East County Observer 12.22.22

Mini hooves deliver holiday joy

Panther Ridge’s Olga Zarlenga (above) was instantly surrounded on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch on Dec. 2.

Everyone wanted to see her mini horse, Fabio, who was dressed as an elf.

Zarlenga wanted to bring more holiday joy to Music on Main, which began after the lighting of the Christmas tree on Main Street.

She and Fabio were accompanied by Lakewood Ranch’s Cindy Mudge, who brought Sunshine, a mini horse that also was dressed for the occasion.

Zarlenga said besides going to events like Music on Main, she takes Fabio to schools for students to see and learn about mini horses.

Sprawl threatens to lower the boom on tracks

Shining light on holiday yoga

Having attended regular yoga classes in the past, Lakewood Ranch’s Michelle DiMonte (above with Devika Joshi) said she was excited to try a session of Yoga under the Holiday Lights on Dec. 14.

She met two friends, Joshi and Lakewood Ranch’s Brandy Baker, at the event so they could enjoy the yoga practice and synchronized light displays together.

The class instructor, Sarasota’s Marina Traub, said despite the bustle of the holidays at the The Green at University Town Center, the class was still an opportunity to benefit from a meditative mindset.

One thing yoga is about is just being present,” she said.

She said this included being among the sounds of Christmas music, children playing and shoppers heading to the store for the holidays.

“I love the lights,” she said. “(The Green) is a beautiful space.”

Jay Heater

Harmony’s Peggy Kronus hides a pickle ornament on Christmas Eve, and the first one to find it on Christmas Day gets a prize.

Liz Ramos

Ian Swaby

Gene Witt administrators, parents hope to see light

Increased

homes, is complete.

Mornings usually bring the worst traffic because the beginning of the school day coincides with rush hour.

The elementary school dismisses at 3:15 p.m., so traffic isn’t as bad in the afternoon.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

The line of cars trying to make a left turn to go north on Rye Road out of Gene Witt Elementary School’s parking lot kept building.

It was a normal occurrence for a Thursday morning or any other school day.

At the same time, the left turn lane of northbound Rye Road traffic to enter Gene Witt’s parking lot was at least 10 cars deep.

A few times per week there has been an off-duty Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Rye Road to help with the flow of traffic.

With D.R. Horton’s new Coddington housing development being built across the street, Gene Witt Elementary School administrators and parents have been asking Manatee County officials to help with solutions for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Although there is no crosswalk near the school, some students do cross a busy Rye Road. When more people move into Coddington and send their children to the school, the traffic likely will get worse.

“Our primary concern is the safety of our students and our families who utilize the road,” said Connie Dixon, the principal at Gene Witt Elementary. “With the extensive growth that’s happening, we have to work with what we have currently.”

Dixon said this year, about 30 students cross Rye Road to get to and from school.

She estimates potentially more than 100 students could have to cross Rye Road once the Coddington community, which will have 351

“It is very hard to get out of the parking lot to make a left because you end up (feeling like you are) turning across four lanes,” said Laura Anastasia, the vice chair of Gene Witt’s School Advisory Council. “The amount of traffic that has been added to Rye Road through development over the past few years is overwhelming, and something has to be done to make it safe for our parents and students.”

The School Advisory Council hopes to have a traffic signal installed.

A traffic signal project starts with analysis and data collection that includes traffic counts, turn movement counts, pedestrian counts and a review of accident report histories.

Public Works Director Chad Butzow said the county already is conducting studies on whether a traffic light is warranted in the area. He expects the data collection to be complete by January or February and anticipates an analysis of the project to be complete by March or April.

After the analysis comes a construction budget that is planned and adopted, if passed by the commissioners.

Butzow notified James Satcher, the District 1 commissioner for the area, a traffic light in front of Gene Witt will be proposed for the county’s five-year capital improvement plan.

Commissioners are expected to consider the traffic signal in June.

If the Manatee County Commission approves the project, a funding source must be identified. Then the design phase on the project will begin, which can take an additional six to nine months.

Property acquisition is the next step followed by the project being advertised to possible builders. Staff and engineers will collect and review the bids. Then construction begins.

WITT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KEY

A: Right turn lane into Gene Witt Elementary’s car line going south on Rye Road

B: Entrance to Gene Witt Elementary’s car line

C: Left and right turn lanes to exit Gene Witt Elementary’s parking lot

D: Right turn lane into Gene Witt Elementary’s main entrance going south on Rye Road

E: Gene Witt Elementary’s main entrance and exit

F: Left turn lane going into Gene Witt Elementary’s main entrance going north on Rye Road

G: Left turn lane going into Gene Witt parking lot line going north on Rye Road

H: Right turn lane going into Coddington going north on Rye Road

I: Entrance to Coddington

J: Left and right turn lanes to exit Coddington

K: Right turn lane going south on Rye Road to enter Coddington

Once a traffic light is installed, Anastasia said a crossing guard will be needed to help students cross the street safely.

Randy Warren, a public information officer for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, said that for a crossing guard to be placed anywhere, the school district must conduct a study to see if a crossing guard is needed. Then the district will submit a request to the Sheriff’s Office for a crossing guard.

In the meantime, Dixon asked the School District of Manatee County to provide funding for an off-duty Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy to direct traffic in the morning and afternoon.

“As many families that are pleased when we have an officer out there, we have as many parents concerned because it does slow down traffic from the north to the south due to the fact that we have a short southbound turning lane into school,” Dixon said. “We just need to make sure that while we’re waiting for a solution, we try our very best to keep it as safe as possible.”

traffic, new housing development are expected to produce more traffic snarls in front of the school.

GENE

N

“As many families that are pleased when we have an officer out there, we have as many parents concerned because it does slow down traffic from the north to the south due to the fact that we have a short southbound turning lane into school.

— Connie Dixon

DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS?

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said the Manatee County Commission has to find ways to preserve two longtime motorsports racetracks on State Road 64 that are being surrounded by urban sprawl.

On Dec. 15, the commission voted 5-2 in favor of transmitting to the state a proposal for Schroeder-Manatee Ranch to build Taylor Ranch, a development of up to 4,500 homes on 2,307.57 acres.

Part of that development will be separated from the Freedom Factory and Bradenton Motorsports Park tracks by an 84-foot land buffer that will include walls and berms to reduce noise. The wall would rise approximately 25 feet in height.

Taylor Ranch would sit west of the tracks, south of S.R. 64 and east of Bourneside Boulevard.

Baugh said now that a proposal has been transmitted to the state, she would like to complete research on ways to protect the tracks before the development proposal returns from the state for further action by the commission.

She said it might be possible to find additional protections for the tracks if the state has historic venue designations that would apply. She said she would check with state and county ordinances.

TRACK OWNERS CONCERNED

During the Dec. 15 land use meeting, the owners of the two East County motorsports tracks pleaded with Manatee County commissioners to stop the development.

Freedom Factory owner Garrett Mitchell, known by his YouTube persona Cleetus McFarland, and Bradenton Motorsports Park owner Victor Alvarez both spoke in front of the commission.

“The county has put the racetracks at risk,” said Mitchell, whose 63-acre track complex used to be DeSoto Speedway. “Unfortunately, homes being built next to racetracks is a classic way they fail. The homeowners complain until the racetracks are overrun (by local government).

Having future homeowners sign a disclosure that the track is there is not enough.”

Attorney Kyle Grimes, representing SMR, said the racetracks are protected.

“Our client knows the racetracks are there and has no intention of doing anything to affect them operating, and that’s why we’re putting in these provisions,” Grimes said.

Freedom Factory is located at 21050 S.R. 64, while Bradenton Motorsports Park is located at 21000 S.R. 64.

Numerous residents and motorsports enthusiasts from Manatee County and neighboring counties also spoke against transmitting the proposal to the state, leading to a packed commission meeting room. The overflow crowd had to be housed on the fifth floor of the Manatee

ABOUT TAYLOR RANCH

Location: South of State Road 64 and east of Bourneside Boulevard.

Developer: SchroederManatee Ranch Size: 2,307.57 acres

Maximum number of homes: 4,500

County Administration Building, where the meeting took place, to watch the meeting via livestream.

The proposal would change what is currently agricultural land to the Urban Fringe 3 future land use category, which allows three homes per acre.

The initial speaker at the meeting was Mitchell, who purchased the speedway in 2020. Alvarez also spoke at the meeting. He said based on research, the tracks, built in the 1970s, were two of the most popular racetracks in the U.S.

He said street racing was a prevalent problem in his home of Tampa, due to the lack of a racetrack.

“We don’t have that problem to that extent here, because these people have a safe haven,” he said.

Bradenton resident Scott Vanderford said he found out about the proposed development through a video on the Cleetus McFarland YouTube channel.

He said he had been attending drag races since age 16 as both a spectator and a racer, and had repeatedly encountered the problem of racetracks closing down.

“The housing developments come in, they get approved, the people buy houses knowing full well there’s a racetrack there,” he said. “And then they complain about the noise, and before long, there’s more complaints and the city passes an ordinance and we lose the racetrack.”

He said the sounds of the racetrack would be “shaking the walls” of the homes.

While it is not yet approved, another community, East River Ranch, also is planned for the area around the tracks.

While commissioners spoke about the importance of preserving the tracks, they also said they favored the right of developers to build on their property.

HISTORY MATTERS

Baugh said the board is legally bound to respect a property owner’s rights, but said board members needed to understand the race tracks had to be protected as well.

“Everybody should understand that these racetracks come first. They have been there for 50 years. I mean, good grief, Manatee County generally does stand for its history, and we try to take care of our history,” she said.

While she voted to move the proposal to the state, she said she wanted to see the board take all actions it could to protect the area.

At-large Commissioner George Kruse said buffers of 2,000 to 3,000 feet away, which some speakers had suggested, would create a semicircle basis of 325 acres, a restriction the commission could not place on the property owner. He said Daytona Speedway had homes much closer in proximity.

“If you’re making noise, then this developer is going to have to make these homes more affordable to find people who want that noise,” he said.

At-large Commissioner Jason Bearden said building more homes was important in Manatee County but said the rights of the racetrack owners needed to be protected.

“I want to ensure that this track is always going to be protected, no matter what,” he said.

He suggested designating the track as a historic site and workshopping

RACING FANS FEEL SNUBBED

Some who attended expressed disappointment in the decision.

“I was surprised when they all said they wanted to protect the tracks, and then voted yes to transmit it to the state,” said Myakka City’s Jered Muehlhausen. “We were hoping that it didn’t go that far, and they just kind of squashed it right then and there,” he said.

Numerous attendees came from outside the area of Manatee County to support the tracks.

“We’ve just got to wait on the process and see what happens, but it’s a place that means a lot to a lot of people,” said Polk County’s Hayden Register. “(Racing fans) are a big community. Now they’re coming together because they’re not going to have a place to go if they shut this track down.”

He said the size of the community comes from the passion the racers share.

“This is what we love to do. A lot of people thrive on it,” he said.

Hardee County’s Devyn Nuanes, who races with Muehlhausen, said his biggest concern was not the track itself, but the traffic on State Road 64.

He said while driving to the area, he was already encountering a “huge” amount of traffic at the corner of State Road 64 and Lorraine Road, driving to the racetrack.

Myakka City’s Jered Muehlhausen and Hardee County’s Devyn Nuanes, both racing fans, came to plead with commissioners to protect the tracks.

solutions for the item.

Bearden and Commissioner James Satcher both voted against the transmittal of the plans, favoring a continuance of the discussions at a later date.

Racing community concerned about racetracks’ future as commissioners advance nearby development.

Photos by Ian Swaby District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh and District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard discuss the proposal.

Land use attorney Kyle Grimes represents developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch at the meeting.

The commission chambers were so full, they had to open another room so the overflow crowd could watch the meeting via livestream.

DETAILS

Some of residents said additional lanes on Clubhouse Drive were not needed and, therefore, the county had no need to remove the frontage property to accommodate them.

Resident Martin Antonetti, who lives at the northwest corner of Clubhouse Drive and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, said with the original proposal, he would have lost not only a portion of his yard but also a mature live oak tree.

“That would be a disaster,” he said. “The light itself is not a bad idea, but the widening of the road and the extra right turn lane is way too much.”

He said the amount of traffic on Clubhouse Drive was considerably less than the amount on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

He also said he was looking for something that was not a “really big” stoplight system, but something with a smaller, more discrete design.

John Kravontka lives across the street from Antonetti and also stands to lose some of his front lawn and driveway. He also doesn’t see the need to construct additional lanes coming out of his neighborhood.

He also said the county hasn’t approached him about making up for the land lost in front of his home.

Kravontka said he was pleased Baugh had acted upon the residents’ concerns and slowed down the project.

Even so, Kravontka still wants some form of traffic control at the intersection.

Now a four-way stop intersection, he said cars runs through the stop signs, even when bicyclists or pedestrians are crossing.

Kravontka said if a new traffic light design is proposed, he hopes for a smart light that would coordinate traffic flow.

He also said a roundabout would be a good option because it would keep traffic flowing.

Roth said, personally, he was not highly in favor of a red light at the intersection. He said the county might consider that blinking yellow lights before the four-way stop might solve the problem of people running through the intersection without stopping.

However, he said he would present his residents’ wants and concerns to the county.

“The right decision (for him to make as chairman) is what the residents want,” he said.

Alan Roth is Chairperson of CDD1

“The right decision (for him to make as chairman) is what the residents want.”

— Alan Roth

Tsunami won’t hit Lakewood Ranch Green until January

issues

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Restaurant owner Sam Ray said his staff has been hired and trained for the opening of Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi, which was expected to open late in 2022 at the The Green at Lakewood Ranch.

However, like so many construction projects, supply-chain issues have backed up the opening to late January.

Ray said he is awaiting both decorations and food items that he has purchased from Japan.

“It’s not like we’re not ready,” coowner Jeffrey Karasawa said. “It’s just the shipping isn’t there. We (bought) items from Japan to make it more authentic.”

Karasawa said the items include statues, handmade curtains and even some sakes. They ordered the items six months ago.

“If you’re a sake connoisseur, you can only get the certain bottles of sake from Tsunami,” said Ray, who said the restaurant had created a rare deal with small Japanese distilleries.

While Ray is optimistic about the January opening, Karasawa said a firm opening date will be set once they know their items from Japan have been shipped.

Karasawa said the fallout from Hurricane Ian also caused a delay in construction of the restaurant. Delays have resulted in a switch in contractors Dec. 5 which further put the project behind.

Some unexpected drywall patching also slowed them down.

Mostly, though, delays have been caused by shipping problems.

“There’s a lot of other stuff that we can control, and that’s already in place,” Karasawa said.

TSUNAMI SUSHI & HIBACHI GRILL

Where: 11627 E. State Road 70, Lakewood Ranch When: Plans to open in January Website: Tsunami-Sarasota. com

With most of the construction complete — countertops were picked up Dec. 13 — workers are painting the interior.

Ray has some unique touches to the design. He crafted a series of square, wooden panels for the bannister of the mezzanine area. Featuring a Japanese design, they will join a hanging plant and wood ceiling as Ray’s contributions to the construction.

He said he has acquired fish for the aquarium that will occupy a space alongside the bar.

The walk-in refrigerator and freezer were installed two weeks ago, Ray said.

Supply

push back the opening date from October to January.

Owner Sam Ray displays one of the wooden panels he will include on the mezzanine bannister.

Ian Swaby

Tradition of our very own

Lakewood Ranch area families all find a holiday tradition they can call their own.

OBSERVER STAFF

It’s like a present we receive every Christmas, and the holiday just isn’t the same without it.

It’s a Christmas tradition.

Whether it’s a type of food, a pretty ornament, a game we play, a touch football game on the lawn or a stroll around the neighborhood to sing carols, many of us have that special something that we can call our own.

Here area a few holiday traditions from folks in our area.

PEGGY AND SKIP TURNER

When Riverwalk’s Peggy and Skip Turner married 41 years ago, one of the Christmas gifts they received was an ornament.

Since then, Peggy Turner has been buying an ornament to celebrate each year of her marriage. She decided to go with a lighthouse theme and has all the Hallmark lighthouse ornaments.

After each of their children, Brandy Weeks, Meagan Russo and Jacob Tuner, was born, Peggy Turner started buying them a special ornament each year.

She now buys ornaments her 4-year-old grandson, Rory Russo, and 18-month-old grandson, Warner Russo.

LORRI KIDDER

While some people might have turkey or ham for Christmas dinner, Lakewood Ranch’s Lorri Kidder and her family take a different route.

Each year, Kidder makes lasagna.

Kidder said her family started having lasagna for Christmas dinner 10 years ago so they could be a little different.

To go along with the main dish, each of her children, Ryan Ericson, Kyle Ericson and Alyssa Lewis, chooses a side dish.

Kidder said Ryan Ericson almost always picks broccoli salad while Lewis might choose twice baked potatoes. Kyle Ericson doesn’t have a set preference.

“It doesn’t always make sense when you put it all together,” Kidder said with a laugh.

STEPHANIE AND REVA WILCOX

As a young child, Lakewood Ranch’s Stephanie Wilcox would cry during Christmas Eve dinners, for she was overwhelmed by the seven items of food on her plate.

However, she now enjoys eating the family dinners, which she said are part of the Polish Catholic heritage she brings from Pittsburgh, where she grew up.

The tradition of seven items per plate is practiced by some families in Poland for good luck.

Common dishes may include mushrooms, soup, potatoes, veggies, Pierogi, fish, cucumber salad, bread and a corn dish.

Wilcox said having recently become vegan, the menu creates some additional effort on the part of her mother, Reva Wilcox. However, Reva Wilcox said she still gladly obliges.

“I make enough to feed an army,” Reva Wilcox said.

PEGGY KRONUS

Each year Lakewood Ranch’s Peggy Kronus has a job to do.

She is in charge of decorating the tree, but more importantly, she has to hide a pickle.

The pickle ornament has been a family tradition since she was a child.

“I grew up in Tennessee, and my mom always did that,” Kronus said.

“I always grew up finding a pickle.”

Now she hides a pickle in her Christmas tree.

Whoever finds it gets a special gift. Kronus said the gift will relate to something important to the family.

T.J. HUDSPETH

When River Club’s T.J. Hudspeth awoke each Christmas morning, she didn’t spend the first moments reaching for her presents.

There was another step that had to take place first, in her original home in Iowa.

At the insistence of her mother Sharon Senger, Hudspeth and her 11 siblings had to provide their own gift — a performance of “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

The 12 children would each take a turn, singing one of the 12 verses, each of them making up their own

substitutes for the gifts in the lyrics.  Hudspeth said she has continued the tradition with her now-adult sons Austin and Sam Hudspeth, who also sang for Sharon Senger and Hudspeth’s father, Jack Senger, when they were alive.

T.J. Hudspeth’s husband, Steve Hudspeth, said even though the two boys are now grown up, they will still precede the opening of their gifts with a song.

CHARLES MALTBY

Greenbrook’s Charles Maltby said Christmas Eve is special, and not because it falls on his birthday.

It was also the day his grandmother Arden Sutherland (his mother’s stepmother) was born and the day his grandmother Myra Murphy (his mother’s mother) died.

He said he spends the day commemorating both grandmothers, who died in 2006 and 2000, and remembers growing up alongside them in Florida.

Maltby said for people born on Christmas Eve or Christmas, birthday traditions can be forgotten amid the holiday celebrations.

However, he said because Sutherland was also born on that day, she understood why it was important to hold distinct celebrations for the two occasions. She would bake a birthday cake with him, something he still does every year.

“She really carved out time for me,” he said.

JEREMY SCHILLER

For 27 years, University Park’s Jeremy Schiller has started Christmas morning with one thought in his head.

Pancakes.

Since he was 14, Schiller has had a Christmas breakfast with his friend Kevin Henson and Henson’s family, and it is always pancakes on the table. When the tradition began, Schiller was picky in his tastes. Being from Connecticut, Schiller asked the Hensons for authentic maple syrup, not the generic grocery store stuff. He insisted he could tell the difference.

They didn’t have any, but the next year, the Hensons bought Schiller a real vial of maple syrup and had him take multiple taste tests to see if his palate was as refined as he claimed.

“I got every single one right,” Schiller said.

BILL ZARRELLA

In an effort to connect with their Finnish heritage, Lakewood Ranch’s Bill Zarrella and his family, including his children and grandchildren, put on their proverbial baking caps.

Each holiday season, the Zarrellas follow an old family recipe — it’s a secret — and make cookies. The cookies, appropriately called Finnish cookies, are soft and delectable, Zarrella said. They are decorated with frosting and sprinkles, usually in a Christmas-themed design.

“The best part is, I get to be a tastetester,” Zarrella said.

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RUSSELL

Usually, the holidays are about bringing people together, not pulling things apart.

There’s an exception in the holiday tradition of Lakewood Ranch’s Sarah Russell and her family.

Russell’s family has English blood, and as a way to keep those traditions alive, they purchase English poppers, also known as crackers. The poppers, appropriately, pop open when pulled apart on both ends. The Russells open theirs on Christmas day.

Inside the poppers are four things — a toy of some sort, a paper crown, a joke, and a fortune.

“We all put on our crowns and go around telling our jokes,” Russell said.

It’s a way to start the holiday with a bang.

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

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SARAH

Courtesy photos

Riverwalk’s Peggy Turner loves having an ornament to celebrate each year of her marriage. The tradition started 41 years ago when someone gave her and her husband, Skip, an ornament to celebrate their first year of marriage.

Bill Zarrella’s granddaughter, Cali Wikstrom, shows off the family’s Finnish cookies.

Stephanie and Reva Wilcox

Important lessons by not-so-silly rabbit

t was a lesson in farming I received shortly after graduating from high school.

OK, it was a long time ago. After a night of drinking, a few friends and I crashed at my house about 4 a.m.

Ninety minutes later, I heard some footsteps. One of my friends was dressed and headed for the front door.

I hardly could raise my head, and he was on his way to the barn to milk cows. I shut my eyes.

It was the farmers’ code that you could party until you drop as long as you showed up to work in the morning.

Farming is not easy.

It was just a reminder for me, since I grew up in a dairy farming region of New York. I knew. Those who didn’t live on the farms always could make a few dollars by working on them at times. That was nice, once in awhile.

Every day? Forget about it.

Farming or ranching as a lifestyle was something that needed to be in your blood. And even those born into it were no lock to follow in those footsteps when they got older. Many would escape such hard work after graduating high school.

Others followed the family path, thank goodness. We need farms. We need ranches. We need food.

Unfortunately, as the years have passed, the number of farms and ranches in the U.S. has declined. What makes that alarming is the steady growth in population.

The number of farms in the U.S. peaked in 1935 at 6.8 million, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The sharp decline that followed made sense since the country shifted out of a self-sufficiency that we never would see again.

Since the 1970s, the USDA reports that the number of farms has continued to dwindle, but very

slowly, hitting 2.01 million farms in 2021. Any decline is worrisome, though, because the population continues to rise.

Farms are, indeed, bigger to handle the need, but the number of farmers continues to decrease. Who is going to fill those shoes?

Certainly, our evolution in technology and machinery has made up for the drop in farms. But the loss of farmers and ranchers affects us in a different way. When it comes to agricultural issues, who is pressing our legislators to protect our farms and ranches?

On a sparkling December morning, 9-year-old Lily Wolfe was tending to her two rabbits, Smokey and Jack, behind her parents’ Myakka City home. Lily was coming off a win for showmanship in the Manatee County 4-H Youth Rabbit Show on Dec. 3 with Smokey, a Holland Lop.

She is now preparing the two — Jack is a Himalayan — for the Manatee County Fair, which runs from Jan. 12-22. It’s a big deal for her, and other 4-H and Future Farmers of America members in the county.

Lily also will be showing two heifers, including the aptly named Valentine, who already has had success with Lily in various shows.

Lily was joined by her sister, Addy, who at 7 isn’t old enough to show her rabbit — Honey, a Holland lop — at the fair. Next year, though, she will be ready when she becomes eligible.

The girls’ mom, Laura Wolfe, explained that her husband, Craig Wolfe, is an eighth-generation cattleman. However, raising cattle these days for the family is more of a hobby. They have five cattle on their property, including the two heifers Lily will show at the fair.

While agriculture is not their occupation, it is a love. As so, they want to teach their kids a healthy appreciation for farming and ranch-

ing. Being involved in 4-H and FFA is important to that goal.

“I think people need to know there are real people taking care of the animals,” Laura Wolfe said. “And that means all the time, whether or not it is raining or during a hurricane. We are so far removed from where our food comes from.”

If putting together that foundation eventually leads one of their kids down an agricultural path, that’s a dividend.

Laura Wolfe says she definitely could see Lily owning a ranch.

Lily, who was holding Smokey, agreed. “I see myself owning animals,” she said.

Whether kids are interested in becoming ranchers or farmers, Laura Wolfe loves to see them involved in 4-H or FFA.

“No. 1, it teaches then about agriculture, about animals and about livestock,” she said. “It teaches then where they all come from. And they learn the responsibility of taking care of them, feeding them, making sure they have clean water and keeping records.”

Lily’s showmanship win with Smokey was an example of more lessons well learned. She has to memorize her presentation, and she has to look judges in the eye while giving it. She has to sharpen her public speaking abilities.

To get the rabbits so they can “pose” in front of the judges and not go nutty, she needs to handle them for 30 minutes to an hour each day. It’s a lot of responsibility, but Lily said she likes doing it.

She also has to stay positive when things go off the rails. Smokey started the last event skittish, and actually nipped Lily’s neck. Lily never blinked, so Smokey calmed down. They finished first.

Lily “scrunched” Smokey, showing off his pose. He didn’t seem to mind.

She then said part of the credit for Smokey’s calm demeanor should go to the breeder.

The breeder in this case happens to be her grandma, Debbie Bostrom.

Since Grandma is involved, she gets to spend more time with Lily and Addy, and that’s another bonus.

Showing the heifers involves even more responsibility, but Lily is up to the challenge.

“I like my animals,” she said.

“And Valentine is so sweet.”

Right after she was born, Valentine, an Angus Maine Anjou, was in the pasture with other cows when Laura Wolfe found her with a broken leg. A yearling heifer was with her, and that heifer was known to be mean and most likely stomped the baby cow. Laura and Craig got rid of that heifer while putting a big splint on Valentine, who came back to win a first place in last year’s fair.

Lily’s other heifer, Orchid, is a

Brangus who was born in March.

Lily has spent the last months halter breaking Orchid and walking both heifers in circles. She needs to get them to hold their heads high for the judges while being still. That can be difficult.

“Orchid is a little spitfire,” Laura Wolfe said.

And so is Lily, who just might be the rancher or farmer we all need in our future. If she is, we can say it started with a bunny.

refreshing change for senior living

Jay Heater

Myakka City’s Lily Wolfe, 9, and her rabbit, Smokey, are headed into competition at the Manatee County Fair.

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

PET PICS

Jingle all the way

For East County’s Matt Duvall, the Jingle Run at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch is a way to start the holiday season.

The Jingle Run Dec. 16 was Duvall’s third.

“It gives me a goal to work toward so I can run and have an ice cold beer afterward to celebrate,” Duvall said.

Hundreds headed to Main Street at Lakewood Ranch to dress in holiday gear to participate in the 5K, 1-mile

walk or kids races.

Rosedale’s Robin DiPasquale and Greyhawk Landing’s Julie Leydon said they both have a closet full of holiday attire they have collected.

“I loved getting dressed up and jingling,” Leydon said as she pulled a jingle bell out of her pocket.

The Jingle Run supports Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Foundation and Health Careers’ Scholarship Program.

— LIZ RAMOS

Photos by Liz Ramos

Lakewood Ranch’s Rachel Faletto, Jon Faletto and Cheri Faletto can’t wait to participate in their first Jingle Run. “It’s something fun to do to get into the holiday spirit,” Cheri Faletto says.

Total renovation overlooking

Total renovation overlooking

PRICE JUST REDUCED.

As soon as you cross the threshold, you’re greeted by a grand 2-story tall foyer, and long

course views of the Oaks Club main clubhouse. Trees, ponds, and fairways are your rear sightlines – not homes. The first floor features a master suite on the main level, formal living and dining at the front of the home, separate family room at the rear facing the golf course, a breakfast room with 2 walls of windows, kitchen with both a large eat-in kitchen island and additional serving counter for the family room, a 22’ long butler’s pantry hallway with both upper and lower cabinets, and an immense laundry/craft room/ home office that’s 11’ x 19’ in itself. The second floor features a sizable loft/sitting room at the top of the stairs and two large guestrooms (with ensuite full baths).

Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051 for further details.

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

sightlines – not homes. The first floor features a master suite on the main level, formal living and dining at the front of the home, separate family room at the rear facing the golf course, a breakfast room with 2 walls of windows, kitchen with both a large eat-in kitchen island and additional serving counter for the family room, a 22’ long butler’s pantry hallway with both upper and lower cabinets, and an immense laundry/craft room/ home office that’s 11’ x 19’ in itself. The second floor features a sizable loft/sitting room at the top of the stairs and two large guestrooms (with ensuite full baths). Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051 for further details.

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M

and long golf course views of the Oaks Club main clubhouse. Trees, ponds, and fairways rear sightlines – not homes. The first floor features a master suite on the main level, formal living and dining front of the home, separate family room at the rear facing the golf course, a breakfast room with 2 walls kitchen with both a large eat-in kitchen island and additional serving counter for the family room, a 22’ long pantry hallwaywith both upper and lower cabinets, and an immense laundry/craft room/home office that’s in itself. The second floor features a sizable loft/sitting room at the top of the stairs and two large guestrooms ensuite full baths). Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051 for further details.

$1.34M

110 North CreekLane • OakCreek • Osprey • 3 BR+ loft • 3.5 BA • 4071 SF • $ 1.39M • MLS # Extensive custom home renovation just completed! As soon as you cross the threshold, you’re greeted by 2-story tall foyer, and long golf course views of the Oaks Club main clubhouse. Trees, ponds, and fairways rear sightlines – not homes. The first floor features a master suite on the main level, formal living and dining front of the home, separate family room at the rear facing the golf course, a breakfast room with 2 walls kitchen with both a large eat-in kitchen island and additional serving counter for the family room, a 22’ long pantry hallwaywith both upper and lower cabinets, and an immense laundry/craft room/home office that’s in itself. The second floor features a sizable loft/sitting room at the top of the stairs and two large guestrooms ensuite full baths). Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051 for further details.

PAUL STERN • 941.330.3051 P Paul@sarasotabrokers com

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

394081-1 XNLV21244

110 North CreekLane OakCreek 4071 SF MLS # A4549599 Extensive custom home renovation just completed! As soon as you cross the threshold, you’re greeted by a grand 2-story tall foyer, and long golf course views of the Oaks Club main clubhouse. Trees, ponds, and fairways are your rear sightlines – not homes. The first floor features a master suite on the main level, formal living and dining at the front of the home, separate family room at the rear facing the golf course, a breakfast room with 2 walls of windows, kitchen with both a large eat-in kitchen island and additional serving counter for the family room, a 22’ long butler’s pantry hallwaywith both upper and lower cabinets, and an immense laundry/craft room/home office that’s

110 North CreekLane OakCreek • 4071 SF MLS # A4549599 Extensive custom home renovation just completed! As soon as you cross the threshold, you’re greeted by a grand 2-story tall foyer, and long golf course views of the Oaks Club main clubhouse. Trees, ponds, and fairways are your rear sightlines – not homes. The first floor features a master suite on the main level, formal living and dining at the front of the home, separate family room at the rear facing the golf course, a breakfast room with 2 walls of windows, kitchen with both a large eat-in kitchen island and additional serving counter for the family room, a 22’ long butler’s pantry hallwaywith both upper and lower cabinets, and an immense laundry/craft room/home office that’s

Bradenton’s Maureen Matson and Ellenton’s J.T. Harmon and Mary Harmon are ready to bring the holiday spirit to Main Street at Lakewood Ranch for the Jingle Run.

Sarasota’s Uhtred Garner, who

8,

Selkie Garner, who

10,

medals

Santa Dash.

Uhtred Garner says about his Santa Dash.

Fast Break

New-look Pirates right the ship

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

If it was not clear, things are different on the East County boys basketball scene in 2022, and what happened on Dec. 15 expelled any lingering doubts.

Interested in getting back on the diamond? Mark your calendars for Jan. 8. FL

Adult Baseball will hold an informal practice/conditioning session for its new 40+ baseball league at Heritage Harbour Park at 9 a.m. The winter league will be played on Sundays and is perfect for baseball players of any skill level, even if you haven’t played in years. For more information, visit FLAdultBaseball.com.

… Former Braden River High and Davidson College quarterback Louis Colosimo has signed with Mastini Verona of the Italian Football League for the 2023 season after playing in the Danish Football League in 2022.

The most dominant high school team currently going is Lakewood Ranch girls soccer. The Mustangs are 8-0-1 as of Dec. 15 and outscoring opponents 40-4. After a few seasons of coming close, it feels like 2022-23 might be the year the program makes a deep postseason run. The district tournament starts Jan. 25.

… UMR Sports is hosting a New Year’s Eve Festival on its campus at 11 a.m. Dec. 31. The event will feature volleyball, corn hole, spike ball and more games, plus food and beer trucks. Tickets are $25 and children under 12 get in free. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit UMRSports. com.

Robert Cuthbertson sank a hole-in-one Dec. 14 on the No. 5 hole at University Park Country Club. Cuthbertson used an 8-iron on the 108-yard hole.

Braden River High (6-2) hosted rival Lakewood Ranch High (1-8) that night. The Pirates have had successful seasons over the years, but even in those years, Braden River has found it difficult to overcome the Mustangs. Entering the Dec. 15 game, Braden River had not beaten Lakewood Ranch since December 2014, when the Pirates eked out a 40-38 victory.

That eight-year losing streak has now ended.

The Pirates downed the Mustangs 59-49, despite one of their leaders, junior guard Isaac Heaven, exiting the game in the first half with a right knee injury. Normally, a 10-point win over a struggling team doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of a team’s season, but for the Pirates — under first-year coach Dwight Gilmer — this one was a sign that things actually are different.

“This is a huge confidence-builder, to finally beat the team from down the street,” Gilmer said. “There’s going to be a buzz in the school from this. These guys are working hard and trying to do some things this year. We’re excited about the road we’re traveling.”

Gilmer came to Braden River after coaching Bayshore High for four years and compiling a 48-56 record.

Gilmer said he did not know exactly what he had with the Pirates roster.

Braden River went 7-18 a season ago and ended the year on a five-game losing streak. From the outside, it didn’t seem like a program primed for a quick turnaround. But the presence of two players in particular — Heaven and junior guard Marcus Schade — has sent the Pirates on a winning path.

Heaven, who is 6-foot-3, is averaging 12 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Schade, 6-foot2, is averaging 10.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

When Heaven left the Lakewood Ranch game early, Schade further

IF YOU GO

What: Braden River boys basketball (6-2 as of Dec. 15) vs. Venice High (3-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10

Where: Braden River High

Why: It will be the Pirates’ first game after their holiday break and a chance to shake off any rust against an improving Venice program

Braden River player to watch: Junior guard Marcus Schade, who scored 19 points in the team’s 59-49 win over Lakewood Ranch High on Dec. 15.

stepped up his game, finishing with 21 points and constantly disrupting the Mustangs’ passing lanes with his reach. Other Pirates, like hardcharging senior guard John Smith III and lanky sophomore forward Cooper Smith, give the team enough depth to stay afloat.

Schade said the program’s resurgence began during the offseason, when Gilmer had the Pirates do more team bonding activities than they were used to doing. Backyard cookouts at various houses, complete with dips in the pool, became the norm.

“It’s all culture,” Schade said. “When we walk into the gym now, we’re a unit. We have to stay together.”

Schade said there are still things he notices the Pirates could do better. Their defensive rotations are a bit slow, and that’s a big one they need to get set soon, Schade said. If Braden River is not yet a perfect team, it is a much-improved one, and Schade said the team is having more fun this year because the Pirates are playing for each other.

It’s exactly what Gilmer wants to hear. With Heaven likely to miss at least a game or two with his knee injury, Gilmer said he is anxious to see if the team continues to play at the level it has thus far. He’s not going to change the team’s game plan, he said. The Pirates will continue to play a fast-paced, up-anddown style with aggressive defense. It’s a style he hopes endears the program to the school and area sports fans at large.

“We need the community to come out,” Gilmer said. “We would love for these stands to be a little more full soon. But that comes with winning, and I get that. Hopefully, we’re building a winning culture here.”

“I love that soccer gives you different ways to challenge yourself.”

— Lakewood Ranch High’s Rylee O’Shea

Courtesy photo

Former Braden River High and Davidson College quarterback Louis Colosimo will play for Mastini Verona of the Italian Football League in 2023.

Much-improved Pirates set sail for a winning season.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Braden River junior Marcus Schade shoots over Lakewood Ranch senior Trey Holweger (24).

Braden River boys basketball coach Dwight Gilmer came to the school from Bayshore High.

Former prep stars continue to shine

hile I’ve written about some of the East County area’s former high school star athletes now making an impact in college football, let’s turn our attention to other former local high school athletes who are making a name for themselves at higher levels of sports.

These former prep stars compete in basketball, indoor track and field, hockey and even acrobatics and tumbling, which is a subset of gymnastics focused on in-air movement.

Here’s a list of some of the East County alumni you should keep an eye on.

LADAZHIA WILLIAMS, LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

LaDazhia Williams, the former Lakewood Ranch High girls basketball star, has played in eight of LSU’s 10 games and started all eight of them. The 6-foot-4 graduate student is the team’s fifth-leading scorer at 9.9 points per game and is fourth on the team with 4.4 rebounds per game. She’s also fourth with seven blocks.

Williams’ contributions have helped the Tigers race to a 10-0 record and a No. 11 NCAA ranking.

Williams transferred to LSU from the University of Missouri.

O’MARIAH GORDON, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

O’Mariah Gordon, the former Braden River High girls basketball point guard, has been coming off the Florida State bench for much of her sophomore season after making 20 starts in 31 games last season.

It has mattered little to her stats, or to the team’s success.

Gordon is averaging 9.4 points and 2.3 assists per game this season after averaging 7.4 points and 3 assists per game as a freshman. Using the 5-foot-4 Gordon as a “sixth man” type of player, the Seminoles have gone 10-1 in

2022, the only loss coming against Oklahoma State on Nov. 24 in the Women’s Cancun Challenge in Mexico.

Gordon earned her first start of the season on Dec. 15, a 98-37 win over Presbyterian, in which she scored 12 points and pulled down four rebounds.

Whether she continues to crack the starting five, Gordon has a habit of making good things happen when she’s on the floor.

SKYE EKES, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

Another East County athlete, Cardinal Mooney High alum Skye Ekes, has also found a home at FSU. Ekes, a volleyball player, played in 20 of the Seminoles’ 30 matches this year as a sophomore. The 6-foot-1 Ekes had 71 kills for Florida State in 52 sets.

Ekes’ contributions helped the Seminoles go 19-11 in 2022 and reach the NCAA Tournament, though they lost 3-0 to Northern Iowa in the first round of the tournament on Dec. 2.

SARAIAH WALKES, EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

Saraiah Walkes, The Out-of-Door Academy track and field multitime state champion, is a sophomore sprinter at Eastern Michigan.

Walkes finished seventh in the 200 meter (24.79) and 400 meter dashes (56.07) at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships as a freshman and was named to the All-MAC First Team for her efforts.

Walkes has started well this season. She finished second in the 400-meter dash (56.55) at the Grand Valley State University Holiday Open on Dec. 9 in Allendale, Michigan.

JAMES RIVERA, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

James Rivera, a junior hurdler,

and the Seminoles will begin their season Jan. 13 at the Clemson Invitational. If this season follows the progressions he made as a sophomore, he should be in good position to compete for conference honors.  Rivera finished 15th in the 400 meter run (47.97) at the Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Championships in February, then won the ACC Outdoor title in the 400 meter hurdles (50.36) in May.

SASHA PASTUJOV, SARNIA STING (OHL) Sasha Pastujov is not a “college” athlete, but since hockey’s professional structure is a strange beast, him playing in the Ontario Hockey League is the closest Pastujov will get to college-level competition.

The 19-year-old Lakewood Ranch-area native is playing in the developmental league for the Sarnia Sting while he waits for the Anaheim Ducks — who snatched his rights in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft — to call his name.

Pastujov has 38 points in 24 OHL games this season, 19 goals and 19 assists. That’s seventh most in the OHL. NHL writer Adam Kimelman noted in a Dec. 10 column that Pastujov has “taken his game to the next level” this season, especially since a trade that brought him to the Sting from the Guelph Storm on Nov. 17. Pastujov’s star is shining brighter than ever.

ASHLYNN VOORHEES, CONVERSE COLLEGE Ashlynn Voorhees, who trained at EVO Athletics and graduated from Lakewood Ranch High, is part of Converse’s (Spartanburg, South Carolina) Acrobatics and Tumbling team. Acrobatics and Tumbling is a sport that combines gymnastics with competitive cheerleading.

Last season as a freshman, Voorhees helped her team win the trio tumbling division of the 2022

Conference Carolinas Acrobatics and Tumbling Championships. She also qualified for the 2022 National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association National Championships.

SARSEN WHATMORE, BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Sarsen Whatmore, the Out-ofDoor Academy grad, is in his senior swimming season with the Terriers and looking to close it strong.  He won the 200-yard backstroke (1:54.47) at a Dec. 3 meet against the College of the Holy Cross, and

on Nov. 19, he teamed with freshman Tony Ponomarev, sophomore Piergiulio Bressan and junior Olin Jackson to finish third in the 800yard freestyle (6:44.36) at the 2022 Terrier Invitational.

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

Courtesy photos

Former Braden River High star O’Mariah Gordon chats with former Florida State coach Sue Semrau during her freshman season.

East County athlete Skye Ekes, a Cardinal Mooney alum, had 72 kills in 2022 at Florida State.

Sasha Pastujov was seventh in the OHL in scoring as of Dec. 15 with 38 points.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Rylee O’Shea

Rylee O’Shea is a junior on the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team. O’Shea had a goal and four assists in the Mustangs’ 6-1 win over Venice High on Dec. 15. The win gave Lakewood Ranch an 8-0-1 record.

When did you start playing soccer?

I started at 3 years old. I grew up around the game. My parents (Leslie-Ann O’Shea and Nick O’Shea) were players and coaches themselves.

What is the appeal to you? Well, like I said, my whole family plays, so I have all of those people around me, plus my team. I love to be able to celebrate victories with all of them and experience that team culture. I love that soccer gives you different ways to challenge yourself.

What is your best skill?

I think I have a good soccer brain. I see the game well, and I am intelligent in my choices of when to play (the ball forward) and when to go myself.

What have you been working to improve? Beating defenders and getting on the end of long balls, kind of being a bit more selfish and taking shots.

What is your favorite memory? Two years ago, I made it to a national final with my club team (IMG Acad emy) in Greensboro, North Carolina. We lost, but the trip was so fun and a good experience, being able to fight through different challenges with my team and staying in a hotel with everyone.

What are your goals for this season?

As a team, we don’t want to have any losses this year. That’s it. We’ve played well so far. Ev

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.

eryone is working together. We get along great. I think it has shown on the field.

What is your favorite food? My go-to is chicken and pasta.

What is your favorite school subject?

I actually take classes through Florida Virtual School, so this year I like anatomy and physiology.

What is your favorite TV show? ‘Criminal Minds’ is my favorite.

What are your hobbies?

I watch a lot of TikToks, and I dance in front of my mirror. Do those count?

What is the best advice you have received?

Play to your strengths. Don’t try to do things you know you can’t do.

Finish this sentence: “Rylee O’Shea is …”

… Chaotic. Sometimes I’m loud and sometimes I’m quiet and I’m like, ‘Don’t talk to me.’ It just depends.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Dear Santa

From pets to hoverboards, scooters and more, Braden River, Tara and McNeal elementary kindergartners, first and second graders share what they want Santa to deliver.

LIZ RAMOS | STAFF WRITER

Christmas is right around the corner, and students in East County schools made sure Santa knows what’s on their wishlist.

From puppies to hoverboards, scooters and more, kindergartners and first graders are hoping for a fun Christmas morning.

Teachers from Braden River, Tara and Gilbert W. McNeal elementary schools were willing to spread some holiday cheer by sharing a sampling of their students’ letters to Santa.

You can read more at YourObserver.com. Here’s a few letters Santa received in the mail.

DeaR Santa, I want a toy make up set and a toy manicuR girl Doll. I’m gooD toDay.

FINLEIGH JAHN, 6 A first grader at Braden River Elementary School

Dear Santa, Ples bring me a mooving snacky that can slivering with a remote ckchraller fuor it.

TYLER SHOMA, 5

A kindergartner at Braden River Elementary School

Dear Santa, I will want a reall reindeer. I want 1000 reall pengwins. I take my bog out win I git back for schill. I will take him out.

CHLOE MOODY, 7 A first grader at Gilbert W. McNeal

Dear Santa, I ben really nis this year can i get a baseball court, a brand new soccerball i mite leave some milk and cookies.

JAXSON ABBUEHL, 6 A first grader at Braden River Elementary School

Dear Santa, I want a hua hoop because You can do diffeRent tRicks. Wut is Your favorite cuce?

MICHAEL JOHNSON, 6 A kindergartner at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School

Elementary School

Bringing influencers from the world stage to our stage in Sarasota

Shining stars of holiday lights

Families are ready to deck the halls, and the yard, and the garage, and the roof, with holiday light displays.

OBSERVER STAFF

Standing in front of Tim Cunningham’s home in Riverwalk is like being transported to the Island of Misfit Toys.

Rudolph, Clarice, King Moonracer, Santa, Yukon Cornelius and others from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys” light up Cunningham’s front yard each year.

The idea expanded from the first Christmas decoration Cunningham and his wife, Stacie Cunningham, bought when they moved to Florida in 2007.

It’s an animated plush scene featuring Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon Cornelius.

Cunningham found a light-up

Rudolph first, and over the years, he’s added to his collection.

“There’s always something a little different, and that’s what I think people appreciate,” he said. “It’s not just re-displaying the exact same thing each year. In July, I start writing down notes of what I’m going to change that year.”

Cunningham said his lights dis-

Photos by Liz Ramos

Riverwalk’s Tim Cunningham says he creates his light display every year to bring joy to his neighbors and the community.

Mike Wilder’s Braden Woods home at 9220 65th St. E.

play is a “labor of love.”

It takes him at least three full days to put up more than 25 main lightup pieces, a large arch going over the driveway, holiday lightbulbs strung from the house to the big tree in front of the home and lights along his gutters.

“I’ll see how many people ride by and stop and the kids will get out and look around,” Cunningham said. “That’s what it’s all about. It’s about the neighbors and people enjoying it.”

There are multiple stories to be found in Mike Wilder’s display at 9220 65th Ave. E.

One is the story of A Charlie Brown Christmas, told through wooden cutouts which Wilder made, drew and painted himself.

His property includes icons such as Snoopy’s dog house and Lucy’s psychiatrist booth, while topping it all off is a projection screen showing the television special on a loop.

Adjoining those materials are a small nativity scene with the words “Hope and Joy” displayed in large letters and a billboard featuring a passage from Luke 2:14, read by the character Linus in the special.

He said the display also reflects his family history.

The “Hope and Joy” cutouts were made by his father, Callfrey Wilder, while an old-fashioned, incandescent strand of Christmas lights, which a group of wooden reindeer appear to be tearing from the roof, comes from his father-in-law Clarence Scott.

One Christmas tree in the yard was donated by his daughter’s mother and father-in-law, and another a coworker wanted to leave behind after her husband died.  A wooden snowflake was used in the winter dances at Lakewood Ranch High School, where Wilder was formerly assistant principal.

Wilder said the purpose of the display is to “honor Christ and to honor the neighborhood.”

“I do it because of the love that I have for the community, and I want them to hopefully be inspired every day when they drive by and they see ‘hope’ and ‘joy,’” he said. “Hopefully that puts a smile on their face.” Its history is still unfolding.

In a few months, Mike Wilder said, the decor will be passed on to his son,

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

Want to check out some of the area’s top light displays? Check out these addresses in East County:

SUMMERFIELD

n 6443 Golden Leaf Court

n 12101 Winding Woods Way n 12226 Clubhouse Drive

RIVERWALK

n 7147 Spikerush Court n 7155 Spikerush Court

MILL CREEK

n 1807 145th St. E. n 1815 145th St. E. n 2119 147th Court E.

COUNTRY CREEK n 211 141 Court NE. n 317 147th St. E.

BRADEN WOODS

n 9220 65th Ave. E. n 6326 99th St. E. n 6613 99th St. E.

PALM AIRE

n 8034 Timber Lake Lane n 8223 Timber Lake Lane

UNIVERSITY PLACE n 7724 Heyward Circle n 8206 Tabbystone Place

RIVER CLUB

n 9983 Cherry Hills Ave. n 9947 Cherry Hills Ave. n 9931 Cherry Hills Ave.

David Wilder, when he moves from Brandon to Bradenton with his family to take over the home.

Mike Wilder and his wife, Mary Wilder, will enjoy a new home in the RV David Wilder’s family currently lives in, traveling in the winter of 2023 to Mackinac Island, Michigan, and then along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail the next year.

He said David Wilder might choose to go with a different idea for the display — perhaps How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or another Christmasthemed property.

Country Club home tops sales at $1,945,000

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in Country Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Ralph and Renna Walkling, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7312 Greystone St. to Robert Minton, of Bradenton, for $1,945,000. Built in 2012, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,871 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $945,000 in 2015

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Nathaniel Schiffer and Jeannie Chura and Brigitte Schiffer, of Bradenton, sold their home at 15716 Seaton Place to Joseph Corona Jr. and Carla Vavala Corona, of Syracuse, New York, for $1.34 million. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,717 square feet of living area. It sold for $575,000 in 2020.

LAKEWOOD NATIONAL

Lynne and Joseph Gelly sold their home at 5720 Mulligan Way to Erin O’Hara, of Bradenton, for $1.31 million. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,650 square feet of living area. It sold for $600,500 in 2021.

COUNTRY CLUB

John Frueh, of Charlotte, North Carolina, sold his home at 7309 Desert Ridge Glen to Robert and Linda Larimore, of Bradenton, for $1,265,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,469 square feet of living area.

Mary DePeters, of Bradenton, sold her home at 7209 Lismore Court to Michael and Carol Skorulski, of Bradenton, for $825,000. Built in 2011, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,859 square feet of living area. It sold for $560,000 in 2021.

Gudrun Swanson, trustee, of Kirkland, Washington, sold the home at 6720 The Masters Ave. to Philip and Wendy Young, of Bradenton, for $810,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,471 square feet of living area. It sold for $510,000 in 2015.

RIVER CLUB SOUTH

Bradford Mattson, of Indian Shores, sold the home at 10009 Cherry Hills Ave. Circle to Mazen Albataineh, of Bradenton, for $995,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,596 square feet of living area. It sold for $575,000 in 2010.

Roger Steven Bonk and Jocelyn Bonk sold their home at 7512 Coventry Court to Leo Ingersoll Miller Jr., of Lakewood Ranch, for $939,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,971 square feet of living area. It sold for $515,000 in 2020.

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Patricia Springer, of Wayzata, Minnesota, sold the home at 7705 River Preserve Drive to Gordon Frederick Scott and Tracey Lee Scott, of Ontario, Canada, for $780,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,672 square feet of living area. It sold for $475,000 in 2008.

John Hannon and Kathryn Kelchner, of Bradenton, sold their home at 6516 Candlestick Drive to Anthony Joseph Degelormo and Barbara Jean Degelromo, of Hopewell Junction, New York, for $440,000. Built in 2015, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,536 square feet of living area. It sold for $240,000 in 2017.

SAVANNA

Paul and Josephine Schott, of Bradenton, sold their home at 13414 Saw Palm Creek Trail to Jeffrey and Jennifer Kellett, of Bradenton, for $765,000. Built in 2017, it has three

bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,447 square feet of living area. It sold for $414,300 in 2017.

WINDWARD Lewis Michael Bonadies Jr. and Jackie Lynette Bonadies, of Bradenton, sold their home at 2654 Butterfly Jasmine Trail to Stephen and Gillian Dalton, of Ontario, Canada, for $730,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths and 2,334 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,900 in October.

Kyle Gregory Knestaut and Andrea Joy Tauson, of Bradenton, sold their home at 2676 Star Apple Way to Michael Schuchat and Kyleigh Johnson, of Sarasota, for $600,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,496 square feet of living area. It sold for $461,800 in 2021.

Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 2625 Star Apple Way to Susan Smith, trustee, of Mountain View, California, for $564,800. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,861 square feet of living area.

DEL WEBB

Joseph Michael Rinaldis and Judith Lee Segal, of Ashburn, Virginia, sold their home at 6834 Gosport Cove to Salvatore Mirrione and Barbara Deinhardt, of Bradenton, for $699,900. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,000 square feet of living area. It sold for $464,000 in 2020.

David and Pamela Lamb, of Fort Madison, Iowa, sold their home at 16935 Winthrop Place to Roger Steven Bonk and Jocelyn Bonk, of Bradenton, for $690,000. Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,832 square feet of living area. It sold for $401,100 in 2017.

WOODBROOK

Christine Patricia Herring, of Oxford, Connecticut, sold her home at 4827 Silvermoss Drive to Mark and Christina Herrera, of Sarasota, for $640,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,222 square feet of living area. It sold for $329,300 in 2013.

SABAL HARBOUR

Arthur Miller, of Winter Haven, sold his home at 4426 Useppa Drive to Frank Berchell and Quay Wallace Watkins, of Las Vegas, for $625,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,736 square feet of living area. It sold for $380,000 in 2005.

Cynthia Sue Aerts, of Bradenton, sold her home at 4525 Sanibel Way to Anthony Lancaster, of San Diego, for $390,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,832 square feet of living area. It sold for $155,400 in 2001.

INDIGO

Edward and Jena Dailey, of Westpoint, Tennessee, sold their home at 4224 Azurite Way to Allison Hinds Jr. and Jeanne Camperchioli, trustees, of Bradenton, for $581,100.

Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,761 square feet of living area. It sold for $145,000 in 2018.

ARBOR LAKES

Paula Wasserman, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 7110 Southgate Court to Sourav and Sanchali Biswas, of Sarasota, for $575,000.

Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,207 square feet of living area. The land sold for $219,300 in 1998.

HARMONY

Mattamy Tampa/Sarasota LLC sold the home at 5540 Coachwood Cove to Dan Christopher Olds and Kathryn Lea Olds, of Bradenton, for $536,800. Built in 2022, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 1,728 square feet of living area.

BACCIANO AT ESPLANADE

Karen Coviello, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, sold her Unit 104 condominium at 13714 Messina Loop to Scott and Julie LeProhon, of Marietta, Gregoria, for $515,000.

Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,528 square feet of

living area. It sold for $249,400 in 2019.

GREENBROOK Skytop Developers LLC sold the home at 15309 Blue Fish Circle to Cung Rem Kim, of Lakewood Ranch, for $500,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,073 square feet of living area.

BRADEN RIVER LAKES

Yusbelkys Gudino-Gonzalez and Jonathan Gonzalez Galindez, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4832 11th Ave. Circle E. to Jeremy Lowe and Megan Frazier, of Bradenton, for $479,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,529 square feet of living area. It sold for $290,000 in 2020.

TERRACE AT LAKEWOOD NATIONAL

Claudia Maritza Campo Hurtado, of Manassas Park, Virginia, sold their Unit 1121 condominium at 17704 Gawthrop Drive to Martine Vande Weghe, of Bradenton, for $440,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,286 square feet of living area. It sold for $240,000 in 2020.

BOCA GROVE Bruce and Colleen Galletly, of Tiverton, Rhode Island, sold their Unit 103 condominium at 8406 Wethersfield Run to Marie Borja, of Longboat Key, for $425,000. Built in 2002, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,431 square feet of living area. It sold for $285,000 in 2005.

In with the new

Liz Ramos

This Country Club home at 7312 Greystone St. sold for $1,945,000. It has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,871 square feet of living area.

YOUR CALENDAR

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, DEC. 22

HANDS ON HANUKKAH

Runs from 4-6 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Join Temple Sinai for Hands on Hanukkah. The familyfriendly event features arts and crafts, raffles and giveaways, food, photos, live music and the lighting of the hanukkiah. The Booker High School Modern Band will perform at 5:30 p.m. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

THURSDAY, DEC. 22 THROUGH JAN. 2

HOLIDAY ICE SKATING

Runs from 4-10 p.m. on Dec. 22, then 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Jan. 2 in the East District at UTC, next to PopStroke. Tickets for holiday ice skating at the Rink at UTC are $17 per skater and includes skate rental. For more information, go to MallatUTC.com.

FRIDAY, DEC. 23 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 Nutcracker and the Four Realms.” For more information, go to MallatUTC.com.

FRIDAY, DEC. 23 AND SATURDAY, DEC. 24 MUSIC AT THE PLAZA

Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Live 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 information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28

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.

BEST BET

FRIDAY, DEC. 23

CHRISTMAS ON MAIN

Runs from 4-8 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. Main Street at Lakewood Ranch hosts its free Christmas on Main event. Bring the family for free games, rides, photo booths and attractions for everyone. A special candlelight service will be held at 7 p.m. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

SATURDAY, DEC. 31

NEW YEAR’S PARTY

Runs from 6 p.m. to midnight at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Ring in the New Year with this free event featuring DJ Truth. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Good Liquid Brewing, KORE and participating food trucks, including Shula Burger.

SUNDAY, JAN. 1

POLO’S OPENING DAY

Begins at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club LaneSarasota. The 2023 Sarasota Polo Season begins and runs each Sunday through April 30. Gates open at 10 a.m. Tickets begin at $15 general admission and up for special packages and VIP seating. Tickets can be purchased in advance at SarasotaPolo.com or at the gate.

File photo

FORECAST

THURSDAY, DEC. 22 High: 75 Low:

FRIDAY, DEC. 23 High: 72 Low: 43 Chance of rain: 83%

SATURDAY, DEC. 24 High: 53 Low: 35 Chance of rain: 3%

SUNDAY, DEC. 25 High: 51 Low: 41 Chance of rain: 7%

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Dec. 22 7:15a 5:40p

Friday, Dec. 23 7:16a 5:41p

Saturday, Dec. 24 7:16a 5:41p

Sunday, Dec. 25 7:17a 5:42p

Monday, Dec. 26 7:17a 5:43p

Tuesday, Dec. 27 7:17a 5:43p

Wednesday, Dec. 28 7:18a 5:44p

MOON PHASES

Dec. 29 First Jan. 14 Last Jan. 6 Full Jan. 21 New

RAINFALL

Monday, Dec. 12 0

Tuesday, Dec. 13 0

Wednesday, Dec. 14 0

Thursday, Dec. 15 0

Friday, Dec. 16 1.81

Saturday, Dec. 17 0 Sunday, Dec. 18 0

PAPER CHAIN by Chris Moss, edited by David Steinberg

By Luis Campos

Cipher cryptograms are created from

by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.