Art tells a story and can be a source of inspiration, validation and support for trauma survivors,” said Resilient Retreat Board Chair Sidney Turner.

“As such, we were very deliberate in selecting the artwork for our new center. We wanted to include local artists while also representing diverse backgrounds and experiences.”

All submissions are available for viewing at the retreat center.

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3B

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. ALL RENDERINGS AND PLANS ARE PROPOSED CONCEPTS SHOWN ONLY FOR MARKETING PURPOSES AND ARE BASED ON THE DEVELOPER’S CURRENT PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN. DEVELOPER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, REVISE OR WITHDRAW THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN DEVELOPER’S SOLE DISCRETION WITHOUT NOTICE. NOTHING Proudly presented by HEREIN OR IN ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION SHALL BE DEEMED TO OBLIGATE THE DEVELOPER, OR ANY AFFILIATE OF DEVELOPER, TO CONSTRUCT THE PROJECT OR OFFER ANY OF THE PROJECT FOR SALE, AND NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED A GUARANTY OF ANY KIND. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SALE OR SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO BUY.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

River talk A

— JAY HEATER

Denise Kleiner provides a history lesson and information about the local wildlife during her tours out of Jiggs Landing.

While this adult brown pelican is a seabird, Denise Kleiner says they come to Evers Reservoir and Jiggs Landing during times of red tide.

Photos by Jay Heater

The sunset tour out of Jiggs Landing provides some beautiful sights.

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s if there was any question, Denise Kleiner noted, “I’m a history nut.”

Kleiner, general manager of the Eco-Boat Tours that go out of her concession at Jiggs Landing, took exception when her 12-passenger, electric Duffy boat passed what appeared to be a Tiki hut on the Braden River.

A passenger said he saw a Tiki hut.

“Tiki hut?” Kleiner asked. “No. It’s a chickee hut.”

She then explained how chickee huts were built by the Seminoles in Florida, chickee means “house” in Mikasuki languages that were spoken by the Seminoles.

A raised wood floor is one of the main differences between a chickee hut and a Tiki hut.

Kleiner looked another direction and launched into a discussion of para grass, an invasive exotic plant from Spain that was brought to Florida to feed the Spaniards’ cattle, who didn’t like native Florida grasses.

“In the 1800s, you couldn’t even see this river because it was covered with para grass,” she said.

Over the years, the para grass was contained to the banks of the river, but it still flourishes.

Her head would snap one direction to point out a cooter (a freshwater turtle, she says, that comprises 80% of the alligators’ diet) then back the other to direct eyes to a moorhen and a purple gallinule.

“The bigger the bird, the higher the tree,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

She saw a brown pelican fly over.

“The pelican is a sea bird, but they come here when there is red tide,” she said.

The sunset tour was a nonstop lesson in history and wildlife. Kleiner lived on the Braden River for years (she shows her former house during the tour) but now lives in Tara.

She described why she is so passionate during her tours.

“It is part of who I am,” she said.

Boat tours have a starting price of $12 and up. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

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Denise Kleiner says the Florida cooter makes up about 80% of the alligators’ diet in the Braden River.

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Could YOUR JOB be Affecting Your VEIN HEALTH? When we think about vein health, how your job could affect them probably doesn’t cross your mind. We spend about one-third of our lives at work, and sometimes our workplace behaviors follow us home. The amount of time we spend sitting or standing, diet, and stress all play a role in the health of our veins.

In fact, more than 40 million people in the U.S. suffer from vein problems that may stem from a sedentary lifestyle or desk job that increases the likelihood of developing vein issues. Certain occupations and behaviors can negatively affect your vein health by making it harder to circulate blood back to the heart.

More than 40 million people in the U.S. suffer from vein problems.

Sitting or Standing Too Much There is a long-established connection between sitting or standing too much and venous issues. When we’re immobile for long periods of time, it becomes even harder for your veins to move blood upward and back to the heart. Blood begins to pool in the legs, pressure within the veins increases, and the walls and valves are weakened over time.

Unhealthy Diet We all know eating a balanced diet is ideal for our health and wellness, but poor eating habits aren’t only bad for your waistline. High blood pressure, fluid retention, and weight gain are diet-related factors that contribute to venous issues. Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for unhealthy veins.

Stress and Cortisol If your job is stressing you out, it may impact your health more than you think.

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By Adam N. Phillips, D.O., Board Certified General Surgeon & Vein Specialist

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

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MOVIE IN THE PARK Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. The free event features the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The movie begins approximately at 7 p.m. Grace Community Church presents the event and will hand out a free Chick-fil-A sandwich or nuggets to the first 200 people who attend.

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MOVIES UNDER THE STARS Begins at 7 p.m. at the Mall at UTC, in the west district (The Green) near Ford’s Garage. The Mall at UTC presents its annual Holiday Movies Under the Stars series with “The Grinch” Friday and “Arthur Christmas” on Saturday. For more information, go to MallatUTC.com.

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MUSIC AT THE PLAZA Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Singer/musician Dean Johansen plays circus swing and American roots music as those who visit Waterside Place enjoy sunset views of Kingfisher Lake, fun at the hub’s small parks, or dining at the various restaurants. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

Call today to schedule an appointment

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COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Runs 6-10 p.m. at Hunsader Farms, 5500 C.R. 675 E., Bradenton. Hunsader presents its Country Christmas, featuring over 300,000 lights, train rides, Santa, craft vendors, live bands, a Christmas village, a petting zoo, and more. Admission is $15; kids 5 and under free. For more information, go to HunsaderFarms.com.

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Therapy, 4640 C.R. 675, Bradenton. SMART is hosting the Candy Cane Lane Obstacle Course. Those interested need to preregister by calling 322-2000. Must bring your own horse. Cost is $30 per horse and rider. Two time slots at 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m.

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HORSE OBSTACLE COURSE Runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding

COUNTRY BEAR CHRISTMAS Runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bearadise Ranch, 6908 245th St. E., Myakka City. Bearadise Ranch is hosting Country Bear Christmas that includes visits with the bears in their habitat, visits with Santa, a petting zoo, country music, a vendor village, food and drinks, and live performances. Tickets for age 13 and up are $20’ tickets for ages 5-12 are $5; 4 and under admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at CountryBearChristmas.com.

SUNDAY, DEC. 11

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

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14

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.

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6B

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Photos by Jay Heater

Sarasota’s Jim Damoulakis performs on the tuba.

Drew Trapani keeps the beat.

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

Conductor Joseph Miller leads the wind ensemble during the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Holiday treat T

he Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble kicked off its 2022-23 season with a post-Thanksgiving Day concert on Nov. 27 at Peace Presbyterian Church in Lakewood Ranch.

Music Director and Conductor Joseph Miller led the ensemble, made up of more than 40 musicians, through a program that ended with selections from “The Sound of Music.”

The next Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble concert will be Feb. 5 at the

7B

Bradenton’s Tom Bancroft performs on the flute during the Thanksgiving Concert at Peace Presbyterian Church.

church.

The concert was dedicated to the memory of Gayle Heskett, a member of the band who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 64. She taught music for 44 years in the public schools system and was a former member of the Venice Symphony.

A memorial service will be held Dec. 16 at 12:30 p.m. at Incarnation Catholic Church in Sarasota.

— JAY HEATER

CARDINAL MOONEY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

ENROLL NOW!

(Application Deadline is Fast Approaching)

We’re everywhere in Lakewood Ranch The East County Observer is full of Lakewood Ranch news you can’t find anywhere else.

It’s always about You. Your Neighbors.

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Pick up a copy at the customer service counter at area Publix stores or at retail locations throughout East Manatee: YourObserver.com/ rack-locations Or read us online at: YourObserver.com

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Call 941.371.4917 or visit www.cmhs-sarasota.org

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You Belong Here!

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

MYAKKA CITY 3005 233rd Street E 4 Beds 3/2 Baths 4,164 Sq. Ft. Chris Baylis 941-735-4713 A4510152 $5,800,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 16508 Kendleshire Terrace 3 Beds 4 Baths 3,122 Sq. Ft. Deborah Angelo O'Mara 941-730-0777 A4547956 $2,350,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 20926 Parkstone Terrace Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4548923 $1,495,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 17641 Azul Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,872 Sq. Ft. Nicole DeSantis 941-725-3538 A4553213 $1,475,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 13510 Saw Palm Creek Trail 6 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,315 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4552620 $1,100,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 15509 Leven Links Place 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,428 Sq. Ft. Ray Rausa 941-228-7614 A4550879 $1,050,000

BRADENTON 4532 Barracuda Drive 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,101 Sq. Ft. Drew Russell 941-993-3739 A4553742 $996,000

BRADENTON 7710 Jay Watch Glen 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,733 Sq. Ft. Sharon Ingram 941-224-6447 A4545446 $949,999

LAKEWOOD RANCH 13651 American Prairie Place 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,017 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4541881 $925,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6329 Royal Tern Circle 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,387 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4551882 $879,000

BRADENTON 13129 Indigo Way 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,029 Sq. Ft. Kathy Lewis 941-228-1213 A4553240 $839,000

BRADENTON 3005 7th Avenue Circle E 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,596 Sq. Ft. Gregory Zies & Kathy Valente 941-779-3081 A4552611 $825,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6360 Watercrest Way 403 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,916 Sq. Ft. Beth Ann Boyer 941-780-6606 A4549533 $729,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7245 Orchid Island Place 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,195 Sq. Ft. Beth Ann Boyer 941-780-6606 A4550231 $699,000

BRADENTON 231 Dahlia Court 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,587 Sq. Ft. Fran DeDona & Pam Goodwin 941-812-5023 A4544972 $685,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6310 Watercrest Way 302 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,742 Sq. Ft. Nicole Ryskamp 941-807-1766 A4552003 $675,900

LAKEWOOD RANCH 10530 Boardwalk Loop 503 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,353 Sq. Ft. Nicole DeSantis & Diane Fogo Harter 941-725-3538 A4548465 $675,000

BRADENTON 12235 Lavender Loop 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,312 Sq. Ft. Stephen Strong 941-201-9662 A4551940 $674,900

BRADENTON 11204 Spring Gate Trail 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,990 Sq. Ft. Mark Boehmig & Jody Shinn 941-807-6936 A4553521 $650,000

PALMETTO 610 Riviera Dunes Way 208 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,115 Sq. Ft. Mark Boehmig & Noel Morton 941-807-6936 A4553604 $649,000

MYAKKA CITY 15260 Sugar Bowl Road 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,449 Sq. Ft. Chris Baylis 941-735-4713 A4551110 $600,000

BRADENTON 16449 Whale Grey Place 4 Beds 2 Baths 2,244 Sq. Ft. Stacy Hanan & Rachel Benderson 941-266-0529 A4547542 $599,950

LAKEWOOD RANCH 15706 Islandwalk Avenue 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,032 Sq. Ft. Laura Naese 941-350-3657 A4553314 $569,900

PARRISH 9011 39th Street Circle E 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,009 Sq. Ft. Heather Sniffen 941-720-1526 A4545759 $495,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 17704 Gawthrop Drive 307 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,142 Sq. Ft. Laura Lawrence & Stuart Lawrence 941-737-3808 A4552690 $447,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 8019 Bowspirit Way 6 Beds 6/2 Baths 6,648 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4552391 $5,750,000

BRADENTON 8317 Lindrick Lane 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,913 Sq. Ft. Tina Ciaccio 941-685-8420 A4553135 $2,995,000

BRADENTON 657 Regatta Way 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,512 Sq. Ft. Sandi Dietrich 941-704-0697 A4551539 $2,375,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM 379170-1

8B

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in River Club South topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Bradley Schalk and Maureen Serrano, of Naples, sold their home at 9617 Governors Club Place to Michele and James Kondrup, of Bradenton, for $1.15 million.

Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,502 square feet of living area. It sold for $575,000 in 2018.

THE LINKS AT PALM AIRE

Guy Hendrix Lackey III, of Sarasota, sold his home at 7554 Links Court to Keith Hale and Betsy Asheim, of Sarasota, for $1.1 million. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,024 square feet of living area. It sold for $610,000 in 2020.

LAKEWOOD NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

Erin O’hara sold her home at 17426 Hickok Belt Loop to Stephen and Lisa Ann Johnson, of Bradenton, for $1.01 million. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,248 square feet of living area.

It sold for $475,000 in 2019.

WATERBURY GRAPEFRUIT

Jamie Snyder sold two properties at 4660 C.R. 675 to Ronald Oswaldo Guillen and Katie Ann Guillen, of Parrish, for $935,000. The first property was built in 1986, it has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 2,842 square feet of living area.

The second property was built in 1991, it has one bedroom, one bath and 672 square feet of living area.

They sold for $427,000 in 2004.

UPPER MANATEE RIVER ROAD

Steven Pimlott, of Bradenton, sold the home at 11661 Upper Manatee River Road to Philip Lambert, of Bradenton, for $915,000. Built in 1955, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 3,646 square feet of living area. It sold for $900,000 in October.

BROADMOOR PINES

Robert Wesley Merriman Jr. and Andrea Merriman, of Corinth, Texas, sold their home at 7715 Broadmoor Pines Blvd. to Paul Hage Chahine, of Sarasota, for $867,500.

Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,821 square feet of living area. It sold for $790,000 in 2021.

BRADEN WOODS

Karen Marguerite Wilson, of Ellenton, sold her home at 9606 64th Ave. E. to Charles Cameron Dees and Lauryn Dees, of Apollo Beach, for $739,000. Built in 1984, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,738 square feet of living area. It sold for $250,000 in 2014.

SAVANNA AT LAKEWOOD RANCH

Meritage Homes of Florida Inc. sold the home at 13814 Green Hammock Place to Anthony Bisconti III and Marie Elizabeth Bisconti, of Bradenton, for $721,100. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,778 square feet of living area.

GREYHAWK LANDING

TLC 12403 LLC sold the home at 12403 Aster Ave. to Paul and Elizabeth Stromberg, of Bradenton, for $699,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,553 square feet of living area.

It sold for $325,800 in 2004.

George and Susan Atwell, of Anniston, Alabama, sold their home at 12072 Aster Ave. to Robert and Rosanna Marino, of Bradenton, for $680,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,285 square feet of living area.

It sold for $695,100 in February.

9B

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

NOV. 21-25

SUMMERFIELD

William Robert Winter and Carol Joyce Winter, of Houghton, Michigan, sold their home at 12202 Clubhouse Drive to Karl and Edith Haas, of Bradenton, for $685,000.

Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and is 2,145 square feet. It sold for $380,000 in 2019.

Ashley Trace at University Place Katy Royle Amara and Geraldine Brooks, of Nashville, Tennessee, sold their home at 7604 Charleston St. to Peter and Silvia Squassi, of Bradenton, for $620,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and is 2,172 square feet.

CHAPARRAL

Lisa Scorsolini, trustee, of Lawrence Township, New Jersey, sold the home at 6858 Wagon Wheel Circle to Dale and Vivian Borger, of Sarasota, for $620,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,045 square feet of living area. It sold for $247,500 in 2012.

SOLERA

Blake Steven Bard and Natalie Ranette Bard sold their home at 5385 Grove Mill Loop to Andrew Lee Trommer and Olivia Trommer, of Bradenton, for $610,000.

Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,828 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,400 in 2021.

WATER OAK

Robert Lynch, of Ocala, sold his home at 6754 64th Terrace E. to David and Deborah Tejada, of Bradenton, for $605,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,344 square feet of living area.

GREENBROOK

Angela and Larry Reed, of Apollo Beach, sold their home at 15720 Butterfish Place to Isaiah Epling and Rachel Ratliff, of Lakewood Ranch, for $602,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths and 2,572 square feet of living area. It sold for $250,000 in 2013.

Joseph and Jennifer Lamora, of Bradenton, sold their home at 14234 Tree Swallow Way to Moises Dias and Maria Mendes Carolino, of Lakewood Ranch, for $465,000.

Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,868 square feet of living area. It sold for $212,600 in 2004.

Liz Ramos

This River Club South home at 9617 Governors Club Place sold for $1.15 million. It has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,502 square feet of living area.

PALM AIRE AT SARASOTA

Barbara Biancardi, Diane Plassmeyer, Mandy Giannini and Alexsandro Biancardi sold their home at 6988 Country Lakes Circle to Laura Elizabeth Naramore, of Sarasota, for $575,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,121 square feet of living area.

It sold for $200,000 in 1996.

SAPPHIRE POINT

Pulte Home Co. LLC sold the home at 16239 Pine Mist Drive to Brian and Erica McGuirk, of Lakewood Ranch, for $571,700. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,638 square feet of living area.

DESOTO LAKES

Able Sterling Property Development Inc. sold the home at 5105 W. Country Club Drive to Marcus and Sharonda Sensenig, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for $525,000. Built in 1963, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and is 1,890 square feet. It sold for $330,000 in March.

ROSEDALE GOLF AND TENNIS

Annette Burla, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 8706 52nd Drive E. to Jules Brownell and George Stroberg, of Arvada, Colorado, for $525,000. Built in 1995, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and is 1,521 square feet.

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 10B

In with the new NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Downtown St. Petersburg

CENTRAL PARK

Bruno and Cheryl Kapacinskas, of Wimauma, sold their home at 11741 Forest Park Circle to John and Susan Barrett, of Bradenton, for $600,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,044 square feet of living area. It sold for $333,500 in 2016.

400 Central | 727.209.7848 | From the $1MM’s | Call for appointment. | Residences400central.com SOLD OUT

Patrick and Nina Contino, of Asheville, North Carolina, sold their home at 4911 Torrey Pines Run to Donna Jean Pace, of Bradenton, for $482,500. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,702 square feet of living area. It sold for $269,000 in 2014.

Edward Kim, of Redmond, Washington, sold his home at 12227 Longview Lake Circle to Luis and Wiliana Miranda, of Falls Church, Virginia, for $440,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,495 square feet of living area. It sold for $279,900 in 2015.

Longboat Key

The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | From $2.4MM to $10.9MM | Call for appointment | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com SOLD OUT

WATERFRONT AT MAIN STREET

Gary and Sharon Sternitzke, trustees, of Bluffton, South Carolina, sold the Unit 2-504 condominium at 10520 Boardwalk Loop to Thomas and Linda Edelston, of Sarasota, for $600,000. Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,400 square feet of living area. It sold for $430,000 in 2019.

Downtown Sarasota

The Collection | 941.232.2868 | thecollection1335.com

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Donald Kiger, of Ocala, sold the home at 7298 Belleisle Glen to Anna Treuth, of Lakewood Ranch, for $580,000. Built in 2012, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,608 square feet of living area. It sold for $409,000 in 2021.

Sales galleries open and available for virtual or in-person presentations.

Virtual home tours | OnDemand local experts | Interactive site and floorplans

mscdeveloperservices.com | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida Prices as of October 2022

Licensed Real Estate Broker

373618-1

ADAM HUGHES

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

REAL ESTATE

River Club home tops sales at $1.15 million

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ALL

BRANDS,

LIDAY 10B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

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D D S A A UOSOSU Sewing Machines Embroidery Machines SSSewing DD OO SSewing SSSewing Quilting Machines Machines Embroidery Machines DSewing THVHH Machines Quilting Machines Machines Embroidery Machines Machines Embroidery MachinesVACUUM TH TEO Longarm Machines UESAUAANNNSewing SERVICE Quilting Machines FREE ESTIMATES Machines Embroidery Machines sold for $290,000 in 2017.

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Oreck,Oreck, Sanitiare, Simplicity, Miele,Miele, Sanitiare, Simplicity, Oreck, Sanitiare, Simplicity, Miele, Oreck, Sanitiare, Simplicity, Miele, Dyson, Bissell and more!

Oreck, Sanitiare, Simplicity, Miele, Oreck, Sanitiare, Simplicity, Miele, Oreck, Sanitiare, Simplicity,Miele, Oreck, Sanitiare, Simplicity, Dyson, Bissell andMiele, more!

Dyson, Bissell and Dyson, Bissell and more!

Dyson, Bissell and more!

Dyson, Bissell more!more!

Dyson, Bissell andand more!

SAVESAVE ALL MODELS RUBY CAT SAVE SAVE ALL MODELS SAVE HUNDREDS OM TRI FLEX SAVE RGOOD! SAVE HUNDREDS SAVE IT IS IT THAT ALL MODELS HUNDREDS MODELS ALL MODELS ISFTHAT 0 HX1 ALL ALL MODELS HUNDREDS 0GOOD! ALL MODELS ALL MODELS HUNDREDS IT IS GOOD! HUNDREDS RED HUNDREDS DOG HUNDREDS THAT GOOD! $ THAT IT IS THAT GOOD! IT IS THAT GOOD! ITIT ISIS THAT GOOD!

PRO

Expires Expires 7/15/21 7/15/21

•• lubricate • Reset to Factory • lubricate ••Reset toto factory •Reset Reset toFactory Factory •Lubricate lubricate Reset to Factory lubricate Tolerances •• Reset to Factory lubricate •••• Tension Expires 7/15/21 Reset to Factory •• Reset to Factory lubricate Tolerances Tolerances Expires 7/15/21 • Adjust Tension •lubricate Adjust Tension •Adjust Adjust Tension Tolerances Tolerances Tolerances Adjust Tension •• Polish Hook Tolerances Tolerances Adjust Tension Timing Adjust Tension •••• Adjust Tension • Polish Hook Polish Hook • Adjust Timing Adjust Timing ••Adjust Adjust Timing •••Polish Hook Expires Polish Hook •• Polish Hook Expires Timing Expires Polish Hook Polish Hook Adjust Timing Adjust Timing •••• Adjust Timing FREE ESTIMATES 10/31/21 FREE ESTIMATES FREE ESTIMATES Expires Expires 10/31/21 Expires 10/31/21 Expires Expires FREE ESTIMATES FREE ESTIMATES 10/31/21 FREE ESTIMATES 12/31/22 OBS FREE ESTIMATES 10/31/21 10/31/21 10/31/21

BROTHER, JANOME, JUKI, Sergers Sewing Furniture HANDI QUILTER Sergers Sewing Furniture Sergers ggg –––Sewing gggFurniture HANDI QUILTER $ 85 99 FREE LESSONS FROM FROM $9985 FREE LESSONS 10 YR WARRANTY 10 YR WARRANTY BEST SELECTION USA Expires 7/15/21 Expires 7/31/21 BEST SELECTION ININ USA Expires 7/15/21 Expires 7/31/21

SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 Clean Grease Clean ••Grease Grease Clean Clean • Grease Clean Grease Clean •••••10/31/21 Grease Clean Grease Wash/Wax • Deodorize Clean Grease Wash/Wax • Clean •Deodorize Clean Grease Clean Grease Wash/Wax •• Deodorize Wash/Wax •Grease Deodorize Expires NP Clean • Grease Expires 10/31/21 NP Wash/Wax Deodorize Clean • Grease Clean • Grease Expires 10/31/21 NP Wash/Wax • Deodorize Expires 12/31/22 OBS Wash/Wax • Deodorize Wash/Wax • Deodorize Wash/Wax • Deodorize We’ll get itin in top shape!

Wash/Wax • Deodorize We’ll get it top shape!

Wash/Wax • Deodorize Expires 10/31/21 NP We’ll get it in top shape!

Expires 10/31/21 NP Expires 10/31/21 NP Expires 10/31/21 NP Wash/Wax • Deodorize We’ll get it in top shape!

We’ll get in top shape!

Wash/Wax • Deodorize Wash/Wax • Deodorize We’ll get it in top shape!

We’llget getititin intop top shape!

We’ll shape!

Expires 7/31/21 Expires 7/15/21 Expires 7/15/21 Expires Expires 7/15/21 Expires7/31/21 7/15/21

NAPLES FORT MYERS NAPLES NAPLES FORT MYERS PORT FORT MYERS 5367 N.Airport Airport NAPLES PORT 12135 Cleveland Ave. NAPLES 5367 N. NAPLES NAPLES PORT FORT MYERS 5367 N. Airport FORT MYERS 12135 Cleveland Ave. FORT MYERS FORT MYERS 12135 Cleveland Ave. Pulling Rd. CHARLOTTE PORT 5367 N. Airport PORT Ft. Myers, FLAve. 5367 N. Airport Pulling Rd. PORT PORT CHARLOTTE 5367 N.Airport Airport 5367 N. 12135 Cleveland Pulling Rd. 12135 Cleveland Ave. CHARLOTTE Ft. Myers, FL 12135Cleveland Cleveland Ave. (239) 12135 Ave. Ft. Myers, FL 3846 Tamiami Trail 591-4422 Pulling Rd. CHARLOTTE Pulling Rd. 239-939-4445 CHARLOTTE 3846 Tamiami TrailTrail239-939-4445 Pulling Rd. Pulling Rd. (239) 591-4422 Ft. Myers, FL CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE Ft. Myers, FL 3846 Tamiami (239) 591-4422 Ft. Myers, FL Ft. Myers, FL Next to 591-4422 Bed Bath and 239-939-4445 (941) 766-7118 3846 Tamiami Trail (Formerly Vac & Sew) (239) 3846 Tamiami Trail (239) 591-4422 Next to Bed Bath and 3846 Tamiami Trail 3846 Tamiami Trail (941) 766-7118 (239) 591-4422 591-4422 239-939-4445 Next to Bed Bath and 239-939-4445 (941) 766-7118 (Formerly VacVac & Sew) 239-939-4445 239-939-4445 Beyond (Formerly & Sew)(239) Next Bed Bath and (941) 766-7118 Next to Bed Bath and Beyond (941) 766-7118 Nexttoto to Bed Bathand and Bed Bath (Formerly Vac Sew) (941)766-7118 766-7118(Formerly (941) Beyond (Formerly Vac & Sew) (FormerlyVac Vac&& &Sew) Sew) Next

Oscar and Karen Rodriguez, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7106 46th Ave. Circle E. to Joe Aviles and Beth Daniels, of Bradenton, for $485,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,659 square feet of living area. It sold for $206,000 in 2013.

rey, United Kingdom, sold their Unit 204 condominium at 7123 Boca Grove Place to Ellen Blank, of Lakewood Ranch, for $425,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,552 square feet of living area. It sold for $208,000 in 2017.

Beyond Beyond Beyond Beyond

393956-1

VACUUM VACUUM VACUUM VACUUM VACUUM V ACUUM VACUUM & SEWING & SEWING &SEWING SEWINGSEWING && Klaus Jacoby, K. Brooke Jacoby and &SEWING SEWING & www.topsvacuumandsewing.com www.topsvacuumandsewing.com Carlyle at the Villages of Palm Aire Diane Jacoby sold their Unit 202 www.topsvacuumandsewing.com www.topsvacuumandsewing.com www.topsvacuumandsewing.com www.topsvacuumandsewing.com

www.topsvacuumandsewing.com www.topsvacuumandsewing.com www.topsvacuumandsewing.com www.topsvacuumandsewing.com Joyce Canterbury, of Sarasota, sold www.topsvacuumandsewing.com condominium at 7147 Boca Grove www.topsvacuumandsewing.com www .topsvac • Bissell • Mielewww.topsvacuumandsewing.com • Electrolux • ALL BRANDS, ALL BUDGETS.topsvac • Hoover Hand Quilter • Plaff • JUKI • www •• Bissell • Miele • Electrolux • ALL BRANDS, ALL BUDGETS • Hoover • •Hand Quilter •• Plaff •• JUKI •• • her home at 6617 Cheswick St. to Place to Bruce Duncan and Shir• Bissell • Miele • Electrolux • ALL BRANDS, BUDGETS • Hoover • Hand Quilter • Plaff • JUKI Bissell • Miele • Electrolux • ALL BRANDS, ALLALL BUDGETS • Hoover • Hand Quilter Pfaff JUKI FO-AT210809_182330

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•

Electrolux

SHAUN J. LIMON DPM Diplomate, American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry Board Certified in Primary Care in Podiatric Medicine

LISA GRIFFITH-LIMON DPM Diplomate, American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery. Board Certified in Foot Surgery.

FOOT PAIN? Expires 7/15/21

Expires 7/15/21

We treat all kinds of foot problems from Bunions, Heel Pain, Fungal Nails, Diabetic Foot Care, Plantar Fasciitis and more with surgical, nonsurgical and laser treatments.

OPEN BY APPOINTMENT

SCHEDULE TODAY!

AND FOLLOWING CDC SAFETY PROTOCOLS MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED 390687-1

RIVER CLUB SOUTH

STONEYBROOK

HARMONY AT LAKEWOOD RANCH

PINE TRACE

Field and Eagle LLC, trustee, sold the home at 9617 Governors Club Place to Bradley Schalk and Maureen Serrano, of Naples, for $451,700. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,502 square feet of living area. It sold for $575,000 in 2018.

Darko and Tanja Mihajlovic, of Orlando, sold their home at 5710 Silverbridge Trail to Mark Torlucci and Jason Bundy, of Bradenton, for $430,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,484 square feet of living area.

It sold for $270,000 in 2020.

Serving Manatee County since 1998

941.782.8639

Andriana Michelle Flynn, of Saraley Dawson, BRAN of Ontario, Canada, • ALL sota, for $470,000. Built in 2000, it for $385,000. Built in 1999, it has has four bedrooms, two baths and two bedrooms, two baths and 1,431 2,142 square feet of living area. It square feet of living area. It sold for sold for $186,300 in 2000. $147,600 in 1999.

11065 Gatewood Drive, Bldg C-2, Lakewood Ranch 4614 26th Street West, Bradenton | www.LimonsFoot.com

LIGHTHOUSE COVE AT HERITAGE HARBOUR

Piotr Kubeczko and Agnieszka Brygida Bronek, of Sarasota, sold their home at 7151 Chatum Light Run to Marylin Scaff and Christopher Albert Riccio, of Bradenton,

William DeHass and Charmaine Alice DeHass sold their home at 220 Fairway Isles Lane to Oliver and Susan Small, of Dennisport, Massachusetts, for $410,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,665 square feet of living area. It sold for $236,000 in 2020.

Linda Elizabeth Greene, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 28 condominium at 7767 Pine Trace Drive to Leslie Farr, Richard Enoch and Joellyn, of Collierville, Tennessee, for $401,000.

Built in 1988, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,589 square feet of living area.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

11B

find your

happy place holidays at waterside place

ranch nites

holiday movie in the park

farmers’ market

hands on Hannukah

pictures with Santa

Foodies + Fun-Lovers Rejoice!

With more than a dozen active businesses and several others opening soon, come experience all Waterside Place has to offer.

Grab a bite to eat under the stars while enjoying live music and an ice-cold beverage. Break a sweat in a morning workout class before hitting up the Farmers’ Market for your favorite goods. Or, simply take a sunny stroll along the water’s edge.

COME LET LOOSE WITH US, WE’VE GOT ALOT TO SHOW YOU! 1561 LAKEFRONT DRIVE, LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34240

Wat e rs i d e P l ac e .com Now Open + Coming Soon Explore the Directory!

393147-1

Mark Your Calendars – Browse Our Events!

12B

WEATHER

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, DEC. 8

Submit your photos at YourObserver. com/Weather.

All submissions will be entered for the 2022-23 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2023, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

High: 83 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 9%

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 High: 80 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 9%

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset Thursday, Dec. 8

7:07a

5:35p

Friday, Dec. 9

7:08a

5:35p

Saturday, Dec. 10

7:08a

5:35p

Sunday, Dec. 11

7:09a

5:35p

Monday, Dec. 12

7:10a

5:36p

Tuesday, Dec. 13

7:10a

5:36p

Wednesday, Dec. 14

7:11a

5:36p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 High: 80 Low: 60 Chance of rain: 8%

SUNDAY, DEC. 11 High: 80 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 8%

Edward Contreras captured this photo of a Sandhill crane in Lakewood Ranch’s Central Park community.

Dec. 16 Last

Dec. 23 New

Dec. 29 First

Jan. 6 Full

RAINFALL Monday, Nov. 28

0.15

Tuesday, Nov. 29

0

Wednesday, Nov. 30

0

Thursday, Dec. 1

0

Friday, Dec. 2

0

Saturday, Dec. 3

0

Sunday, Dec. 4

0

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

YEAR TO DATE: 2022 51.65 in.

2021 45.79 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2022 0.00 in.

2021 0.00 in.

MANASOTA FLOORING INC 941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com

crossword

celebrity cipher

THERE SEEMS TO BE A MIX-UP HERE by Paul Coulter, edited by Amanda Rafkin 59 Pittsburgh pro 62 Prepared to propose DOWN 63 Sewing edge 1 Expansive 64 Good point?

2 Part of a ruler’s break65 Like iris scanners and down? smartwatches 3 Shrek or Fiona, e.g.

66 Experiencing emotional 4 Certain interest collector upheaval 5 Pitcher’s pride 67 Scare greatly 6 Buffalo’s hockey team 69 Stuff to be crunched 7 Caught some Z’s 70 Blown away 8 Gives a hand to 72 Houses, in Spanish 9 Beetle juice?

73 Uma’s role in “Pulp 10 “Who ___ to argue?”

Fiction” 11 One-dimensional 77 “It’s ___ real!”

12 Less populated 79 Brooch 13 “The Persistence of 80 Time between birthdays Memory” artist 81 Poi source 14 Take care of a friend’s 82 Big name in ice cream kitty 84 Attempted 15 Highest card in most 86 Confidentiality contrick-taking games tracts (Abbr.)

16 “Sorry to hear it” 87 Like slasher films 17 Basic dog command 88 Part of UCLA 18 Part of some sweat89 Web design language shirts 92 “From what you’ve told 24 Dryer debris me ...”

25 Door in a fence 96 Warbles 30 Fail-proof course 97 Nonverbally complains 33 Glossary entry 98 Famed English prep 95 *Rages?

34 Pockets for falafel 68 *Sate?

34 Piece of land school 99 Sporty Chevys 36 Feels crummy 71 Canine expert’s deg.

35 Oatmeal bath target 99 Pulled parachute part 101 U-shaped string instru38 Most verdant 72 Movies 37 Worked hard 100 Anticipates 41 *Tastes?

74 A-line line ment 38 Mascara site, informally 103 Words on a teddy 45 Union station?

75 Works with a needle and 102 Like craft shows 39 Beauty chain with a bear’s shirt 46 Voting group thread 103 Wolves’ cries salon inside each store 104 Therefore 47 Surname in “Succes76 Asteroids maker 104 UFO crew 40 Store away 105 Garr of “Mr. Mom” 77 Waist band 106 “Same” sion” 41 Pie ___ mode 107 Cuatro y cuatro 78 “Malcolm X” director 108 Movie star’s vibe 48 Anjou alternative 42 MDs 108 Mystery writer, for Spike 109 Take a tumble 49 *Wreathe?

43 College application short?

113 Fight off 54 Rear end of a train or a 79 Unit of computer parts 110 Russo of “Ransom” storage 115 *Aspired? person 44 Part of an act 111 Eats at 83 Fixed fee 119 Give the third degree to 56 Peddle 46 Word before “Alps” or 112 “Check this out!”

85 *Dearth?

120 Layer of a farm?

57 Canal locale “mountain dog” 114 Antlered animal 58 Conical chocolate treat 90 Three-syllable smoothie 121 Motel offering 50 ___ mate (tealike drink) 116 (Back away from my berry 122 Comes up with ideas 60 Opposite of rural 51 Sob loudly bone!)

91 Big name in outdoor 123 Sty cries 61 Curling venue 52 Scraped (out) 117 Note acknowledging gear 124 Surgery sites, 63 Weight 53 Breaks in relationships a debt 93 A speakeasy’s is hidden for short 64 “On it, captain!”

55 Believe 118 “It’s finally clicked!”

94 Like some goodbyes 125 Ancient mystical letter 65 Bestseller 126 Most sensible

©2022 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Midsize string instruments 7 Lengthy account 11 Cause of some trips 14 Come down with 19 Fluffy sweater material 20 Neeson of “Nell” 21 Draft pick?

22 Allergy season sound 23 *Aligns?

26 “I love you,” in Spanish 27 “In that case ...”

28 Features of distressed jeans 29 Homes that sound like the first sign in the zodiac 31 Big name in talks 32 Tube inserted into a blood vessel

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“FL FZTLR VEL BZRUPVRPHK VP FVE FJPD ZIE YZOJLU, JP JU DVEO PZ WJRO VTRLUPK WZE ZIEULHMLU.” TVEXVELP BDZ

“ULFW ORHW ZMDP XRT ZDAW. DPG GR LZ GWCSLZW ZMW VDIZ ZMDZ XRT RPKX HWDKKX KLAW DNRTZ CWFWP RTZ RV 500 SWRSKW.”

BTGG DSDZRJ

“FNWBW JBW IM TBWJF ZWMZCW XI FNXO UMBCK, MICV TBWJF YNJCCWITWO UNXYN MBKXIJBV ZWMZCW BXOW FM RWWF.”

JKR. UXCCXJR L. NJCOWV SB.

© 2022 NEA, Inc.

sudoku

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

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

391427-1

941.748.4679 | Venice

Puzzle Three Clue: Y equals C

941.355.8437 | Bradenton

Puzzle Two Clue: N equals B

Sarasota

Puzzle One Clue: Y equals B

394153-1

STOP BY ONE OF OUR SHOWROOMS TO SEE OUR COLLECTION OF PERGO® EXTREME™ LUXURY VINYL - WHERE TOUGH MEETS TASTEFUL

12-08-22

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

13B

FDA APPROVES OTC’S (OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AIDS)

NO PRESCRIPTION NECESSARY! AS SEEN ON

“A ‘GAME-CHANGER’ FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS” - CNN*

SELF-FITTING OTC HEARING AIDS

SAVE

THOUSANDS!

* Christensen, Jen. “A 'Game-Changer' for Millions of Americans: You Can Now Buy Hearing Aids over the Counter.”

CNN, Cable News Network, 17 Oct. 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/17/health/over-the-counter-hearing-aids-available.

393322-1

ENHANCE PLUS™ SELF-FITTING OTC HEARING AIDS

14B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

YourObserver.com

SELF-FITTING OTC HEARING AIDS

A TRUSTED NAME IN AUDIO SOLUTIONS! Long Battery Life Up to 70 hours of continuous use.1

Personalized to Your Hearing Easily set up and personalize your hearing aids with the Sony | Hearing control app2.

Prescription-grade Sound Quality Sony’s technology offers excellent sound quality similar to traditional hearing aids.

Comfortable Fit to Your Ears Comes with four soft ear tip sizes specially designed to maximize comfort and ease.

High-quality Noise Reduction Earbuds are linked wirelessly to deliver effective noise reduction for your environment.

Adjusts to Your Environment

393323-1

Automatically analyzes, adjusts, and optimizes sound based on your surroundings.

Actual performance varies based on settings, environmental conditions, and usage. 2Sony | Hearing control app – Use app on smartphone to personalize settings. Download app at Google Play and the App Store. Network services, content, operating system and software subject to terms and conditions and may be changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time and may require registration.

1

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

15B

ENHANCE PLUS™ SELF-FITTING OTC HEARING AIDS 3-IN-1 EARBUDS FOR HEARING ENHANCEMENT, MUSIC AND CALLS These pioneering hearing-enhancing earbuds have been specifically engineered with advanced medicalgrade technology, to help you focus on what you want to listen to, without just turning up the volume.

Innovative design uses 4 dedicated microphones to reduce background noise and improve speech clarity, so whether you’re chatting with your partner in a busy café or catching up with friends over dinner, the sounds that matter will be crystal-clear.

Small Buds, Big Difference Medical-grade hearing enhancement that fits seamlessly into your life.

Enhanced Audibility Powerful, world-class hearing enhancement.

Fully Rechargeable Lasts 24 hours on a single charge.

Advanced Technology State-of-the-art signal processing for incredible audio clarity.

Elite Hearing Centers of America

Rated by top hearing care professionals at Elite Hearing Centers of America.

393324-1

O T C H E A R I N G A I D R AT I N G S

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

YOUR OTC EXPERTS Elite Hearing Centers of America

Rated

WALK IN & WALK OUT WITH YOUR NEW HEARING AIDS THE SAME DAY! E SAV ANDS!

THOUS

UP TO 45-DAY 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!*

WE ALWAYS PROVIDE THESE SERVICES FREE!

Reprogram your current hearing aids with your new hearing prescription and up-to-date software improvements at no charge.

FREE

HEARING AID CHECK UP

It is important to have your hearing checked at least once a year.

Our Video Otoscope can detect if ear wax may be the reason you are experiencing hearing difficulty.

FREE

FREE

HEARING EXAM & CONSULTATION! NO OBLIGATION!

VIDEO EAR SCAN MAKES SURE IT’S NOT EAR WAX

OTHER DIGITAL SPECIALS 100% Digital Open-Fit BTE (Open Fit Behind-the-Ear)

100% Digital ITE (In-the-Ear)

100% Digital CIC (Completely -in-Canal)

100% Micro CIC (Completely -in-Canal)

WAS $795

WAS $995

WAS $995

WAS $1995

NOW 395 $

each

(Up to 40 db Loss)

NOW 395 $

each

(Up to 40 db Loss)

Elite Hearing Centers

NOW 495 $

each

(Up to 40 db Loss)

OVER 50 LOCATION NATIONW S IDE

Rated

!

OPEN NOW: 2807 University Pkwy In Publix Plaza at University Walk

each

(Up to 40 db Loss)

OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF DOCTORS OF AUDIOLOGY & LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS

of America

SARASOTA 941-210-4310

NOW 595 $

BRADENTON 941-201-6076

DELRAY BEACH 561-501-4392 4900 Linton Blvd #3 (In between Poppies Restaurant and Kristi Cleaners)

ROYAL PALM BEACH 561-631-8757 11985 Southern Blvd (Publix at Crestwood Square - next to Carter Healthcare)

(Bradenton Pain and Wellness Center)

BOYNTON BEACH 561-619-9274 4739 N Congress Ave (In between Dollar Tree and Fon Shan Chinese)

JUPITER 561-529-3011 6725 West Indiantown Rd Bay 39 (In Jupiter West Plaza)

2001 Manatee Avenue E. Ste 104

*Return period varies by device. Contact us to find out more about the device you are interested in.

SOUTH CAROLINA LICENSE NUMBERS: HTP-1029, HTP-1024, HTP-1031, HTP-1023, HAS-0573, HAS-0642, HAS-0637, HAS- 0638, HAS-0633

GEORGIA LICENSE NUMBERS: HADS000995, HADS000996, HADS001001, HADS001003

393325-1

16B

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

Merchandise Wanted

Autos Wanted

SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and some collectors plates. Personal and confidential.

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card The East County Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the East County Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis..

The Observer Classified Dept. will CLOSE on December 23rd at 4:00pm for the Holidays.

We will reopen on January 3rd at 9:00am.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU & YOURS!

Items Under $200 SHOWER CHAIR-$30, fertilizer spreader-$25, pool towel holder$30, metal crane 2ft tall-$50, patio serving cart waterproof-$50.

941-359-8460

2 IKEA Poang armchairs + 1 footstool. Beige washable cover. Like new. $60. 941-758-7847

ZILDJIAN CYMBALS polished bronze, 20” gen 16, ride cymbal $120 OBO. (941)928-7708

Announcements

2013-2014 Ford Focus wheel $125 good condition, do not text. 941-879-7105

CLAIRE’S PRODUCE AND PLANTS 7275 N. Lockwood Ridge

3- 5 FT. lengths 1 5/8 in. slotted Unistrut. New $25 2- lengths 5 ft.- 3/8 in. bolt rod. new $10 941-932-1172 HEALTH RIDER total body fitness with monitor, book and weight bar. $175 OBO (941)371-3513

More plants than produce!

Desert Roses, Orchids, hanging baskets, herbs and more.

MEN’S 26” bicycle, good condition. Schwinn Sidewinder.

New 198. Sell $50.

941-413-6097

Thursday 12p.m.-5p.m.

Friday 12p.m.-5p.m., Saturday 10a.m.-5p.m.

SEARCH

RED PAGES for great deals.

Visit

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Antiquesandchatchkes.com For More Information Call Ken at: 941-356-3318.

BUY STUFF HERE!

BEACH’ N RIDES Electric Bike Shop eBike Sales and Rentals Ride easy on an eBike with as much exercise or assistance as you want.

Leave traffic and parking problems behind!

13 models available.

Daily and weekly rentals available We also repair other Brands Open 10 to 5 daily except Sundays and holidays 12208 Cortez Road Cortez, FL

YourObserver.com/RedPages

General Merchandise CARRIER AC HEAT pump. $4,000 OBO. 2 years old, good condition. Call 248-634-3623

STUFF found here.

Autos Wanted STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

941809-3660, 941-809-3662.

Made for where you live. Here!

Call 941-955-4888 or visit YourObserver.com/redpages

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Adult Care Services PERSONAL CARE GIVERPrivate care: Meal preparation, errands, shopping, and more.

Affordable hourly rates, available weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

Minimal shift 5 hours can also provide overnight care.

Temporary or long term care.

Over 10+ years experience.

References available. No new faces, one consistent caregiver.

COVID Negative.

Call Kati: 941-536-7706.

Auto Transport WE BUY cars. top $$ paid for your vehicles.

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

SHIP YOUR car, truck or SUV anywhere in the United States.

Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

GARAGE SALE

Commercial Property for Rent

Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

941-955-4888 Cleaning BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

Free Estimates. Reliable. Lic./Ins. 941-400-3342. www.braziliancleaningbymk.com

YOUR HOME DESERVES VIP TREATMENT Edla’s VIP Cleaning is a local cleaning company that has been in business for over 24 years.

We are very committed to quality housecleaning and highly recommended. 5 star reviews.

941-400-2866

Painting

ST ARMAND'S CIRCLE 5000 sq. ft. Corner with three faces, first floor 5000 square-foot roughly,192 chairs inside, 94 outside (around 1500 square-foot more outside) 362 parking spots close to the property, Direct deal with the owners. Contract Starting in January 2023. $37,000 (561) 931-9727

This week’s Crossword answers

CARLO DATTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos.

Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “We women are constantly at war with our bodies, it is hard to find amnesty for ourselves.”

Margaret Cho Puzzle Two Solution: “Give more than you take. And do it despite the fact that you only really like about seven out of 500 people.”

Judd Apatow Puzzle Three Solution: “There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.”

Adm. William F. Halsey

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2022 Universal Uclick

The Red Pages is the perfect store to buy and sell locally! You’ll find a wide selection from antiques to furniture to condos!

RED PAGES

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

©2022 NEA, Inc.

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

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

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

You’re only cheating yourself.

Items Under $200

January 5 •East County & Longboat: Thursday, 12/22 noon •Sarasota /Siesta Key: Tuesday, 1/3 11am

December 29 •East County & Longboat: Friday, 12/16 noon •Sarasota / Siesta Key: Monday, 12/19 noon

Fine Jewelry, High-end Designer Accessories, Shoes and Clothes for Men & Women, Deuce 75 Pitching Machine Model DC799, Batting cage with artificial turf and a multitude of baseball equipment. Also lots of equipment for other sports like Golf, Bowling, High-End Fishing Equipment, Skateboarding, boating, Paintball Guns plus supplies, Basketball Hoop, Cricket equipment, name brand sporting apparel, athletic footwear and 4 Mountain Bikes with brand names like Schwinn Signed Sports Memorabilia with COAs, NFL Jerseys and other collectables, Exercise Equipment, weight benches, weights, Exercise bike, Treadmill and elliptical machine.

High-end Home Furnishings from Z Gallerie, Artwork, Furniture for the Dining room, Bedroom, Living room, Office, Outdoor Bar, High-End Outdoor Patio Furniture, Kitchen Items and Holiday Decorations.

Mechanic Tool Chest, Pressure washer, automotive tools, Air Compressor, Saws, Jacks, Lawn maintenance items, lots of other garage items and Aluminum Power Boat Lift.

Ping-pong table, Dartboard, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo systems, Foosball Table, Pool sticks and Balls.

peekers’ place

stuff

December 22 •East County & Longboat: Thursday, 12/15 noon •Sarasota / Siesta Key: Friday, 12/16 noon

Sporting Goods

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales HOLIDAY ESTATE SALE 1815 Buccaneer Terrace Sarasota, FL 34231 December 9th , 10th & 11th 9 am to 5pm Numbers go out at 8am

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING EARLY DEADLINE

WANTED: TOY TRAINS, old toys, cast iron banks, old guns, whathaveyou? Cash buyer.

941-374-2288 dwilsen@hotmail.com

auto

HOLIDAY EARLY DEADLINES FOR DEC 22, 29 & JAN 5

GREAT FINDS LOCATED HERE!

real estate

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

home services

Made for where you live. Here!

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

Aluminum

Computer

Golf

Pegatronics Computer Instruction and Repair It’s Easier Than You Think!

Hardware Repair Virus / Malware Cleanup Software & Printer Install New Computer Setups New Purchase Consults Seniors & Beginners

“Specializing inin6” Gutters” “Specializing 6” Seamless Seamless Gutters”

941-735-3362

393469

YoderAluminum.com

2007 Whitfield Park Ave. Sarasota, FL 34243 | cwccustomscarts@gmail.com

Is Your Computer Feeling Sick?

Auto Service

Call A Geek

INTERIOR RENOVATIONS & ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP

Computer ServiCeS

FAST • EASY • SAFE

WE COME TO YOU (941) 351-7260

5-Star Rated

call-a-geek.net

393854

HoHoBuysCars.com

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

Let Us Fix It!

SELL YOUR CAR! 941.270.4400

Handyman

Computer Repair & Service Virus & Malware Removal / Protection New System Set Up / Data Transfer Networking: Wired/Wireless Installation Data Recovery / Remote Support One-On-One Tutoring / Training

TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772 393606

393467

CHASE COURNAN (941) 704 - 7512

Pegatronics.com

941.650.9790 941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com

Owner /Insured Operator Insured

Learn Computer Basics Phones/Tablet Help Apple & Microsoft Problems Solved On-Site and Off Much More! Call Today!

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

Over 18 yrs serving Manatee/Sarasota Counties

Concrete

BOLAS

Beauty

CONCRETE UNLIMITED RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

• Driveways CALL TODAY • Sidewalks FOR AN • Patios ESTIMATE! • Stamped Concrete • Slabs • Foundations LICENSED & INSURED

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

813-417-0981

Doors

Located in salons by jc 200 Central Ave. Suite 15, Sarasota

Sliding Glass Door Repair

AMANDA

Recognized Among the Best Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Physicians in America Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

424.333.0713

Mobile Concierge Services Available

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE” New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Mark 928-2263 proslidingglassdoorrepair.com

AM Art of Cleaning RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

The Only Thing You Have To Lose ... Is The Pain!!

Home Services

(941) 822-3036

Estate Sales

amartcleaning@gmail.com

Gulf Coast EstatE auCtions

• Residential & Commercial • Post-Construction • Move In / Move Out • AIRBNB

392593

392915

ESTATE SALES • DOWNSIZING SENIOR TRANSITIONS • ONLINE AUCTIONS

Let Gulf Coast Estate Auctions organize & hold an estate sale for you.

gulfcoastestateauctions.com • Free Consultations 941-274-6537

Clock Repair

Furniture Repair

Christo’s Clock Repair

Furniture Sales & Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating

941-773-0875 • 941-932-5505

Don Christo, Sr., Horologist

Residential

941-705-5468

Commercial

392496

Specializing in Cleaning Exterior Home, Windows, Roofs, Solar Panels, Driveways, Sidewalks, Garbage Cans and Gutters. Paver Sanding and Sealing.

FULLY INSURED

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

RED PAGES

393855

CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Take a simple test to see if your vent is clogged. Unhook your dryer vent & compare drying time.

393473

941-504-0903

“IF IT DOESN’T TIC, TOC TO ME.”

Are You Having Dryer Difficulties?

• Dryer hot but clothes still wet after (1) drying cycle?

• Dryer gets hot to the touch or doesn’t heat up at all?

Patio Furniture Repairs.com

4630 5TH ST W BRADENTON

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS Showcase your products or services.

CALL 941-955-4888

Call or text: 941-900-8111 | Email: Newparrishfl@gmail.com

Insurance

Too busy to chat?

Doors

DON’T let your PATIO DOORS be a DRAG or your WINDOWS be a PANE!!

Window Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Repairs Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts

Call us today! 941.628.8579 www.ezslider.com

392495

393474

Cleaning

Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239

392916

rockstarmobilehair@gmail.com www.rockstarmobilehairsalon.com

393471

392921

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

Health

393858

Dustin Yoder

Dustin Owner Yoder/ Operator

Golf Cart Repair Lithium Battery Conversion Lift Kits Blue Tooth Speakers General Repair

392474

|

393851

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

FREE IN-HOM ESTIMATEE S

Get Virtual Health Insurance Quotes, Quickly and Direct To You! Individual/Family • Medicare • Group ü WIDE RANGE OF DEDUCTIBLES & COPAYS ü NATIONWIDE PPO NETWORKS ü 12, 24 OR 36 MONTHS POLICIES ü CUSTOMIZE YOUR AFFORDABLE QUOTES FROM:

TEXT 941-993-4137 EMAIL steve@setohealthgroup.com VISIT Setohealthgroup.com Of course, you can call me anytime!

Find anything in the RED PAGES

941-955-4888

392936

18B

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Painting

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc. Building & Roofing Contractor

• Aluminum, Vinyl, & Wood Soffit & Fascia Repair & Installation • Roofing Repair & Installation • Metal Roofing & Tile Roof Repair Specialists

High-End Interior Painting Services FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

941-626-3194

Servicing LWR, Parrish and NE Bradenton

We only use the finest quality Benjamin Moore paints!

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

UNIQUE PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES Complete Interior & Exterior Painting

Homes - Driveways - Sidewalks - Tile & Shingle Roofs - Pool Cages & Decks

FREE ESTIMATES - Call Joel, Owner 30 Years Exp. Cell 619-405-7650 Home/Office 941-758-4840

Plumbing

941-400-4912

Mark’s Plumbing Service Small plumbing repairs. Replace toilets, faucets, water filters, water softeners and repair leaks.

CJ COOLEY OWNER/OPERATOR

RELIABLE • INSURED 392918

941-920-8221

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

GRAB BARS GRAB BARS

Res./Com.

INCLUDES22MOEN MOEN STAINLESS INCLUDES STAINLESS STEEL STEELANTI ANTISLIP SLIP CONCEALED PEEN CONCEALED SCREW SCREW GRAB GRAB BARS (16”BARS & 24”)(16” & 24”)

Call TODAY For a Free Quote • Florida Owned & Operated

GLENN KROECKER

392499

954-1878 (cell) 780-3346 Licensed & Insured

PRESSURE WASHING

House Washing, Roofs, Screen Cages, Pavers, Driveways and Walkways.

941-CLEAN IT 2 5 3 - 2 6 4 8

392302

$100 COUPON $100 COUPON

$100 COUPON

SOFT WASH

WE ARE THE SOFT WASH PRESSURE WASHING PROS

FREE INSTANT ESTIMATES when you Call RICK for SCHEDULING

$100 COUPON

THE GRAB BAR GUY

$100 COUPON

$100 COUPON $100 COUPON

DRGRABBARS.COM

*DRILLING CHARGES MAY APPLY FOR MARBLE, GRANITE OR PORCELAIN. COUPON REQUIRED.

$100 COUPON

$100 COUPON $100 COUPON

LIFETIME GUARANTEE • LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED COVERAGEAREA: AREA:LAKEWOOD PARRISH TO NORTHPORT COVERAGE RANCH TO S. VENICE

364556 392497

Call TODAY For a Free Quote · Florida Owned & Operated

941.966.0333

RED PAGES Bring Results | 941-955-4888 Rescreening & Repairs

25

UP TO

STANDARD WINDOWS

150

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

GROW

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

393852

Lic./Ins.

Pressure Washing & Pressure C Paver Window lean t PrSealing essure Washing e s ing n Painting & Staining s a S u n n w r o i s n Paver SealinS gu e k W y indow erl m Tile & Grout Cleaning r o s Painting & Staining F Serving Longboat Key Since 2005 Window TileCleaning & Grout Cleaning Rescreening Window Cleaning

393864

249 235

Windows

Power Washing

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE

* $ $235

393476

392498

CustomGraniteServicesLLC@gmail.com

$

Screening

393853

Custom Granite Services, llc

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

393475

392917

CALL OR TEXT 941-900-9398 TODAY! OWNER: DON HUBIAK

Call John 941.377.2940

YOUR BUSINESS

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

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392919

Landscaping & Lawn

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Allison J. Abizaid, M.A.

Personal Gardening Services | Designer

392500

941.400.0431

gbyallison@yahoo.com gardensbyallison.com

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392490

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941-345-5264

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Manufacture and workmanship Warranties

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(941) 345-5264

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392491

IRRIGATION (941) 725-8100 REPAIR edsrainmakerirrigation@gmail.com MAINTENANCE Insured

19B

Roofing

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING, LLC

ED’S RAIN MAKER IRRIGATION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

393464

Irrigation

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20B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

P.S. The Key to Your Real Estate Success

STUNNING CUSTOM ESTATE HOME

LAKE & PRESERVE VIEW

LAKE CLUB

16510 Clearlake Avenue Offered for $3,650,000

COUNTRY CLUB EAST 16305 Castle Park Terrace Offered for $1,495,000

GOLF & PRESERVE VIEW

LAKE & PRESERVE VIEW

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC 7035 Twin Hills Terrace Offered for $1,375,000

COUNTRY CLUB EAST 16115 Castle Park Terrace Offered for $2,195,000

CHARMING POOL HOME

SUMMERFIELD

11835 Hollyhock Drive Offered for $669,000

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PSLuxurygroup.com

Our Experience is Your Best Asset Contact us Today to Discuss Your 2022 Homeownership Goals HOLLY PASCARELLA, PA 941.225.3218 Holly.Pascarella@CBRealty.com

KATINA SHANAHAN, PLLC 941.702.0437 Katina.Shanahan@CBRealty.com

KENNETH SHANAHAN, PLLC 941.702.0443 Kenneth.Shanahan@CBRealty.com