East County Observer 2.23.23

This student rose to the occasion

Love and friendship were in the air at Lakewood Ranch High School on Feb. 14.

Michael Bess, a student in the high school’s Mini Mustangs program, walked into class with a bouquet of roses. He handed the first to Delaney Riggins (above with Bess), the early childhood education teacher.

He went around handing a rose to each high school student who helps in the Mini Mustangs class to show his love and appreciation for them on Valentine’s Day.

The class went on to make a Valentine’s Day craft.

Big bite to animal shelter plan

Grandma finds heaven at Waterside Place

Mill Creek 4-year-old Connor Hawkins and his grandmother, Amie Golden, danced to the live music during an evening at Waterside Place on Feb. 18.

Golden said she has lived in “a grandparent’s heaven” since Hawkins’ family bought a house in Mill Creek a little more than a year ago.

That evening, the family ate at Good Liquid Brewing Co. before enjoying ice cream. They finally headed out to dance to live circus swing and American roots music by Dean Johanesen.

“It’s just a gorgeous place to be, and beautiful at sunset,” she said.

“It’s been great,” Johanesen said. “There have been a lot of kids dancing. It’s so much fun. They’re so honest and pure.”

DJ Jose Ramirez, Chuck Sidlow and event Chair Annemarie Neubecker entertain the crowd during the after-party of the Run for the Beads.

Courtesy photo Delaney Riggins and Michael Bess.

Ian Swaby

Connor Hawkins and Amie Golden

Lorraine Road issues surface

PROJECT DETAILS

Where: Lorraine Road between S.R. 64 and S.R. 70

Length of roadway improvements: 2.76 miles

As Manatee County moves forward with plans to widen Lorraine Road between State Road 64 and S.R. 70, three residents who will be affected by the project complained Feb. 14 at a County Commission meeting about how the county’s plans would have a negative impact on their properties.

While it is not unusual for the commission to receive complaints about a road project, commissioners said better communication with those residents could have solved potential problems with less frustration.

Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge said communication with residents about road projects needed to be more centralized, suggesting that Acting County Administrator Lee Washington create a plan to include a communications director to coordinate information between the county and residents about projects that would affect their properties.

Washington said the administration already was working on revamping its  communication efforts and would bring possible models for a system to the board.

With big projects upcoming that include Upper Manatee River Road, Lorraine Road, Lena Road, 75th Street West, 59th Street West, and 63rd Avenue East, Van Ostenbridge said providing residents with information about those projects is critical.

“It’s just one example because everyone ends up a loser in this specific situation,” he said of not communicating well with residents. “It just puts everyone in a bad spot, and communication is everything.”

A new alignment for the stretch of Lorraine Road was placed on the commission’s consent agenda,

which is the series of agenda items commissioners agree to approve without debate, for the Feb. 14 meeting shortly before it was scheduled to be held.

The three residents didn’t get a chance to talk initially about the Lorraine Road project in the public comment period. District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh became aware they were attending the meeting and made sure they eventually could address commissioners.

Diaeldin Said, the secretary of the Lorraine North Property Association, said the item about the Lorraine Road realignment had been added to the agenda too late. He estimated 20 members of his group would have attended the meeting if they knew the road alignment was on the agenda.

He said even though placing an important item on the agenda at short notice builds distrust, he was nonetheless eager to work with the county, and did not want to pursue litigation.

“I’m glad Commissioner Baugh wanted to hear us and she wants to work with us,” Said said. “We’re thrilled to talk to her and to try to influence some of this early design,” he said.

Said said the main concern of residents is drainage. He claimed that following the construction of Rangeland Parkway near its intersection with Lorraine Road, some residents had experienced flooding issues. He said he wanted to ensure a similar situation would not occur with Lorraine Road’s widening.

He had other concerns as well. He said with many of the Lorraine Road property owners having animal trailers and utility trailers, the ability to turn out of their driveways would be hindered by planned road medians.

He also was concerned about noise.

“This is going to be a four-lane

Lanes: From two to four 12-foot lanes

Other features: Four-foot bike lanes, five-foot sidewalks in both directions, and street lighting

PROJECT SCHEDULE

Design: Oct. 2021 — Sept. 2023

Land acquisition: Oct. 2022 — Sept. 2024

Construction: Oct. 2024 — Dec. 2027

COST Total funding: $38,095,597

highway,” he said.

He said if the county wants to add berms, it would have to purchase more land. He said a wall would be an issue with many residents as it would not be aesthetically pleasing.

George Widunas, who owns parcels at 2912 and 2020 Lorraine Road, both of which are potentially subject to acquisition by the county based on the current alignment, said developers were influencing plans for the widening.

“This is breaking the rules,” he said.

Manatee County engineer Scott May said with plans for up to 1,200 new homes in the area, along with commercial uses, new pond locations were needed.

Widunas said he should have been asked for input before commissioners would vote on a plan for the widening. He said the only information he has received about the project has come from eminent domain attorneys.

He said surveyors had entered the property to perform preliminary work, drilling holes and placing stakes without his permission. He

said he did not want to move from the property and that if he did, he would have done so two years ago when he began receiving letters warning him of the road project.

Baugh said when commissioners vote in favor of a project, they are simply providing the county with the right to look into what is feasible, not instructing the county to begin buying the property.

“We’re not at that point yet, and I can assure you, being your commissioner, we will not be at that point without a meeting with the public,” she said.

Members of the Lorraine North Property Association said no commissioner had attended their meetings.

Baugh said the reason she did not attend a past meeting by the group was that she did not have any information to share.

Baugh promised to take the interests of businesses and residents into account before making any decisions.

“I’m not looking for us to harm a business. I’m not looking for us to harm a resident. I am looking for us to work together to try to find a solution that is amicable, that makes the road safer to travel.”

Deputy Director of Public Works

Clarke Davis said the county was at a stage where it had performed a conceptual design, which tentatively identifies pond sites and right-ofway and helps the county to go forward with final design and an acquisition plan for later.

He said when the county reaches the final stages, it will address issues of exact pond locations and driveways.

He said public meetings will be held for the “Big Six” road projects in Manatee County, the dates for which will be posted on the county’s website.

In response to Widunas’ comments, Davis said to his knowledge, county employees would not enter a property without permission. He said surveying was contracted out to third parties and the staff would confirm whether a party affiliated with the county had entered Widunas’ property.

In response to a suggestion by Commissioner James Satcher, Clarke said the engineers designing the road could examine alternative ponds along the road.

“It is something that I’m sure they will consider. Whether it’s feasible here or not is something they determine during that design,” he said.

Some residents say communication with the county about future road projects could be better.

Ian Swaby

Diaeldin Said, Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, Francois Brun-Wibaux and George Widunas discuss the widening of Lorraine Road.

Commissioners balk at shelter price tag

County staff told to come back with a more frugal animal shelter addition plan.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

With costs for a new building at Manatee County’s Bishop Animal Shelter in Bradenton continuing to rise, county commissioners have put their financial foot down.

Commissioners were presented for the first time Feb. 14 with a county staff estimate of $17 million to construct a building at Bishop to triple the shelter’s 53 kennels.

After the County Commission approved the donation of the Bishop Animal Shelter in December 2021 and then took control of the facility the following March, the conversation focused on whether the county could close its existing shelter with 85 kennels in Palmetto and whether a new facility was needed in the Lakewood Ranch area.

Sarah Brown, division chief of Animal Services for the county, told commissioners that a centralized facility would best serve the county so employees in animal services could more effectively work together instead of being split at different facilities.

District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh told Brown that the Palmetto facility “definitely needs to be flattened.”

With $8 million in county funds having been directed away from a possible Lakewood Ranch-area facility and earmarked for the Bishop Animal Shelter, commissioners made it apparent they are all-in on a centralized single animal shelter.

However, commissioners rolled their collective eyes when told plans for a new building at the Bishop Animal Shelter had skyrocketed to $17 million. According to Manatee County Construction Services Manager Tom Yarger, a $17 million facility would have consisted of about 15,000 square feet with 100 kennels.

In March 2022, the donation of the Bishop Animal Shelter and its accompanying 14 acres were estimated to be worth $18 million.

Do the taxpayers want a $35 million animal shelter?

“I see your need for more kennels,” Baugh said to Brown. “Right now, we need to figure out a solution for $8 million. All jokes aside, I don’t know we can afford to give you more. I don’t see how we can add to it.”

Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge agreed.

“I am not seeing more money coming into play here,” he said. “But we do want to get you out of Palmetto.”

Commissioners told the county’s staff to come up with a plan for an $8 building at the Bishop Animal Shelter ... and no more. They said when that plan is in place, to return to the commission with a presentation.

At the Feb. 14 meeting, commissioners were going through a list of capital improvement projects that had become far more expensive.

Commissioners said they had not been informed of the greatly inflated project costs by previous Administrator Scott Hopes.

Animal Services improvements were just one example of spending run amok and without the commissioners knowledge of the plans.

One of the arguments for building an animal shelter in the Lakewood Ranch area was that residents there would not utilize shelters in Palmetto or west Bradenton.

That was perceived to be a problem because the shelters couldn’t depend on their fastest growing area to adopt abandoned pets and therefore clear room for more pets.

At-large Commissioner Jason Bearden said that county should be able to overcome such a problem by increasing its marketing for the Bishop facility, aiming at residents of Parrish and the Lakewood Ranch area.

He said many people with whom he had spoken did not realize there was an animal shelter in Bradenton.

Van Ostenbridge said he had spoken with Hopes about providing $500 in advertising funds to Hans Wohlgefahrt, the outreach and event specialist for Manatee County Animal Welfare so he could spread awareness of the Bishop to those

ABOUT THE BISHOP ANIMAL SHELTER

First built: 1958, expanded in 1999 and a new, 25,000-square-foot facility was built on the 30-acre property in 2020 for $10 million.

Capacity: Up to 372 animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds.

Of note: The Bishop-Parker Foundation elected to donate both main buildings, one residence and 18 of the 30 acres on the property to Manatee County. The county and Bishop will close on the property, located at 5718 21st Ave. W. in Bradenton, in March.

who lived in Parrish and Lakewood Ranch.

In June 2021, then-Commissioner

Carol Whitmore said the need to build a shelter in East County was largely about smart planning for the future amid an increasing population. At the time, some commissioners suggested the county wait until the donated Bishop facility was running for a period of time before making a decision.

The current Bishop facility includes an animal hospital and cat condos.

Yarger said the new facility at Bishop would feature an educational component but would not include a vet, as the current building does.

He said a new building would need a lift station, as well as the standard levels of ventilation for dog and cat kennels and enough plumbing for every kennel to have access to a drain and hose.

The construction of a new building would require the removal of most of an old building that was constructed

originally in the 1950s with renovation in the 1970s, but since has deteriorated.

Some of the bricks used in that building would be saved for historical value.

Deputy County Administrator Charlie Bishop said while he could not go detail with the project in its “silent phase,” the county was preparing to select a project architect. Also under consideration is whether a new building would need to be hardened for hurricanes up to a Category 3 level so that animals would not need to be moved to another area in the case of a big storm.

The new building at Bishop is hardened.

Yarger estimated not hardening the new building would mean a construction savings of approximately 25%.

Bishop said he recommended spending $50,000 to add a double throw disconnect, to allow a generator to be activated through the flip of a switch in case of a bad storm. Commissioners agreed that was a good idea.

Sarah Brown, Division Chief Manatee County Animal Services, told commissioners hundreds of thousands of dollars had been spent “band-aiding” the Palmetto facility. She said plumbing issues take place every day despite significant repairs. “It’s a money pit,” she said.

ANIMAL SERVICES

LOCATIONS

PALMETTO ADOPTION CENTER

305 25th St. W. Palmetto, FL 34221

Hours: MondaySaturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone: (941) 742-5933

CAT TOWN ADOPTION

CENTER 216 Sixth Ave. E. Bradenton, FL 34208

Hours: MondaySunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone: (941) 742-5824

BISHOP ANIMAL SHELTER 5718 21st Ave. W. Bradenton, FL 34209

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone: (941) 742-5933

File photos

Dogs inside the Bishop Animal Shelter have cages that feature indoor/outdoor access and automatic drainage. Neither option is currently available for dogs in Palmetto. Manatee County is set to expand Bishop’s kennel space.

Manatee County has approved $8 million toward a new building at the Bishop Animal Shelter.

Deputy Administrator Charlie Bishop talks about the shelter.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Vanessa Baugh

VICTORY RIDE

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

ASpecial Olympics equestrian event sponsored by Hooves with Heart on Feb. 18 in East County allowed participants to showcase their skills.

“This is a great opportunity for Special Olympic athletes to feel 100% included,” said Megan Bosi, regional director of Special Olympics.  She said the Hooves with Heart event allowed participants to compete at different levels against those of like abilities.

The event took place at the Manatee County Mounted Posse Arena on Lena Road, which hosted the Area 7 competition for riders from Sarasota, Manatee and Lee counties.

Competitors demonstrated their skill at navigating a horse through a series of obstacles, including platforms and barrels, as well as a mailbox, which participants needed to empty.

Bosi said participants trained eight to 10 weeks for the event.

“The kids are so excited and have been working hard,” said Hooves with Heart volunteer Erin Greenhalgh.

Danielle Curtis, president of

Hooves with Heart, said some riders were able to manage their way through every obstacle, while for some, simply staying aboard the horse was an accomplishment.

“Being able to give the directions and just climbing up on a horse gives them this feeling of achievement,” she said.

“We’re proud of him,” said AJ Kramer, the father of Lakewood Ranch 13-year-old Mason Kramer.

“This builds confidence, and it has a social aspect. It’s about getting out and recognizing accomplishments. It’s great to see him get up and do a great job performing.”

Parrish’s 11-year-old Payton Stape said she enjoyed not only the competition but the horseback riding in general.

“I love them,” she said of the horses. “They’re super tall, and I like that. Everyone gets to see.”

She also complimented her instructors, Susannah Cripe and Melissa Newton.

“I felt very accomplished and felt very proud,” she said. “Susannah and Melissa taught me well. They taught me really well.”

“We definitely could not do it without the support of our facilities, volunteers, and judges,” Bosi said.

Ian Swaby

Volunteer Melissa Newton accompanies Lakewood Ranch 15-year-old Sophie Barry, as does volunteer Sarah Cripe.

Unlocking rash of burglaries

Manatee Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to lock their vehicles and keep possessions in their homes.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Capt. Marc Holden and Lt. Brad Johnson of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office are frustrated with the rising rate of vehicle burglaries in 2023.

It’s not just because thieves are coming to Manatee County. It’s because they say county residents can take some simple steps to prevent it.

Both officers serve in District 3, which includes the Lakewood Ranch area. Overall in the county, they said vehicle burglaries are up 27.8% since January. They said thefts of personal property in general is up 16% year over year.

“I feel that Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Ellenton and Manatee County as a whole are very safe,” Johnson said.

He noted that the county sees few home burglaries.

However, all the growth in the county and the growing number of subdivisions not far off Interstate 75 make East County for quick hits from thieves. Holden said the vehicle break-ins are concentrated in areas near or along major thoroughfares such as I-75.

Based on surveillance camera footage, he said, the incidents arise from individuals traveling from car to car, testing door handles to see if cars are unlocked. They are familiar with response times for law enforcement, so they test five or six vehicles and then move to another neighborhood.

They will take whatever they feel has value, including change.

“They don’t want to be detected, they want to use darkness and stealth as their way of committing their offenses,” Holden said. “Smashing a window or doing the entry methods

from yesteryear are counterintuitive to that.”

Holden said these individuals typically conceal their faces with masks or hoods, wear gloves and disguise their vehicles.

Holden said groups committing these crimes often live in other counties. Holden said in the past 45 days, the department has seen groups of thieves traveling from Pinellas County and Hillsborough County.

Holden said he and Johnson meet on a daily basis to go through reports generated during the previous shift. Johnson said they communicate with other Florida law enforcement agencies to compare crime trends and patterns.

Holden said the Lakewood Ranch area is not an exception to the trends.

“Lakewood Ranch is not unique,” he said. “Other counties, other jurisdictions are seeing the same kinds of activities.”

Holden said thieves have been hitting from Parrish and Ellenton, south to University Park and Palm Aire. However, he said the type of burglaries are not increasing in areas away from the interstate, such as Myakka City, or subdivisions through which it would take offenders a long time to travel.

“The criminals are looking for the maximum yield, least exposure. They’re looking for the least opportunity to get caught,” Holden said.

Make it a Day!

Jump start your day with a cold brew coffee and sand volleyball before squeezing in a spa treatment and an afternoon of shopping. And as the sun begins to set, gather family and friends for dinner and drinks under the stars. Whether you’re in the shops, on the Plaza, or at the park, you’ll find new ways to spend the day at Waterside Place every time you come. Our year-round events, Sunday farmers’ market and weekly live music are open to everyone.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES IN

MANATEE

COUNTY

Where incidents are increasing: Manatee County communities along major thoroughfares such as I-75 Increase in vehicle burglaries since January: 27.8%

What residents can do: Lock their vehicles and make sure not to store valuables in their vehicles

Holden urges residents to lock their vehicles, as well as remove any items of value.

“Don’t put anything in your vehicle that you would feel bad about being taken from you. Obviously, that goes without saying.”

He said some residents have lost firearms that were stored in their vehicles. Others leave their keys in their cars, an invitation to steal the vehicle.

In response to the burglaries, the amount of patrolling by the Sheriff’s Office has increased in the affected areas, he said. He said staff will patrol communities in areas such as Lakewood Ranch, both in patrol cars and in undercover vehicles.

“We saturate these neighborhoods

as much as we possibly can,” Holden said. “We’re patrolling long after you’re in bed.”

He said the department tries to keep up with the crime trends.

“We’re moving people’s schedules around, we’re changing the hours, we’re pulling from other areas of the agency.”

Johnson said the patrol, intel and criminal investigations divisions have identified some offenders and that arrests have been made and warrants written. The daily communication with other agencies has provided assistance in this area, he

said.

However, Holden said law enforcement cannot be everywhere at once, and residents still must take responsibility for their property.

“We can always try harder, obviously,” he said. “Looking at these particular trends, the key to it is for the owner of the property, whether it’s car, whether it’s a house, whether it’s a business or whatever — safeguard your belongings. Don’t make it attractive for these criminals to victimize you. It’s a simple push of a button or locking the car.”

Ian Swaby

Lt. Brad Johnson and Capt. Marc Holden serve District 3 with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department.

Courtesy photo

A burglary is captured on a security camera in Parrish.

Prepared for pressure

Megan Buccholz, Angela Ward and Ashley Coolidge, all nurses in the maternity unit of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, already were feeling pressure.

It wasn’t because of a patient needing emergency medical care.

Instead, they had 20 minutes to save Ms. Orange, a mannequin suffering from a postpartum hemorrhage. It was all part of an escape room style training session Feb. 16 in the Women’s Center. Training con-

tinues through Feb. 28.

Christine Coney, a birth designer, educator and lactation specialist for the hospital, said the postpartum hemorrhage escape room was a part of a monthly drill.

“We are consistently challenging our brains, making sure we’re up to date with any new recommendations or changes,” Coney said. “We do monthly drills to make sure we are constantly reminding ourselves of what we need to do in every situation that can come about, especially in the maternity unit.”

A postpartum hemorrhage can happen at any time from immedi-

ately after delivery up to 12 weeks after a baby is born.

“Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the U.S. and globally,” Coney said. “So I wanted to try to do something a little bit different instead of just reading an article and taking a quiz or something like that.”

The nurses had to complete eight activities that would require them to review how to assess a patient, identify risk factors, identify medications and their side effects, determine quantitative blood loss, and more.

Buccholz, Ward and Coolidge fin-

Christine Coney

ished the activities with 5 minutes to spare. A red light was turned on in the room to let the nurses know they had incorrect answers on one of the activities.

They couldn’t escape.

Coney told the nurses they needed to return to the true-false activity where they proceeded to go back and forth on a few answers.

Buccholz said the true-false activity was the most difficult because not every situation is black and white, and with an emergency like a postpartum hemorrhage, changes are always happening.

Time was up.

Buccholz, Ward and Coolidge had everything but one answer correct.

“You were so close,” Coney said to the nurses.

Coney spent time reviewing the activities with the three nurses, discussing the challenges they faced along with other important information.

Ward said the escape room was a great educational experience.

“The time frame made it real as if we were with a patient,” she said. “It gave us an adrenaline rush. It was very realistic. If someone calls for extra hands, we’re walking in the room, and we’re having to look around the room for clues.”

Throughout the escape room, there were clues to help the nurses be able to properly assess Ms. Orange. For example, one activity told them Ms. Orange had asthma, which helped them to choose a medication that didn’t have a side effect of making a patient wheeze.

Much like in the case of a real postpartum hemorrhage, the nurses worked together, communicated with each other every step of the way and depended on each other to help answer questions.

Coney said it is difficult to stand back and let the nurses work through the activities without giving advice or helping.

She had to keep a straight face during the exercise to ensure she wasn’t giving any answers away.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

Photos by Liz Ramos

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center nurses Ashley Coolidge, Angela Ward and Megan Buccholz do their best to take care of Ms. Orange, a fake patient suffering from a postpartum hemorrhage, during an escape room training.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center nurses Megan Buccholz, Ashley Coolidge and Angela Ward try to help Ms. Orange, a fake patien.

“We do monthly drills to make sure we are constantly reminding ourselves of what we need to do in every situation that can come about, especially in the maternity unit.”

Rolling with HISTORY ON THE RIVER

Heritage Days boat tour just skims the surface of Jiggs Landing’s history.

Driving along Linger Lodge Road, Denise Kleiner talked about all the beautiful, new subdivisions that make up that area of East County.

But what people don’t know, she said, is the rich history hidden behind those subdivisions along the banks of the Braden River.

Kleiner, who owns and operates the concessions at Jiggs Landing, was talking about Marineland, a stretch of land originally owned by Lincoln Marine, who moved to the area in 1920 and, over the decades, sold pieces of his land for development.

A local history buff, Kleiner once lived in a home on the banks of the Braden River that was built by Lincoln Marine. Over the years, Kleiner learned as much as she could about the area’s history from longtime residents and as a member of the Old Braden River Historical Society.

In conjunction with the 44th annual Manatee Heritage Days in March, Jiggs Landing is offering a special boat tour featuring a tour of Marineland, the river and the Evers Reservoir.

Marine created the first subdivision in Manatee County outside Bradenton’s city limits. The tour will include an arm of the Braden River where he built his home and rebuilt an abandoned cabin next to his home.

The tour will be offered anytime during park hours, with a minimum of four people in the boat. The cost is $20.

Manatee Heritage Days is organized by the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Department of Historical Resources, under the auspices of Angelina “Angel” Colonneso.

Kleiner said she loves educating people about the Braden River’s history.

Here are five important takeaways Kleiner wants people to learn during a Heritage Days tour. 1

She wants people to know what “this all looked like” before the reservoir was dug out to create Evers Reservoir. She likes to follow the original course of the river and she will travel around the lake to describe what the land and banks used to look like before 1979. 2

It is not a landfill. When looking across the water from Jiggs Landing, a huge hill marks the horizon along with a host of homes at the base of the hill that make up The Heights. On the other side of the hill is Honore Avenue.

“A lot of people think that hill was a landfill,” Kleiner said. “It is important for them to know that isn’t true.”

She explained that the hill is made up of the ground that was dug out in 1979 to make the reservoir. She said that area once was flatter and covered with trees.

Now a single string of long needle pines lines the area between the shore of Evers Reservoir and

IF YOU GO

What: Manatee County

Heritage Days

When: Throughout March Where: Various historical sites in Manatee County List of events: Go to ManateeClerk.com or call 7414070.

Note: Some events require a reservation or an admission fee.

the homes. “Those were planted by Eagle Scouts in 1980,” Kleiner said. “It shows what a lasting impact they can make.” 3

“Lots of things were going on” before 1920 when Lincoln Marine began to create Marineland. She said a young couple had moved to the area in the late 1800s, and although not much is known about the couple, their contributions helped shape the area.

She said they built an oven and began to produce bricks that were used in many of the houses eventually built in the area. Kleiner, who still owns eight acres along the Braden River that is undeveloped, said she found remnants of that oven, or “What was left of it.”

She said, at the time, para grass covered much of the surface of the Braden River and made it hard to navigate. The couple figured out how to make rope from that para grass. They also collected Spanish moss, which they traded at a market for cork.

After a particularly bad storm one year, they used the cork and the rope that they had made to pull the para grass suffocating the river back toward the banks in each direction.

The effort worked and cleared up the river to where the fish population came back.

The effort was documented in the woman’s diary that still is owned by Pete Marine, who allowed Kleiner to read it.

4Lincoln Marine was an interesting guy. He came to the Braden River in 1920 after living at Emerson Point on the Manatee River.

“He had built his home on an Indian mound, and no one knew back then it wasn’t allowed. (It was protected by federal law.)

“So he and his wife had to move, and they came here. It was their little piece of heaven.”

Kleiner said the Linger Lodge Road didn’t exist, and through his constant travels along that route, he basically built the road.

She said his home was built out of pecky cypress, pine and oak and it still stands.

5

People should have a basic understanding of Jiggs Landing’s history.

The Jiggs Landing Fish Camp was founded in 1944, about the same time as Linger Lodge. Al “Jiggs” Metcalf founded the camp after buying 7 acres of land.

He built several cabins on the property, the last in 1964.

Manatee County bought the land in 2005 and Kleiner and Bill Halstead became involved as members of the Old Braden River Historical Society. Although the cabins could not be saved, a replica cabin was built.

Kleiner will throw in lots of tidbits during the tour.

At the Jiggs Landing concession during Heritage Days, she sells swamp cabbage, made out of the heart of palm and sour orange pie with Macadamia nut crust.

“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

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DID YOU KNOW

Jiggs Landing’s Florida Boat Tours is offering special tours of historical spots on the Braden River during Heritage Days. The cost is $20 per person, with a minimum of four people in a boat. The tour is given any time during regular park hours.

Jiggs Landing is located at 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. Go to JiggsLanding.com for more information.

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JAY HEATER STAFF WRITER

Photos by Jay Heater

Denise Kleiner, who owns the concessions at Jiggs Landing, found this still along the banks of the Braden River.

The white building in the front was a home built in the 1920s on the Braden River.

Local historian Denise Kleiner wants people to know that the big hill off the bank of Evers Reservoir is not a landfill.

Indian culture’s recipe — kindness

It was supposed to be a simple story on the opening of a restaurant.

But with family restaurants, nothing is ever that simple.

I guess that is why we love them.

Sure, we get a certain simple pleasure out of eating a Taco Bell bean burrito, and we always depend on Ruth’s Chris Steak House to deliver us a nice filet mignon. We know what we are going to get at a chain.

What we don’t know is what is behind the food, and to be frank, we don’t really care.

That’s why we prefer to see family restaurants serve our neighborhoods. We get to know the owners, and their stories. Food tastes better when you know the person serving it.

Which brings us to Tandoor Indian Cuisine that held its grand opening Feb. 20 at its new location at 8447 Cooper Creek Blvd., in University Town Center.

The owner is Poonam Maini who will win you over with her heart of gold before she ever tempts your tongue with her Tikka Masala.

Maini’s story is not a pretty one, at least not part of it. But it is an American story.

A native of the town Garhdiwaia, in the state of Punjab, in India, Maini grew up in a culture where sometimes you didn’t always have a say in picking things, such as a husband.

Upon moving to the U.S., Maini was living a life in her new country as an abused wife.

She admits, if she still lived in India, she might never have left her husband, but as an American, she choose divorce. However, she said she walked away with nothing, except her three children.

In other words, she hit the jackpot.

With the encouragement of her kids, she opened a 40-seat restau-

rant in 2001 at Beneva Road and Clark Road.

She not only wanted to share good food with everyone who walked through the door — she calls every customer her extended family — she also wanted to share her culture.

That created a slight problem for her son, Shubi, who is now Tandoor’s co-owner and general

manager.

“Culture is extremely important to her,” Shubi Maini said. “But growing up, I had a single mom and she was working so much. She was not able to share too much culture with me.”

Now 25, Shubi Maini absorbs everything he can about their Indian culture, and shares the love of the Indian artwork that adorns

the walls in Tandoor.

In many ways, you could say Shubi Maini, who was born and raised in Sarasota and who is the youngest of Poonam’s three children, has absorbed the Poonam Maini culture.

“She is very spiritual,” he said.

“She prays for the success of all our employees. And she is one of the kindest people you will know. She is loving in every respect ... a heart of gold.”

Poonam Maini has made a pact with her children — Shubi and his older sisters Milan Maini and Shamini Maini — that they will give at least 10% of their income to the nonprofit she formed, Share Care Global. Poonam Maini said last year, the nonprofit provided meals for 18,690 people and it also has an entrepreneurial program aimed at teaching women skills they can use to get better jobs in the future.

“It will be 100% passed down,” Shubi Maini promised.

After Poonam’s initial restaurant endeavor, she moved to a 90-seat restaurant on Cooper Creek Boulevard, only a few doors down from her new site, which has 150 seats. She operated that restaurant for 11 years.

The new restaurant is 1,000 square feet larger at 4,000 square feet.

The former Tandoor had a smallish kitchen, which was too cramped for the four to five kitchen workers at one time. Her client base was growing and she felt she might lose customers if she didn’t enlarge the kitchen space. Now she was seven to nine employees in the kitchen at a time.

Opening the new restaurant was not without complications. All the construction woes and supply chain problems that everyone was experiencing lengthened build out to 18 months. She said Benderson Development’s Mark Chait, her landlord,

nursed her through difficult times.

“He listened to me cry a lot,” she said of Chait.

Ordering kitchen tools that weren’t quite right and experiencing other construction woes cost her more than $100,000, she estimates.

But she finally got it done.

Celebrating with her kids, her employees and her customers on Feb, 20, her tears at the grand opening were joyous ones.

“Every Monday we have a meeting (of employees),” she said. “Our goal is to make sure every customer is a guest in our home. Guest is god.”

She had yet to mention food.

“Our good is not a hot spicy,” she said. “It is a flavorible spicy.”

Although her dad, Tarsem Lal Maini, was a passionate cook during her childhood, Poonam Maini said she never has particularly enjoyed cooking. Her dad died in 2011, but she said he helps her along the way.

“He is my guardian angel,” she said.

In the kitchen, she said her chef, Swaran Singh, takes care of taste.

“He is the backbone of everything,” she said of the chef she was known for more than 30 years. She then takes care of the experience.

“The root of Indian culture is to be kind,” she said. “If you have one piece of bread, you share that. You share your blessings.

“All I ask in return is that you help somebody.”

Jay Heater

Poonam Maini and her son Shubi Maini greet guests during the grand opening of Tandoor Indian Cuisine.

Sarasota:

Robotics students get with the program

The School District of Manatee County pushes the importance of engineering and coding lessons.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

Noah Jackson, a Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School fifth grader, was focused.

With a controller in hand, he was having his robot zip around the VEX IQ competition board trying to push small orange pucks out of the dispensaries and across a bar to the other side of the board to earn points.

The pressure was mounting as the clock kept counting down.  Jackson gave the controller to his teammate fifth grader Hayden Laning, who worked to keep pushing as many pucks across the board.

The clock finally hit zero.

Jackson and Laning were relieved.

Family Practice with an

Jackson, Laning and their teammate, third grader Penn Reynolds, make up the Flaming Cheetos, and they shared points during their competition with Robert E. Willis Elementary School’s Kreative Kaos, which consisted of fifth graders Landon Cuervo and Zachary Danalu.

The Flaming Cheetos and Kreative Kaos were among 160 teams from 37 School District of Manatee County

CHALLENGE AHEAD

After competing in the School District of Manatee County’s VEX competition Feb. 14, these East County teams are headed to the North/Central Florida Region VEX IQ Elementary State Competition:

ELEMENTARY

Robert E. Willis Elementary School:

n Kreative Kaos

Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School

n Slap and Slide

n Rainbow Surprise

n Flaming Cheetos

n Green IQs

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dr. Mona Jain Middle School:

n Robo Warriors

elementary and middle schools participating in the districtwide VEX IQ competition Feb. 14 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

Jennifer McManis, the STEM coordinator for the School District of Manatee County, said the VEX robotics program started in the district five years ago in a few elemen-

Home Sellers...

How

Liz Ramos

Robert E. Willis Elementary School fifth graders Landon Cuervo and Zachary Danahy compete in an alliance with Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School fifth graders Hayden Laning and Noah Jackson. The two teams will share the points earned.

tary schools. It has since ballooned to include 27 of the 33 elementary schools within the district.

For middle school, the VEX program also is one of the Technology Student Association competition categories. Middle school students began competing again this past year after the pandemic.

McManis’ goal is to have the VEX program available from elementary through high school.

“My goal is to grow it so that every school has that opportunity,” McManis said. “Every year we’ve grown to a point where now it’s almost unsustainable.”

To accommodate the growing number of teams participating in the VEX program, McManis said the district will host smaller tournaments for 30 to 40 teams at a time and then have a districtwide event to showcase the VEX program.

Noah Johnson, a sixth grader at Braden River Middle School, said it’s been difficult adjusting from the elementary level of the VEX program to the middle school level.

With VEX being a part of Braden River Middle’s TSA program, Johnson said he and his teammates have had to adjust to not only focusing on VEX but other TSA projects as well. He said advisors also have more students and projects on which to provide guidance so students have to take more ownership of their projects and work harder at problem solving.

Johnson and his teammates, sixth graders Danica Hall, Dominic Ramos and Liam Rankin, built five different robots before settling on the one that would best compete.

Johnson and Hall, who competed with their team from Willis Elementary School last year as fifth graders at the VEX Robotics World Competition, said this year was a transitional year for them as they adjusted to the rigors of the middle school-level competition and middle school in general. Although they hoped to qualify for the state competition this year, they said there was room for improvement on their robot.

“I feel like next year, we’re going to dominate,” Hall said.

McManis said the VEX program teaches students about the engineering design cycle, which fosters creativity, teamwork, collaboration and more. Students learn about engineering and coding.

“They’re learning skills they can apply right in the workforce,” McManis said. “They can go into various engineering degrees in college. They can go into IT because they will have some of the coding background. There’s a lot of positions that we groom them to go into.”

For many students, the robotics program is a highlight of their school day.

Gene Witt Elementary School fifth graders Sofia Laubacker, Connor Willats and Eddy Thomas, can’t

BY THE NUMBERS

160Teams participating in the School District of Manatee County’s VEX competition

Music

Our Two Exciting Series

Order

Monday, February 27

Sarasota,10:30 am - Venice, 3:00 pm

Stefan Jackiw, Violin

One of America’s foremost violinists, combining poetry and purity with an impeccable technique, he is hailed for playing of “uncommon musical substance” that is “striking for its intelligence and sensitivity” (Boston Globe).

Global Issues

27

Manatee elementary schools with VEX programs

10Manatee middle schools with VEX programs

3-4Students per team

5Years the School District of Manatee County has had the VEX program in elementary schools

wait to work together each week on their robot.

“I wish we could just do it all day,” Willats said.

In their first year participating in VEX, Laubacker, Willats and Thomas — the Donut Squad — have enjoyed making modifications to their robot and seeing their improvements.

Laubacker said it’s an adrenaline rush when she’s driving the robot and seeing the points they score.

“When you do something incredible, you just feel so happy,” she said.

Now, the Donut Squad has qualified for the North/Central Florida Region VEX IQ Elementary State Competition March 11 in Clermont, Florida.

The team is looking forward to seeing what their robots can do against top competition.

The Benefits of a

2nd Opinion

B.D. Gullett Elementary School’s Kylah Scheetz operates her robot to earn as many points as possible.

Tuesday, February 28

Sarasota,10:30 am - Venice, 2:30 pm

Rivers of Iron: High-Speed Railroads and Chinese Power in Southeast Asia

Dr. David Lampton will discuss: What are the implications of China’s infrastructure push abroad?

Wednesday, March 1 Sarasota,10:30 am

U.S.- China Relations: Where Are They

Headed Now? Since Richard Nixon went to China fi y years ago, relations with Beijing has become Washington’s most important single bilateral relationship. Was “Engagement” a big mistake? Dr. David Lampton will discuss: Where are U.S.-China relations headed now?

Thursday, March 2

Sarasota,10:30 am - Lakewood Ranch, 5:00

Friday, March 3 Venice,10:00 am

India and the World: Its Rise, Power, and Influence Dr Manjari Chatterjee Miller discusses the history of India’s foreign policy, its U.S./China relationships, and how that shapes its role on the global stage.

ROAST BEEF

CLAM ROLL

CLAM CHOWDER

LOBSTER ROLL

For more than 70 years, Kelly’s Roast Beef has been the staple of the North Shore of Boston, renowned for its thinly sliced “meltin-your-mouth” roast-beef sandwiches and generous platters of Fresh New England seafood. Gluten Free Options & Drive

Colorful personalities

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

For Carolann Garafola, painting hasn’t been a way to make a living, so much as it is has been an escape from the issues and concerns of daily life.

“What it does for me is it removes me from the real world,” she said. “Everything else around me just sort of drops out. It’s almost akin to meditation. When I walk into my studio, it’s just like I’m in another world.”

During her 24 years on the town council in Warren, New Jersey, she didn’t have time to paint.

On Feb. 13-19, her art work received exposure for the first time during the annual Art Show by the Palm Aire Art Association. Previously, she had displayed her art through the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island.

Ellise Elmore, co-president of the Palm Aire Art Association, said the event was in its 40th year, and has been an opportunity that benefits both artists and nonartists.

“We have a lot of artists, and it gives them an opportunity to show their work,” she said. “We have people who are not artists, and they enjoy seeing what their friends do.”

For Garafola, painting is highly personal, as it’s a chance for her to carry on the legacy of her late husband, Ralph Garafola, who died in 2019. For more than 65 years, until his retirement in 1990, he had been a commercial illustrator and artist.

Ralph Garafola began teaching Carolann Garafola how to paint in 2004. She said he showed her that she could apply her compositional skills to painting, as she had loved photography from the time she was a child.

“He left a legacy with me,” she said. “When I’m painting, he’s sitting on my shoulder, telling me to put more paint on the brush — don’t be stingy.”

He taught her that if an artist paints too lightly with acrylics, the canvas will show through.

He also taught her how to shade subjects properly. She said a combi-

nation of light and dark is where the sense of three dimensions is created.

As she travels about the community, Carolann Garafola brings a camera with her. Sometimes, She tries to snap a photo whenever she sees something interesting.

She will then create a painting based on the photograph.

Sometimes the photographs and paintings will be still life scenes featuring objects in store windows, and other times they will depict living objects, such as birds. As a birdwatcher who reports on the website eBird, she is often on the lookout for different species.

She enjoys seeing blue herons, egrets, and tricolored herons. She said paintings of roseate spoonbills, which have a pink hue, sell exceptionally well.

She noted that color is one quality she seeks as she travels about.

Her display at the Art Show included still life and nature scenes. She said the art show was important for showcasing the talents of many members of the community.

“I think there’s a lot of hidden talent,” she said.

Ian Swaby

Carolann Garafola displayed her work for the first time at the Palm Aire Art Show.

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE

Headed on a trip? Snap a photo of you on vacation holding your Observer, then submit your photo online at YourObserver.com/ ItsReadEverywhere. Stay tuned for this year’s prize, and happy travels!

Brian Roy Mahoney Palfrey, 88, died Monday, February 13, 2023. Born in Swansea, South Wales on July 21, 1934, Brian moved to the US in 1977 and spent several years in Florida. A coal miner in his early years, he later began working in Tamworth, UK at Foseco. At Foseco, Brian then became a director of engineering for the company, moving to Strongsville, OH. He had a quiet, but distinguished, presence and striking blue eyes. A hard worker, Brian always tried to improve himself and he never complained. Brian loved to read, was a fan of Formula 1 racing and Aston Villa FC. On Fridays, he enjoyed pizza and every Saturday was a picnic with cheese (stilton being a favorite) and a baguette. One of his favorite pastimes

was sitting with his wife, Margaret, watching Wheel of Fortune and holding hands.

Brian is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Margaret (nee Titmus) Palfrey; children, Michele (Huw) Morgan, of Wales, Deborah (Mark) Lansman, of Wellington, Gary (Jamie) Palfrey, of Seattle, and Lisa (Ken) Hall, of Olmsted Falls; 13 grandchildren, Melissa, Thomas, Kenny, Drew, Austin, Kyden, Sam, Sammy Jo, Nevaeh, Alysia, Brandon, Liam and Gabby and 4 great grandchildren, Brooklyn, Elizabeth, Dominic and Liam. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Iris (nee Marney) Palfrey and brother, Terry.

A private family service will be held. Expressions of sympathy may be given to his family at: www.nortoneastmanfuneralhome.com.

Brian Roy Mahoney Palfrey 1934-2023

A piece of paradise

I have seen Dr Furman twice for my right knee due to osteoarthritis. He is an ace at giving cortisone shots! He is very personable & informative. He has same day appointments which was a blessing for me. He will be honest with you that if he recommends a procedure & if he is not to perform it, he will refer to another physician. I would highly recommend him to my family & friends. Dr Furman treated me for hip pain and I am a new person as a result of his precise and caring skill. He is a kind, helpful person, and I would recommend him very highly for consult if you want an honest opinion on anything orthopedic.

With some expanded offerings, the St. Barbara Greek Festival was a bit different in its 2023 version of the “glendi.”

The patrons’ response, however, was the same as always.

“It’s paradise,” the Rev. John Bociu said. “People seem to enjoy themselves. I get the feeling they come to experience life, to be cheerful and be peaceful.”

The event was held at the St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church.

Bociu said while joyful, the occasion was also sad, due to being the first Glendi held since the Rev. Frank Kirlangitis, the first full-time priest at the church who founded the festival, died in June 2022.

“It’s bittersweet,” Bociu said. “We miss him. We will miss him for a long time because he was such a big part of the community of Sarasota.”

George Karabatsos, one of three festival chairs, said he remembers when the event, now in its 39th year, began with only a few small tents, having now expanded to include what he said is everything that can be achieved on the church grounds.

“It’s a whole group effort,” he said.

He said the church begins cooking and setting up equipment about 30 days before the festival begins.   This time, he said, the festival

moved toward a food court concept. The event also marked the first time the festival featured appetizers. The offerings consisting of sagnaki, or pan-fried Kefalotiri cheese served with grilled pita, and loukaniko, a type of Greek sausage flavored with spices, orange rind and wine.

“It’s a success so far,” said Yianni Chalvadakis, who coordinated the appetizers. “We have received a lot of attention.”

When cooking the cheese, volunteers poured brandy across the grill, creating a spectacle out of the flames.

“We’re just putting on a fire show every night,” Chalvadakis said.

The response from attendees to the event was enthusiastic.

“It’s great. The food is awesome, the atmosphere, everything,” said Sarasota’s Kevin Harris, who said his family has lived in the area for 22 years. “I don’t know why we didn’t come sooner.”

“The music and dancing — I love it. The food is good. The tent is large and doesn’t trap heat. The parking is very accessible,” said Clearwater’s John Yacalis.

“This is fabulous. This is lovely. This is a nice thing to be doing,” said Palm Aire’s Jay Grollman.

Bociu called the event an “experience of faith” in which “people are coming together, and getting closer to God also.”

“We can turn people on to our culture,” Karabatsos said. “The folk dancers, the cuisine — everybody just loves it. People wait all year to come to this festival. It’s always a good turnout.”

LARGEST SELECTION OF FANS ANYWHERE!

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

The 39th annual festival is the first since the death of Father Frank Kirlangitis, the first full-time priest at the church.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Boca Raton’s Sammy Zaparegos sends the flames roaring.

SPORTS

Fast Break

PAINFUL BUT POSITIVE

The Cardinal Mooney

High girls basketball team, which features East County players like senior Olivia Davis, is headed to the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A state tournament in Lakeland this week. If the Cougars (20-5) beat King’s Academy (23-4) on Feb. 22, they will play either Miami Country Day (23-7) or Providence School (22-5) in the championship game at 10 a.m. Feb. 25.

Former Lakewood Ranch

High girls basketball star

LaDazhia Williams continues to have a strong season at Louisiana State University.

The No. 5 ranked Tigers (26-1) beat the University of Florida 90-79 on Feb. 19 in part thanks to Williams’ 15 points and 10 rebounds. Williams is averaging 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

The Braden River High wrestling program won its FHSAA Class 2A district tournament Feb. 18 at Jesuit High, scoring 204 points to secondplace Jesuit’s 192. Seven Pirates made the finals of their weight classes and four won titles: sophomore Matthew Ireland (106 pounds), junior Gage Wiggins (160 pounds), senior Mario Maltez (170 pounds) and senior Jessey Colas (182 pounds).

Spring football does not start until May 1, but Braden River’s players have stayed busy anyway. As part of its “Fellowship Fridays” series, the program taught its athletes how to tie a tie — in a single Windsor knot — on Feb. 10. Past lessons include financial literacy and the college recruiting process.

The Sarasota Invitational Regatta is Feb. 24-26 at Nathan Benderson Park. The event is free for spectators. For more information, visit NathanBendersonPark.org.

Dennis Aster sank a hole-in-one Feb. 15 on the No. 15 hole at Lakewood Ranch Country Club’s King’s Dunes course. Aster used a 7-wood on the 130-yard hole.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

It ended too soon for the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer players, but they said the 202223 season was historic nonetheless.

The Mustangs (19-1-1) were eliminated from the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 7A playoffs Feb. 14 with a 2-1 road loss to Palm Harbor University High (19-1).

The game was scoreless after regulation and eventually was decided by penalty kicks. Mustangs coach Delaney Riggins said her team took the loss hard, but she made sure they knew how proud she was of their effort.

“Our girls left everything on the field,” Riggins said. “I could not have asked for more.”

The Mustangs went undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 2013-14. Riggins, who was a player on the 2013-2014 team, said she could tell early this season that her current players were special.

However, the players actually exceeded her expectations. Riggins said if a player went down with an injury, the next player stepped up and played well. She also said other players made improvements “above and beyond” what the coaching staff thought they could. It all added up to a dream run, albeit one that ended one goal short of the state semifinals, which the 2013-2014 team reached.

Riggins said she learned a lot from coaching the team through its undefeated run, but the most important lesson was balancing hard work with fun.

“If you’re only having one or the other, it’s not going to have a positive outcome,” Riggins said. “This year, the players pushed each other in practice, but we also had a lot of opportunities for them to have fun together, whether that was through team meals or even certain drills during training. I think that balance led to a lot of our success.”

Riggins was not the only one in the program who felt strongly about this season. Players like senior defensive midfielder and captain Regan Kelly called the season unforgettable, and not just because of all the wins.

Kelly said she and a group of her teammates experienced a flat tire on the drive to Palm Harbor for the team’s regional final game. It was an

GRADUATING MUSTANGS

n Elizabeth Fetchko, midfielder

n Regan Kelly, defensive midfielder

n Gabi Madrid, midfielder

n Julia Magno, forward

n Makena Murack, defender

n Mia Reddick, midfielder

n Danielle Vogel, defender

annoyance, Kelly said, and made the players 15 minutes late, but everyone made the best of the situation by cracking jokes and laughing hard. It was a microcosm of the team’s attitude all season, Kelly said. Whenever a challenge was presented, the team rallied and got through it. It was that attitude that led to the undefeated regular season, and Kelly said it’s why getting the flat tire was her favorite memory from the season, as odd as it might seem.  Kelly said she’s done some reflecting in the days since the Palm Harbor loss on what the Mustangs have meant to her over her four years. Before joining the Mustangs, Kelly said, she had never been with a core set of teammates for this long. In her club soccer career, Kelly switched teams a few times and often had to drive far, as much as an hour-and-ahalf, to be with her team. It’s difficult

to create bonds like that, Kelly said.  With the Mustangs, the bond was instant, and it has lasted, only growing stronger over time.

“It’s something you don’t get to experience much, if ever,” Kelly said. “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s probably the happiest I’ve ever been, playing high school soccer.”

The Mustangs will graduate seven seniors, including key contributors like Kelly, defender Danielle Vogel and forward Julia Magno, who tied for the team lead with 18 goals. But junior Sophie Lemus, the other player with 18 goals, will return, as will dynamic sophomore Olivia Hadad (16 goals, 41 points), junior midfielder Madison Adams (11 goals, 29 points) sophomore goalkeeper Emma Chapman, who earned her way into the postseason lineup with strong play.

Kelly said next season’s Mustangs will have a shot at another deep postseason run.

“Everyone (returning) brings something to the table,” Kelly said. “They are so competitive and they are great girls. They play for each other. I think it will be another successful season and I’m going to come back and watch some of their games when I can.

“I’m proud of all of them. It’s sad that our season is over, but I hope to stay in touch with everyone, and I know that they’re all going to be successful.”

“I have mainly been an assisting player or a defensive player, but I want to generate more scoring opportunities myself.”

— The Out-of-Door Academy’s Emma Arrigo SEE PAGE 19

File photo East County’s Olivia Davis leads Cardinal Mooney in the playoffs.

Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer players say their accomplishments this season can’t be diminished by a playoff loss.

Senior Regan Kelly (22) was a force in the middle for Lakewood Ranch.

Lakewood Ranch’s Sophie Lemus (2), the Mustangs’ leading goal scorer, played defense during the playoffs because of injuries to defensive players.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

PROSE AND KOHN RYAN KOHN

Palm Aire courts new sport

Feast your eyes on a padel court without context, and you’d be forgiven for getting confused.

The short court, about a third as long as a tennis court, is bright blue, and it is enclosed by two different materials. It has a metallic mesh wall that lines the center of the court, while the ends are surrounded by glass panels. What kind of sport could use a playing surface like this?

Well, padel — pronounced paDELL, not paddle.

The racket sport is new to most people in the United States, but overseas, it is already a sensation. The sport originated in Mexico in the 1970s but now is biggest in Spain, which has more than 20,000 padel courts and 4 million active players. Miami was the first U.S. city to build padel courts in 2009.

As of Feb. 7, Palm Aire Country Club became the first private club in Florida to offer the sport to members and nonmembers (with a $35 guest fee), something that the club’s director of tennis, Angel Davila, said will be a big success.

So, what is padel? It is most easily described as a cross between tennis and squash. The scoring is the same as tennis, but there’s a big difference in play style, which is all about the glass walls on each end of the court. Players must place their shots initially on the court’s blue turf, but once the ball bounces, it can go anywhere — including off the wall. Then the return team has to hit it before it hits the ground a second time.

“You have to learn that just because ball gets past you, it doesn’t mean the point is over,” member Dick Coffey said. “You can still play the ball off the glass before it bounces again.”

More advanced players also will smack the ball off the wall that lines their own end of the court as a return. Beginners should probably wait to attempt this move — lest

they smash the ball off the wall and into their own face, Davila said. He’s seen it happen, and it doesn’t look fun.

There are other differences, too:

The racket is cushioned and the ball is a bit spongier than a tennis ball, but anyone with experience with

racket sports will quickly get the gist. One quirk of the sport is that it is most commonly played in doubles, which is why Palm Aire built a doubles court. After encountering the game for the first time 25 years ago, Davila said, he’s never seen a singles padel court in person.  Based on the reception of Palm Aire’s members, the game is worth the hype it’s getting overseas. Barry Sikes, the athletic chair on the club’s board of governors, said he enjoys the game so much, he’s planning on running open play groups on Wednesdays and Sundays. A lifelong player of racket sports, Sikes said the sport feels like a natural merger of the games he loves, and he’s not alone.

“Everybody who has walked off the court after hitting a little bit has had a smile on their face,” Sikes said.

Barbara Stebbins, who comes from a tennis background, said she was able to quickly adapt to padel’s funky flow. Once she saw how the ball was bouncing off the turf and walls, she felt comfortable, and that comfort led to a great experience.

“Afterward, I was like, ‘This is great. This is going to be my new

sport,’” Stebbins said.

People who have joined the recent pickleball trend might want to watch some padel videos before giving it a go. Palm Aire’s Kate Humphrey said she look a lesson with Davila to get a feel for the game and enjoyed it, but she wants another lesson or two before she’ll be comfortable playing a live match.

Humphrey said she played racquetball in the 1970s but recently has been playing pickleball as way to get more active. Going from that to padel is a challenge because requirements of the two sports are different, Humphrey said.

Pickleballers don’t have to worry about turning around if the ball gets past. Padel, like tennis, involves more movement than pickleball. Humphrey said she had to take breaks during her hourlong padel lesson, while she can play pickleball for two hours and not get winded.

“But I like that aspect (of padel),” Humphrey said. “I get just as much exercise in one hour. It’s a faster game.”

It’s also good for people worried about taking a spill. Padel’s signature blue turf is soft, so if a player falls while going for a ball, they’ll

usually walk away with not much more than a scrape, unlike tennis and pickleball’s unforgiving, hardsurface courts.

The biggest challenge for Palm Aire might be that padel becomes too popular. The club only has one court, and with dozens of members interested, space on the calendar can fill up fast.

But it’s a relatively good problem to have. The club can always add more courts.

Davila said he would not be surprised if the demand becomes high.

“This is going to grow, for all ages,” Davila said. “It’s a different market than pickleball. Padel is more athletic, so it’s more exciting.”

To book a padel lesson, you can call the Palm Aire tennis center at 351-4117. Spots for nonmembers are limited.

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

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Angel Davila said a padel court is

feet,

feet.

Kate Humphrey said learning padel has been a welcome challenge after playing pickleball. It more reminds her of racquetball.

Barry Sikes said he likes that players can play the ball off the wall in padel because it means players have more chances to save a point.

Emma Arrigo

Emma Arrigo is a junior midfielder on The Out-of-Door Academy girls lacrosse team. Arrigo, a Stetson University commit, scored 46 goals for the Thunder in 2022. ODA will play its next home game at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 against Lakewood Ranch High (1-1).

When did you start playing lacrosse?

Seven years ago. I saw a random lacrosse game on TV in a restaurant and thought it looked cool. It was so aggressive. I wanted to try it, so I did.

What is the appeal to you?

I love playing the game itself but I also love meeting new people.

What is your best skill?

My lacrosse IQ and my speed. Having played for seven years now, I know where I need to be on the field and how to set up plays.

What have you been working to improve?

I have been working on my offense and my goal scoring in particular. I have mainly been an assisting player or a defensive player, but I want to generate more scoring opportuni ties myself.

What made you want to commit to Stetson? I loved the team, and it was the exact type of school I was looking for: smaller and not in a big city. It is perfect for me.

What is the team’s outlook for the 2023 season?

I think we’re going to be a great team even with the seniors we’ve lost from last year. I’m excited. We all have such great individual skill and it will be cool seeing it come together over the course of the year. (ODA went 15-2 in 2022.)

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

ATHLETE

What is your favorite food?

March BUSY BEE TUTORING (941) 907•8482 mjbhaus@aol.com www.busybeetutoring.net

March Tutoring Grades K-College General Education & Special Needs

I like spaghetti a lot. Any variation of it is great. I could eat it every day.

OF THE WEEK

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Hotel Art SWIMMING LESSONS 397918-1

10:30 A “Smart” Gift All Year Long PLAY THE BEST! 5100 87th Street East | Lakewood Ranch | 941.753.6200 rosedalecountryclub.com

2023 Honorees:

Bob & Jen Keller - Advocates for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) awareness & support

The Sorrento Gang of Esplanade - Neighbors who fundraise and volunteer for community causes

Kim Williams, M.S., CCC-SLP - Developmental therapies specialist who impacted the lives of thousands of children.

Tickets GOLF RATES Before 12pm $140

Available After 12pm $115

After 3pm $70 389088-1

YOUR NEIGHBORS

All jazzed up

Lakewood Ranch’s David Proudfoot ran away from just under 300 participants to win the first Run for the Beads 5K at Waterside Place on Feb. 18.

His margin of victory was so large he had plenty of time to look around.

That was enjoyable because the course took Proudfoot, and the rest of the runners, through some Waterside neighborhoods.

“These are some very nice neighborhoods,” Proudfoot said. “It was a good representation of Lakewood Ranch.”

Marian Trumpler and her daughter, Jenna Trumpler, sported the appropriate colors for the race. Jenna is a personal trainer at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA.

Community Fund to raise money for area nonprofits. Initial estimates were that the race raised more than $10,000.

Many of the participants talked about the fun theme and how they hoped the race would become an annual event.

A long line formed in front of the beer and champagne station after the race, beginning about 9:30 a.m.

Lakewood Ranch’s Steve Saladino was asked if he wanted to have a beer so early.

“Heck yeah!” he said. “On Saturday and Sunday, there is no rule.”

— JAY HEATER

Run for the Beads Chair Annemarie Neubecker signs up Lakewood Ranch’s Tommy Hargrove before the event. Hargrove says he loves to participate in 5Ks because it is a “healthy habit.”

Celebrating meant water for Wynta Loughrey and a glass of champagne for Laura Loughrey after they finished the Run for the Beads.

The runners sprint at the start of the Run for the Beads 5K at Waterside Place. Funds for the race support area nonprofits through the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund.

Lakewood Ranch’s Steve and Laura Saladino triumphed together as they finish the Run for the Beads.

Photos by Jay Heater

Sophie Lowrance, Jason Miller, Amy Lowrance and Jack Lowrance show off their beads.

Roaring ’20s nets $70 grand

Lakewood Ranch’s Christy Carey went all out for her Gatsbythemed outfit. She had on a red flapper dress, patterned tights and a feather headband.

“You have to do the fringe,” Carey said with a laugh.

She wasn’t alone.

Almost every one of the more than 300 guests dressed in 1920s fashion for Sisterhood for Good’s Gatsby Speakeasy Soirée on Feb. 17 at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota.

“It’s great to see everybody looking all fun and glittery,” said Lakewood Ranch’s Maria MacDonald. “Everybody is dressed for the occasion.”

The Gatsby Speakeasy Soirée benefited Sisterhood for Good’s grants program, which provides money to nonprofits throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. Early estimates were the special event raised more than $70,000.

Lakewood Ranch’s Rosemary and John Gurski were thrilled to attend the sold-out soirée. Rosemary Gurski said she was impressed by the event and wanted to learn more about the nonprofit. For information about Sisterhood for Good, go to SFGFlorida. org.

— LIZ RAMOS

Sisterhood for Good founder Angela Massaro-Fain joins guest Bob Hite, who dressed the part to support the event.

Theater... Music... Visual Art... Literature... Dance... where it all begins

HERMITAGE TURNS 20: ANDY SANDBERG & Broadway Friends in CONCERT

Monday, March 20th 7:30 pm at the Van Wezel

A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR HERMITAGE HURRICANE REPAIRS

Tickets start at just $25!

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary Season of this leading national arts incubator, Hermitage Artistic Director Andy Sandberg returns to his roots as a performer to sing a benefit concert at Sarasota’s iconic Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall This one-night-only event will raise funds for the Hermitage Artist Retreat following the impact of Hurricane Ian earlier this season.

In addition to his role at the Hermitage, Sandberg is a director, writer, performer, and Tony Award-winning producer. He will be performing a concert of Broadway songs and will be joined on stage by Broadway guest stars, accompanied by 2023 Grammy Award nominee and Hermitage Fellow Rona Siddiqui

Accompanied by 2023 Grammy Nominee RONA SIDDIQUI

FOR TICKETS ($25, $50, $75, $250):

Online: HermitageArtistRetreat.org

Phone: (941) 263-6799

In Person: Van Wezel Box Office, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Lakewood Ranch’s Rosemary and John Gurski are excited to attend their first Sisterhood for Good event. Rosemary Gurski says they spend December through May in Lakewood Ranch, and they are trying to learn more about the area.

Photos by Liz Ramos

Lakewood Ranch’s Christy Carey, Angie Graham, Judy Heuerman and Valerie Esposito go all out for the Gatsby theme. “You have to do the fringe,” Carey says.

ANDY SANDBERG

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, FEB. 23 THROUGH

SUNDAY, FEB. 26

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING

Runs each day from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. This week’s music includes Steve Arvey (Thursday), The Divebombers (Friday), Gator Ridge Ramblers (Saturday) and Nax Steel (Sunday). A $5 cover is charged on Fridays and Saturdays; the other days are free. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

FRIDAY, FEB. 24

BRAIN HEALTH TALK

Begins at 5 p.m. at the Meadows Country Club, 3101 Longmeadow, Sarasota. Stephanie Peabody, founder and executive director of the Brain Health Initiative, will be the guest speaker of the Sarasota-Manatee Science and Technology Society. The public is welcome. Member tickets are $45; nonmembers pay $55. Admission includes dinner. For more information, call Nick Barbi at 267-205-7229 .

FRIDAY, FEB. 24 AND

SATURDAY, FEB. 25

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA

Runs from 6-9 p.m. both days at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. On Friday, live music will be provided by Tom Burgess, 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, Frankie Lombardi will provide the entertainment. For more information, go to WatersidePlace. com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 25

FIRST RESPONDERS DAY

Runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Evangel Baptist Church, 3605 Lorraine Road, Lakewood Ranch. Evangel Baptist Church is hosting its First Responders Day which will allow the public to get an up-close look at a fire engine, a Sheriff’s Office car, an ambulance and a helicopter. Talk with first responders about their duties and safety tips. Smokey Bear will make an appearance and animals will be provided by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation. There will be free hot dogs and popcorn. For more information, go to EvangelBaptistChurch.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 25 TO SUNDAY, FEB. 26

COMMUNITY CAMPOUT

Runs from 3 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday at the Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. Bring your tent and enjoy outdoor events, a campfire, a family friendly movie, food trucks and more. The cost is $50 per space. For more information or to register, go to MyLWR.com.

BEST BET

SUNDAY, FEB. 26

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

Begins at 3 p.m. at Peace Presbyterian Church, 12705 S.R. 64 E., Lakewood Ranch. Peace Presbyterian is hosting the annual Blessing of the Animals, an event that is open to the public. Bring whatever pet you have for a blessing, but the pet must be either on a leash or housed properly. The blessings will take place under the sanctuary portico. For more information, call 753-7778.

SUNDAY, FEB. 26

FARMERS MARKET

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

POLO

Begins at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club LaneSarasota. 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 general admission and up for special packages and VIP seating. Tickets can be purchased in advance at SarasotaPolo.com or at the gate.

Children 12 and under admitted free. Dogs are welcome on a leash.

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, MARCH 1

RANCH NIGHT WEDNESDAYS

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

BINGO FOR ALL

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

Country Club home tops sales at $1.36 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in Country Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Edward and Elizabeth Jesella, of Nokomis, sold their home at 6931 Brier Creek Court to Jared Elliott Minor and Christine Sinden Minor, of Niwot, Colorado, for $1.36 million. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,054 square feet of living area. It sold for $772,000 in 2018.

AZARIO

Taylor Morrison of Florida Inc. sold the home at 15009 Montello Way to Kathy Anne Goldberg, of Bradenton, for $1,044,700. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, four-and-twohalf baths, a pool and 4,813 square feet of living area.

RYE WILDERNESS ESTATES

Scott and Kerry Manning, of Osage Beach, Missouri, sold their home at 504 165th St. E. to John Homer Metz and Alice Lynn Metz, trustees, of Bradenton, for $1,025,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,122 square feet of living area. It sold for $530,300 in 2016.

GREENBROOK

Susan Mazik, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 6481 Indigo Bunting Place to Toni McElroy, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, for $925,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,732 square feet of living area. It sold for $487,400 in 2004.

Teresa Hanes, of Matthews, North Carolina, sold her home at 6204 Burrowing Owl Cove to Tiana Caballero and Jose and Carmen Caballero, of San Jose, California, for $535,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,859 square feet of living area. It sold for $262,000 in 2015.

STONEYBROOK AT HERITAGE

HARBOUR

Ashok Krishnamurthy and Subha Raman sold their home at 7751 Camden Harbour Drive to Peixiong Shi and Xiaojun Zhao, of Bradenton, for $800,000. Built in 2004, it has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,875 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2011.

WATERFRONT AT MAIN STREET

Robert and Diane Heron, of Bradenton, sold their Unit 1-204 condominium at 10530 Boardwalk Loop to Richard Michael Imbrey and Jackie Imbrey, trustees, of Knoxville, Tennessee, for $700,000. Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,400 square feet of living area. It sold for $445,000 in 2019.

GREYHAWK LANDING

David and Kelly Gumpper, of Bradenton, sold their home at 13034 Peregrin Circle to Leah and Nicholas DeCesare, of Bradenton, for $660,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,484 square feet of living area. It sold for $331,600 in 2004.

TARA Roger Hess and Barbara Ehrgott, of Bluffton, South Carolina, sold their home at 6611 Peach Tree Creek Road to Robert and Christine Rosnick, of Weirton, West Virginia, for $646,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,109 square feet of living area. It sold for $275,000 in 2013.

William Clegg, trustee, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, sold the home at 6922 Chickasaw Bayou Road to Carsten Boerner LLC for $625,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,158 square feet of living area. It sold for $519,800 in 2022.

MIRABELLA AT VILLAGE GREEN

Wayne and Chantelle Lewin, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7009 Costa Bella Drive to Laura Phillpott, of Bradenton, for $627,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,765 square feet of living area. It sold for $484,800 in 2019.

PALM AIRE AT SARASOTA

Libby Ann McNary, as Personal Representative, of Bradenton, sold the home at 6832 Country Lakes Circle to SPE #224 LLC for $625,000. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,583 square feet of living area. It sold for $349,900 in 2019.

COACH HOMES AT LAKEWOOD

NATIONAL

Julie and Michael Herd, of Bradenton, sold their Unit 3312 condominium at 17637 Gawthrop Drive to Mikhail Molyanov and Erika Molyanova, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $600,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,786 square feet of living area. It sold for $320,000 in 2020.

ASHLEY TRACE AT UNIVERSITY

PLACE

Scott and Rayeann Woomer, of Grapevine, Texas, sold their home at 8127 Coates Row Place to Niall Phelan and Aisling Herron, of Bradenton, for $575,000. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,972 square feet of living area. It sold for $314,900 in 2014.

CENTRAL PARK

Matthew David Hoy and Raffaela

Maria Villella, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4606 Claremont Park Drive to Michael John Sessa and Stephanie Ann Sessa and Louise Ann Sessa, of Bradenton, for $561,400. Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,844 square feet of living area. It sold for $304,600 in 2016.

Paul Kivlehan Jr. and Kris Dorton, of Easley, South Carolina, sold their home at 11241 White Rock Terrace to David White and Lior Navon, of Bradenton, for $449,000. Built in 2013, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,156 square feet of living area. It sold for $169,600 in 2013.

DEL WEBB

Stephen Staruch, of Gainesville, Georgia, sold his home at 17105 Kenton Terrace to Deer Run Real Estate LP for $550,000. Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,554 square feet of living area. It sold for $362,000 in 2021.

Pulte Home Co. LLC sold the home at 17619 Camden Drive to Doron Milbaum and Theresa ReynoldsMilbaum, of Lakewood Ranch, for $498,500. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,589 square feet of living area. It sold for $362,000 in 2021.

SYLVAN WOODS

Gary and Veronica Slater, of Sebring, sold their home at 8411 Sylvan Woods Drive to Nigel and Catherine Miles, of Sarasota, for $542,500. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,883 square feet of living area. It sold for $227,500 in 2015.

WATCH AT WATERLEFE

Robert and Barbara Carr, of Bradenton, sold their Unit 26-C condominium at 9447 Discovery Terrace to Edward and Debbie DePhilippo, of Bradenton, for $539,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,156 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,000 in 2021.

CARLYLE AT THE VILLAGES OF PALM-AIRE

Brian Dale Beggerow and Kathleen Beggerow, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6743 Cheswick St. to Thomas Joseph Piecora and Ilene Piecora, of Tamarac, for $535,000. in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,766 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2020.

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Daniel Studnicka, of Germany, sold his home at 135 Sweet Tree St. to James Loiselle and Noreen Loiselle, of Saratoga Springs, New York, for $495,000. Built in 2014, it has three

bedrooms, two baths and 1,628 square feet of living area. It sold for $275,000 in 2019.

CLUB VILLAS AT PALM AIRE

Nancy Eichorn, of New York City, sold her Unit 7730 condominium at 7730 Palm Aire Lane to Linda Greene and Charles Basler, of Sarasota, for $474,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,872 square feet of living area. It sold for $299,000 in 2015.

SUMMERFIELD

Nick and Lynnette Ryskamp, of Bradenton, sold their home at 11326 Blue Sage Place to John and Nancy Mungo, of Staten Island, New York, for $454,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and

FEB. 6-10

1,921 square feet of living area. It sold for $150,000 in 2017.

OAKBROOKE AT RIVER CLUB

NORTH Christopher Parent, Tampa, sold his home at 6623 Oakbrooke Circle to Brent Thomas Smith and Zainab Smith, of Bradenton, for $435,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,817 square feet of living area.

ONLINE

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

Liz Ramos

This Country Club home at 6931 Brier Creek Court sold for $1.36 million. It has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,054 square feet of living area.

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sudoku

DOCTOR’S ORDERS by Amie Walker and Jeff Chen, edited by David Steinberg

Luis Campos

Gordon Silver captured a sunrise off University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch.

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