East County Observer 1.12.23

Five new stories

HISTORY LESSONS

at 4:19 p.m. Jan. 3.

Arcadia’s Alyssa Scott said it was “crazy and amazing” to have her baby boy, Arlo Danese, in her arms and her husband, Nicholas Danese, by her side.

“It was unexpected,” Scott said. “We thought we had two more weeks or I’d be induced. He’s so calm and loves to sleep.”

When Lakewood Ranch Girl Scouts Daisy Quintal and Zoe Lander saw someone look into their little free library at Summerfield Park, they were thrilled.

Quintal, who is 14, and Lander, who is 13, created the library for their Girl Scout Silver Award.

“We had to do something that was sustainable,” Lander said. “We decided a little free library would be a perfect choice so kids and adults would be able to have books free of charge.”

Quintal said the little free library was a fun project.

“I know when I was a little kid, I always loved books,” she said. “I read all the time, and I wouldn’t know what book I should read next. This is perfect for that.”

Ranch Medical Center builds a new $120 million tower so more patients have a chance to live happily ever after.

More drama unfolds in

Little library finds Summerfield home

Rattle in the new year on the Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center welcomed its first baby of the new year

Courtesy photo

Lakewood Ranch’s

Liz Ramos

Katy Kimbrell, the Exceptional Student Education chair at Braden River Middle School, has worked with teachers since 1983 (photo at left from 1995) to help students with disabilities in general education classes.

File photo

Mitchell Teitelbaum won’t become a deputy administrator for Manatee County after a harassment complaint.

Lakewood

Courtesy photo

Commissioners rescind appointment of deputy administrator TIMELINE

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Manatee County commissioners voted 6-1 on Jan. 10 to rescind the confirmation of Mitchell Teitelbaum as deputy county administrator, in the wake of an allegation of sexual harassment filed with the county’s human resources department against Teitelbaum in December.

According to County Attorney William Clague, the vote to rescind was not legally required and could be performed at the discretion of the Commission, as Teitelbaum, who never formally accepted the position, had already declined the role with the county in writing in a Dec. 13 letter.

During the same meeting, commissioners agreed not to pursue an investigation of Teitelbaum, due to his lack of employment with the county.

The motion to rescind was made by District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh and seconded by District 1 Commissioner James Satcher.

In opposition was Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who had brought forward the topic, labelled on the county’s meeting agenda, as “Board-Initiated HR Inquiry.” He stated he was concerned about the merits of the complaint as well as its handling by the county.

“I am personally not comfortable with what has taken place in this building regarding this matter,” he said of gossip circulating and affecting commissioners’ decisions.

“If and when the integrity of the process is questioned, we as a board must step in.”

Board members argued that Teitelbaum was not entitled to an investigation, not being an employee of the county, but the board did agree the county should examine its human

resources processes.

“It is concerning to me to see this board literally cancel a person while giving him zero due process,” Van Ostenbridge said.

“He gave us written notice that he was not taking the position,” Baugh said. “There is nothing that we are doing in this situation other than going by what he said. We have it in writing. What more do we need?”

Baugh said she had not wanted to see the issue discussed on the dais, as she did not think it was “the place of the board.” However, she said based on details she heard from the administration employees, she initially wanted to pursue an outside investigation.

“Things were being said, accusations toward our staff, that I knew were not proper, professional, etcetera,” she said.

District 1 Commissioner James Satcher proposed an “outside agen-

cy” for the county that was available “on tap” to provide information in similar situations and aid in the decision process during meetings.

ABOUT THE COMPLAINT

In a county document dated Dec. 13, a county administrative employee, whose name and information was redacted, said the alleged incident took place on Nov. 29, immediately after Teitelbaum’s confirmation hearing, on the ninth floor of the County Administration Building.

The employee describes “unwanted/uninvited physical contact of a sexual nature such as grabbing around the waist and pulling close to/against his body making me uncomfortable.”

The employee wrote that the allegation was originally provided to the human resources department Dec. 5 and again on Dec. 6, and wrote that human resources did not ask for a

complaint form to be signed.

Listed as witnesses in the document are Manatee County Public Information Officer Bill Logan, Human Resources Director Leslie Kearns, and an individual described as “Teitelbaum’s paralegal.”

Teitelbaum, who strongly denied the allegations, said that throughout the time following the Nov. 29 meeting, during which senior administrative staff showed him his new office, his wife, Joanna Petriccione, was at his side at all times.

“During that short interval, there was some chitchat between us. Nothing more,” Teitelbaum said. “And I left with my wife. I never at any time had any physical contact with anybody. There were no hugs, no embraces, nothing whatsoever. That never took place. We left the building. We went to celebrate, went to lunch afterward.”

Lakewood Ranch’s Teitelbaum said

he later became aware that verbal complaints had been made. He said despite being advised the matter was unsubstantiated and resolved, he did not receive any closure on the topic.  Thus, he said, he felt it was in his best interest to table his resignation from his position as assistant superintendent and general counsel for the Manatee County School District, and continue serving the community in that role.

Mike Barber, communications director for the school district, said Teitelbaum has been on paid leave with the district since Jan. 5, but declined to say whether it was related to the complaint filed with the county.

Teitelbaum said he has requested a formal third-party investigation into the allegation, “to hold those who made these false allegations accountable.”

A written statement provided by Teitelbaum also said, “For nearly nine years, I have proudly served the School District of Manatee County, supporting our students, support staff, teachers and administrators.”

“I was presented an opportunity to join the county as a deputy county administrator, a position of growth, responsibility and continued community service. It is regrettable to face this situation prior to ever starting for, working for or conducting any business whatsoever on behalf of the county. I have always taken great pride in my position at the school district and my continued service to our community.”

On Jan. 10, 2020, Teitelbaum was placed on paid leave by the School District of Manatee County after an investigation determined he had made “unwelcome comments” to an employee of an outside agency. His leave was pending an internal investigation.

After the five-day investigation, he was directed to complete three courses on sensitivity training in the workplace. No other action was taken.

File photo

Mitchell Teitelbaum is introduced by County Administrator Scott Hopes on Nov. 29. His appointment was rescinded Jan. 10.

EMERGENCY

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

With plans unveiled for a five-story, 170,000-square-foot, multiphase addition, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center CEO Andy Guz said the move keeps the hospital on pace with the region’s growth.

The first phase includes the construction of the exterior of the tower on the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center’s campus.

Guz said plans have been in the works since 2019 as hospital executives saw the rapid growth of the area.

“I don’t think a community can be strong without a strong health care system in it,” Guz said. “That’s not a place I would like to live. We know people are moving to Lakewood Ranch because of all the amenities we have and what draws them to us. We want to make sure we have strong health care and have the capacity to be able to meet their needs.”

The new, $120 million tower will go in the green space between the entrance to the Women’s Center and the main entrance of the hospital. It will be the tallest building on the campus. The other buildings on campus are three stories.

The expansion will add 60 inpatient beds, increasing the hospital’s capacity to 180 beds.

Guz said the hospital’s overall capacity was the top concern when considering the expansion.

The increased capacity will lead to the expansion of departments including the pharmacy, laboratory, education, pre-admission testing and food and nutrition services.

“We are basically (patients’) homes for the time that they’re here,” he said. “We have to feed them, bathe them, take care of them, give them medicine and all of those things.”

The first departments that will be expanded are the intensive care unit, which cares for the most critical patients, and the progressive care unit. The progressive care unit has patients who aren’t in critical condition but need more attention than those on the general medical floor.

Guz said 30 patient beds will be added to both the ICU and progressive care units in the new tower.

“By giving them 30 new beds apiece, we now have more room for the general cardiac floor, for orthopedics and more,” he said. “Every department actually gets expanded even though they might not be going into the new tower.”

With the growth in Lakewood Ranch, Guz said wait times in the emergency department could see an increase, especially during the hospital’s busiest season.

He said the hospital tries to limit wait time in the ER to only a few hours, but sometimes patients need to stay overnight. In those cases,

HOSPITAL’S HISTORY

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center opened in 2004.

In 2019, the hospital opened a $28.5 million expansion that included two new operating rooms, an additional heart catheterization lab, a new advanced MRI system and an expanded and enhanced surgical waiting area, preoperative space and post-surgical space.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center opened a freestanding emergency room on Fruitville Road in 2020.

Most recently, the hospital completed a $3 million renovation of the Women’s Center in 2021.

patients are provided a hospital bed so they are not on an emergency room stretcher.

He said the expansion will help to alleviate wait times.

“The No. 1 cause of people waiting longer in an emergency room, whether they’re going to be admitted or not, is usually the number of inpatients we’re holding. Patients are going to be admitted, but they don’t have a bed to go to because of the capacity issue. The expansion will alleviate that issue, which makes everything and everyone a lot happier.”

The new tower is expected to be completed in 2025, followed by other expansion phases.

The tower will be built to include two shell floors that will have space for an additional 60 beds, and the hospital will have the ability to add two more floors to the tower, bring-

ing it to a total of seven floors.

“The exciting part is knowing that whenever we do need to expand again, we have the ability to do it much faster than building an entire new building, which is the goal of the multiphase planning,” Guz said. “We’re looking at it from, in 15-20 years, how many beds do we think we’re going to need and then started building the foundations for all of that knowing we could get as big as 300 beds in the future.”

Other phases in the multiphase plan include reconfiguring the hospital’s lobby and expanding the emergency room. Guz said the exact phasing has not yet been determined as it will be based on the needs of the hospital.

Guz said the new tower and its additional capacity will lead to a redesign of the inner workings of the hospital so the hospital can expand its services to the community and, with that, new technology.

“This is not just simply adding beds and doing the same things we’ve been doing,” he said. “This is continuing to add to the technology and the capabilities of what we can treat and keep within Lakewood Ranch.”

The new tower will result in the addition of about 100 new jobs to add to the hospital’s more than 800 employees and more than 700 medical staff members.

Despite the national shortage in various medical positions such as nurses, Guz is confident the hospital will be able to staff the new tower.

“We face the same challenges as every organization,” he said.

Guz said the hospital focuses on its quality and culture, ensuring the hospital is a place people want to work.

Although a majority of growth in Lakewood Ranch is occurring east of Lorraine Road, Guz said administrators chose to have the tower built on the Lakewood Ranch campus because that is the hospital’s head-

quarters.  “We have the eastern part of the county covered with what we can do here,” he said. “That’s not to say that in the future we don’t have some shape or form of a health care facility out there.”

FUTURE PHASES

The 60-bed, five-story tower is just the first phase of the hospital’s expansion. Here are other future phases planned for the expansion of the hospital: n Adding extra services such as more cardiac and neurovascular services n Adding 60 beds to the fourth and fifth (now shell) floors n Renovating the lobby n Expanding the emergency room n Adding the sixth and seventh floors to the tower

TIMELINE

2023: Preconstruction work, including designing, site planning and zoning (eight to 12 months) 2024: Groundbreaking and construction (12 to 18 months)

2025: New tower opens

LAKEWOOD RANCH MEDICAL CENTER

Liz Ramos

Andy Guz, CEO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, says the hospital expansion is the result of population growth in Lakewood Ranch and the demand for health care services.

Courtesy photo

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is growing with a new 170,000-square-foot, five-story tower being constructed on its campus.

The new tower will be located in the green space between the entrance to the Women’s Center and the main entrance of the hospital.

County still evaluating major water line break

Rowlett Academy has been proudly serving the families of Manatee County (and beyond) as a free-public charter school since 2014 and before that as a public elementary school. In 2017, Rowlett Middle Academy opened its doors, just minutes down the road. Both campus locations are dedicated to helping young people become creative leaders, who excel in both the arts and academics. In addition to our outstanding arts offerings, both campus locations have a designated block of the day devoted to studying the habits of highlyeffective young people.

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IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Although a break in a major water line along Waterline Road near the Manatee County Water Treatment Plant was initially expected to be repaired by Jan. 8, Utilities Director Evan Pilachowski said the county continues to evaluate the best manner to proceed.

Pilachowski said initially, as the county uncovered the underground water line, his staff anticipated a relatively simple repair that involved welding a band onto a leaking joint.

However, once the workers began cleaning and preparing the pipe for welding, it became evident that an entire section of pipe would have to be replaced, due to the leak being located along the pipe itself rather than at a joint.

Pilachowski said county workers are still evaluating the pipe and do not have a clear timeline at this point for when the repairs will be complete. He didn’t expect any loss of service.

“As investigations continue, we are constantly taking in more information and determining the best way to proceed,” he said.

He said once the work is underway on repairs, the required time frame will depend on what method is used. He said there are several alternatives, for which discussion would be too speculative at this point, for how the county could safely handle the replacement of the section.

The first report of the break arrived when Manatee County issued a release Dec. 30 stating that some

ABOUT THE WATER LINE BREAK

What: Break in prestressed concrete cylinder pipe, requiring the replacement of a section of pipe

Where: Beside the Manatee County Water Treatment Plant

When: First reported on Saturday, Dec. 31

Impacts to residents: Safeto-drink discolored water and lower water pressure possible for some residents, primarily those north of the Manatee River

Repair completion timeline: Unknown

residents, especially those north of the Manatee River, would be experiencing discolored water, as well as lower-than-normal water pressure, as repair work began.

It said valves at both ends of the pipe had been closed to allow the investigations and subsequent repairs to take place.

Pilachowski said the discolored water some residents might encoun-

The leaking pipe has led to discolored water for some Lakewood Ranch-area customers.

The pipe is located just beside the Manatee County Water Treatment Plant along Waterline Road.

Photos by Ian Swaby

ter is still safe to drink.

The discoloration, he said, occurs due to a change in the direction of water flow as it is rerouted around the area of the repair. The alternate direction of flow, he said, may resuspend sediments normally present in drinking water which accumulate in a pipe over decades.

He said concerns around contamination only apply to cases where sediment from outside enters into the pipe.

If service interruptions are necessary, the county will notify those affected, the most recent release said. It also said anyone who experiences an interruption of service without being notified should contact the county by calling 311.

Pilachowski said such issues are not always preventable and are not related to the pipe having been built in the 1970s.

“It’s really just an issue that occurs sometimes,” he said. “We suspect, but can’t confirm exactly, what causes a leak.”

He said the leak is unlikely to be related to any type of project going on around the pipe. He said the county knows for a fact that no one had struck the pipe and that there was no digging in the area before the break was discovered.

However, he said the water line, which is a prestressed concrete cylinder pipe, still differs from pipes such as the ductile iron pipe that have since become the industry standard, which means carrying out the maintenance will be more difficult.

He said with a ductile iron pipe, which he called a “pretty resilient piece of infrastructure,” workers can cut out a section, splice in another section, and insert repair couplings.

By contrast, the existing pipe, due to being built from concrete with a steel shell and reinforcing wires, is more vulnerable to damage.

“It works really well when it’s working, but as soon as you have to do a repair or replacement, it’s a little bit more temperamental, and you have to take some precautions when you’re working on it,” he said. “And so we are being very methodical in our approach to make sure that we don’t go from a very small leak that we have there today to something more substantial.”

The county utilizes about 12 miles of pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipes, Pilachowski said, and has a project planned to replace them at an undetermined point in the future, but does not currently have funding in place. He said the current repairs could cost up to $1 million.

were very competent and helpful. I would recommend Dr. Page without reservation.

Mantee County workers dig to examine a leaking water main Jan. 4.

School board members differ on superintendent search

BY THE NUMBERS

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

The School District of Manatee County’s board is kicking off the search for a superintendent, and unlike the last time it had an opening for the position in 2019 when it hired Cynthia Saunders, it will rely on a comprehensive search for candidates.

Saunders was the executive director of secondary schools and then the interim superintendent before school board members decided to forgo a search.

On Jan. 10, the school board approved a consulting firm to help with the search, the cost of which is not to exceed $60,000. Saunders, who first started working for the district in 2013, announced in October she would be retiring June 30.

“This is a big turning point for the district,” said Chad Choate, the chair of the School Board of Manatee County. “We’ve had good leadership throughout the past four years with Ms. Saunders. This hire will take us to that next level. We’re 25th out of 67 districts in the state, and we’re trying to get better every year.”

Andrea Messina, the CEO of the Florida School Board Association — the consulting firm that was hired to conduct the search — said as a result of the internet, all searches are national searches because anyone can see the job posting.

“I would tell you that it doesn’t matter what search you do, it’s going to be an international search,” Messina said. “People from across the country will hear about your search because they have Google alerts. It would be a misnomer to think we’re just going to do a Florida search because that’s just not a practical

NEXT STEP

n The School Board of Manatee County will work with the Florida School Board Association, which was selected Jan. 10 at its board meeting, to be its consulting firm in its search. The board and the firm will determine a timeline for the search.

reality in today’s world. It will be a national search, whether you want it to be or not, but you get to decide where you want to advertise.”

All five school board members said they will take any candidate, regardless of where they are coming from, into consideration when going through applications.

“To me personally, living on the west coast here from Hillsborough and Pinellas (counties) all the way down to Naples, it has to be roughly 4 to 5 million people,” Choate said. “If we can’t find somebody that’s going

to be good enough to lead our school system, then we have other problems. I don’t think we need to do a national search, but I don’t think if someone from Texas, California, wherever applies, I don’t think we’re going to throw them out. I want to be able to look at everybody and say, ‘Is this the right candidate or not?’”

Board member Cindy Spray said with at least six other school districts throughout Florida looking for a new superintendent, the board would be limiting itself by only looking in Florida for candidates.

“There might be talent in other states that we could bring into Florida,” she said. “I’m not sold on just looking locally or looking in Florida. I think that prohibits people from being able to apply for a job in another state. That’s how I got to Florida. I wouldn’t want to prevent anyone from applying. If you limit yourself to a demographic, you’re missing out on the opportunity that you might have to bring somebody in with fresh ideas and can take our district to a higher level.”

Although board member Gina Messenger said she would consider anyone who applies, she would take into “heavy consideration” someone who is from Florida.

“Florida is unique in how our financial program is set up through the state,” she said. “Florida is also unique in the laws that are applicable to the school district and even to the superintendent. I would definitely take that into heavy consideration, but I would be welcome to anyone applying.”

Board member Mary Foreman said she doesn’t have high expectations on the number of people who will apply for a superintendent position because of the “current culture” in education and society as a whole.

“Manatee County looks good compared to some of the other counties with openings, but there are so many openings and so much division that I’m not sure that any of these counties are going to be seeing a lot of applicants,” Foreman said. “If it’s national and they don’t have Florida experience, that’s not ideal. I think

ideally, it would be somebody who understands the Florida education system.”

Board member Richard Tatem said he’s “agnostic to where applicants come from” because the idea is to find the best person for the job.

“We want the best person for the job whether they live on the North Pole or two miles from the school board building,” he said. “Having knowledge of the Florida education system is desired but not required.”

Messenger said even if the vote on the selected superintendent is not unanimous, it’s vital that each board member stand behind the new superintendent.

Messenger said although she was one of the two dissenting votes to make Saunders the permanent superintendent in February 2019 after she had been serving as interim since June 2018, she has supported her as the leader of the district.

“It’s about us working as a team and supporting our team, and our new superintendent is going to be a member of our team,” she said. “We need to support all members of our team, including the superintendent. That doesn’t mean we don’t hold the superintendent accountable. That means we ensure we set our superintendent up for success and we work diligently to continue the quality education we already have here in Manatee County for our students.”

Some say they would prefer the next superintendent come from Florida while others are open to all candidates.

Liz Ramos

Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, will retire June 30. The School Board of Manatee County is in the beginning stages of the search for a new superintendent.

APPLE FOR THE TEACHER?

Teaching in the computer world just one educational shift for longtime instructors.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

They started in the days of overhead projectors and encyclopedias.

Victoria Short and Margaret Gaitens, second grade teachers at William H. Bashaw Elementary School, are now teaching at a time when nearly all their students have their own computers, teachers have Promethean boards and Google has almost all the answers.

Education has constantly changed throughout the years, and longtime teachers have had to make adjustments to keep up.

“It’s the only job that you could do all the time for all these years, and it never gets easier,” said Short, who has been teaching for 33 years. “They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Well, you can, and these dogs have to learn the new tricks or we’ll get sent to the pound.”

Gaitens, who has taught for 34 years, agreed.

“You’re learning new curriculums, new standards and expectations,” Gaitens said.

Over the past 30 years, Short and Gaitens, along with Bobbi Colson, a Lakewood Ranch High School web design and computer animation teacher, and Katy Kimbrell, Braden River Middle School’s Exceptional Student Education department chair, have seen changes in technology, classroom strategies, safety and security and more.

STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS

Gaitens said expectations and rigor for students and teachers have risen since she first started. For example, her second graders are expected to read passages that are several pages long compared to 30 years ago, when her students were reading two or three sentences per page.

Their vocabulary is far advanced from their early years in teaching. For example, she said “obscure” was a word in her lesson in December.

“That would never have happened when we first started teaching,” Gaitens said.

Gaitens said by second grade, her students are already learning how to write expository, opinion and narrative essays, which used to be taught in high school.

When she started working at Southeast High School in 1995, she was teaching keyboarding and Microsoft Office. They were skills students learned in high school before going to college or into the workforce. Her students now have learned Microsoft Office and keyboarding at an earlier age, and her classes have become more focused on topics like web design and computer animation.

“The diversification of jobs, careers and pathways is phenomenal now,” Colson said. “We’re a small cog trying to help show them what all is

out there and available for them. Not everybody’s going to be college bound, but because of the advent of technology and software, you don’t have to be to get a rewarding, satisfying, well-paying job.”

Colson said there’s been more of a focus on career and technical education with teachers of those classes having their “feet held to the fire” to validate the worth of their programs. Students are working toward industry certifications as early as middle school.

“What a leg up for kids,” she said. “This is their first baby steps into the business arena. Fifteen-20 years ago, you showed (employers) your high school diploma, you showed them your college diploma. Employers would go, ‘OK, so what else do you know?’ They’d hear crickets. We’re giving (students) a provable set of skills.”

When the expectations of students were lower, Gaitens said teachers had more creative freedom in the classroom with their lessons. Now, teachers have to keep their lessons moving to follow structured guidelines.

Kimbrell is finding more students are needing extra support in the classroom, and more students are having behavioral issues.

She said schools work with the community to find mentors for students, and the district has contracts with psychologists and social workers to help address any issues students might be having.

When Kimbrell was starting her career in 1983, ESE students were more isolated and weren’t in class as much with general education teachers.

Kimbrell worked with administrators to have ESE students more incorporated into the general education classrooms. She would work with the student, parents and general ed teacher to build a plan and support system for the student.

Kimbrell, Gaitens and Short said with all the responsibilities and requirements of teachers, they’re working well past school hours, and they’re working harder than ever before.

Kimbrell loves developing relationships with students to be able to better support them, but she’s juggling so many students and trying to keep up with all of her work that she might not get to spend as much time as she would like with each student.

“There’s just not that time in the school day anymore,” she said. “What has changed so much is it just seems like you could finish up your day and have a clean desk and then go home and come back the next morning. It’s really not that way anymore.”

TECHNOLOGY

Kimbrell, Colson, Short and Gaitens recall seeing one computer in the classroom at the beginning of their careers.

“The amount of knowledge these kids (now) have access to is phenomenal,” Colson said. “It’s truly mind blowing. They’re doing it all with their phones.”

Short and Gaitens use a program called Epic that allows students to type in any topic they want to learn about, and the program will provide a list of books on that topic.

In Colson’s classes, if she and her students are stumped on finding a solution to a problem, they can always go to YouTube.

“There’s a video for everything on how to do things,” Colson said.

Colson said they’re using technology, such as 3D printers, and software, that wasn’t always readily and easily available to students.

“We’re finding all the ways to do something with software that the books don’t tell you,” she said.

TEACHER SHORTAGE Manatee County is no exception to the national teacher shortage.

Gaitens and Short have always worked at Bashaw Elementary School. In the early years of their careers, they said teachers would want to teach at the school and stay for at least 15 years. In the past few years, they said they’re seeing more teachers leave after only a few years on the job.

“If a spot opened up (at Bashaw), it was gobbled up,” Gaitens said. “Now, it’s very difficult to find people that are going into this profession. I think a lot of it has to do with the workload, plus the salary.”

Colson said teachers aren’t getting the respect they deserve, and the work never stops, even during summer vacation.

“New teachers nowadays, if you can get them past that five-year mark, you’ve got them,” she said. “But getting them to that five-year mark is getting harder. Give us the respect, give us the resources we need and let us do what we’ve been trained to do.”

SECURITY

Short and Gaitens said when they started their careers, schools weren’t surrounded by fences with gates. People could come on campus without a problem.

“It’s for protection and to keep people out, but unfortunately it makes it difficult for people to be in an inviting environment,” Gaitens said.

Colson said schools are no more dangerous than they were 20 years ago, but rather people have a greater awareness of threats.

“Do I think the number of guns and stuff like that is more than 20 or 30 years ago? No,” she said. “I think the recognition they’re in school catches us all by surprise. We’re becoming much more aware and conscious of the things that have always been there.”

Courtesy photo Victoria Short, top right, has been a teacher at William H. Bashaw Elementary School for 33 years. No matter the changes in education, she still loves teaching her students and building relationships with them.

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8130 Lakewood Main St., Suite D207 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-755-5357

“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

Photos by Liz Ramos

Bobbi Colson, a web design and computer animation teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School, says technology has been a game changer for education.

“The diversification of jobs, careers and pathways is phenomenal now.”

Bobbi Colson

Victoria Short and Margaret Gaitens have been teaching at William H. Bashaw Elementary School together their entire careers. Short has been teaching for 33 years, while Gaitens has spent 34 years in the classroom.

County drama, development top 2023 agenda

Another year, and we already have drama in Manatee County with the hiring of Mitchell Teitelbaum as deputy administrator six weeks ago, before he said never mind a couple of weeks later, followed by commissioners saying never mind Jan. 10. Confusing? Would you expect anything else from our wild west Florida home? To read about the Teitelbaum fiasco — and please note that no one has proven he did anything wrong at this point — see our story on Page 2.

So let’s hope for clarity on a host of other issues as 2023 creeps forward. Here is a look at a few things that I hope will emerge.

FATE OF ADMINISTRATOR

Back in the day at another newspaper, I watched as my company hired a hatchet man as a high-level executive.

He chopped off the so-called dead weight in approximately a year. It was, indeed, a dirty job, and he was perfect in that role.

But even those who remained after his reign of tyranny disliked him. They certainly weren’t going to go above and beyond to work for him.

He lasted two years before that company fired him.

It will be interesting to see how Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes fares in 2023.

Hopes arrived in May 2021 (after two months as the interim administrator) to begin a restructuring program that included dumping some well-liked personnel. You can’t handle that kind of job if you aren’t tough emotionally and able to bring some dictatorial qualities to the table.

In December, Hopes announced that his restructuring was pretty much finished.

It’s now up to Hopes to run the ship he designed, directing personnel who might hold a bit of a grudge

if he hacked one of their friends in this transitionary period.

Will he continue to have the backing of the County Commission if he rules with an iron fist? I’m not so sure.

Even though he pretty much has executed the commissioners’ plans from the very beginning, the commissioners will hold a workshop Feb. 21 to give him some goals and directives.

My feeling is the administrator will toe the line, at least for a while, to make it through this year. That being said, he is one major oops away from being walked out of the administration building. We will see.

PREMIER PARK

Money appears to be the biggest issue in dragging out construction of the amenities at Premier Park for what figures to be more than a decade.

The land was purchased in 2017 with many of the proposed amenities announced at the time. As we

go into 2023, nothing has materialized, although the library is nearing completion.

Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t consider a library to be a park amenity. It’s just being built on the land.

The aquatic complex and the pickleball courts are on the way, so that is something. And I am sure that other plans are being formed.

Here’s to the hope that in 2023, the public gets a good look at the plans for the park so the residents can offer suggestions. What we hope to avoid is a case where the plans get to the commission, and we find out the pool lanes are too short so we have to change the plans at the last moment. Yes, that already has happened.

Are we going to have an events facility that not only will host those lucrative summer, indoor tournaments, such as basketball, but also a facility that can host indoor concerts or shows, or act as a mini convention center? Can it host FFA and 4-H programs that are so popular

in our area? Will there be a baseball field? Check out Ryan Kohn’s story on Page 17 of this issue that says the county doesn’t have room for a 40-and-over league that is forming in the Lakewood Ranch area.

How about the long discussed amphitheater? It seems like it should have been a fairly simple design. What is the hold up?

Of course, we are told financing is the problem, which is annoying to hear, since it wasn’t long ago people were complaining about the county having a half a billion dollars in reserves.

Considering how the county’s tax base has increased with the enormous growth in East County, you would think the incentive would be there to complete a first class park, like they have in the west side of the county in G.T. Bray.

Please let’s move forward.

STATE ROAD 64 CORRIDOR

So what is the State Road 64 corridor going to look like by the end of 2023?

We’ve seen a ton of development, which is encouraging if you like fast food, donuts, storage facilities, grocery stores or car washes. But Lakewood Ranch’s northern border hasn’t taken the look of The Green at State Road 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, or the incoming Center Point complex at Lakewood Ranch Road and University Parkway. I expect we are going to see a sit-down type restaurant such as Miller’s Ale House at the Costco development, but it has been a long wait so far.

WATERSIDE PLACE

Waterside Place continued to build in 2022 with Good Liquid Brewing and Korê Steakhouse being the only anchor restaurant to have their doors open. We should see the additon of Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House, Agave Bandido and Osteria 500 in 2023, and that should create an even bigger buzz.

RACE ON LORRAINE ROAD AND UPPER MANATEE RIVER ROAD

The commission is doing what it can to fast-track improvement projects (widening) of Lorraine Road and Upper Manatee River Road. It will be interesting to see the race between those improvements and the vast development that is occurring in those corridors. My guess is that by the end of 2023, we are going to be experiencing regular gridlock in those areas as new homes continue to be built and more motorists hit the road.

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

with Large Lake Views Under Contract at Del Webb

Courtesy photo

Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House is on its way to Waterside Place in 2023.

Jay

Architect enjoys playtime at Heritage Harbour

Heritage Harbour Golf Club holds special event to celebrate architect Nick Campanelli’s redesign of the course.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

His name is right there on the Heritage Harbour Golf Course scorecard. It says, “2022 Renovation: Nick Campanelli Architect.”

“It was a proud moment for me professionally,” Campanelli said Jan. 7 as he finished playing his first round over the course he redesigned. The course originally was designed by noted golf course architect Arthur Hills in 2001. Hills, who died in 2012, designed more than 200 courses in the U.S.

Out of Glastonbury, Connecticut, Campanelli did the heavy lifting of the redesign before May when construction began, and he hadn’t had the opportunity to play the finished product.

As it begins its transition into Heritage Harbour Golf Resort, the

NEW LOOK

What: Heritage Harbour Golf Club Where: 8000 Stone Harbour Loop, Bradenton Architects: Arthur Hills (when it opened as Stoneybrook in 2001); Nick Campanelli (course renovation in 2022) Par: 71 (was a par 72 when it opened in 2001) Phone: 746-2696

Still coming: Club owners are negotiating with potential builders for a 100-room hotel and 74 villas resort (construction expected to begin in 2023 with the resort opening in 2025) Did you know?: The public can play the course for a daily fee

club held a “Meet and Greet with the Architect” day on Jan. 7.

Campanelli’s story is about making the best out of an unexpected opportunity. Working at Michael D’Angelo Landscape Architecture of Glastonbury, he had designed individual holes on golf courses and had done partial designs, but never had redesigned an entire 18-hole course.

Jay Heater

Golf course architect Nick Campanelli (second from left) joins Heritage Harbour Golf Club Managing Partners Bryan Veith, Rick Nelson and Mark Bruce in playing the course he redesigned.

His first full 18-hole endeavor wouldn’t have happened, either, except for a chance meeting that didn’t even involve him. His father, Tony Campanelli, was vacationing in the area in 2019 when he was eating at the Heritage Harbour clubhouse.

There he met Heritage Harbour Golf Club Managing Partner Mark Bruce, who was telling him about the future plans for the course. Tony Campanelli let loose his fatherly pride and told Bruce all about his son.

Considering Hills was such a big name in golf course design, it might have been a gamble for Bruce and the other partners to take a chance on Nick Campanelli.

“I felt really good about Nick,” Bruce said. “I could tell he knew what he was doing and that he understood he was designing for every level of player.”

Bruce gave Campanelli a test. He told him how the old No. 11 hole had to be redesigned into two holes. Campanelli did the work and sent Bruce his suggestions.

“He understands contouring and depth perception,” Bruce said. “He understood our strategy, and that he had to maintain the integrity of the course.”

One other trait stood out for Bruce.

“To do this, you’ve got to hear us,” Bruce said. “I know what I want.”

Campanelli got the job.

Heritage Harbour Partner Bryan Veith said it was a joy being able to make some suggestions about the redesign.

Veith, the owner of Veith Engineering and Business Solutions, thought he had some good ideas that would help the course over the long run.

“We played the old course with (Campanelli),” Veith said. “I always dreamed of being part of a golf course design. And we had some issues with erosion and a few holes where the greens were too far from the cart paths.

“I look at it from three perspectives: as a golfer, as an engineer and as an owner. It wasn’t just about maintenance costs. We thought about how we could conserve water, and use less fertilizer. What would be best for our bottom line?”

Veith said Campanelli’s design includes 40 acres of crushed shell,

which gives definition to the course but also reduces the need for watering and also will require less maintenance in the long run.

“This is not going to wear like the old course,” he said.

Veith even was able to convince Campanelli and the other partners to add a back tee area on the No. 8 par 3 hole in a spot that used to be some trees and brush. The hole wraps around a lake to the left and while the other tee areas don’t require a shot directly over the lake, the new back tee will.

“I used to drive by here and say, ‘Do we own this (land)?’ I want a tee here.”

Like Bruce, Veith wanted a course that was fun and playable for high handicap golfers and yet challenging for scratch golfers.

Campanelli digested all the input and went to work.

“The Florida challenge is how do you make something flat to be interesting?” Campanelli said. “Everything is so spread out here, so we worked hard moving earth.

“We had the bones, and the master plan was in.”

Campanelli said he didn’t consider the budget when he began designing.

“You have these big ideas,” he said. “And then you get the budget.

“I am very happy with what I saw (after playing the course). We talked about doing a few more things long term.”

Bruce said most of what Campanelli designed was attainable, but budget concerns did limit what they could do overall.

“We accomplished about 90% of our objectives,” Bruce said. “The last 10%, forgive me, is what makes it our Augusta National. But we’ve got 90% of the heavy lifting done.”

Scott McBroom’s Westscapes Golf Course Construction of St. Petersburg handled the construction on the course.

Campanelli said it played like he wanted in the design.

There are shots where the wrong play is aiming at the flag, and he said golfers will need several rounds to learn the greens. He said about a third of the shell bunkers he designed for the course have been completed, so the look will become even more interesting as time passes and those other shell bunkers are added.

With my past medical encounters, the patient/doctor experience is treated more like a speed round versus an actual session to hear and understand their concerns. Patient connection and engagement, an important part of the medical healing and helping process, seems to be a thing of the past for many who are in need of medical help.

Here at Phase 1 Chiropractic, we strive to provide each patient with a unique and fulfilling experience. It is our mission to ensure exceptional chiropractic care integrated through a non-invasive and educational approach to deliver long term success for everyone. We want every patient to be inspired to become more educated and active in their health care journey so they can enjoy their overall well- being.

To stand apart from traditional chiropractic offices, multiple modalities are implemented to address the main condition at hand such as acupuncture with

Avian Club spreads its wings

bird walks.

The first bird walk, held on Dec. 10 at Celery Fields in Sarasota, drew 10 members.

“I love it. It’s such a beautiful area, and the birds are interesting,” Sarasota’s Chris Reed said.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Country Club resident Cindy Gordon’s love of birds started with the abandoned pets she helped rescue and rehabilitate as a member of the Florida West Coast Avian Society. However, while she knew plenty about how to care for birds, she also wanted someone who could help her, along with the Lakewood Ranch Avian Club she founded, to learn about the wild birds of Florida in addition to pets.

It turned out her efforts led her to someone who could help — Fran Meyerson of the website eBird.

In early 2022, Gordon had adopted an abandoned lovebird named Pepper from the Florida West Coast Avian Society, but the bird still was without a mate.

Her friend, Karen Bennett, a volunteer at Save Our Seabirds on City Island, Sarasota, introduced her to Meyerson, who had adopted a lovebird of her own she named Peaki.

The results, for the birds, were what Gordon called “a match made in heaven.”

The two birds would snuggle together at Meyerson’s home in Edgewater.

During that time, Gordon realized Meyerson could help her club grow and she asked Meyerson if she would become the club’s co-chair.

“I want to do anything that supports and brings awareness to birds,” Meyerson said.

The club, whose parent organization is Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, had originally focused on volunteering and educational seminars to benefit domestic birds. Gordon said while she still hopes to offer those opportunities to members, its activities are currently focused on

Meyerson said the interest in birding is growing.

“I feel like birding is becoming cool,” she said.

She noted Florida is perfect for birding.

“This is such a birdy area,” she said. “It’s a really special place because of the migrants that stop here and because of the rarities that don’t really belong here.”

Meyerson said the Atlantic Flyway, a route generally considered to extend from Greenland to South America, was responsible for Florida hosting high numbers of species that do not live here year-round or are nonnative, although she said birds also arrive from the Mississippi and Central flyways in the United States.

She said it was a rewarding experience to spot some of the birds that are less commonly seen, such as the American Bittern.

“They like to hide and are not social like the large egrets and herons,” she said.

A medium-sized heron with a compact body, the American bittern breeds in Canada and the central United States, and winters in Florida.

Meyerson said the Virginia rail, a heavy-billed, short-tailed marsh bird that migrates south across North America, is even more of a challenge to find, as rails — which includes crakes, coots and gallinules — tend to feed from mudflats.

Other birds such as herons and bitterns, she said, consume a broader range of prey including fish and worms.

She also said habitat loss is partially responsible.

“They’re losing their habitat by us, so when you do see them now, it’s a treat,” she said. “It feels special.”

She said birders will need to wake up early to find rails such as the Virginia, king, black, and yellow rails.

or without electrical stimulation, cupping, manual therapies, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, therapeutic exercises, and heat/cold therapy. These therapies, alongside chiropractic adjustments, ensure we address the entire system to provide the utmost care and an environment that promotes optimal healing.

Phase 1 Chiropractic’s mission is to put the patient and their concerns at the forefront of my practice. Each patient visit revolves around your needs. We focus on providing a welcoming and fulfilling environment. It all starts with the new patient visit which consists of an in-depth consultation, a detailed and thorough physical

examination, x-ray images, if necessary, followed by a review of findings, creation of a personalized treatment plan, and initial treatment.

Our process may be elaborate, compared to others, but we believe that if you are seeking medical attention it is because you need our help and we work to ensure that each patient will be heard and understood. We strive to change the current stigma associated with medical visits by putting the patient back to the forefront by being the main priority.

The organization, which originally focused on domestic birds, has now extended its focus to wild birds.

Meyerson said while she enjoys teaching others about birding for the sake of the birds and conserving their environment, another reason is the benefits she feels birding offers to people.

“It’s a meditation, it’s a respite,” she said. “It’s something to get away from the noise and the clutter, and it’s very healing.”

Meyerson said her discovery of birding happened naturally at her home in The Moorings, due to visiting the island on Lake Uihlein just beside the condominiums.

She became even more invested in the hobby after acquiring a camera and binoculars at the start of 2016, although she said she took so many pictures that the camera broke and needed to be replaced.

By 2018, she was making a “life list” of all the species she had seen in her lifetime.

Meyerson’s approach to birding is to become part of the birds’ environment, avoiding eye contact with them and using her peripheral vision to navigate the landscape. She will remain quietly in a certain location for one to two hours, waiting for the birds to adjust to her presence and begin emerging.

However, she said the experience

is always about the present.

“You try to be in the moment. If it happens, it happens. If not, it will in the future,” she said.

The Avian Club’s bird walk began at the pavilion north of Palmer Boulevard, and it was not long before birds began appearing, with a roseate spoonbill passing overhead, impressing members with its pink coloration, followed by two green Nanday parakeets.

The walk continued with the group moving to the boardwalk area, where Meyerson pointed out a pair of greyheaded swamp hens.

Palm Aire’s Marie Sucro, a club member, said she plans to volunteer at Celery Fields every Saturday.

“I can hardly breathe — I love birds,” she said.

“The water level needs to be just right — a little bit of water, but the mudflat showing — so they can get the mollusks and their other food,” she said.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Fran Meyerson views a bird pointed out by Sarasota naturalist Kristen Mazzarella.

The common moorhen is usually found at Celery Fields.

Vending machine spits out business lessons

er to get a $4,000 grant to purchase and fill the vending machine, which was installed at the school this past October.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

In the corner of Carlos E. Haile Middle School’s cafeteria, there’s a vending machine available for students.  But instead of snacks and food options, students can purchase school supplies, flash drives, phone chargers and items digital arts students make in class.

Katelyn Reyes, an arts and technology teacher, and Jessica Jones, an agriscience teacher, worked togeth-

“We were just brainstorming and wanted to make sure we could provide the kids with supplies because we’re tired of hearing they don’t have pencils or paper,” Jones said. “Why not make it easier on the parents and us? They can send their kid with money to purchase the items they need.”

Reyes and Jones said the vending machine is the first of its kind in Manatee County and is almost like a school store.

Besides the typical school supplies, Reyes’ digital arts students have the opportunity to show their

Students learn about the cost of production and profit margin as they fill the new vending machine.

Liz Ramos

Students like seventh graders Jayden Lavalle and Kiley Nowaczyk have fun creating items and determining what to sell in the vending machine.

FOR SALE

The vending machine sells various items for students including:

n School supplies bag (highlighter, scissors, gluestick, whiteout, ruler, stapler, post its, black pen, blue pen, pencil, eraser and bag): $15

n Art supplies bag (colored pencils, colored markers, black permanent marker, bag): $8

n Writing utensils (pens, eraser, whiteout, pencils, bag): $5

n iPhone charger: $10

n Android charger: $10

n Assorted seeds: $3

n Five assorted pin buttons: $3

n Five assorted stickers: $3

n 32GB USB: $5

n Two bracelets: $3

n Sketchbook: $5

n Headphones: $3

n Lanyard with ID holder: $2

n Safety glasses: $2

n Shoe laces: $3

artistic abilities through the vending machine, when, during class, they put their personal twist on items including stickers, keychains, shirts, water bottles, buttons and more  They create what they see is popular among students.

For example, students saw their classmates putting stickers on their water bottles and decided to make stickers they could sell in the vending machine.

“It’s fun watching them be excited about something,” Jones said. “Core classes are important, but they need to have that excitement and some type of fulfillment while they’re at

school. It’s nice to see how they’re wanting to participate in our career and technical classes.”

Reyes has a new 3D printer for her class, so her students are planning to add Jibbitz, which are like buttons for Crocs.

“Slowly but surely we’re adding more as we go,” she said.

Reyes and Jones are reaching out to students to see the top five items they would like to see in the vending machine. Jones said some of the items include paint pens, T-shirts and phone chargers.

“I love seeing them think outside the box about what they think other students would like to purchase and get excited about seeing someone else wear what they’ve made,” Reyes said.

Reyes said besides art skills, her students are learning about the financial aspect of the vending machine.

Students have to look at how much it costs for them to make products, how much labor goes into making them and how much a product should be worth before determining how much to charge.

All profits from the vending machine are used to refill it.

“With us doing this, it wasn’t just to help benefit us or our classes but make sure products are available to the students while teaching them about financial literacy since that’s being pushed really heavily in high school,” Reyes said. “Students are taking out loans left and right for school, and they don’t understand living beyond their means, so why not start at the middle school level and try to help them with financial literacy.”

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Fast Break

Former Lakewood Ranch High offensive lineman Sam Jackson signed with agent Sean Russi and the Always US Sports Group Jan. 2 in preparation for the 2023 NFL Draft in April. Jackson, who started at four different offensive line positions at the University of Central Florida, will also play in the 2023 Hula Bowl on Jan. 14 in Orlando in the hopes of impressing scouts.

While we were all away during the holiday break, Braden River High boys basketball junior Marcus Schade scored 42 points in the Pirates’ 63-54 win over Shorecrest Prep on Dec. 29. Speaking of Schade and the Pirates, they are 10-3 as of Jan. 9 after going 7-18 last season. Their home game against Cardinal Mooney High (10-4) at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 is the high school sporting event to watch this week.

A few Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club residents have recorded holein-ones to start the new year. Sandra Seley used an 8-iron to sink one Jan. 3 on the 88-yard No. 13 hole of the club’s Royal Lakes course and Linda Payne used a 9-iron to sink one Jan. 5 on the 89-yard No. 7 hole of the club’s King’s Dunes course.

Jan. 14 is New Paddler Day at Nathan Benderson Park. Beginners 14 and older can register for a free spot at NathanBendersonPark.org and learn the basics of paddling. The event starts at 9:30 a.m.

IN DEFENSE OF FUNDAMENTALS

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

Shuffled feet brought bodies into the perfect defensive position, leaving no room for a comfortable shot.

Well-timed swipes knocked away the basketball, either out of bounds or into the hands of defenders.

A willingness to be physical in the paint left driving guards battered.

The Out-of-Door Academy boys basketball put their brand of defense on display Jan. 6 in the first half of a home game against Sarasota Christian. The result was the Thunder’s 16-2 lead.

They couldn’t quite keep the twopoint defensive pace in the second half and faced some offensive struggles of their own, but the Thunder figured things out when it mattered most to secure a 30-26 win over the Blazers (6-8).

While ODA’s record is middling at 7-6, it represents a meaningful jump from where the program was a season ago, when they finished 7-16. Having already matched that win total, ODA has its sights on more.

ODA’s turnaround has come under the tutelage of first-year head coach Neil Berkman, but Berkman was not present at ODA’s win over the Blazers to attend to a personal matter, according to athletic director Andres Parra.

The win was directed by assistant coach Freddie Morris, who is in his first year at the varsity level and is also the coach of ODAs middle school program. Morris said he and Berkman share a love of old-school basketball, which the duo has preached to its players all season. If the team’s fundamentals are not good enough, nothing else will matter, Morris said. Play tight defense and get the ball to the basket and good things will happen.

Morris said he saw a lot of those old-school qualities shine in the first half against Sarasota Christian. The Thunder players squared up and moved their feet, he said. He also saw the team playing physical, which is another part of the its long-term vision.

“We don’t want to be that game on the calendar that everyone circles and says, ‘That’s a win,’” Morris said. “We want to always compete. Even

if we don’t get a win on a night, we want teams to know that it’s going to be rough coming into this gym and playing us.”

ODA senior Zach Fox said the biggest change from a season ago has been a wider use of the team’s personnel. Last year, most of ODA’s offense was filtered through two players, forward Kevin O’Donoghue (16.7 points per game) and guard Henry Ye (15.9 points per game). Both left in the offseason. O’Donoghue is a junior at Cardinal Mooney High and Ye is a junior at Lemon Bay High. Fox said the challenge this year has been returning players figuring out how to create opportunities. While the growing pains have resulted in some low-scoring games, it has also helped the team’s chemistry, as everyone feels more involved.

He said the team has tried to never get too high or too low this season as players have adjusted to the new coaching staff and the players’ own responsibilities. A four-game losing streak in December, including a tough overtime loss to the Academy at the Lakes (10-4), 63-57, didn’t rattle the team, which has now won two games in a row to start 2023.

Against the Blazers, 6-foot-1 senior guard Michael Luedeke led the way with nine points, while the 6-foot-5 Fox added eight points and the 6-foot-2 senior center Oliver Giraud added five points. Fox also hit a 3-pointer with approximately a minute remaining and sealed the game with a late steal off a Blazers’ in-bounds play, which he followed up by heaving the ball down the court to run out the clock.

“I’m not usually a 3-point guy,” Fox said. “I’ll take one or two a game if I’m open. That one (late in the game), I felt confident when I shot it for some reason. That was probably my favorite moment of the season, hitting that and then getting the win.”

As of Jan. 7, ODA has 11 games left in the regular season, including two district games against The Imagine School at North Port (4-11) and Sarasota Military Academy (0-7). Those three teams trail behind Cardinal Mooney High (10-4) and Bradenton Christian (9-6) in the district. So far, there has been a clear divide between those two teams and the other three. ODA has not played Cardinal Mooney this season, but lost to Bradenton Christian by 25 points, 61-36.

ODA’s hope is that the gap is closing. The Thunder players and coaches are focused on getting better as the season progresses. One year removed from being 10 games under .500, it’s a goal that appears achievable — and that, to them, is worth celebrating.

“Our coaches always tell us to just do what we do (well) and we can win games,” Fox said. “It’s working right now.”

“As soon I step onto the field, I am able to do my own thing.”

Courtesy photo

Braden River junior Marcus Schade shoots during a game against Lakewood Ranch.

Gritty defense and sound fundamentals have turned ODA into a winning basketball team.

“We want to always compete. Even if we don’t get a win on a night, we want teams to know that it’s going to be rough coming into this gym and playing us.”

Assistant coach Freddie Morris

Photos by Ryan Kohn

ODA’s Frankie Clark works in the post against Sarasota Christian’s Maison Montgomery.

Freddie Morris, a varsity assistant, served as the team’s head coach against Sarasota Christian with Neil Berkman absent.

ODA’s Zach Fox (11) and Oliver Giraud (22) double-team Sarasota Christian’s Jayven Szewczyk in the post.

Forty-plus and still loving baseball

reason to step back onto the baseball diamond. Katynski said this league will be a sufficient reason.

“We’re trying to get as many people as we can,” Katynski said.

oman Katynski didn’t excuse himself during our chat.

Catching a fly ball was more important than the interview.

Katynski sprinted approximately 30 feet forward and caught the fly ball, which came during a Jan. 8 conditioning and batting practice session at Heritage Harbour Park.

He reached it just before it was about to hit the ground, and then headed back to continue the interview. Before he could get back, a line drive headed our way, and he was off again. This time, though, the ball soared over his head despite his leap.

At 39, he showed he still has some plays left in him.

Katynski’s passion for the game has led him to both play and be president of a new 40-and-up baseball league designed to attract players from Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The league, officially called FL Adult Baseball, also has a 19-andup division, which has been playing for two years. The league is under the larger umbrella of the national Men’s Senior Baseball League/ Men’s Adult Baseball League, commonly known as MSBL/MABL.

Katynski said the success of the 19-and-up league, which has more than 200 participants, led he and the league’s board members to consider the 40-and-up league.

Katynski said the league’s perfect target is the “baseball dad,” the guy who goes to his child’s Little League games and is still around the sport but hasn’t played it in awhile.

Those people already have a glove in working condition and likely have a bat. All they need is a compelling

Make no mistake, the league is baseball, not softball. Nothing against the other sport, Katynski said, but there’s nothing like playing with a hardball and hitting off overhand pitchers.

After taking in the league’s initial training session, I can say with confidence that the talent will be there. Let me put it this way. Board member Tim Tremblay, 61, brought his 19-year-old son Alex Tremblay with him. Alex Tremblay played on The Out-of-Door Academy’s state championship team in 2021 and he was ripping the ball well at the training session, lacing multiple doubles down the left field line — but other hitters on the Over 40 roster were matching him swing for swing, some even hitting the ball out of the park.

There are good pitchers, too. Tim Tremblay said Kennon McCaa, 53, has one of the best breaking pitches in the area. It doesn’t have an official name, but it’s nasty, resulting in a lot of strikeouts, he said.

Getting outdoors on a Sunday morning and working up a sweat is one reason to join the league. For Tim Tremblay, continuing to play is more about the people than it is the sport. Tremblay said the baseball community is not unlike a college fraternity. Once you’re acquainted with someone through the sport, there’s a bond for life.

“Baseball people are good people,” Tremblay said. “There are never major disagreements out here. There are some minor disagreements, but those are settled by the sport’s rules. That’s just how it is.”

That camaraderie showed at practice, too. Even with many of the participants being strangers, people were watching out for each other,

alerting players when a fly ball was headed their way and helping the pitchers clean up balls from the infield between batters.

There were only 10 or so players (plus their kids) at practice, but Tremblay and Katynski said they expect to have enough players to fill four teams by the time the season actually begins in February. Some of that belief is because they know of a handful of players who couldn’t make it on Jan. 8. The rest of the players will come from word-ofmouth.

The Board is less confident on where the league will play its games. Currently, the league is using Heritage Harbour Park and the Manatee PAL fields in Bradenton, but both of those are private fields, meaning it costs money to use them. Katynski said reserving the Heritage Harbour Park for a practice costs $65 during the day or $165 at night, the increased price because of the cost of using lights. Katynski and Tremblay said the league has reached out to both Manatee County and Sarasota County about reserving spots on their public fields. In the past the league has used Manatee County’s fields at Braden River Park and

Buffalo Creek Park for its 19-andup division, but Tremblay said the fields at Braden River are in lessthan-ideal condition and the fields at Buffalo Creek are a tad small for adult play. The fences measure 220 feet. Those problems make the private fields in the area superior options, despite the additional cost.

The league would prefer to play at a place like Lakewood Ranch Park. The problem is, so would everyone else. Marcus Francis of Manatee County’s Parks and Natural Resources division said those fields will go toward high school teams starting in February, and with youth leagues also playing on the fields at night, it makes scheduling difficult this time of year.

“We talk about sharing the wealth a little,” Francis said. “People want to use Lakewood Ranch (Park) seven days a week for 10 hours. Meanwhile, we’ve got these other facilities that get used two or three days a week for two or three hours. It (high usage) takes a toll on fields.”

While the lack of strong public options for the league’s games

is disappointing, it won’t stop the league from thriving, as too many people in the area want to play baseball, Katynski said. And participants in this league do not exactly have to be former college or pro players to join. Basic knowledge of — and a love for — the game is all that is required.

People interested in joining the league can get more information by visiting FLAdultBaseball.com and filling out the site’s registration form. Practices will be held each Sunday in January from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and games will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays in February, with locations varying.

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

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Tim Tremblay, 61, said he loves baseball because of the people the sport attracts.

The league, which also includes players from Sarasota County, prepares for its inaugural season.

Kennon McCaa throws batting practice at FL Adult Baseball’s 40-and-up league’s first training session.

OF THE WEEK

ATHLETE

Diego Freyre

Diego Freyre is a senior on the Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team. Freyre, who has scored 11 goals this season, scored the lone goal Jan. 6 in the Mustangs’ 1-0 road win over Tampa Jesuit, which is ranked No. 1 in Florida and No. 2 in the country by MaxPreps. Lakewood Ranch is 8-3-3 as of Jan. 9.

When did you start playing soccer?

I started when I was 3. I lived in Lima, Peru, then. My dad (Willy Freyre) played soccer and some of my grandparents played soccer, so I grew up playing it too. They passed it on to me. (Freyre moved to the U.S. in 2014.)

What is the appeal to you? I like everything about it. As soon I step onto the field, I am able to do my own thing. I forget about everything else in my life and focus only on soccer. And when you score a goal, it is such a release. It’s like, ‘Wow.’

What is your best skill? My right foot is deadly. I can shoot and score from pretty much anywhere.

What have you been working to improve?

I have worked on my vision while going up the field. I play forward, but I stay back a little bit so I can create (opportunities). Vision is important for that. I also work on my shooting all the time to stay sharp.

What is your favorite memory? Scoring against Jesuit is up there. But as a freshman, when I played at Braden River High, I scored a goal in overtime in our district champion ship game against Sarasota High to send the game into penalties. There were like 50 seconds left in overtime, too. That was one of

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.

the biggest moments of my life.

What did beating Jesuit mean for the team?

I think it served as a turning point for us now that we’re in the second half of the season. We have tough games coming up and then the playoffs will be here in a few weeks. Hopefully that win gives us confidence and we can use it to our advantage. It feels good to beat the best team in the state.

What is your favorite food?

Growing up in Peru, I love ceviche. It’s simple but I like it a lot.

What is your favorite movie?

I like ‘Home Alone,’ I watch that a lot.

What is your favorite subject? I like P.E. (Laughs.) But for real, I like math and science. Those are two classes that come easily to me.

Finish this sentence: “Diego Freyre is …” … Outgoing.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Ranch patrons say cheese curds

East County’s Alyssa Miller and Juliyah Hochstetler said it’s like a trip to a different restaurant each time they go to Ranch Nite Wednesdays at Waterside Place.

With more than 10 food trucks serving patrons along with the hub’s restaurants, those who attend can go months before they need to repeat their choice for dinner.

On Jan. 4, Hochstetler was trying egg rolls.

“We love coming here for the food,” she said.

Miller said she was surprised by how much she liked the cheese curds from Say Cheese Curd Co.

“The cheese curds were way more enjoyable than I thought they would be,” Miller said.

Lakewood Ranch’s Andrea Allison said one of her favorite food trucks is Got Lobstah.

“That place is great,” she said.

When she’s not enjoying food from the food trucks, Allison and her husband, Chad Allison, grab food from one of the restaurants at Waterside Place. On Jan. 4, they enjoyed a meal from Kore Steakhouse.

Besides the food trucks, many people, such as Palm Aire’s Mary Buono, enjoyed the live music from Juicy Purple.

— LIZ RAMOS

Photos by Liz Ramos

Waterside Place is packed with people and food trucks for the first Ranch Nite Wednesday of 2023.

East County’s Alyssa Miller and Juliya Hochstetler try a different food truck every time they go to Ranch Nite Wednesdays. One of their favorites? The cheese curds from Say Cheese Curd Co.

Christina Amato and Gary Amato, who are from Ohio, have a chance to see what Lakewood Ranch has to offer during Ranch Nite Wednesdays.

Englewood’s Erik Dunigan and his wife, Megan Dunigan, take cover from the rain with their daughters, 9-year-old Lynlee Dunigan, and 7-year-old Laiklyn Dunigan.

Angie Brenner, a server for The Hyppo, says Ranch Nite is a wonderful, fun night with lots of people and a good energy.

Cathy Guido, Carlo Guido, Ava Caputo, Anthony Caputo and Sierra Caputo, who are vacationing in Lakewood Ranch from Toronto, attend their first Ranch Nite Wednesdays. “We love it; it’s great,” Sierra Caputo says.

Total renovation overlooking the

Total renovation overlooking the

Total renovation overlooking

Total renovation overlooking

renovation overlooking the Oaks Club

4071

MLS

$ 1.39M

and long

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.

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

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

$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.

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

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

P Paul@sarasotabrokers com

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

PRICE JUST REDUCED. 394084-1 XNLV21244

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

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

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’

Lisa and the Island Hoppers, who provided live music at the event, includes James Rosati on drums, Al Marnie on bass, Lisa Rott on vocals and Paul Luther on guitar.

Lakewood Ranch’s Mike Minic is in the same playful mood as his dog, Chelsea.

Friends Sapphire Point’s Carolyn Tovell and Lakewood National’s Kevin Lowerre are pleased with the drinks they found at Craft Growlers to Go.

Ellington’s Amber Elmaleh does an expert job staying on a mechanical bull.

YOUR CALENDAR

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, JAN. 13

MOVIE AT THE PLAZA

Begins at 6 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Enjoy a free family movie every second Friday of the month presented by Grace Community Church. This event features “Sing 2.” Be one of the first 200 attendees and enjoy a free Chick-fil-A sandwich or nuggets. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Concessions are available from We B’ Poppin Popcorn and Kettle Corn and Chick-fil-A. Face painting and inflatables for the kids will be available from 6-8 p.m. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13 AND SATURDAY, JAN. 17

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA

Runs from 6-9 p.m. both days at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Live music will be provided by singer Tom Burgess on Friday 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. On Saturday, singer Mylon Shamble performs contemporary music. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

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. For more information, go to www.MyLWR.com.

YOGA IN THE PARK Begins at 9 a.m. at Waterside Place Park, 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities offers yoga that is free to residents, $10 for nonresidents. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18

RANCH NIGHT WEDNESDAYS

Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood

BEST BET

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

POLO

Begins at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Sarasota. The 2023 Sarasota Polo season runs each Sunday through April 30. Gates open at 10 a.m. Thousands of fans enjoy high-level polo action each Sunday while tailgating. The event includes themed weeks, entertainment at halftime and traditional divot-stomping. Tickets begin at $15 for general admission and up for special packages and VIP seating. Tickets can be purchased in advance at SarasotaPolo.com.

Ranch. Live music, food trucks, a market with rotating vendors, a mobile bar and a recreational cornhole league highlight this crowd favorite event. Go to WatersidePlace.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21 AND SUNDAY, JAN. 22

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

Runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. The Lakewood Ranch Fine Arts Festival offers original, handmade works by artisans. Artwork includes paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photos, glass, ceramics, fiber and woodworking. Admission is free. For information, go to MyLWR.com.

Sarasota

Jay Heater

Key Life is a new magazine publishing February, May and November from the Observer Media Group.

Key Life shines a light on the people, experiences, culture, arts, architecture and business that set the keys apart –and makes them so special.

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digital edition delivered directly to your inbox. YourObserver.com/ email-signup

Harbour Walk home tops sales in east Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch areas

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in Harbour Walk topped all transactions in this week’s real estate from Dec. 26-30. John and Carina Leonard, of Bradenton, sold their home at 579 Fore Drive to Nando and Renee Silvestri, of Bradenton, for $1.65 million. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,218 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.6 million in 2022.

BRIDGEWATER

Richard and Ilean Medvetz, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 13221 Bridgeport Crossing to Charles Frederick Withee and Laurie Jean Withee, of Hampton, New Hampshire, for $1.3 million. Built in 2013, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,900 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.3 million in 2022.

ROAD 64

STATE

Gregg and Kasey Gentiluomo, of Bradenton, sold their home at 14910 S.R. 64 E. to Shreya LWR Investments LLC for $1.3 million. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,154 square feet of living area.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Michael Steven Kipley and Lisa Dianne Kipley, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7028 Highgate Lane to Samuel Ruffin Yelverton and Eden Johnston Yelerton, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.25 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,717 square feet of living area. It sold for $605,000 in 2021.

Robert Schuhmann and Kelly Swetich, of Parrish, sold their home at 14710 Leopard Creek Place to Roman and Ann Alpert, of Lakewood Ranch, for $960,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,529 square feet of living area. It sold for $545,000 in 2020.

ESPLANADE

Jeffrey and Christina Forbes, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4548 Terrazza Court to Steven and Mandy Brown, of Midlothian, Texas, for $1.1 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,158 square feet of living area. It sold for $549,600 in 2019.

RIVERDALE REVISED

Zoltan and Anette Mayer, of Yalaha, sold their home at 4532 Barracuda Drive to Michael and Jennifer Rotondo, of Atlanta, for $963,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,101 square feet of living area. It sold for $473,000 in 2003.

WINDWARD

Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 2517 Paradise Plum Drive to Mary Ann Henderson and Thomas James Henderson, of Sarasota, for $912,300. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,861 square feet of living area.

Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 2791

Butterfly Jasmine Trail to Laina Sophia Bauer and Taylor William Bauer, of Sarasota, for $599,100. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,862 square feet of living area.

Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 2803

Butterfly Jasmine Trail to Lydell Eugene Troyer and Karmen Renee Troyer, of Goshen, Indiana, for $550,300. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,862 square feet of living area.

Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 8527

Frangipani Terrace to Leonard Arthur Ryan Jr. and Donna Jean Ryan, of Sarasota, for $532,300. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,861 square feet of living area.

Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 2807

Butterfly Jasmine Trail to Charles Oliver Robinson and Caroline Brotto Robinson, of Sarasota, for $455,900. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,483 square feet of living area.

WATERLEFE

Helena Stasiuk, of Portland, Oregon, sold her home at 827 Whooping Crane Court to Keith and Leigh Ann Crutcher, of Bradenton, for $870,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,711 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $750,000 in 2005.

GREYHAWK LANDING

Michael Bontell, of Sarasota, sold the home at 12209 Lavender Loop to Karl and Rebecca Buhl, of Bradenton, for $785,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 3,166 square feet of living area. It sold for $440,000 in 2016.

Kevin and Melani Sunderman sold their home at 12527 Natureview Circle to Donald and Linda Huber, of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, for $650,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,131 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $349,900 in 2015.

DEL WEBB

Mark and Carol Sampson, trustees, of Goodyear, Arizona, sold the home at 7117 Woodville Cove to Alan Howard and Mary Howard, trustees, of Bradenton, for $765,000. Built in 2020, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,930 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,200 in 2020.

Pulte Home Co. LLC sold the home at 7648 Summerland Cove to Derek Moore and Eunice Moore, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $526,500. Built in 2022, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,589 square feet of living area.

POLO RUN

Ryan and Katie Nielsen, of Excelsior, Minnesota, sold their home at 17723 Polo Trail to Rhonda Schneiderman, trustee, of Bradenton, for $725,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,455 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $409,000 in 2020.

EAGLE TRACE

Derek and Eunice Moore, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 1938 Crooked Lake Circle to John and Joyce Schaefer, of Bradenton, for $650,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,266 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $382,000 in 2018.

WATER OAK

Gregory and Melinda McKinnis, of Summerville, South Carolina, sold their home at 6404 67th St. E. to Michael and Desiree Coluzzi, of Bradenton, for $630,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,106 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $310,000 in 2004.

STONEYBROOK AT HERITAGE

HARBOUR Matthew and Lindsey Connell, of Fisher, Indiana, sold their home at 9010 Kingsbury Place to Fabian and Alina Iannacchino, of Ontario, Canada, for $620,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,880 square feet of living area. It sold for $355,000 in 2016.

COACH HOMES AT LAKEWOOD

NATIONAL Charles James Jorgensen and Ruth Jorgensen, of Parrish, sold their Unit 511 condominium at 5826 Wake Forest Run to Russell Olsen, of Memphis, Tennessee, for $615,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,786 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $290,000 in 2017.

WENTWORTH

Arnold and Lynn Wolk, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 7209 Saint Georges Way to Steven and Debra Berger, of Rye Brook, New York, for $600,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,146 square feet of living area.

RIVERWALK CYPRESS BANKS

Ronald and Melony Howard sold their home at 7134 Spikerush Court to Igor Cherepanov and Mariia Anhelita Cherepanova, of Lakewood Ranch, for $598,100. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,068 square feet of living area.

COUNTRY CLUB

Jason and Jessica Teteak, of Matthews, North Carolina, sold their home at 7052 Woodmore Terrace to David and Doreen Morin, of Lake-

DEC. 26-30.

wood Ranch, for $595,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,557 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $455,000 in 2022.

SAVANNA

Meritage Homes of Florida Inc. sold the home at 14019 Green Hammock Place to Kristi Giltinan and Benjamin Joseph Giltinan, of Bradenton, for $587,400. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,192 square feet of living area.

MILL CREEK

Stephen and Teresa Young, of Fort White, sold their home at 13608 Third Ave. E. to Genard McCauley and Cynthia McCauley, trustees, of Bradenton, for $550,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two

In with the new

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 26

Courtesy photo

This Harbour Walk home at 579 Fore Drive sold for $1.65 million. It has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,218 square feet of living area.

baths and 1,728 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $22,900 in 1988.

CROSSING CREEK

Jeannie Mendez and Clinton Kaiser sold their home at 6815 46th Terrace E. to Jeffrey Aries, of Bradenton, for $535,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,266 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $226,800 in 2009.

ROSEDALE ADDITION

Richard Duley, of Bradenton, sold his home at 4521 Baltry Court to Roger Button, of Bradenton, for $535,000. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,908 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $292,000 in 2019.

CENTRAL PARK

Jonathan Robert Parkes and Rachel Anne Marie Gonzales Parkes, of Torrance, California, sold their home at 12142 Longview Lake Circle to Kevin Dawkins Jr. and Adam Krajkowski, of Bradenton, for $521,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,136 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $382,000 in 2020.

VERANDA AT LAKEWOOD NATIONAL

Marcia Roberts and Norman Kelly Roberts sold their Unit 2323 condominium at 5664 Palmer Circle to Timothy and Laura Clougherty, of Stoneham, Massachusetts, for $494,000. Built in 2021, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,336 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $292,100 in 2021.

HARMONY

Mattamy Tampa/Sarasota LLC sold the home at 5536 Coachwood Cove to Leslie Lyn Rosewaren, of Bradenton, for $493,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two-and-ahalf baths and 1,904 square feet of living area.

AVALON

PALM AIRE

Peter Vallance, trustee, of Nashua, New Hampshire, sold the home at 4820 Lakescene Place to Betty Jean, of Sarasota, for $482,000. Built in 2002, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,649 square feet of living area. It sold for $469,000 in 2022.

PERIDIA ISLES

Margaret Hopkinson-Johnson, trustee, of Atlanta, sold the home at 4152 Caddie Drive E. to Michael Vernon Rook and Patricia Mary Rook, of Littleton, Colorado, for $480,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,881 square feet of living area. It sold for $299,000 in 2005.

FAIRFAX

Douglas Clark, of Bradenton, sold his home at 4510 Bristol Court E. to Michele Renee Valentine and Michael Joel Valentin, of Bradenton, for $440,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,569 square feet of living area. It sold for $178,000 in 2010.

SAVANNAH PRESERVE AT UNIVERSITY PLACE

Darren Christopher O’Day and Elizabeth Prann O’Day, trustees, of Marietta, Georgia, sold the Unit 7906 condominium at 7906 Saint Simons St. to Avri Smith, of Bradenton, for $432,500. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,512 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $279,900 in 2013.

WATCH AT WATERLEFE

Richard and Cheryl Pearce, of Cordova, Tennessee, sold their Unit 27-A condominium at 9441

Discovery Terrace to 77 Hudson St. LLC for $430,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,666 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $375,000 in 2007.

choice

Waterside

Lakewood Ranch by Stock Development

FORECAST

THURSDAY,

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Jan. 12 7:20a 5:54p

Friday, Jan. 13 7:20a 5:55p

Saturday, Jan. 14 7:20a 5:56p

Sunday, Jan. 15 7:20a 5:57p

Monday, Jan. 16 7:20a 5:58p

FRIDAY,

Tuesday, Jan. 17 7:20a 5:58p

Wednesday, Jan. 18 7:21a 5:59p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JAN. 14 High: 57 Low: 39 Chance of rain: 1%

SUNDAY, JAN. 15 High: 65 Low: 455 Chance of rain: 4%

Jan.

RAINFALL

Monday, Dec. 26 0

Tuesday, Dec. 27 0

Wednesday, Dec. 28 0

Thursday, Dec. 29 0

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By Luis Campos

Care Services

BANANA & Date Palm, Raschelle Collection 39X52, $100. Paradise Seascape 30x36 $75. 941-879-7105. No text

BRIONI SPORTS Jacket, light blue pattern, size 40 regular. Org 3,000. Selling $195. 310-720-7285

EXERCISE BIKE “Marcy” recumbent bike with computer display for time, distance, speed, calories, $45. 941-961-7585

MEN'S CASHMERE Top Coat size 46R Gray (England) never worn $75. Will send photo 941-927-2029

NEW TWIN long term care mattress. $100. 410-507-4447

WOOD PICKET FENCE- 114 ft & 2 gates, used but nice condition. Siesta Key. $200. 941-346-1688