East County Observer 6.20.24

EAST COUNTY

Staying cool and caffeinated

The Waterside Place playground was a near ghost town on Friday morning. Three children had the jungle gyms and swing sets all to themselves.

Everyone was next door at the splash pad.

Not only was it a hot morning, the splash pad had been closed the previous week for maintenance. About 30 kids splashed about as their parents watched and chatted with friends from the sidelines.

Melissa Braun (pictured above with her 1-year-old Austin) drives from Parrish with her kids because the fencing around the playground and splash pad at Waterside makes her life easier.

“I have three kids, so I look for places that are enclosed,” Braun said. “They like the park, and I like the coffee shop here. When they’re done playing, mom gets her latte.”

Creativity comes to life

Jerimiah Bombardier (above), a sixth grader at Braden River Middle School, wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.

He grabbed a clump of clay and started molding it on the pottery table.

Within a few minutes, a cup began taking shape.

Bombardier had fun making his own creations during the School District of Manatee County’s arts camp June 6 at Braden River Middle School.

The arts camp was one aspect of the district’s Visual and Performing Arts Camps, which offered other camps, including band, theater, orchestra and chorus.

Chris Vasquez, owner of Heritage Bee Farm, shows how bees create honeycomb.

Liz Ramos

Lakewood Ranch’s Jeri Schleicher, Todd Schleicher, Nadine Bercher, 2-year-old Carson Bercher and Matt Bercher celebrate Father’s Day at the Mall at UTC’s Dad’s Day Block Party. Former Lightning and Rays pro athletes were on hand.

Lesley Dwyer

Courtesy image

Candidate hopes to get more citizens involved

Carol Ann Felts is vying for the District 1 seat on the Manatee County Commission.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

When Manatee County wanted to impose a stormwater fee on its citizens in 2019, Carol Ann Felts was among a group of Myakka City residents opposed to the plan.

The group attended public meetings, asked questions and voiced concerns.

“(The commissioners) never voted it in,” Felts said. “That’s when I saw that maybe we (as citizens) could make a difference if we kept up the dialogue.”

Five years later, the 66-year-old retiree is in the race to be the next county commissioner to represent District 1. James Satcher vacated the seat in April when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to serve as the Supervisor of Elections after Mike Bennett retired.

Satcher lives in the rapidly developing area of Parrish. Felts lives on 10 acres in Myakka City. She said the vast area of District 1 contains different communities, each with their own unique concerns.

“We’re the wall (in Myakka) from keeping urban sprawl coming out here,” Felts said. “People on Clay Gully Road are more concerned about the phosphate mines coming in, and at the same time, we’ve got Parrish that doesn’t even know that phosphate mines exist (because most residents are new to the area).”

An eighth-generation Floridian, there’s a pitcher of sweet tea in Felts’ refrigerator and two aging horses in her backyard, both named J.R.

Growing up in Miami, Felts took frequent trips to the Keys and developed a lifelong love of horses on the ranches in  nearby Homestead. She’d later pick up barrel racing at the age of 38 because the first horse she bought happened to be trained for it.

She left Florida after high school and spent time in North Carolina,

DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES

The primary election is on Aug. 20, and the general election is on Nov. 5. Here’s a look at Felts’ competition.

■ Keith Green (Republican)

■ Steve Metallo (Republican)

■ Glenn Pearson (Democrat)

■ Jennifer Lynn Hamey (No party affiliation)

Tennessee and Alabama before returning in her mid-20s with a husband and two kids in tow.

Felts worked for a growing office equipment company, Danka Industries. She was transferred to Pensacola. When her ex-husband was hired by Tropicana, the family moved to west Bradenton in 1989.

During those years, there was no time for politics. Felts was traveling every week with Danka’s mergers and acquisitions department, plus preparing outfits and meals for every day she was away from her preschool sons, Nick and Kyle.

After moving from west Bradenton to Myakka City in 2000, Felts wanted to slow down. If she wanted to, she could just tend to her horses and gardens every day. Instead, she chooses to drive across the county to attend commission and land use meetings.  Win or lose, that won’t change. Felts will continue to give her input whether it’s from the dais as a commissioner or the podium as a citizen. In the case of a loss, she said the winner will become her best friend because she’ll be reaching out to him or her regularly.   This is Felts’ third run at a commission seat, yet she says that she’s not a “politician.” She hates asking for money, yet she’ll stand in line at the grocery store and regularly

ask the stranger standing next to her, “Do you know who your county commissioner is?”

Felts ran as a write-in candidate for the District 5 seat in 2020. (The districts have since been redrawn so District 1 has been given much of the Myakka area.) She knew she didn’t have a chance against incumbent Vanessa Baugh, so she also campaigned for George Kruse. Kruse was elected to the District 7 at-large seat that year.

“There was an opportunity there (with Kruse) for me to get somebody to listen to what was happening out here and to learn a little bit about the election process,” Felts said. “I got 300 votes, but I kind of got Myakka to be knowledgeable about our at-large commissioner (Kruse).”

Those 300 votes meant a lot to Felts because people took the time to write out her name exactly as she filed it. If the spelling is off for a write-in candidate, the vote doesn’t count.

In 2022, she ran for the District 6 at-large seat and received 5,977 votes in the primary against Carol Whitmore and Jason Bearden, who won the seat.

Of course, Felts would like to win, but getting more citizens involved has been and remains her No. 1 goal. She has paid attention to what goes on behind the scenes for years, but she became active when talks about moving the Future Development Area Boundary started happening.

While she doesn’t want to see Myakka City turn into Lakewood Ranch or Parrish, she said people who say she’s anti-development are wrong.

“We can do it in a better way,” Felts said. “Myakka has an incredible opportunity to be part of growth without sacrificing the things that are important. We’ve got to protect our water and food sources for the rest of the county.”

File photo

Carol Ann Felts is running for the District 1 seat on the Manatee County Commission.

LWR Library will get $7 million in upgrades

County moves quickly to finish library’s second floor.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

When the Lakewood Ranch Library celebrated a grand opening in January, there was only one thing missing — a finished second floor.

A $6,919,000 line item in Manatee County’s FY2025 budget says that’s set to change. The overall Manatee County recommended budget for FY2025 is $2,379,295,263.

Staff members presented their recommendations to commissioners in a series of special work sessions held from June 12 through June 19. The budget won’t be finalized and adopted until September.

“What we’ve got to do now is balance it,” Commissioner Ray Turner said of the budgeting process. “What cuts do we have to make? We have to prioritize a little bit.”

Chief Financial Officer Sheila McLean said Manatee County is one of the few counties that uses a levels-of-services budget structure over a line-item budget. A levelsof-services budget is more about explaining why items are needed. A line-item budget is more about listing what is needed.

The budget takes nine months to prepare, and staff still budgets down to the line item. The levels-of-services structure is an added step that divides the request amount into three levels — base, continuation and desired. Base is the bare minimum cost to run a program. Continuation is the cost to maintain the existing services beyond the base, and desired are new requests.

“It’s a better approach to explain to the commissioners and the citizens the programs that are being recommended and approved for funding, rather than talking about accounts,” McLean said. “It is a much more complicated budget process, but it helps paint a better picture.”

To further fill out the picture, the $2,321,568,098 FY2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan was presented along with the budget.

While a $9 million EMS station near Interstate 75 and University Parkway is on the horizon for FY2028 in the five-year CIP, roads, parks and the Lakewood Ranch Library remain priorities in East County for FY2025.

THE LAKEWOOD RANCH LIBRARY

Plans for the library are not final until commissioners vote on them, but the staff has started the process by offering ideas and an estimated cost.  Staff is recommending $6,919,000

TIMELINE TO ADOPTION

Following the initial series of meetings from June 12-19, the commission takes a summer recess from June 24 through July 26.

AUG. 1

Approval of tentative millage

SEPT. 12

First public hearing

SEPT. 17

Second public hearing and adoption

be used in FY2025 to fully fund and start construction on the second floor in May. Construction is expected to take just under one year.

Once complete, staff suggested the extra space be used by two departments: Library Services and Community & Veterans Services.

The library would use the space to expand its collection of materials and provide additional study rooms and meeting spaces. Additional library staff would include one librarian and three library assistants.

Library Services Manager Tammy Parrott told commissioners in January that libraries are starting to be used as multiuse buildings. In some cases, that includes residential units.

Manatee County is moving toward a multiuse model by including county services in its new and remodeled library locations. Staff said the second floor can accommodate three probation officers and two Veterans Services counselors on a rotating basis.

Commissioner Ray Turner said it’s too early to say what will actually end up on the second floor because commissioners need to have a discussion first. Veterans Services having a place upstairs was discussed, but he hadn’t heard about probation possibly having a spot, too.

“To have a satellite office for Veterans Services — on the east side, we don’t have that right now,” Turner said. “It’s kind of a little bit underserved compared with the way it should be.”

ROADS

Out of 17 new CIP projects that the Transportation department submitted for review, 11 are in East County, five have starting dates in FY2025 and four are improvements to Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Repaving Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from State Road 70 to State Road 64 isn’t on the schedule until the fall of 2027. However, three intersections on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard are poised for an update in 2025 — Wood Fern Trail, Portal Crossing and Gateway Drive.

Upgrades include traffic signals, traffic cameras, pedestrian crossings and turn lane improvements. Adjustments to the median have to be made at Portal Crossing only. The design process is slated to begin in October 2024 with construction starting in October 2025 and an anticipated completion date of December 2026.

In total, the Transportation

DEPARTMENTS BY THE NUMBERS

Here’s a look at the recommended budgets for some of the individual divisions.

$28,844,968 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

$24,704,657 COMMUNITY AND VETERANS SERVICES

$19,458,271 COUNTY ATTORNEY $16,717,167 CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

$12,561,489

11 EAST COUNTY ROAD PROJECTS

These are the 11 new East County projects added to the FY2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan by the Transportation Department. The proposed updates were presented to commissioners on June 18.

Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Wood Fern Trail, intersection improvements: $911,266 ($159,766 budgeted for FY2025)

Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Portal Crossing, intersection improvements: $1,006,000 ($285,062 budgeted for FY2025)

Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Gateway Drive, intersection improvements: $911,266 ($159,766 budgeted for FY2025)

Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from State Road 70 to State Road 64, resurface inside lanes, sidewalk repairs and enhanced pedestrian striping: $13,765,550

Malachite Road at New Haven BoulevardCentral Park Boulevard, intersection improvements: $2,195,950

44th Avenue East and Wood Fern Trail, mast arm (to hang traffic light): $2,423,000

department added $68,941,010 worth of projects to the CIP, $2,667,328 of which was requested for FY2025.

PARKS

The total recommended budget for Sports and Leisure Services is $6,756,042. The base is $4,564,454. The continuation is $2,038,839 and the desired is $152,749.

The parks are growing with the population in East Manatee County, so the desired $152,749 budget request would establish East County as its own division and hire a recreation division manager.

“It’s important for us to add the support and oversight for creative scheduling and increased customer service to our residents,” Sports and Leisure Director Molly White said.

John H. Marble Park is an ongoing project that falls under the continuation category of the budget. The park was closed in May 2023 for $18,998,877 worth of renovations and is expected to open by the end of this year or early 2025 with a new gymnasium and splash pad.

The budgeted cost to open and operate the park is $890,960. That includes six full-time employees and two part-time employees.

Sports and Leisure is also adding a half-ton truck and trailer to their fleet. The $84,084 mobile recreation center will be used for pop-up programming at parks throughout the county.

White said the truck will target “passive parks” that don’t normally have programming.

Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard, intersection improvements: $850,757 ($159,757 budgeted for FY2025)

Creekwood Boulevard from State Road 70 East to 44th Avenue East, pavement reconstruction, sidewalk repairs and enhanced pedestrian striping: $6,355,372

Port Harbour Parkway from Kay Road to Golden Harbour Trail, pavement reconstruction, sidewalk repairs and enhanced pedestrian striping: $9,868,075

State Road 64 from Lorraine Road to Verna Bethany Road, Project Development and Environmental Study required by Florida Department of Transportation to widen from two lanes to four: $2,883,650

Uihlein Road from State Road 70 to State Road 64, Operational and Safety Improvements Study, plus interim traffic lights and pedestrian crossings at Lakewood National Parkway, 44th Avenue East, and Rangeland Boulevard intersections: $10,364,815 ($802,500 budgeted for

FY2025)

Courtesy image

An aerial rendering of John H. Marble Park when it reopens after renovations.

Lesley Dwyer

David Sessions, CEO of Willis Smith Construction, talks with former County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh on the second floor back in May 2023 when the focus was still on finishing the first floor.

Park loads up for Fireworks on the Lake

Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio will perform for thousands before the fireworks show.

While you might not expect that shade would be a topic at a fireworks show, Nathan Benderson Park is concerned about just that as it is adding some tents to the grounds for the Fireworks on the Lake Show on July 3.

Gates open at 5 p.m. for the event, which culminates just after 9 p.m., when an approximately 15-minute fireworks show will be fired from a barge on the lake.

While the fireworks will be the highlight of the annual event, there will be plenty of entertainment before the sun goes down, and Nathan Benderson Park Marketing Director Marnie Buchsbaum said park executives have wanted to provide more shade for those who attend the event to get out of the heat.

Last year’s Fireworks on the Lake drew 16,000 people, and the event continues to grow in popularity.

The overall event will see a change this year. Instead of offering multiple bands, Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio will perform a concert that begins at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage on Regatta Island and will continue, besides an intermission, leading up to the fireworks.

Ten inflatables will be available to kids and interactive photo displays will be around the park for entire families to enjoy. Kids also will enjoy bubble machines and face painters.

Oak and Stone is the event’s beer and wine sponsor and plenty of food vendors will be on hand. The event’s main sponsor, for the second consecutive year, is Lamborghini of Sarasota. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is hosting the Kid Zone.

The taped show will be televised July 4 by WWSB ABC 7 beginning at 9 p.m.

IF YOU GO

FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE

When: 5-10 p.m. July 3

Where: Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota

Admission: Free

Parking: Parking on Regatta Island is $35 per vehicle. The South Lot parking will cost $25 for cars and $55 for recreational vehicles. A special event lot (next to Homewood Suites) will be available for $25.

VIP Experience: A VIP Viewing Experience will be available for $100 per person (including complimentary food and beverages, premium parking, and exclusive access to the air-conditioned finish tower).

To purchase parking or more information: Go to FireworksOnTheLake.com.

Buchsbaum said parking for previous Fireworks on the Lake shows have been close to selling out and suggested those who want to attend the event secure their parking ahead of time.

Parking is now on sale at FireworksOnTheLake.com. There is no admission charge to enter the park.

File photo

Spectators are set up on all sides of the lake to watch the fireworks show at Nathan Benderson Park.

New law raises truckload of issues

The bill goes into effect on July 1 and will take away HOA powers to limit the parking of work vehicles in neighborhoods.

ichael Miller worries that the passage of House Bill 1203 could have “unintended consequences” in his Country Club neighborhood and the East County community as a whole.

The bulk of the 44-page bill, signed into law on May 31 by Gov. Ron DeSantis, pertains to the administration of homeowners associations — education requirements for directors and how fees are imposed and records are kept.

Page 37 is where the bill starts to concern Miller.

The bill states that homeowners associations “may not prohibit” property owners, tenants or guests from parking their work vehicles or personal vehicles, including pickup trucks, on the owner’s driveway or any other area where the owner has “a right to park as governed by state, county, and municipal regulations.”

Currently, homeowners in the Country Club are not allowed to park pickups or work vehicles in their driveways overnight. That regulation was set and is enforced by the Country Club Edgewater Village Association.

“My thing with pickup trucks is that they’re luxury vehicles now,”

Commissioner Ray Turner said. “When these CDDs and HOAs were formed in the beginning, these pickup trucks weren’t quite what they are today, so there’s going to have to be a little bit of flexibility because it’s not a work truck for people in a lot of cases.”

ADDITIONAL STATUTE CHANGES

House Bill 1203 mostly focuses on how the officers of an HOA operate, but here are two other changes that affect how residents are allowed to operate on their parcels.

■ All first responders, not just law enforcement, are allowed to park their assigned vehicles in any area where the owner has a right to park, including public roads or rights-of-way.

■ Homeowners are allowed to plant vegetable gardens and hang clotheslines as long as they’re not visible from the parcel’s frontage or an adjacent parcel, common area or golf course.

Miller, who is a former CEVA board member and the current CDD5 assistant secretary, is not personally opposed to parking pickups on driveways either, but some people in his community are. He said CEVA receives occasional complaints in regards to parking pickup trucks, and that’s how the bylaws had read.

Miller has two bigger concerns with the bill: He said the language is too vague, and it’s an example of the state chipping away at local governance.

“Somebody obviously decided to go after parking ... what’s next?”

Miller said. “Are they just going to start, one by one, wiping out HOA restrictions or the ability to have restrictions? Are we dismantling local government? Now, the state has all this authority that used to be local.”

He also questioned how a bill that affects millions of homeowners across the state happened with-

out more public participation and awareness of the issue. He said CEVA was caught off guard when a woman asked for a delay on a fine regarding her pickup.

“The lady said there’s a new state law going into effect in July that will allow me to park a pickup truck (in her driveway), so I don’t think the HOA should be fining me now,” Miller said. “We’re looking around saying, ‘What?’ We have professional staff that are HOA certified. We have attorneys that presumably look out for pending legislation. I’ve talked to people in other communities, and it’s the same story — they absolutely never heard about this.”

Since the state didn’t define what a personal vehicle is, Miller said it can be anything a homeowner says is his or her personal vehicle, from a monster truck to a converted school bus.

As for work vehicles, the bill specifically allows for “official insignias” and “visible designations,” but excludes commercial motor vehicles, as defined by Florida Statute Section 320.01(25). The section defines commercial motor vehicles as having a gross vehicle weight of more than 26,001 pounds.

Essentially, the bill only precludes passenger buses, dump trucks and the like from parking in a driveway overnight. And “any other area”

“The covenants

for these HOAs are to protect the values and the look and feel of those communities.”

Commissioner Ray Turner

implies that a guest could arrive in an RV and park it on the lawn with the homeowner’s permission.

Miller said he hopes people wouldn’t abuse the vague language, but there’s certainly potential for it.

If it were to be abused, there’s not much Manatee County could immediately do about it.

“We do not regulate parking on lawns,” Code Enforcement Chief Tom Wooten said.

Plus, the county only has jurisdiction on publicly maintained county roads, and some HOA communities have private roads.

“The covenants for these HOAs are to protect the values and the look and feel of those communities,” Turner said. “I don’t see how this bill would override it, but I do need to take a closer look. If it’s putting that at risk, then we’ll bring it to the attention of the legislature.”

Lesley Dwyer

A pickup is parked in a driveway in Stone Ridge. Currently. The truck can’t be parked in a driveway overnight in the Country Club, but as of July 1, the HOA will no longer be allowed to prohibit it.

Top market

The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch was No. 1 in Florida in 2023 and hopes to retain that standing this year.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

On a steamy Sunday morning at the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch, Kevin Hobson was talking barbecue with his customers.

They were standing in line, waiting to see if that smell was the truth. Wherever you were walking in Waterside Place along Kingfisher Lake, when the wind was just right, you could smell Hobson’s Choice barbecue from one end of the market to the other.

That’s no easy task, either, since that aroma has to make its way through and around 30 or more other great smells, from fresh baked goods, to empanadas to knishes, to Philly steaks, and on and on.

It only took one bite before Hobson’s customers were convinced they had made a solid choice.

“We use real wood, real fire and real meat,” Hobson said of his business, which he runs along with other members of his family.

“We’re not skinny people.”

Good vendors, nice people, great setting. The recipe led to the Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch being ranked No. 1 in Florida by the America’s Farmers Market Celebration, presented by American Farmland Trust in 2023. Those who feel strongly about it can see if the market, which has more than 100 vendors each Sunday, can go back to back.

Voting has begun for the 2024 award at Markets.Farmland.org/ Markets/3339323.

Sarasota’s Jonathan White and Jolie Young enjoyed the market for the first time June 16, and they already were convinced it was spe-

cial. “I like the variety they have here and the size of it,” White said. “The quality is top notch.”

Young said she prefers it to other farmers markets in the region.

“This has more of a community feel,” she said. “Everyone is very friendly.”

Why wouldn’t they be? On this particular day, a large family loaded up on Jeremiah’s Italian Ice and headed toward the extensive kids’ playground and the splash pad. Others sat lakeside, enjoying their culinary treasures. Under the pavilion, Jesse Daniels entertained the crowd with his guitar and his voice.

Brian Wachtler, owner of Brooklyn Knish, has sold his goods at many farmers markets for 17 years.

“I still do a lot of markets,” Wachtler said. “This market has the best atmosphere. It’s the customers, the vendors, the market managers.

“Waterside Place definitely is a good location. And the businesses are coming in,” he said. “It’s a symbiotic relationship with the vendors and the restaurants. They bring in people for us, and we bring in people for them. Then you have all the condos (and apartments) here.”

Certainly, there are bigger farmers markets out there.

“It’s not all about money,” Wachtler said. “I am 50, and my time is valuable. I like the way this market is managed. I don’t need any drama.”

Jay Heater

Kevin Hobson, of Hobson’s Choice, dishes out some barbecue at the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch

Lorraine Road project includes ‘affordable’ units

The Windham Development project also will include an amenity center.

The Windham Development Corporation is proposing its second

Lorraine

If Lakewood Springs is approved by Manatee County commissioners, the two projects will bring 365

townhomes to an area that’s slated to be much more pedestrian-friendly thanks to a $66 million road project.

If all 365 units are approved, 92 of the rentals in the two developments will be set at affordable rates (as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development) for the next 20 years.     Windham’s first proposal for 66 townhomes, Lorraine Crossings, was approved by commissioners on April 18. The 10-acre parcel is located to the south of Savanna at Lakewood Ranch, and 17 of the 66 units will be designated as affordable.   Commissioners haven’t voted on Lakewood Springs yet. The approximately 39-acre property is south of Lorraine Crossings and about a halfmile from 44th Avenue East.

The proposal for 299 townhomes in Lakewood Springs was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission on June 13 and will go before the commission at the next land use meeting June 20.

“It’s a great product and a wonderful place to have it,” said Richard Bedford, chair of the Planning Commission.

If approved by commissioners, 75 of the 299 units in Lakewood Springs will be earmarked as affordable. Affordable units are not subsidized by HUD.

EAST COUNTY INVENTORY

If Lakewood Springs is approved, builder incentives will bring 244 more affordable units to East County this year.

■ Amara on Lena Road — 152

■ Lorraine Crossings — 17

■ Lakewood Springs — 75

LORRAINE ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Manatee County is upgrading the section of Lorraine Road between 59th Avenue East and State Road 64 at an estimated cost of $66 million.

Construction is expected to begin in January 2025 and finish in May 2027.

■ Two additional car lanes

■ Raised median

■ 10-foot multiuse path on the west side

■ Five-foot sidewalk on the east side

■ Seven-foot buffered bike lanes on both sides

HUD’s involvement is to set the rates for income eligibility and rental and purchase caps. Those rates depend on the county’s average median household income, and that’s where the word, “affordable,” becomes subjective for those looking to rent or purchase in the Lakewood Ranch area.

The average median income in Manatee County is $97,000.

Manatee County has been offering builders incentives for affordable units through Livable Manatee since 2017, but the program was revamped in 2022 to offer even more incentives. Rowena Young-Gopie, Housing Development Coordinator for Manatee County, said applications increased from that point on and stagnant projects were able to be revived, too.

If approved, Lakewood Springs would be the third approval this year to include affordable units in East County, joining Amara on Lena Road and Lorraine Crossings.

Lakewood Ranch Senior Vice President Laura Cole said Lakewood Ranch offers affordable housing in several communities. However, the communities don’t “stigmatize” the homes or homeowners by labeling them as such, nor should they be stigmatized when the price points are “not small.”

Because the lessee can earn between 80% and 120% of the county’s high average income, price points don’t have to be small to stay within HUD’s guidelines.

“We’re just providing housing for the workforce,” Cole said. “You want to have a diversity of homes and price points. It makes for a better community.”

The outlined rectangle is the future site of Lorraine Crossings. The outline below is the proposed site of Lakewood Springs.

Courtesy image

BUNCH OF BUSY BEES

Heritage Bee Farms focuses on education, queen breeding and selling bee products.

LIZ

RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

In 2007, Myakka City’s Chris Vasquez received two bee hives from a friend that were placed on the ground in his backyard.  With it being rainy season, Vasquez said he wanted to move the hives off the ground, but he didn’t have a bee suit.

So Vasquez made his own bee suit. He put on gloves and the thickest jacket he had, but he wasn’t sure what he would use to cover his face.

That’s when Vasquez decided to put a plastic grocery bag over his head and poke holes in it for his eyes.

Vasquez was ready to face the bees for the first time.

But as he was moving the hives, he didn’t realize they came in multiple pieces. The hives fell apart, and he was swarmed.

He said his family laughed as they watched him run around the backyard trying to get away from the bees.

Needless to say, his bee suit didn’t protect him.

Vasquez said he never imagined that 17 years later his family would own Heritage Bee Farm, which includes 2,000 colonies spread throughout Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties, and they’re looking to expand in the coming years.

Heritage Bee Farm has between 300 and 400 colonies on the 30-acre farm in Myakka City.

Vasquez always had an interest in bees. He found it intriguing how bees are one of the only insects that produce a food product.

He said he could sit watching a beehive for hours, watching them fly in and out.

“I don’t get to do that much anymore,” Vasquez said with a laugh.

Before getting into the bee business, Vasquez was an operations manager in the corporate world, working for companies including Pacific Power and Light, Office Depot and Time Customer Service.

BY

THE NUMBERS

2007Year Chris Vasquez received his first colonies

2Colonies the Vasquez family started with

2,000

Colonies the Vasquez family has now

300-400

Colonies at Heritage Bee Farm in Myakka City

2012

Year Heritage Bee Farms became commercial

30Acreage of Heritage Bee Farm

15-20

Times members of the Vasquez family get stung per day

20,000 Bee species on earth

The two colonies were just the beginning. The fam ily kept adding more colonies, and Vasquez realized the bees were becoming more than a hobby. An idea sparked.

Maybe the bees could become a family business.

Vasquez and his wife, Melissa, have nine children and five grandchildren. All but one child lives in Florida and helps with Heritage Bee Farm.

In 2012, the Vasquez family had 10 hives and decided to go commercial, adding more than 50 colonies.

Vasquez recalled taking the family 15-passenger van to Georgia to retrieve their new colonies. They loaded them up in the van and were on their way back to Florida. The temporary boxes containing the bees weren’t sealed well. As they drove, bees started to escape the boxes and fly around the van.

Vasquez wasn’t concerned. He had become used to the bees.

But when they stopped for gas and opened the doors to get out, bees flew out of the van.

Vasquez said he was worried it would cause panic as many people might be concerned to see thousands of bees flying out of a van. They moved as fast as they could to leave the gas station.

They returned safely to Florida and began their commercial production.

Transitioning from the corporate world to working with his family in the bee business had its challenges.

Vasquez said he enjoyed creating his own schedule, but his family’s sole income was dependent upon the bees.

No matter the weather, the Vasquez family had to be outside caring for the bees.

The biggest challenge came when Hurricane Ian hit in September 2022. The hurricane took out a third of Heritage Bee Farm’s colonies.

“It was a big hit to us,” Vasquez said. “We were questioning if we all needed to go out and get other work because it was a huge hit financially. But we pulled together and worked really hard to rebuild.”

Besides beekeeping and producing and selling raw honey, handmade soap, infused candles and other products, Vasquez said Heritage Bee Farm specializes in queen breeding.

His oldest son, Christian Vasquez, worked at Miksa Honey Farm in Groveland, Florida, to learn more about queen breeding.

They spend hours every Monday and Friday going through the grafting process necessary to breed more queens. The Penn State Extension explains that “grafting is the action of transferring a larva from a brood cell into a manufactured cell cup. This technique allows beekeepers

THE BUZZ

Here are some fun facts about bees:

■ They travel within a radius of three to five miles.

■ One bee produces 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.

■ A bee’s life is approximately 30 to 45 days.

■ Without bees, we wouldn’t have a third of all fruits and vegetables.

■ One in four species of bees is at risk of extinction.

■ One in three bites of food are pollinated by bees.

to create any number of queen cells that are easy to handle and transport.”

Now Heritage Bee Farm sends queen bees around the country for other beekeepers.

Christian Vasquez said his love for bees only has grown over the years. He remembered going from learning about bees in nature videos to handling the bees himself.

“I was able to put on my bee suit, my gloves, start the smoker and get into the hive, which was super exciting,” he said.

Both Chris Vasquez and Christian Vasquez said learning about bees is ongoing. They’re constantly learning new ways to care for the bees, to help them adjust to environmental changes, and more.

Chris Vasquez said he and his wife travel the world teaching people about beekeeping and how to produce multiple colonies. They traveled to the Dominican Republic last year, and on June 22, Chris and Melissa Vasquez will be on their way to Guinea, Africa, to teach local beekeepers about colony multiplication.

Heritage Bee Farm also hosts bee experiences where people can come to the farm to learn about bees and get a peek into the life of a beekeeper.  “If

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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Joshua Vasquez, the around bees

Photos by Liz Ramos

Chris Vasquez, owner of Heritage Bee Farm, says the bees on the farm allow the family to create and sell their own products including handmade soap and raw honey.

Every bee only lives between 30 and 45 days. Each bee produces about 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.

Did you notice Old Glory on Flag Day?

It was just a quick beep on June 14, but Lakewood Ranch’s John and JoAnne Lawler knew it was at least some acknowledgement that Flag Day was upon us.

The Lawlers brought a big American flag with a sign that read “Happy Flag Day” and set up shop along Lakewood Ranch Boulevard just to the south of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall North. They have set up there on past Flag Days as well, because it is a stretch of road where the motorists can see them in a nice “safe” area.

They kept the American flag waving, too, and motorists let them know they appreciated the effort with a beep of the horn as they whizzed past.

Beep ... beep ... beep.

Besides the American flag, the Lawlers waved a Trump flag, which also prompted responses, both positive and negative, the negative ones including the occasional rude gesture.

The Lawlers’ main goal on Flag Day was to get people thinking about their country’s flag and patriotism, and being an election year, there was other work on their agenda as well. But whatever your feelings might be about our political leaders, it shouldn’t detract from the respect you show to the American flag.

John Lawler said he doubted 95% of those in the cars that drove past knew it was Flag Day until they saw the flag and the sign. The Lawlers said that wasn’t the case back when they were growing up, because parents taught “American values” as a higher priority. Both John and JoAnne said they grew up in homes where the flag was raised each day and taken down each night. It made an impression on them, one they now like to share, even if it means wearing their arms out along the roadway. Before COVID, I remember going

out to local schools when members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars would go to the campus and teach the students how to fold an American flag. It’s not that hard, and if you need help, it used to be that you always could find a veteran or a Boy Scout to teach you. At least that was the case when they were called Boy Scouts. Whether it is the case today, I don’t know. I sure hope it still is a requirement. It wasn’t a requirement to learn how to fold a flag at schools, although it should be. Flag Day falls at a time in June when schools mostly are out, so it would take a special effort to set aside a day and time for such a lesson.

A history class would be the perfect setting.

As an action, folding an Ameri-

can flag isn’t much different than folding towels. That is why you need a scout leader, or a member of the military, or a history teacher to give meaning to something that should be important to us. A first fold could bring up a discussion of Betsy Ross, who was hired by George Washington to sew the first American Flag featuring stars and stripes. The next could bring up its nickname of Old Glory as given by sea Capt. William Driver in 1831. Another could spark a discussion of Col. Theodore Roosevelt’s charge during the battle of San Juan Hill in 1898. Fold again and you could talk about the most famous photo of the American Flag, in 1945 as it was raised over Iwo-Jima by six U.S. Marines during World War II. The task would be almost complete,

On Fridays during the summer months, The Food Bank of Manatee, one of our PLUS programs, provides Food4Families bags at summer Break Spots to families in need of vital nutrition. These bags contain breakfast, lunch, and dinner to feed a family of five for two or more days. That is 30 meals—keeping families fed through the weekend. In the summer of 2024, our goal is to provide at least 22,000 meals each week for children and their families, right here in Manatee County. During the nine-week summer break, that is nearly 200,000 meals!

Of the 50,000 students in Manatee County who will not have access to school meals when classes get out for summer break, there are nearly 20,000 students who are at critical risk of food-insecurity this summer. That is where The Food Bank of Manatee steps in to fill the gaps of those nutritional needs. Please give today to feed kids and families this summer!

DONATE TODAY!

Will you help us cross hunger off the list this summer?

All donations stay local to help right here in our community. We need your support today!

The Food Bank of Manatee is

and is only a legal state holiday in Pennsylvania. That’s OK, because I don’t think we need a day off to offer our respect.

We do have a Federal Flag Code, but while it covers rules for handling and displaying our American Flag, it offers no penalties for misuse. Florida’s Department of State offers flag guidelines and protocols and you can find those at https:// DOS.FL.gov/About-The-Department/Flag-And-Seal-Protocol.

My own biggest pet peeve about the display of the American Flag is when people or businesses leave it out in terrible weather and allow it to be ripped to shreds. That kind of disrespect is alarming.

The Federal Flag Code notes, “When a flag is so tattered that it no longer fits to serve as a symbol of the United States, it should be replaced in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.”

Certainly, I have lived a little, and perhaps those of my era did put more weight into our national symbols. But I have faith that our future generations will continue to cherish our flag as much as I do.

but shouldn’t end without thinking of astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planting the American Flag into the moon’s surface in 1969, or the American Flags draped over the caskets of soldiers who died for it.

Folding the flag was a task my father performed on a daily basis outside our home in rural New York. I remember going out to our front lawn one day with my dad, a former Marine, and digging a hole and mixing concrete to set a flagpole. Each morning afterward, the flag was run up that pole, and each evening, as the sun set, the flag came down and was folded. It meant something then, and I hope it means as much to our youngsters of today. Flag Day is not a national holiday

Take for instance, Lakewood Ranch’s Lorenzo Liberti, a 19-yearold who carves rustic American flags and sells them to raise money for his Give-A-Buck Foundation that gives its proceeds to help homeless veterans. Part of his effort goes toward carving an American flag for hospitals in all 50 states. That’s the type of salute to our flag we all can appreciate.

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

Jay Heater

Lakewood Ranch’s JoAnne and John Lawler bring attention to Flag Day on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

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Nova Wallenda Mother to ER at Fruitville Patient

WILD FLORIDA

Rain ends record-low water levels at Myakka

Periodic dry conditions, resulting from extended drought, regulate and benefit plant and animal communities.

MIRI HARDY CONTRIBUTOR

yakka’s ecosystems have evolved to depend and thrive on a regular ebb and flow of water.

Rainfall is the primary driver for varying water levels in the Myakka River and its two floodplain lakes — the Upper Myakka Lake and Lower Myakka Lake.

Spring usually brings the start of rainy season. By summer, water levels are typically highest, and overflow into floodplain marshes and wetlands. In the fall and winter — dry season — water levels gradually drop, with periods of low water, or drawdown.

With some years wetter and some drier, differences in the fluctuating water levels naturally occur over multiyear cycles.

In fact, extended periods of low water are typical for the Myakka River system and occur about one out of every four years. And indeed, this spring, water levels in the entire Myakka system were notably very low.

These low levels largely reflected a very dry spring, with almost no rainfall in April or May. Secondary factors included less water entering the Myakka watershed as a result of agriculture, thanks to improved farm watering practices, directed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

In recent years, farm water artificially inflated dry season levels. Also, with rising temperatures, water evaporation rates have increased. Finally, recent hurricanes breached several agricultural water diversion

berms in Tatum Sawgrass Marsh, directly upriver from the park, restoring large areas of the original floodplain.

As expected, the removal of a deteriorating weir and culverts at the Upper Myakka Lake’s outflow in 2022, which was already breached, had no impact on this season’s water levels.

Though this year’s period of low water isn’t the lowest ever recorded, it is the lowest in decades. And while it may seem counter-intuitive, variability in water levels and low water periods are extremely beneficial for Myakka’s ecosystems. They help regulate plant and wildlife communities and promote biodiversity. By concentrating fish and other aquatic animals into shallow pools, this spring’s extended drought attracted unusually large flocks of wading birds to the park, including hundreds of federally designated threatened wood storks and countless other wading birds.

Friends of Myakka River exists to support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River. Together, we’re protecting and sharing Myakka’s Magic, to the benefit of future generations, and our own. Follow us @FriendsOfMyakkaRiver.

When 3-year-old circus star Jameson fell ill, his mother Nova Wallenda, of Sarasota, took him to ER at Fruitville, an extension of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, conveniently located on I-75 and Fruitville Road, very close to where they live.

Nova and Jameson are members of the Wallenda Circus Family – well known for their high-wire stunts and entertaining acts. Nova shares that Jameson loves playing outside with his friends and performing in the circus – he’s already participated in seven shows!

A few months ago, however, Nova was concerned when Jameson was not his typical, energetic self. He had a fever of 103 degrees with a runny nose and was coughing non-stop. “He was coughing so much he could barely sleep,” Nova says.

When her son’s pediatrician could not see her son, she headed to ER at Fruitville.

“As soon as we walked in, we were in an exam room within three minutes, if that,” says Nova.

Jameson was diagnosed and treated for an upper respiratory tract infection.

“The ER staff was absolutely amazing with him,” she says. “They gave him little stickers, and the doctor gave him a popsicle. They went over everything and asked me questions. It was just so reassuring and a wonderful experience.”

What Nova appreciated most was that they genuinely cared for her son. She felt as if they were treated like family.

“Finding the ER at Fruitville is like finding a gold mine,” she says.

Miri Hardy

Low water levels concentrate fish and other aquatic animals, sustaining migratory and native wading birds, including imperiled species like wood storks.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

WHEN BRIAN MET AMANDA

How newlyweds Brian Finnerty and Amanda Heisey found love and theater in Sarasota.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

If Sarasota theater couple

Amanda Heisey and Brian Finnerty create their answer to “How I Met Your Mother,” the long-running TV show of the early 2000s told in flashbacks, they’ll have plenty of material to work with.

Let’s start with how the newlyweds got engaged, back in August 2021. Heisey was starring alongside Luke Manual McFatrich in Dingbat Theatre Project’s production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

Finnerty directed and choreographed and designed the costumes for the glam rock musical, which played at The Bazaar at Apricot and Lime.

At the time, Heisey thought it was odd that her parents had come from Kansas City to see her performance. “Hedwig is so edgy, and that’s normally not their kind of thing,” she says.

Also in the audience were friends of the couple’s from Orlando. Still, Finnerty didn’t give too much thought to why they had decided to attend this show out of all the community theater productions in Sarasota, Venice and Bradenton that Heisey and Finnerty had collaborated on over several years.

What was it about “Hedwig”? In the show, most of Heisey’s abundant tresses were hidden under a cap that gave the illusion of a mullet haircut. The look was part of her transformation into Yitzhak, a Jewish drag queen who is the husband and backup singer to the titular aspiring East German rock singer.

In a recent interview at Project Coffee in the Rosemary District, Heisey said she was wondering why her future husband thanked McFatrich before acknowledging her performance since the star traditionally gets the last curtain call.

When Finnerty proposed to her on stage in front of family, friends and audience, suddenly it all made sense. “We had talked about getting married, but I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Heisey recalls. “It wasn’t like we had gone shopping for rings or anything.”

Following the show, Finnerty

worked together on a 2015

and Finnerty were friends and collaborators on musicals, cabarets and burlesque shows. They first

Courtesy image

Brian Finnerty and Amanda Heisey, who both work for the Sarasota Players, shared stages at local community theaters for about a decade before getting married in January.

whisked his fiancée to an engagement party at The Mable on Tamiami Trail that he’d been secretly planning so the couple could celebrate with their entourage. Before they started dating and later moved in together just as COVID was shutting down live theater in 2020, Heisey

production at The Players, now the Sarasota Players, of the musical “Catch Me If You Can.”   They got to know each other better when Heisey hired Finnerty, a Florida native who began competing in children’s dance competitions when he was 3, to improve her footwork. The lessons were to prepare for an audition for “Cats” at the Manatee

Wedding guests applaud Brian Finnerty and Amanda Heisey after Scott Keys pronounced them man and wife.

Image courtesy of Krissy Marie

Players in Bradenton. Heisey got the part.

“She was an amazing cat,” recalls Finnerty. “Everybody in the play was really good. That was a strong production. It’s hard to find that many good dancers.”

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS

Still, it would be awhile before Finnerty would tell Heisey that he was in love with her, creating what she called “a messy situation” because she was dating someone else at the time.

The complications weren’t resolved immediately, and the couple isn’t sure what their “dating anniversary” is, Finnerty says. “But it doesn’t really matter because the most important anniversary is our wedding anniversary,” he says. That would be Jan. 13, 2024.

As anyone who watched “Bridezillas” knows, brides and their relatives can get a little crazy about wedding preparations. That wasn’t the case with the Heisey-Finnerty nuptials, according to both parties. For one thing, they planned it themselves, taking the same detail-oriented, yet whimsical approach they do to community theater.

There were some concessions to tradition. Heisey went home to Kansas City to go bridal dress shopping with her mother, aunts and cousins. She was lucky enough to find an offthe-rack gown that fit nearly perfectly.

Members of the wedding party were asked to wear black for the sophisticated winter ceremony at the picturesque Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Bradenton. “Everyone liked that because that meant they could wear their wedding clothes again,” Heisey notes.

Finnerty sported a glam tuxedo with groovy loafers festooned with Playboy bunny emblems, a wedding present from his future wife, who uses her maiden name professionally. (For her burlesque appearance, she goes by Karma Kandlewick.)

Scott Keys, who was Finnerty’s teacher when he was in the Booker High School Visual and Performing Arts program, was the officiant for the rites. Keys became a close friend as a fellow traveler in community theater circles. (Both Keys

“She (Amanda) was an amazing cat. Everybody in the play was really good. That was a strong production. It’s hard to find that many good dancers.”

— Brian Finnerty

and Heisey had shows in the second Squeaky Wheel Fringe festival at the Cook Theatre earlier this month.)

For their wedding caterers, Finnerty and Heisey chose the Amish restaurant Der Dutchman. They hired Taylor Opie, the sister of a friend, and her band to provide live music. Their wedding song came from the “Hedwig” soundtrack: “The Origin of Love.”

“Luke (McFatrich) sang it for us,” Finnerty says, reprising his performance as Hedwig in the show where Finnerty proposed to Heisey.

But McFatrich wasn’t the only friend of the bride and groom who performed an impromptu song at their wedding. “Taylor knows everybody in Sarasota, so she would tell people to come up and sing,” adds Heisey.

In a joint interview, Finnerty and Heisey don’t exactly finish each other’s sentences; they elaborate on what the other has just been saying. Their easy manner with each other is astounding given how much time they spend together.

LIFE IS A (VIRTUAL) CABARET

While some couples drove each other crazy during pandemic lockdowns, work-from-home was a dream come true for Heisey and Finnerty, who made the most of the time personally and professionally.

During their time at home during COVID, Heisey, who is marketing director of the Sarasota Players, and Finnerty, who is now studio production manager of the Sarasota Players, spent a lot of time online. They devoted their efforts to bringing in donations for the Players during the Giving Challenge and to engaging the community through virtual per-

formances with other collaborators.

“There was a thing that we did during COVID called ‘Theater Lives,’” says Heisey. “We were trying to make sure that community theaters stayed alive and relevant during that time.”

Adds Finnerty: “There was a Facebook page. There were virtual cabarets. They all had different themes like ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ ‘Les Miz’ and others.”

The rapport and longevity of Finnerty and Heisey should serve the Sarasota Players well in its coming season, its 95th. There has been turnover in the artistic director job at the Players recently and the community theater decided not to fill the vacant position. It organized its upcoming 2024-25 season with existing staff, which includes Finnerty and Heisey.

+

The plans of the Sarasota Players to build The Stage in Payne Park, which it plans to share with other cultural organizations, and leave its temporary home in The Crossings at Siesta Key mall, are in the hands of the organization’s board, local government and potential donors. The community theater’s future home and management structure is beyond the scope of this article.  Suffice it to say that we’re hoping that the tale of “When Brian Met Amanda” includes many more creative episodes. Next up: Finnerty is in the director’s seat for the Sarasota Players’ production of “Green Day’s American Idiot,” which runs from Aug. 7-16. Get ready to rock ’n’ roll!

Courtesy photo

Amanda Heisey met her husband, Brian Finnerty, when they were both in The Players’ production of the musical “Catch Me If You Can” in 2015.

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR

11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road

$20 adults; $15 kids Visit Ringling.org.

If you’ve never seen a performance in The Ringling’s jewelbox venue, the Historic Asolo Theater, here’s your chance. Presided over by Ringmaster Jared Walker, the Summer Circus Spectacular includes contortionist Uranbileg Angarag, acrobatic hand balancers The Bello Sisters, hair hang artist Camille Langlois, slack wire performer Antino Pansa and clown Renaldo, a veteran of the Big Apple Circus. Runs through Aug. 17.

DON’T MISS

‘PASSION AND PRIDE’

Sarasota Music Festival Director

Jeffrey Kahane’s boundary-breaking talents are showcased in Ravel’s Piano Concerto. Having performed the 2022 world premiere of “Shorthand,” Anna Clyde’s mini concerto for cello, SMF alum Karen Ouzounian presides over its Sarasota premiere. The festival concludes with Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, which took the composer decades to complete.

IF YOU GO

When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 22

Where: at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

Tickets: $30-$70

Info: Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

‘LUSTROUS SOUNDS’

4:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail

$30-$42

Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

New Sarasota Music Festival faculty member Benjamin Beilman performs Bach’s unaccompanied Partita No. 3, improvising in a way that would have been expected during the great composer’s lifetime but which is rare today.

ROYAL JAMES THEATER PRESENTS ‘MURDER BY THE BOOK’

7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton $29

Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com.

Agatha Christie loved to keep readers of her murder mysteries guessing, but none of her books could prepare them for a real-life event that made headlines around the world. That startling news is the basis of B.J. Mohr’s new play. Runs through June 23.

‘HAPPY DALE’: A COMEDY BY DAN LANDON

7:30 p.m. at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130

$30/Student $13 Visit ThePlayers.org.

In Dan Landon’s “Happy Dale,” a retired English teacher is sent to an assisted living facility after he begins acting strangely following the death of his life. Happy Dale’s newest resident (Lee Gundersheimer) quickly turns the facility’s routines upside down. Can he brought into line before it’s late? Runs through June 23.

‘OAK’

7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St. $7-$44 Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.

Urbanite Theatre wraps its 10th anniversary season with the Southern Gothic horror-infused “Oak.” Written by Terry Guest and directed by Mikael Burke, “Oak” is a National New Play Network rolling premiere. Runs through June 30.

‘COCONUT CAKE’

7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $5-$50

Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

In Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s last show of its 2023-24 season, “Coconut Cake,” the daily routine of four chess-playing and coffeedrinking retirees is disrupted when a mysterious woman moves to town, bringing her recipe for a mouthwatering coconut cake. Runs through June 23.

‘THE MUSIC OF LAUREL CANYON’

8 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St.

$18-$42

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

If you know, you know. But not everyone knows about Laurel Canyon, the neighborhood above West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip that became home to folk musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and The Mamas and the Papas.

FRIDAY

‘ROMANTIC REVERIES’

7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

$29-$50 Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

The Sarasota Music Festival salutes 19th-century Romanticism with Beethoven’s 1793 Octet and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence. The program includes Franck’s 19thcentury Piano Quintet, bringing together SMF fellows and faculty artists Sheryl Staples, Brinton Smith and Robert Levin.

SUNDAY

HD AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH’

1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

$12-$20

Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

Directed by Simon Godwin, one of The Bard’s signature plays is staged in custom-built spaces unique to the production in Liverpool, Edinburgh, London and Washington, D.C. The film stars Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma.

OUR PICK KETTLE OF FISH

Florida favorite Kettle of Fish headlines the Van Wezel

Performing Arts Hall’s Friday Fest, which is taking a hiatus during July and August before returning in September. Kettle of Fish’s original music is a stew of rock, blues, reggae and New Orleans soul. Their covers range from Little Feat and the Rolling Stones to Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. Bring blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy food and beverage from local vendors. Coolers and outside victuals are prohibited.

IF YOU GO

When: 5 p.m. on Friday, June 21

Where: at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Lawn, 777 N. Tamiami Trail

Tickets: Free Info: Visit VanWezel.org.

WEDNESDAY

‘STEALING THE SHOW: BROADWAY, BEACH AND BEYOND’ 6:30 p.m. Hermitage Beach, 6660 Manasota Key Road, Englewood $5 with registration Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Tony Award nominee Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (“Spamalot”) will present some original material she has been developing at the Hermitage Artist Retreat as well as songs you know and love.

Image courtesy of Ebru Yildiz Courtesy images

FST’s ‘The World Goes ’Round’ spins the wheel of love and loss

A musical merry-go-round of 18 Kander and Ebb tunes takes the audience on a dizzying ride.

MARTY FUGATE

The earth rotates. In other news, Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman and David Thompson’s

“The World Goes ’Round” is now on stage at Florida Studio Theatre.

This hit revue showcases 18 tunes by composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb. The songs’ origins include Broadway blockbusters like “Cabaret” and “Chicago” and forgotten gems like “Rink” and “Flora the Red Menace.”

Origin aside, the songs spin their characters on a wheel of heartbreak and happiness. Kander and Ebb’s musical merry-goround is a dizzying ride.

Dayna Jarae Dantzler, Dion Simmons Grier, Crystal Kellogg, Lani Corson and Zak Edwards are the all-too-human performers holding on for dear life. Each gets their moment in the spotlight. That’s a question of storytelling, not directorial evenhandedness.

“The World Goes ’Round” is a revue, not a musical with an overarching story. While the show has no tale to tell, the songs do — along with strong characters. (Horny housewives, coffee addicts and gangland molls, to name a few.)

Kander and Ebb’s songs are first-person stories — from Somebody’s point of view. With one exception …

“Mr. Cellophane” (Edwards) is a Nobody’s narrative. In this comic performance, the singer doesn’t even get the spotlight. He’s constantly chasing it around on stage. Edwards’ character calls himself “Mr. Cellophane” because he feels transparent. The rest of humanity sees right through him. (The spotlight gag is funny. But it’s clearly

not funny for him.)

“Colored Lights” (Kellogg) is one woman’s poignant attempt to recapture childhood magic. She’s a jaded adult, looking back on the days when a carnival’s colored lights gave her joy. “My Coloring Book” (Dantzler) is the sizzling torch song of a jilted woman. (Color her blue, empty and lonely.)

Just a few sad stories out of many. But this revue provides a medicine for melancholy. Kander and Ebb’s main prescription? “Get out of the house!”

“Cabaret” says it best: “There’s no use sitting alone in your room.”

(Corson illustrates this point with a kicky, kinetic, high-energy dance number.) “Ring Them Bells” (Kellogg) brings this advice home with the tale of a thirtysomething woman who lives with her parents.

Her character ultimately breaks free, travels the world and rings the bells of romantic adventure. After all that, she returns home and finds true love in the boy just down the hall. But it took a globetrotting odyssey to find him.

“Arthur in the Afternoon” (Corson and Grier) offers a lowmileage alternative. A housewife gets out of her room — and makes a daily tryst part of her afternoon commute.

These performers all shine in the revue’s solo performances. They’re equally incandescent in ensemble numbers like “New York, New York” and the titular “The World Goes ’Round.”

“Rink” has the highest level of difficulty. (Singing and dancing is hard enough — but on roller skates?) The show’s choreography is inventive. It’s aerobic. These actors aren’t just good — they’re in good shape. Because they have to be.

IF YOU GO

‘The World Goes ’Round’ When: Through June 30. Where: FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St., Sarasota. Tickets: $39-$59. Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

This revue’s packed with moving parts. Director and choreographer Ben Liebert keeps all the plates spinning without any breakage. And speaking of spin, his choreography often revolves around circular movement. Liebert’s dance routines are never routine. But they don’t distract from each song’s story and the

characters’ inner lives. As a director, that’s always his main focus.

Isabel and Moriah CurleyClay’s set has the look of a sleek New York City nightclub, with just a slice of the starry night sky peeping through. Harry Nadal’s costumes have a daydream’s quick-change vibe. On one song, everyone’s sporting tutus. Then they’re all doing their thing in tuxedoes. These strange changes evoke the characters’ stream-ofconsciousness, not literal reality. That’s perfect for this show. Now let’s talk music. Because that’s what makes this show go ’round.

This show’s basically a delivery system for Kander and Ebb’s greatest hits. As good as it may be, everything else is secondary.  Despite rumors to the contrary,

“The World Goes ’Round” is a concert, not a musical. A general’s only as good as his army. And a concert’s only as good as the band. Now let’s give credit where it’s due … A white-hot, four-piece band goes straight to the heart on the revue’s songs. These include: Music Director Josh Walker making the piano sing; too-cool Kroy Presley strumming bass; the insanely versatile Fernando Cruz on every reed instrument known to man; and Aaron Nix hitting the drums in a slow groove — or faster than the eye can see, as the song requires. If you don’t know Kander and Ebb from Click and Clack, you’ll still have a blast here. It’s the band, man.

Image courtesy of John Jones

“The World Goes ’Round,” playing at FST’s Gompertz Theatre through June 30, is a musical revue featuring the hits of Kander and Ebb.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Dad’s Day at UTC

Lakewood Ranch’s Brian Stoner was first in line with his family to meet Dexter Jackson, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player, during the Dad’s Day Block Party on June 15 at the Mall at University Town Center.

He and his 8-year-old son, Mason Stoner, love watching Buccaneers games together.

Brian Stoner said he was excited for his children, 2-year-old Savanna Stoner, Mason Stoner and 6-year-old Emma Stoner, to have their Buccaneers helmets, flags and more signed.

But Jackson wasn’t the only former pro at the event.

Sarasota’s Andre Bouchane was starstruck to see former Tampa Bay Lightning player Daren Puppa. Bouchane patiently waited with his wife, Rosie Bouchane and 7-year-old son Abraham Bouchane, to meet Puppa.

“It’s a dream come true,” Bouchane said of meeting Puppa. “I missed him (during Dad’s Day Block Party) last year, so my wife made sure I was here for it this year. It was absolutely well worth the wait. I can’t believe they do this every year.”

— LIZ RAMOS

Lakewood Ranch

2-year-old Savanna Stoner waits in line to meet former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning players with her dad, Brian Stoner, 8-year-old brother, Mason Stoner, 6-year-old sister, Emma Stoner, and mother, Casaundra Stoner.

Sarasota 4-year-old Emberley Allen plays mini golf.

North Port’s Anthony Saponara celebrates his first Father’s Day with 8-month-old Julien Saponara and Stephanie Saponara.

Sarasota’s Frank Jenkins and 5-year-old Makinley Jenkins play mini golf together. “It’s good to spend time with her like always,” Frank Jenkins says.

Dexter Jackson, a former safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, signs autographs at Dad’s Day Block Party.

Photos by Liz Ramos

Former Tampa Bay Lightning player Daren Puppa signs gear for Sarasota 7-year-old Abraham Bouchane and his parents, Rosie Bouchane and Andre Bouchane.

Say aloha to summer

The outfit of the day at the Mall at University Town Center on June 7 was a grass skirt paired with a lei.

The mall hosted a “Moana”-themed luau for hundreds of Disney fans.

“We’re ready to kick off summer,” Marketing Director Taylor Bennett said. “We have a lot to offer families. They can interact with the dancers. They can play in the play area and watch the show.”

Maikeli Tuinakauvodra and Nani Tiara with Strictly Entertainment performed music and hula dancing.

Kids could decorate a paper surfboard or have their face painted, but the main attraction was the meet and greet with Moana and Te Fiti from the movie.

Before the kids reached their favorite characters, they stopped at a props table.

Bradenton resident Coral Mota chose a pair of starfish glasses.

The 3-year-old is a huge Disney fan, but she doesn’t have a Moana outfit. So in a move out of the “Cinderella” playbook, Mota transformed her “Beauty and the Beast” Belle dress. She wrapped a grass skirt around the bottom and embellished the top with a flowered lei.

LESLEY DWYER

Sarasota residents Mariah Underwood, 7, and Marisa Underwood, 2, wait on line to meet Moana and Te Fiti.

Bradenton resident and Disney fan Coral Mota, 3, doesn’t have a Moana outfit, so she’s wearing a grass skirt and lei over her Belle princess dress.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Moana (Priscilla Ward) and Te Fiti (Veronica Gonzalez) meet one of their biggest fans, 9-year-old Mackenzie Carney. Carney dressed for the occasion in a Moana T-shirt.

BEST BET

FRIDAY, JUNE 21 AND SATURDAY, JUNE 22

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA

Runs 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. On Friday, singer/songwriter Dean Johanesen will entertain those who stroll through Waterside Place as part of the free music series. On Saturday, singer/ songwriter Trevor Bystrom performs. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

ROOFTOP YOGA

Begins at 10 a.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch. The Lakewood Ranch Library hosts a free rooftop yoga session with Shack Yoga’s Courtenay Smith. Those participating (18 years old and older) are asked to bring a mat. For information or to register, go to MyManatee.org/Departments/Manatee_County_Public_Library_System.

PUPPET SHOW

Begins at 2 p.m. at the Braden River Library, 4915 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton. The Braden River Library presents “Bits ’N Pieces Puppets: The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Sponsored by Friends of the Braden River Library, children can feel the excitement as Maid Marion is saved by Robin Hood. The free show is

aimed at children ages 4-7. For more information, call 727-6079.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 23

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING

Runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Zooey Seraphine (Thursday), L’Attitude Adjustment (Friday), Black Snake Bayou Band (Saturday) and Randy Stephan (Sunday). The Friday and Saturday concerts have a $5 cover; the other concerts are free. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 23

FARMERS MARKET

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26

BINGO

Begins at 10 a.m. at James Patton Park, 7525 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Weekly Bingo under the pavilion is hosted by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities. For more information, go to LakewoodRanch.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE

Runs from 5-10 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. Fireworks on the Lake, Driven by Lamborghini Sarasota returns to Nathan Benderson Park, highlighted by a concert featuring Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio. The event also includes a Kids Zone presented by Mote Marine, food trucks and other family friendly activities. Parking on Regatta Island is $35 per vehicle. The South Lot parking will cost $25 for cars and $55 for recreational vehicles. A special event lot (next to Homewood Suites) will be available for $25. Go to FireworksOnTheLake.com to purchase parking in advance.

YOUR CALENDAR

“I’m not afraid to smile anymore!”

Doctor Jeffrey Martins has changed my whole life. I’m so much more confident now and I feel better about myself. You see, I’ve always had such small teeth, and I was self-conscious about it. I didn’t like how they looked, so I never wanted to smile.

I tried to have my teeth fixed once before. I got some dental work done at another place about five years ago and it helped the situation some, but I wasn’t happy with the results. What they did to fix my teeth didn’t look natural and although I put up with it, the work they did was really only a temporary fix. I put up with it for a long time, but I was still always self-conscious about the way my teeth looked.

When I decided to visit Paradise Dental, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve always been nervous about having my teeth worked on, but everyone there was so friendly and the team really put me at ease. They took the time to listen to all of my concerns and what I hoped to accomplish, then recommended veneers for my front teeth. I liked that they took their time and helped me choose just the right color so my teeth would look more natural and not fake.

Now, everyone comments on my nice smile. I’m so happy about the results, but the best part is that I’m not afraid to smile anymore! They did a wonderful job.” - Rowena B.

PARADISE DENTAL

Rowena B.

File photo

Trevor Bystrom plays at Waterside Place.

Lakewood Ranch author hopes her book helps pre-K students overcome their fear of starting school.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

Year after year, Eagle Trace’s Susan Cueto watched as preK students overcame their fears of starting school.

They struggled to leave mom or dad. They were scared they wouldn’t make friends. They were nervous and didn’t know what to expect. Most importantly, they weren’t able to express these emotions and fears in words.

Eventually, they learned school can be a fun place to go and everything will be OK.

Cueto decided to put those fears and apprehensions into words in her book “Joey’s Preschool Jitters” to help students, parents and teachers prepare for pre-K.

Cueto, who is 70 years old, started her career in education as a substitute teacher in Shelton, Connecticut, before she transitioned to being a paraprofessional at an elementary school for 20 years. She loved working with the students.

In 2015, she moved to Lakewood Ranch and continued in education by serving as a substitute teacher in the School District of Manatee County. She loves spending time with the students whether it’s working with building blocks, creating art, doing puzzles or learning numbers, shapes and colors.

Cueto said she loves substituting at Freedom Elementary School. She said she will walk into the cafeteria in the morning to see her three pre-K classes and that all the students are excited to see “Ms. Sue.” She said they ask if she is going to be their teacher for the day and they are disappointed if she’s not.

“My favorite time is when they come up, give you a hug and say, ‘I love you Ms. Sue,’” she said. “I don’t have a bad day with any of these kids in class, even if I have a bad day.”

Cueto said she always knew she wanted to write a book. The biggest challenge was deciding what to write about, but she decided to write about what she knows best — children.

She thought about the experiences of her grandchildren, Alexandria Brackett and Joey Brackett, when they were in pre-K, as well as her experiences with countless other pre-K students.

She put her thoughts to paper.

Cueto said it took her a year-and-

MEET THE AUTHOR

SUSAN CUETO

Residence: Eagle Trace

Age: 70

Family: Husband, Joseph Cueto; daughters, Michelle Hodgdon and Suzanne Brackett; grandchildren, Joey Brackett and Alexandria Brackett

Experience: More than 25 years in education as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional

Her book: “Joey’s Preschool Jitters” (MaineAuthorsPublishing.com)

a-half to write “Joey’s Preschool Jitters.”

“I’m a kid at heart, so for me to write a book about kids — I put myself in their place,” Cueto said.

She had friends help her edit it before she pitched it to Maine Authors Publishing, where her 32-year-old daughter, Michelle Hodgdon, is a book designer.

Cueto worked with illustrator Thomas Brooks who helped her vision for her book come to life. Cueto said the assessment is conducted by departments at Maine Authors Publishing.

Cueto said every time she was asked to change something in her book, she couldn’t sleep. She would think of the edits she needed to make and what would be best for the book.

In the end, Cueto said, she was amazed by the final product.

“I’m excited that my words, my thoughts and my vision will help children of the preschool age overcome their fears of starting school, will help them learn new things and will help them find new friends,” Cueto said. “I feel good that I can express words for 3-year-olds who can’t express themselves.”

Courtesy image Eagle Trace’s Susan Cueto has published a children’s book to help pre-K students overcome their fears of starting school.

Lake Club home tops sales at

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in Lake Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. SD TLC Holdings LLC sold the home at 17010 Clearlake Ave. to Thomas Fish, trustee, of Bradenton, for $3,591,500. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, four-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 4,315 square feet of living area.

ISLES Kenneth and Michelle Fanaro, trustees, of Wilmette, Illinois, sold the home at 18212 Cayo Largo Place to Matthew and Erin MacDonald, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2,075,000. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,943 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,474,000 in 2023.

ESPLANADE

John and Karen Hammersmith, of Palmetto, sold their home at 4718 Benito Court to Larry Algy Craven and Angela Renee Craven trustees, of Bradenton, for $1,689,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,126 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,454,000 in 2022.

David Carl Stinebaugh and Debra Jean Stinebaugh, trustees, of Saint Helena Island, South Carolina, sold their home at 12958 Sorrento Way to John and Carol Scudder, of Bradenton, for $1.61 million. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,819 square feet of living area. It sold for $821,600 in 2018.

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

David and Judith Browning, of Seneca, South Carolina, sold their home at 7309 Barclay Court to Thomas and Deborah Nevadomski, of University Park, for $1,462,500. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,021 square feet of living area. It sold for $900,000 in 2019.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Norman and Diane Collins, of Independence, Ohio, sold their home at 15511 Castle Park Terrace to Hayes Ronald Berk and Nancy Woodward Berk, of Pittsburgh, for $1,365,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,632 square feet of living area. It sold for $805,100 in 2021.

Joseph and Susan Brielmann, of Bradenton, sold their home at 14325 Stirling Drive to James Lee Allen and Robin Lea Allen, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, for $805,000. Built in 2012, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,977 square feet of living area. It sold for $625,000 in 2021.

COUNTRY CLUB VILLAGE

Judith Taulbee and Karen Rourke, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 7535 Mizner Reserve Court to LuRo Partnership LLP for $1,275,000. Built in 2004, it has two bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,644 square feet of living area. It sold for $627,600 in 2004.

Daljit Kaur Ranajee, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her home at 8059 Royal Birkdale Circle to TIB Construction Inc. for $970,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,725 square feet of living area. It sold for $476,400 in 2003. Vianafam Properties LLC sold the home at 7111 Sandhills Place to Cordie and Jana Byrd, of Lakewood Ranch, for $650,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,278 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2021.

INDIGO

Daniel Joseph McLain and Renee Beth McLain, trustees, sold the home at 13403 Deep Blue Place to Evgeny Baskakova and Natalia

$3,591,500

Baskakova, of Bradenton, for $1.12 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,740 square feet of living area. It sold for $680,500 in 2021.

Frances Kukla and James Troilo, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4204 Midnight Blue Run to David and Karen Faulkner, of Bradenton, for $729,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,260 square feet of living area. It sold for $675,000 in 2021.

Robert and Carol Notari, of Zion Crossroads, Virginia, sold their home at 3013 Sky Blue Cove to Jeffrey and Deborah Gehron, of Bradenton, for $580,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,832 square feet of living area. It sold for $360,400 in 2019.

MALLORY PARK

Anthony Frank Anastasi and Almudena Presas-Alonso, of Sarasota, sold their home at 12222 Cranston Way to Nikalesh and Jamie Reddy, of Bradenton, for $1.06 million. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,464 square feet of living area. It sold for $561,200 in 2019.

HENLEY

Joan Marie Alston and Mark Yungbluth sold their home at 7039 Lancaster Court to Steven Cooney and Cynthia Gleeson Cooney, of Montgomery, New York, for $975,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,797 square feet of living area. It sold for $975,000 in 2022.

RIVER CLUB SOUTH

Samuel and Joy Schackow, of Sarasota, sold their home at 9514 Royal Calcutta Place to Gregory and Pinmanee Meyers, of Sarasota, for $855,000. Built in 2001, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,243 square feet of living area. It sold for $511,000 in 2004.

GREYHAWK LANDING WEST

James and Deborah Michon, of Bradenton, sold their home at 363 Chantilly Trail to Jenifer Thomas, trustee, of Cleveland, for $849,900. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,892 square feet of living area. It sold for $840,000 in 2021.

Bernice Giscombe, of Sarasota, sold her home at 1018 Calico Glen to Jonathan and Michaele Nolting, of Sammamish, Washington, for $690,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,203 square feet of living area. It sold for $225,000 in 2011.

EDGEWATER

M. Lynn Smith, trustee, sold the home at 8049 Waterview Blvd. to Wayne Lee Friedman and Gwendolyn Mary Friedman, of Lakewood Ranch, for $835,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,483 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2013.

COUNTRY MEADOWS

Jeffrey and Deborah Gehron, of Bradenton, sold their home at 615 Country Meadows Way to Lori and Bradley Busch, of Ocala, for $775,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,677 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2014.

SOLERA Selvakumar Buvanendaran and Nanthini Balakrishnan, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 5380 Grove Mill Loop to Marcin Luc, of Warwick, New York, for $765,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,828 square feet of living area. It sold for $548,900 in 2021.

John Ryan Nardini and Amanda Nardini, of Bradenton, sold their home at 17407 Harvest Moon Way to Grant Marshall, of Bradenton, for $590,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,846 square feet of living area. It sold for $387,300 in 2017.

GREYHAWK LANDING Boyd Goodell II and Karen Tredinnick sold their home at 227 Petrel

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

JUNE 3-7

Trail to Tonna Gruber and Curtis Platt, of Bradenton, for $755,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,887 square feet of living area. It sold for $537,000 in 2021.

BRADEN RIVER LAKES

Yolanda McCain, Carmela McCainSimmons and Lila McCain, of San Antonio, sold their home at 4006 14th Ave. E. to Frank and Joni Kovach, trustees, of Sarasota, for $750,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,564 square feet of living area. It sold for $365,000 in 2021.

DEL WEBB

Steven Bernard Goldstein and Carol Bonnie Marmor, of Hinsdale,

Massachusetts, sold their home at 16916 Pelham Place to Jacqueline Lynch and Vincent Lynch, of Bradenton, for $750,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,767 square feet of living area. It sold for $518,000 in 2016.

Henry and Maureen Espensen, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 17715 Littleton Place to Jill Obrochta, of Palmetto, for $670,700. Built in 2022, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,919 square feet of living area. It sold for $664,100 in 2021.

Courtesy photo

This Lake Club home at 17010 Clearlake Ave. sold for $3,591,500. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,315 square feet of living area.

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SAPPHIRE POINT

Kevin Alan Thrall and Alison Kyle Thrall, of Bradenton, sold their home at 5780 Bluestar Court to Britni and Jason Mueller, of Bradenton, for $740,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,054 square feet of living area. It sold for $628,000 in 2021.

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Jerry and Ilona Zita, of Bradenton, sold their home at 6720 Wild Lake Terrace to Robyn Lorraine Famiglietti and Michael Joseph Famiglietti, of Bradenton, for $700,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,287 square feet of living area. It sold for $344,800 in 2014.

Maria Decastro Ding, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7111 Marsh View Terrace to Cornelius Desmond Jr. and Kristen Bradley, of Bradenton, for $575,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,682 square feet of living area. It sold for $290,000 in 2016.

MIRABELLA AT VILLAGE GREEN

Rex Dixon and Mary Alice Dixon, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7013 Costa Bella Drive to Paul and Ruthann Russel, of Bradenton, for $700,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,765 square feet of living area. It sold for $416,600 in 2018.

Walter and Nancy Gaer, of Bradenton, sold their home 1313 Calle Grand St. to James and Maureen Reuther, trustees, of Bradenton, for $635,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,765 square feet of living area. It sold for $458,000 in 2021.

CENTRAL PARK Purchasing Fun 2023-2 LLC sold the home at 4715 Seneca Park Trail to James and Stephanie Prim, of Bradenton, for $694,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,553 square feet

of living area. It sold for $682,000 in January.

B Squared of Naples LLC sold the home at 4711 Claremont Park Drive to Anne Elazhary, of Quebec, Canada, for $621,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,863 square feet of living area. It sold for $557,900 in 2023.

GREENBROOK

Brian and Andrea Krawczyk, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 14003 Nighthawk Terrace to Jessie and Matthew Zelkoski, of Lakewood Ranch, for $684,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,340 square feet of living area. It sold for $620,000 in 2021.

Dorlinda Carlson, as Personal Representative, Haskel Paul Stone III, Matthew David Stone and Betina Krahn sold the home at 6365 Royal Tern Circle to Rudy Kyle Thompson and Nayla Anisa Thompson, of Lakewood Ranch, for $610,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,248 square feet of living area. It sold for $308,900 in 2013.

PARK EAST AT AZARIO

Fangqing Zheng and Hongdan Sun, of Andover, Massachusetts, sold their home at 16415 Paynes Mill Drive to Jeremiah Russell Nosek and Maybelline Tapia, of Bradenton, for $660,000. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,676 square feet of living area. It sold for $586,400 in 2022.

WATCH AT WATERLEFE

Kim and Jill Calhoun, of Bradenton, sold their Unit 20-C condominium at 951 River Basin Court to James Donarski, of Palmetto, for $650,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,156 square feet of living area. It sold for $325,000 in 2018.

A year of triumph

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

It was a typically successful year for high school sports in the East County area.

Two programs won championships, and four other programs or individuals earned second-place finishes in their respective sports. Others still showed off talent that could lead to them joining those first- and second-place finishers in future years.

Here are the top 10 moments from the 2023-2024 high school sports year:

1

ODA FOOTBALL WINS SSAA CLASS 4A TITLE

The Out-of-Door Academy’s football program finished its turnaround with a championship.

After two winless regular seasons in 2020 and 2021, changes were made in 2022 when head coach Rob Hollway guided ODA through an 8-0 regular season in his first year with the Thunder. ODA lost 21-0 to Saint Stephen’s Episcopal in the second round of the Sunshine State Athletic Association playoffs that season, but the year was a success.

Due in part to injuries to key players like sophomore running back Allen Clark, ODA’s 2023 regular season (3-5) was not as smooth as 2022. The postseason was a different story. The Thunder got healthy, and ODA did not waste the opportunity, winning three playoff games to capture the SSAA Class 4A championship.

In the title game against Lighthouse Private Christian Academy (4-6) on Nov. 10, Clark had 31 carries for 205 yards and three touchdowns

4

ABIGAIL HITE FINISHES SECOND AT STATE SWIM MEET

Lakewood Ranch-area senior girls swimmer Abigail Hite finished her swimming career with a strong performance.

Fast Break

in a 33-14 win. The Thunder sacked LPCA sophomore quarterback Brayden Jackson six times, three of which came via senior Robert Crisci.

In honor of the win, Hollway said the team has since ordered championship rings with “It’s how you finish that counts” engraved on the inside.

He and his players are not satisfied with one ring, either. Hollway has big hopes for the future of the Thunder.

“I’m excited to defend the championship,” Hollway said. “I want to turn this into a program that the community and our school is proud of, where we compete and provide a positive experience and also continue to help kids get to college.”

2

EAST COUNTY PLAYERS HELP PARRISH COMMUNITY

SOFTBALL WIN STATE TITLE

The Parrish Community High’s run to a second-straight state title in FHSAA Class 5A had a distinct East County flavor.

Seniors Alex Call and Julia Girk, juniors Hannah Lewis and Carsyn Kull and freshmen Alysa Jones and Sophia Thomas all live south of the Manatee River. The East County contingent had a large impact on the Bulls’ success, particularly in the state championship game against Gainesville High.

Parrish (20-8) was down 2-0 to the Hurricanes (24-5) in the sixth inning before the team got RBI hits from senior Ella Romano and Lewis to tie the game. In the eighth, it was again Romano, who hit a walk-off double that scored Kull.

In its comeback, the team exemplified its season motto: “Warrior mindset.” Kull said players would raise their fists in the dugout during games, shouting “We ride at dawn” as a battle cry. It made them feel invincible.

In the postseason, they were.

3

MUSTANGS STATE RUNNERUP IN BOYS GOLF

For the second year in a row, the Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team had a high finish in the state tournament.

At Mission Inn Resort and Spa in Howey-in-the-Hills on Nov. 10-11, Lakewood Ranch shot a combined 299 in day two of the Class 3A state tournament — eight shots better than it did on day one — and finished with a 606 total, good for a secondplace finish behind state champion Fleming Island High (583).

Individually, junior Parker Severs finished tied for second (70-73— 143) and junior Henry Burbee finished tied for fourth (77-68—145).

Sophomore Max Colby Bendixen (78-79—157), sophomore Josh Orgen (83-79—162) and junior Luke Wilson (82-83—165) rounded out the Mustangs’ lineup.

The team’s second-place finish at the state tournament is its best since it won the state championship in 2013. It finished fifth in 2022.

Hite — who attended Bradenton’s Southeast High for its International Baccalaureate academic program, in the hopes of becoming an engineer — finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.90) at the FHSAA Class 3A state meet, held Nov. 11 at Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training in Ocala. She was 0.68 seconds behind gold medal winner Annabelle MacAdams of Ponte Vedra High.

Hite also finished fifth in the 100yard freestyle (52.25 seconds).

It was the culmination of Hite’s hard work to lower her times, including occasional cross-training sessions, like running, to work on different muscles. Hite said she likes to compete in triathlons in the summer as a different type of challenge.

At the state meet, the challenges she set for herself paid off.

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BRADEN RIVER WRESTLER SECOND AT STATE TOURNAMENT

Braden River High senior boys wrestler Gage Wiggins wanted to end his career with gold.   Silver was not his desired prize, but it was not a bad consolation.  Wiggins (60-2) romped his way through the 165-pound division of the FHSAA Class 2A championship tournament, held March 1-2 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, in the state semifinals, Wiggins crushed North Fort Myers High’s Julian Gonzales (43-6) with a 12-0 major decision. The win guaranteed Wiggins a place on the medal stand.

In the state finals, Wiggins faced Tampa Jesuit senior Brandon Cody, with whom he had split two previous matches. Cody got the better of Wiggins in the finals, winning 4-3 in overtime.

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BRADEN RIVER FLAG FOOTBALL REACHES STATE SEMIFINALS

The Braden River High flag football program has been the sport’s dominant force in Manatee County since the program’s inception in 2020.

In 2024, the Pirates started to spread that domination across the state. After a 12-1 regular season, Braden River went on its deepest postseason run to date, culminating in the biggest win in program history.

The Pirates reached the FHSAA Class 1A state semifinals via a 32-7 road win over Somerset Academy in the regional finals on May 3. Senior quarterback Cydnee Brooks completed 16 of 22 passes for 146 yards and four touchdowns, while junior linebacker Madison Epperson had five sacks.

The team’s season ended with a 20-0 road loss to eventual state champion Robinson High in the state semifinals on May 10, but the season was another step forward in the program’s development.

7PARRISH COMMUNITY FOOTBALL REACHES FIRST POSTSEASON

After the Parrish Community High football team’s 43-6 win over George Jenkins High on Nov. 3 in its regular season finale, the Bulls players celebrated a first.  They had just locked up an FHSAA SEE TOP 10, PAGE 11B

Southeast High senior Abigail Hite took a silver medal in the girls 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.90) at the FHSAA Class 3A state meet on Nov. 11 at Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training in Ocala.

Former Lakewood Ranch High and Clemson University softball player McKenzie Clark has signed a contract with Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX for its 2024 season. The league features 18 games played over two weeks in Wichita, Kansas. The league’s 42 players are drafted into three teams, with redrafts every six games. The games air on the ESPN family of networks and run through June 25. For more information on the league and a full schedule, visit AUProSports.com.

Former Braden River High track and field sprinter Miles Stephens, a sophomore at North Greenville University, earned NCAA Division II AllAmerica Second Team honors in the 100- and 200-meter categories on May 29. Stephens finished the year 10th in Division II in the 200-meter dash (20.86 seconds) and 12th in the 100-meter dash (10.26 seconds).

Former Lakewood Ranch High baseball outfielder Grant McCray was promoted to the AAA-level Sacramento River Cats (San Francisco Giants) on June 11. Since the promotion, McCray is 7-for-25 with one home run and four RBIs in six games as of June 17. According to MLB.com, McCray is the Giants’ No. 13 overall prospect and the team’s No. 2 outfielder prospect.

Mike Bauers sank a holein-one June 16 on the No. 4 hole of Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s Royal Lakes course. Bauers used a 7-iron on the 172-yard hole.

Kim Huebner (29) won the Nine Hole Ladies Golf Association “Throw Out The Par 5s” event held June 13 at University Park Country Club. The Lakewood Ranch Little League U16 All-Star team won the District 26 tournament, held June 15 at Buffalo Creek Little League.

Courtesy photo Former Lakewood Ranch High softball player McKenzie Clark signed with Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX on June 5.

The Thunder beat Lighthouse Private Christian Academy to win the SSAA Class 4A title.

The Parrish Community High softball team (20-8) celebrates a FHSAA Class 5A title game win, 3-2 over Gainesville High (24-5), on May 24. It is the team’s secondstraight state title and was aided by six East County players.

Out-of-Door Academy adds passing game guru

Nate Strawderman, 26, was previously the head coach at Bradenton Christian School.

When Nate Strawderman thought about the things he wanted to accomplish in his career, the choice became clear.

Strawderman, 26, had served as head coach of the Bradenton Christian School football team in 2023, leading the Panthers to a 7-2 record, with both losses coming to Westminster Academy (9-2). In January, Strawderman accepted an offensive coordinator position with Southeast High under its new head coach Curt Bradley, where Bradley, the former Braden River High head coach, will attempt to rebuild the downtrodden Seminoles program.  But during the spring, Strawderman had a change of heart. After a talk with The Out-of-Door Academy head coach Rob Hollway, Strawderman decided his future would be better served with the Thunder.

“This is something that can set me up for complete success,” Strawderman said.

Strawderman will be ODA’s associate head coach as well as its passing game coordinator, while current offensive coordinator Jim Bougor will stay in his role. As Hollway put it, Strawderman and Bougor will form a “superpower team” and combine ideas to create the team’s offense. Beyond the football field, Strawderman will also become an assistant athletic director at ODA,

giving him a chance to see the administrative side of high school sports.

While Strawderman gets to expand his horizons, ODA gets the passing game expert it has wanted. Though the Thunder have had a dominant run game since Hollway took over the program in 2022, Hollway has repeatedly mentioned wanting to become more “multiple” to beat teams of a higher caliber.

Why does Hollway believe Strawderman is the guy? Because he has seen first-hand what his passing game schemes can do. The pair coach a 14U seven-on-seven football team together under the Nextlevelz brand, and Strawderman’s Bradenton Christian team beat ODA 35-7 in 2023.

Hollway has also seen how Strawderman approaches coaching from a philosophical perspective.

“He is always positive,” Hollway said. “I’ve seen how he interacts with kids. He brings a good energy all the time. He’s a kid magnet. He’s on my vibe in terms of way of life.”

Though Strawderman will focus solely on the passing game at ODA, something Hollway likes about him is his ability to tailor his scheme to his players. Last season at Bradenton Christian, the Panthers ran the ball 208 times and threw the ball just 122 times, as that is what best fit the team’s roster. But in 2020, when Strawderman was the team’s offensive coordinator and the Panthers’ quarterback was eighth grader Zander Smith — who is now a senior at Lakeland High with multiple NCAA Division I offers — Smith threw for 1,679 yards and 22 touchdowns in just seven games.  Strawderman will have plenty of

ways to get creative. His addition might mean more catches out of the backfield for Allen Clark, the tailback who ran for 1,104 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023. It is also possible that the team’s leading receiver in 2024 was not on the roster in 2023: Hollway has not been shy about recruiting athletes from the school’s other sports to join the football team, with many of them becoming impact players.

Strawderman will have plenty of work to do. ODA attempted just 85 passes last season and completed 36 of them for 494 yards, six touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

He’s excited to get started on the process.

“Coach Jim (Bourgor) and I are creating something that will be hard to stop,” Strawderman said. “We have some good guys coming back. I’m confident in what we will do.”

Strawderman’s excitement extends beyond the 2023 season. While ODA is a small private school, the ambitions of the staff are lofty. Winning a Sunshine State Athletic Association Class 4A title in 2023 was exciting for the program, but no one is satisfied. The team has visions of doing things even more impressive, which includes matching up with teams in the Florida High School Athletic Association.

“We used to play teams like (FHSAA Class 1S champion)

Cardinal Mooney High,” Strawderman said. “That is a long shot right now because of where we are in the SSAA, but I envision us going to play Cardinal Mooney one day. I think we can get the guys bought in. As Rob (Hollway) says, these guys are ‘ride for the brand.’ I’ve already found that out. We are going to

build something special here.”

It is a continuation of what Hollway has done since he took over the program. ODA has sent three kids to the NCAA Division I level the past two years and could have three more in the program’s next graduating class. Hollway took five players — Clark, rising seniors Marvin Palominos, Frankie Clark and Carson Fisher and rising junior Wiston Crisci — to an Ivy League mega camp in Oxford, Ohio, on June 7, to get them more exposure.

In his mission to grow the program and help as many players as possible play at the next level, Hollway has already taken several steps. The hiring of Strawderman is a sign that the program is getting serious.

Don’t expect the Thunder’s roll to slow down any time soon.

“I’m just excited,” Hollway said. “As my coach at the University of Wyoming (Joe Glenn) said, ‘How do you eat? One bite at a time.’ We are focused on getting better one day at a time.”

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

Courtesy image

Nate Strawderman (right) gives instructions to Bradenton Christian quarterback Caden Ott. Strawderman is going to The Out-of-Door Academy football program as an associate head coach and passing game coordinator. He will also be an assistant athletic director at the school.

Class 3S playoff berth — the first in the program’s four-year history.

In 2023, Parrish Community (7-3) matched the program’s win total from its first three varsity seasons combined, in which the team went 7-16. To reach the playoffs, the Bulls leaned on a group of players from the East County area, including senior quarterback Jackson Volz, senior tight end Lane Tomlinson, senior offensive lineman Carter Dietz, senior offensive lineman Jimie Roden, senior linebacker Holten Graham, senior defensive end Dustin Springfield, junior defensive end Ashton Springfield, junior linebacker Sean Crowley and junior cornerback Bryson Bender.

Parrish’s season came to an end Nov. 10 with a 42-0 loss to Naples High in the first round of the playoffs But Volz said reaching the playoffs at all, after building to be a winner, should put the area on notice that this is a program on the rise.

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LAKEWOOD RANCH BOYS

LACROSSE MAKES DEEPEST

POSTSEASON RUN

With a new head coach and a new attitude, the Lakewood Ranch High boys lacrosse team showed the program can be a postseason threat.

The Mustangs went 14-6 and reached the regional semifinals in FHSAA Class 2A for the first time in program history. They did it with a 14-8 win over Venice High (11-6) in the regional quarterfinals on April 27, in a game held at Premier Sports Campus in front of a raucous crowd.

The game was taken over by Lakewood Ranch senior Lucas Anthony, who scored eight goals against the Indians. First-year head coach Joe Nelson said the team’s overall offensive talent allowed Anthony to thrive, since teams could not solely focus on him as they had done in the past.

The Mustangs would end their season with a 15-9 loss to Newsome High (15-5) in the regional semifinals.

9PIRATES VOLLEYBALL WINS THIRD-STRAIGHT DISTRICT TITLE

For the third year in a row, the Braden River High volleyball team took home the FHSAA Class 5A district crown. After an 18-6 regular season, Braden River beat North Port High 3-0 in the district semifinals on Oct. 17, then defeated North Fort Myers High 3-0 to win the district finals.

In the title game, senior Aryanna Spainhower led the Pirates with 11 kills, 16 digs and three serving aces, while senior Ericka Freeman led the team with three blocks.  Braden River would advance to the regional semifinals before losing 3-2 to Gulf Coast High on Oct. 28.

10BRADEN RIVER HIGH BOYS SOCCER BEATS LAKEWOOD RANCH

After going 11-4-4 in 2022, the Braden River High boys soccer team continued its ascent toward the top of the local soccer scene in 2023-24.

The Pirates finished the year 12-31, highlighted by a 1-0 home win over local rival Lakewood Ranch High, another typical soccer power, on Dec. 11. It was the Pirates’ first win over Lakewood Ranch since 2015. Braden River’s defense and goaltending were the difference in that game and many others, as the Pirates allowed just 10 goals all season.

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

AUTO BIOGRAPHIES by Aidan Deshong, edited by Jeff Chen By Luis Campos