East County Observer 3.9.23

YOUR TOWN

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. March 12.

MTC

Shedding some light on a new career

It’s been a year since Lakewood Ranch’s Monaca Onstad broke away from her job as Schroeder-Manatee Ranch’s lifestyle director to form her own company — OnPlace.

So the time was right for a party.

Onstad and her husband, Eric Onstad, hosted about 90 guests in a “shed party” that was held March 4 at the Hidden Acres Barn in Palmetto. The party featured the 301 Travelers Band, a bonfire, barbecue, brews and a lot of boot-scootin’.

OnPlace develops lifestyle programs for communities all over the U.S.

Among the awards Onstad (shown above with Eric) won for her lifestyle programing in Lakewood Ranch were the 2017 Lifestyle Director of the Year award she received from the National Association of Home Builders and the “Bull by the Horns” award she received from the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance in 2018.

Everyone loves a parade

For John Gahan of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury in Lakewood Ranch, the big prize of the day was seeing all the new homes that will be showcased in the 2023 Parade of Homes as presented by the ManateeSarasota Builders Industry Association.

But before he could leave, Gahan (above) also had another score.

He won the East County Observer’s raffle prize.

The event was held March 1 at the Grove in Lakewood Ranch. More than 200 Realtors were in attendance to meet the builders and learn more about new communities and homes in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The Parade of Homes runs through March 26. For more information, go to ParadeofHomesinfo.com.

The popular program was dropped during the pandemic, but it has made a triumphant return.

SEE PAGE 14

Braden River High wrestler Jessey Colas wins a state championship and finishes undefeated at

Ryan Kohn

Braden River senior wrestler Jessey Colas captured the Class 2A title in the 182-pound division March 4 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

Liz Ramos

Tara Elementary School’s Sophia Johnson leaps into the air during a practice for the dance team.

Jay Heater

Lori Ruth

Life in the fast-food lane

in a clean, friendly environment,” he said.

El Mahdi said the motto of his company is “Love the guests, and help each other,” and that the food and experience of the restaurant would demonstrate the principle.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Dining options continue to expand in the Lakewood Ranch area but perhaps in an unexpected direction.

Once a desert in terms of fastfood options, chains have found the upscale community to their liking.

Sapphire Point’s Jimmy Rhode, who owns the newly opened Culver’s at the corner of State Road 64 and Pope Road, said he doesn’t think the trend is simply about convenience.

“I don’t think people necessarily want to just be in and out in a minute,” Rhode said. “The people in Lakewood Ranch care about the service and the hospitality and the smile,” he said.

Other recent additions to the Lakewood Ranch-area fast-food market include Panda Express and Slim Chickens, which landed at the northwest corner of Lorraine Road and State Road 70.

PANDA EXPRESS

Rose Braones, who manages multiple Panda Express locations regionally and assists at the new location in Lakewood Ranch, said local interest in the restaurant after its opening exceeded what was anticipated.

“We were expecting to do well, but the response of the community was amazing,” she said. “I think it doubled from what we expected. We are really happy and proud to be here.”

The restaurant serves dishes such as orange chicken, teriyaki chicken, and broccoli beef, with side options that include chow mein and rice.

Braones said the decision to bring Panda Express to Lakewood Ranch was made because the company perceived a demand in the area.

The closest Panda Express location previously was in Riverview, she said.

“We heard our guests say, ‘I had to drive close to an hour to come here,’” she said. “As a manager, we heard what our guests had to say, and we just brought those concerns to our supervisors.”

Braones said it is the restaurant’s dedication to creating a welcoming atmosphere that continues to draw customers.

“We consider ourselves to be in the people business,” she said. “We are glad to be here and provide new job opportunities to everyone. The relationship we create with our team is how we make the difference. That’s why people drive an hour to support us.”

She said there has been an excellent response to job postings in the area, with many applicants coming from Sarasota and Bradenton.

Braones said she began with the restaurant as a regular associate, eventually working her way up to a managerial position. “My supervisors trained and developed me all the way up,” she said. “We want to provide to our new members that sense of belonging.”

SLIM CHICKENS

Country Club’s Tommy El Mahdi, director of operations for Florida’s Best Chicken LLC., said that after living in Lakewood Ranch, he saw the need for more high-quality fastcasual dining.

“Being here in the community for all of these years, we needed a place that serves hot food fresh, fast and

The Arkansas-based fast-food restaurant specializes in fried chicken items, including sandwiches, wraps, and chicken and waffles. The chicken is marinated in buttermilk and individually hand-breaded. The restaurant is also distinguished by its jar desserts, layered treats which come in flavors including chocolate brownie.

Tampa’s David Kennedy, the restaurant manager, said Lakewood Ranch is often open to concepts not normally seen in Florida, such as a Skyline Chili nearby at 4112 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., making Slim Chickens a good fit for the area

“Starting something new in this area was exciting for me, and seeing it progress from start to finish is very exciting. It’s fun to introduce a new concept to a community, and it’s something I want to be a part of.”

He said the community has responded well to the restaurant.

He said while there are fried chicken concepts also found in East County, including Chick-fil-A and Zaxby’s, Slim Chickens differentiates its food offerings from those restaurants through items like the jar desserts.

He also said the atmosphere at Slim Chickens is part of its appeal.

“I think it’s a welcoming place,” he said. “It’s a welcoming business for the community.”

He said people are coming from as far as Brandon to work at the store.

“We think it’s a pretty cool place to work,” El Mahdi said.

CULVER’S Rhode said he first suggested opening a Culver’s in Florida before his family ever set foot in Lakewood Ranch.

It happened in 2015 at his family’s former home of Wisconsin, as a snowstorm was raging outside.

ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS

PANDA EXPRESS 14525 State Road 70, Lakewood Ranch

Phone: (941) 867-6088

Website: pandaexpress.com

SLIM CHICKENS

14675 State Road 70, Lakewood Ranch

Phone: (941) 541-7546

Website: slimchickens.com

CULVER’S

Address: 13020 State Road 64, Lakewood Ranch

Phone: (941) 896-7205

Website: culvers.com

Rhode turned to his wife, Karisa Rhode, and suggested the idea. The family, including 10-year-old Britta and 2-year-old Ellerie Rhode, moved to Greenbrook five months later and now live in Sapphire Point in Lakewood Ranch.

When Rhode arrived in 2015, he opened a Culver’s franchise on Cortez Road, which paved the way for his next Culver’s on S.R. 70 in East County.

Rhode purchased the S.R. 70 location from Steve and Dori Sherman. With that sale came the rights to the new location at Pope Road and S.R. 64.

“We knew it was going to be a great spot (Pope Road and S.R. 64) right out of the gate, and it really has been,” he said.

He said he isn’t surprised Lakewood Ranch has embraced the fastfood restaurants.

“I think more convenient options of quality is what is important,” he said.

“You can’t keep growing at the rate that (Culver’s is) without a solid foundation, without a local owneroperator who lives in the community and who goes into his restaurant every single day.”

Rhode’s restaurants have been active in causes that include local sports organizations, schools, charities and churches.

More fast-food chains find the Lakewood Ranch area to be enticing.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Lisa Caufield and Rose Braones serve customers at Panda Express.

Lakewood Ranch’s Tommy El Mahdi is director of operations for Florida’s Best Chicken LLC.

TEACHING TOOL

What: East Manatee Fire Rescue has donated a used fire truck to Manatee Technical College for its Diesel Systems Technology and Firefighter/EMT programs

Model: 2009 Pierce Saber

Truck type: Engine pumper Salvage value: $66,887

Engine manufacturer: Cummins

Fire truck answers the call at MTC

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Although a fire truck purchased in 2008 by Myakka City Fire Rescue is being retired, it is entering an important new chapter of its life.

The truck is being donated by East Manatee Fire Rescue, which merged with Myakka City Fire Rescue in 2021, to Manatee Technical College to be used in MTC’s Firefighter/EMT and Diesel Systems Technology programs.

“It’s an extraordinary donation for us,” said Jennifer Gilray, assistant director at MTC.

Gilray said the truck also could be used by MTC’s auto collision repair and auto logistics programs.

The first stop, though, will be the diesel program.

East Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Lee Whitehurst said the truck has entered a state known as “vapor lock.” The issue involves gas vaporizing too quickly, resulting in a loss of pressure. The truck has depreciated to a salvage value of $66,887, Fire Commissioner Derek Foss said.

So MTC diesel program students must solve the vapor lock issue first.

“I look forward to the challenge,” said Adam Green, an instructor for the diesel program. “The students will get a unique perspective on operational equipment.”

Once MTC’s board of governors approves the donation, the truck will be moved to MTC’s State Road 70 campus from its current home at Station 11 in Myakka City.

Whitehurst said MTC has been important to the fire department, with up to half of the new hires hav-

ing completed its Firefighter/EMT course. Whitehurst said he and Deputy Chief Paul Wren were former instructors at MTC.

DIESEL PROGRAM

The donation of the fire truck is an exciting development for MTC’s diesel program. Green said when the MTC diesel program began in October 2022, it had just one engine.

“In the short time that we’ve had here, we’ve accomplished a lot,” he said.

The program has since taken on multiple projects, among them two high-water vehicles from Manatee Search and Rescue.

Bradenton’s Paige Godwin, a student in the diesel program, said she is sure they will get the fire engine running.

“Mr. Green is a great teacher,” she said. “He definitely is a bounty of knowledge and the county is lucky to have him.”

Green said once the fire truck arrives, he hopes to have it up and running within a few weeks. He said while each engine is a little different, the basics of a diesel engine remain the same.

“It shows that the theory and the practice that we do could apply uniformly to many different fields in commercial diesel mechanics,” he said.

The students are looking forward to learning about a fire trucks other systems as well.

“The fire truck has a lot of unique systems,” said Palmetto’s Ryan Lazarus, another student in the diesel program. “It has a lot of hydraulic systems, it has pump systems that go on it, and all of that is part of working on it.”

While the fire truck donated by East Manatee Fire Rescue will serve as a teaching aid and will be kept by MTC, Green said the program also repairs vehicles that are returned to the user. The two vehicles from Manatee Search and Rescue, he said, are set to return to that organization on March 10.

Howl said that is of great value to Manatee Search and Rescue, which is a nonprofit, as well as the students who worked on the trucks.

Green said once the donated fire truck is repaired, it will receive the highest level of maintenance. It will be treated as if it had to go out on calls.

“When a fireman flips that switch to get that pump going, to send water into that house to save that family, it has to work without question,” Green said. “I don’t accept failure.”

FIREFIGHTER/EMT PROGRAM

Once the diesel program gets the donated fire truck running, and the diesel program students study it, the next stop will be to send the truck to the east campus so that students in the Firefighter/EMT program can learn from it.

Jay Bush, director of the Firefighter/EMT program, said the truck will open many new learning opportunities for the students. He said the students will get a close look how firefighters function when riding in such a truck or using it during a call. The students will actually go to a

live scene with the donated truck to learn more about their future profession.

“It will be cool to see them actually pulling up to the scene with a fire truck,” Bush said.

Bush said his program has had other important donations as well. MTC received a fire truck from Southern Manatee Fire Rescue and another from the City of Bradenton. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue donated an ambulance to the program.

MTC’s Firefighter/EMT program has worked to make sure its graduating students get a learning experience as close to the real thing as possible, for many of the graduates will go right to work after graduation.

Besides having more trucks and the ambulance, MTC also uses a fire tower for training. The tower has mechanisms to generate fire and smoke, as well as a liquefied petroleum gas field which exposes students to higher temperatures.

“If you want to be a firefighter, you have to get used to being hot in a lot of gear,” he said.

Bush said the donation of the fire truck is just one way East Manatee Fire Rescue has supported the program. The department recently donated 70 self-contained breathing apparatus tanks, which provide breathable air, as well as the frames the tanks rest on. The frames run $150 to $300 each.

East Manatee Fire Rescue donates the truck to be used by students in the diesel and firefighter/EMT programs.

Jennifer Gilray, assistant director at Manatee Technical College, and Jay Bush, director of the Firefighter and EMT program, said the donation was significant because of its wide benefit to the school.

Palmetto’s Ryan Lazarus, an MTC Student, services a Manatee County Search & Rescue vehicle.

Photos by Ian Swaby

The East Manatee Fire Rescue’s donated fire truck is currently located at Station 11 in Myakka City as it awaits its new home at Manatee Technical College.

Murray Friedberg, M.D.

Robert Edelman, M.D.

Scott Silverman, M.D.

Robert Sambursky, M.D.

Pooja Khator, M.D.

Jeffrey Davis, M.D.

Jody Abrams, M.D.

Paul Brannan, M.D.

Selina Lin, M.D.

Philip Ames, M.D.

Neal Kansara,

Hands-on experience now part of the course

Manatee schools increase career and technical education opportunities for its students.

Today’s learning environment has taken many forms as students prepare for different futures through the district’s career and technical education programs.

Many of these programs are quite different than what might have been expected from a school district only a decade ago.

At the same time Tyler Carrell, a senior at Parrish Community High School, is turning a wrench on a car in the school’s automotive technology program, Lakewood Ranch High School sophomore Abbie Becher is teaching Jack Wright, a child in the school’s Mini Mustangs program. Another School District of Manatee County student might be learning agriscience in a barn, while still another is operating a drone in front of his or her school.

Gone are the days of students learning how to sew in a home economics class or a student learning to make a birdhouse in woodshop.

However, the district has recognized the need for career and technical education is constantly changing and it is trying to meet those needs.

Paul Gansemer, the executive director of adult, career and technical education for the district, said career and technical education started as a focus on agriculture, and family and consumer science, but times have changed.

Photos by Liz Ramos

Skyler Johnson, a sophomore at Parrish Community High School, uses an endoscope to check the valves during a class in the school’s automotive maintenance and light repair program.

“Back in the early 1900s, it was about growing food, taking care of the farm, taking care of the house and the children,” he said. “As you move forward, different programs were developed based on the needs of the community, which was mostly through technology.”

Classes like woodshop turned into manufacturing. Rather than learning how to use a hammer and nails, students are using 3D printers, lasers and robots.

A computer class would have taught typing decades ago, but now students are learning to type in elementary school. Computer classes in high school are focused on cybersecurity, web design and computer gaming and simulation.

The district has worked with businesses and industry leaders in the community to find what is needed, and then it develops courses to address those needs.

“A lot of it is based on the needs of the community and the state that allows us to offer those courses and classes,” Gansemer said. “It’s extremely important to have opportunities for students to learn the skills to be able to go into a career field of their choice. If they’re able to get that at the high school level, it gives them the opportunity to get into the work field earlier and earn a wage to support their family.

Our community can be strong and vibrant based on the training of our students.”

The district tries to provide the same equipment that’s used in the industry in the classroom so students already know how to use it if they land a job.

Businesses and organizations in the community are supporting the district’s efforts to develop skilled students they can eventually employ.

The Gettel Automotive Group donated $25,000 to Parrish Community High School’s automotive maintenance and light repair program. With the donation, Sherman Ballard, the program’s teacher, said the program can upgrade its technology, and he can buy basic supplies for his students.

“We’re looking at technology that changes every day, especially, in the automotive fields,” Ballard said. “You have to stay on top of it.”

Ballard said more focus will be

placed on electric cars in the automotive industry now with hybrid vehicles. His program will continue to teach students how to diagnose and repair a standard vehicle, but he hopes to expand to teach more about hybrid vehicles so students can get a leg up.

Carrell wanted to be in the automotive program after watching all the “Fast and Furious” movies. See-

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSES

The School District of Manatee County offers dozens of career and technical education courses in its high schools. Here’s what’s available at Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools:

n Agriscience

n Horticulture sciences and services

n Veterinary assistant

n Commercial art technology

n Digital photography technology

n Digital information technology

n Television production technology

n Accounting

n Computer game and simulation

n Business ownership

n Marketing

n Advanced technology applications

n Applied engineering technology

n Robotic design

n Animal science and services

n Early childhood education

n Media integrated

n User interface design

n Web design

n International marketing

know what a tire machine was or what brakes did or power steering.”

ing Paul Walker, who plays Brian O’Conner in the movies, build a Supra from the ground up was inspiration for Carrell to learn more about the automotive industry.

When he walked into the shop for the first time three years ago, he had no clue what he was doing.

“It was exciting but also very overwhelming because everything was so new to me,” Carrell said. “I didn’t

The Parrish Community High senior said the automotive program has been “life changing.” He started high school wanting to become a veterinarian, but after being in the automotive program, he sees himself going into the mechanical field. His dream job is in aeronautical mechanics working on planes for a living.

“This way, I’ll have money so I can go play with cars, and I want to work on something a little bigger than vehicles,” he said.

Career and technical education have become integrated into middle school education as well, so students can start their education in a certain

field in middle school and continue on through high school. For example, students can begin to learn about robotics at a higher level in middle school before moving onto advanced robotics skills in high school.

“If you think about manufacturing, our society has changed to where technology is doing many of the tasks of assembly or creating,” Gansemer said. “A lot of it is dealt with by the use of robotics. A lot of the teaching we do with robotics is helping students understand coding and how to manipulate a robot so if they get a job within manufacturing, they’re ready.”

Whether students choose to go to college, a technical school or the workforce, Gansemer said students are prepared for their future postgraduation.

Many students are able to take tests to earn certifications that make them career-ready once they graduate.

“Last year, a couple of my students actually got hired in full time, pretty good-paying jobs,” Ballard said. “I’m really proud of them, to see their enthusiasm when they know they can either work on their own cars or their parents’ car, or anything like that.”

Not all career and technical education courses are about technology. Some teach students about art, agriculture or early childhood education.

Lakewood Ranch High School has the only early childhood education course in the school district. The school has its Mini Mustangs program where children will come on campus, and high school students will serve as teachers as part of the early childhood education class.

Delaney Riggins, the early childhood education teacher, said the class and Mini Mustangs gives her students hands-on experience in teaching before they graduate.

They are tasked with creating and following lesson plans and working with the children. Their junior year, students will go off-campus to an early childhood education site such as a preschool or elementary school to get real-world experience. Riggins said by the time they graduate, they are ready to earn a certification that allows them to work in an early childhood education setting.

Braden River High School’s Austin Bankuty calibrates a drone. More career and technical education classes are focusing on robotics, drones and other technology to prepare students for their future careers.

Alayna Nguyen works her Play-Doh into different shapes with help from Lakewood Ranch High junior Kayla Mayrina during a Mini Mustangs class.

The Taylor Emmons’ factor

WHAT IS THE TAYLOR EMMONS SCHOLARSHIP FUND?

SENIOR EDITOR

East County’s Austin Brinling always knew he was a good baseball player.

He always knew he wanted to be a college athlete.

But he wasn’t sure how he was going to get there.

When Brinling became a Taylor Emmons Scholarship recipient, he knew his dream of becoming a college baseball player had received a huge boost.

The Taylor Emmons Scholarship provides an opportunity for socioeconomically diverse students to attend the Out-of-Door Academy’s upper school in Lakewood Ranch at no cost.  Brinling’s connections and the relationships he developed as a baseball player at ODA were what helped him play at the University of North Florida, where he is a junior majoring in sports management.

“I didn’t know the path I needed to go in order to get to that point,” he said. “The (ODA) coaches were able to point me in that direction. These coaches were able to get me in touch with travel coaches to help me travel around Florida and Georgia and play in tournaments where all these recruiters would be there to help me go places I never thought I could go.”

Brinling, who is hitting .386 for North Florida through 12 games, said being a Taylor Emmons Scholarship recipient makes him feel like he

Mike and Katie Emmons started the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund in honor of their son, Taylor Emmons, an Out-of-Door Academy student who died in a car accident at 19 years old in 2010. The fund provides scholarship opportunities for socio-economically diverse students to attend ODA at no cost.

To make a donation to the fund, visit TEmmons.org.

has more at stake than other ODA students and graduates.

“That’s something that very few people get a chance to do,” Brinling said. “Since I was able to get this opportunity, I feel like I’ve been able to take full advantage of it. It’s a great honor. I don’t know where I would be without it.”

Here is a look at what the 11 other Taylor Emmons Scholarship recipients are doing:

DESMOND LINDSAY

Years at ODA: 2011-2015

After ODA: Drafted by the New York Mets and has played minor league baseball for the past seven years. He is working toward earning his bachelor’s degree while taking a break from baseball because of injuries.

School: Northeastern University

Major: Financial accounting and management

SIERRA VANSUCH

Years at ODA: 2012-2016

After ODA: Graduated from

Northeastern University with a bachelor’s in bioengineering with a concentration in solid tissue engineering

Job: She works for a life science company, Solid Biosciences, working to find treatments for diseases such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Friedreich’s ataxia.

CAMERON SMALLEY

Years at ODA: 2013-2017

After ODA: Graduated from Florida State University with a degree in psychology

Job: Recruiter at Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers

BAILEY EKES

Years at ODA: 2014-2018

After ODA: Graduated from Florida State University with a degree in psychology. She’s considered enrolling in a physician assistant graduate program or getting a doctorate in psychology.

Job: Medical scribe at Sarasota Memorial Hospital

AUSTIN BRINLING

Years at ODA: 2015-2019

After ODA: Attending University of North Florida where he plays

baseball Major: Sports management

JJ EASTO

Years at ODA: 2016-2017 and 2019-

2020

After ODA: Attended and played football at Albright College until the football program was shut down as a result of the pandemic. Now he’s enrolled at the University of South Florida.

Major: Political science (planning to go to law school)

Job: He works part time at a Mexican restaurant and coaches youth basketball for the Manatee

YMCA

KAYLEN RIVERS

Years at ODA: 2017-2021

After ODA: Attending Harvard University

Major: Neurobiology

DANI TARASKA

Years at ODA: 2018-2022

After ODA: Attending Berry College where she plays lacrosse

Major: Pre-med

NEVAN HERNANDEZ

Years at ODA: 2019-2023

Involvement at ODA: Baseball and

fishing club

Plans for the future: Attend and play baseball at Daytona State College

REBECCA AGUILERA

Years at ODA: 2020-2024

Involvement at ODA: Tennis player, taking three Advanced Placement courses

Plans for the future: Attend Florida State University, University of Florida, University of South Florida or Florida Gulf Coast University to major in biology and go into pre-med

BEN GARCIA

Years at ODA: 2021-2025

Involvement at ODA: Baseball player

Plans for the future: Play baseball at the college level and earn a degree in physical therapy

TRENTON HITCHCOCK

Years at ODA: 2022-2026

Involvement at ODA: Baseball and fishing club

Dr. Boldo is board certified and fellowship trained in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. She is also certified in endocrine neck ultrasound. Dr. Boldo specializes in diagnosis and medical management of thyroid and parathyroid disorders and metabolic bone disease including comprehensive osteoporosis treatment. Dr. Boldo is fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish and German.

LIZ RAMOS

The Taylor Emmons Scholarship was formed to give recipients a boost forward in life at the Out-of-Door Academy. Here’s how it is doing.

Courtesy photos

Top row, from left: Austin Brinling, Dani Taraska, Ben Garcia, Bailey Ekes, Cameron Smalley, Desmond Lindsay

Bottom row, left: JJ Easto, Kaylen Rivers, Nevan Hernandez, Rebecca Aguilera, Sierra VanSuch, Trenton Hitchcock

ESPLANADE’S GANG SOARS

IF YOU GO

The Florida Center for Early Childhood’s Seaside Treasures

After Hurricane Ian ripped through Sarasota and Manatee counties last September, Esplanade’s Richy Perez received an email.

Esplanade’s Tim Wilson, who serves on the board of the Florida Center for Early Childhood in Sarasota, asked Perez if he could help organize a group of volunteers to clean up the nonprofit’s campus that was ravaged by the hurricane.

Perez knew what to do.

He reached out to the Sorrento “Stay Thirsty” Gang, a group of more than 200 residents who mostly live on Sorrento Way in Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch.

It didn’t take long for Perez to hear back from dozens of Sorrento Gang members wanting to go to the nonprofit’s campus in Sarasota to volunteer or purchase supplies the Florida Center for Early Childhood needed to support its families.

The next day, the Sorrento Gang was in full force clearing branches, picking up the campus, building a fence and more to support the Florida Center for Early Childhood.

When Perez returned home from volunteering, he found his driveway filled with donations for the nonprofit.

Since its inception in 2018, the Sorrento “Stay Thirsty” Gang has found various ways to balance having fun and raising money for nonprofits.

“We’re all at a stage in our lives that we feel appreciative of where we are, and it’s time to give back,” Perez said.

The Florida Center for Early Childhood Education will honor the Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch group at its Seaside Treasures Luncheon March 30 for its efforts.

After raising money for the nonprofit through a Super Bowl pool, Perez said the group wanted to do more than just hand the Florida Center for Early Childhood Education a check. The Sorrento Gang wanted to find ways its members could volunteer, so a few members visited the nonprofit to learn more about its mission. The Sorrento Gang members were blown away by the work done to provide therapeutic services and early education to children in southwest Florida.

“It was exactly what we needed,” Perez said. “It was a win-win from the start. We as a group wanted a good excuse to get off our couches.”

Esplanade’s Lizane Nando spearheaded the volunteer efforts, coordinating with the Florida Center for Early Childhood. Now about a dozen Sorrento Gang members spend two days a week at the nonprofit volunteering.

“When you work with children, you see the smiles,” Nando said. “Sometimes the teacher wants us to work with one child, so we try to engage that child one-on-one and then with the whole group. It’s always fun because the kids start talking about everything and it

Luncheon

When: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 30

Where: Art Ovation Hotel, 1225 North Palm Ave., Sarasota

Cost: $125 per ticket

Details: The Florida Center for Early Childhood will honor community organizations and recognize their efforts in helping children and families in need. More information: Visit TheFloridaCenter.org/schedule/ seaside-treasures-luncheon/

makes you laugh. You come out of there with a nice smile.”

Kristen Theisen, the chief development officer at Florida Center for Early Childhood, said the nonprofit is appreciative of the Sorrento Gang’s dedication.

“I love getting to know them and learning about where they came from, what experiences they’ve had and the different ways they can bring their talents to the children and families we serve,” she said. “It’s been heartwarming to see how much they give of themselves. Whether it was collecting supplies for our North Port campus or bringing power tools and supplies to our Sarasota campus to help after the hurricane damaged our playground, they just jump in and seem to do whatever they can.”

The Sorrento Gang started as a group of neighbors who moved onto Sorrento Way in the fall of 2018. They were all looking for ways to meet new people and settle into their new neighborhood.

In December 2018, Perez and his wife, Luly Martinez, decided to host a Christmas party and invited the neighbors.

Before Perez and Martinez knew it, they had more than 60 people in their home talking, laughing and having a good time.

Backyard parties and Friday night socials became a regular occurrence

Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch’s Len Frischer and Richy Perez celebrate the Sorrento “Stay Thirsty” Gang’s donation to Special Olympics Florida with Pam Fazio, the Manatee County director of Special Olympics Florida, and Kristine Aristide, the regional development director of Special Olympics Florida.

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

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Publisher and President / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com

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Senior Editor / Liz Ramos, LRamos@YourObserver.com

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for the neighbors.

“We are fortunate to live in a place like Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch,” Perez said. “You love seeing the pool, the golf course, and initially, we all stepped back and said, ‘Wow,’ but that wow factor fades away. What stays is the quality of the people. That’s what makes this place unique and special. When we moved here, we knew we were coming to a nice place. We didn’t know we were coming to a special place.”

The Sorrento Group decided to take their social outings onto the golf course for a tournament in 2019. But rather than simply playing 18 holes of golf, each hole had a twist, such as swinging left-handed (if the golfer is right-handed) or throwing the ball instead of hitting it with a club.

The golf tournament inspired members of the group to have another tournament, but this time, they wanted to raise money for a nonprofit.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the Sorrento Gang to cancel its golf tournament to benefit Special Olympics Florida.

But that didn’t stop the group from finding other ways to raise money for organizations.

The Sorrento Gang has an annual Super Bowl pool and has raised thousands to support nonprofits including Breast Health Sarasota, UnidosNow and the Florida Center for Early Childhood.  Perez said some members who win in the pool choose to donate their winnings to the nonprofit.

“They say just leave it in the pot for the charity,” Perez said. “Yet they’re competitive and will brag about their winning square for the next six months. But they didn’t make a penny out of it.”

Members of the Sorrento Gang made masks for local hospitals. They had a food drive that raised more than $5,000 and filled at least 10 bins with food to donate to the Food Bank of Manatee.

Once the group thought it was safe to host a large event, the Sorrento Gang held its golf tournament for Special Olympics Florida and raised more than $40,000.

FUNDRAISING FUN

The Sorrento “Stay Thirsty” Gang has found ways to raise money for nonprofits while having a good time.

Super Bowl pool 2020: Raised $4,000 for Breast Health Sarasota

Food drive in 2020: Raised almost $5,000 and filled 10 bins with food for the Food Bank of Manatee

Golf tournament 2021: Raised $40,310 for Special Olympics Florida

Super Bowl pool 2022: Raised $7,000 for the Florida Center for Early Childhood

Super Bowl pool 2023: Raised $5,000 for UnidosNow

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Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch’s George Scherff, Robyn Kaiserman and Martin Hartmann, who are a part of the Sorrento Gang, volunteer at the Florida Center for Early Childhood.

Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned. Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer, Palm Coast Observer, Ormond Beach Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin Park Living Magazine and Season Magazine

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

©

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

From golf tournaments to Super Bowl pools, the Sorrento Gang of Esplanade provides work hours and funds to benefit the community.

Courtesy photos

The Tides at Waterside looks to continue hot trend

Fresh out of college — yes, this was back in the day — I was apartment hunting in Berkeley, California.

I finally found one, but size-wise, I can tell you I’ve seen bigger closets in the Lake Club. But, it had a bed, and an ancient ice box that had been converted into a refrigerator.

I have no idea why.

The walls were made out of paper mache. The people who lived in the apartments surrounding me, I knew all their habits. And I mean all of them.

All righty then.

So as grateful as I was to find an apartment, after a year I wanted out. One of my coworkers at the newspaper where I worked owned an apartment building. So I moved.

It was a way bigger, two-bedroom apartment on the first floor. I thought it was great.

Then I met the guy who lived upstairs, a 6-foot-5, Berkeley policeman. He looked like a football defensive end.

Unfortunately for me, this guy’s shift ended about 2 a.m., and when he came home, he marched around on his hardwood floors.

Oh for goodness sake. Please sit down. The point is that apartments come in all sizes and shapes, and very few of them are perfect. I discovered early that I am a singlefamily home kind of guy.

So I was interested in seeing the 230-home Estia of Lakewood Ranch neighborhood for the first time just after it opened in 2020. It is made up of smallish single-family homes, all one- or two-bedrooms, that are intended to be an alternative to regular apartment living.

For one, your walls are your own, and not shared with a guy who plays the tuba.

Next, you have your own fencedin lawn. Sure, you can’t do more than four cartwheels in any direction, but if you have a pet, it is huge.

More on that in a minute.

Most important, though, was the fact you would be experiencing the joy of a single-family home while paying top-end apartment rent. There were windows in every wall, and the only things sitting on the roof were birds.

With fewer apartment options in the Lakewood Ranch area at the time, Estia sold like wildfire, and so did its sister community, 215-home Artesia, which opened in 2021.

It all made sense, but then apartment buildings began springing up like fire ants, and the real estate market took a crazy turn, and housing values skyrocketed. The rental market followed suit, and those who were paying $1,100 for a one-bedroom apartment were soon paying $1,800. Those two-bedroom apartments were $2,300. And those single-family home apartments had to keep pace. As I drive though Lakewood Ranch, I can’t help but wonder if

those single-family home apartments would be negatively affected by inflation. Sure it’s nice not to share walls with neighbors, but what is it worth to not have to listen to the neighbor’s cuckoo clock? Would those single-family home rental communities — five in all recently built or headed to Lakewood Ranch — become ghost towns? A 2020 Forbes article called single-family, built-for-rent homes as “The New Face of Rental Housing.” But were those tears on that face?

I, for one, thought those singlefamily home rental communities might be less attractive with bloated rents, but a Northmarq market analysis in November said, “Single-family rental communities, which often have high-wage renters and low turnover, should stand out in the current economic climate.”

Northmarq is a capital markets resource for commercial real estate investors. Sounds impressive.

Mike King, the director of multifamily operations and development for Zilber, which has built Estia and Artesia and currently is getting ready to open sales on its “The Tides” neighborhood in Waterside, said despite inflation, the singlefamily, built-to-rent home rental market remains hot.

“All three (neighborhoods) are roughly similar to traditional apartment sizes,” King said. “But it is adding a lot of benefits for tenants. No one is above or below you. You have a private outdoor, fenced-in space. You have lighting coming (into the home) from three or four sides. We liked them because we felt it would be an improvement on an apartment.

“Then both Estia and Artesia leased up incredibly quickly … much faster than we thought we would see. The market justified what we were thinking.”

King said not only is there a waiting list for someone to move out of Estia or Artesia, but those living in the communities have their eyes set on longer-term leases. With so many new homes being built in Lakewood Ranch, King said those at Zilber originally thought that they would have several rentals on shortterm leases as people wait for their homes to be built. That hasn’t been the case. Those who have rented have found their long-term home.

The Tides figures to continue that trend, especially since it is along Lake Spoonbill in Waterside and is only about a half mile from the Waterside Place entertainment hub.

“It is definitely going to be our best site so far,” King said.

The Tides, which will have 366 homes, will begin selling in June and Zilber’s website for the community will be available by the end of this month.

Furthermore, King said rents for The Tides will continue to hover at the top of the apartment market.

“A one-bedroom home will be

under $2,000,” King said. “A twobedroom will be in the low $2,000s. That’s where the rental market is.”

He also stressed it would be tough to make the concept work without the help of developer SchroederManatee Ranch, which made the land available for a price that would allow Zilber to make the project economically feasible.

“The challenge is that this (community) is so much less dense than a traditional apartment community,” King said. “It is not like you are piling them up in a four-story building. The challenge is there for most land sites in which (the landowners) are willing to sell for apartments. We couldn’t compete with that product type. SMR wants a wide diversity of living types — for sale and rent, everything. They saw this as another step, and they wanted to make it workable.”

And with SMR’s help, Zilber can rely on how its products stack up against “regular” apartments.

“Obviously, there is competition in Waterside,” King said. “But if people have pets, at The Tides they can let them go out in the yard.”

Through a doggy door.

King said a Zilber study of Estia and Artesia has shown more than 60% of the residents have pets.

“That stands out more than we thought,” King said. “Pet owners love the fact they have these builtin dog doors. All the backyards are fenced-in. Pets can come and go as they please. It is our No. 1 demographic.”

Courtesy photo

This aerial photo, taken in February, shows construction in The Tides community which features single-family, built-to-rent homes on Lake Spoonbill in Waterside.

ACTIVE AND PAIN

After having the same Orthopedist for years I was very hesitant and nervous to go see a new one. After 5 minutes with Dr Silverstein I was put at ease, so much so I scheduled a full hip replacement. The hip replacement was such a success that now Dr Silverstein is doing my knee. I have complete confidence in Dr Silverstein and will highly recommended him to anyone who may need any type of orthopedic services.

Dr Silverstein has given me a new outlook on life again. I was very skeptical of getting a hip surgery at 34. But now 2 months after I am completely back to a normal life and getting better than ever thought.

I am playing with my kids and just got my first job after three years. Dr Silverstein is very intelligent and amazing. I am forever grateful of what he has done for me. Don’t wait in pain like I did.

County provides forums to collect roads feedback

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

Kim Ettel stood in front of a huge diagram of Manatee County’s Lena Road widening and extension project and gave a big sigh.

“I’m relieved,” Ettel said March 2 during a county information session on the project at Peace Presbyterian Church in Lakewood Ranch.

The county held the program to give residents a chance to learn more about the project and to give any feedback they thought was appropriate.

Ettel’s property borders the north end of Lena Road as it approaches State Road 64. Future construction there will take a small strip of her land.

“I was worried they would take quite a bit of my property,” she said. “I was thinking it was much more than it was.”

Manatee County had several members of its Public Works department answering all the questions of anyone who attended.

“We are about 60% done with the planning,” said Ogden Clark, a strategic planning manager for the county. “The idea is to present what we’ve done. We’re trying to listen to the community.”

Clark said the county has time to react to feedback on the project.

The Public Works Department is giving the public plenty of chances to influence future construction of road improvements in their neighborhoods. Three days earlier, Public Works officials met with members of the Creekwood community at the community’s HOA office in Lakewood Ranch to discuss plans for a roundabout.

Motorists have been complaining to Public Works about the jam created when they try to exit the Creekwood Crossing shopping center on 52nd Place East with the hope of getting back to State Road 70. When Creekwood Boulevard gets

busy, it makes the lefthand turn off 52nd Place East difficult at best, and the resulting wait backs traffic up severely into the center. To avoid that prospect, if they can even get to Creekwood Boulevard, motorists are turning right onto Creekwood Boulevard before finding a place to make a u-turn for the return to S.R. 70.

So a roundabout was planned for the intersection of Creekwood Boulevard and 73rd Street East.

Some members of the community were disgruntled and said the county had not contacted them about the plans. Clark said the county had been providing all the information to the HOA and thought that information had been passed to the residents.

Creekwood’s Thomas Carter said that was not the case. Upon hearing the residents were disgruntled, Manatee County scheduled the meeting for anyone interested. More than 40 people showed up.

Carter said his neighbors are still concerned about the roundabout plans, but he felt Public Works representatives listened to the concerns of both him and his neighbors.

The next chance for public input on a project comes 6-8 p.m. March 21 at Peace Presbyterian Church when the county will set up design boards and will have staff members on hand to answer questions and listen to concerns.

Jay Heater Mike Ferguson and Kim Ettel, two residents who have property bordering Lena Road, check out future plans for the road at a public meeting hosted by Manatee County at Peace Presbyterian Church.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON ONE PARK SARASOTA

One Park Sarasota is an 18-story, 123-residence tower wrapped in glass that pays tribute to the local architecture and promises exquisite attention to detail and a serene, holistic residential experience. Designed by Sarasota-based firm Hoyt Architects and developed by Property Markets Group (PMG), One Park will be a first-in-class luxury development in downtown Sarasota. To date, 75 people who love the Sarasota community have already purchased and are excited for the project to break ground.

The concept was to create an iconic tower, creating a gateway building that would connect the front yard of “The Bay” with the activity energy center of Quay Commons and the Waterfront District.

- Gary Hoyt AIA, Hoyt Architects Setting The Record Straight On One Park Sarasota

Though referenced as the soon-tobe largest building downtown, One Park Sarasota will not overshadow its neighbors in The Quay Sarasota in height nor size once completed. The unique angle of the property with its glass-lined facade will be a stunning addition to the area, seamlessly blending with its surroundings both natural and built.

By Comparison:

• One Park is 2 feet, 7 inches shorter than the new Ritz-Carlton Residences being proposed on Blocks 7 and 8 in the Quay.

• The VUE and The Westin Sarasota is significantly larger than any other completed or proposed property in the Quay, measuring at 859,000 gross square feet with a linear frontage (along Tamiami Trail and Gulfstream Blvd.) of 719 feet. This is almost double the linear frontage of Bayso and One Park.

• One Park’s linear frontage is smaller than Bayso, measuring approximately 360 linear feet whereas Bayso is approximately 365 linear feet. Lennar’s linear frontage (North and South along Quay Commons) is much larger than One Park, measuring 435 feet in length.

Thoughtful Development Approach

Decisions regarding the size of the property were made meticulously and intentionally in order to increase the overall benefit to those who will call the city of Sarasota home, beyond the residents of One Park Sarasota itself. The developer had the opportunity

to build 150 units on the site where One Park will be built. After internal discussions, thoughtful decisions about the size of One Park were made with future residents of One Park, neighbors in the Quay and the community in mind. The developer reduced the size of the building by 18% to total 123 units. Reducing the saleable square footage and number of units allowed the architect to substantially increase the distance from the building to the property line in order to maximize light and air for residents and neighboring buildings.

One Park Activates Community Connection

Outdoors on the ground level, One Park Sarasota will deliver a 76foot wide, 22-foot high, beautifully designed, well-lit and safe breezeway above Quay Commons with access to The Quay and The Bay Park from the Boulevard of the Arts. This dynamic pedestrian walkway will not only bring safe, widened sidewalks and lush greenery to an otherwise vacant space, but will also activate the space for Sarasota locals and residents. While the City of Sarasota code does not require the project to have any retail space, the developers of One Park are planning more than 13,000 square

feet of retail, dining, and outdoor café seating. Whether someone is looking to grab coffee or find respite during a particularly rainy or hot summer day, this activated space will benefit all who visit The Quay by offering a seamless way to commute to and from its array of shopping and dining venues.

Developing With The City in Mind

During the planning phase of the project, the developer had the opportunity to maximize two buildable lots on the future site of One Park Sarasota. Rather than constructing two larger towers and forgoing any retail component in the development, the developer has chosen to create one seamless property that will activate the pedestrian experience with shops, restaurants, and cafes for the community to enjoy, serving as a warm welcome for all to The Quay. The development team is making a commitment to Sarasota. A commitment to provide not only the most architecturally significant building in downtown Sarasota, high-quality construction, mindfully designed interiors, sweeping vistas and best-in-class amenities for residents, but a commitment to the community to provide exciting retail offerings including shopping, restaurants, a café and expansive sidewalks, all as part of a well-lit and safe atmosphere for the community to enjoy.

ARTIST CONCEPTUAL RENDERING

Return of the green

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

The Irish Celtic Festival will put the green back into Greenbrook Adventure Park on March 11 for the first time since 2020.

Canceled in 2021 because of the pandemic and this past year because of rain, the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities’ festival returns with all its Irish food and drink, the live music and the Lucky Dog Parade. More than 1,500 people are expected to attend the 2023 events. They will, of course, be dressed in green.

“Seeing everyone get all decked out in green is so much fun,” said Aliye Presley, marketing and events manager for Lakewood Ranch Community Activities. “Those who come from Irish heritage are proud to represent and really make this festival the staple that it is.”

Some consider themselves descendants from Irish heritage for just one afternoon.

“We are bringing back Irish Celtic Festival favorites and making this our best year yet,” Presley said. “This event has become part of the fabric of Lakewood Ranch year after year. One piece of this festival that is near and dear to the hearts of so many locals is the memory of Frank Shea.”

Shea, who died Jan. 17, 2020 at age 59, founded the festival because he wanted to have cultural celebrations that were similar to those he attended at his previous home in Boston. He decided to have a small St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the Lakewood Ranch Town Hall parking lot in 2011. The next year, he started the Irish Celtic Festival.

“Celebrating Irish culture was a passion of his that has become such a staple of our community events,” Presley said.

Shea died of cancer Jan. 17, 2020, at 59 years old, but he had organized the 2020 festival that ran later that year.

A full schedule of Irish bands and

IF YOU GO

IRISH CELTIC FESTIVAL

When: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

March 11

Where: Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Place, Bradenton

Cost: Free admission; $5

parking Details: Enjoy Irish-themed musical performances, traditional Celtic food, craft beers, hard ciders, face painting, a relay race and the Lucky Dog Parade.

More information: Visit MyLWR.com.

pipers, including Cahal Dunne, Celtic Conundrum, Lion Rampant Pipe and Drum and Blue Skye Pipes and Drums, will provide entertainment on the stage and around the festival.

Food trucks will offer special Irish-themed menus with traditional dishes created just for the Irish Celtic Festival, Presley said.

The festival won’t just be entertaining for people, but their furry friends as well.

People can register their dogs for the Lucky Dog Parade, where awards will be given for dogs that are “most Irish” and “cutest” as well as for the dog and owner look-alike contest.

File photo East County resident Ann Jefferds plays the bagpipes to lead members of Lion Rampant Pipe and Drum during the Lucky Dog Parade in 2020.

Tara gets its groove back

The school’s Parent-Teacher Organization started the popular dance program again after it had been canceled because of the pandemic.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

Ava Olivero, a second grader at Tara Elementary School, had no problem showing attitude in her dance routine.

She wagged her finger in the air, saying “no” and puckered her lips a little.

Olivero went on to dance in sync with the other members of the Tara Elementary School dance team as they learned a new routine.

The girls did their best to pick up the new moves quickly and to dance in unison.

The dance team has been learning new routines since November, when the extracurricular activity returned to the school as provided by the Parent-Teacher Organization.

Bunni Roberts founded the Tara dance team 24 years ago when she was a teacher at the school, but after the COVID-19 pandemic and Roberts’ retirement, the team was disbanded.

The team started with 14 students when the program first began. It eventually grew to having approximately 60 students.

Lisa Jobst, president of Tara Elementary’s PTO, said one of the

main reasons she wanted to have her daughter, Gloriana Jobst, attend Tara Elementary was the dance team.

“I thought it was such a unique opportunity,” Jobst said. “It stood out to me as something special.”

Jobst said Roberts fostered a sense of community and gave opportunities for the students to bond and build relationships. Although not a competitive team, students worked together as a team, dancing in unison and supporting one another. They performed during big school events.

When the team disbanded in 2020, Jobst, the students on the team and their parents were disappointed.

So when the school brought back extracurriculars as the pandemic subsided in the 2021-22 school year, Jobst started working with Dannin Grosso, a PTO co-secretary, to bring the team back.

The PTO charges $38 per month per student. The organization rents the cafeteria every Wednesday for practice.

“The girls have fun,” Grosso said. “They learn a new dance every time, and the progress they make each week is amazing. I love seeing the smiles on their faces. It brings them so much joy to the school and to each other.”

Fourth grader Valentine Inda said she looks forward to Wednesdays because she knows she has dance practice.

“I like getting to hang out and make new friends,” she said.

Savannah Grosso, a fourth grader, loves to learn new dance routines. Although she gets a little nervous performing in front of others, she’s always excited. The team performed during the holidays and at the school’s sweetheart dance Feb. 10.

“It was cool to perform in front of everyone,” she said. “We are dancing in a place we know, so we’re more comfortable.”

This year, the team only can have 30 students, and there is a waitlist of about 25 students, so the PTO is hoping to expand next year to have classes offered two days per week.

Jobst said the PTO wanted the dance team to be available as an after school program so it doesn’t interfere with other activities and parents can pick their students up from school at

a later time. Students also have the opportunity to get to know others in the school.

“There aren’t as many extracurricular activities that kids can do with their classmates,” Jobst said. “It’s extra special to be able to continue building that sense of community with an after school activity. You won’t find that as much with a separate dance school where the kids would come from lots of different schools.”

Michelle McCord, owner of Ovation School of Theatre, leads the dance team, teaching them new techniques and routines.

“I’m incredibly impressed with them,” McCord said. “I see so much of a difference in a short period of time. They focus, pay attention and are very disciplined. I love seeing the smiles. They are laughing. It’s wonderful.”

Photos by Liz Ramos

Michelle McCord, owner of Ovation School of Musical Theatre, leads Tara Elementary School students in the next steps of their dance routine.

Tara Elementary School’s Ava Olivero is not afraid to show attitude in her dance routine.

SPORTS

Fast Break

no matter how tired he was. He told himself to go, and he did. So he did it again, and again, into the 2022-2023 high school season.

The Braden River coaches decided Colas would fit better at 182 pounds instead of 160, so he made the switch, even though he wasn’t used to the bigger wrestlers. Even so, his confidence never dropped, and neither did his record. Seventy-one matches later, Colas was a state champion.

Even in the state tournament, things only looked dire once, in Colas’ semifinal match with Fleming Island High’s Josh Sandoval (47-6).

“I took him down late to make it 4-4,” Colas said. “Then with probably 30 seconds left, I heard my coach say, ‘let him up,’ so I did. But that gave him a point, so it was 5-4, and my heart dropped. I was scared and nervous. But then I went into ‘go’ mode. I knew I had to get a takedown to win and I got one, almost going out of bounds, with around three seconds left.”

Former Lakewood Ranch

High track and field

athlete James Rivera, a junior at Florida State University, finished 12th in the 400-meter run (48.12 seconds) at the Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Championships on Feb. 25 in Louisville, Kentucky. Rivera also helped the Seminoles’ 400-meter relay team finish third overall (3:09.14).

Nathan Benderson Park was named the best rowing venue in North America by Rowing News Magazine on March 6. The venue is currently preparing for the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, which will come to the park March 30-April 1.

Former Lakewood Ranch

High boys basketball Coach

Jeremy Schiller has continued his success at IMG Academy. Coaching the school’s varsity program (IMG Blue), Schiller led the Ascenders to an 18-9 record in 2022-2023 and won the High School Slam consolation bracket at the Big Shots Prep National Championships, held Feb. 24-26 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. One of his players, 6-foot-9 freshman wing Tim Winkler Jr., has received offers from the universities of Florida and Auburn.

…After an 11-1 season in 2022, the Braden River High girls flag football team has started the 2023 season equally strong, beating Bayshore High 27-6 at home on Feb. 28, then beating Gibbs High — a playoff team from a season ago — 7-0 on the road March 3. The team will next play at home at 6:15 p.m. March 22 against Tampa Catholic (1-3).

Gene Storm sank a holein-one Feb. 26 on the 136-yard No. 4 hole of Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s King’s Dunes course with an 8-iron. Then on March 1, there were two hole-in-ones at University Park Country Club. William Dugger sank one on the 135yard No. 5 hole with an 8-iron and Larry Giaimo sank one on the 161-yard No. 11 hole with a 2-hybrid.

Undefeated!

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

Two words changed the fortunes of Braden River High senior wrestler Jessey Colas.

“Just go.”

Colas remembered those words, first delivered by his coaches last offseason, when he took the mat at the Florida High School Athletic Association state tournament in Kissimmee. His aggressive strategy carried him to the 182-pounds finals, where he won the championship with a 5-3 win over Satellite High’s Michael McCarthy (47-5).

He finished the season 71-0.

A year ago, Colas finished seventh in Class 2A’s 160-pound division after entering the state meet as one of the favorite’s to win a medal. He said he was heartbroken because he had wrestled conservatively.

“It just killed me,” Colas said. “But it also made me want to get back to work as soon as possible.”

It was during the offseason that the two words — “just go” — started working their way into the wrestler’s head every time he hit the mat. Colas’ coaches started telling “just go,” to get him to be more aggressive. Then he began saying the phrase to himself.

“Just go” went right along with the fact this was Colas’ final season. He wanted to leave everything he had on the mat every match.

He’s the first Pirates wrestler to complete an undefeated season and the second to win a state title, following Brendan Bengtsson’s win at 285 pounds in 2018.

After Colas won the state title, he talked about what got everything started. He went back to the offseason, when he was competing with Braden River Coach Cezar

Sharbono’s Spec Ops All-Star team at the 2022 Disney Duals in Orlando in July.

Colas’ newfound aggressive mindset helped him earn AllAmerican honors. In his final match, Colas faced Jarrett Roos, a state runner-up from Iowa, where wrestling is every bit as popular as football or basketball. That match, Sharbono said, is where everything snapped into place for Colas.

“Jessey rode him out to win the match 1-0,” Sharbono said. “That’s when he realized he can compete with anyone and started to believe he can win a state title.”

Colas gave it everything he had,

It was the closest call Colas had in months, and a situation that would have been tough for the 2022 version of himself to overcome. But the 2023 version? Colas might have been nervous, but he never panicked. He knew what he had to do to win, and he did it. He said ‘go.’

The finals match against McCarthy went differently than his semifinal match. Colas was off to a fast start, then hung on for the 5-3 win.

He celebrated by giving Sharbono a hug and lifting him into the air.

“It just made me happy,” Colas said. “I have a note on my wall with all of my life goals. Being a state champion was one of them, and now I’ve done it. And to be only the second wrestling champion in my school’s history? It’s crazy.”

Colas started his high school sports journey in the Braden River football program, but after not getting playing time as a freshman, he decided to try wrestling. He admits he didn’t immediately think he would hang with the sport until his sophomore season, which is when he began to dedicate himself to it. Two years later, he’s a state champion, and he’s not done yet.

Colas said he’s currently talking to colleges about wrestling at the next level, something he’s happy to be doing, for he feels he’s only now unlocking his potential.

“To the athletes out there, just keep going,” Colas said. “Nothing is going to be easy. Nothing is going to come to you. You have to work for everything. No matter how hard it gets, keep moving forward. You can get past the obstacles like I did, but you have to go.”

Colas was one of two Braden River wrestlers competing on the final day of the Class 2A tournament, held March 2-4 at Kissimmee’s Silver Spurs Arena. Junior Gage Wiggins (67-4) made it to the gold medal match in the 160-pound division, but lost 15-0 to Mariner High senior Christian Minto (54-1). With Minto graduating, Wiggins could have the inside track for a gold medal in 2024.

“I always want to have better times and to be in faster heats against the best runners.”

— Lakewood Ranch High’s Savannah Adams SEE PAGE 17

Courtesy photo Lakewood Ranch High grad James Rivera competes for Florid State.

Pirates senior Jessey Colas earned the Class 2A 182-pound title with a 5-3 win over Satellite’s Michael McCarthy.

Ryan Kohn

Braden River senior wrestler Jessey Colas went 71-0 in 2023.

Courtesy photo

Braden River senior wrestler Jessey Colas holds up his winning bracket and award after capturing the Class 2A 182-pound state title March 5 in Kissimmee.

IT’S RAINING RUNS

IF YOU GO

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

The Out-of-Door Academy

baseball team’s offense has gone batty.

ODA, searching for the program’s third-straight trip to the state semifinals, has started the 2023 season with a scoring onslaught. The Thunder has scored 50 runs through its first four games as of March 4 (12.5 runs per game), winning all four games.

Last year, the team scored 20 runs during the same opening stretch. In 2021, when the team won the Class 1A state title, it scored 29 runs during the stretch.

While ODA coach Mike Matthews would not go as far as declaring it

is the team’s best offense under his three-year watch — he gave deference to the state title-winning team — he said he’s pleased with how the lineup is performing top to bottom.

“What I’m most impressed by is how we are working all fields,” Matthews said. “Then, when we get to two strikes, we have an approach to put the ball in play. The guys have done a great job buying into that, and the results are coming.”

That the team’s offensive outbursts have been consistent not just game by game but inning-byinning, bodes well for continued run production. The ODA players have scored at least one run in 18 of the 23 innings they have played.

It’s a signal the team is not reliant

What: The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team (4-0 as of March 4) vs. IMG Academy Grey (3-1)

When: 7 p.m. March 9

Where: The Out-of-Door Academy Thunder player to watch: Senior Nevan Hernandez, who hit a two-run home run against Gulf Coast High on March 1

on one or two players, but rather every player is a threat to drive in runs.

After the team’s 7-4 home win over Gulf Coast High on March 1, Matthews said newcomers Griffin DeRusso, a senior transfer from California, and Chase Taraska, a junior transfer from Parrish Com-

munity High, have been strong offensive additions to the program, giving the team two high-contact players. Yet Matthews also said neither player had his best game against the Sharks. The team’s seven runs, despite those players having an off day, is a testament to the lineup’s strength.

“That’s what depth is for,” Matthews said. “One thing about these guys is they don’t panic. If one guy doesn’t do well, another guy steps in and does the job.”

Against Gulf Coast, the guys stepping up included senior Nevan Hernandez, who hit a two-run homer to right field in the first inning, giving the Thunder an early 2-0 lead, and senior Jack Hobson, who doubled home a run in the fifth inning and closed the game on the mound with a scoreless seventh inning.

Hernandez credits the team’s early offensive success to the players working to form a tight unit.

Hernandez said the team’s seniors have taken it upon themselves to make sure everyone is playing not for themselves, but for the guys next to them. That means more

traditional outings like team meals, but also things like pickleball tournaments, where players can let their competitive side loose.

“We all love each other,” Hernandez said. “We’re going to compete, and we’re going to make sure every single one of us does the job. That’s how we make sure we get back there (the state semifinals).”

It’s not just at the plate where ODA’s offensive magic happens. Under Matthews, the program has adapted an aggressive style, stealing whenever a player sees an opportunity and running hard on the base paths to take extra bases on every ball in play.

Against Gulf Coast, a firstinning steal by junior Nolan Naese put scoring-position pressure on Sharks pitcher Presley Woodson before Hernandez launched a home run, and steals of second and third in the third inning set up a sacrifice fly from senior Luca Marino.

As solid as the team’s offense has been, the pitching staff is a work in progress. The program graduated reliable left-handed starter Josh Cone, who is now a freshman pitcher at the University of South Florida, as well as other bullpen pieces. Some of Cone’s responsibilities will fall on the shoulders of senior Luke Geske, who is committed to Florida SouthWestern State College, one of the top junior college programs in the country. Geske, a 6-foot-2 right-hander, threw three-and-two-third innings against Gulf Coast and allowed just one run with seven strikeouts before giving way to the bullpen.

One exception to the inexperienced bullpen is Hobson, who pitched in 13 games this past season and had three saves. Though many of the pitchers behind Geske lack experience, he’s confident that they will be ready to step up when their names are called.

“My job is to go as deep into games as I can by throwing as many strikes as I can,” Geske said. “But I think our first guys out of the pen are just as good as anyone who’s been here before. We all want to win, and we’re going to make sure that we do what we need to do. So don’t sleep on us.”

The ODA baseball team’s offense has scored 50 runs through four games as it attempts to reach the state semifinals for a third consecutive year.

ODA’s Nolan Naese and Nevan Hernandez celebrate after a Hernandez home run.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

ODA junior Chase Taraska came to the Thunder from Parrish Community High.

Savannah Adams

Savannah Adams is a sophomore on the Lakewood Ranch High track and field team. Adams won the girls 800-meter run (2:31.44) at the 2023 Charlotte Invitational, held March 3 at Charlotte High.

When did you start in track and field?

I joined the program this year after hearing about it from my friends and my sister (Madie Adams, a junior), who said it was so much fun. But I have been running forever with my family, probably since I was 4 years old, so I brought that experience with me.

What is your initial impression of the sport?

I didn’t realize how great the track community is. I thought it would be competitive, and it is, but we also have a lot of fun together and everyone supports each other. It’s honestly uplifting being part of it.

What is your favorite event?

The only one I have run so far is the 800, so it has to be that right now. But I’m also practicing for the 4x400-meter relay and the javelin throw. I’ll do whatever my coaches want me to do, whether that’s

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.

discus or short sprints or the longer mile.

What were your expectations at the Charlotte meet?

I looked at the competitors beforehand and figured I had a shot. I just told myself I would go out and work my hardest and do the best I can do. If I placed, that was great. If not, that was OK, too. It ended up going well.

What are your goals for the season? Now that I’ve seen I have the ability, I’m going to push myself even further. I always want to have better times and to be in faster heats against the best runners.

What is your favorite food?

I will never say no to shrimp Alfredo.

What is your favorite TV show?

I watch each episode of ‘Survivor’ with my family. It’s a tradition.

What is the best advice you have received?

It is better to try and fail than to fail to try. I used to be scared to try new things. It was my dad (Jamie Adams) who pushed me into different stuff by saying, ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ It allowed me to experience things I wouldn’t otherwise, like track.

Finish this sentence: “Savannah Adams is …” … Competitive. I like to joke around, but I also like to push people and if I’m ever in a competition in anything, I want to win. I get mad if I don’t. I have to try my hardest.

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YOUR NEIGHBORS

Young leaders get hot tips

Kristin Caulley watched in awe as Shamya Andrews, a Manatee Technical College culinary student, demonstrated how to use a knife to cut parsley leaves.

“You got this swagger with the knife,” Caulley said to Andrews.

During a “Culinary Experience” with other members of the Lakewood Ranch Young Leaders Alliance on Feb. 28 at Manatee Technical College, Caulley then tried to match Andrews’ technique as she continued to chop her own parsley and capers.

Andrews and MTC culinary student

Frances Saez became the instructors during the event, which was led by MTC Executive Chef Idalia Grilo and Gina Bianchi, a culinary steward and event coordinator at MTC. Eleven members of the LWRYLA were there to make chicken piccata with angel hair pasta.

Caulley, who works for Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation, was nervous coming into the event as she doesn’t have much experience with cooking. But she was excited to learn.

Tieler Gittleman, chair of the Young Leaders Alliance, said they were made to feel like professionals in only 30 minutes.

Soon the room was filled with the sound of clicking as the “students” were handed tongs and began to prepare the chicken.

“The objective here is not to do the flippy flippy,” Grilo said, cautioning everyone not to continually flip the chicken over in the pan. She suggested everyone wait about 3 minutes before flipping.

Caulley said waiting those 3 minutes was the most difficult part of the entire culinary experience.

When Andrews saw Gittleman needed help, she explained how she tests the pan to see if it’s hot enough and the best time to flip the chicken.

Andrews and Saez liked

Young Leaders Alliance member Leah Stuart shows off her finished meal.

Manatee Technical College Executive Chef Idalia Grilo puts pasta on a plate before adding her chicken piccata.

Lakewood Ranch Young Leaders Alliance members Tieler Gittleman, Kristin Caulley and Nicole Hackel receive cooking instructions during a special event at MTC.

Lakewood Ranch Young Leaders Alliance members Cameron Thorp and Leah Stuart cut ingredients under the watch of Manatee Technical College culinary student Shamya Andrews.

Photos by Liz Ramos

Manatee Technical College culinary student Shamya Andrews shows Tieler Gittleman, chair of the Lakewood Ranch Young Leaders Alliance, the finer points of using a knife.

Nonprofit makes more friends

Although those in attendance were all “Jack’D Up” about attending Music on Main, they might not have known that the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library was benefiting from their good time.

Each month, an area nonprofit is chosen to benefit from Music on Main. For the March event, which featured the band “Jack’D Up,” it was Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library.

Sue Ann Miller, president of the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library, said the funds collected Friday will go toward stocking the Friends’ bookstore that will be in the library when it opens late this year.

The Friends originally were scheduled to benefit from Music on Main last fall, but the event was rained out. Miller was thrilled with the nice weather on Friday that helped to draw thousands of patrons.

Members of the Lakewood Ranch Library, such as Lakewood Ranch’s Barbara Kaprielan, were telling those who strolled past on Lakewood Main Street about how exciting it is to have a new library.

“Just being part of this has woken my brain up,” Kaprielan said.

— IAN SWABY

Guitarist Larry Kirby of the band Jack’D Up plays on Lakewood Main Street.

GreyHawk Landing’s Bob and Amy Vershelst love the family atmosphere at Music on Main.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library members Sheila Shifrin and Hilary Newton, President Sue Ann Miller, and members Sue Glass, Marge Donato and Belinda Lyle, gather at the organization’s table.

Limited Inventory Available

Lakewood Ranch Elks raise hope

On March 5, at the Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge, members clapped wildly as each of the nation’s military service flags were presented.

To the side, Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Richard Tatem smiled broadly and clapped along.

“This is my kind of crowd,” said Tatem, who currently is serving on the School District of Manatee County Board.

The crowd was brought together for the Army of Hope event that raises funds to help either current or retired military members or their families who need assistance.

Tom Sweeney, the Elks’ district chair for Army of Hope as well as the vice chair of the Manatee County Veterans Council, said Army of Hope was started in 2017 by the Florida Elks and since has raised more than $700,000.

Sweeney, who also serves as veterans committee chair for the Lakewood Ranch Elks, said the local event raised $6,000 in 2022. About 150 people attended the event.

— JAY HEATER

RECOGNIZING HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS

“But often people do experience early symptoms. Knowing when to seek help and having a good understanding of the signs of a possible heart attack may help to identify and prevent major cardiac events.”

Signs & Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a possible heart attack are chest pain (pressure, squeezing, aching or burning) or discomfort that lasts for more than a few minutes or waxes and wanes.

Other Symptoms May Include:

• Pain in one or both arms

• Back, neck and/or jaw pain

• Epigastric pain (discomfort below your ribs in the area of your upper abdomen)

• Feeling of abdominal fullness

• Shortness of breath

• Breaking out in a cold sweat

• Excessive fatigue

• Lightheadedness/dizziness*

Women and Men Differ

Women may experience different or less intensive symptoms, such as sweating, vomiting, fatigue, nausea and jaw pain.*

“Women may also be more likely than men to dismiss their symptoms as being caused by something less serious, such as the flu or stress,” says Dr. Fernandez. “But having a heart attack is just as likely for a woman as it is for a man.”

In fact, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the U.S.**

Is It a Heart Attack or Cardiac Arrest?

A heart attack occurs when blood stops flowing to the heart, primarily due to a blocked coronary artery. Cardiac arrest, however, is when the heart suddenly stops beating, typically due to a malfunction within the heart’s electrical system. Signs of cardiac arrest may include sudden collapse, the absence of breathing or a pulse, and/or loss of consciousness. Cardiac arrest is often fatal; despite this, immediate medical intervention can sometimes help to restore the heart to its normal rhythm.** In addition to calling 911, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) may help. An Automated External Defibrillator, known as an AED, can also be used and are typically available in public venues. They’re designed

Sponsored Content

to deliver an electric shock to help reset the heart to its normal rhythm.

If you believe you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 911.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center was awarded the Advanced Primary Heart Attack Center Certification from The Joint Commission, 2022 and received the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines®

- Mission: Lifeline® - STEMI Receiving Center SILVER PLUS, 2022. To learn more visit, lwrmc.com.

Physicians are on the medical staff of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.

Sources: *American Heart Association® **Centers

Photos by Jay Heater

Tom Sweeney, the Elks’ district chair for Army of Hope, joins retired U.S. Air Force Col. Richard Tatem before the Army of Hope fundraiser.

Bob Greene, Pat Willis and Terry Willis of Bradenton VFW Post 10141 were present to support Army of Hope at the Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge.

First Phase of Luxury Homes Just Released

Announcing the release of the first phase of luxury homes at Wild Blue at Waterside in Lakewood Ranch by Stock Development. This new waterfront community features oversized homesites and luxury single-family homes by some of the region’s most notable builders.

Residences range from 2,300 to over 4,000 square feet, with nature and waterfront views, and floor plans that include expanded outdoor living spaces to enjoy the best of the Florida lifestyle.

Wild Blue at Waterside’s unparalleled lifestyle includes the 13-acre Midway Sports Complex with 6 tennis courts, 8 pickleball courts, kayak launch, miles of walking trails and so much more. The 25,000-square-foot social clubhouse features indoor and outdoor dining, two pools, movie theater, fitness center and a lifestyle director to organize social events.

Great ‘neigh-bors’

Myakka City’s Karen Pitts couldn’t wait to see Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions perform for the first time.

Although the organization is close to home for Pitts, she had never seen the show.

“I’ve heard so much about them,” Pitts said. “I know the history of the horses is big.”

Pitts not only was able to see Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions perform March 5 but also other Myakka City talents.

Myakka City’s Chloe Butler and Madison Roberts, who are both 15, showed off their whip-cracking skills, and Sydney McCullough, who is 14 and the daughter of Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions owner Rebecca McCullough, performed a karate demonstration.

The Royal Lipizzan stallions’ performance benefited the Myakka City Historical Society, which is in the process of restoring the Myakka City Historic School House.

David Miller, president of the Myakka City Historical Society, said the organization needs about $40,000 more to complete the school house, which will be opened to give the community a much-needed community center.

— LIZ RAMOS

Photos by Liz Ramos

Myakka City 15-year-olds Chloe Butler and Madison Roberts get ready to show off their whip-cracking talent.

Rebecca McCullough, Sydney McCullough and Julie Herrmann perform in unison during “Operation Cowboy” in honor of veterans during the Horses and History fundraiser.

David Miller, president of the Myakka City Historical Society, and Sherry Miller, a member of the historic society’s board, are grateful for the Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions’ support. The proceeds from the March 5 performance were donated to the historical society.

Wed, Sep 16, 2020 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM (EDT)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smart phone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/465223749 You can also dial in using your phone.

(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.) United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679, One-touch: tel:+18668994679,,465223749#

THE TRUTH ABOUT VEIN DISEASE

By: Adam Phillips, D.O.

Have you been living with painful, blue, or bulging leg veins? Maybe you’ve noticed the skin texture of your legs has become increasingly scaly and discolored. If you have been living with these leg issues (and many others), because you think they’re “just” a part of the aging process, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Problems with leg veins is a medical issue. Once vein issues appear, no medication, supplement, or lotion can make them go away. Many daily activities put stress on your legs - working on your feet or sitting all day can both be detrimental for your leg health. Throughout our website, you can explore the causes of vein disease and its treatments. Advancements in technology have progressed to a level where health care providers are now able to help in ways like never before. No more vein stripping!

YOU CAN TAKE OUR ONLINE VEIN SCREENING, OR ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:

• Do my legs feel heavy?

• Do my legs ache or itch?

• Do I feel numbness or tingling in my legs?

• Do I have restless legs?

These are common symptoms of vein disease, which can occur in both men and women. Most people live with these symptoms for about 35 years before seeking help and being diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (AKA vein disease and varicose veins). Don’t be one of the 1% who waits to seek relief!

IN THE MEANTIME, HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO KEEP YOUR LEGS HEALTHY:

• Maintain a healthy diet and stay hydrated! Half your body weight in ounces is the recommendation.

• Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

• Exercise! It helps pump blood to your heart.

• Don’t sit or stand for prolonged periods. Get up and move frequently.

• Wear compression stockings.

• Moisturize your legs.

It’s a No Veiner! SM

Rebecca McCullough performs a Spanish discipline.

Country Club East home tops sales at $2,295,000

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Gary and Denise Drake, of Bradenton, sold their home at 16508 Kendleshire Terrace to Frederick Burros Jr., of Oriskany, New York, for $2,295,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,973 square feet of living area.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Sandra Norris and Bruce William Norris, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 15206 Linn Park Terrace to Jesse Rettig and Janette Boone, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,895,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 3,734 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,225,000 in 2020.

SHOREVIEW

Pulte Home Co. LLC sold the home at 7889 Mainsail Lane to Iftikhar Ahmed and Marya Nasiri, of Sarasota, for $1,395,900. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,857 square feet of living area.

ISLES

James Hermiston III and Arcinee

Hovanessian-Hermiston, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 17641 Azul Drive to Roger and Robin Clough, of Bradenton, for $1.29 million. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,872 square feet of living area. It sold for $657,700 in 2020.

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Michael and Deirdre Lawe Behrens, of Fort Lauderdale, sold their home at 513 River Crane St. to Richard and Christine Siegrist, of Boston, for $955,000. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,922 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2017.

Leslie Clem, of Bozeman, Montana, and Nicole Lamberis, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, trustees, sold the home at 7521 Heritage Grand Place to Paul and Linda Bauer, of Bradenton, for $800,000. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,388 square feet of living area. It sold for $540,000 in 2017.

GREYHAWK LANDING

Robert and Jodi Webber, of Bradenton, sold their home at 12640 Daisy Place to Brian and Sheila Matras, of Bradenton, for $875,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,872 square feet of living area. It sold for $610,000 in 2007.

CENTRAL PARK

Mary Gayle Kellett, of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, sold her home at 11905 Gramercy Park Ave. to Brendan and Libby McDowell, of Bradenton, for $820,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,160 square feet of living area. It sold for $525,000 in 2020.

Richard Reiner, of Conway, South Carolina, and Susan Reiner, of Bradenton, sold their home at 11308 White Rock Terrace to Daniel Jones, of Bradenton, for $530,000. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,487 square feet of living area. It sold for $320,000 in 2020.

Stuart Taft, of Bradenton, sold his home at 11960 Forest Park Circle to Opendoor Property Trust I for $403,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,915 square feet of living area. It sold for $323,000 in 2020.

COUNTRY CLUB

Maverick Holding Co. Inc. sold the home at 7718 U.S. Open Loop to Gerald Keavany, of Venice, for

$790,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,114 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,000 in 2006.

STONEYBROOK AT HERITAGE

HARBOUR Wendy Ellis, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her home at 7621 Camden Harbour Drive to Jon and Tamara Chamblin, of Robinson, Illinois, for $745,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,611 square feet of living area. It sold for $315,000 in 2011.

R.S. Thomson Jr., of Sarasota, sold his home at 9107 Kingsbury Place to Marcos Isaac and Jozefina Jozefiak, of Bradenton, for $499,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,162 square feet of living area. It sold for $418,600 in 2005.

TARA Violetta Diamante, of Sarasota, sold her home at 5811 Covey Court to Olena Cherepanova, trustee, of Bradenton, for $700,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,210 square feet of living area. It sold for $565,000 in 2020.

TIDEWATER PRESERVE

George and Pam Cronin, trustees, of Port St. Lucie, sold the home at 928 Preservation St. to William and Amy Temple, of Bradenton, for $665,000. Built in 2013, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,034 square feet of living area. It sold for $259,400 in 2013.

MOORINGS AT EDGEWATER

Manatee Community Foundation Inc. sold the Unit 102 condominium at 6527 Moorings Point Circle to Richard Simon and Nancy Ross, of Philadelphia, for $650,000. Built in 2003, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,983 square feet of living area. It sold for $338,300 in 2003.

RIVER CLUB NORTH

John and Maria Morley, of Bradenton, sold their home at 6202 Glen Abbey Lane to Bache Investments LLC for $650,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,002 square feet of living area.

FAIRWAY LAKES AT PALM AIRE

Jean Hubbard sold the home at 7406 Fairlinks Court to Sally and Robert Mikuliak, of Shelton, Connecticut, for $620,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,197 square feet of living area. It sold for $432,000 in 2019.

William Harman, of Austin, Texas, sold the home at 7522 Fairlinks Court to Ralph and Michele Nitschmann, of Sarasota, for $475,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,740 square feet of living area. It sold for $170,500 in 1995.

HARMONY Lisa An and Joseph Hwang, of Andover, Massachusetts, sold their home at 11204 Spring Gate Trail to Richard Dean Englund and Kelly Lynn Englund, of Bradenton, for $610,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,990 square feet of living area. It sold for $341,800 in 2018.

WATERCREST Paul Onorato sold his Unit 302 condominium at 6482 Watercrest Way to Michael Berson, of Bradenton, for $595,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,742 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2022.

DEL TIERRA

Jeffrey Alan McCauley and Kimberly Anne McCauley, of Valparaiso, Indiana, sold their home at 15222 Agave Grove Place to Aaron and Christine Hager, of Sarasota, for $570,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,607 square feet of living area. It sold for $278,000 in 2017.

DEL WEBB Ralph and Carol Scalercio, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 17668 Northwood Place to Elise Shapiro, trustee, of Chicago, for $556,000. Built in 2021, it has two

bedrooms, two baths and 1,589 square feet of living area. It sold for $373,500 in 2021.

SUMMERFIELD CYPRESS BANKS

Nathan and Shannan Garman, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 11212 Coralbean Drive to Gale Lynn Furtak, of Lakewood Ranch, for $487,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,734 square feet of living area. It sold for $288,000 in 2017.

BRADEN RIVER LAKES

Heidi Delgado and Luis Marin sold their home at 4009 Sixth Ave. E. to Christopher and Kaylee Benton, of Lebanon, Ohio, for $475,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,680 square feet

of living area. It sold for $255,000 in 2006.

CARLYLE AT THE VILLAGES OF PALM AIRE

Sally Key and Crews Bank & Trust, trustees, sold the home at 5248 Creekside Trail to Thomas and Julie Bernhardt, of Sarasota, for $475,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,113 square feet of living area. It sold for $240,500 in 2002.

Courtesy photo

This Country Club East home at 16508 Kendleshire Terrace sold for $2,295,000. It has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,973 square feet of living area.

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, MARCH 9

THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 12

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), Deadwood Dick (Friday), Stumble Creek (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, MARCH 10 AND SATURDAY, MARCH 11

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA

Runs from 6-9 p.m. both days at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Singer Mylon Shamble entertains on Friday while on Saturday, single/musician Frankie Lombardi performs. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 12

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

Runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. The Lakewood Ranch Fine Art Festival will feature original, hand-made work from artisans. Art forms include painting, sculpting, jewelry, photography, glass, ceramics, woodworking and much more. The event is free. For more information, go to My LWR.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10 THROUGH

SUNDAY. MARCH 12

SARASOTA-BRADENTON

TRIATHLON

Begins Friday at 10:30 a.m.; Saturday at 7:15 a.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. Registration is $110; entry is free for spectators. For more information and schedules, visit SRQTriFest.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

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

BEST BET

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

IRISH CELTIC FESTIVAL

Runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities hosts the Irish Celtic Festival that features live music and performances, traditional Celtic food, beer and hard cider, face painting, a relay race and the Lucky Dog Parade. The event is free, although parking is $5 per vehicle. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

offering seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. For more information, go to www.MyLWR.com.

POLO

Begins at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Sarasota. 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 younger admitted free. Dogs are welcome on a leash.

MONDAY, MARCH 13

ALL ABOUT ORCHIDS

Begins at 1 p.m. at the Celebration of Life Center, 4310 Solutions Lane, Lakewood Ranch. The Gardeners Out East Garden Club of Lakewood Ranch welcomes Julie McClure, president of the Manatee County Orchid Society to talk about orchids in this free event. You don’t need to be a club member to attend. For more information, send an email to Nancy3645@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

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. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

Submitted by: Gay Rosnett

Sponsored

By Luis Campos

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TWO-WAY SWITCHES by Pam Amick Klawitter, edited by Jeff Chen