The library is a special place for 16-year-old Cooper Leiberick (above). The Lakewood Ranch resident and member of Boy Scout Troop 89 spent a lot of time at libraries as a young child.
“I’m glad to have this new location (the Lakewood Ranch branch) closer to my house,” Leiberick said. “I chose to build benches because Tiffany (Mautino), the library’s branch manager, mentioned they needed them for the outside areas.”
The Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library paid for the supplies, and Leiberick put in the labor as part of an Eagle Scout project.
“I hope the community enjoys them for many years into the future,” Leiberick said.
Main Street elves still on the job
Christmas is quickly approaching, so the elves are working diligently around Main Street at Lakewood Ranch to fill orders.
Can you spot them?
We all know elves like to work anonymously, so it’s not easy to find them. If you do, you will be come eligible for a prize.
Just go by the Lakewood Ranch Information Center or any Main Street at Lakewood Ranch business to pick up an entry form for the Hidden Elves contest.
More than 15 mischievous elves are hiding inside and outside Main Street establishments, so be sure to look high and low. The contest began Nov. 25 and runs through Dec. 30.
Jay Heater
Jaclynn Meiler of Tammy Peters’ first class at Braden River Elementary holds her letter to Santa.
Holiday vacation — at home
Mike and Sandy Sobzack set off on a whirlwind retirement tour around the world in March.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Mike and Sandy Sobzack used to be creatures of habit. In retirement, they’re nomads.
Both worked for Wells Fargo. She was in human resources, and he was in project management. They owned the same East County home for 26 years.
Mike Sobzack, 53, used to play pickleball every morning at Longwood Park.
He no longer plays daily, but since March, he’s played pickleball in Morocco, Mongolia, Nepal and Bhutan.
The couple left their jobs, sold their assets, made a list of the Top 20 countries they wanted to see and took off, but there’s no place they would rather be for the holidays than home.
Since they sold their house, the couple is staying at an Airbnb. But Mike Sobzack rated the holiday trip’s importance as a “10 out of 10.”
“That’s the plan every year,” Sandy Sobzack said. “We’ll continue to come back for November and December.”
The remaining travel plans are taken leg by leg, year by year. Whether it takes two years or 30, the pair will travel until they’re “tired of it.”
The Sobzacks’ next leg kicks off in January. They’re flying to Buenos Aires to take a 17-day cruise to Antarctica. They’ll spend the next six months touring South America, but will return for a pit stop in Indianapolis at the end of May.
“Every year, we went to the Indy 500,” Mike Sobzack said. “We didn’t this year, and we missed it.”
After that, the plan is to hit Greenland, Iceland and Norway before next Christmas.
FOOD TOUR
While on the road, Sandy and Mike Sobzack missed home for two reasons — the people and the food.
Sandy Sobzack recalled how hard it was to find peanut butter while traveling, and Mike Sobzack declared that Wings and Things has the “best wings in the world.”
But since returning home, he’s also had a craving for a big plate of tsuivan. Tsuivan is a noodle dish they discovered while traveling through Mongolia. The couple returned home with incredible memories and a new craving from each country.
MOROCCO
Chicken tagine: The couple ate so much tagine they thought they’d stop ordering, but it always hit the spot. They also ate versions that included beef, mutton, fish and vegetables.
NEPAL
The national dish of Nepal is dal bhat. It’s made with lentils and rice and was another frequently ordered meal by the Sobzacks.
BHUTAN
Ema datshi is the national dish of Bhutan, but it’s made with chili peppers, so the spice depends on the chef. Mike Sobzack said it was delicious, but Sandy Sobzack’s favorite dish was hoentey, dumplings with wrappers made from buckwheat flour.
Spending weeks to months in each destination has provided both unique experiences and challenges. While staying in Bhutan, they were invited to a religious ritual at a private home. Monks played drums
while chanting scriptures.
Sandy Sobzack described the rite as one of the most incredible experiences she’s ever had in her life, and one that can’t be found on a tour bus. Traveling independently allows the couple the time and space to form relationships with locals.
“It was a whole day’s event,” she said. “They bring in people to play instruments, and they build little temples in their homes. And all the food they made was phenomenal.”
The other side of once in a lifetime experiences is the chores of everyday life. Figuring out how to wash their clothes has been an experience in itself everywhere they’ve stayed.
The washing machine in Nepal was four floors down outside in the yard. Instead of squirrels scampering through the trees, there were monkeys.
Instead of pressing a button and walking away, the laundry had to be soaked, spun and rinsed by hand, then hung on a line upstairs on the roof.
Everything they did required Google Translate. Mike Sobzack rated the app at an eight or nine out of 10. Even still, it could take the capable couple up to three hours just to grocery shop.
The constant newness has come easier to Mike Sobzack than to his wife.
“I knew I was going to grow,” Sandy Sobzack said. “But I didn’t realize just how rigid I was, how many expectations I really had, how many rules I had.”
While staying in a guest house in Mongolia, the owner of the home prepared a picnic for her family and invited the couple along. She prepared a beautiful lunch, but after cutting up the meat, she cut up the watermelon using the same unwashed knife.
“I told myself to just be chill about it,” Sandy Sobzack said. “It helped me. I’m not as freakish (about germs) after that day.”
Lesley Dwyer
Mike and Sandy Sobzack return home to East County for the holidays. The couple stop by the University Park Country Club for lunch on Dec. 9.
Long-awaited pickleball/swim facility to break ground
Manatee County expects to break ground by February and finish by summer 2026.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
After seven years and several drafts, Manatee County will break ground in late January or early February on the Athletic and Aquatics Center at Premier Sports Campus North.
The park was officially rebranded, too. The original 127-acre campus (Premier Sports Campus) that was purchased from Schroeder-Manatee Ranch in 2017 is now Premier Sports Campus South.
The additional 111 acres the county purchased from SMR to the north, where the Athletic and Aquatic Center will be located, is now Premier Sports Campus North.
PREMIER SPORTS CAMPUS NORTH
Commissioners on Dec. 12 approved the execution of a contract with Tandem Construction Dec. 10 to build the athletic center and a rezone that allows for the construction of a public center.
The final step is to break ground, which is anticipated to happen in late January or early February.
The agreement with Tandem sets the maximum price for all costs and services at $44,228,316.60 with a construction schedule of 567 calendar days.
“We can’t wait to put a shovel in the ground,” said Molly White, Manatee County’s director of Sports and Leisure Services. “The World Pickleball Tour will be at G.T. Bray this weekend, and they’re chomping at the bit to get more tournaments in the area.”
While 24 new pickleball courts, 14 of which will be shaded, will be attractive to tournament organizers, the courts won’t regularly be occupied by tournaments.
“We’re going to cater to the residents first,” said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “What we don’t want to see is bringing in so much business that the residents don’t have enough court play or aquatic center use.”
Falcione described finding the balance as an art. However, in this case, a major distinction lies within the funding of each campus.
The purchase of the south campus was mainly funded through the tourism tax. Construction on the north campus is being funded through the infrastructure sales tax, which is paid by residents, and impact fees, which are paid by builders.
Falcione said that distinction makes the Premier Sports Campus North “the residents’ venue.”
Area soccer clubs, such as the Chargers and Braden River, use the south campus, too. However, that campus generates between $40 million to $45 million in economic impact for the county, much of it coming from out-of-town business.
Falcione said Premier Sports Campus North will not bring in “the magnitude” of business that Premier Sports Campus South attracts from soccer and lacrosse.
He speculated that between the pools and pickleball courts, that campus would bring in more like $12 million in economic impact a year.
East County swim clubs have complained about having to drive to Sarasota or the west side of Manatee County for training and meets. This facility is expected to meet the community need for swim lanes and a place for exercise classes.
Prior plans included a third 25-meter pool with the ability to host
ATHLETIC AND AQUATIC CENTER
■ 24 pickleball courts (14 covered)
■ 50-meter competition-size pool
■ Therapy pool
■ Administration offices
■ Restrooms
■ Locker rooms
diving competitions that would have attract more competitions. However, staff members asked commissioners to remove the 25-meter pool in December 2023 because it was the only way to stay within the county’s $39 million budget.
Tom Yarger estimated the cost of an additional 25-meter pool at about $4.5 million. But once that was removed from the equation, restrooms and locker rooms were scaled down, too.
Falcione mentioned the possibility of a partnership with Sarasota County because there’s an aquatic center in South Sarasota, but said this facility was designed to “target a narrow aquatics segment.”
“At the end of the day, I’m a community servant,” Falcione said. “If we can stimulate the economy while, at the same time, enhancing the quality of life for the residents who live here, then I’ve met my objective as a tourism director.”
The construction will take about 18 months to complete, so the coun-
ty is planning on a completion date during summer 2026.
In the meantime, a job-site camera will be mounted on the Lakewood Ranch Library when the work kicks off. A link will be added to the county’s website, so the public can keep up with the progress in real time.
PREMIER SPORTS CAMPUS SOUTH
Construction at Premier Sports Campus South is due to be complete by the end of the month.
Improvements include the addition of two synthetic turf fields and two 2,500-square-foot locker rooms.
What won’t be included is a 6,500-square-foot event tent, which was intended to provide an air conditioned space that could diversify the campus’s rental uses to include nonsporting events, such as weddings.
The $1,126,405 tent, which was paid by funds from the tourism tax, was going to be a savings to the county because it could be used for indoor space without having to construct an actual building, which would have cost at least three times more.
However, the tent had to be custom ordered from Germany and took two years to fabricate.
When ordered, county building officials and the fire marshal signed off on the tent because it met the code requirements.
By the time it arrived, Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan said that type of framed tent was no longer considered a permanent structure under the state building codes.
“That’s what happens every time
NAME THE SOCCER STADIUM
In other Premier news, Manatee County signed a deal with the Sarasota Paradise professional soccer team on Dec. 10 that allows the league to call Premier Sports Campus South its home field. The agreement also grants the team sponsorship opportunities through signage and naming rights for the stadium.
“(The county) has to approve (the name),” Falcione said. “So it’s not a controversial name, like Camel cigarettes or something like that.” If approved, the cost to name the stadium is $100,000 for a five-year term. The Paradise is in charge of brokering the deals, but the county gets a portion of the proceeds.
a hurricane comes through the state of Florida,” Falcione said. “The codes are always being reevaluated.”
At 6,500 square feet, to put the tent up and take it down again costs about $10,000. The tent is so specialized that it’s not something county staff can handle themselves.
But Falcione said he never gives up, so while it’s too early to say what exactly will happen with the tent, he is looking for ways to rent the tent to recoup some of the funds.
The $320,000 of groundwork installed, such as the concrete pad and the necessary utilities, also can have other purposes.
Restrooms will be built around the pad, which will require electricity and sewer lines.
Falcione also said the pad could handle a one-story block structure in the future if the county sees fit.
For now, Logan said the pad allows for the use of temporary tents, food trucks and other special event-related requests. Monetizing the tent will likely involve a public-private partnership to have an expert market it and rent it.
Falcione is still working out the details of what he can and can’t do with the county’s procurement office and attorney’s office.
“We pride ourselves on creativity,” he said. “Am I frustrated? Of course, I am, but you control the controllables and look at how you can shift gears.”
Courtesy images
The Athletics and Aquatics Center at Premier Sports Campus North is expected to be complete by summer 2026.
These are the latest renderings of the Athletics and Aquatics Center slated for Premier Sports Campus North.
Holiday traditions that score big
Favorite pastimes, charities, movies and passions all emerge during the holiday season.
The nutcrackers still sit prominently among Ron Goldstein’s Christmas decorations in his Mandalay neighborhood home.
Perhaps his late mom, Bronia Goldstein, should get credit for the eye-popping Christmas displays he creates each and every year.
In the 1960s, she began giving him “everything Yankees” for Christmas, which made sense because they lived down the block from Yankees star Joe Pepitone on 83rd Street in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn. Included were a bevy of nutcrackers.
The passion for the Yankees, and for Christmas, continued to build all through Goldstein’s life. After earning a law degree and a master’s in business administration, Goldstein earned a job working with the Yankees, and professional athletes in general, as a troubleshooter.
“I was like a janitor,” Goldstein said. “I cleaned up messes that no one else wanted to deal with.”
It afforded him the opportunity to collect all kinds of Yankees memorabilia, and coupled with his love of collecting any kind of Yankees merchandise he could find, especially that connected to Christmas, he filled his home and storage lockers with thousands of items. He said he often bid at auctions against Yankees’ super-fan Billy Crystal for memorabilia.
“He was crazed,” he said of Crystal.
When he married wife Angela
Sanfilippo in 1989, he started a tradition of building a Christmas display that would make any museum proud. Now with a smaller home since moving to Florida, his scaled-down collection still has its own room during the holidays.
Mixed with the more common items that you could buy in any gift shop are Yankee treasures, such as Derek Jeter’s batting helmet and glove, signed items and photos from Yogi Berra “who was like a father to me” and the original sign from “Babe Ruth Field” that for years graced the Yankees’ practice field across the street from the stadium at Macombs Dam Park.
Each Christmas, all the items are blended with a collage of Yankeestrademarked holiday keepsakes, along with tinsel and miniature carousels.
“Every year I change the scheme,” he said. “I start in the summer and I do whatever comes into my brain. I just love the Christmas spirit and friends and family, I love giving and doing.
“I just don’t have enough people to show this to.”
The East County Observer asked our readers what kind of holiday traditions they have.
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Jay Heater
Mandalay’s Ron Goldstein curates thousands of Christmas and sports items into an incredible display at his Mandalay home in East County. Goldstein is a former troubleshooter who worked for the Yankees and other sports franchises and pro athletes.
COATS FOR KIDS
Joann Graceffo has a new favorite tradition since moving from St. Petersburg to Lakewood Ranch six years ago.
Her husband, Jerry Graceffo, is a member of the Knights of Columbus council at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church.
Each year, the Knights collect coats for children living in the agricultural community of Wauchula.
“I look forward to going (to St.
Michael Catholic Church) with my husband every year to give out these jackets,” Joann Graceffo said. “The children put the coats on, and they’re so emotional. The gratitude they show really makes us all think how lucky we are.”
Back
to set aside a time when they could express their own feelings to the boys.
“It was important to tell them what we love about them,” Sebastian Serra said.
Each Christmas Eve, at a time when the family enjoys a day-long meal, they all pick a time to sit together.
“We say what we love about each other the most,” Julia Serra said.
“It’s always very upbeat,” Sebastian Serra said. “You know, there is a lot of criticism in this world.”
MARCH OF THE NUTCRACKERS
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Lt. Nate Mahon can’t remember how many Christmas dinners he’s eaten at East Manatee Fire Rescue’s Station 11, so he left it at “a lot.”
Mahon started out as a volunteer with the Myakka City Fire Rescue in 2006 before the fire district merged with EMFR. Now, the firefighter is a full time part of the crew.
“Somebody’s got to work,” Deputy Chief Paul Wren said. “But we provide money for all the crews to be able to buy those holiday meals.”
So tradition for the firefighters is to set up a long table in the bay and invite their families to celebrate Christmas at the station.
The crew prepared prime rib for dinner last year, but Mahon said families visit during breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“There’s a number of guys with families and children,” Mahon said. “The whole family comes out. (The kids) enjoy playing around the station.”
SANTA’S HELPERS Traditions have to start somewhere.
Typically, the Saxtons, a family of five who live in Lakewood Ranch, make their own Christmas ornaments and have their kids write letters to Santa.
This year, however, was different.
While the Saxtons will still do their usual holiday activities, a new tradition has come into the fold.
“We always dress up together for Halloween,” said Summer Saxton, as she and her husband, Phillip, corralled their three children together in the Waterside parking lot. “This year, we all went as characters from Harry Potter. It was so fun that we just decided to keep it going.”
All five of the Saxton clan are ready for employment in Santa’s workshop. Dressed head-to-toe in matching elf costumes, the Saxtons don’t care that Halloween came and gone more than two months ago. The smile on their children’s faces is well worth the time it takes to get dressed up.
WHITE
CHRISTMAS
Between University Town Center and Lakewood Ranch, Santa could easily check off any Christmas wish list under an East County tree with the exception of one thing — a white Christmas.
If Annette and Chuck Marden need to start a new holiday tradition, it probably will have something to do with nuts. They certainly have the nutcrackers.
In 1982, Chuck picked up a gift for his future wife, a nutcracker that was also a skier. Annette was from Vermont.
Annette liked the gift, so Chuck picked up another nutcracker the next year, and the next year, and the next ...
Eventually their children got into the act as well and over a 42-year period, Annette’s collection swelled. When the holidays roll around, nutcrackers dominate several areas in their home. Every one bears the year it was given.
“I’ve had to say I’ve got no more room,” Annette said, indicating her collection might be complete.
Annette and Chuck Marden of Watercrest have a tradition of collecting and displaying nutcrackers during the holidays. Annette says her home has no more room, though.
So Sue Ann Miller, president of the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library, lives vicariously through the 1954 classic by the same name. “White Christmas,” a musical starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, is set in snowy Vermont. Every year, Miller puts on her pajamas and snuggles up with Griffin, her Welsh springer spaniel, for a movie night.
“It wouldn’t be the holidays without reliving the story each year,” she said.
Lesley Dwyer
Sebastian and Julia Serra of Lakewood Ranch make sure they set aside time each Christmas Eve to have the members of their family tell each other why they love them.
Lesley Dwyer
Joann Graceffo looks forward to handing out coats to kids before Christmas.
Courtesy image
Sue Ann Miller and Griffin have been snuggling up on the couch to watch
“White Christmas” since 2011 when Griffin was a puppy.
Dylan Campbell
The Saxtons fused their love of dressing up for Halloween with the Christmas spirit. Back: Sadie, Phillip, Summer. Front: Joelle and Archer.
Courtesy image
Firefighters and their families enjoy Christmas dinner at Station 11 in 2023. Starting with Lochlynn Mahon in the red dress, going around the table is Cutter and Morgan Johnson, Lou Rivera, Craig Lavelle (EMS), Angie Hadlock (EMS), Bekki Johnson and Nate and Rhiannon Mahon.
Lesley Dwyer
Have toys dropped off Santa’s list?
Lakewood Ranch toy aficionado expects toys to rebound.
These days, it would appear fewer children are asking Santa Claus for actual toys.
The top toys of 2024 on Amazon include a flying hover orb, a robot pet dog, an instant print camera, and kids’ night vision goggles.
Target.com offers a more classic top toy list that includes Legos and a Barbie Dreamhouse, but also includes a PlayStation 5 and a Meta Quest virtual reality headset.
There’s more competition for kids’ attention nowadays. Are the days of
the Slinky numbered?
Children ages 8-12 in the United States spend four-to-six hours a day watching screens while teens average around nine hours, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Lakewood Ranch’s Richard Pierson, the owner of the Sarasota Toy Museum at 3580 17th St., is well aware that toys have evolved over time, but that’s not stopping him from trying to share his passion for toys with younger generations.
Pierson hosted a “Toy Stories” presentation at the Lakewood Ranch Library on Dec. 11. Although only one child showed up on time and stayed for the entire presentation, Pierson wasn’t deterred.
“From my perspective, I feel like toys had declined for a while,” Pierson said. “I feel like there is a resurgence in it, and it’s been brought on
by the new episodes of Star Wars and anime, which was huge. I think people are getting back into collecting toys.”
Pierson noted that some toys are becoming popular, but the way they’re used has shifted drastically from the 1900s.
Toys like Funko Pops — figurines with exaggerated heads — other action figures, and trading cards are now bought with the intention of collecting and displaying rather than being played with.
Few are as plugged into the trends of toys as Pierson.
He estimates he has anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 toys in his 6,000-square-foot museum. The toys he has include anything from original Cracker Jack toys and some of the first toy robots to modern-day Pokémon, anime and Star Wars.
Though his toys in the museum
HOLIDAY TOYS THROUGH THE YEARS
These are the holiday toys that topped wish lists through the decades, according to a New York Times article by Leah Greenblatt.
1950s: Mr. Potato Head
1960s: Etch a Sketch
1970s: Atari
1980s: Cabbage Patch Kid
1990s: Beanie Babies
2000s: Bratz dolls
2010s: Fidget Spinners
2020s: Squishmallows
aren’t for sale, there is a retail section at the front of the building where customers can purchase anything from Pokémon cards to graded comic books.
Some toys go in and out of style simply due to fads and trends, and Pierson has a background wellsuited to stay on top of the current climate.
After spending a career in international fashion for Tommy Hilfiger and Guess, Pierson knows that some toys are here for a season while others are built to last.
“Some toys like Beanie Babies and Cabbage Patch Kids came and went, but then you see something like Pokémon, which is as strong as it’s
ever been, and only getting stronger,” he said. “Funko Pops, I keep waiting for them to potentially go the way of the Beanie Babie, but they’re one of my top-selling items here.”
Though attendance wasn’t what Pierson hoped for at his “Toy Stories” presentation at the Lakewood Ranch Library, he’s also exploring other avenues for reaching kids.
The one child in attendance, Kolt Sweda, asked if the decades-old toy robots Pierson brought were voiceactivated, and Sweda was interested in a video of the museum’s model train.
Judging by Sweda’s questions, there’s certainly still some interest in old-school toys.
Pierson is trying different methods of spreading his passion throughout the community. He recently hosted the Special Needs Railroad Association, an art walk to showcase the work of local artists, and hosted his first birthday party at the museum.
“We have a larger traction of older people than we do kids right now,” said Pierson, who initially wanted to turn his ‘Toys Stories’ presentation into a series at the library, but isn’t so sure after the turnout. “That’s why we’re going to start promoting it out there a little bit more as, you know, an attraction to the family. I think we’ll see more kids coming in here as tourism comes back, and people look for something to do instead of going to the beach.”
VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER
Photos by Vinnie Portell
Lakewood Ranch’s Richard Pierson, who checks out the cap gun exhibit at his Sarasota Toy Museum, says toys have declined for a while, but he expects a resurgence.
When kids see vintage toy robots today, they sometimes ask if they are voice activated.
A gift before Christmas
John Bourjaily feels blessed to be alive this holiday season after receiving a kidney from his daughter.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Tara’s John Bourjaily knows he’s not supposed to have a favorite child, but after his daughter, Alisha, gave him one of her kidneys, she shot to the top of his list.
“My daughter saved my life,” Bourjaily said. “I would’ve never made it to Christmas. She told me, ‘Dad, you put me on this Earth, so I’ll do it for you.’”
The East County Observer sat down with Bourjaily and his wife, Laura, seven weeks after the kidney transplant. Bourjaily was teary eyed when speaking about the gift his daughter gave him.
Bourjaily is a Type 2 diabetic. He said the drug used to control his blood sugar, metformin, “ruined” his kidneys.
A year prior, he couldn’t finish nine holes of golf. Walking any kind of distance was a struggle.
Leading up to the surgery, he couldn’t even sit comfortably because his legs would twitch and shake. He also couldn’t sleep at night because of intense itching caused by a buildup of phosphorus in his body.
If not for surgery, doctors told the 65-year-old that he only had days left to live. A dire situation was made even more stressful because the surgeries were scheduled during hurricane season.
The transplant was postponed twice, the first time because of Hurricane Helene and the second because of Hurricane Milton.
The surgeries also had to change locations after Hurricane Milton caused about six feet of flooding in the basement of HCA Florida Largo Hospital.
Instead, the father and daughter were treated at HCA Northside Hospital on Oct. 22, two weeks later than originally scheduled.
“The postponements were brutal both health-wise and psychologically,” Bourjaily said.
John and Laura Bourjaily met in 1980 and have been married for 35 years. They were divorced once in between.
For Laura Bourjaily, it wasn’t just two hurricanes that doubled the stress.
“I had to worry about my daughter and my husband,” she said. “My stress went from zero to 60.”
In the midst of medical worries, the wife and mother also feared the transplant could get her daughter fired for missing so much work.
Alisha Bourjaily lives in Ohio. She couldn’t return home for over a month, but she’s since fully recovered from surgery and is back to work full time. She declined an interview.
Laura Bourjaily described her daughter as typically a procrastinator, but not when it came to her father’s ailing kidney.
“She did not hesitate one minute,” she said. “I was so proud of her. To lose weight like she did, and she got all the bloodwork and X-rays done right away.”
Alisha Bourjaily had to lose 35 pounds just to be tested as a possible donor. Once she was determined to be a match, she had to lose another 10 pounds.
Of the couple’s four children, three were tested and two were a match. However, at 37 years old, Alisha Bourjaily was the youngest and healthiest match.
John Bourjaily is now feeling young and healthy, too.
It’s been hard for the former IT sales director to be so limited in his activities throughout his illness and recovery. He’s especially looking forward to February when he’ll be medically cleared to play golf again.
“My daughter saved my life. I would’ve never made it to Christmas. She told me, ‘Dad, you put me on this Earth, so I’ll do it for you.’”
John Bourjaily
GRAND MARSHAL
John Bourjaily is chair of Tara Golf and Country Club’s House Committee. He said there was an “outpouring of support” from the Tara community. Neighbors not only delivered meals to his home, the Social Committee named him the grand marshal of this year’s golf parade.
Because he still can’t lift more than 10 pounds or engage in much activity, the committee is decorating his golf cart, too.
However, Bourjaily’s bad year wasn’t the only determining factor in the committee’s selection.
“They said it was because of everything I’ve done for the club over the past two years,” Bourjaily said. “They had me in tears when they called to tell me.”
For now, he gets weekly checkups, which are soon to be biweekly. He’ll be on an anti-rejection drug for the rest of his life, but his recovery is progressing well.
After losing 20 pounds over the past year, his appetite has returned, but he’ll be staying away from the holiday buffets this season.
Transplant patients are at highrisk of contracting bacterial infections. He has to eat all his meat well done, drink lots of water and eat frozen vegetables instead of canned.
The minor lifestyle changes are well worth the results.
“I’m very thankful and blessed this year,” Bourjaily said. “It’s been emotional. I said the prayer on Thanksgiving, but I got choked up.”
He and his wife hosted a few friends for dinner. Normally, the couple would go back to Ohio to spend Christmas with their children.
But Bourjaily hasn’t been cleared to travel or fly yet. When he talked about feeling guilty because he’s the reason they can’t go, his wife stopped him.
“It’s one Christmas,” she said.
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Lesley Dwyer
Laura and John Bourjaily are grateful to be celebrating Christmas together.
Jay Heater
Tara’s John Bourjaily, with a donated kidney from his daughter that saved his life, and his wife, Laura, by his side, served as the grand marshal of the Tara Golf Cart Holiday Parade on Dec. 13.
Ranch ringers sweeten the Salvation Army’s pot
She’s got Santa’s heart and Gen. George Patton’s drive. Spending two hours with Lakewood Ranch’s Jane Imperiale — standing in front of a Publix on Lorraine Road and University Parkway while ringing Salvation Army bells — allowed me a small look at the person behind the Mrs. Claus suit.
The angel on her shoulder led her to organize a team of bell ringers who could efficiently raise a bundle for those less fortunate. The tiny bit of mischievous devil in her leads to the twisted facial expressions when a shopper rushes through the door with a $1 bill in hand, only to pass right by the Salvation Army’s red pot.
On Dec. 13, I thought we were getting a great response from the morning shoppers.
“I think almost 50% of the people who have walked past have given us something this morning,” I said to her, indicating I considered it a very impressive donation ratio. She was having none of it.
“No, that’s too high,” she said of my estimate, with another unsatisfied expression on her face.
In her world, when it comes to altruism, nothing short of 100% is acceptable.
Of course, if that was the case in our world, her bell ringers wouldn’t be needed and she would be out playing golf or pickleball on a beautiful Friday morning.
For now, those bell ringers, such as Bonnie Staley and Shannon Ford, who preceded us with the very early 8-10 a.m. shift, are important, especially for those who lost their homes and their jobs in the aftermath of the hurricanes.
Even so, I can’t blame anyone for feeling they’ve been put through the donation wringer, being squeezed every which way they turn. I remember being exasperated myself a couple of years ago when a homeless man threw the dollar bill I
gave him back in my face, telling me I should use it to make a payment on my BMW. It was a man who stood on the same street corner every day, who got a dollar from me every time I passed. I admit that he had me questioning my habit of giving a little something to those in need who might or might not legitimately be in need. Many people tell me that is something I absolutely should not do and it causes more harm than good. Perhaps the answer is to give to a nonprofit like the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation, which vets regional nonprofits to make sure the money goes where it has been promised.
In reality, I know in my heart that there is room in this world for both, and that’s why we need more people like Imperiale, who doesn’t mind reminding us that our small dona-
tions do make a difference, especially if they get a little bigger.
Her team made a $17,000 difference last year in Salvation Army donations, and with nine days left of bell ringing on Dec. 14, the haul this year was at $15,200 and rising. People in Florida are suffering, and Imperiale knows it. So do we. Ring. Ring. Ring.
One gentleman watched us for a moment as we swayed to a little Christmas music.
“This is your lucky day,” he said. He took out a $100 bill and put it into the slot in the pot and headed off without another word. I hope his heart was soaring, because I know mine was.
The angel on Imperiale’s shoulder had to be smiling.
I know it would be folly to attempt to determine who could afford a $100 donation, or a $50, or
a $20 or a few coins. But I watched as one elderly woman went all through her handbag, turning it inside out, to find a four separate $1 bills. They all went into the pot. My heart soared again.
I was getting more out of the two hours than those who eventually will receive the donations.
Should I have felt guilty? I admit that it was out of character for me to be bell-ringing alongside Imperiale, at least in front of a grocery store. I have written columns in the past about planning escape routes from grocery stores that have exits that are road-blocked by those with good intentions and collection plates.
It’s usually too in-your-face for me, as are the attempts of cashiers to solicit money while my wallet is open.
I imagine many others feel the same way, as I saw several shoppers during my shift make sharper cuts than a running back trying to evade a linebacker.
But even if they were at a safe distance, their car in sight, they weren’t free of the “can’t you help us” look from Imperiale, who personally knew more people shopping at that store than the lottery ticket salesperson.
Many of her acquaintances who saw her did an about-face and came back to donate, probably because they wanted to avoid the disappointed look if they meet elsewhere in public. Others explained they would be back in the near future to give again.
A few used the “I don’t have any cash,” explanation.
Imperiale had them covered.
Now, on the sign and just to the right of that Salvation Army trademark is one of those QR Codes. It says “No cash? Scan here.
Got a credit card?
Normally, this kind of thing would make me uncomfortable, except I would say I always have felt
differently when seeing the Salvation Army logo, or for that matter, the VFW’s poppies. The longtime symbols have earned a trust from me. Other nonprofits hold the same trust for me, but they don’t fundraise in such a manner.
I understand both sides of the donation pot. Being on the collection side with Imperiale, I was sure to wish happy holidays to those who gave, and to those who don’t want me in their face.
Most of the nondonors, when you wished them good tidings, flashed a smile. No donation, but good feelings all around.
My two hours were almost over, and I looked over at Mrs. Claus, who will have the sled at full throttle through Dec. 23. The previous record for collections in a day was $2,980. I don’t know how much we collected in our two-hour shift, because Imperiale doesn’t tally shift numbers because she doesn’t want the bell ringers to become competitive.
Her first season of 2020 saw 16 ringers collect $3,709, so everything she is doing is paying dividends for those who need it.
Imperiale reminded me that anyone who wants to get on the bellringing team for next year can send her an email at JaneImperiale@ hotmail.com.
I left the Publix proud of our community’s collective heart and Imperiale’s effort. I will leave you all with the same message as those who passed by us, donation or not. Happy holidays!
Jay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.
Jay Heater
Bonnie Staley and Shannon Ford donate their time to collect funds for The Salvation Army outside Publix at Lorraine Road and University Parkway.
This is in response to your article about your difficultly with your doctor’s office (The doctor will call — tomorrow, Dec. 5). All that I can say is “get used to it,” because it is going to get worse. Your experience is common today with many (Thank God, not all) medical offices, and I think that it is a result of what has happened to health care delivery in this country over the past 50 years. I speak with experience when I say physicians gave up control of health care delivery, beginning about 50 years ago, because they wanted to focus on patient care rather than health care administration. As a result, the government, insurance companies and administrators with various business degrees have gladly taken over this responsibility, raking in billions (or more) of the dollars which used to be spent on direct patient care. Their focus is on the business model and profit — not patient care. I am a part of that problem, in that it was my generation that began the practice. I spent nearly 40 years in a hospital-based specialty practice, and I saw this happen along with physicians losing control over their actual medical practices and patient care. It took many years for the effect to filter down to office practices, but today, doctors have difficulty staffing their offices adequately because of the decreased reimbursement and because of the decreased number of professionals who are willing to work at that salary range.
LANA M. NUSBAUM, M.D. (RETIRED) LAKEWOOD RANCH
Condo project at Main Street is a mistake
The ongoing upgrades on Main Street (East County Observer, Dec. 5, Main Street Revival) are welcome. They’re also necessary, with increased competition from new restaurants and entertainment venues at Waterside and Center Point. However, your recent story failed
to cover another important part of the current Main Street situation. There was no update on the condo construction project along the lakefront. Going on three years since the area was fenced off, the project appears to be in trouble. There’s been no construction or excavation. There’s just a few piles of dirt, some pipes laying on the ground and a mobile office with no sign of activity. The project is truly an eyesore on what should be the most attractive parcel of land at Main Street. Schroeder-Manatee Ranch made a bad decision to sell off this parcel for condo development. It would have been far better to develop a complex of restaurants, shops and an open air entertainment venue, all with a stunning Lake Uihlein view.
ROGER BONKE
LAKEWOOD RANCH
Blues fest pricing too high for the talent
Just read your article in the Observer regarding the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival (Dec. 12, Should Ranch music fans be singing the blues?).
To answer your question, yes Lakewood Ranch can support a blues festival. There are a lot of blues fans here, me included for many years.
I recognized only one group because they once played at the greatly missed blues venue The Blue Rooster. The pricing was ridiculous for that lineup and an 8 a.m. start. There were better headliners at the past Bradenton Blues Festival last held on the River Walk, and certainly at the Tampa Bay Blues Fest in St. Petersburg for much more affordable pricing. Tampa especially was packed. I hope the festival promoters will continue to host the blues in the Lakewood Ranch area and make it affordable to everyone who lives here. Get the right artists “and they will come.”
ELLIOT DEBEAR LAKEWOOD RANCH
Emerson Lakes,℠ the distinctive new retirement community by Erickson Senior Living,® is now accepting reservations!
Our first phase of construction is now underway. It includes the beautiful Coral Ridge Clubhouse and three residence buildings: Sandhill Point, anticipated to open in the fall of 2026, followed by Laguna Springs and Mangrove Run, opening in the first half of 2027.
Here are just a few resort-style amenities you can expect when you live at Emerson Lakes:
• Multiple dining venues
• An outdoor pool with a walk-up bar
• A state-of-the-art fitness center
• Pickleball and bocce ball courts
• Outdoor fitness center with meditation garden
• Fire pits
THAT’S NO BALONEY
Han graduated from ODA in 2016 to become the ‘Sandwich King.’
ith more than 7 million followers on TikTok, Owen Han has been nicknamed the “Sandwich King.”
He’s also an Out-of-Door Academy “lifer.” The former Sarasota resident was enrolled in kindergarten and graduated from the upper school in Lakewood Ranch in 2016.
Although he lives in Los Angeles now, Han has not forgotten his roots. He spent the entire school day and evening Dec. 9 on campus speaking to students and parents.
“Being a lifer from K-12, you know the teachers so well,” Han said. “It feels very much like coming back home to a second home.”
Han remarked that even though the campus has expanded, not much has changed because of “the staples,” such as the quad and gymnasium. He also gave a nod to his favorite spot, the cafeteria.
“ODA would do a sandwich of the day,” Han said. “I kid you not, whatever they were serving, I was getting that sandwich.”
Han’s turkey crunch sandwich, which is featured in his new book “Stacked: The Art of the Perfect Sandwich,” was served to students during his visit.
“We sold out of it,” Director of Development Michael Salmon said. “I didn’t even get one.”
TURKEY CRUNCH SANDWICH WITH FRICO CRISPS
INGREDIENTS
■ 2 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
■ 1 cup/30 g packed fresh basil leaves
■ ½ cup/50 g freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
■ ¼ cup/35 g pine nuts
■ ½ cup/120 ml extra virgin olive oil, plus more for topping
■ Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
■ 4 slices sourdough bread, lightly toasted
■ 10 ounces/280 g thinly sliced turkey, preferably oven-roasted style
■ 4 to 5 frico crisps
■ 2 red onion slices, separated into rings
■ Mild or hot pickled banana pepper rings
■ 2 tablespoons Calabrian mayonnaise
DIRECTIONS
1. Make the basil pesto: With the food processor running, drop the garlic through the feed tube to mince the garlic. Add the basil, cheese, and pine nuts and process until the basil is minced. With the machine running, gradually pour the oil through the feed tube and process until thick and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
2. For each sandwich, spread 1 tablespoon of the pesto on a slice of bread. Top with half of the turkey, followed by half of the crisps (broken to fit, if necessary), half of the red onion, and as many peppers as you like. Spread a second slice of bread with 1 tablespoon of the mayonnaise and use it to cap the sandwich. Cut in half and serve.
Lesley Dwyer
Owen Han is joined at ODA by his sister, Olimpia Ruzbacki, and her children, Hawk, Haze and Cypress.
Bun there, they’ve done that
Nostalgia and photo opportunities were aplenty when the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile arrived at a local shopping center.
The Oscar Mayer theme song powered one of the best ad campaigns in United States history, and people in Lakewood Ranch had a chance to bask in the nostalgia Dec. 12.
The Weinermobile held a “MeatUp” at the Publix Lakewood Walk Shopping Center.
Of course, many of the people who stopped weren’t born when Oscar Mayer started airing its commercials in the early 1960s, but that didn’t seem to make a difference.
Brand representatives Cooper Albert and Kaitlin Goldstein were on hand to make sure people in Lakewood Ranch had a fun and educational experience.
They are just two of 12 “hotdoggers” — or Weinermobile spokespeople — who were selected after a four-month interview process among 7,000 applicants, according to Albert. The hotdoggers work for one year, after which they are “expired meat,” and must move to a different job.
They travel across the country to fairs, events, festivals, and spots of congregation.
“I thought it was the most magical, cool job ever,” said Goldstein, who said on occasion she will talk to thousands of people in one day. “We drive around the country and spread smiles and make magic, and that’s exactly how I wanted to spend my first year post-grad.”
The hotdoggers start their year by attending “Hot Dog High” in Madison, Wisconsin to learn about Oscar Mayer history and products, how to drive the Weinermobile, lessons in media, public relations and communicating with passersby. Albert and Goldstein were heavy
on their hot-dog related pun usage, but said that’s something that comes from inspiration rather than a classroom.
“They just kind of come to us,” Albert said of his buns of puns. “One day, it was our second week on the road. I was in Beaufort, South Carolina, and I just told someone to have a franktastic day.
“The spirit of Oscar Mayer consumes me whenever I’m driving this and in uniform. It’s a fun job because whenever I’m driving around, we’re always swarmed. People are waving at us, smiling, taking pictures and asking questions.”
The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile was originally built in 1936, but has evolved over the years.
The current model is 27 feet long, 8 feet wide and 11 feet tall. It contains a hotdog shaped dashboard, six ketchup and mustard colored seats, a blue sky ceiling, a removable bun roof, a Gull-Wing door with a retractable step, and of course, an Official Weiner Jingle horn.
“People ask if I sleep in the Weinermobile, which no, it’s not a Weeniebago,” Albert said.
Ashley Giamanco of Lakewood Ranch stopped to take a photo with her 2-year-old son, Jack.
Although he wasn’t old enough to appreciate the nostalgia, that didn’t stop him from crying when his mom said it was time to leave the hot dog.
“We try to make people happy in a world that could always use a little more happiness,” Goldstein said.
Vinnie Portell
Oscar Mayer
“hotdoggers” Kaitlin Goldstein and Cooper Albert drive around the country to spread brand awareness and bring out some smiles.
“From
Fast Break
The Out-of-Door Academy boys varsity soccer team (7-1-2) continued to stay hot in its 3-1 win on Dec. 12 win over Bradenton Christian (0-10-1). The Thunder now has won four straight games. Junior midfielder Thomas Mesia scored twice and senior defender Coby Rosenthal scored once.
… The Braden River girls varsity soccer team (6-0-4) won its sixth consecutive game when it defeated North Port 3-1 on Dec. 12. Sophomore striker Victoria Caiazzo scored twice and freshman midfielder Jordynn Roberts scored once. As of Dec. 13, Caiazzo and Roberts led the Pirates in goals scored, with nine and eight, respectively.
… The Braden River boys varsity basketball team (4-3) lost 58-49 to Manatee High (6-2) on Dec. 12 in the Manatee Schools Television Game of the Week. Fans can watch the Game of the Week live on cable television through Spectrum or Frontier, through the SDMC app on Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV and online on YouTube. Sarasota Paradise is coming to Lakewood Ranch. On Dec. 10, the Board of Manatee County Commissioners approved an agreement that will see Sarasota Paradise, a USL League Two soccer team, call Premier Sports Campus its home field for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Sarasota Paradise, which went 8-1-3 last season, will kick off its season in mid-May under the lights of Premier’s 3,000-plus seat stadium.
… Head to Bradenton Motorsports Park for the fifth annual Christmas Tree Drag Racing World Championship 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20. The event, which will have an open test and tune throughout the night as well as a decorated car show, will culminate in the drag race where each vehicle will have a minimum six-foot illuminated Christmas tree attached.
ODA takes the hard road
The Thunder has scheduled tougher opponents to help prepare for the postseason.
DYLAN CAMPBELL SPORTS REPORTER
It’s a cool December evening at the Out-of-Door Academy and the sunset stretches blood-orange over the football field.
The girls varsity soccer team is hosting Braden River and the setting is tranquil, idyllic. All seems right in the world.
Except for one thing. The Thunder players are losing badly.
Braden River led ODA 3-0 at the half and the Pirates would go on to shut out ODA 5-0.
This was unfamiliar territory for an ODA team that was 5-1 leading to its matchup with Braden River Dec. 5. ODA, under third year head coach Wayne Ramsey, is not used to losing. In 2023-24, the Thunder went undefeated in the regular season with a 12-0-1 record en route to capturing the Sunshine State Athletic Association tournament for the second year in a row.
ODA has found its legs under Ramsey, making a name for itself as a hard-nosed, gutsy soccer program. Leading into the matchup, ODA was averaging 4.5 goals a game. But ODA was against a wall as it was missing some key players due to illness. ODA was helpless against Braden River’s powerful offensive attack and unable to get its own offense in any kind of rhythm. They were, at least for one game, out matched. Ramsey’s players walked off the field at the half visibly frustrated. They haven’t been used to losing.
The coach wasn’t panicked, however. In some ways, the loss was beneficial.
In the past couple years of Ramsey’s tenure, ODA has functioned like an orca in one of the very small lakes that surrounds the upper-school’s campus. The Thunder have beaten up on the teams in their immediate weight class — the two SSAA state titles are evidence of that. They have been very good, winning 12 regular season games last season is nothing to scoff at, but Ramsey wants his players to be great.
In 2023, ODA lost 3-0 to Cambridge Christian in the first round
“At this time in the year, our focus is not necessarily to win games. It’s more directed toward being the best version of us and playing the highest level of competition that we can play.”
Wayne Ramsey, ODA girls soccer head coach
the ball.”
THE PATH FORWARD
ODA has purposefully carved out a tougher schedule for itself this season. Here are some of the Thunder’s biggest remaining matchups as of Dec. 12.
JAN. 7: vs. Riverview (7-1-1)
JAN. 14: vs. Sarasota Christian School (4-2-1) JAN 15: vs. Cardinal Mooney (5-4-1)
of the Class 2A state tournament.
(ODA competes at the state level in both the SSAA and in the Class 2A tournament.) Last season, ODA the No. 1 seed in its district, lost to Imagine School at North Port in the first round of the 2A district tournament and fell to Naples First Baptist Academy in the opening round of the 2A regional tournament.
Success in the district and regional 2A tournaments are the next steps that Ramsey wants the program to take. Getting there, he realizes, will take some growing pains.
“At this time in the year, our focus is not necessarily to win games,” said
Ramsey. “It’s more directed toward being the best version of us and playing the highest level of competition that we can play.”
It’s why Ramsey has scheduled matches with teams like 5A Braden River, 6A Palmetto and Riverview, a 7A powerhouse. He wants his players to be uncomfortable. He wants them to experience adversity, so that when push comes to shove at the district tournaments in later January, ODA is the team doing the shoving.
TEAM FIRST Ramsey wants his players to put the team first in every sense of the phrase. In some cases it means abandoning all for the greater good.
Senior Ellie Hierholzer, who was the MVP of the team last season as a defender and is the captain this year, has switched to goalkeeper this season for the first time in her career.
Why? Because the team needed her.
“She made a sacrifice for the team and has become very capable in goal,” said Ramsey. “It was a statement from a captain to say, ‘All right, I’ll play a position I’ve never played before’ for the good of the team.’”
Hierholzer, who plays on ODA’s volleyball and lacrosse teams, possesses both the athleticism and the instincts to be a strong goalkeeper. At 5-foot-8, Hierholzer is long and limber, yet explosive enough to react quickly to oncoming attacks and cover large swaths of the net. Her best skill, however, said Ramsey, is her ability to function as a conductor of sorts while in goal, directing the players upfield.
“Because she has great feet, we’re able to drop a lot of balls back to her,” said Ramsey. “That allows her to distribute the ball around and switch the point of attack for us,” said Ramsey.
The team has had to do more roster manipulation this season after graduating two of its leading scorers, Abbey Burwood and Charlie Hugill, last season. Burwood, who Ramsey said might’ve set the ODA record for goals scored had he not moved her to defense in 2023, and Hugill are “irreplaceable.” Sophomore Maggie Yull switches between outside back and forward depending on the matchup. Eighth grader Elle Rice, who was a forward last year, has spent time as a defensive midfielder this season. The speedy freshman Avery Rice has been moved from holding midfielder to outside back this year.
So far, that fluidity has paid dividends. The Thunder players are not dominated by one or two scorers, but instead are a cohesive unit. Yull, who scored five goals in 13 games last season, has matched her season total in six games in 2024. Senior Katherine Triola is second on the team with four goals and four other players, including Elle and Avery Rice, have three apiece.
It’s a pattern that’s reflective of the culture Ramsey is trying to build. It’s a culture of winning and sacrifice, of teammates that are willing to go the extra mile to see one another succeed. It’s a culture that for ODA, is necessary for it to compete with bigger programs.
Dylan Campbell
ODA junior midfielder Thomas Mesia
scored a pair of goals to help the ODA boys soccer team continued its hot streak.
Out-of-Door Academy sophomore Maggie Yull prepares to defend a corner kick during ODA’s game against Braden River on Dec. 5.
Photos by Dylan Campbell
Out-of-Door Academy freshman Kaleigh Ronca reads the field against Braden River on Dec. 4.
ODA’s Elle Arslaner (13), Tiernan George (11) and Braden River’s Abbey Jackson all look for the ball during a girls soccer game Dec. 5.
Mustang wresting goes caroling
At first, they weren’t very good. But at least they finished better than where they started.
A couple dozen teenagers stood Dec. 4 in the dining room of the Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living community, their feet sinking into the taupe colored carpet.
In front of them sat an audience of 70-, 80-, and 90-year-old residents, eagerly awaiting the show. Or maybe the residents were just ready for dinner, which was to be served after the event. Nevertheless, they were still there, watching.
The teenagers were members of Lakewood Ranch High boys and girls wrestling teams.
The wrestlers had shuffled in some time before, having come to sing Christmas carols to the local residents. It was a premeditated learning experience, said boys head coach Pat Ancil. Not only would this be a good thing to do in the community, but it also forced his wrestlers to get out of their comfort zones.
So they began, tentatively at first, led by sophomore Daxton Martin. Their eyes cast downward as they read the lyrics off their phone screens. While the wrestling team apparently shares some of its members with the school choir, it wasn’t readily apparent. After the first carol, it was evident the team
couldn’t carry a tune.
The residents looked at one another. Was this really delaying dinner?
What the Lakewood Ranch athletes could do, however, was carry their weight in good intentions. The Mustangs plugged forward, finding a collective voice, and becoming more in sync with every song.
The team’s commitment did the trick, and by the time they reached Feliz Navidad three-quarters through their program, the Mustangs had the residents rocking. The seniors beamed at the kids and at each other and the wrestlers smiled, too, not out of self-consciousness or embarrassment, but
out of something more pure — joy.
When the Mustangs closed out the presentation with “Silent Night,” their time spent at Cypress Springs had shifted from awkward to well meaning to genuinely enjoyable for all parties involved.
The wrestlers later wandered about the area, introducing themselves to the residents and engaging in conversation. These weren’t the stereotypical teenagers of 2024, with their eyes glued to their cell phones. They were sociable, friendly and kind.
The residents, it turns out, didn’t care if the wrestlers were capable of carrying a tune. They just enjoyed that the wrestlers seemed to care about them.
“It felt good to give back to the community, even though my singing isn’t too good,” said senior Alre Storbeck, a member of the girls wrestling team. “It’s fun to go out and socialize and get out of your comfort zone.”
Leaving their comfort zone is exactly what Ancil and his coaching staff wanted.
“Wrestling forces you to get out of your comfort zone because it’s not a team sport,” said former Lakewood Ranch wrestler Nate Lancaster, who is the head coach of the girls team. “It’s literally a 40-foot circle with you and one other person on the mat. You are going to perform solely based on your own actions. There’s no one else to lean on.”
This season, Lakewood Ranch is an inexperienced team. The boys wrestling team, which won the district title for the first time in program history last year, graduated 11 seniors in 2024, including Will Moran, the district champion in the 285-pound class.
“We had a tough team thanks to those seniors,” Ancil said. “This year, we’re going to have an exciting team, a very fun team, an enjoyable team, but they’re young and they’re going to take their licks. They’ll bounce back though — they’re like sponges.”
The girls team is only in its second year of existence. Both teams, however, have plenty of reason to be optimistic about the 2025 season.
The girls wrestling team placed second in the district last season and will return individual district champ Francesca Bisordi, a sophomore.
The boys varsity team is loaded with young talent, including 106-pounder Aiden Sanders, a junior who placed second in the district, and is ranked in the top 20 of the state. Junior Shawn Maestre, a 165-pounder who finished 15th in the state last season, is an explosive, talented athlete who’s shown tremendous promise in what was his first season of competitive wrestling. Martin a 126-pounder, can do more than lead the Mustangs in song. Ancil said the sophomore is “tough as nails”.
Learning about the ins and outs of Lakewood Ranch High’s wrestling program wasn’t what made the afternoon at Cypress Springs special. It was more how full of life the space was. It’s a strange thing to see — a group of high school students looking across the room at a collection of senior citizens — 30 feet and 60-odd years of life experience separating them.
The feeling of warmth from the event hadn’t just come from the caroling. It’d hit me as soon as I’d walked through the doors.
Beforehand, I wondered if part of me would’ve left feeling sad. I’d assumed that the residents’ lives were quite insulated and circular. But it was clear that life came from the residents, not at them. It’s a sentiment I hoped will stick with the wrestlers until the day comes when it’s their turn to sit across from a group of teenagers and listen to them sing Christmas carols.
Dylan Campbell
Lakewood Ranch boys varsity wrestling head coach Pat Ancil said it is critical that his wrestlers engage in activities that push them out of their comfort zones.
Ava Collins
Ava Collins is a junior outside hitter for the Lakewood Ranch High girls volleyball team. This past season, Collins guided the Mustangs to a 15-9 record, leading the team in kills, serving aces and serving points.
When did you start playing volleyball and why?
I started playing volleyball in the sixth grade. I started on a local team — my best friend, Hayden Zimmerman, who I still play with on Lakewood Ranch now, introduced me to the sport.
What’s the appeal?
The teamwork. I played softball before I started volleyball and although I was on a team, it felt like more of an individual sport. Having to use your team to play the game is what I like most about volleyball.
What’s your best skill on the court?
Hitting. From coach to coach I’ve learned new skills and new ways to work the ball. In high school I’ve learned new ways to read the ball and anticipate where it’s going to go. What are you working on to improve?
My endurance. Since I move all around the court during the game, I need to have the stamina be able to pass as well. I’m also working on staying aggressive, whether I’m in the front row or back row and keeping my lower level skills, like passing, sharp.
What’s your favorite volleyball memory?
It was my third or fourth year play ing travel volleyball and our team (EVO) had just won the New Year’s Classic tournament. It was my first year with a new team and we’d already built such good chem istry that winning that last game after playing the whole weekend was just the great est feeling. It kicked off a three or four tournament win streak for us, too.
If you would like to make a recommendation for the East County Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Dylan Campbell at DCampbell@ YourObserver.com.
What went right for Lakewood Ranch this year?
Just working together and not getting on each other. We did a good job of letting everything else go when we stepped on the court. As soon as we walked into practice or got ready for a game, it felt like every relationship we had was well developed and strong. We knew that it didn’t matter what we had going on off the court, we just had to work together.
What’s your favorite food?
Lobster and pickles. Not together though, obviously.
What’s your favorite school subject?
English. My mom is a big writer and my great-uncle was an author, so it kind of runs in the family.
What’s the best advice that you’ve received?
My coach Jess (Leupould) at Lakewood Ranch taught me to just know that you can get as close as you can to perfect, but that you’re never going to reach it. So don’t be as hard on yourself as you are.
Finish this sentence. Ava Collins is … Dedicated.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
FLORIDA LAKES
Florida Lakes Vein Center provides the latest technologies to treat chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulcers. are not “just” something to deal with as you age. a medical condition and can be treated. Vein disease is actually 2X more prevalent than coronary heart disease and 5X more prevalent than peripheral arterial disease. Yet, it’s misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. 40 million people suffer from venous insufficiency, yet fewer than two million people seek treatment.
At FLVC, we focus solely on vein disease. It’s not an add-on to our practice. It’s our specialty. Our providers offer compassionate and attentive care and have been trained by Dr. TC Lackey II, who trains other providers worldwide in the latest advancements in vein care.
Our patients regain their active lifestyles and enjoy the life they once led. For more info about our patients’ journey, visit our website at ItsaNoVeiner.com. You’ll be glad you did!
YOUR NEIGHBORS
Dear Santa,
My name is Jaclynn.
I’m 7 year old.
I’ve been good this year!
Please bring a new LOL Doll Please.
JACLYNN MEILER
First grade, Braden River Elementary
Dear Santa,
I’m seven years old my name is Webb Brue. How are you?
I would like a lizard that crawls on the wall. Thank you.
WEBB BRUE First grade, Braden River Elementary
LETTERS TO SANTA
JAY HEATER | MANAGING EDITOR
Sometimes, the gift is in the asking. With Santa soon on the way, East County children are sending off their letters to the North Pole in the hope that a wish or two is granted. But the letters themselves often are gifts to all of us, in the way they are written, with kindness and joy. Students and teachers at Tara and Braden River Elementary Schools and Lakewood Ranch Prep— Lower shared their letters to Santa with us. So enjoy our annual feature at the East County Observer
Dear Santa, My name is Kinsley. Haw are the elves.
I’m 7 years old. I’ve been good.
I want new barbee hous this years.
KINSLEY WESTON First grade, Braden River Elementary
Dear Santa, Merry christmas I have. beeng good this year. I wate a Drit Bike Magikcal Bisee A camrd to. I like your Presis
JORDAN DAVIS First grade, Tara Elementary
Dear Santa, Ho! Ho! Ho!
My name is Serena I’ve been nice
I wood like a dollhouse for Christmas
I love you Santa!
SERENA KWIECINSKI First grade, Tara Elementary
Dear Santa, I love your toys for me. And I hope you give me a robot.
Hope you have a good christmas!
SELAH ORTIZ First grade, Tara Elementary
Dear Santa, For Christmas, please bring me Barbie Dramhouse Kit for brecelets, face paint set bandino doll
KAILA HALL First grade, Lakewood Ranch Prep — Lower
Dear Santa, I wish I can be in Florida on Christmas but I wreely hope you can get me a wond from Unaversel studias. I wreely want one so I hope you can make it.
NIAM SHAH First grade, Lakewood Ranch Prep — Lower
SPONSORED CONTENT
I feel fabulous. My energy level has increased. My confidence is heightened.”
Chelsi Russell
Weight-Loss Surgery Patient
Dear Santa, I have been very good this year Here is a picture of what I would like for Christmas please
Thank you
AMAYA MEEK First grade, Lakewood Ranch
A NEW LEASE ON LIFE, FOLLOWING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
It’s been about two months since Chelsi Russell, 29, of Palmetto, had robotic sleeve gastrectomy (“gastric sleeve”) surgery* at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, and she is already 60 pounds lighter. Her friends are even calling her “skinny minnie.”
As a teenager, Russell was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a chronic hormonal condition that can lead to weight gain. For years Russell tried to lose weight through exercise, dieting and medications, but nothing seemed to help. Her decision to finally turn to weight-loss surgery at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center was in part, because of her profession as a licensed practical nurse.
“My weight was making me unhealthy, and I want to be a good role model for my patients,” says Russell.
Prior to surgery, Russell had dietary counseling to learn healthy food, portion control and exercise strategies to help keep the weight off after surgery.
She also had psychological counseling to help identify behavioral barriers to weight loss and strategies for staying healthy. Her primary care physician was involved to ensure her physical condition was optimal for the surgery.
ROBOTIC SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY SURGERY
Bariatric and general surgeon Samuel Yelverton, MD, who performed the surgery, explains, “A sleeve gastrectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed using the da Vinci® Xi robotic surgical system. The surgery works by reducing the size of the stomach to a small tubular structure, about the size of a banana in diameter and length, restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold so the patient eats less.” Because Russell was experiencing acid reflux, GERD and having trouble swallowing, due to a hiatal hernia, this was also repaired during surgery. “It’s fairly common for people who need weight-loss surgery to also need hernia surgery,” says Dr. Yelverton.
HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER
Russell says she now eats smaller portions, has no acid reflux, sleeps better and no longer has joint pain. “I am looking forward to wearing the clothes I want to wear and just being healthier overall. Everything just feels better. My skin feels better. I think better, and I’m doing better, ” she says. Her goal is to lose 100 pounds in a year, and she’s more than halfway there!
If
David Dexter, MD, FACS, Samuel Yelverton, MD, and Alexa Kinder, MSPAP, PA-C — provide individualized care to the Lakewood Ranch community. They currently see both elective and acute care general surgery patients at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The team’s surgical services include:
• Minimally invasive robotic surgeries, including anti-reflux, hernia, colon/rectum, gallbladder, appendix, spleen, and adrenal glands
• Management of benign and malignant breast disease
• Benign and malignant skin disease
• GI Tract Procedures
• Robotic Weight Loss Surgery
They keep coming back to Ranch Nite
Ranch Nite Wednesdays at Waterside Place attracts residents for all kinds of reasons.
On Dec. 11, the Saxton family attended the weekly event to get the perfect photo with Santa in front of the towering Christmas tree by the pavilion. Meanwhile, Chris and Christine Salicco arrived in search of an amazing chicken teriyaki dish.
“We’re looking for this one truck, but we don’t know the name of it,” Christine Salicco said. “We’ll find it eventually. We’ll have to come back every week and keep walking around.”
Lakewood Ranch rotates the vendors to keep the experience fresh, and during December, Santa makes his rounds.
Santa needs elves, so Summer Saxton dressed the whole family in white collars and pointy hats.
“We always go really big on Halloween,” she said. “This year, I thought we could just do it again in December, and it’s like double Halloween.”
She had to make a special black elf costume for her son Archer because his Elf on a Shelf, “Pickles,” wears black.
Pickles is a little bit naughty and a little bit nice. Saxton transformed a pair of black pajamas because Archer didn’t want to be any elf other than Pickles.
The hardest part of getting the family into elf gear was persuading her husband Phillip to wear a pair of solid gold tights.
“He knows what it means to me,” Saxton said. “He helped me scratch my itch.”
— LESLEY DWYER
Samuel Yelverton, MD
David Dexter, MD, FACS
Alexa Kinder, MSPAP, PA-C
Waterside’s Harley, a 2-year-old French bulldog, is dressed for the chilly weather at Ranch Nite on Dec. 11.
Lakewood Ranch’s Christine and Chris Salicco are looking for a specific food truck. It serves great chicken teriyaki, but they can’t remember the name of the truck.
Sarasota’s Nikole Kennedy and Sam Andrea stop at the Say Cheese food truck.
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Guests line up for food trucks at Ranch Nite Wednesday on Dec. 11 at Waterside Place.
Amber Creek at Lakewood Ranch
Low-Maintenance
“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.
Shining light on UTC’s holiday displays
A 25-foot Santa and 15-foot snowman, imported from Italy, are new to this year’s display.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Driving around to look at Christmas lights is a beloved American pastime during the holiday season.
In East County, that drive must include a spin through University Town Center.
Each year, the display gets bigger and brighter. A team of light specialists plan all year round to ensure the sightseers are dazzled.
The lighting spectacular kicked off the second week of November with a parade that was attended by upwards of 30,000 people this year.
Cliff McHenry, director of project management for Benderson Development’s Florida office, is the man in charge.
“I just get to play Santa or Clark Griswold for part of the year,” McHenry said.
McHenry shared a behind the scenes look at what goes into such an extraordinary display.
How many lights are there?
That’s a tough question to answer. I know when we reviewed it about five years ago, we calculated that there were more than 66 miles of lights if you connected the strands end to end. We’ve grown over the last five years, and as you can imagine, so have the miles of lights.
When do you start planning the display and installing the lights?
Planning typically starts the third week of January with a review of the most recent holiday season. We begin the holiday light installation the first week of September right after Labor Day and complete it by early November. It takes a massive effort by our vendors and our in-house team to
complete the work. When you add in a couple of hurricanes like we had this year, it exponentially increased the challenge. We have such an amazing team that is committed to making the holidays great. Our work days often start at 3 a.m. and extend well into the evening.
What’s new this year?
We discovered some fresh new displays during our travels to Germany for the Christmasworld expo in January. The massive exhibit halls contained everything holidayrelated you can imagine, presented by manufacturers from around the world. Babbo Natale (Italian Santa) and a snowman caught my attention as they seemed to float through the convention hall bringing smiles
Rowena B.
SMILE MAKEOVER PATIENT
Courtesy image
Cliff McHenry, director of property management for Benderson Development, is the man behind the lights.
to
The
process took several months, and upon completion, the displays were put on a container ship headed from Italy to Miami. They arrived in November and are now installed at UTC. Santa Clause stands nearly 25 feet tall and our snowman slides on his rotund 15-foot belly.
What are the huge greeting cards you see along Cattlemen Road?
Local schools from the area create their own unique holiday card for display. We provide the school with cabinet-grade plywood and an allowance for art supplies, and the teachers collaborate with students to create true holiday masterpieces. Vote for your favorite artwork online, and the winning schools receive awards by category and a donation to their school.
Is that a real ice rink?
Yes. Despite temperatures that are almost consistently in the 70s and 80s, we’re able to make a real ice rink.
We’ve been working with a vendor for several years who specializes in seasonal ice rinks around the country. It’s a great experience for folks who have never seen ice skating or have always wanted to give it a try.
How do you animate the lights?
Lighting animation and sequencing is an effort we undertook about four years ago. It turned out to be a significant effort involving the creation of miles of network cabling, routers and switches, lights, receivers, controllers and some extremely smart and talented programmers and sequencers. The animation adds a whole new dimension to the holiday light experience.
How much do all those lights cost?
That is probably best left to the imagination. I’m proud to be a part of a company that is sincerely committed to making a difference in the community and helping to spread holiday cheer to all those who visit UTC. I can’t think of any other place where you can experience a holiday light spectacular of this magnitude at no charge.
Lesley Dwyer
This giant Santa is new to the University Town Center’s holiday display.
SEASONS GREETINGS
YOUR CALENDAR
THURSDAY, DEC. 19 THROUGH
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING Runs from 2:30-5:30 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Steve Arvey (Thursday), L’Attitude Adjustment (Friday), Gator Ridge Rambers (Saturday) and Zach Pomerleau (Sunday). The Friday and Saturday concerts are $5; the others are free. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.
THURSDAY, DEC. 19 THROUGH SUNDAY, JAN. 12
ICE SKATING Runs Monday through Friday 4-10 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Rink at UTC, in the UTC West District next to Ford’s Garage. Lace up the skates for winter fun at the Rink at UTC, presented by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Individual tickets are $17 per skater. Tickets include skate rental. Group ticket prices are available. For information about reservations, email Sarasota@IceRinkEvents.com. All visits must be reserved in advance by purchasing timed tickets online. To reserve a time, go to MallatUTC. com and click on events.
FRIDAY, DEC. 20 THROUGH TUESDAY, DEC. 24
WONDERLAND ‘ILLUMINATE’
Runs 7 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday and 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Big Top at UTC, 195 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota. Nik Wallenda and the Circus Arts Conservatory present Wonderland “Illuminate.” Tickets start at $35. The show continues on various dates through Jan. 5. For tickets or more information, go to WonderlandCircus.com/#Tickets.
FRIDAY, DEC. 20 AND SATURDAY, DEC. 21
MUSIC AT THE PLAZA
Runs 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Singer-songwriter Justin Layman performs for those strolling through Waterside Place on Friday night while singer-songwriter Sara Nelms will entertain on Saturday.
BEST BET
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
POLO Gates open at 10 a.m. and the match begins at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Lakewood Ranch. The opening match of the polo season features the theme “Christmas at the Green Beach.” The club is sponsoring a Christmas Toy Drive for children in need in the region. Bring a toy to the pavilion and the club will match every dollar and toy donated. General admission is $15. VIP tickets run $20 and up. For information, go to SarasotaPolo.com.
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
CHRISTMAS ON MAIN
Runs from 4-8 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. Come enjoy the biggest Christmas party in town. Grace Community Church will transform Main Street into a winter wonderland with free games, rides, and attractions for the whole family. Santa himself will make an appearance and there will be a candlelight service from 7-8 p.m. For more information, go to GraceSarasota.com.
SATURDAY, DEC. 21 AND SUNDAY, DEC. 22
LINGER LODGE MUSIC
Runs Saturday from 6-9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. at Linger Lodge Restaurant, 7205 85th St. Court E., Bradenton. Live, free music at Linger Lodge restaurant includes Donnie Bostic on Saturday and Scotty Yates on Sunday. For more information, call 755-2757.
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
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, which was voted as the top farmers market in Florida for the second year in a row, will run year-round every Sunday. Vendors will be offering seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items.
Country Club and Country Club East homes tied for top sale at $2,225,000
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Homes in Country Club East and Country Club tied for the top transaction in this week’s real estate. Philip Joseph Patrick and Sonja LaPointe, of Asheville, North Carolina, sold their Country Club East home at 16422 Kendleshire Terrace to Peter Jon Levesque and Lisa Gouveia Levesque, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2,225,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,127 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.05 million in 2022. Meanwhile, James and Patricia Lemay, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their Country Club home at 6935 Westchester Circle to Noelle and Eric Hage, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2,225,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,081 square feet of living area. It sold for $795,000 in 2020.
LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE
Sally Ross, trustee, and Melvin Ross sold the home at 772 Crosswind Ave. to Harold Jay Ashner and Vivian Carol Ashner, trustees, of Burke, Virginia, for $2,145,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,100 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.06 million in 2018.
James Triant, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 7995 Sandstar Way to Camille Clementine Couppey Le Bideau and Charles Jerome Jean Le Bideau, of Sarasota, for $725,000. Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,876 square feet of living area. It sold for $431,000 in 2019.
LAKE CLUB
Michael and Amber Monserez, of Montgomery, Ohio, sold their home at 8375 Catamaran Circle to Darrel and Melissa Lloyd, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2 million. Built in 2012, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,434 square feet.
Jeffrey Wayne Waddle and Elizabeth Waddle, of Bluffton, South Carolina, sold their home at 16722 Verona Place to Garrett Hunter Brown and Alexandria Anne Brown, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,875,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,629 square feet of living area. It sold for $805,300 in 2021.
BRIDGEWATER
Arsh Deep Singh and Rishita Solanki-Singh, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 13311 Bridgeport Crossing to Jonas and Ruta Bobelis, of Bradenton, for $1.15 million. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,344 square feet of living area. It sold for $655,200 in 2015.
David and Margaret Reich, trustees, of Parrish, sold the home at 13624 Swiftwater Way to Degan Holdings LLC for $785,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,388 square feet of living area. It sold for $504,200 in 2016.
LAKEWOOD NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
Bradley and Stasha Murray, of San Juan Capo, California, sold their home at 5813 Brandon Run to Ryan and Lindsay Malloy, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.15 million. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,868 square feet of living area. It sold for $933,300 in 2022.
Stephen and Lisa Johnson sold their home at 17426 Hickok Belt Loop
to Peter and Lizabeth Davies, of Ontario, Canada, for $1,075,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,248 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.01 million in 2022.
MONTEREY
Toll Southeast LP Co. Inc. sold the home at 2621 Waterfront Circle to Anthony and Maria Cuva, of Dobbs Ferry, New York, for $1.05 million. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,517 square feet of living area.
GREYHAWK LANDING
Daniel and Christine Brahler, of Sarasota, sold their home at 319 Blackbird Court to Gary and Deborah Greenspan, of Bradenton, for $950,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,945 square feet of living area. It sold for $422,500 in 2017.
DEL WEBB
Mark and Dori Spector, trustees, of Springfield, Pennsylvania, sold the home at 17726 Littleton Place to Mark and Sandra Dorros, of Andover, Massachusetts, for $905,000. Built in 2021, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,141 square feet of living area. It sold for $678,300 in 2021.
Kim Woodrich, as Personal Representative, sold the home at 7503 Summerland Cove to Mark and Nancy Shapiro, of Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, for $750,000. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,111 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2023.
INDIGO
Craig and Elizabeth Rice, of Baden, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 13129 Indigo Way to Marie Cypress Osceola-Branch and Emily Osceola-Branch, of Bradenton, for $865,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,029 square feet of living area. It sold for $522,400 in 2018.
RIVER WIND
Dawn Wicklund, of Anthem, Arizona, sold her home at 991 River Wind Circle to Edwina Nelon, trustee, of Bradenton, for $865,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,887 square feet of living area. It sold for $538,000 in 2016.
CENTRAL PARK
John Harry Gustav Enggren Dahlsten and Sarah Elisabeth Dahlsten sold their home at 11979 Forest Park Circle to David and Vickie King, of Loudon, New Hampshire, for $820,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,271 square feet of living area. It sold for $476,500 in 2013.
COUNTRY MEADOWS
Clarence and Morgan Benson, of Parrish, sold their home at 514 Country Meadows Way to Tobin and Jennifer Knowles, of Bradenton, for $770,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,661 square feet of living area. It sold for $395,000 in 2014.
EAGLE TRACE
Jay Craig Trager II and Jennifer Mullen Trager, of Estero, sold their home at 1946 Crooked Lake Circle to Mark and Pamela Heacox, of Bradenton, for $768,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,266 square feet of living area. It sold for $347,700 in 2016.
LENNOX GARDENS
Marilyn Schubert, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7053 Lennox Place to Roch Edward Hoedebecke and Leidy Dolores Vizcaino, of University Park, for $750,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,237 square feet of living area. It sold for $488,500 in 2014.
SAVANNA Wanda Pistella, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3120 Desert Plain Cove to Anthony John Pupo and Lisa Lucille Pupo, of Bradenton, for $700,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,192 square feet of living area. It sold for $479,300 in 2021.
DEC. 2-6
COUNTRY CREEK
Richard and Jennifer Klobuchar sold their home at 15123 Third Drive E. to Patrick Jon Evers and Jacqueline Ann Evers, of Bradenton, for $694,500. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,568 square feet of living area. It sold for $407,500 in 2020.
RIVER CLUB SOUTH
Jonas and Ruta Bobelis, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 9812 Sweetwater Ave. to Katherine Kerns, of Bradenton, for $645,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,187 square feet of living area. It sold for $460,000 in 2021.
THE MOORINGS AT EDGEWATER
John and Janet Waggett, trustees, sold the Unit 101 condominium at 6503 Moorings Point Circle to Myrna Freyman, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, for $630,000. Built in 2004, it has two bedrooms, two-and-ahalf baths and 1,983 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2014.
Jay Heater
This Country Club home at 6935 Westchester Circle sold for $2,225,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and
Exclusive Dinner, Wine for Four at the famous Maison Blanche
RECEPTION & CEREMONY
Hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, soft drinks
Thursday, Jan. 16 | 5 to 7 p.m. at The Resort at Longboat Key Spike ‘n’ Tees, Islandside
Friday, Jan. 17 through Sunday, Jan. 19
Longboat Key Public Tennis Center
NEW FORMAT! OPEN TO ALL
Four Players per Team at Comparable Levels (2 women, 2 men)
Two doubles pro sets (men vs. men; women vs. women)
Two mixed doubles matches; tie breaker if necessary
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Includes reception, trophies, balls, refreshments
Pre-tournament reception: $40/person for non-players
Time to celebrate
Marquee Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s events are about to kick off.
hile the holidays are full of events in East County, some of the biggest events of the season are ready to kick off.
Lakewood Ranch’s marquee Christmas event each year is Christmas on Main, which this year falls on Dec. 21 at Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
Temple Emanu-El’s Hanukkah Celebration will be held Dec. 22 during the Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market at Waterside Place.
And the now annual New Year’s Eve celebration will be held at Waterside Place 6 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31.
The celebration includes live music by DJ Truth, food and beverages, adult games, a kids’ area, and a drone show just before midnight.
“What we’ve learned over the years is that not everybody celebrates New Year’s (the same),” said Keith Pandeloglou, the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities executive director. “There’s people who want to say they went out on New Year’s and be home by 9. There’s other people who want to go out and have dinner with the family and lis-
ten to the DJ and go home at 11 p.m. And then there’s the people who will be with us until 12:01 a.m.”
Those who do stay late on New Year’s Eve at Waterside Place will be rewarded with a spectacular drone show.
Though some people may yearn for traditional fireworks, Pandeloglou said the drone show has received positive feedback.
“The drone show is kind of the headliner,” he said. “That’s where most of the attraction is. Last year was the first year we did that. It starts a little after 11:50 and it does the countdown with us in the sky.
“We tried to do something that would be a little more inclusive. We’ve had some feedback that fireworks can be a little disruptive, but we still have firework components of it, because it looks like the drones are creating a firework.”
Christmas on Main runs 4-8 p.m. Dec. 21 and includes free games for the kids, rides, attractions, an appearance from Santa and a candlelight service that runs from 7-8 p.m. The event is presented by Grace Community Church.
Temple Emanu-El’s Hanukkah Celebration runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at the farmers market and features a Happy Hanukkah Table, gelt giveaways, a dreidel spinning contest, Hanukkah crafts for kids, and Hanukkah items for sale.
VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER
A laser light show will cap New Year’s Eve festivities at Waterside Place.
Image courtesy of Sky Elements Drones
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
BRANCH MANAGERS by Kruno Matic and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen By Luis Campos
