East County Observer 3.7.24

School district charges into the future

The School District of Manatee County will begin using four new electric buses late in March.

J“It’s

Two years after announcing the project, the School District of Manatee County is rolling out its four new electric buses by the end of March.

Warrington said he’s thrilled to finally have the buses ready to be used.

The district received a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Electric Bus Project to purchase up to 20 electric school buses. The grant covers 70% of the cost of an electric bus, which Warrington said is about $460,000.

The district also received a grant from Florida Power & Light, which provided and installed 20 60-kilowatt charging stations at no cost to the district. Florida Power & Light will be responsible for the maintenance, repairs and upkeep of the charging stations for 10 years. Then the responsibility will be turned over to the district.

Warrington said the district chose to buy two different types of buses to test what would best work for the district. One bus is a two-battery bus that will drive about 130 miles on one charge, and the other type of bus is a three-battery bus that will drive around 200 miles.

All four buses are equipped with the same safety and security features

as the district’s diesel buses, including six cameras.

Four bus drivers and staff will undergo training March 14, and technicians also will undergo more training before the projected rollout of the buses on March 19.

A route on Anna Maria Island, a route in Palmetto and two routes in Bradenton were selected as trial runs as the district begins using the buses. All the routes are no more than 90 miles. The routes will not be altered so the district can obtain consistent data from the buses for the rest of the school year, Warrington said.

Warrington said most of the district’s routes, especially in the eastern portion of the county, have too high a mileage for the electric buses to be used.

“There’s a very good likelihood that this bus will never go to Myakka Elementary or even Lakewood Ranch, at least this year,” he said.

When the district opens a second

bus facility in the northeastern part of Manatee County, Warrington said the district can consider adding charging stations at that facility that would allow the electric buses to be used in the area.

Warrington said the routes were selected because they are in hightraffic areas, especially during season when traffic increases.

“An electric bus is much more valuable in stop-and-go traffic because every time you hit the brake pedal, it regenerates the battery,” he said. “Whereas, in a diesel bus, that’s just wear and tear on the brakes, and it’s not as good in terms of fuel … If a bus has to go 35 miles out east without hitting the brakes, it’s fairly draining on the battery.”

Hitting the brakes in an electric bus captures the kinetic energy from braking and converts it into the electrical power that charges the vehicle’s high voltage battery.

The drivers will plug the buses

in to charge them every time they come back from their routes. Warrington said it will take between four and six hours to fully charge a bus, which gives the buses plenty of time to charge between when a driver will return from a morning route and leave for an afternoon route.

Warrington said the plan is to have all bus drivers undergo training for the electric buses next summer. The training will be required of all new bus drivers.

The buses will be used for summer school routes once those routes have been determined, Warrington said. After collecting data,

Bomb squad suits up

Manatee County buys extra protection for those bomb squad members who put their lives on the line.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Upon the report of a bomb threat, the biggest worry for members of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad isn’t that they have to deal with a possible bomb.

That’s part of their training.

“The scariest thing is not knowing exactly what it is you have,” Detective Brian Moreland said. “Once you know what you’re dealing with, tensions ease at that point. Then we can collaborate as a team and figure out what the best course of action is to defeat that device.”

They go to work with uncertainly, so the last thing they want to worry about is their protective suit.

On Feb. 27, the Manatee County Commission approved a $170,000 grant to buy four new bomb suits.

The department has four suits now that are nearing the end of their effective lives. Bomb suits need to be replaced every five to seven years. The material stretches over time from sweat and sun exposure, making the suits less effective.

Public Information Officer Randy Warren said it’s important to have the right gear to train with and to be prepared if there’s ever a major incident that requires multiple people to suit up at once.

Bomb squad suits are made of Kevlar, the same material used in bulletproof vests. The suits are stiff from hard panels that protect the arms, legs and chest.

Tapping on the chest panel feels and sounds like knocking on a door, but the suits are flexible enough to allow law enforcement officers to move, such as diving to the ground, if necessary.

Each suit weighs about 80 pounds, and with the helmet and additional equipment, goes to 100 pounds. The helmet comes with a defogger, lights, a ventilation fan and amplifiers to increase the slightest ambient noise.

“If I hear something, clicking or ticking, it’s important to know,” Deputy Carlos Dasilva said. “I might need to get out of there.” The remote control for the helmet is

OFTEN IS BOMB SUIT

HOW

attached to the sleeve of the suit, so each feature can be easily adjusted.

The suits are a necessary safety measure to have on hand, but remote control robots are always the first choice.

“We try to stay remote as much as possible,” Dasilva said. “If we can’t stay remote, then we’re going to the suit.”

The suits are only rated for a certain amount of blast wave pressure and don’t cover the hands or feet. Gloves, especially, would hinder dexterity.

If a bomb detonates too close to a law enforcement officer, a suit won’t always save a life, but the suits are designed to protect the wearer from fire and fragmentation.

There’s a good reason why bomb squad members don’t turn their back to a bomb.

“If they take detonation, they’re going to have all that front-end protection,” Dasilva said. “There’s not as much protection in the back.”

A back support in the suit provides the maximum amount of absorption to prevent spinal cord injuries if blown backward.

IMPORTANT TO BE WELL DRESSED

EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL BOMB SUIT AND HELMET: The suits the bomb squad currently uses were purchased through MedEng. Every suit has to meet National Institute of Justice standards, which includes testing for fragmentation, spine and head impact protection, along with flame resistance and blast overpressure.

The new suits are likely to be an upgraded version of the ones currently in use. They are estimated to cost approximately $40,000 apiece with accessories. Some of the newer features from Med-Eng are listed below.

More ergonomic design to reduce weight and increase mobility and flexibility. Completely new EOD helmet to increase protection and improve fit.

Integrated voice command system to keep the user’s hands free to carry or deploy tools. Mission-specific lighting to give the user the best option for their operational environment. Enhanced ventilation to mitigate heat stress. Shielded electronics for compatibility with electronic countermeasures when dealing with a radio controlled explosive device.

USED? Working on the bomb squad requires 280 hours of yearly training. Dasilva said that’s when the suits are most frequently used, but they do get used in the field.

A suit was used in August 2022 after a Fifth Third Bank in Parrish was robbed. The robber said he had a bomb, dropped a package and fled.

In that case, the robot wasn’t going to be able to open the door to the bank, so a person had to enter to take an X-ray of the package. The bomb turned out to be a hoax, but every threat is considered to be a bomb until it’s been determined not to be a threat.

Despite the name, the bomb squad deals with a lot more than just bombs. The squad works with HAZMAT and SWAT teams. They retrieve grenades, bulk amounts of commercial fireworks and homemade explosives.

“That’s the No. 1 threat to us –disposal operations,” Moreland said. “(The job) is not necessarily what you see in the movies.”

In 2019, the bomb squad responded to a call in Terra Ceia. A homeowner found 38 pounds of dynamite inside a seven-foot PVC pipe floating in the canal behind his house.

The explosives were determined to be from the 1970s. They were most likely used to clear the mangroves and form channels.

One of the clues was wadded up newspaper stuffed inside the pipe to keep the pieces of dynamite from sliding around. If Detective James Parrish’s memory serves him, the newspaper was dated 1972.

The pipe was transported to a farm off Buckeye Road and safely detonated.

In addition to Manatee County, the six-member bomb squad services Highlands and Hardee counties as well.

“It’s so expensive to have and maintain a bomb squad,” Parrish said. “So we handle all the calls out there.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation oversees all bomb squads and dictates how many bomb technicians each team can have. The minimum is four, but Parrish said other teams have 14 members.

SUIT UP OR STEP ASIDE

Beyond being heavy, the suits get extremely hot. They can only be worn for about 30 minutes. On a hot

ABOUT SGT. REBECCA SEHORNE

Sergeant Rebecca Sehorne is the only full-time member of the bomb squad. The rest are called in as needed.

Sehorne joined the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy 30 years ago and is in her 24th year with the bomb squad. “Somebody told me I couldn’t do it,” she said. “So I tried out (for the bomb squad) and got on the team, and I’ve loved it ever since.”

Now, she’s in charge of the all-male squad. Being the only woman on a team wasn’t anything new to Sehorne. When she attended Manatee High School, she was the only girl on the power lifting team, too.

What Sehorne loves about being a bomb technician is that she’s constantly challenged and learning something new.

“We get a lot of intel from the military,” she said. “What the military sees eventually makes its way over here. We’re just always trying to stay one step ahead of the bad guys.”

summer day, that time could be cut in half before the wearer has to cool down.  Not being able to wear a bomb suit has ruled out applicants looking to join the team. Dasilva described wearing one as cumbersome and overbearing. It takes at least two people to put one on.

“You’re walking a minimum of 300 feet before you’re even in proximity of the package,” he said. “That’s a long walk there, doing work, bending over, kneeling down, picking things up – you’re doing basic stuff, but you’ve got about 90 pounds of equipment on.”

The mental fortitude to stay inside a bomb suit is as trying as the physical requirements. Applicants have become claustrophobic.

Remaining calm under pressure is a clear prerequisite for handling explosives.

“You’ve got to be somebody who likes to think logically, pull things apart and put them back together,” Dasilva said. “None of us on this team, by any means, are cowboys. We’re not out there trying to do anything reckless.”

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Detective James Parrish and Detective Tim Collins help Deputy Carlos Dasilva get into a bomb suit.

This is the larger of two remote control robots used by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad.

Members of the Bomb Squad train on Feb. 29 at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office on U.S. 301 in Bradenton. From left to right: Detective Brian Moreland, Sergeant Rebecca Sehorne, Deputy Carlos Dasilva, Detective James Parrish and Detective Tim Collins. Deputy Jarod Wolfe is not pictured.

Manatee County relaunches 311 app

The app can be used to report potholes, pay utility bills and find emergency information.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

With the apropos date of March 11 approaching, Manatee County representatives say they are officially relaunching their Manatee 311 app, which they say will give residents another option to connect with the county than dialing the 311 Call Center.

The Manatee 311 app can be used to report potholes, broken street lights, graffiti, abandoned vehicles and more. Those using the app can add photos and the county uses a geofence to direct staff to the exact location of where that photo was taken.

The app also allows users to pay utility bills, sign up for reminders of trash and recycling days, look up information such as evacuation routes and levels, flood zones, polling sites, location of emergency shelters, location of bus stops, location of hospitals and more.

Manatee 311 provides information about parks, preserves, beaches, boat ramps, historical sites and more.

Marcia Bacon, supervisor of the Manatee County 311 Call Center, said it now typically takes county employees two days to respond to problems, such as potholes and downed signs, once they are reported to Manatee 311.

Using the 311 Call Center or using the Manatee 311 documents the request.

Communications Division Manager Casey Zempel said the 311 Call Center and Manatee 311 app were rolled out during COVID, but there was never a big push to get people to add the app. Now, however, the county is hoping more people take advantage of it.

POINTS OF SERVICE

Although Manatee County has selected March 11 as the launch of its campaign for residents to use its 311 app, the planned updates are available now for those who want to download the app. There are eight tabs on the app’s homepage that guide residents to answers and online services.

■ Report an issue

■ Pay utility bill

■ Zoning and permit navigator

■ Facebook

■ Resident information tool

■ Emergency preparedness

■ Careers

■ Manatee County government news

There are eight full-time operators during the Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift at the 311 Call Center.  Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said the Manatee 311 app campaign isn’t meant to reduce the number of calls, but to provide an additional channel for citizens to communicate with the county.  Commissioner Amanda Ballard downloaded the app before the relaunch was presented at the Feb. 27 commission meeting.

The goal of the 311 Call Center is to streamline responses to the approximately 13,000 requests the county receives from residents per month.

“For all those basic questions or problems you might have, you can solve them at the touch of a button,” Ballard said.

Waterside adds a new ‘experience’

de Mayo after receiving approval to shut down the street.

“We’re going to have (entertainment) all through Waterside Place, whether that means portable bars, activities, stilt walkers or fire dancers,” Faul said. “One of the main reasons we picked Waterside Place was because we’re huge on community involvement.”

When sitting down with two restaurateurs, one might expect food to monopolize the conversation.

That’s not the case when speaking with Mat Baum and Matt Faul, owners of Agava Bandido. The Mexican restaurant is opening in Waterside Place on March 11.

“Our food is great,” Baum said. “The restaurant stuff is exciting, but

the real fun for us is the experience people get.”

The team is not only preparing for the restaurant’s opening, it’s already planning its first big party for Cinco

The original Agave Bandido is in Pembroke Pines. Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch will be the second location, with more restaurants to follow in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Greenville, South Carolina and Atlanta.

When the double doors open, it’s immediately clear that Agave Bandido is not your average Mexican restaurant. Aside from the tables and turquoise booths that line the dining

room, it feels more like you are stepping into an art gallery.

The light fixtures are made of skulls and blown glass. Spray painted murals decorate the walls and overflow onto the ceiling.

Ruben Ubiera is the Miami street artist commissioned to create the murals. He describes his style as “urban-pop.” Ubiera’s work has been featured at Art Basel in Miami and can be spotted in public spaces across South Florida.  Head over to the bar to sit with a towering tequila bandit that Ubiera created to pay homage to the name Agave Bandido.  But which piece of art leads to the speakeasy? No spoilers here – finding it is part of the experience. Once behind the secret door, the stairs lead up to Maya’s, a Polynesian oasis that Baum coined the “speak-tiki.” Maya is short for Mayahuel, the Aztec goddess of maguey (agave). Agave is a cactus plant, and blue agave is the main ingredient in tequila.

While Polynesia is a jump across the Pacific Ocean from Mexico, Baum said the two cultures have similar aesthetics. The focal point

of the bar is a wooden sculpture of Mayahuel. Colorful glass fishing floats hang overhead.

As for the experience, expect high-end liquors, over-the-top Tiki drinks and exclusivity.

“You have to be seated to go upstairs; there’s no standing,” Baum said.

There are only 35 seats. Membership isn’t required to get a seat, but it will prioritize your reservation and offer access to member-only events.

“Eventually, we’ll probably do something along the lines of a tequila or bourbon locker, so members can have their own bottle up there,” Faul said. “It gives it that really unique vibe that people don’t often see in this area.”

Downstairs, the restaurant can seat 250 people between the dining room, bar and outside patio. The menu will replicate that of the original restaurant, which features Mexican staples like tacos, burritos and chimichangas.

Faul said they’ll be sticking to their standard in the beginning, which includes training the wait staff on how to flip an avocado. The tableside guacamole service comes with a show.

“It’s not a boring show,” Faul said. “They crack jokes and have fun with it.”

The drink menu offers entertainment, too. Faul called the fugeito the “perfect social media experience.” The spicy raspberry margarita is served tableside in a smoking dome that has to be lifted up to take the first sip.

The restaurant will also extend the nightlife scene at Waterside Place. Surrounding establishments are closed by midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, Agave Bandido will stay open until 2 a.m.

Baum and Faul wanted to create a late-night spot, not just for diners coming from restaurants with earlier hours, but also for the bartenders and servers who are leaving work and want someplace to go.

“Celebrations are huge here, too.” Faul said. “We hype it up for them. Sparklers go out to the table and the entire place will get into a birthday celebration. I can’t stress it enough, everything is about our experience.”

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Manatee County celebrates ELMAC purchase

$11.2

Michael Williamson, division chief of the Parrish Fire District, remembers going to the Crooked River Ranch about 20 years ago.

The area was so desolate that a small building burned down on the property and no one knew until after the fire had gone out on its own.

“That was unique to me,” Williamson said. “Normally, when a fire happens, we get a call.”

Williamson was invited to the ranch under better circumstances March 1. Manatee County was celebrating its $11.2 million purchase of the 68-acre parcel.

Crooked River Ranch is located halfway between Interstate 75 and Fort Hamer Road in Parrish. It’s the first land acquisition for the Environmental Lands Management and Acquisitions Committee.

The ranch will serve as a public preserve, but it will take at least 18 months to open. The county is installing restrooms, kayak launches, hiking and biking trails and an observation platform.

ELMAC Division Manager Debra Woithe said the property is in good shape, offering an abundance of wildlife habitat and few exotic plants, but some restoration work is needed.

Plans include pasture and tidal creek restorations. The tidal creeks are being restored to create a more natural flow of water to support wetlands and create additional wildlife habitats.

The Florida Communities Trust approved the county for a $1.5 million grant to cover the cost of the amenities and restoration projects.

acres of wetlands

acres of forest upland

feet of shoreline along the Manatee River

miles from Tampa Bay

“Even just putting in a block of restrooms costs a ridiculous amount of money,” Woithe said. “We shouldn’t have to use more referendum funds because we’re getting a grant.”

The referendum passed in 2020 with 71% of voters agreeing to create financing for the acquisition, improvement and management of conservation lands.

Crooked River is the first of eight properties on which the county is actively making offers. A 98-acre extension to Emerson Point Preserve and the 238-acre Gamble Creek Preserve are next in line to go before the commission for approval.

Woithe said there are another six properties in East County that the county is hoping to purchase, but they’re not at the offer stage yet.

The East County properties are nowhere near the size of Crooked River Ranch, but they would make connections between existing preserves to form wildlife corridors.

Crooked River Ranch was a sig-

“The

Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker said. “It gives us a water supply at Lake Manatee and all the way up to Tampa Bay.”  Including Crooked River Ranch, Manatee County has protected 14

The ranch was presented to the county by the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast after the foundation contacted the previous owners Alice Hunter Bender and Elizabeth Hunter Skidmore. The ranch was originally owned by their parents, William and Janet Hunter.

The foundation’s president, Christine Johnson, thanked the Hunter heirs during the ceremony.

“You could have sold this property many times over, but you chose to conserve it,” Johnson said. “It’s because of you that this special place is protected forever.”

Hunter Skidmore said the property served as therapy and a refuge for her father and hopes it will do the same for others in the future.

Commissioner James Satcher said he felt relaxed and as if his blood pressure dropped after taking the 10-minute walk from his car to the river.

The county set up a few tents to give guests a vision of the future.

Woithe said the county will be offering previews of the preserve to the public prior to officially opening, but dates haven’t been set yet.

Commissioner Ray Turner gives a sign to Alice Hunter Bender and Elizabeth Hunter Skidmore to commemorate the transfer of ownership.

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast President Christine Johnson chats with members Debi Osborne, Brandon Snyder and Robin Varon before the ceremony.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Anatomy of a smile

Becoming an expert in anatomy led to sculptor Marci Weisgold molding masterpieces.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

When it comes to a smile, University Park’s Arnold and Marci Weisgold are perfectionists.

Arnold Weisgold is a periodontist who from 1973-2006 was the director of postdoctoral periodontal prosthesis at the University Pennsylvania. That speaks for itself.

However, Arnold Weisgold said nobody understands a smile quite like his wife, Marci. “She is something else,” he said of his wife of 64 years. “When you smile, she sees things that most of us don’t. When you smile, all those muscles in your face move.”

As a budding sculptor at the University of Pennsylvania, Marci Weisgold studied under EvAngelos Frudakis. Upon Frudakis’s death in 2019 at the age of 97, the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote in his obituary, “Mr. Frudakis was a major figure in the world of 20th-century sculpture, not only for the many statues he created for public spaces but also for the influence he had on other sculptors.”

Marci Weisgold was among them.

The same obituary quoted a quote by Frudakis that read, “I strive to capture the beauty of the fleeting moment, to arrest and contain it for all time. The search for the good and the beautiful is the adventure.”

Studying under Frudakis, Marci Weisgold’s adventure started with a directive from the master. He told her to learn anatomy if she aspired to be a meaningful sculptor. “There is a rhythm to the body, and I studied with him for 10 years,” Marci Weisgold said. She said it took about four years before her anatomy lessons showed in her sculptures. But that knowledge became the cornerstone of her career.

On March 16-17 at University Park Country Club, Marci Weisgold will have an exhibit among the more than 160 entries and 60 artists at the annual Art in the Park event.

It was 2000 when emerging artist Ellen Kaiden persuaded Marci Weisgold, who was a highly acclaimed sculptor, to join fine arts photographer Judy Kramer in founding an annual arts show at University Park, which supported

the show as a way to get the public to visit the community.

Over the years, the three women built support for the event and recruited the neighborhood’s artists to participate. Weisgold, who turns 85 in June, has participated in every show, winning Best of Show in 2023 with her work “Rhythmic Gold.” It was the second time she had won Best in Show.

Last year’s Art in the Park drew more than 1,450 spectators, who were fortunate to see the work of Weisgold, who is a Fellow Member of the National Sculpture Society, which is considered the preeminent sculptors association in the U.S. She has won many of the nation’s top awards that honor sculptors and she is listed as a noteworthy sculptor by Marquis Who’s Who.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Marci Weisgold began painting at age 6. Her first grade teacher told her mother (Mae Chernoff) that she had some talent. Marci began going to the Fleisher Art Memorial each Saturday for free children’s arts classes. She was taught by Maxim Gottleb, who taught at the Fleisher Art Memorial for more than 50 years and whose painting “The Village Thief” hangs at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Marci Weisgold entered a competition at the Fleisher Art Memorial and didn’t win, but Gottlieb presented her with a “special prize” of a house made out of toothpicks. He encouraged her to pursue the arts.

As she honed her craft over the years and won many juried art competitions, she landed commissions for her

IF YOU GO

What: The 24th annual Art in the Park

Where: University Park Country Club, 7671 The Park Blvd, University Park

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 16-17

Cost: Free (open to the public)

Did you know?: More than 60 artists will exhibit more than 160 works of art in painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media

work. However, “If I was making $3 an hour, I was making a lot,” she said. “Foundries (factories that produces metal castings)  are expensive.”

Arnold Weisgold always thought she was a million-dollar talent.

“I became so impressed when I saw her sculpting,” he said. “I was in awe of her.” Even so, it was more about the beauty of her work than dollars.

Her subjects tended to be mostly children.

“It is a fun thing,” she said of the reason she chose to concentrate on children. “They are not as serious (as adults). It was charming.

“There is a point where it becomes alive to you. It’s a tremendous boost. Children are not easy because they can’t pose for very long. But I loved doing children.”

When she was commissioned to do a sculpture of children, she would take “all kinds of measurements,” and a lot of photos.

“I get to know them personally,” she said.

All around the Weisgolds’ home are lifelike sculptures that do “come alive.”

Arnold Weisgold said those going to Art in the Park will see other artists’ work that will produce similar reactions.

“I am so impressed by the art that comes out of this community,” he said. “These people (University Park artists) are great.”

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Marci Weisgold will be 85 in April, but she still works in her home studio.

Marci Weisgold says there is a point during her work on a new sculpture when it “comes to life.”

Photos by Jay Heater

Marci Weisgold concentrated on sculpting children because they were “fun and less serious.”

Commissioners’ environmental concerns still in question

It’s going to be a confusing election year.

Manatee County organized a press conference March 1 to celebrate the $11.2 million purchase of the 68-acre Crooked River Ranch along the Manatee River.

Five of the seven Manatee County commissioners took part (George Kruse and Mike Rahn missed the ceremony) and they spoke of the importance of such acquisitions and their environmental impact.

It is the first land acquisition for Manatee County’s Environmental Lands Management and Acquisitions Committee, which is a good thing since the voters overwhelmingly (71%) supported a funding source in 2020 to purchase such lands. It is finally coming to fruition.

The confusing part is that the commission, in total, has ignored the Future Development Area Boundary, has decreased wetlands protections and has allowed development to encroach upon Lake Manatee, which supplies us with 32 million gallons of water a day.

That should leave you scratching your head and mumbling, “What the heck?”

Reducing the wetlands protections in October was a new low for commissioners, who basically spit in the face of the legions of environmental experts and residents who protested. Note that Kruse voted against reducing wetland protections and District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner was out of the country at the time of the vote.

It’s just common sense that you would doubt the veracity of any statement by a commissioner who says he or she cares about the environment and then voted to reduce wetlands protections. That’s what makes this all so confusing.

ELMAC couldn’t be effective without the support of commissioners, who despite their track

record deserve an “atta-boy” for getting the Crooked River Ranch project completed. ELMAC has other environmentally significant properties lined up, so everyone is going to have to work together to get that done.

What voters must figure out is where their district or at-large commissioners stand when it comes to environmental concerns. That is certainly just one piece, because building and maintaining roads, and building parks are important, too. The current commission has done an admirable job with the roads, has done a great job with building the Lakewood Ranch Library, and has struggled with East County parks.

Do you think current commissioners understand the public’s perception of them when it comes to environmental issues? That was

a pretty big publicity splash for the Crooked River Ranch project. Is it all a show?

In January, when a panther was spotted in the Duette Preserve, Manatee County issued a press release hailing the sighting as spotlighting “Manatee County’s efforts to preserve and maintain natural habitat.”

Was this particular panther just walking through to get to a county more committed to environmental concerns? Perhaps he/she was just lost.

Was this a carefully planned release to change perception after the wetlands decision?

This is for you, the voter, to sort out. And the only way to make an educated decision is to visit with your commissioners, or the candidates for each position. The District 1, District 3, District 5, and District 7 seats are up for election.

Have the incumbents explained why they would reduce wetland protections and then say they support environmental concerns?

Ask the same questions of the challengers, what they would have done, and what they will support in the future. Make up your own mind. Sure, it’s confusing.

THERE IS HOPE

If there is good news in recent developments, it is that Manatee County citizens do seem to be concerned about conservation and environmental issues.

Debi Osborne, the director Land Protection for the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, is enthusiastic about the progress of ELMAC.

The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast had reached out to Alice Hunter Bender and Elizabeth Hunter Skidmore, who had inherited Crooked Ranch from their parents (William and Janet Hunter). Osborne said the Hunter sisters listened to possibilities of a conservation easement or selling to a buyer that would conserve the land. They struck a deal and then went to Manatee County ELMAC.

ers, public agencies, and the IRS,” Osborne said. “But it all definitely depends on the landowner. We know we have to be competitive in the market.”

Osborne said they currently have written to 50 landowners about protecting lands for the future. If they get a positive response, then they go looking for financing. She said Manatee County always has been interested in preserving lands, but that “We would have to fight for every penny.”

With ELMAC, and the public’s blessing, Manatee County now has a funding source.

“We definitely have opportunities to protect land,” she said.

I asked Osborne if protecting agricultural land was high on her nonprofit’s priority list. Some might argue that ranchers or farmers can damage wetlands. Would a farm, such as Dakin Dairy, be better for the environment if it was allowed to grow over and just be wild?

“We support ranching operations on these critical lands,” she said. “It is absolutely critical to keep these as working lands. Farmers have gotten better so they are not polluting waterways. Agriculture is important.”

She also noted that while Sarasota County has protected 33% of its lands, only 14% of Manatee County land is protected.

In the release about the panther sighting, Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge was quoted as saying, “The purpose behind these preserves is to ensure that future generations have open space and green space that they can go to and enjoy.”

Fortunately, other landowners exist in Manatee County who are concerned about the environment as well. Osborne said her nonprofit won’t “get in the middle” if Manatee County already is pursuing a property, but it is proactive when it comes to contacting landowners and finding out their intentions.

“We must work with apprais-

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

Lesley Dwyer

Commissioner Ray Turner emcees the ceremony for Manatee County’s purchase of the environmentally significant Crooked River Ranch March 1.

941-925-7800

4801

LETTERS

Find better ways to honor veterans

I am the daughter, sister and wife of five men who served in combat as officers in the U.S. Army — two of whom died in service to their country.

I agree with your opinion piece (“No funds, but county plans Palmetto park) in the Feb. 22 issue of the Observer. I can think of many better ways to use $30 million to serve our veterans than creating a veterans memorial park. A brother — who is a retired career officer — told me recently that when a person offers, “Thank you for your service,” he replies, “What have you done to deserve the sacrifices of soldiers? Have you ever written your member of Congress?

Have you attended a city council or county commission meeting? Have you voted?”

He put his life on the line for our democracy. Giving into politicians’ self-centered campaign wishes and whims is not an appropriate tribute to what our men and women in uniform have sacrificed.

NANCY HUGHES LAKEWOOD RANCH

Waiting for karma to take over

The grocery store was crowded today with almost all the lines stretching back into the aisles. A mother was tending to her crying child as the line was advancing a bit in front of her. As the space in front of the mother increased, a man pushed his cart up, in front of the mom while making it look like he was looking at something on a shelf near the register. With the mom tending to her child, the man noticed she wasn’t paying attention to the line, and he turned his cart into the gap in front of her to take her place in line. The lady saw what had happened and began berating the man for cutting in line. He tried to ignore her, but she was relentless. Other shoppers who were waiting in line behind the mom started to yell at the man, as well, for cutting in line. The yelling spread to everyone in

every line until the noise caused a store manager to approach. The manager pulled the man’s cart aside and escorted him to the door. Those standing in line broke out in applause.

Have you ever witnessed something like this? Probably not. It is rare because someone cutting in line has no anonymity. He or she is in full view and must face those he took advantage of.

So why do people do the exact same thing in traffic? They zoom down a lane that is ending in order to cram their car into the smallest opening someone leaves. They do stunts like this to gain a few car lengths while risking their life and the lives of others around them. Why? Because they are selfish cowards who think they are cloaked from those around them, hidden by hundreds of pounds of metal and glass. Those people are just as vile as the man with the cart, and they are equally despised.

If you are one of those who feel you are above waiting in line, who feel that gaining a few car lengths is worth angering so many people and risking people’s lives, then next time you do it, look back at the person you just cut off. They are not wishing you well. They are disgusted by you, but also they are comforted in knowing someday your life will be wrapped in the blanket of karma that you are weaving today.

Author Drishti Bablani says, “The universe does not carry debts. It always returns back to you what you gave it.”

SCOTT VEIX EAST COUNTY

Add bocce courts at Premier Park

(Editor’s note: This was in reference to suggestions for Premier Park.)

I want first-class bocce courts for a sport that can be played at any age. Indoor would be best, but proper shading will work outdoors. Would you pass my request to whomever coordinates and implements these ideas?

ANGELO RENNA LAKEWOOD RANCH

•

•

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Pop-up luxury

No. 1 luxury mall in the world coming to Sarasota as a ‘retail carnival.’

Bal Harbour Shops, the No. 1 luxury shopping center in the world in sales and a nationally known brand in luxury retail, is coming to Sarasota.  A tony brand Mecca with $2,555 in sales per square foot, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, Bal Harbour Shops is bringing its Access Pop-up Tour to The Mall at University Town Center this month. Whitman Family Development, which owns Bal Harbour Shops, announced the forthcoming pop-up event in a media announcement last week, followed by a social media campaign.

“The west coast of Florida is a fan-

tastic market for us,” Whitman Family Development President and CEO Matthew Whitman Lazenby said, specifically noting the SarasotaLakewood Ranch market’s combination of high-net-worth residents and deep-pocketed seasonal tourists. “This is a great time of year for us to be here.”

Retailers have been hosting popups in and around stores for years, selling everything from makeup to microwave ovens, usually around Christmas. But the Bal Harbour Access Pop-up Tour is a rather unique offering: It consists of 30 individually designed, customized shipping containers, with a list of brands that include Tiffany & Co., Balmain, Etro, Gianvito Rossi, Addict and Santa Maria Novella.

The pop-up operation, spanning 17,000 square feet, also includes covered walkways with fans, a retractable canopy and The Whitman, a

SEE BAL HARBOUR, PAGE 14A

Courtesy photo

The Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up Tour debuted late last year in North Carolina.

Bal Harbour

FROM PAGE 12A

SHOP LINEUP EXPANDS

fine-dining restaurant seating 150.

(The restaurant and bar menus for The Whitman will be custom-made for the Sarasota stop.)

Ahead of its opening this week, the luxury pop-up mall announced it’s adding another ultra-high-end brand to its lineup: Dolce & Gabbana.

The company behind the popup, Whitman Family Development, announced the addition of the famed Italian fashion brand in a Monday news release.

An official grand opening is scheduled for March 8, and a Whitman Development spokesperson said it will remain open through April. The UTC Mall and its multiple other connected restaurant and retail districts straddle the Manatee-Sarasota County line, just west of the University Parkway exit of Interstate 75.

In addition to Dolce & Gabbana, Whitman Family Development also announced that Golden Goose, a luxury sneaker brand, will join the roster of stores at the UTC Access Pop-up Tour. The nearest Dolce & Gabbana store to Sarasota is in Orlando, while there’s a Golden Goose at International Plaza in Tampa.

The Access Pop-up Tour scheduled an official grand opening for March 8 and will remain open through April.

The area has been a hotbed of retail and restaurants recently: new and coming-soon brands include Trader Joe’s, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and an Anna Maria Oyster Bar location. A Tesla dealership outside the mall is under construction.

Celebrating

The pop-up tour of stores, Whitman Lazenby said, is more like a “retail carnival” than a standard pop-up event. The Sarasota-east Manatee County market is the second stop on the four-stop Access Pop-up Tour. It debuted in Raleigh, North Carolina last December and went through January. Stops after Sarasota include Walton County in the Panhandle and Greenville, South Carolina. Each stop lasts about two months.

“We are excited to be bringing Bal Harbour to customers and markets that might not be familiar with it,” Whitman Lazenby said. “This is a really unique high-end shopping experience.”

The idea for such an extensive experiential retail pop-up tour, Whitman Lazenby said, dates back to the pandemic. The Whitman Development team had planned to open a smaller version of today’s pop-up tour in the Florida Keys. But due to a number of issues, that plan fizzled.

“It didn’t work,” Whitman Lazenby said. “It never opened.”  But the idea, Whitman Development executives believed, had merit. So the company kept at it, adding to it and enhancing it. The current version chose its four markets by looking for places with underserved luxury offerings and higher than average

ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals. The Tampa and Naples markets, with International Plaza and Waterside Shops, respectively, have “access to luxury,” Whitman Lazenby said. “Sarasota less so.”  After finding the locations, the next step was planning and logistics. In Sarasota, Whitman Development is partnering with UTC landlord Benderson Development, which Whitman Lazenby said has been a big help. In North Carolina, explaining the concept to Raleigh city officials for permits and other approvals was a challenge. “They said ‘you want to do what?’ recalls Whitman Lazenby with a chuckle.

Another challenge? Getting the show road-ready. Participating pop-up stores are sending boxes and cases of merchandise, which has to be accounted for and displayed properly. In some cases, the brands send their own employees to staff the pop-ups, and in others Whitman Family Development staffs them, Whitman Lazenby said. In all cases, attention to detail is key. “This is a personal touch, high-touch experience,” he said.

“Last year, I was struggling to get below 4:40 in the mile. This year, I’m already breaking 4:30. It just takes work. ”

— Lakewood Ranch High’s Derek Robinson SEE PAGE 17A

Fast Break

Bis ranked the No. 11 team in the country as of March 4. Krug is 14-17 overall this season.

… Lakewood Ranch High boys lacrosse sophomore Braden Johansen had five goals and an assist Feb. 29 in the Mustangs’ 21-6 win over Bradenton Christian School. The Mustangs are 5-0 as of March 4. Anthony D’Imperio sank a hole-in-one Feb. 28 on the No. 7 hole of Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s Royal Lakes course. D’Imperio used a 3-hybrid on the 167-yard hole.

So close to gold

Pirates senior Gage Wiggins, who wrestles at 165 pounds, finished as a 2A state runner-up for the second-straight year.

RYAN KOHN

EDITOR

In the final of their epic threematch trilogy, Tampa Jesuit senior Brandon Cody edged Braden River High senior Gage Wiggins 4-3 with a tiebreaker to win the FHSAA Class 2A championship at 165 pounds.

The March 2 match at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee left Wiggins, who finished 60-2, with his second consecutive state silver medal.

Cody (35-5) and Wiggins proved they were far the best 2A 165-pounders in the state.  Wiggins cruised to the title match, winning a 9-0 major decision over Lake Wales High’s Husam Mustafa (43-6) in the first round before beating Heritage High’s Kaleb Gabrielsen (60-3) in the quarterfinals by a 5-3 decision. In the semifinals, Wiggins crushed North Fort Myers High’s Julian Gonzales (43-6) with a 12-0 major decision.

For the third consecutive tournament, Wiggins drew Cody in the championship match.

In the District tournament, Wiggins beat Cody 4-2 with a tiebreaker. Cody reversed his fortunes at the Regional tournament with a 1-0 win.

It was Wiggins’ aggressive style that helped him get to the state finals for the second-straight year. He said he plans his moves for each opponent he faces, but generally he tries to affect each opponent mentally as much as he does physically.

“Just keep banging on his head, keep pressuring him,” Wiggins said of his overall philosophy. “Eventually, he’s going to want to give up. You have to make your opponent tired before you get tired.”

In 2022-2023, Wiggins went 64-5 and reached the 160-pound weight class state championship match before losing to Mariner High’s Christopher Minto (54-1), now a freshman at the University of Nebraska. Wiggins said he learned at last year’s state tournament to not

STATE WRESTLING RESULTS

BRADEN RIVER HIGH

Gage Wiggins, 165 pounds (60-2): Defeated North Fort Myers High’s Julian Gonzales (43-6) in a 12-0 major decision in the state semifinals, then lost 4-3 to Tampa Jesuit senior Brandon Cody (35-5) via a tiebreaker, earning a silver medal.

Matthew Ireland, 113 pounds (48-13): Eliminated in the third round by Lakeland Senior High senior Erick Vargas (57-3), who won via a 10-3 decision.

LAKEWOOD RANCH HIGH

Evan Bolick, 215 pounds (3612): Eliminated in the second round of the Class 3A state tournament by Doral Academy senior Joel Carrillo (33-11) in a 4-2 decision.

feel any extra pressure because of the stakes of the state tournament, he said. The practice wrestlers put in every day prepares them for the big moments, he said, which is why they should wrestle as they always do. Wiggins said wrestlers should aim to go out and have fun and let the results dictate themselves.

That is exactly what Wiggins did at this year’s state tournament. Wiggins, who began wrestling at 5 years old, said he does not regret a second of the time he put into the sport.

“(Wrestling) weeds people out,” Wiggins said. “You either give up and quit quickly or you realize you want to continue. I think people should be appreciative of it. You get to wrestle. There are lots of people who either were never physically able to wrestle or do not have the ability anymore.”

All the training and the condition-

ing can take a toll, Wiggins said, but it is all worth the end result when you see the results. In Wiggins’ case, he will end his high school career with two silver medals and a consistent record of success.

Wiggins was one of three East County wrestlers who earned a berth at the state tournament.

The other East County wrestlers participating failed to receive a medal.

Braden River senior Matthew Ireland (48-13) wrestled at 113 pounds and was eliminated in the third round by Lakeland Senior High senior Erick Vargas (57-3), who won via a 10-3 decision. Vargas eventually placed third.

Lakewood Ranch High senior Evan Bolick (36-12), who wrestles at 215 pounds, was eliminated in the second round of the Class 3A state tournament by Doral Academy senior Joel Carrillo (33-11) in a 4-2 decision. Bolick, who will attend Ave Maria University on a football scholarship, has only been wrestling for two years. Lakewood Ranch head coach Pat Ancil said he’s proud of the progress Bolick has made during that time — a relatively short amount compared to athletes who have wrestled for eight to 10 years.

With the area’s top three wrestlers being seniors, who could be among the crop to replace them as possible state qualifiers next season?

Lakewood Ranch has a quality wrestlers such as sophomore Aidan Sanders (30-15), who was one match away from state qualification this season at 106 pounds before losing to Steinbrenner High’s Angel Rua (43-11). Braden River freshman Logan Pike (31-21) is also a candidate. Pike was two rounds from reaching the state tournament before losing to Manatee High senior Carter Cabrera (38-12).

gins, shown trying to pin his opponent earlier this season, finished 60-2 at 165 pounds.

Ryan Kohn Braden River High softball senior Jada Phillips is hitting .538 with 12 RBIs as of March 4.

SPORTS

Courtesy image Braden River High senior wrestler Gage Wiggins finished his high school career with two consecutive second-place finishes at the 2A state meet. He was the only East County wrestler to earn a state medal this season.

Ryan Kohn Braden River High senior wrestler Gage Wig-

PROSE AND KOHN RYAN KOHN

East County basketball takes step forward

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s 2023-2024 basketball season is still ongoing, but none of the teams in East County remains alive.

This is not a surprise. Programs in the area, on both the boys and girls sides of the sport, are in different stages of rebuilding. Some, like the Braden River High boys basketball team, which finished 19-9, are close to being state contenders.

The Pirates made it deeper into the playoffs than any other East County team this season, reaching the Class 5A regional semifinals before dropping a 51-49 road game to Seminole High (18-8.)

Others, like the Lakewood Ranch High boys team, will require more time. It is something head coach Jake Baer knew before he took the job. Baer said in November that he wants to bring the program back to the heights it reached under current IMG Academy coach Jeremy Schiller, including a state championship game appearance in 2019. While fans will remember the highs of Schiller’s Lakewood Ranch tenure, it started with lows. In 2011, Schiller’s first season, the team went 4-17. In 2012, the Mustangs were 4-15. It was not until year three that Schiller and his staff produced a winning record (8-7).

In that regard, Baer’s first season at Lakewood Ranch went better than Schiller’s. The Mustangs finished 8-16 this season. It is not where the coaches or players want to be, but it provided glimpses of what it could become in a year or two. Sophomore David Young, in particular, showed promise: The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 11.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.

As a team, the Mustangs showed themselves capable of improvement. They shook off a nine-game losing streak in the middle of the year to play their best basketball at the end of the season, winning three

of their last five games and reaching the Class 7A District 11 championship game for the first time since 2020. Though the team lost 66-42 to Sumner High (18-10) in that game, battling to get there showed heart — something that used to be a program hallmark. Getting that back is a step in the right direction.

Besides Young, who should be a force in the post the next two seasons, the Mustangs have other underclassmen who flashed talent this season, like 6-foot-1 sophomore guard Isaiah Allen, the team’s leader with 12.8 points per game.

Time will tell how the Mustangs fare, but the ingredients for Lakewood Ranch to rebuild are there. This time next year, it’s possible the team could still be playing late in the postseason.

Here’s what the other East County programs are facing come next season:

The Braden River boys team has become a contender in two seasons under head coach Dwight Gilmer, but next season will be Gilmer’s biggest challenge yet. The team is set to lose seniors Marcus Schade (21.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game) and Isaac Heaven (15.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game) to graduation. Barring the addition of any instant-impact transfers, the Pirates will need their returnees to make significant jumps in play next season to keep climbing the state’s ranks. Some players, like junior guard Dudache Belony, showcased the ability to make a scoring impact: Belony finished the season with games of 14, 15 and 16

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points, respectively. The Pirates will need Belony to make that type of production the norm in 2024-2025.

After a period of success when current Florida State University star O’Mariah Gordon was around, the Braden River High girls program completed its second-straight season under .500, finishing 10-14. The good news is that the Pirates appear to have a handful of underclassmen with bright futures, led by freshman forward Kelis McGrady. The 5-foot-11 McGrady averaged 7.2 rebounds per game as a freshman and scored 6.8 points per game. Another year of development should allow McGrady to unlock her skills in the paint even further. Her sister, junior 5-foot-7 guard Kamiyah McGrady, will be the team’s second-leading returning scorer at

4.0 points per game, in addition to 3.4 rebounds per game.

Lakewood Ranch High girls basketball finished 9-12 this season, the third-straight season under .500 for the Mustangs, but the team will return the do-it-all junior Kaitlyn Rittenhouse, a 5-foot-9 guard. Rittenhouse averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The program will need to find some new pieces around Rittenhouse, since the Mustangs’ next four leading scorers will graduate this spring.

The Out-of-Door Academy boys team finished 9-14, but showed promise against programs of similar sizes. ODA beat Sarasota Christian (16-10) 51-45 on Jan. 5 and beat the Academy at the Lakes (10-14) 61-35 on Jan. 16. ODA’s biggest obstacle in future success is its Class 3A district, where it is stuck with Cardinal Mooney High (18-9) and Bradenton Christian (19-9), two programs much farther along in their development. Similar to how the ODA football team built itself by using players from the baseball program, the basketball team relied on members of the football team for scoring, particularly sophomore guard Allen Clark — a running back in football — who showcased a strong ability to get to the rim and create his own shot.

The ODA girls team played just 11 games, finishing 4-7, and carried just seven players on its roster. Only one player, Keira Baldwin, will graduate this spring, so the other six should improve with another year of development.

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

BRINGING JOY BY CREATING SMILES

Roy S. SMILE MAKEOVER PATIENT

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Coach Jake Baer said his goal is to reestablish a strong culture within the Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball program.

Lakewood Ranch High sophomore guard Isaiah Allen averaged 12.8 points per game this season.

Jeffrey Martins, DDS DENTIST AND OWNER

Derek Robinson

Derek Robinson is a junior on the Lakewood Ranch High boys track and field team. Robinson won the 1,600-meter run (4.27.52) and the 3,200-meter run (9:57.44) at the Charlotte Invitational on March 1 at Charlotte High. He also helped the Mustangs’ 4x400-meter relay team to a second-place finish (3:35.98).

When did you start competitive running? I started in sixth grade. I had just moved to Lakewood Ranch area from Bradenton. I was actually attending Sarasota Military Academy Prep. The nurse there convinced me to try running, so I did. I wanted to be fast like some of the other kids there.

What is the appeal to you?

I’m good at it. It feels natural. I ran a 5:30 mile in sixth grade. And I like winning.

Do you prefer track and field or cross-country?

Track and field. I like that you can run multiple events in the same day, and a lot of the races are quick. Anything a mile or less, I like.

What is your favorite memory?

It’s probably the other night (at the Charlotte Invitational). I had been working on breaking 10 minutes in the 3,200-meter run for three years.

for

What are

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.

What is your favorite food?

I like steak cooked medium rare.

What is your favorite movie?

I have to go with ‘Grown Ups.’

What are your hobbies?

I like to play video games, either shooting games or Rocket League.

What is the best advice you have received?

Anything worth your time takes time to achieve. I’ve seen that this year. Last year, I was struggling to get below 4:40 in the mile. This year, I’m already breaking 4:30. It just takes work.

“Finish this sentence: Derek Robinson is …” … Fun.

Park full of paws

Eight years ago, Lakewood Ranch’s McKenzie Hanlon suffered two strokes that caused a massive aneurysm, which caused her to lose her vision.

When Hanlon received a dog, C.J., from Southeastern Guide Dogs, she said it changed her life. She gained independence that allowed her to go out without her mother, Misti Garrison. She’s able to go to work, the grocery store and college.

Garrison said C.J. and Southeastern Guide Dogs has meant everything to her and her daughter, so they wanted to support the nonprofit during its annual Suncoast Walkathon on March 2 at Nathan Benderson Park.

More than 100 people and their dogs gathered for the 3K walk, including Country Club’s Marty and Mollie Saia.

The Saias are first-time puppy raisers, preparing Allie for training at Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Mollie Saia said her husband wanted a dog, but she didn’t, so volunteering as puppy raisers for the nonprofit was a good compromise. It also gave them an opportunity to help people.

Marty Saia said it’ll be sad to say goodbye to Allie after raising her for more than 15 months, but knowing Allie is going to help someone will make the goodbye a little easier.

Sarasota 5-year-old

Mia Slates has fun with Scout, the Southeastern Guide Dogs’ mascot, along with Sarasota 8-year-old Harper Krull and Sarasota 9-year-old Cali Slates before the Suncoast Walkathon.

Parrish’s Laurel McDevitt, a puppy raiser, is raising her eighth dog, Eddie, for Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Sun City’s Jamie Fuller says Carter was with Southeastern Guide Dogs before she underwent a career change. Now, 5-year-old Carter visits a hospital once a week to meet with patients and staff.

Dispatch, a 15-month-old dog, is getting ready to go off for training at Southeastern Guide Dogs. His puppy raiser, Parrish’s Colleen Flaherty, says it’ll be hard to say goodbye, but “he is destined to do something great.”

Photos by Liz Ramos

Palmetto neighbors come together to support Southeastern Guide Dogs. The nonprofit has its main campus in Palmetto.

St. Petersburg’s Milagros Raheb and her dog, Zamboni

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YOUR CALENDAR

BEST BET IRISH CELTIC FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. The annual Irish Celtic Festival once again is presented by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities. The free event includes Irish-themed food and drink from food trucks, vendors and artisans, live music and performances, face painting, a Lucky Dog Parade, relay races, leprechauns and more. For more information, go to LakewoodRanch.com.

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, MARCH 7 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 10

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING

Runs from 3-6 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Steve Arvey (Thursday), Blue Grass Pirates (Friday), Black Snake Bayou Band (Saturday) and TBA (Sunday). The Friday and Saturday concerts have a $5 cover; the other concerts are free. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8 MOVIE IN THE PARK

Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace. “Hop” is the feature of Waterside Park’s monthly, free, outdoor Movie in the Park event, which is sponsored by Grace Community Church. The movie begins at sunset. Seating is available on a first-come, firstserved basis, and those who attend are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Concessions will be available. Inflatables for the kids are available from 6-7:30 p.m. Go to WatersidePlace.com for information.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8 AND SATURDAY, MARCH 9 MUSIC AT THE PLAZA

Runs 6-9 p.m. at 1560 Lakefront Drive, Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch. Singer/musician Dana

Lawrence will perform Friday for those strolling the streets of Waterside Place in this free concert. On Saturday, singer/songwriter Sara Nelms will entertain the crowd. Visit WatersidePlace.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 AND

SUNDAY, MARCH 10

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

Runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. The annual Lakewood Ranch Fine Arts Festival returns, featuring original, handmade works from artists. Explore paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, glass, ceramics, fiber and wearable art, mixed-media, woodworking and much more. Meet the artisans and commission a piece if you don’t find what you want. The event is free. For more information, go to LakewoodRanch.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10

POLO

Begins at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Lakewood Ranch. The Sarasota Polo Club runs every Sunday through April 7. Tickets are $15, with VIP packages available. Gates open at 10 a.m. Besides the polo action, enjoy the opening parade, halftime wagon rides and food and drinks, and join in the traditional divot stomping at halftime. For tickets or information, go to SarasotaPolo.com.

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 runs year-round every Sunday. Vendors will be offering seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. Other features are children’s activities and live music. For more information, visit MyLWR.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13

RANCH NIGHT WEDNESDAYS

Runs from 6-9 p.m. at 1561 Lakefront Drive, Waterside Place. The weekly event includes food trucks, live music, a night market, a vintage mobile bar and a recreational cornhole league. No outside food or beverage is allowed. For more information, go to Events@LakewoodRanch.com.

Panther presentation

Panther Project founder

talks about the past and future of the Florida Panther.

It was in January when Manatee County put out a release that noted game-cam sightings of a male panther, an endangered species, moving through the Duette Preserve. A video of the panther that Manatee County posted on its social media sight was viewed “thousands of times and has been included in numerous news articles on air, online and in print,” according to a county press release.

Caught up in the excitement is Sarasota’s Bill Samuels, founder of the Florida Panther Project, and a historian and panther advocate for more than 30 years.

At 6:30 p.m. March 12, Samuels will be leading the presentation, “Back from the Brink: The Story of the Florida Panther” at the Lakewood Ranch Library. It’s a free presentation, and all ages are welcome, but those wanting to attend are asked to call 742-4500, ext. 4510, so the proper seating can be arranged. The presentation will last until 7:45 p.m.

Samuels stressed the presentation is not a lecture or a high-tech event. He said an “old-fashioned” slide show will be used during much of the presentation, in which he will talk about the history of the Florida panther and possibilities for the future. A question-and-answer period will be available after the presentation.

“We will go over the history of the panther recovery in Florida from the early 1970s, when it was listed as one of the first mammals on the then-new Endangered Species List,” Samuels said. “It will be interactive.

“The sighting by Florida Fish and Wildlife is big news. There is a tremendous amount of interest and people are asking questions such as ‘Are they breeding in Manatee County?’”

Samuels said Manatee County has had about six documented sightings in the past 18 months. There are many more reported sightings, but he said those are because of what he calls the “Loch Ness Monster syndrome.”

He said all the documented

IF YOU GO

What: “Back from the Brink: the Story of the Florida Panther”

Who: Bill Samuels, founder of the Florida Panther Project will lead the presentation

Where: The Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch.

When: 6:30-7:45 p.m. March 12

Cost: Free RSVP: Call 742-4500, ext. 4510

sightings are by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission so “they know they are panthers.”

He said he has gotten so many requests for presentations in the past six months that he can’t possibly fill them all.

“We do shows, festivals, schools, and fairs,” he said. “We have a good time.”

He is excited because he said this is the farthest north the panthers have been in 30 years. That does present a problem, though, because he said “It’s rural now in (eastern) Manatee County, but we are losing that every day.”

Those seeking more information about the Florida Panther Project can go to its Facebook page at Facebook.com/PantherComeback. It displays a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission chart that marks documented panther sightings within about a 30-minute drive from Lakewood Ranch, including one in Parrish and three in Myakka.

Samuels, who is called “the Panther Guy” by his fans, only has encountered panthers in the wild on one occasion, and that was bittersweet. He saw two panther kittens near the Corkscrew Swamp in Collier County in 2014.

He said within a month, both were killed crossing the road near the intersection of Immokalee Road and Krape Road, east of Naples.

Florida

Bill Samuels

Courtesy photos

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission keeps close track of panthers.

Panther sightings in Manatee have increased.

Amath teacher at The-Out-of-Door Academy, Michael Saxton, was a late addition to the Jazz Under the Stars concert at Waterside Place on Tuesday.

Saxton, who has played the saxophone for 19 years, joked that he’d been harassed into performing with about a dozen ODA students during the Sights & Sounds free music series. Another ODA teacher asked Saxton’s wife about his musical skills — the deal was done.

He ended up playing from the front row, alongside two of his math students (junior Celia Rayman and senior Joe Clarke) during the school’s latest band and orchestra performance.

Saxton wasn’t the only ODA faculty member jamming under the pavilion. Ed Stiles works at ODA part time and played the bass during the performance.

“I teach the Lower School band,” Stiles said. “I get them started in fourth and fifth grade.”

Upper School House Dean Mike Bornhorst was on stage at the band’s last concert, but sat this one out, preferring to be a spectator from his folding chair.

“It’s fun to collaborate with the kids,” he said of being a faculty member sitting alongside the students during a performance.

The band opened with a jazzed up version of “Bare Necessities,” which immediately had 3-year-old Kaia Kovacevic bouncing up and down in her front row seat.

Now Running!

Thursday,

Kovacevic attended the show with her dad, Ljuvo Kovacevic. The family used to live in the heart of Waterside Place. Now, they live 10 minutes away and visit often.

“We lived here for three years, so we know every step and every corner,” he said. “It’s one of our favorite places.”

— LESLEY DWYER

Ed Stiles, a part-time music teacher at Out-ofDoor Academy, is playing with the band on Feb. 27 at Sights and Sounds.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer Kaia Kovacevic snacks before the show, but once the band started playing “Bare Necessities,” the 3-year-old was bopping out of her seat.

Future Business Leaders of America students’ Cause 4 Paws project focuses on creating commercials to help dogs get adopted.

Every time Emilia Kulikowski, an eighth grader at R. Dan Nolan Middle School, walks into the Humane Society of Manatee County, she’s saddened to see the number of dogs waiting to be adopted.

But by the time she leaves, she has a sense of hope.

Kulikowski, president of the school’s Future Business Leaders of America club, joins other members

of the club in going to the Humane Society once per month to create videos and take photos of a select dog to promote its adoption.

The Future Business Leaders of America representing Nolan Middle work on their Cause 4 Paws project with Samantha Harris, the events and volunteer coordinator for the Humane Society of Manatee County. Harris chooses the dog, which usually is one that has been at the nonprofit for a while.

While they play with a dog, the students take the photos and video to show its personality.

The right photos matter.

Kulikowski said they take the dog to an area that has a colorful background so the dog photos will pop. They add video of Harris talking about the dog’s health status and personality traits.

Like Kulikowski, her fellow stu-

Courtesy images

R. Dan Nolan Middle School Future Business Leaders of America adviser Stefani Heidenthal and her students hope their work with the Humane Society of Manatee County will lead to more dogs being adopted.

MEET THE PUPS

EMMA

HICKORY

Then the waiting game begins.

One dog, Emma, already has been

through their work.

“It’s a good feeling knowing you helped a dog find a good home and not be worried if it’s going to be fed the next day.”

Addison Gentz, an eighth grader and FBLA vice president

Addison Gentz, an eighth grader and FBLA vice president, described Emma as energetic and a “big bundle of joy.” She said Emma wanted to play with everyone.

The students were thrilled a Nolan Middle School family adopted Emma.

“It’s a good feeling knowing you helped a dog find a good home and not be worried if it’s going to be fed the next day,” Gentz said.

Kulikowski said she has seen the worry on dogs’ faces, but as soon as they see people, their faces light up.

When working with Hickory, another dog at the Humane Society, Kulikowski found out “he’s a cuddler.”

“He wants to be your best friend,” she said. “He is attached to you at the hip. He loves to play, but he can also be really calm.”

Kulikowski said seeing adoptions gives them motivation to make more video.

“The (video) process is so easy, and now this dog has a home and a new life, and it took only an hourand-a-half of our lives,” she said. “It’s amazing to see that now these dogs have the rest of their lives just because we helped a little bit.”

In February, FBLA also hosted a pet drive that collected several bags of dog and cat food, toys and more. The supplies will be donated to the Humane Society of Manatee County.

The Cause 4 Project doesn’t stop there.

Kulikowski said the students are planning to host a kitten shower at the school in April. It will give people an opportunity to meet and interact with kittens from the humane society while also donating food and monetarily to the nonprofit. People also will be able to adopt the kittens.

PARTY

dents also have trouble leaving the Humane Society.

Back at Nolan Middle, the students edit the photos and video and then broadcast the finished product on the school news and post it to the school’s social media.

adopted

Mallory Park home tops sales at $1.7 million

Ahome in Mallory Park topped all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Christopher Frederick and Aniedra Durnell, of Bradenton, sold their home at 3214 Anchor Bay Trail to Carl and Kalyn Bassett, of Bradenton, for $1.7 million. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,230 square feet of living area. It sold for $833,800 in 2020.

LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE

Adam and Chelsea Freeman, of Bradenton, sold their home at 733 Tailwind Place to Stephen Perkins, trustee, of Carmel, Indiana, for $1,325,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,376 square feet of living area. It sold for $828,500 in 2022.

HBT at Waterside LLC sold the home at 982 Seascape Place to Alexander Sapiano and Gitta Margaret Sapiano, trustees, of Delray Beach, for $1,179,900. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,666 square feet of living area.

UNIVERSITY PARK

Jamie Lemont, trustee, of Wellington, sold the home at 8005 Warwick Gardens Lane to Thu Huong Armstrong and Ronald Kerry Armstrong, of University Park, for $1,325,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,154 square feet of living area. It sold for $835,000 in 2009.

SHOREVIEW Pulte Home Co. LLC sold the home at 7944 Sunset Pines Drive to Scott Anthony Campbell and Antoinette Marie Campbell, of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, for $1,162,600. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,484 square feet of living area.

COUNTRY CLUB

David and Carol Forgash, of Avon Lake, Ohio, sold their home at 6736 The Masters Ave. to Christopher and Kathleen Kelly, of Bradenton, for $1.08 million. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 2,933 square feet of living area.

Susan Halpern, of Buffalo, New York, sold the home at 7047 Vilamoura Place to George Kozma an Sharon Eis, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $800,000. Built in 2004, it has two bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 2,941 square feet of living area.

John and Alexis Fischer, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, sold their home at 7346 Edenmore St. to Maritza Herrig, of Lakewood Ranch, for $729,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,004 square feet of living area. It sold for $779,000 in 2022.

Mark and Christine Lashinger, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 12030 Thornhill Court to Larry Clemons and Barbara Clemons, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $675,000. Built in 2011, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,840 square feet of living area. It sold for $655,000 in 2023.

BRIDGEWATER

Enrique Via-Reque, trustee, and Christina Via-Reque, of Nokomis, sold the home at 5613 Cloverleaf Run to Chad and Keri Hawk, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1 million. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,920 square feet of living area. It sold for $645,300 in 2015.

Andrew Mark Elcock and Deborah Jane Elcock, of York, United Kingdom, sold their home at 13102

Bridgeport Crossing to Dorothy Errante, trustee, of Sarasota, for $827,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,287 square feet of living area. It sold for $464,300 in 2016.

LAKEWOOD NATIONAL

Charles and Regina Putrino, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 17439 Hickok Belt Loop to Diane Elizabeth Kazalski and Adam Thomas Kazalski, of Bradenton, for $970,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,207 square feet of living area. It sold for $482,500 in 2020.

Michael and Dena Oberg, of Wimauma, sold their home at 17727 Hickok Belt Loop to Rickie John Jensen and Andrea Key Jensen, trustees, of Bradenton, for $945,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,248 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 2023.

WINDING RIVER

Joshua Chase Johnson and Aaliyah Michelle Solomon, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 14112 Ninth Terrace N.E. to Stephanie and Michael Henry, of Bradenton, for $950,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,800 square feet of living area. It sold for $640,000 in 2021.

67TH STREET COURT EAST

Eliezar Salmon Rivera and Elda Garcia Pena sold their home at 3610 67th St. Court E. to Rakesh and Falguni Trpathi, of Bradenton, for $880,000. Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,240 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2020.

MALLORY PARK

Scott and Sandy Nelles sold their home at 3409 Anchor Bay Trail to Ignacio Nicolas Jory Vilaplana and Isidora Larrain, of Bradenton, for $855,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,859 square feet of living area. It sold for $779,000 in 2023.

PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGE Technology Development Consultants LLC, trustee, sold the home at 7730 Jay Watch Glen to Lisa Russell and Byron Christopher Russell, of Bradenton, for $850,000. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and is 3,221 square feet. It sold for $400,000 in 2021.

ASCOT David Hansen, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 7431 Ascot Court to Dawn Zimmerman and Sammie David Zimmerman, of Sarasota, for $840,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,230 square feet of living area.

SAVANNA John and Samantha Wurm sold their home at 2918 Desert Plain Cove to Evan and Heather Curry, of Bradenton, for $804,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,377 square feet of living area. It sold for $835,000 in 2022.

ESPLANADE Dean and Mariafinita Golemis,

ROSEDALE HIGHLANDS

Ernest Thompson Jr., of Lakewood Ranch, sold his home at 5240 97th St. E. to Milton Abner and Danielle Belton, of Bradenton, for $750,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,535 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2013.

RIVERWALK

Cassidy Garbutt and Jonas Justin Tizon Santos sold their home at 11101 Water Lily Way to Kristine

Gail Shafer, trustee, of Bradenton, for $650,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,004 square feet of living area.

TIDEWATER PRESERVE

Ronald and Evonne Metzig, of Westfield, Indiana, sold their home at 926 Preservation St. to Cheryl Tower, of Bradenton, for $640,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and is 1,913 square feet. It sold for $418,300 in 2007.

WATERFRONT AT MAIN STREET

Kurt Schultz, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the Unit 3-203 condo-

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Hartmark

This Mallory Park home at 3214 Anchor Bay Trail sold for $1.7 million. It has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,230 square feet of living area.

minium at 10510 Boardwalk Loop to Arthur and Christine Friedman, of Annapolis, Maryland, for $620,000. Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two baths and is 1,353 square feet. It sold for $399,000 in 2020.

ARBOR GRANDE

Rocco and Sharon Grasso, trustees, of Cranston, Rhode Island, sold the home at 12312 Terracotta Drive to Michael Guarino, of Bradenton, for $615,000. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,068 square feet of living area. It sold for $393,000 in 2019.

RIVERDALE REVISED

Danns Good Deeds LLC sold the home at 4208 Second Ave. N.E. to Bringman Properties III LLC for $566,500. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,642 square feet of living area. It sold for $174,000 in 2009.

SYLVAN WOODS

bec, Canada, for $520,000. Built in 2020, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,462 square feet of living area. It sold for $310,000 in 2021.

STONEYBROOK

Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., trustee, sold the home at 7820 Haven Harbour Way to Pavel Radysyuk and Michael Prokopenko, of Bradenton, for $485,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,754 square feet of living area.

COACH HOMES AT TIDEWATER

George Hogrefe and Nancy MurrayHogrefe sold their Unit 311 condominium at 837 Tidewater Shores Loop to Kent Lusnia and Debora Lusnia, trustees, of Easthampton, Massachusetts, for $441,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,769 square feet of living area. It sold for $275,000 in 2019.

PINE TRACE

Debbie Huffman, of Sarasota, sold her Unit 48 condominium at 7830 Pine Trace Drive to 7830 Pine Trace LLC for $430,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,734 square feet of living area. It sold for $360,100 in 2021.

FAIRFIELD

Daniel and Natascha Bond, of Sarasota, sold their home at 8424 Sylvan Woods Drive to Marsilio Zappaterreno and Daniela Cioara, of Sarasota, for $550,000. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,914 square feet of living area.

NAUTIQUE AT WATERSIDE

M/I Homes of Sarasota LLC sold the home at 7712 Saloon Lane to Philip Storm, trustee, of Sarasota, for $539,600. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,837 square feet of living area.

DEL WEBB

Clifford Hornsby and Darryl Waddy sold their home at 16615 Blackwater Terrace to Brent and Laura Marshall, of Longboat Key, for $520,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,927 square feet of living area.

VERANDA LAKEWOOD NATIONAL

Tom Curtis Shapiro and Diane Shapiro sold their home at 5624 Palmer Circle to Mark Goldman and Heidi Charna Blaukopf, trustees, of Que-

Mary Bishop and Ida Ruth Jianghua Greenberg, of Cockeysville, Maryland, sold their home at 4895 Maymont Park Circle to Anita Phillips LLC for $397,000. Built in 2013, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,446 square feet of living area. It sold for $284,000 in 2018.

BOCA GROVE

Jayne Cacciapuoti, of Webster, Massachusetts, sold her Unit 102 condominium at 7155 Boca Grove Place to Thomas and Peggy Connelly, of Lakewood Ranch, for $360,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,431 square feet of living area. It sold for $151,400 in 2000.

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WITTY REMARKS by Howard Neuthaler, edited by Jeff Chen

“I had an outstanding experience working with Tyler Shanahan. He went above and beyond to help me find my dream home in Lakewood Ranch after two years of looking. From our first meeting, it was clear that he was dedicated to understanding my needs. The group was proactive in finding listings, accommodating my schedule, and guiding me through negotiations with skill and professionalism. Tyler’s attention to detail and communication skills made the process smooth and stress-free.” —