East County Observer 8.7.14

bserver O EAST COUNTY FREE • THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

REAL ESTATE

See the priciest properties for sale in the region.

PAGE 19

OUR TOWN

EDUCATION

BACK TO SCHOOL

Look inside for our annual guide to the new school year.

SPORTS

Professionals take swing to promote golf.

PAGE 14

POWERFUL CONNECTIONS

by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

UNCOMMON CURRICULUM

by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer

Retired ref earns ‘spirit’ distinction

Courtesy photo

After the basketball court healed his emotional wounds, Bob Delaney receives recognition for his work on PTSD awareness.

+ Dance teams head to nationals Braden River High School dancers hope a recent win will lead to victory on a larger scale.

The school’s junior varsity and varsity dance teams will travel to the National Dance Team Championship from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Both teams won first place in the home-routines division of the Universal Dance Association dance camp July 16 to qualify.

The win — the varsity’s team’s first first-place finish at a UDA event — was announced after the girls performed two two-minute routines. The dancers performed dances they had learned in the four-day camp prior to the final day of performances.

For more information on the upcoming national competition, visit uda.varsity.com.

Photos by Pam Eubanks

Woodland Early Childhood Center Director Jennifer Passmore has dreamed of opening a private school for years. A local literacy foundation has provided funding for the project.

A new private school focuses on crafting lessons to individual student’s needs. Its funding provides it the freedom to do so. + Girl Scouts seeks leaders The volunteer-led Girl Scouts organization is in need of new troop leaders and co-leaders for the upcoming school year. Girl Scout volunteers must complete a volunteer application, criminal background check and proper training.

Leaders and co-leaders have the opportunity to create a flexible schedule that works for them. Training, curriculum and support are provided.

For more information, visit gsgcf.org/volunteers, or contact Yvonne Bras, director of membership, at (800) 232-4475.

EAST COUNTY — As an educator, Jennifer Passmore has always believed in the power of individualized education.

When her daughter, Emily, scored a two on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in ninth grade and was forced to take a remedial reading course that summer, it only furthered her resolve that education should not be so standardized. Emily, now a college graduate, read for fun, even completing four C.S. Lewis novels that summer. She scored four and five on previous FCAT reading assessments.

“She was a wonderful reader; it didn’t make any sense,” says Passmore, a former teacher at Braden River Elementary and

reading coach for Manatee County Schools.

Now, Passmore, the director of Woodland Community Church’s Early Childhood Center, will be the hands and feet of a grassroots effort to bring multi-sensory, highly individualized instruction to classrooms in the East County area and throughout the state.

Through a partnership with the Brad Dunn Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting early childhood literacy, especially for children with dyslexia and other learning challenges, the Woodland Early Childhood Center this month will open a private school for

FOUNDATION PROMOTES LITERACY

David and Kim Dunn, owners of Bradenton-based ETCO, a precision metal stamping and moldedproducts company, started the Brad Dunn Foundation after experiencing how an alternative teaching method helped their son conquer dyslexia. They also uncovered a family history of learning challenges and helped start the Hamilton School at Wheeler in Rhode Island.

Now full-time residents in the area, the Dunns plan to use their foundation to improve early literacy in Sarasota/Bradenton and around the state.

SEE WOODLAND / PAGE 10

EAST COUNTY — The thumping and squeaking of sneakers trekking across the wooden floor of a basketball court is a comforting sound to Bob Delaney.

For more than 25 years, the court was his home.

“I felt this peace when I was on the basketball court,” Delaney said. “I knew the game, and it helped me clear my mind.”

The East County resident’s career as a referee for the National Basketball League helped pull him out of a severe emotional slump. Delaney suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder — feeling stressed or frightened even when no longer in danger, due to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic ordeal — following his work as an undercover agent for the New Jersey State Police.

SEE DELANEY / PAGE 12

Pam Eubanks

Bob Delaney says his presentations on post-traumatic stress disorder have proven to be more valuable than any of his NBA memorabilia.

INDEX Building Permits....25 Classifieds ...........29

Cops Corner..........11 Crossword.............28

Neighborhood.......19 Real Estate...........24

Sports...................14 Weather................28

Vol. 16, No. 39 | Two sections YourObserver.com

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer

SOWING SEEDS THE

EAST COUNTY — For Ryan Heise, the summer months are anything but slow.

Heise estimates he receives 15 calls per day from concerned residents all asking a version of the same question — “What is growing in my pond?”

When a resident has a concern about the condition of the stormwater retention pond or wetland in his neighborhood, Heise, director of operations for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, addresses the concerns through visits to the residents’ property or over the phone.

He, along with the Manatee County Extension Office, has been working to help residents understand the role plants, such as spikerush, pickerel weed and other non-invasive species, play in the health of the ponds.

With each conversation, Heise has been working to educate Ranch residents on the difference between invasive and non-invasive species of plants.

Non-invasive plants stay within a certain area of the pond and contribute to a pond’s overall health.

Invasive plants can take over a pond completely, if left untreated.

For example, the Brazilian pepper tree can spread and cover a pond completely, shutting out oxygen and sunlight for the pond. It also can cause respiratory issues to individuals who live near the pond it inhabits, Heise said.

“Typically, the resident’s concern is that the plants are taking over their pond,” Heise said. “I first explain that native plants that don’t pose a harm to the pond are allowed to be there; we can’t remove those. If the type of plant is spreading throughout the pond, or if the resident is still concerned after I’ve explained that certain aquatic plants are good for the pond, I will go over and

Community representatives continue their efforts to educate the public about importance of plant life in stormwater retention ponds.

POP QUIZ A.) When is phosphorous banned from fertilizer?

Nitrogen?

B.) Do grass clippings in ponds harm fish?

C.) What can happen when grass clippings get in a pond?

PLANT

BREAKDOWN NON-INVASIVE

Name: Eleocharis palustris or Spikerush Bloom period: Spring Uses: Erosion control; cover for nests; high protein — easily digestible for livestock, ducks and geese

Photos by Amanda Sebastiano

Heritage Harbour South CDD Supervisor and Stoneybrook resident Lee Bettes considers seeing native plants growing near ponds as one of the key reasons he moved to the community. check it out.”

Heritage Harbour South Community Development District supervisor Lee Bettes faces similar concerns from residents.

Heritage Harbour has more than 50 stormwater retention ponds.

Bettes, a self-proclaimed environmentalist and nature-lover, views the greenery as a necessary means to provide a healthy environment for the water and wildlife. Non-invasive plants establish biological systems by providing nutrients to birds, fish and other animals that eat the plants, while also providing more oxygen to the animals the pond harbors, Bettes

said.

Plants, such as spikerush, can also fight erosion by serving as a barrier between the shoreline and the pond itself. The plants also collect pollutants that may have otherwise washed into the pond after a rainstorm, and subsequently, circulate into Tampa Bay. Heise also stresses the state mandates the presence of aquatic plants in ponds. The Southwest Florida Water Management District has required that aquatic vegetation must be present in a pond’s littoral zone — a required shallow area within a storm water pond. A littoral zone must occupy at least 30% of the surface area re-

SURVEY SPAWNS COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN EAST COUNTY — Eager Lakewood Ranch residents sat with notepads and pens, ready for a lesson on landscaping last week.

Town Hall transformed into an interactive classroom July 30, as Emily Ott and Paul Moaghan, of the University of Florida Agricultural Education and Communication department, shared the results of an emailed survey they conducted in October.

The duo asked residents questions on laws pertaining to fertilizer, landscaper certification requirements and the role of stormwater retention ponds, among others.

The meeting drew a standingroom-only crowd.

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“There was a lack of awareness of certain cases, but it seems like there is a community interest here today,” Ott said.

Ott and Monaghan emailed surveys to about 3,412 Lakewood Ranch residents.

Although more than half of the survey recipients didn’t respond, the audience’s feedback during the presentation and the turnout encouraged Ott and Monaghan to take the next step in raising awareness to stormwater retention pond health and other environmentally sound practices.

In upcoming months, they plan to work toward establishing a resident-controlled awareness group that educates the community about proper landscape practices.

Monaghan hopes the group will meet and create materials to distribute to inform neighbors about policies, such as the fertilizer ordinance that bans the use of fertilizers containing nitrogen in the summer months. He also hopes the survey’s results and the group’s creation will help alter some residents’ view of a stormwater retention pond as a

lake in their backyard.

“I think this meeting is a start,” Monaghan said. “An increase in the number of people who are interested will lead to more people being aware.”

Survey highlights include: • 72.4% of respondents did not know when fertilizers containing phosphorous are banned (always); • 77.8% have a landscaper apply fertilizer; • 61.9% of respondents’ landscapers have the required certifications to apply fertilizer; • Prior to the survey, 50% of respondents knew landscapers must obtain certification to apply fertilizer; • 73.5% of respondents said a retention pond’s most important feature is the ability to control flooding; and • 45% of respondents said they were very unlikely to request a no-mow zone, which prohibits mowing within 10 feet of a body of water.

The no-mow zone would cre-

served for the pond. Littoral zones are required, unless the lake is less than one acre and was created solely for aesthetic purposes, not to receive stormwater runoff.

Heise and Bettes acknowledge balancing a stormwater ponds’ purpose with aesthetic goals can be challenging.

“It’s all about perception,” Bettes said. “Some people look at this pond and think it looks overgrown and blocks their view of the lake. I don’t. This is natural, and sometimes Mother Nature doesn’t produce plants homeowners want to see in their backyards.”

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at amandas@yourobserver.com.

BY THE NUMBERS 44.8 — The percentage of respondents in the survey who hold a graduate or higher level degree 61 — The average age of the respondents 205 — The number of female respondents 394 — The number of male respondents ate a safety buffer to decrease the amount of grass clippings from entering the pond. The clippings contain fertilizer, which can lead to algae blooms.

Ott said the results of the nomow zone question revealed that residents desire to have a finely trimmed landscape.

Foremost, Ott and Monaghan hope the results will help educate the public on the importance of keeping grass clippings out of the water and ensuring landscape companies hold the proper certification to apply fertilizer.

“We ... wanted to find out how people learn information to best determine how to move forward,” Monaghan said.

Name: Spartina or cordgrass Bloom period: Summer Uses: Erosion control; restoration of wetlands; cover for birds

Name: Pontederia cordata or pickerelweed Bloom period: Spring Uses: Shoreline protection; cover for fish, small mammals and birds; food source for geese and muskrats

INVASIVE

Name: Hydrocotyle or dollarweed or pennywort Bloom period: Summer

Name: Pistia stratiotes or water lettuce Bloom period: varies

A.) Always; June 1 through Sept. 30; B.Yes C.) Algae blooms

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: For more information on stormwater retention ponds, visit lakewoodranch.gov or manatee.ifas.ufl.edu

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

budget by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

YourObserver.com Manatee County NORTH AMERICA’S BEST OVERALL LOCAL NEWS SITE

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of The Sarasota-Manatee Originals The Observer has partnered with The Sarasota-Manatee Originals and is producing an online video series.

Each episode features one of the more than 53 members of The Originals.

Scan th e to watch QR code or visit o the video YourObs ur website, e InTheKit rver.com/ chen.

THIS WEEK

The Lobster Pot shares its recipe for lobster milano — lobster sauteed with sun dried tomatoes, peppers, onions and mushrooms, served over pasta.

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THE DAILY HEADLINES

maintains millage rate MANATEE COUNTY— Property owners within Manatee County will see no change in the county’s property tax rates for the new fiscal year.

Commissioners voted July 31 to maintain an overall millage rate of 6.4326, the same rate used since 2008.

The figure is what property owners will see in their Truth in Millage Notices. The board can decrease millage rates from this level, but it cannot increase them when it adopts millage rates and its final $527.8 million budget for the 2015 fiscal year Sept. 18.

A property owner with a homesteaded property valued at $150,000 in unincorporated Manatee County would pay $1,036.54 in property taxes. However, property owners may see an increase in their county tax bills because home values have increased an average of 7.48% countywide, including new construction.

Although the overall millage will remain the same, county staff is pursuing an option to lower the debt-service portion of the millage and increase the operating portion of the millage rate. The change will shift more money to the county’s operating fund.

“It allows more flexibility for new projects and unfunded mandates,” Deputy Director of Financial Management Jan Brewer said. “It allows you to meet those hurdles, but it won’t affect the taxpayer because the millage being levied is the same.”

Additionally, commissioners faced a funding gap of about $115,000 because of funding requests for items such as additional emergency medical services units,

COUNTY CONTINUES TO USE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUNDS Manatee County will continue to use budget stabilization funds to balance the budget as it waits for property values to increase to previous levels.

Revenue assumptions anticipate 5% growth in the property values in fiscal year 2016 and 4.5% in fiscal years 2017 and 2018.

In fiscal year 2015, County Administrator Ed Hunzeker proposes using $13.2 million in stabilization funds (reserves) to balance the budget, with less each year through 2018 — $10.2 million in 2016; $6 million in 2017; and $1.5 million in 2018. the hiring of eight sheriff’s office deputies and the hiring of two full-time employees for the Braden River branch library, among others.

Rather than determining which requests to fund, commissioners agreed to accept an offer from Sheriff Brad Steube, who said he would eliminate $115,000 from his request for salary increases if the board promised to return unused monies from his 2014 fiscal year budget to his department, rather than to the county’s general fund.

“They are all valid programs,” Commission Chairman Larry Bustle said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at peubanks@ yourobserver.com.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

5

education by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer

Budget promises increased school security The $372 million Manatee School District budget includes a fund balance of $13.5 million.

“

GENERAL FUND BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS RECIPIENT Instructional services Media services Curriculum development Instructional technology School administration Fund balance

school year, Aug. 18.

The district will contract with a private security firm to recruit the individuals, who district investigator Troy Pumphrey assured are mostly retired law enforcement officers and veterans. The hired security officials will undergo extensive firearm and childabuse training, among other continuous education, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Diana Green said.

Although the personnel are not active police officers, board member Barbara Harvey said: “an old dress is better

’14-’15 ALLOCATION $237.01 million $4.52 million $4.75 million $153,598 $22.66 million $12.5 million

than no dress at all.”

Pumphrey met with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to discuss a partnership, but the more than $36 per hour and three- to four-hour minimum for services exceeded the amount the district could comfortably pay for the service, Aranibar said. The district would also need to fund vehicles for the officers, which it can’t afford.

Previously, elementary schools did not offer on-site security.

The district also agreed to add two additional resource

’13-’14 ALLOCATION $220.55 million $3.39 million $5.23 million $64,877 $22.52 million $10.3 million

officers as a line item on the budget, so all middle and high schools within the county have school resource officers.

Officials emphasized that the budget is still a working document and is not finalized until September, Hall said.

The news was welcome to School Board member David Miner, who has a law enforcement background and preferred a partnership with the Sheriff’s Office over a private firm for security.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at amandas@yourobserver. com.

“

EAST COUNTY — As Manatee County School District officials move forward with a budget that puts more than $13 million in reserves, they also are making a commitment to improve the security of classrooms.

As the district hashed out details of the 2014-2015 $372 million budget July 31, it also made plans to hire about 35 security officers for elementary schools within the next few weeks.

Deputy Superintendent of Operations Don Hall estimates the change will cost about $1.68 million and expects funding will come from the fund balance.

“The safety of our students is our top priority. We are unanimous on that,” said Julie Aranibar, school board chairwoman. “The primary mission of any school district is to provide a safe environment for the education of its students.”

District officials are still determining the hours and wages for officers on campus. Aranibar hopes to have full-time, armed security personnel on campuses by the start of the

OTHER BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS • The district received about $172.43 million in state funding — an increase of $3.5 million from the 2013-2014 school year; • The proposed millage rate is 7.38 mills; • At $153,598, funding for classroom technology has more than doubled since the previous school year.

The dollars will provide tablets, laptops and other technology to students; • The budget allotted about $15.88 million for supplies and $11.61 million for energy usage, such as running the air conditioning in schools.

Manatee Superintendent Rick Mills continues to promote the school district’s ability to overcome the $8.6 million deficit and the $5.9 million in restoration costs for fiscal mismanagement.

“This (budget) represents a $20.8 million turnaround,” Mills said. “This has been the result of an extraordinary performance by this School Board, our school district staff and this community. We have brought this school district back to a state of fiscal stability and it is an extraordinary success story.”

To view the 2014-2015 school year budget, visit manateeschools.net.

The safety of our students is our top priority. We are unanimous on that. The primary mission of any school district is to provide a safe environment for the education of its students.

— Julie Aranibar, school board chairwoman

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

TRAFFIC

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

Manatee County improves Edgewater traffic light design LAKEWOOD RANCH — As Manatee County proceeds with design and construction of a traffic signal at University Parkway and Waterview Boulevard — the entrance to the Edgewater community — staff is working to correct a design problem.

The adjustment will mean a roughly twomonth delay in the project, but improved safety overall, Project Manager Brent Morris said.

“The plans looked pretty good, however, we noticed some alignment issues with the turn signals and with the reconditioned medians we are going to have on University Parkway,” Morris said, noting HDR, the engineering firm of record, turned in 75% complete plans by the June 25 deadline.

Vehicles opposite each other trying to make left-hand turns could have had lineof-sight issues under the original design.

“You want those cars offset a little bit, so they can see the oncoming traffic, and there’s no accidents,” Morris said.

“It wasn’t really considered in the original scope (of work),” Morris said. “But, with the new alignment and the traffic study done, it was recognized this could be a potential problem. Rather than go forward, we’d rather take a step back and get the right distance and then go forward in the project. That’s really where we are at right now.”

Morris said HDR has received the county’s comments on the design and will meet this week to discuss potential scope changes and their financial impact.

Morris expected the changes would cost up to about $5,000, compared with more than $50,000 if the county waited to make the change during construction.

Pam Eubanks

The traffic signals installed at the entrance of Edgewater, at University Parkway, will be similar to signals at Lakewood Ranch Boulevard at the entrance to Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

The minimum total cost of the project is $265,000, Morris said.

Morris said he hopes to have the complete project design finished by mid-November. The bid process likely would start in February, with construction likely starting sometime in late spring or early summer 2015.

Construction itself will take between 120 and 180 days.

Contact Pam Eubanks at peubanks@yourobserver.com.

130957

143632

The changes will delay the project by about two months.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

7

NEWS BRIEFS Happy Gospel Church, located at 1915 53rd Ave. E., will stretch its reach to Lakewood Ranch in September.

Last week, the church closed on its second location — the former Faith Christian Church property at 5215 Lorraine Road, Bradenton.

Happy Gospel’s second location, which will be named Happy Gospel Church at the Ranch, will hold its first service 9 a.m. Sept. 7. The original church site will now be known as Happy Gospel Church at Bradenton.

Services at the new location will be held at 9 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Thursdays.

Starting Sept. 7, Sunday service times will be held at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the 53rd Avenue location.

The 6.38-acre parcel houses a 16,000-square-foot building. Renovations will be underway throughout August in preparation for the opening.

Pastor Bill Bailey says the location is part of the church’s goal to serve East County.

+ Animal Services hosts adoption event Manatee County Animal Services will host the adoption event, “All You Need is Love…

AND a Dog,” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9, at Animal Services’ headquarters, located at 305 25th St. W., Palmetto.

The event will also feature food, games, raffles, a bounce house and live music courtesy of Kim Betts and the Gamble Creek Band.

Each adopted pet will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and will receive a health checkup and microchip. To view available animals, visit mymanatee.org/pets.

MEETINGS &AGENDAS  Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Meeting — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 12, at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.  Manatee County Planning Commission Meeting — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 14, at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.  Manatee County School District Workshop — 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 12, at 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.  Manatee County School District Meeting — 5:45 to 8 p.m. Aug. 12, at 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.  Manatee County School District Audit Committee Meeting — 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 14, at 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5980R

+ County cancels MCAT fares, meetings on election days Manatee County commissioners voted to suspend MCAT fares and cancel regular board meetings that conflict with primary or general election days.

Commissioners agreed to suspend regular MCAT fares on Aug. 26 and Nov. 4.

All fixed-route passengers will be allowed to board MCAT buses for free on election days.

Commissioners canceled their meetings on those days, as well.

The officials hope their amendments will encourage and prompt a higher voter turnout this election year.

For more information, mymanatee.org/ MCAT.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

Observer opinion | our view EAST COUNTY

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Our recommendations As in every election, our recommendations unabashedly side with the candidates most likely to preserve and advance liberty; with the candidates who believe individual liberty is superior to that of the collective group; with the candidates who vow to shrink government spending and its intervention into our lives; and with the candidates who embrace freemarket, not crony, capitalism.

For East Manatee County voters, the Aug. 26 primary is mostly about the county’s school board — who should serve as board members and policymakers for three of the five districts of this battered, albeit recovering, $560 million enterprise.

Yes, there are other primary races at the state level — for governor in the Democratic and Republican parties and attorney general in the Democratic Party, and a circuit-court judicial race that encompasses Manatee, Sarasota and Desoto counties.

But the greatest election intensity is on Manatee’s school board races. To help give voters perspective on the choices they face, herewith are our recommendations:

MANATEE SCHOOL BOARD

Talk about tumult. For the five members of the Manatee County School Board, these past four years are probably a blur, a painful, stressful ordeal that, when board members look back on them, probably also seem surreal.

It’s also safe to say that from the departure of former Superintendent Roger Dearing in 2008 until the announcement last week that the Manatee County School District reported a $4 million operating surplus, the past six years will go down as one of the lowest points in district history.

The fiscal mismanagement under former Superintendent Tim McGonegal — from 2009 to September 2012 — was so egregious, two legislators reacted to the findings of a state audit of Manatee schools by saying: “This is one of the most appalling things I’ve heard,” and “It’s radioactive.”

There is little point recounting all of the mismanagement. But thank goodness the board selected Superintendent Rick Mills in early 2013; he is restoring the district’s financial health — from respirator to increasingly breathing steadily.

But one of the nagging questions for voters is: Where were the incumbent school board members when all of the mismanagement was occurring? Are they not responsible for overseeing the superintendent and serving as fiscal stewards of taxpayers’ money?

Where were board members Julie Aranibar and Karen Carpenter, two incumbents seeking re-election, from the time they were elected in 2010? Why did it take two years under the board’s watch for the fiscal mismanagement to be fully revealed and corrected? Are they at fault?

From the outside, it might be easy for voters and for Aranibar and Carpenter’s opponents to lay blame on them and the other board members. After all, the buck stops with the board.

But not to sound as if we’re making excuses, it should be noted that uncovering accounting abuses and mismanagement inside an entrenched government bureaucracy is no easy matter — particularly when the man reporting to the board was also directing and responsible for the mismanagement. It was in his selfinterest to avoid disclosure.

Add to that it typically takes new board members in any organization at least a year to grasp sufficiently the inner workings of a board and the larger organization.

We cite these circumstances to give Manatee County voters context. While we believe elections are referenda on incumbents’ performance, in the Manatee School Board elections, there is more to consider than the bad news that overshadowed the school board over the past two years.

In spite of the contentiousness that often sapped the board and damaged its credibility, board members ultimately did

ELECTION 2014 OBSERVER PRIMARY RECOMMENDATIONS East Manatee Ballots NON-PARTISAN RACES Circuit Judge Group 17 — Maulucci School Board District 2 — Jones School Board District 4 — Carpenter School Board District 5 — Aranibar

Susan Rodney Karen Julie

their job: They brought in a new leader to staunch the problem, restore order and begin rebuilding the district.

Who, then, are the best candidates to represent taxpayers, students, families, and the district’s teachers going forward?

Who will bring the skills most needed to the board?

DISTRICT 2 — Candidates: Rodney Jones; Charlie Kennedy With the retirement of 16-year school board member Barbara Harvey, the District 2 election features Charlie Kennedy, a Manatee High School teacher, and Rodney Jones, a longtime community volunteer and leader and social worker with at-risk children.

Each of these candidates would bring valuable knowledge and perspectives to the board, points of view that, to some extent, are at risk of not being represented.

For the past 10 years, Kennedy has taught at Manatee High. Before that, he earned hands-on business experience owning and operating two small restaurants in Pittsburgh.

Kennedy’s case can be compelling: He would bring a teacher’s perspective to the board (he’s not a union member) — an insight that is not there now.

And when you talk to Kennedy, his understanding of the issues and of what is needed on the board and in the schools is solid. To wit: He’s a big proponent of putting more emphasis on early education and pre-K, the precursors to success in school and life. He sees the top priorities of the board are to make sure the $340 million general fund is allocated in the right places; and perhaps more immediately, for the board and district administration to rebuild relationships with the community at large and teachers. Solution: more transparency and face time with residents and schools.

Jones, on the other hand, would bring other valuable wisdom and skills to the board. A product of Manatee public schools, 47-year-old Jones has been a visible leader in Manatee’s AfricanAmerican community for 30 years. In 2013, the local NAACP honored Jones with the President’s Award for his years of community service.

Like Kennedy, Jones sees what is needed on the board. First: Bring a divided board and community back together. Jones has devoted much of his community service to that with, as he puts it: “a style of leadership that brings people together.”

While that may sound like kumbaya, those familiar with the workings of the school board in recent years know a large dose of that prescription is needed.

What’s more, while we wholeheartedly ascribe to Martin Luther King Jr.’s credo of judging by the “content of character” and selecting the most qualified candidates, Manatee voters would agree a well-rounded board with a variety of perspectives and experiences is healthy.

In the end, Manatee voters will win with either Kennedy or Jones. But because of the depth and breadth of his involvement

in the community over the past three decades, we give Jones an edge.

Recommendation: Rodney Jones

DISTRICT 5 — Candidates: Frank Brunner; Karen Carpenter (incumbent) To an extent, this race and that for District 5 are two of the toughest decisions for voters.

If this district election is a referendum on Carpenter’s performance over the past four years, one way to evaluate her tenure is she — along with board member Julie Aranibar — did the ugly work that needed to be done. They disrupted the status quo, which had become a trend line of decline that started prior to their election in 2010.

And this is what typically happens when disruption occurs: Conditions get worse before they get better. Which is exactly what happened in the district from 2010 to 2012. Carpenter and Aranibar led the charge for fiscal accountability, and along the way, there were periods of rancor among board members. But that, too, was predictable. Whenever you confront old ways to move to new ways, there’s resistance and dissent.

Carpenter and Aranibar persisted, and the results are evident. So why give up now on the corrective course Carpenter has helped chart? There is a strong argument to continue.

And then there is Frank Brunner.

Brunner, 47, served honorably and competently as a school board member from 1998 to 2006. A product of Manatee public schools, Brunner graduated from West Point and is a veteran of the Gulf War. His wife is a 30-year Manatee public schools educator; and he has twin 12-yearold sons attending public school.

His Manatee roots run far deeper than Carpenter’s, and there is great value in that historical community knowledge.

What’s more, during Brunner’s tenure on the board, the picture of Manatee public schools was notably better: Twice as many schools earned A or B grades as now, and the district received the state’s gold seal for fiscal management.

The tenor of the board also projected mutual respect and the ability to agree to disagree without acrimony. “I have nearly 10 years of understanding the roles and responsibility of the board,” Brunner says.

But why go back?

The talk in parts of Manatee is that Brunner represents an attempt to bring back the “good-ol’-boy” power network.

Brunner, of course, says: “I’m about looking forward.”

This is a tough choice: the proven, successful service of a past board member; or the continuation of a courageous disrupter who helped end the wrongs.

Brunner should serve on the board again. He has all that it takes and would bring consensus building and West Point leadership skills. But we’ll side with Carpenter, 71, to continue the board and district’s turnaround. She expressed much higher confidence in Superintendent Mills than did Brunner. And in these early stages of the district’s comeback, this is not the time to disrupt Mills’ momentum. We hope Brunner runs again.

Recommendation: Karen Carpenter DISTRICT 5 — Candidates: Julie Aranibar (incumbent); Mary Stewart Cantrell; James T. Golden; Carlton Les Nichols The caliber of candidates in this district is extraordinary.

Aranibar, mother, entrepreneur, community activist and volunteer extraordinaire; Cantrell, former longtime CEO of one of the most recognized and successful technical schools in the nation (Manatee Technical Institute); Golden, a former two-term Bradenton City Council member and lawyer whose name makes almost every list of Manatee community leaders; and Nichols, a 36-year-old Marine

SEE RECOMMENDATIONS / PAGE 9

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

RECOMMENDATIONS / PAGE 8 veteran and property manager who shows a passion for improving schools that you would expect from a Marine.

With only two years of residency in Manatee, Nichols lacks the namerecognition and involvement here that he had in Navarre Beach, where he lived for more than a decade. He should continue to become involved; his enthusiasm for the schools is always needed.

That narrows the contenders to Aranibar, Cantrell and Golden — all worthy candidates who would serve the district and taxpayers well. They all deserve a seat.

But this race is almost a mirror of the District 4 race, in which we recommend Karen Carpenter be retained to continue the job of rebuilding the district.

Aranibar has earned that as well.

We like how she describes herself: “I am not one who has ever taken from my community. What I did (the past four years), I know I did it for the right reasons. I stood up and got in there when things were not good. Even through the darkest days, my focus has been on protecting children. My focus has been on solutions.”

Even through the darkest days, Aranibar also endured her own serious physical illnesses — a testament to her indefatigable determination. To paraphrase commentator Bill O’Reilly, Manatee taxpayers can be sure Aranibar is always looking out for you.

Recommendation: Julie Aranibar

12TH CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE CANDIDATES: Art Jackman; Susan Maulucci

These two candidates have both earned seats on the judicial bench. Each is well qualified.

Jackman is currently a felony division chief in the 12th Circuit’s state attorney’s office, where he has served for 18 years.

In addition, he has served 28 years — and continues to serve — as a judge advocate-colonel in the U.S. Air Force.

And throughout all this time, he has tried hundreds of cases of all types, including the prosecution of a man who stole a top-secret computer from U.S. Central Command in Tampa.

Jackman is All-American (He even made the Notre Dame football team as a defensive back.)

Maulucci’s experience is equally extensive and diverse. She served seven years as an assistant state attorney in the 12th Circuit; for the next 13 years she practiced family law, with an emphasis on children and juvenile guardianships.

And since 2004, Maulucci has served as a 12th Circuit general magistrate. This is the equivalent of being a judge — but without the authority to try jury cases.

In this position, she has presided over family law hearings and trials and always difficult Baker Act cases.

When you talk to lawyers and judges about Maulucci, they are unequivocal: Her vast experience, longtime community service as an advocate for children and her judicial temperament make her an outstanding candidate for circuit judge.

We recommend Maulucci, and urge Jackman to try again. His turn will come.

Recommendation: Susan Maulucci

9

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE Headed on a great vacation? Make sure to take your Observer along! Visit YourObserver.com/itsreadeverywhere to submit your entries. One winner will receive two travel certificates, good for travel from SRQ Airport.

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND. Amy, Jackson and Charles Riffe catch up on their hometown news while enjoying the view of New York City from the grounds of the Statue of Liberty.

Next week: The gubernatorial primary candidates; and the Democratic Party attorney general candidates.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

Common core is education for the masses. Their idea is that every child can learn, but education needs to fit the child. We will be using Common Core standards, but in an uncommon way.

Jennifer Passmore, director of Woodland Early Childhood Center

131730

WOODLAND / PAGE 1 children in kindergarten and first grade — the Dunn Preparatory at Woodland Early Childhood Center.

It also will implement the foundation’s Planting Seeds program, which works to establish prekindergarten literacy programs throughout the community at a variety of preschools and learning centers.

Both of Woodland’s new offerings pilot the Dunn Foundation’s educational initiatives in the area.

“Dyslexia comes across all spectrums,” said Jennifer Colombo, executive director of the Brad Dunn Foundation. “The foundation wants to plant seeds throughout the community. We are looking into some other local charter schools and childhood centers.”

Creating a strong foundation of literacy in prekindergarten through first grade is critical because children learn to read at that time. Starting around third grade, they read to learn. If children haven’t become successful readers by that time, they usually have already experienced a sense of failure and may struggle with school for the duration of their education, Colombo said.

The foundation approached Passmore last fall, offering to partner with the voluntary prekindergarten program by funding special teacher training, testing the children and purchasing the Nemours Bright Start teaching labs, a program used at Nemours hospital in Jacksonville.

Nemours follows the research-and-evidence-based Orton Gillingham-approach to reading that the foundation promotes; it is language-based, multi-sensory, systematic and both diagnostic and prescriptive.

At the beginning of the year, children

were tested on their reading skills. Of 95 children tested, 11% fell in the below-average range — a predicator of poor reading success in kindergarten and first grade.

The national average is 10%.

Children were retested at the end of the school year, and all 95 made average to significant learning gains. The 11% tested at average or above-average.

“The kids were off the charts,” Passmore said. “It was a great experience. The Dunns said, ‘It’s been great, but what about kindergarten and first grade?’”

The Dunn Foundation offered Woodland up to $100,000 to start its private school using the Orton-Gillingham method of instruction.

“Because it was so successful, we decided there were other students in the area (that needed it),” Colombo said. “We wanted to have a K/1 classroom that had a mix of learners.”

Passmore said she’s long hoped to start a private school, but has not had funding.

“If we’re going to do it, we want to do it really well,” Passmore said. “At WECC, we believe that learning is a profoundly unique experience and that each child should be given instruction that fits their individual learning style. It just seemed that this was a great fit.

“Common core is education for the masses,” she says. “Their idea is that every child can learn, but education needs to fit the child. We will be using Common Core standards, but in an uncommon way.”

To start, the Dunn Preparatory at Woodland will have one combined kindergarten/first-grade classroom, so children can learn according to their needs, but in an appropriate social setting. Passmore hopes to offer more classrooms and age levels in future years, based on community needs.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

MANATEE

The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Manatee County Sheriff ’s Office.

JULY 29 OPEN-AND-SHUT CASE 7:56 a.m. — 300 block of Petrel Trail. Open Door/Window. A man reported the garage door of the residence remained open overnight. The deputy found the home to be vacant. It was clean and empty of contents, including appliances. The deputy discovered the A/C unit inside the garage was leaking and causing damage to the wall. He secured the home and tried to contact the owner.

CORNER JULY 31 MISSING MEDS 12:30 p.m. — 7700 block of Lake Vista Court. Lost Property. A man reported his medication as lost. He said he had set it down in a box on his kitchen counter. He later threw the box down his trash chute and did not realize until afterward that it was in there. He wanted to report it as lost because his doctor said he needed a report number so he could purchase replacement medication.

WHAT A NIGHTMARE 4:05 p.m. — 8900 block of Manor Loop. Information. A wom-

property and exited through the front door.

JULY 21 VESTED INTEREST 5:01 p.m. — 2900 block of 53rd Avenue E. Petit/Grand Theft-Shoplifting. The suspect was inside the store. While inside, he selected a weight vest from the shelf and concealed it down the front of his pants. He then exited the store without paying for the vest. Store loss prevention monitored his activity on surveillance video. Loss-prevention staff stopped him as soon as he exited the store.

an said she woke up in the middle of the night and heard an unknown male’s voice say, “I was just in there. She’s sleeping, bro. The meds are in the bathroom. The dog is in a trance and won’t fit in the trunk.” She called 911 and deputies responded to the residence.

She stated she had previously

changed the locks.

KNOCK OUT 11:55 — 5200 block of 33rd Street E. Burglary Unoccupied Structure Unarmed. An unknown male entered the location by kicking out the front door. He stole

AUG. 1 LOST CALL 7:58 a.m. — 5300 block of Lockwood Ridge Road.

Petit Theft. A woman placed her mobile phone and her wallet on the counter while she waited for her turn in line. Another customer was checking out, and it was taking a little longer than normal. When another register opened, the woman walked away and left her phone on the counter. When the victim was finished with her transaction, she walked back to her vehicle and realized she’d left her phone behind. When she returned to the store, it was not where she had left it.

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11

12

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

Continue the Progress!

Early Voting Starts Aug. 16!

Courtesy photos

Bob Delaney speaks with troops overseas about post-traumatic stress disorder.

DELANEY / PAGE 1 Today, Delaney shares his story of how basketball helped him manage PTSD, or what he prefers to call operational stress, with military men and women and their families.

Delaney’s efforts, which have led him to just about every military post within the United States and Europe, have also landed him the 2014 Mannie Jackson Basketball Human Spirit Award.

He, along with fellow recipient Robert Johnson, will receive the award Aug. 7, at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in Springfield, Mass. The award recognizes individuals considered as leaders in basketball who also play an active role in the betterment of their community.

Manatee in 2014 p 20% increase p Improved l in all school l writing scores grades for all grades

Change of pace

The path to educating others on PTSD started with Delaney’s own experience.

After spending three years infiltrating the mob as an undercover agent for the New Jersey State Police in the mid-70s, Delaney’s family and friends noticed changes in his personality and physical appearance.

He remembers often feeling angry and paranoid — what he identifies today as “tell-tale signs of PTSD,” he said.

But, he didn’t lose his love for basketball. Delaney played the sport growing up and in college, but after years off the court and in law enforcement, he knew he didn’t have the athleticism to play on a professional level.

So, he became a referee, first for colleges. The NBA recruited him in 1987.

Calling the shots brought stability to his life, after living with a no-rules mindset.

“The court saved my life,” Delaney said.

“It gave me my life back.”

p First positive p 6,000 more l fund balance l computers in classrooms in 4 years

Julie Aranibar helped bring needed change to our schools. Because of that, our students are doing better.

3Focus on our r 3 Build on what r 3Put divisive r students’ overdue needs

we’ve already achieved together

politics aside

The connection

Julie Aranibar knows what our students need.

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Delaney started giving presentations to firemen and police officers in 1981 about his undercover experience and his work as a referee.

The stories of a red-faced Michael Jordan screaming within inches of Delaney’s face, and Shaquille O’Neal’s sense of humor are ones Delaney uses to connect with his audiences during PTSD-awareness presentations.

But, the presentations also were therapeutic for Delaney. Over time, they helped him cope with his feelings.

“When I would speak with law enforcement a little bit more of my personal feelings would come out — eventually I was telling more and more,” Delaney said.

“They asked how I could meet with the mob guys, talk all kinds of things over dinner and commit crimes. Then, when I would get five miles down the road, I’d have to stop to throw up. I’d wake up in the middle of the night and my bed was soaking wet. But I learned that what is personal is universal. When I shared more of my feelings, other cops would come up to me and say they were going through the same thing.”

Although Delaney has never served in the military, he can relate to a soldier’s challenges. He knows the battle of return-

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ing to normalcy.

“I wasn’t on the same battlefield they were on, but I had a battlefield of my own,” Delaney said.

He remembers a presentation at Fort Sill, Okla.

He found ways to relate to his audience, swapping the term PTSD for operational stress and making connections between his experiences and the soldiers’, while also acknowledging the situations’ differences.

“I don’t pretend their boots are my boots,” Delaney said.

He also focused on his body language, making eye contact and maintaining a conversational tone to assure his audience he wasn’t being judgmental, he said.

After the meeting, a soldier approached Delaney to shake his hand.

He thought the soldier might have been holding a unit coin to give Delaney.

Giving a unit coin to someone is a sign of appreciation and is also a tradition, Delaney said. If the recipient doesn’t have the coin the next time the two meet, then that person is responsible for buying the other person a drink.

Instead, the soldier handed him a purple heart.

“I told him, ‘I can’t take this,’ and he said, ‘I have learned how to deal with the wounds you see, but today, you helped me deal with the wounds you can’t see,’” Delaney said.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at amandas@yourobserver.com.

Bob Delaney began as a referee for the NBA in 1987.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

13

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Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | SENIORS | COMMUNITY | TENNIS

TENNIS

Ashley Bongart verbally commits to the Lady Vols.

PAGE 16

YOUROBSERVER.COM

golf

by Jen Blanco | Sports Editor

Making an investment

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

PROVEN RESULTS

Rosedale golf professional Steve Whidden hopes his new ventures will encourage more people to try the sport of golf.

ROSEDALE — Steve Whidden is making an investment in the future.

The Rosedale Golf & Country Club PGA Master professional and director of instruction has spent the last seven years trying to get players back in the swing by creating a fast and fun golf environment.

Now Whidden hopes to generate even more interest Whidden through a free teaching expo and a series of new private-lesson programs.

On Aug. 22, Whidden will hold a free teaching expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rosedale, 5100 87th St. E., Bradenton.

During the clinic, which is open to the public, golfers will rotate between four stations, at which they will work on putting, chipping, pitching and full swing. Participants should bring their own golf clubs, however, Rosedale will provide clubs to individuals who don’t already have them.

The clinic is open to the first 32 people who register at the pro shop. Whidden plans to hold at least one teaching expo every quarter.

“The goal is to get more people into the game,” Whidden says. “I look at it as an investment.”

Whidden also recently implemented three new programs as part of the Steve Whidden Golf Academy. Each program consists of a series of three 45-minute private lessons during which clients can focus on the specific areas on which they need to work. Each package costs $210.

Breaking the Barrier is designed for the golfer who plays frequently and wants to break a desired score.

The second program is The Fix. It focuses on improving a specific area of a player’s game, such as putting.

Finally, Perfect Practice is designed for players who simply want to get out on the course and practice their game.

In addition to helping clients improve their game, Whidden also hopes to share his knowledge with other PGA professionals and assistant professionals across the state. Earlier this month, Whidden was elected chairperson of the new Instruction Division of the North Florida

SEE WHIDDEN / PAGE 15

GOLF

by Jen Blanco | Sports Editor

Tim Sheredy, owner of the Tim Sheredy Golf Institute, recently began teaching junior golfers out of the River Club.

Jen Blanco

Tim Sheredy has coached 43 Junior Golf Association All-American players and two AJGA Players of the Year. He previously worked as a senior instructor at IMG Academy.

RIVER CLUB — Tim Sheredy stands on the edge of the driving range and looks out over the vast mountainous terrain.

A ping reverberates through the air beside him, as a golf ball sails off the tee, glides through the air and lands with a quiet thump in the water below.

Sheredy walks over to the tee, where a smiling Taiwanese boy awaits his guidance.

Sheredy readjusts the young boy’s grip on the club, drops his elbow into alignment and then steps back to watch as the child sends another ball into the air.

Over the next several hours, Sheredy makes his way down the range, offering advice and words of encouragement to the more than 500 golfers enrolled in the Lexus Kids of Taiwan summer camp.

Sheredy spent 17 days in Taiwan last month to head up a weeklong summer camp for children ages 6 to 15. It featured course management, fitness instruction and golf fundamentals.

He also gave seminars to Taiwanese coaches.

Sheredy, who owns the Tim Sheredy Golf Institute, became involved with Lexus Kids of Taiwan in January after one of his former students at IMG Academy, who is the lead instructor for the program, reached out to him.

Sheredy, who specializes in working with children, jumped at the opportunity.

He made his first trip that month and agreed to teach the program every January and again in the summer.

“It was so nice,” Sheredy says. “It was great. All of the kids loved it, which was a great compliment for me. The kids are great kids.

“It was great to be able to experience the different culture and meet different people,” Sheredy says. “It’s a different world than here, but they still like to have fun, joke and laugh. It’s no different than working with kids here, except for the language barrier.”

Sheredy returned from his second trip to Taiwan at the end of July and immediately returned to running his golf academy.

In June, Sheredy began running the Tim Sheredy Golf Institute out of the River Club, after spending the last three years working in Orlando.

Sheredy works with players of all levels and abilities, from junior golfers to PGA and LPGA Tour players. He’s worked with players in Taiwan, Morocco, Canada, Australia, Mexico and the United States; and through all of those sessions, one thing always has stuck with Sheredy.

“Kids are kids no matter where you go,” Sheredy says.

Sheredy’s initial introduction to golf was anything but conventional. A former baseball, basketball and football player, Sheredy didn’t pick

BY THE NUMBERS 43 — The number of American Junior Golf Association AllAmericans with whom Sheredy has worked.

17 — The number of days Sheredy spent last month in Taiwan while working with the Lexus Kids of Taiwan program.

13 — The number of years Sheredy spent working as a senior instructor for the David Leadbetter Academy at IMG.

16 — The age Sheredy was when

he picked up a golf club for the first time.

18 — The number of years Sheredy has been teaching golf.

up a golf club until he was 16 years old.

He was on vacation with his best friend in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan when the two decided to give golf a try.

After one swing, Sheredy was hooked.

“I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Sheredy says. “I loved it.

I told my dad right away that was what I wanted to do.”

Sheredy returned home and bought a pair of golf clubs. He set out for the local golf course, which was actually just a section of a farm where a local farmer had cut some grass and installed a few greens.

Sheredy attended Ferris State University, where he

enrolled in the professional golf management program.

Upon graduation in 1996, the Michigan native moved to Florida. He spent a year working in Orlando before moving to Bradenton, where he spent 13 years working as a senior instructor for the David Leadbetter Academy at IMG, before moving to Orlando.

Most recently, Sheredy served as the director of instruction at Timacuan Golf and Country Club and Eagles Dream Junior Golf Academy.

During his 18-year teaching career, Sheredy has coached 43 American Junior Golf Association All-Americans and two AJGA Players of the Year.

SEE SHEREDY / PAGE 15

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

WHIDDEN / FROM PAGE 14 PGA Section.

Whidden developed the idea to start a teaching program in 2011.

He invited the roughly 80 professionals and assistant professionals in the Southwest chapter of the North Florida PGA Section, which stretches from Port Charlotte to Bradenton, to a series of meetings at which he shared his experiences as a teaching professional.

Interest in the program gradually grew over time, but at the same time, Whidden noticed there wasn’t a similar program offered to the three other chapters in the North Florida PGA Section. He discussed the program with section leaders, and, before long, they approached him about implementing a similar program for the entire North Florida PGA

SHEREDY / FROM PAGE 14 He’s also worked with a number of Tour players, including Jessica Korda, Yani Tseng, Ben An and Peter Uihlein, among others.

“I’m very fortunate and lucky to be able to bring that to this area,” Sheredy says. “I teach everyone as an individual. I try to find their strengths and weaknesses and then build a blueprint for where we are and where we want to go. I’ve had a lot of success doing that.”

Sheredy left IMG Academy in 2008; all of his students have either earned college scholarships or turned professional. Sheredy hopes to continue that trend with his students in the East County.

BASEBALL

Section.

As the chairperson of the fiveperson committee, Whidden, who has been a teaching professional for 23 years, wants to offer programs and advice as a way to help other professionals attract clientele.

“As a professional, it’s my job to try and find out why people aren’t coming back (to play),” Whidden says. “(Our goal) is to get young professionals, as well as seasoned professionals, to branch out and be flexible and creative.

“We want to get together as a teaching community and help others by teaching them new ideas to attract (business),” he says.

For more information, contact Whidden at swhidden@pga.com.

Contact Jen Blanco at jblanco@ yourobserver.com.

15

by Jen Blanco | Sports Editor

Bible Baptist plays ball

Bible Baptist Church held its eighth annual baseball camp July 28 through Aug. 2.

Thirty children, ranging in age from 8 to 12, hit the diamond for this year’s camp. Players participated in a variety of hitting and fielding drills before dividing into teams for a series of scrimmages.

Left: Ten-year-old Cali McKibbin’s favorite part of this year’s camp was playing baseball games.

Right: Five-year-old Landon Marshall receives some last-minute advice from his father, Steve, before stepping into the batter’s box.

He offers full-time junior golf programs, as well as periodization training, individualized junior golf private lessons, adult lessons and training, clinics, camps and more.

“I would really like to continue helping junior golfers earn college scholarships and improve and advance their level of play to where they want to play,” Sheredy says. “That’s my goal here — to build a great, quality junior golf program. I also want to get a good adult program growing, as well, with good, quality instructors.”

For more information on the Tim Sheredy Golf Institute, visit tsgigolf.com.

Contact Jen Blanco at jblanco@yourobserver.com.

Photos by Jen Blanco

Ten-year-old Eli McKellar keeps her eyes on the ball while batting during the first inning.

Silas McKellar, 8, races down the first base line.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

SIDELINES

16

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

TENNIS

by Jen Blanco | Sports Editor

Mustang chooses Volunteers Last week Lakewood Ranch High senior Ashley Bongart verbally committed to play tennis for the University of Tennessee. She officially visits the school in September.

File photo

Shawn Trent stepped down as Lakewood Ranch High's football coach this week after nine years. He'll remain on as the school's athletic director.

+ Mustangs coordinator named new head coach Former Lakewood Ranch High offensive coordinator Mick Koczersut was officially named the Mustangs’ new head coach July 30.

Koczersut replaces Shawn Trent, who served as the Mustangs’ head coach for the last nine years.

Trent will remain the school’s athletic director.

Under the Manatee County School District’s new policy, athletic directors can no longer be head coaches.

Lakewood finished 5-5 last season. The Mustangs will kick off the 2014 regular season Aug. 29.

For a complete story on the Mustangs’ new head coach and the upcoming season, pick up the Aug. 21 issue of the East County Observer, which includes our football preview section.

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Ashley Bongart has already made a name for herself on the tennis courts at Lakewood Ranch High.

Bongart, who will begin her senior year in two weeks, has been the Lady Mustangs’ No. 1 singles player over the past three years. She captured the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A Girls state individual and overall doubles championship with Cari Berry as a freshman.

But by this time next year, Bongart will have traded in her black and green for orange and white.

Last week, Bongart verbally committed to play for the University of Tennessee after receiving a full women’s tennis scholarship.

“Being part of Tennessee’s (athletic) tradition is a big honor,” Bongart says.

“It means a lot to be able to play for a big SEC school. It means a lot to be a Lady Vol and the tradition that goes along with it. I’m just excited and focused on practicing and getting better.”

Bongart made an unofficial visit to Knoxville last summer and was drawn to Tennessee’s campus and tennis facilities.

“I just fell in love immediately,” Bongart says. “It had everything I wanted in a school. I felt really comfortable with the coaches. They are married and have a motherly and fatherly feel to them. I felt comfortable spending the next four years of my life with them.

“I feel like Tennessee was the best

File photo

Lakewood Ranch High senior Ashley Bongart chose Tennessee over Alabama, Auburn and Florida State. fit for me,” Bongart says. “Alabama already won the SEC championship, and I felt like at Tennessee, I had the opportunity to make an impact and there were things to accomplish there.”

Bongart made several unofficial visits before narrowing her choices to Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Tennessee. She went back and forth between Tennessee and Alabama before ultimately choosing Tennessee.

“It was definitely stressful,” Bongart says. “Some people find the recruiting process fun and some find it terrible.

I’m happy it’s over, and I (know) I made the right decision.”

Bongart will make her official visit to Tennessee Sept. 5. She’ll return to the court in a USTA singles sectional event later this month in Delray Beach.

Contact Jen Blanco at jblanco@ yourobserver.com.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

REAL ESTATE

Country Club Village home sells for $955,000.

PAGES 24-25

HIGH POINTS

WEATHER

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Campers saddle up for summer.

PAGE 21

Thunderstorm colors post-rain sunset.

PAGE 28 LONGBOAT KEY

by Robin Hartill | Observer Staff

Price: $22 million Address: 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive Built: 2013 Square feet: 9,262 Price per square foot: $2,375 Listed by: Deborah Beacham, Michael Saunders & Co.

LUXURIOUS

LIFE

After three years of construction, the 2.57-acre Ohana estate was listed in December for $22 million — a record for the Sarasota area.

The Gulf-front property consists of three Balinese-inspired pavilions and a separate beachfront guesthouse. The pavilions are set around a free-form swimming pool with a swim-up sun shelf and adjacent, palm-thatched beach pavilion.

The estate has a private seawall that extends into the Gulf that provides both privacy and protection from beach erosion. Other features include more than 60 types of tropical foliage, a Gulf-front swimming pool, Hemingway natural coral stone walkways and a private tennis court.

Beach pavilions, infinity pools, tennis courts — they’re just a few of the features you’ll find in the region’s top listings.

CASEY KEY Address: 1160 N. Casey Key Road Price: $16.9 million Built: 2011 Square feet: 10,125 Price per square foot: $1,669 Listed by: Linda Roe Dickinson and Kelly Quigley, Michael Saunders & Co.

With just 400 residences and no commercial development, Casey Key offers maximum privacy. But the 2.57-acre gated and walled estate at 1160 N. Casey Key Road offers extra seclusion with a white sand beach on one side and a yachting lagoon and bay views on the other.

Features include a bayfront billiards room with a mini-kitchen, outdoor living area with a stone fireplace and an infinity pool and spa.

What home would you buy if money were no object? These seven homes look like good choices.

The following properties are the highest price listings on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as of Aug. 1, on Longboat, Lido/St. Armands, Bird, Siesta and Casey keys and mainland Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch.

// SEE MORE HOMES ON PAGE 26

LAKEWOOD RANCH Address: 8499 Lindrick Lane Price: $16.5 million Built: 2010 Square feet: 17,756 Price per square foot: $929 Listed by: Jim Soda, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty Located at the Concession Golf Club, the 3.55-acre estate was built over a three-and-a-half year period. The home has a spiral staircase leading to an underground, 1,000-bottle wine cellar and tasting room, home theater with a 144inch screen, billiards room and an exercise room with an adjoining sauna and steam shower.

MAINLAND SARASOTA Address: 374 S. Shore Drive Price: $13.8 million Built: 2005 Square feet: 10,883 Price per square foot: $1,268 Listed by: Joel Schemmel, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty Villa Solstice, better known as the Githler house, was built in 2005 in Sarasota’s historic Museum area and has views of Sarasota Bay, the Ringling Bridge, Longboat Key and the downtown skyline from nearly every room.

The home has hosted many Republican bigwigs and has many features that make it a prime venue for large events, including a large dining room with a separate full bar area and adjacent music room, a 1,400-bottle wine room, chef’s kitchen and full catering kitchen with elevator access. Other features include a lagoon-style, zero-entry pool, an eight-person spa, a pool house with spa and two boat docks.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

DRAMATIC DISPLAY

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

Kids act out at drama camp Children in the Drama Kids summer camp program wrote plays and commercials and learned the basics of theater July 18 through Aug. 1.

Children showcased their work during end-ofcamp performances for Sun ’N’ Fun campers and their parents Friday, at Sun ’N’ Fun’s Woodland Hall.

Lakewood Ranch residents Taylor Shaklik and Brenna Cullen perform alongside Egypt JacobsTriplett, of Sarasota.

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Caden Denslow will start sixth grade at The Out-ofDoor Academy this school year. He previously attended McNeal Elementary.

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Jordan Tranchino performs during “Time Warp.”

Freedom Elementary School’s Maya Dreyfus remembers all the motions.

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YourObserver.com

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

music makers by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

East County jams for United Way Hundreds of East County residents and friends jammed to music by Kettle of Fish Aug. 1, during Lakewood Ranch Main Street’s monthly Music on Main event.

Proceeds benefited the United Way of Manatee County.

Alfie came with his owner, Alexa Fitzgerald.

Kim Torres, Chad Allison, Kent and Pam Ringquist and Andrea Allison

Marike and Amike Meissenheimer, left, with Lisa and Holliston Shepard Michele Passarelli pours drinks for United Way.

Left: Liliana Snee rides on the shoulders of father, Jake.

Left: Lisa and Joe Palmeri, of Lakewood Ranch

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

HORSING AROUND

by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer

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Brooke Picazio pays extra attention to Victory.

Campers ride horses, learn acrobatics Children interested in horseback riding enjoyed nine weeks of riding, grooming and spending time with horses at Rosaire’s Riding Academy’s Summer Day Camp. From June 9 through Aug. 8, children ages 6 to 15 also participated in activities that correlated with each week’s theme, such as the circus. The campers learned to perform tricks while sitting or standing on a horse, along with other acrobatic lessons.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

aptitude for acting by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

Children app-ly camp lessons

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Featured songs included “We Gotta Get an App for That,” among others.

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Charley Hunn and Briana Barbosa act as robots who are programmed to find all of their answers in the Bible.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

FIELD DAY

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School hosts competition Chen Li serves the volleyball.

Members of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2018 got acquainted with one another July 31, during an all-things-sports LECOM Olympics event, at Summerfield Park.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

real estate | transactions

By Adam Hughes | Research Editor

Country Club Village home sells for $955,000 The following residential real estate transactions took place between July 21 and July 25.

A home in Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Hansford and Versa Williams, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7954 Royal Birkdale Circle to Neil and Phyllis Friedland, of Bradenton, for $955,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, four-anda-half baths, a pool and 5,892 square feet of living area.

Pomello Park

Cadence Bank sold the home at 6605 189th St. E. to John Maben, of Bradenton, for $810,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,474 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $1.3 million in 2005.

Randall and Kathy Coe sold their home at 21308 69th Ave. E. to Chad Willard and Sarah Danis, of Bradenton, for $595,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,282 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $595,000 in 2010.

Tidewater Preserve

WCI Communities LLC sold the home at 5105 Lake Overlook Ave. to Richard and Alicia Godfrey, of Bradenton, for $446,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,791 square feet of living area.

River Club South

Christopher Walker,

trustee,

Amanda Sebastiano

This Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch home, which has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,892 square feet of living area, sold for $955,000. of McLean, Va., sold the home at 9816 Sweetwater Ave. to Donald and Alice Hinman, of Bradenton, for $440,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,697 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $375,000 in 2013.

Heritage Harbour

Gerald Labelle and Kathryn Mulcahy, of Bradenton, sold their home at 509 River Crane St. to Karin Frye, of Bradenton, for $425,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,304 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $464,400 in 2007.

Francis and Karen Obringer, of Bradenton, sold their home at 8101 River Preserve Drive to Vivian Spinoso, trustee, of Sycamore, Ill., for $365,000. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, three baths,

a pool and 2,301 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $320,000 in 2011.

Rosedale Golf and Tennis Club

Robert and Donna Collins, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4829 88th St. E. to Donald Kruse, of Bradenton, for $422,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,271 square feet of living area.

Riverdale

Adys Rodriguez, of Bradenton, sold the home at 3727 Fifth Ave. N.E. to Larry and Joyce Parscale, of Ooltewah, Tenn., for $390,000.

Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,974 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $320,000 in 2001.

GreyHawk Landing

Nigel and Linda Radley, of Es-

sex, United Kingdom, sold their home at 12055 Aster Ave. to William and Elizabeth Hodges, of Bradenton, for $383,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,113 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $457,900 in 2005.

Fannie Mae sold the home at 12555 Natureview Circle to Kenneth Baldwin, of Bradenton, for $327,700. Built in 2005, it has six bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,794 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $378,000 in 2005.

Charleston Pointe at University Place

Robert and Emily Stroud, of Sarasota, sold their home at 8103 Planters Knoll Terrace to Joseph Peixoto and Christine Peixoto, of University Park, for $382,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,437 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $342,200 in 2004.

Greenbrook Village

Craig Schust, of Lakewood Ranch, sold his home at 13939 Wood Duck Circle to Ryan Mach, of Lakewood Ranch, for $374,900.

Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,352 square feet of living area.

It previously sold for $330,000 in 2011.

Anthony and Nicole Stablein, of Sarasota, sold their home at 15211 Skip Jack Loop to Beazer PreOwned Homes LLC for $245,000.

Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and

1,892 square feet of living area.

It previously sold for $245,000 in 2013.

Thomas Coleman and Michael Coleman, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 15249 Blue Fish Circle to Julie Thompson, of Bradenton, for $223,700. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,598 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $285,000 in 2006.

Savannah Preserve at University Place

Savannah Preserve Inc. sold the Unit 7927 condominium at 7927 Tybee Court to Joseph Kerata and Lynne Armington, of Bradenton, for $365,300. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,813 square feet of living area.

Rosedale Highlands

Ronald and Joan Kiggins, of Ontario, Canada, sold their home at 5248 97th St. E. to Frederick and Janis Krueger, of Niles, Ill., for $360,000. Built in 2004, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,959 square feet of living area.

Rye Wilderness

Traci Martin sold her home at 429 169th Court N.E. to Rafael and Ofelia Uribe, of Bradenton, for $347,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,289 square feet of living area.

Carlyle at the Villages of Palm-Aire

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. sold the home at 5081

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708 Riviera Dunes Way #M5838985 $999,999 Joe Foster

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6914 Treymore Ct #A3993543 $650,000 Kathy Lewis

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22235 Panther Loop #M5846712 $515,000 Cheryl Roberts

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

25

michaelsaunders.com

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Explore now on your phone or tablet.

These are the largest East County building permits issued by Manatee County for the week of July 21 through July 25, in order of dollar amounts.

Address

Permit

Applicant

Amount

1508 Zipperer Road 13815 Waterthrush Place 5831 Fairwoods Circle 13911 Siena Loop 6221 Foxglove Lane 7112 52nd Drive E. 6802 Stone River Road 20819 79th Ave. E. 20706 79th Ave. E. 6503 Deerberry Court 7501 274th St. E. 6716 Quonset Road 10319 Winding Stream Way 7324 Pine Valley St. 325 Braden Ave. 7638 Windy Hill Cove 4727 Spinnaker Drive 14212 Woodhall Place 14835 Seventh Ave. E.

Pool Pool Re-roof Mechanical Pool Cage Re-roof Door/Window Mechanical Pool Cage Re-roof Re-roof Wall Door/Window Mechanical Fence Pool Cage Mechanical Pool Cage Mechanical

Pamela Cleveland Robyn Wilson Joan Byrd Donald Sak Yuxiang Zhang Richard Watkins Quinn Yancey Gary Tuck George Seftas Joyce Mader Marshall Jones James Girouard John Ritchie Dennis Bosetti James Sullivan Charles Jones Richard Calvin Nancy Demakos Thomas Schappacher

$39,700 $20,970 $19,000 $18,287 $16,693 $15,840 $14,000 $13,528 $12,960 $12,940 $12,800 $11,696 $10,684 $9,649 $9,648 $8,763 $8,500 $7,841 $7,450

12436 Natureview Circle

Mechanical

Robert Connelly

$7,400 Source: Manatee County

Riverdale Revised

Brent and Kelly Cohenour, of Bradenton, sold their home at 337 Bow Lane to Susan Conner, of Bradenton, for $275,000. Built in 1995, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a

Bradenton 941-748-6300 941-704-2394

RE N TA L

2406 Florida Boulevard #M5901043 $159,999 Debbie Capobianco

Lakewood Ranch 941-951-6660 941-228-2030

14806 Secret Harbor Place #M5900910 Laurie Rastovski

River Sound

Richard and Donna Parrish sold their home at 1493 Blue Horizon Circle to Richard and Magdalena Fritz, of Bradenton, for $270,000.

Built in 2010, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,778 square feet of living

Lakewood Ranch $3,900 941-552-4200

1050 Villagio Cir # 205 #A3997400 $169,900 Michelle Crabtree

3413 51st Avenue Cir W # 205 #M5844475 $112,900 Laura Tracy Clekis

5581 Key West Pl # 5581 #M5839571 Laurie Rastovski

area. It previously sold for $229,400 in 2010.

Thomas and Joan Woske, of Bradenton, sold their home at 1475 Blue Horizon Circle to Richard and Mildred Ondick, of Bradenton, for $270,000. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,760 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $240,500 in 2012.

YOUROBSERVER.COM // Visit our website to read more real estate transactions from this week.

Sarasota 941-907-9595 941-724-4663

Bradenton 941-748-6300 941-915-4167

RE N TA L

6437 Barberry Court #A4101844 $219,900 Matthew Cannon

pool and 2,222 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $229,000 in 2012.

2308 52Nd E Avenue #M5901026 $165,000 Kathy Valente

8933 Manor Loop #A4102526 $110,000 Diane Fogo Harter

Braden River 941-748-6300 941-685-6767

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-445-2431

RE N TA L

Creekside Trail to Delton Scroggs, of Sarasota, for $275,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,797 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $399,000 in 2005.

Braden River $2,600 941-552-4200

3618 117th St W #M5845374 $1,700 Kendra Vogel

Bradenton 941-552-4200 941-773-4372

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

LIDO/ST. ARMANDS

// TOP LISTINGS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

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Lic# RP0066970

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146759

F - Sat 11am - 11pm

The home at 433 Meadow Lark Drive known as Villa Toscana is designed to resemble an up-to-date version of a 17th century manse overlooking Little Sarasota Bay. Features include an infinity pool, outdoor kitchen, master suite with a steam room and sauna, a game room with wet bar, a media room and a dock with a boat lift and separate Jet Ski lift.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FISH HOUSE

If you are thinking of Buying or Selling a home in 2014 CALL THE CUTMORES

CUTMORE

There’s nothing quite like it!

Your Residential Real Estate Specialists Around The Ranch

IAN BROKER ASSOCIATE

Freshest Seafood

EMAIL

Only Local Shucked Raw Bar

Friendliest Atmosphere

Monday-Saturday

Staff and Neighborhood Patrons

Dinner Served

Fun for the Whole Family

Tuesday-Sunday

Sunday Hours

JULIE BROKER ASSOCIATE EMAIL

130027

Lunch Served

8210 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

View our video

& f i s h m a941-907-0589 rket www.luckypelicanbistro.com

Can you find the lucky pelican?

6239 Lake Osprey Drive, Lakewood Ranch

Located a mere 30 second drive off I-75 exit 213.

Next to the Holiday Inn....in the Lake Osprey Plaza

CELL 941.545.0515 cutmore.julie@gmail.com

WWW.CALLTHECUTMORES.COM

Real Food & Real Good Times!

3pm-8pm

CELL 941.545.5616 cutmore.ian@gmail.com

Anti - Fungal and Anti-Bacterial ❖ Weeds Won’t Grow Through ❖ Stain and Chemical Resistant ❖ Stretches with Base Movement ❖ Easy to Maintain ❖ 10 Year Warranty!

Material & Labor

Style, Beauty and Comfort ❖ Non-Skid, Anti-Slip ❖ Reduces Fall Injuries ❖ Retains Less Heat ❖ Safer for Children and the Elderly ❖ Extremely Durable and Self Draining

Poured-In-Place Rubber Safety Surfacing for: ❖ Driveways ❖ Pool Decks

❖ Garages ❖ Patios

❖ Decks ❖ And More!

Authorized RUBAROC® Dealer Serving Florida’s Gulf Coast

941.780.0333

www.fclandings.com ❖ niknight2@fclandings.com

Installed

by Certified

RUBAROC® Technicians

rubarocusa.com

145934

133729

5911 Midnight Pass Rd. #101 Sarasota, FL 34242

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

Kitchen

by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

In The

NEED TO READ

27

™

with Owners Glen, Mark and Tony Medeiros

of The Sarasota-Manatee Originals Visit YourObserver.com/InTheKitchen For The Recipe And Video

Teacher Christa Breiner reads a “Curious George” book with Camila Correa.

Curious George promotes reading

5157 Ocean Bou levard Sarasota, FL 34 242 941-349-2323 sarasotalobsterp ot.com

Families met Curious George July 26, during Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch’s Storytime Live! event.

Attendees enjoyed listening to “Curious George” books read out loud, eating popcorn and other festivities.

WATCH THE COOKING VIDEO and GET THE RECIPE Lobster Milano 147443

/InTheKitchen DineOriginal.com

Join A

Vivian and Daniel Correa make a bookmark.

WINNING

Left: Anna and Thomas Palatino pose with Curious George.

TEAM!

Serving Manatee County Since 1971 — Shingles Manatee County’s Leading — Tile Re-Roof Specialist — Metal Spring is in the Air & Rainy Season — Modifieds is Just Around the Corner...

— Built-Up Roofs PREVENT LEAKS! — Roof Repairs CALL Now for FREE Re-Roof or Repair Estimate!

— LICENSED FL State Certification # CC CO 14711

The Observer Media Group (OMG) is a highly regarded, family-owned and operated multimedia publisher serving a premier target audience in Sarasota & Manatee County.

941.756.4259

www.ApprovedRoofingLLC.com

1111 26th AVE E, BRADENTON

We are growing on all fronts.

You will sell a mix of print, digital and niche publications.

You must be a strong “hunter” who can find and engage new prospects and turn them into lasting customers.

We move at a fast pace, and your ability to do so while staying well focused is important.

We offer a competitive compensation plan including commission, bonus opportunities, full benefits and a dynamic work environment.

147535

& INSURED

Multimedia Advertising Consultant needed for the #1 Weekly Newspaper in Florida

147382

147513

LLC

Please send resume and cover letter to: Jill Raleigh, Director of Advertising, Observer Media Group, 1970 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Sarasota, FL 34236 or jraleigh@yourobserver.com

28

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

OBSERVER WEATHER

TEMPERATURES

High

Low

High

Low

Tuesday, July 29

92

79

96 (1998)

64 (1976)

Wednesday, July 30

92

76

96 (1998)

65 (1976)

Thursday, July 31

91

74

97 (1927)

65 (1976)

Friday, Aug. 1

94

74

101 (1972)

65 (1968)

Saturday, Aug. 2

96

76

96 (2014)

64 (1976)

Sunday, Aug. 3

95

77

98 (1925)

65 (1976)

Monday, Aug. 4

93

78

97 (1989)

66 (1971)

Do you love taking photos? We want your best photos of sunrises, sunsets, nature, etc.

Submit your local weather photos for a chance to have your photo published in the paper!

See all of the winning photos each week by visiting The Observer’s Facebook page.

Record Temperatures

AVERAGE GULF WATER TEMPERATURE: 89 RAINFALL

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Tuesday, July 29

0.01

Wednesday, July 30

0.03

Thursday, Aug. 7

6:57a

8:16p

Thursday, July 31

0.00

Friday, Aug. 1

0.00

Friday, Aug. 8

6:58a

8:15p

Saturday, Aug. 2

Trace

Saturday, Aug. 9

6:58a

8:14p

Sunday, Aug. 3

0.00

Sunday, Aug. 10

6:59a

8:13p

Monday, Aug. 4

Trace

Monday, Aug. 11

6:59a

8:12p

Tuesday, Aug. 12

7:00a

8:12p

Wednesday, Aug. 13 7:00a

8:11p

Year to date: 2014 2013

27.51 in. 27.31 in.

Month to date: 2014

Trace

PHASES Aug. 10 Full

Scan the QR code on your smartphone to submit your weather photos!

Or visit YourObserver.com and click on the “Contests” tab.

O B S E RV E R C RO S S WO R D

ACROSS 1 7 14 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 30 31 32 34 38 40 41 42 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

4

54 55

CRYPTOGRAMS 1. C E M J X H Q L S Y E T G S A X L B A L B G X Y P Y E L Z T K Y ? G E S M T K S T H K T L J X H A S G G L B A C L N S J X P G Z M G E S Y N L J S K K X Q Q Y.

56 58 61

IBP

IBDDYLH

B

EDLQQN

WGQ

SLDN

Aug. 17 Last

Aug. 25 New

Sept. 2 First

COM AS YOU ARE by Mary Jersey

Edited by Timothy E. Parker

B

2013 0.02 in.

MOON

 Gloria Kaminsky submitted this sunset photo, taken after an afternoon storm in Lakewood Ranch.

2. J I Y Q Q L P ,

Sunrise Sunset

QYEJN

65

M Z I B P. J O L M B J B M O Y J T L N I B T L D W G Q O L R Z S L H O L D

67

JOYRR.

68

Artist with acid Cockpit figure Tropical conifers Jailbird’s hope Musical “sweet potato” Greenhorn Deliverer of the past Deserved Big naval group Any substances one can eat Beeper Most Virgos’ mo.

Crucifix Den dwellers “Beg pardon ...”

Exit the system Yo-Yo Ma’s instrument Oft-quoted saying Military might Irish hooch Be the king Tidies Having celebrity Fitted one within another Vast wasteland Sci-fi beings Stonehenge stones Tokyo, before it was Tokyo Mark on a steer Cousin of the raccoon In ___ (together) According with custom Noisy sitting sound Estrogen producer Leave out in pronunciation Honest pres.

69 Plug 72 Mexican gentlemen 74 Regular customer 77 Makes merry 78 Assumed name 79 Failed to follow suit 80 “Read all ___ it” 81 Lowered in esteem 82 Brevity 83 Barks excitedly 84 Bushy-tailed monkeys 85 Small songbird 86 Pig’s brunch 87 Communion plate 88 Many a roast 89 Type of duck?

92 One way to fatherhood 94 Type of advantage 97 Sultanate on Borneo’s coast 100 One who owes a favor 103 One who waits 104 “The Wizard of Oz” prop 105 O. Henry, notably 106 Getting a new address 107 Packing a wallop 108 Like blushing cheeks 109 “Chango” preceder

DOWN

1 DeMille specialty 2 Mexican snacks 3 Thick, sweet liqueur 4 A catcher is

behind it 59 “Back to the 5 Synthetic rubber Future” star 6 Monthly 60 Like some payment for mattresses many 62 At ___ 7 Make big, as hair (uncaptured) 8 South American 63 Some feline woodwinds 9 Peeled 64 Hangs in the 10 Camera part balance 11 Blazing 66 Electrical units 12 A person 69 Requests divine 13 Frog larvae help 14 Climbers’ 70 “___ Without a obstacles Cause” 15 Long ago 71 Rounded 16 Russian craft? molding 17 Otherwise called 72 Asp or adder (Abbr.)

73 Red lab dye 18 Accomplished 74 Impudently bold 19 Ocean 75 Opposed to 27 Jeremy of unions, to some Hollywood 76 Not fully worked 29 “Author out unknown” 78 Steer’s last stop (Abbr.)

79 Rhythmic dance 32 Disclose 81 “... and make it 33 Intestinal fast!” obstruction 82 Vie 35 Wyclef Jean’s 85 Most birthplace domesticated 36 Ham-and-___ 87 Show the way, in (mediocre boxer) a way 37 Darns 88 Sayings of Jesus, 39 British bloke e.g.

40 Funny ladies 90 Calf-length skirts 41 “ ___ you 91 Olympic ashamed of competition yourself?”

93 Faculty head 42 “Alive” setting 94 French film 43 Like the sound 95 Turnpike turnoff from 63-Across 96 Cogito, ____ 44 Brick worker sum 45 “The Age of 97 Jazz style Reason” author 98 “___ Bravo” 48 “Ba-DUM” (Wayne film) drumbeat 99 The max.

49 In apple-pie 101 Sis relative order 102 ___ Angeles 51 Military group 52 Small grimace or pout 54 Do drilling 55 Bounders 57 Just deserts 58 Popular pets

08-07-14

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Items Under $200 For Sale

Help Wanted

Cleaning

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month, 15 words or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Items(No Under $200 For Sale phone calls please.)

(Please provide your name and address) ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE to: $200 or less in Email with the total value of alladitems classified@yourobserver.com this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month, Online at:be included next to 15 words or less. Price must www.yourobserver.com each item.

No commercial advertising.

Or mailweeks to: in 1 Observer.

Ad runs 2 consecutive The Observer (No phone calls Group please.)

P.O. Boxname 3169 and address) (Please provide your Sarasota, Fl 34230 to: Email ad classified@yourobserver.com AUTO FLOOR Mats. Brand new, factory at: Azera, gray. $45. packaging for 2007Online Hyundai www.yourobserver.com 941-744-1937.

Or mail to: COUCH: LEXINGTON, off white/ cream, 2 seater, The Observer Group $200. Non-smoker/ pets.

941-746-7264.

P.O. BoxCall, 3169 Sarasota, 34230 CURIO CABINET: w/oakFltrim, 17"wx12dx73"h, glass 3 side w/back mirror;Brand 4 glassnew, shelves, $75.

AUTO FLOOR Mats. factory 941-363-4565. packaging for 2007 Hyundai Azera, gray. $45.

DRIVERS: $5,000 Sign-On Bonus! Great Pay! Consistent Freight, Great Miles on this Regional Account. Werner Enterprises: 1-855-517-2507.

BLUE FISH CLEANING INC. 941-705-3812.

Insured, Bonded. Affordable reliable home cleaning, $80, 2 cleaners, 2 hours.

OUTSIDE GOLF Services F/T and P/T positions for Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. Must be willing to work weekends.

Provide exceptional Help Wanted service to members and their guests while DRIVERS: $5,000 Sign-On Bonus!

Great area.

Pay! maintaining golf carts and bag drop Consistent Freight, this Regional Apply in person at Great SMR Miles 14400on Covenant Way, Account. Werner Bradenton, FL Enterprises: 34202 or 1-855-517-2507. send resume to human.resources@smrranch.com OUTSIDE GOLF Services F/T and P/T positions EOE. Drug Free for Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. Must be willing to work weekends. Provide exceptional Homes For their Rentguests while service to members and maintaining golf LUXOR carts and MHP bag drop area.

Apply $500/mo. in person- 1atbed/bath SMR 14400 Covenant mobile homes. Way, Bradenton, 55+ FL community.

34202 or Nosend Pets. resume to human.resources@smrranch.com 5811 14th St. W. Bradenton.

EOE. Drug Free Real Estate Assoc., Inc. Sarasota Greg Nowak 941-809-6034

BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service by Maria.

Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References. Free Cleaning Estimates. Reliable. Lic./ Ins. 941-400-3342.

BLUE FISH CLEANING INC. 941-705-3812.

EDLA’S CLEANING SERVICES: Residential Insured, Bonded. Affordable reliable home Commercial, New Construction.

Meticulous, deep cleaning, $80, 2 cleaners, 2 hours. cleaning top to bottom. We Guarantee. Affordable BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service Maria. & Reliable. Excellent References.

Freeby Estimates.

Residential.

Meticulous Licensed & Insured.

30%Cleaning. off first Excellent cleaning.

References. Free Estimates. Reliable. Lic./ Ins. 941-536-7447.

941-400-3342.

GAIL’S CLEANING Service: 30 Years experience.

Free laundry service. God Bless our great country!

EDLA’S CLEANING SERVICES: Residential 941-746-1562.

Commercial, New Construction. Meticulous, deep cleaning topCLEANING/WATCHING. to bottom. We Guarantee. Affordable HOUSE Excellent & Reliable.

Excellent References.

FreeLanguages: Estimates.

References. Meticulous Cleaning, Licensed & Insured. 30% off 941-806-8854, first cleaning.

English/German/Portuguese, 941-536-7447. fl.housewatch@gmail.com GAIL’S CLEANING Service: 30 Years experience.

Free laundry service. GodWeekly, Bless ourBi−weekly great country!

HOUSE CLEANING. or 941-746-1562.

Monthly Reliable, Mature & Experienced.

ReferencesCLEANING/WATCHING. Available upon Request.

HOUSE Excellent For Free Estimate, call Carol (941) 322−8486.

References.

Meticulous Cleaning, Languages: English/German/Portuguese, 941-806-8854, fl.housewatch@gmail.com Computer Services

941-744-1937.

GAS DRYER: excellent condition, used only by 2 adults, $75.

Carol, 941-224-5760.

COUCH: LEXINGTON, off white/ cream, 2 seater, $200. pets.

Call, 941-746-7264.

HAIR Non-smoker/ PIECES: Paula Young’s - 2 blonde, 1 light brown. $45/all or $20/ea.

941-721-7392.

CURIO CABINET: w/oak trim, 17"wx12dx73"h,

glass 3FURNITURE: side w/back 5/ft. mirror; 4 glass shelves, PATIO hexagon glass table $75. with 941-363-4565.

4 chairs, $200.00. 941-752-0385.

GAS DRYER: excellent condition, used only by PROFORM CROSSTRAINER 970 Exercise Bike.

2 adults, $75. Carol, 941-224-5760. $200.

941-355-2282.

HAIR PIECES:CHAIR: Paula Young’s 2 blonde, light TRANSPORT sturdy - new chair,1 folds brown. $45/all or $20/ea.

941-721-7392. compactly to carry in a trunk, $160. 941-907-8938.

PATIO FURNITURE: hexagon table with WINE BOTTLE rack 5/ft. table of handglass forged iron & 4 chairs, 941-752-0385. glass top,$200.00. $50. 941-201-5086.

PROFORM CROSSTRAINER 970 Exercise Bike.

Autos Wanted $200. 941-355-2282.

WE BUY CARS. TOP sturdy $$ PAID TRANSPORT CHAIR: new FOR chair,YOUR folds VEHICLES. Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421. compactly toCall carry in a trunk, $160.

941-907-8938.

WINE BOTTLE rack table of hand forged iron & Flooring glass top, $50. 941-201-5086.

STONE, TILE & WOOD FLOORING INSTALLERS. 20 Years Experience. flooring materials or Autos Your Wanted mine. Lic./Ins. Call Joe, 941-929-3000.

WE BUY CARS. TOP $$ PAID FOR YOUR VEHICLES. CallFurnishings Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

MATTRESS SALE! 50-80% OFF Retail! K Sets Flooring $290 Q $150 F $140 - Call Daniel, (941)387-4810.

STONE, TILE & WOOD FLOORING INSTALLERS. TWIN BED Set: Century, springs, 20 Years Experience.

Yourmattress, flooring box materials or headboards, granite top over large chest mine. Lic./Ins.armoire, Call Joe, 941-929-3000. of drawers, cream color. Great condition. $649.

941-345-4072. Furnishings MATTRESS SALE! 50-80% Wanted OFF Retail! K Sets Merchandise $290 Q $150 F $140 - Call Daniel, (941)387-4810.

CASH FOR Old Military Items. Swords, TWIN BED Set: Century, mattress, box springs, uniforms, insignia & old guns.

Call 941-416-3280. headboards, armoire, granite top over large chest of drawers, cream color.

Great condition. $649.

Pets 941-345-4072.

DOG GROOMING Mobile, dog/cat sitting, www.furrytails4grooming.com or 941-795-0303.

Merchandise Wanted CASH FOR Old Military Items. Swords, Pools/Spas uniforms, insignia & old guns. Call 941-416-3280.

HOT TUBS - Slim Spas - Fiberglass Pools.

Local manufacturer offering Pets to sell directly to the public at wholesale pricing. 941-462-0633.

DOG GROOMING Mobile, dog/cat sitting, www.furrytails4grooming.com or 941-795-0303.

Personals *ADOPTION*: Pools/Spas AT-Home Parent & NYC Successful Businessman. Art, Music, Travel, HOT TUBS Slimbaby.

SpasExpenses - Fiberglass Pools.

Sports await- 1st paid. FLBar Local offering to sell directly to the 42311.manufacturer 1-800-552-0045. public at wholesale pricing. 941-462-0633.

Storage Personals FACILITY Boat/ RV/

STORAGE Trailer. Secure *ADOPTION*: AT-Home Parent & area.

NYC facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd Successful Businessman.

941-809-3660, 941-809-3662.Art, Music, Travel, Sports await 1st baby. Expenses paid. FLBar 42311. 1-800-552-0045.

Business Opportunities JAN PRO CLEANING FRANCHISE: $950 Down Storage Required, Financing Available for growth, Includes STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure customers. Earn up to $10,000 Month+. facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

Call 941-907-8141.

941-809-3660, 941-809-3662.

Help Wanted Business Opportunities

DRIVERS - New equipment, Great benefits, Safety JAN CLEANING FRANCHISE: $950 PODS Down bonusPRO plans!

Dedicated Flatbed with Required, Financing for growth, Includes (No tarps or chains &Available make your own appts.) and customers.

Earn up to $10,000 Month+.

Van with Georgia Pacific.

CDL-A/2 yrs TT exp. req.

Call 855-205-6361.

941-907-8141.

PROFESSIONAL GROOMER wanted full time for Help Wanted an upscale boutique open 7 days a week.

DRIVERS Great benefits, Proficiency- New in equipment, finish scissoring is a Safety must. bonus plans! Dedicated Flatbed with PODS Call: 941-388-3647.

(No tarps or chains & make your own appts.) and Van with Georgia Pacific. CDL-A/2 yrs TT exp. req.

NOW HIRING! Call 855-205-6361.

Accepting applications and conducting PROFESSIONAL GROOMER full time interviews for Panera Breadwanted Town Center onfor an upscale open 7 -days a week.

Friday,boutique August 8th, 10am 6pm & Proficiency in finish a must.

Saturday, Augustscissoring 9th, 10am -is4pm Call: 941-388-3647. at Keiser University located at 6151 Lake Osprey Dr. Sarasota. www.panerabread.com NOW HIRING! Accepting applications and conducting interviews for Panera Bread Town Center on Friday, August 8th, 10am - 6pm & Saturday, August 9th, 10am - 4pm at Keiser University located at 6151 Lake Osprey Dr. Sarasota. www.panerabread.com

Homes For Rent LUXOR MHP Real Estate Wanted

$500/mo. - 1 bed/bath mobile homes.

55+ community. No Pets.

WANTED 5811 14th St. W. Bradenton.

Sarasota Real Estate Assoc., Inc. LUXURY ANNUAL RENTALS Greg Nowak 941-809-6034

For Qualified Waiting Clients Real Estate Wanted Contact - Sarasota Luxury Rentals WANTED 941-225-1356 email: info@sarasotaluxuryrentals.com

LUXURY ANNUAL RENTALS

Personalized attention with professional honestClients advice.

For Qualified Waiting 25 Years Experience - References available

Contact - Sarasota Luxury Rentals 941-225-1356

email:Adult info@sarasotaluxuryrentals.com Care Services

IN-HOME ASSISTED LIVING. Why leave the Personalized attention safety, beauty and comforthonest of youradvice. own home to with professional receive professional, affordable and compassion25 Years Experience - References available ate care? You don’t need to! ElderCare Services provides complete customized care perfectly tailored to suit your needs and lifestyle. Services Adult Careto,Services include, but not limited homemaking, transportation, errands, meal prep., IN-HOME running ASSISTED LIVING. Why medication leave the supervision, medical ofstaffing, and more. safety, beauty24/7 and comfort your own home to Please 377-4465 affordable for more info. visit us on receive call professional, and or compassionthe web You @ eldercaresarasota.com. ate care? don’t need to! ElderCareLicensed, Services bonded insured. Lic.#30211372 providesand complete customized care perfectly tailored to suit your needs and lifestyle. Services Conditioning include, but Air not limited to, homemaking, transportation, medication GULFSIDErunning A/C & errands, Heating,meal LLC.prep., SALES & SERVsupervision, 24/7 medical staffing, RESPONSE. and more.

ICE, FREE ESTIMATES! 10 MINUTE Please call 377-4465 for more info. or visit us on Visa/MC/Disc.

Lic. #CAC1816929 941-962-6863. the web @ eldercaresarasota.com. Licensed, bonded and insured.

Auto Lic.#30211372 Transport SHIP YOUR Air CAR,Conditioning TRUCK OR SUV anywhere in the United States. Great rates, fast quotes. Call GULFSIDE A/C 941-923-3421. & Heating, LLC. SALES & SERVHawley Motors, ICE, FREE ESTIMATES! 10 MINUTE RESPONSE. Visa/MC/Disc. Lic.Cleaning #CAC1816929 941-962-6863.

Auto Transport BRITISH MAIDS

SHIP YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV anywhere in Cleaning Services the United States.

Great rates, fast quotes. Call Residential & Commercial Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

Weekly, Bi-weekly, Monthly Move-in, Move-out Cleaning 941-350-8670 Licensed, Bonded & Insured www.sarasotaprofessionalcleaning.com BRITISH MAIDS Cleaning Services Residential & Commercial Weekly, Bi-weekly, Monthly Move-in, Move-out 941-350-8670 Licensed, Bonded & Insured www.sarasotaprofessionalcleaning.com

COMPUTER TECHNICALWeekly, Support.

H/W & S/W HOUSE CLEANING. Bi−weekly or problems solved.

Virus/Malware Monthly Reliable, Mature & Experienced.removal; data recovery; Networking/ Internet Issues; References Available upon Request.

Upgrades; A+, Network+ Cert.(941) Tech.322−8486.

Navy trained For Free Estimate, call Carol electronics tech veteran. 941-225-0046.

Computer Services COMPUTER TECHNICAL Support. H/W & S/W problems solved. Virus/Malware removal; data recovery; Networking/ Internet Issues; Upgrades; A+, Network+ Cert. Tech. Navy trained electronics tech veteran. 941-225-0046.

Reserved Space Reserved Space RUN LP YOUR LISTINGS ONLINE

IN THE NEW CLASSIFIEDS MARKETPLACE! 20% OFF INTRODUCTORY OFFER: Reach more buyers. Maximize your sales.

Enhance your listing with images, web links, promotions & more. With just a few clicks your listing enters the Marketplace online, in print...

OR BOTH. Visit Classifieds.YourObserver.com

Home Improvement/ Remodeling

Landscaping & Lawn Service

Landscaping & Lawn Service

LAKEWOOD RANCH LAWN & LANDSCAPE LLC. Unhappy with your current lawn service?

Try us for free! First week free with no contract when switching from current company. We offer complete lawn care and landscaping services.

FREE ESTIMATES. 941-373-5110.

LAKEWOOD RANCH LAWN & LANDSCAPE Painting/Wallpapering LLC. Unhappy your current lawn&service?

CARLO DATTILOwith PAINTING. Licensed insured.

Try us for free! First weekincluding free withdrywall no contract Interior/ Exterior painting repair when switching Wallpaper from current company.& We offer and retexturing. installation removal, complete lawn care and landscaping services. pressure washing. Residential & commercial, FREE ESTIMATES. condos.

Honest &941-373-5110. reliable. Free estimates.

941-744-1020. 35+ years experience.

Painting/Wallpapering

Personal Services CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & insured.

Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing. Wallpaper installation & removal, YOURwashing.

PERSONAL BOOKKEEPER, LLC pressure Residential & commercial, Gail &Sunray, Owner condos. Honest reliable.

Free estimates.

941-744-1020. 35+ years experience.

Personal & Business Bookkeeping Personal Services Accounting/ Taxes YOUR PERSONAL I come to yourBOOKKEEPER, home or office.LLC Gail Sunray, Owner 4 Bill Paying & Account Reconciliation and Business Files Personal &Personal Business Bookkeeping 4 Organizing Financial Reports 4 Budgets &Accounting/ Taxes 4 Federal and State Tax Returns

4 4 4 4

I come to your home or office.

BONDED & INSURED Over yrs. experience Bill Paying &25 Account Reconciliation Organizing Personal and Business Files Budgets Telephone: & Financial 941-749-5646 Reports Federal and State Tax Returns yourbookkeeper@tampabay.rr.com

DRYWALL, TEXTURE AND PAINT. 20 Years Master Craftsman. Licensed & Insured. Call Joe, 941-929-3000.

BONDED & INSURED Pet Services Over 25 yrs. experience

FRED’S HOME IMPROVEMENT AND REPAIR. Painting, tile, kitchen backsplash, windows, drywall, fans, just ask! 941-744-7473.

“K-9 BOOT CAMP” Telephone: 941-749-5646 Professional in-kennel pet obedience program. yourbookkeeper@tampabay.rr.com 40 Acre facility. 35 years proven results.

Lakewood Ranch area.

Von Asgard K-9 Center, Inc. Pet -Services Boarding Training - Sales.

941-322-0705 www.VonAsgard.com “K-9 BOOT CAMP” Professional in-kennel pet obedience program.

40 Acre facility. 35 years proven results.

DOG & CATLakewood GROOMING Bringarea. your BELOVED Ranch PETS here be SPOILED as well as having VontoAsgard K-9 Center, Inc. THE BEST GROOMER IN TOWN BEAUTIFY Boarding - Training - Sales. your BABIES!!

(941) 755−2233 941-322-0705 www.VonAsgard.com

FULL KITCHEN & BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. 20 Years Master Craftsman. Licensed & Insured.

Call Joe, 941-929-3000.

MAKE A LIST- Handyman Services. All Skilled Seniors. In Business 12 Years. Bonded/Insured.

941-308-8888

Landscaping & Lawn Service GENTLEMAN GARDENER. Refine your space.

16 years LW Ranch resident. I’m in your backyard!

941-724-5792.

.QVL <ZMI[]ZM .QVL <ZMI[]ZM

Visit us online at www.yourobserver.com

DOG & CAT GROOMING Bring your BELOVED PETS here to be SPOILED as well as having THE BEST GROOMER IN TOWN BEAUTIFY your BABIES!! (941) 755−2233

SELL IT!

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2014

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2. Smitten, a man married a pretty but very tipsy woman. She was a whisky maker but he loved her still.

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THE EAST COUNTY OBSERV EAST COUNTY OBSERVER Thursday, August 7, 2014 THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

THE EAST COUNTY OBSERVER THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014 Thursday, August 7, 2014

LAWN CARE

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License # CFC043197

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147397

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bobandersonplumbing.com â&#x20AC;˘ 941-322-4510

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32

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

THE CONCESSION

LAKEWOOD RANCH

LAKEWOOD RANCH

8341 Farington Court Charles Totonis & Beth Barnett941.524.8299 premiersir.com/id/A3996767 $2,990,000

12535 Highfield Circle Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin941.961.5857 premiersir.com/id/A3995775 $2,399,000

7018 Belmont Court Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin941.961.5857 premiersir.com/id/A3995181 $1,499,000

THE FOUNDERS CLUB

LAKEWOOD RANCH

ORCHID TRACE

941.961.5857 $1,495,000

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6915 Westchester Circle Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin941.961.5857 premiersir.com/id/A3992578 $1,275,000

FOREST AT HI HAT RANCH

MISTY CREEK

LAUREL OAK ESTATES

9273 Swaying Branch Road Brian Wood 941.928.8408 premiersir.com/id/A3976916 $1,099,000

8453 Eagle Preserve Way Carol Clark & Paul Clark 941.350.4500 premiersir.com/id/A3983091 $995,000

3264 Walter Travis Drive Fernando Viteri 941.400.7676 premiersir.com/id/A3996244 $995,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC 6911 Westchester Circle Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin premiersir.com/id/A4102381

6590 Wild Orchid Lane Joel Schemmel

PRESTANCIA 4175 Escondito Circle Joel Schemmel

premiersir.com/id/A3992087

941.587.4894 $1,195,000

premiersir.com/id/A3999100

LAUREL OAK 3111 Dick Wilson Drive Gigi Silverberg

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7509 Greystone Street Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin941.961.5857 premiersir.com/id/A3996138 $1,149,000

SILVER OAK 941.587.4894 $895,000

941.993.3695 $1,490,000

premiersir.com/id/A3994360

PRESTANCIA

8965 Wildlife Loop Ken Ipox

941.993.7279 $699,000

premiersir.com/id/A3981099

7448 Monte Verde Joel Schemmel

premiersir.com/id/A3999182

941.587.4894 $695,000

PRESTANCIA

LAKEWOOD RANCH

BENT TREE

RIVER CLUB SOUTH

HAMMOCKS

COUNTRY CLUB OF SARASOTA

4224 Escondito Circle Cheryl Loeffler & Daniel Volz 941.302.9674 premiersir.com/id/A4102320 $649,000

14504 Leopard Creek Place Frank Lambert 941.920.1500 premiersir.com/id/A3993471 $629,000

7415 Weeping Willow Drive Carol Clark & Paul Clark 941.350.4500 premiersir.com/id/A3994093 $599,000

9505 Old Hyde Park Place Charles Totonis & Beth Barnett941.524.8299 premiersir.com/id/A3998117 $575,000

7992 Megan Hammock Way Helen Wiegman 941.962.5848 premiersir.com/id/M5833172 $573,000

3923 Torrey Pines Boulevard Joel Schemmel 941.587.4894 premiersir.com/id/A3998412 $545,000

RIVER CLUB

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

PRESTANCIA

LAKEWOOD RANCH

LINSMORE

MOTE RANCH

7649 Harrington Lane Charles Totonis & Beth Barnett941.524.8299 premiersir.com/id/A3992315 $534,900

7684 Silverwood Court Charles Totonis & Beth Barnett941.524.8299 premiersir.com/id/A4101703 $529,900

4634 Mirada Way, #38/39 Joel Schemmel 941.587.4894 premiersir.com/id/A3997675 $485,000

13926 Siena Loop Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin941.961.5857 premiersir.com/id/A3994958 $459,000

EDGEWATER VILLAGE

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

LAUREL LAKES

8443 Sailing Loop Charles Totonis & Beth Barnett941.524.8299 premiersir.com/id/A4100893 $445,900

7123 Westhill Court Charles Totonis & Beth Barnett941.524.8299 premiersir.com/id/A4101365 $424,900

6718 Pebble Beach Way Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin941.961.5857 premiersir.com/id/A3999134 $422,500

2966 Bravura Lake Drive Jesse Carr & Devon Davis 941.920.6588 premiersir.com/id/M5845826 $405,000

PRESTANCIA

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

RIVER CLUB

UNIVERSITY PLACE

12026 Thornhill Court Carol Budnik & Helen Wiegman941.893.7792 $344,900

10110 Glenmore Avenue Charles Totonis & Beth Barnett941.524.8299 premiersir.com/id/A4102210 $344,900

7844 Ashley Circle Craig Cerreta & Toi Estes 941.993.2502 premiersir.com/id/A3995851 $319,000

7376 Villa D’Este Drive Joel Schemmel premiersir.com/id/A3993062

941.587.4894 $360,000

premiersir.com/id/A4101543

7263 Lismore Court Beth Pheney

941.345.5636 $449,000

premiersir.com/id/A3998275

6739 Coyote Ridge Court Toi Estes & Craig Cerreta 941.896.2317 $449,000

premiersir.com/id/A4101313

PRESTANCIA 7364 Mara Vista Drive Joel Schemmel

THE MEADOWS 941.587.4894 $405,000

premiersir.com/id/A3998210

4004 Penshurst Park Fernando Viteri

premiersir.com/id/A3997795

GREENBROOK VILLAGE 14414 Silver Trout Drive Mark Coon premiersir.com/id/M5900085

941.685.6895 $309,900

941.400.7676 $392,500

SARASOTA Rim Road Kevin Milner

premiersir.com/id/A3997422

941.539.3287 $305,000

over 14,500 associates | nearly 750 offices | 52 countries worldwide | 22 locations CLEARWATER | 727.585.9600

THE PLAZA AT FIVE POINTS | 941.364.4000

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RENTALS | 239.262.4242

SOUTH TAMPA | 813.217.5288

VENICE | 941.412.3323

THE GALLERY | NAPLES | 239.659.0099

VANDERBILT | NAPLES | 239.594.9494

ST. PETERSBURG | 727.898.6800

CAPTIVA | 239.395.5847

THE VILLAGE | NAPLES | 239.261.6161

MERCATO SALES CENTER | NAPLES | 239.594.9400

LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500

SANIBEL | 239.472.2735

ESTUARY SALES CENTER | NAPLES | 239.261.3148

BROAD AVENUE | NAPLES | 239.434.2424

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541

THE PROMENADE | BONITA SPRINGS | 239.948.4000

FIFTH AVENUE | NAPLES | 239.434.8770

MARCO ISLAND | 239.642.2222

Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity

145252

premiersothebysrealty.com

2014

BACK TO SCHOOL

Observer EAST COUNTY

2 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

Let the

learning begin A MESSAGE FROM MANAGING EDITOR PAM EUBANKS The start of school is one of my favorite times of year.

Once classes begin Aug. 18, we at the East County Observer have the opportunity to, once again, chronicle the lives and accomplishments of students at our schools.

We photograph them at dances, in plays and at fundraising events.

We write about their accomplishments, whether advancing to world competition for the F1 in Schools Challenge or taking top honors at the national Technology Student

Association conference, as our students did this summer.

This coverage is the kind of stuff we relish, and we can't wait to get started.

To help kick off the new school year, we bring to you our annual Back to School special section.

Within these pages, you'll find a plethora of information about our schools, including projected enrollment, open-house dates and letters from principals.

You also will hear from Superintendent Rick Mills and read stories highlighting what's

going on in Manatee County schools this year, such as how the district plans to improve technology for classrooms, changes in school lunch/snack policies and features on the new principals at four of our schools — Gene Witt Elementary, Nolan and Haile Middle and Lakewood Ranch High.

We hope this guide proves to be a resource for you, our parents, and helps calm that frantic feeling you may experience as you take care of all the details that you must complete before the first bell rings!

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from Superintendent Rick Mills ................... 4 District rethinks technology program..................... 6 Manatee implements new teacher evaluation system.....................................................

8

East County schools welcome new administrators...............................................

10 Elementary school profiles........................12-23 On the Menu: What’s new inside cafeterias this school year...................................

24

Health: Scoliosis may indicate brain conditions .....................

25

Middle school profiles......................

26-29 High school profiles...30-32 On campus: Meet Lakewood Ranch High’s new principal...........

Alternative/ private school profiles................

33

35-38

Joseph Placheril M.D. Board Certified

• 16 Years in the Area • Your Child is ALWAYS seen by the Doctor • State of the Art Office • Well and Sick Waiting and Exam Rooms I 75

Dr. Placheril

Norman Liquor

(941) 758.1285

josephplacheril.com Most Insurance Accepted Not a Medicaid Provider

Newborns - 18 years old New Patients Welcome

Conveniently Located Just East of I-75, off SR 70 | 8623 54th Drive East, Bradenton

SAME DAY SICK APPOINTMENTS 146248

SR. 70

Rosedale Country Club

4 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

A MESSAGE FROM

SUPERINTENDENT RICK MILLS The Manatee County School District looks forward to another great year.

I am honored and excited to welcome our students, families, teachers and our entire school district team of employees to the 2014-2015 school year.

Our school district has shown significant signs of progress academically, financially and organizationally over the past 18 months.

Working together in a spirit of openness and collaboration, we have laid a secure foundation for our school district’s return to the greatness our children and community expect and deserve.

On the academic front, FCAT results for the 20132014 school year showed Manatee District students

exceeded the state averages in fourth-, fifth- and seventhgrade math for the first time since 2008. Our students also exceeded state averages in eighth-grade math, fourthgrade writing and on the U.S. history end-of-course exam for the first time ever.

Our gains in FCAT writing and third-grade reading and math prompted Florida Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart to place the school district at the top of her list when recognizing the progress of individual school districts. I thank our students and teachers for their hard work and achievements, and I want them to know we expect even greater success.

Financially, we are closing out the previous school year with a positive fund balance for the first time in three years, and we are projecting

to post the state-required fund balance of $11.5 million for this school year – a feat that has not been accomplished the past five years.

As an organization, we have assembled an incredibly talented and dedicated team of leaders, and we are aligning all of our resources, departmental efforts and academic programs to our district’s new strategic plan.

Developed in cooperation with our community, our district’s strategic plan provides us with a clearly-defined focus as we move forward together and a means to rigorously monitor our results to make sure we are achieving our goals.

This year will also be a time of transition as we move away from the FCAT to a new state accountability system based on the Florida stan-

dards approved by the Florida State Board of Education in February 2014. We will implement a new teacher evaluation tool known as the Charlotte Danielson Model, approved in collaboration with the Manatee Education Association. In addition, we have begun a new Principal Leadership Development Program designed to develop current and future leaders.

There are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in helping our children, even if you don’t have a child in our school system.

You can mentor a student through our Take Stock in Children program, participate in our school advisory committees, community engagement forums or volunteer at any one of our 64 schools.

Welcome back, and let’s have another GREAT year!

—Rick Mills, superintendent

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

5

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6 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

technology by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

District ‘thinks’ technology The Manatee County School District plans to use its buying power to improve classroom technology districtwide.

The Lenova ThinkPad Twist laptops are perfect for the classroom setting because they allow for both creating and consuming content, Manatee County School District Chief Information and Technology Officer Mike Borysiewicz said.

The devices will be stored at schools and placed in technology carts that can be wheeled from classroom to classroom.

technology officer.

“The vast majority of the devices in the school district are more than five years old,” Borysiewicz said.

“In the world of technology, that’s ancient.

Our job is to teach.

A school district employee brings the new computers into a We need to have cur- warehouse. rent technology in the Walmart, but the concepts are about $1.2 million from techhands of the teachers the same. We can get econonology allocations last year and and the students.” mies of scale.” about $1.4 million from the disIn previous years, the school The deal with the Lenova trict’s 2013/2014 capital budget. district has allotted funding Twist showcases that strategy, School Board members voted for technology to individuBorysiewicz said. The district July 22 to expend an additional als schools, which purchase learned of an opportunity to $90,000 to have an outside venmachines according to their purchase the machines for 30 dor configure the devices in just needs. But the district now will cents on the dollar — about two weeks, so they are ready hold technology dollars in its $425 per machine compared when school begins. operating budget. with its regular price of $1,400 The district now is working “We will look at how to per unit. And, it acted quickly on a “refresh” program to bring purchase technology in bulk,” to secure the machines, using in new computers each year.

Borysiewicz said. “We aren’t

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Mike Borysiewicz is on a mission to ensure Manatee County students have technology at their fingertips.

In June, the Manatee County School District purchased 6,139 Lenova ThinkPad Twist Secure Convertible laptops and tablets to use in schools starting in August. The devices will support student online testing, specifically end-of-course exams for up to 70 courses, and be used in the classroom setting for online research, simulation activities and collaborative partnership and communication activities.

The purchase of the devices is part of an aggressive information technology agenda pushed out by Superintendent Rick Mills and his leadership team, including Borysiewicz, the district’s chief information and

On the cart

AUGUST 2014

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7

8 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Growing together by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer

County to implement new evaluations As students prepare to head back to school, teachers and administrators brace for a closer look at the classroom.

As the 2014-2015 school year begins, the Manatee County School District will implement a new teacher-evaluation system aimed at making the evaluation process consistent and improving the quality of classroom instruction.

The Charlotte Danielson 2007 evaluation model consists of four categories: planning and preparation, classroom experience, instruction and responsibilities.

Teachers are evaluated on components, such as learning activities, within each category Administrators base scores on about six classroom observations and other visits to classrooms during the year.

The number of visits varies, depending on the number of years the instructor has taught in the school district and the ratings received in previ-

Manatee Education Association President Pat Barber thinks the district’s new teacher evaluation, the 2007 Charlotte Danielson model, will bring continuity to teacher evaluations.

Things to know • Educators are evaluated on a scale of unsatisfactory, needs improvement, efficient and highly efficient • Teachers who receive an unsatisfactory rating will be placed on probation for 90 days. Within two weeks after the 90 days expires, an administrator will conduct another evaluation. If the teacher receives the lowest rating again, Superintendent Rick Mills will make a recommendation to the school.

ous years. Danielson’s rubric encourages administrators to meet with teachers after each observation.

“This (evaluation) gives administrators a chance to delve into what each classroom looks like,” Haile Middle School

Principal Sharon Scarbrough said. “This is going to be a partnership between administrators and teachers to make sure we’re all on the same page with educating our students.”

Principals will use the scores received in each category to help the district determine the earnings of teachers for the new performance-based pay system.

A collaborative committee of administrators, Manatee Education Association representatives and MEA President Pat Barber developed and will monitor the new evaluation system. Barber believes the Danielson model will create better continuity from school to school.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at amandas@yourobserver.com.

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AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

9

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10 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

leadership by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer

East County principals to implement new practices EAST COUNTY — As the 2014-2015 school year begins, three principals who share common approaches to leadership prepare to lead East County schools.

Sharon Scarbrough will lead Carlos E. Haile Middle School;

David Marshall is taking the reins at Gene Witt Elementary; and Scot Boice is the new principal of R. Dan Nolan Middle School.

Each of the principals, whose careers in education collectively exceed 70 years, have visions

Sharon Scarbrough

she sees the learning experience and happenings in the classroom through a teacher’s perspective, as well as a principal’s, she said. She will ensure teachers at her school that they have the tools they need, both in terms of tangible materials and support, as well as making sure educators know the expectations spelled out in the new teacher evaluations.

Like Haile’s former principal Janet Kerley, she’s a hands-on leader, she said.

“If you’re looking for me,

Sharon Scarbrough identifies with teachers because she has been in their position, worrying about evaluations and test scores, while also staying focused on educating students.

Her career in education started as a long-term substitute at Southeast High School in the late ‘90s.

Although she has spent 10 years as an administrator,

Three principals plan to pave their own paths at East County schools.

they plan to implement.

Although plans are specific to each administrator, they share some common ideas, such as a greater emphasis on technology in the classroom and working more closely with teachers.

They hope to create their

bio Age: 42 Previous school: W.D. Sugg Middle School Unknown fact: Her family has multiple sets of twins. Scarbrough has twins — a boy and a girl — as does her sister and three of her cousins. Her husband also has twin brothers.

chances are I’ll be out around campus, meeting with teach-

own trails in their schools’ histories, while building upon their predecessors’ proven practices.

Below, Scarbrough, Marshall and Boice describe their versions of the schools’ next chapters. ers and talking to students,” Scarbrough said. “I take a direct approach to education. I want to see what’s happening in classrooms. I want to lead, support and challenge our teachers and students to reach their full potential every day.”

She also plans to place emphasis on extra-curricular activities, clubs and sports.

“We encourage students in the classroom, on the stage, in a studio, on the court and out in the fields to be the best they can be,” Scarbrough said.

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AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

Dave Marshall David Marshall, a Bradenton native who has spent all of his years in education in his hometown, takes both a handson and hands-off approach to leading a school.

Marshall, who taught secondthrough-fifth grades and a gifted class more than 18 years, believes teachers perform their best when administrators grant them certain liberties in their classrooms.

“My job is to facilitate learning, not to micromanage the teachers,” Marshall said. “I believe in letting teachers teach, to allow them to do what they do best, without constant monitoring.”

He also plans to become heavily involved in understanding students’ performance, as he believes former Witt Principal Myra Russell did.

He plans to meet with teachers throughout the school year to determine which students are struggling before too much time passes in the school year.

Marshall also plans to expand on technology’s increasing

Scot Boice

bio

Although Scot Boice plans to continue the close-knit relationship his former colleague and retired Nolan Principal Nancy High had with teachers, he’s most excited to work with his favorite grade level of students.

Boice started his career in 1982 as a seventh- and eighthgrade science teacher at W.D. Sugg Middle School.

“The students are at that age where they’re getting to know the world around them,” Boice said, “and they don’t quite know what they’re good at, yet. I enjoy their enthusiasm and their energy when I ask them things, not tell them. They’re curious.”

Another principal that can’t sit still in his office, Boice plans to explore his new campus as much as possible, while talking with teachers and students.

Boice also focuses on new programs he will implement this school year, including students using iPads, tablets, smart phones, laptops and other technology in the classroom.

School policy previously allowed students to use certain

Age: 54 Previous school: Anna Maria Elementary Unknown fact: He attended Florida State University and both of his children attend the school currently.

presence in the classroom at Witt Elementary. He wants students in all grade levels to take more tests, not just end-of-year assessments, on computers.

“Online testing is the way of the future,” Marshall said.

Although Witt sits 21 miles away from Anna Maria Elementary, where Marshall previously worked, he sees similarities between the schools, particularly their strong community and parent support.

Marshall believes by attending PTO meetings when he is able, he will get a closer look at issues important to parents.

“I want to get to know these parents and find out, ‘What makes this a great community school?’” Marshall said.

11

bio Age: 55 Previous school: Electa Lee Magnet Middle School Unknown fact: He likes to scuba dive. He visited the Florida Keys for the first time this summer to dive.

technology in class for assignments, as long as the children adhered to certain guidelines.

Adding more devices to the acceptable list will expand on what he believes to be an innovative approach to learning.

Boice also wants to improve safety. This year, students and faculty members will wear photo name badges at all times.

“It will provide an extra sense of security,” Boice said.

“Students can also use the barcodes on the back of the badges to check out library books and in the lunch line.”

Boice will establish a web page for each teacher on Nolan’s website — a practice at his former school, Lee Middle.

4

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12 AUGUST 2014

‘‘

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

WILLIAM H BASHAW

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 3515 Morgan Johnson Road, Bradenton • 741-3307 edline.net/pages/sdmcbashawes

JUST THE FACTS Principal: Josh Bennett Mascot: Bobcats Colors: Garnet and gold

#

Open house: 5 to 7 p.m.

Aug. 14 Projected enrollment: 620 PTO president: Kristen Whitson Special programs: Schoolwide artand-music festival

C (2013-14)

I would like to welcome you to Bashaw Elementary School, the school that celebrates diversity.

FROM THE We have been PRINCIPAL: working all summer, planning lessons, activities and a few surprises for the year.

Students should be prepared to come to school with the needed supplies. All grade-level lists can be found on the school's website.

Students should also be prepared to have the appropriate uniform attire. The PTO will have uniforms for sale at Back to School Night on Aug. 14.

Bashaw has a reputation of celebrating diversity, which is seen in our classrooms, around

our school campus and at all school events. Students are taught the importance of respecting others and how to make a positive influence on their community, in addition to the high academic standards we hold for all our students.

We welcome all families and community members to become involved by volunteering, serving on school committees or partnering with your child's teacher to support the

I am excited about the new school year because I will get to learn new things in second grade. One of my favorite subjects is reading.

When I read a book, I get to use my imagination and that is a lot of fun.

I have missed seeing my friends over the summer break. Bashaw is the best school ever because of all the teachers, students and all the fun I have there.

— Ryan Fitzstephens

‘‘

•

school-and-home connection.

Our staff is excited for another great year, and we are looking forward to seeing you.

— Josh Bennett, principal

FUN FACT: Bashaw has been celebrating the thematic schooolwide art-and-music festival theme for close to 30 years.

Imagine w h you’ll do n at ext!

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AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER â&#x20AC;˘ BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

A Cum Laude Society School

Congratulations and good luck to the Class of 2014 as you embark on your first semester in college!

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Visit www.oda.edu/classof2014 to learn more about the Class of 2014.

13

14 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

‘‘

BRADEN RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Principal: Hayley Rio Mascot: Wranglers Colors: Red and blue

#

Open house: 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 14 Projected enrollment: 650 PTO president: Sara Mayo Special programs or offerings: Inspiring Elementary Engineering and Runners Club

A (2013-14)

6215 River Club Blvd. Bradenton • 751-7012

manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/bradenriver

FROM THE Dear PRINCIPAL: Braden River Elementary Students, I am looking forward to welcoming you back to school and hearing about your summer adventures!

Be sure to come to our Open House from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 14. You will be able to meet your new teacher, see your classroom and catch up with friends. Our new theme that you selected will be unveiled during our Open House.

I will be in the cafeteria, so come by and say hello.

I hope you have been filling your summer learning note-

book with notes of the books you have been reading, stories of places you have been visiting and your opportunities for practicing math. We will be sharing these with each other when we return to school, so be sure to bring your notebook with you when school starts in August.

As usual, we will be working hard this year, yet we will still have time for plenty of fun.

You will be able to continue to earn BRES Bucks, and we have been planning our special events. We are going to continue with some of your favorites, like the dance party and field day, and we have a couple of new surprises!

While you are enjoying these last couple of weeks of sum-

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL

‘‘

JUST THE FACTS

I love my school because the teachers here at BRE are the coolest and they make learning fun!

— Nathan Parker

mer, keep reading! It is one of my favorite summer activities.

If you have not already been filling your summer learning notebook, you still have time.

Come back to school refreshed and ready to learn. Enjoy the rest of your summer break and I will see you soon!

— Hayley Rio, principal

FUN FACT: Will we will be going on a camping adventure, blasting off into space, or jumping into sports? Our theme for the 20142015 school year will be revealed at our open house on August 14th! Our students voted and the results will soon be known!

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AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

15

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16 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

‘‘

FREEDOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JUST THE FACTS Principal: Jim Mennes Mascot: Falcons Colors: Red, white and blue Open house: 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 14

#

Projected enrollment: 760 PTO president: Christina Fairey Special programs or offerings: National Elementary Honor Society

A (2013-14)

Freedom FROM THE PRINCIPAL: Families, We hope everyone is having a relaxing summer.

Soon, we will be ready to kick off another amazing year at Freedom. We progressed well last year, and, again, our students performed great on state-and-local testing.

We have several new teachers joining us as Freedom continues to grow.

Each brings skills and enthusiasm to help your children reach their full potential.

Our National Honor Society and our award-winning TSA Engineering program are just two opportunities children

have here at Freedom that make us unique.

Our Beyond The Bell extended day program is here to support families with childcare before and after the school day.

Our program is run entirely by Freedom faculty, and families can be assured their child will have a safe, educational and fun time while in the program.

Our Freedom Back to School Night will be from 4 to 6 p.m.

Aug. 14.

We look forward to seeing

‘‘

9515 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton • 708-4990 edline.net/pages/sdmcfreedomes

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL

I love my school because the teachers and staff are great. They are the best!

— Caleb Waldrop

you and welcoming you all to Freedom Elementary!

— Jim Mennes, principal

FUN FACT: Freedom Elementary dedicated its special Let Freedom Ring Courtyard in 2007.

Exploration of creativity and expression through movement is at the heart of The Sarasota Ballet School. Where your children can, as young as age 3, learn from our prestigious company and where we help them develop musicality, coordination, spatial awareness, expression and creativity.

Offering the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus which provide a solid foundation for students moving forward to the higher learning levels, The Sarasota Ballet School is open to everyone.

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Come and be a part of something special and let us welcome you into The Sarasota Ballet Family.

The Sarasota Ballet School 941-359-0099 x 120 | education@sarasotaballet.org | www.SarasotaBallet.org

‘

AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

Experience the Difference of Catholic Education Pre-K through 8th Grade

B D GULLETT •

17

•

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 12125 44th Ave. E., Bradenton • 727-2067

St. Martha Catholic School

edline.net/pages/sdmcgullettes

Principal: Kathy McLean Mascot: Gators Colors: Royal blue and green

A (2013-14)

ACCREDITATION

• Florida Catholic Conference • National Council for Private School Accreditation • National Catholic Education Association • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics • National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

O

H

FUN FACT: B.D. Gullett Elementary is the newest school in the Lakewood Ranch area. It is beginning its eighth year as a school.

‘‘

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL

Gullett Elementary is marvelous because of the teachers' and staff's dedication to balance scholarly and physical education, while developing the whole student. The teachers and staff are wonderful!

— Ryan Yanevich

CATHOLIC HA S RT

L OO CH

Runners Club, guitar, drums, i-Pad, chess, cheerleading, dance, art, cooking, science, creative writing and many others. Clubs are sponsored by school staff, and parents are welcome to assist.

Please join us for our fifth annual Neal Communities Golf Challenge scheduled for Sept.

20. Contact our Golf Challenge chairperson, Danielle Downes, (ariete0416@yahoo.com) to learn how you can be involved in this community event.

— Kathy McLean, principal

• Religion • Language Arts • Math • Science • Social Studies • Technology Fully integrated into all classrooms • Art • Music • Physical Education • Spanish • Library • Chapel • Association of Student Leaders • Christian Service Program • National Junior Honor Society • KNN News Production • Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Football, Tennis & Golf (6-8 Grades: Florida Gulf Coast Atlantic Conference)

P

N E VIN S A C

A

SAVE THE DATES

October 4, 2014 - Escape To The Caribbean Interactive Dinner January 25, 2015 - Open House March 28, 2015 - 4th Annual Crawfish Festival

ST. MARTHA CATHOLIC SCHOOL 4380 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34232

www.stmarthaschool.net • 941.953.4181

146279

Special programs or offerings: Quarterly after-school enrichment clubs, 100-Mile Runners Club, Jackie's Art Club and Gullett Dance Team

ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES:

MY

PTO president: Stefani Lis

OUR MISSION

In partnership with Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church, the mission of St. Martha Catholic School is to provide each student with diverse opportunities which develop strength in faith and excellence in knowledge and learning. Students build character through their Christian service to the school, parish and world communities.

DE

Projected enrollment: 600

A

#

Open house: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 15

BIS

‘‘

JUST THE FACTS

ST. M

FROM THE Dear PRINCIPAL: Families, Welcome! I look forward to teaming our efforts for another successful year for your child.

B.D. Gullett Elementary students strive to excel in a nurturing and challenging academic environment, supported by an integral partnership between staff, parents and community members.

Our faculty is comprised of a talented team of teachers and instructional-support members. More than 85% of our teachers have dual certifications and more than one-third have advanced degrees or National Board Certification.

Our school has achieved a school accountability grade of “A” for six consecutive years.

Gullett continues to respond to our community’s request for affordable before- and after-school enrichment clubs, including the 100-Mile

Strength in Faith | Excellence in Knowledge | Character in Service

18 AUGUST 2014

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GILBERT W MCNEAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 6325 Lorraine Road., Lakewood Ranch • 751-8165 manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/mcneal/Home.html

Principal: Norma Scott Mascot: Wildcats Colors: Periwinkle, gold, green and white

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Open house: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 14 Projected enrollment: 748 PTO president: Monica Thomas Special programs or offerings: engineering and enrichment clubs

A (2013-14)

Welcome FROM THE PRINCIPAL: Wildcats to the 2014-2015 school year!

At McNeal Elementary, the staff is committed to recognizing your child's strengths and abilities.

From our offerings of finearts classes — engineering, science, music, physical education, art and media — to the various classroom teaching models, we see each child as an individual with unique hopes, dreams, skills and needs.

Due to the support and hard work of our teachers, parents and students, last year was a banner year for McNeal.

FUN FACT: A turtle laid her eggs by the greenhouse door the second week in June.

In county competition, both our Math Superstar Team and Speech winners won first place, while our Technology Student Association (TSA) placed!

McNeal Elementary continues a legacy of learning and excellence.

As we open our doors to new

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families on Aug. 18, I invite you to join the McNeal PTO. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet people who make a difference in the life of our children.

Looking forward to a super year!

— Norma Scott, principal

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JUST THE FACTS

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL All the teachers are nice and we do some pretty fun activities, like engineering, where we create new stuff. — Lindsey Morehead

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AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

TARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

This year FROM THE PRINCIPAL: marks the 22nd anniversary of Tara Elementary.

We have been planning all summer for this exciting school year.

Through Aug. 8, school uniforms will be on sale in the front office from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Back to School Night is scheduled for Aug. 14, and I look forward to seeing everyone that evening. Families will meet their teachers, visit their classroom and reconnect with classmates from 5 to 6 p.m.

Partnering with families will be one of our focuses for the upcoming year. We encourage families to volunteer, join our school PTO, become a business partner and support their child by asking what they learned at school each day.

Tara Elementary will be continuing with its site-based, after-school program called “Knights Academy.” Child care will be available from 6:30 to 8 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Call the front office for more information and to receive an application.

We are expanding our gifted/ advanced full-day inclusion classes to second-through-fifth grades for the upcoming school year.

— Steve Royce, principal

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Aug. 14

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Dr. M&M 941.953.2111 SmileWorksKids.com

Projected enrollment: 600 PTO president: Susan Evans Special programs or offerings: Full day gifted/ advanced classes for grades 2-5

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WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL I love my school because everyone is nice and the teachers never give up on their students.

If we struggle in our work, they stop and explain it and help us understand it.

— McKinley Evans

FUN FACT: The principal cooks breakfast for straight-A students.

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6950 Linger Lodge Road, Bradenton • 751-7660

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20 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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ROBERT E WILLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Principal: Bill Stenger Mascot: Geckos Colors: Lime green and navy blue Open house: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 14

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Projected enrollment: 724 PTO president: Yazzie Bruss

A (2013-14) FUN FACT: Last year, Willis students and staff launched more than 900 tennis balls aimed at Principal Bill Stenger, who stood on a raft for the day in the middle of school’s lake. Who knows what he will do this year?

14705 The Masters Ave., Lakewood Ranch • 316-8245 manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/willis/Site/Welcome.html Welcome to FROM THE PRINCIPAL: the 2014-2015 school year! This will be the 10th year for Willis Elementary, and we are honored to welcome students and parents from our community.

We hope you all had a very safe, relaxing and enjoyable summer.

I would like to share some Willis news with you. Mrs. Connie Dixon has been transferred to be the Assistant Principal at Blackburn Elementary School and will not be at Willis. Our new assistant principal will be Mrs. Michele Danowski. She is very excited to be part of our school and is looking forward to meeting all of you. Please be sure to introduce yourself and welcome her to Willis when you meet her.

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL

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JUST THE FACTS

"I really like Willis because it has great teachers that make learning fun. I especially like when our principal does silly things like being taped to the wall in the cafeteria when we reach our fundraising goals.

— Emily Conelias

The Willis staff continues to be committed to excellence in teaching and providing an environment where creative minds can flourish, excel and think and respond in a more critical way. An emphasis will be placed on working together to achieve the highest possible academic standards while teaching students to employ our “Eight Keys of Excellence” in support of our

school theme of ‘Living Above the Line.”

The 2014-2015 school year promises to be an exciting and productive year. Please plan on attending our Open House Aug. 14 to find out who your teacher will be and check out your new classroom. We look forward to seeing you all soon.

— Bill Stenger

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

GENE WITT

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 200 Rye Road, Bradenton • 741-3628 manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/witt

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JUST THE FACTS Principal: David Marshall

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Back to School with Baker Orthodontics

Mascot: Eagles Colors: Teal, silver and white

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Open house: 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 14 Projected enrollment: 590 PTO president: Mary Fisher and Megan Matras

A (2013-14) after-school programs, provides a well-rounded learning and growing experience for all students.

We would like to invite each family to our Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 14.

Students will meet their new teachers and see their classrooms. Parents will hear information about our new reading program for Manatee County schools and learn about the new Florida State Standards that have been adopted for the 2014-2015 school year.

I will be available to meet and greet students and parents, and I look forward to this initial opportunity to build a relationship with Witt families.

In the meantime, please enjoy the remainder of your summer vacation.

— David Marshall, principal

FUN FACT: This year our Special Area Team will be growing by one and changing by two. We are hiring a second physical-education coach and welcoming a new media specialist and a new music teacher.

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL I love Gene Witt because the teachers love kids. — Ashlyn Fisher

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Welcome to Gene Witt Elementary School. We are looking forward to another exciting year of excellence.

As the newly appointed principal, I am looking forward to meeting students, parents and community members who have supported this wonderful school over the years.

Because of our talented staff and unwavering community support, Witt Elementary has enjoyed an amazing reputation, defined by being an A-rated school for 17 years.

Our emphasis on the core content areas of reading, writing, math and science, along with enrichment opportunities, such as our fine arts and

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FROM THE PRINCIPAL:

AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

146198

22 AUGUST 2014

AUGUST 2014

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23

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ROUNDUP

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24 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

nutrition by Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor

ON THE MENU The Manatee County School District this year will implement a revised wellness policy.

As the Manatee County School District prepares for the arrival of students, its Food and Nutrition Services Department staff has rolled out measures to improve nutrition and food safety for students.

The district’s revised wellness policy reinforces existing policies, while also implementing new federal guidelines that set nutritional standards for school lunches, snacks and classroom party

NICKELED, NOT DIMED

School lunch prices increased by 5 cents this year. Prices are now: Level Breakfast Lunch Elementary $1.10 $2.05 Secondary $1.20 $2.30 Adult $1.60 $3.00

foods through the federal Smart Snacks in School program. It aims to reduce the overall number of calories — and especially the number of calories attributed to sugars and solid fats ­—

What’s on a plate?

New requirements dictate that a student meal at breakfast or lunch must include either 1/2 cup fruit or vegetable and two other components.

Components include: protein, grains, milk, fruits and vegetables. At breakfast, students may choose up to two grains or up to two proteins or one grain/ one protein to complete the meal.

REVISED Wellness and Nutrition Policy Highlights include: • Parents may only bring meals into the cafeteria for their student.

• Classroom parties will be held the last hour of the day in elementary schools.

• All food used for parties or for snacks will meet Smart Snack requirements, have an ingredient label and be from a licensed food serve establishment.

• Non-food alternatives should be used as rewards for children.

• Foods used as classroom fundraising or other fundraising during the school day must meet Smart Snack nutritional standards.

• Fundraising foods cannot be sold during meal-service hours.

• Pizza for in-classroom parties will be purchased through the cafeteria.

TAKING A ‘SLICE’ OUT OF NUTRITION

in snack items.

“Foods brought in have (to be from) a food service establishment. That’s for food safety,” says Skye Grundy, dietician and nutrition coordinator for Food and Nutrition Services. “They can order it through us, and they know it meets that nutritional (requirement).”

To make following the guidelines easier for parents, the school district also has launched a new online

Need to check your school’s cafeteria menu? Now you can view it on your smartphone. The district’s new Nutrislice application allows parents to see their child’s school menu, as well as nutrition and allergen information for menu items.

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AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

25

unique case by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer

TEEN RECOVERS FROM BRAIN SURGERY

Michele Mercier believes her daughter’s scoliosis may have indicated her brain condition.

Being a member of the Braden River High dance team is just one reason Megan Mercier is excited to go back to school.

For the 14-year-old, who has been taking classes online for more than five months via

KEY WORDS Chiari Malformation — An abnormality in the cerebellum, the portion of the brain that controls balance and motor skills Kyphosis — A curving of the spine that causes a bowing or rounding of the back Lordosis — Inward curvature of the spine Scoliosis — An abnormal curvature of the spine, typically in the shape of an “S” Syringomyelia (syrinx) — A fluid-filled cyst that forms on the spinal chord

tion of the spine’s major curve of scoliosis tended to be on the same side as the syrinx.

Megan experienced daily headaches, vertigo and an offbalance feeling before her surgery. Her mom now knows the conditions are associated with chiari malformation.

Mercier also recommends parents pay attention to their children’s physical structure.

Uneven shoulder blades, a bump that’s prominent on one side of the back or one leg being a different length from the other could all be indicators of a problem, she said.

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Although Megan Mercier has undergone more medical tests and procedures than some adults, she still sees herself as a regular teenager, she says.

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A

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Megan suffers from a range of health issues: lordosis kyphosis, severe curvature of the spine; chiari malformation — a condition in which the brain is too large for the skull; and syringomyelia, or syrinx, a fluid-filled cyst inside of the spinal chord.

Michele Mercier believes her daughter’s brain and back issues are related and plans to raise awareness on the correlation.

Although little is known about the history of scoliosis found in patients with syrinx, or if one condition causes the other, some information supports Mercier’s claim.

In one study conducted on 20 patients, who ranged in age from 2 to 13 years old, the loca-

26 AUGUST 2014

6215 River Club Blvd., Bradenton • 751-7080 edline.net/pages/sdmcbradenriverms

Principal: Randy Petrilla Mascot: Panthers Colors: Red, black and white Open house: 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 14; Back-to-School Night: 6 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 26

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Projected enrollment: 936 PTO and SAC presidents: Bobbie Sue Letso and Wendy Orlando Special programs or offerings: Five high-school credit courses.

I would like FROM THE PRINCIPAL: to welcome parents and students to Braden River Middle School, home of the Panthers.

Students should be prepared to come to school with the “Keys4Success,” a positive attitude, respectful behavior, personal responsibility and a concern for a safe school environment. Students and parents should check the school website for handbook information, summer assignments and school supplies.

We welcome all families and community members to

become involved by volunteering, becoming a member of our PTSO or joining our School Advisory Counsel (SAC).

To foster a home/school connection, we encourage you to partner with your child’s teachers to reinforce school rules and expectations. Parents can monitor their student’s progress by signing up for FOCUS, a web-based tool for

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL

The teachers have given me so many opportunities to grow and succeed. This school has given me the confidence to push myself further than I ever have in the past, and because of them, I have gone from an average elementary student to an above-average, honorroll, middle-school student.

— Baileigh Bockover

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BRADEN RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL JUST THE FACTS

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BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

tracking grades, class assignments and attendance.

Our staff is excited for another great year.

— Randall J. Petrilla, principal

FUN FACT: Although the school’s mascot is a panther, when students first

A (2013-14)

voted, they were 20 votes away from choosing the armadillo as their mascot.

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AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

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27

CARLOS E. HAILE MIDDLE SCHOOL 9501 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton • 714-7240 edline.net/pages/sdmchailems

Mascot: Storm Colors: Teal, black and silver Open house: 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 14

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Projected enrollment: 1,060

One reason we love Haile Middle School are the friendships we form competing in the TSA program.

— Larz Sesante

Students can explore their talents and find new ones.

We encourage students in the classroom, on the stage, in a studio, on the court and out in the fields to be the best they can be. Providing a variety of academic, athletic, FUN FACT: All of Haile’s social and extraclubs, teams and performance curricular activities groups competed and earned to meet all of the awards and recognitions at the local, needs and wants of state and national level last year. our students to help

PTO president: Krystal Sullivan Special programs or offerings: Agriculture, art, band, orchestra, chorus, dance, graphic design, technology and industry

A (2013-14)

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WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL

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them grow to young adults is our No. 1 priority.

— Sharon Scarbrough, principal

Sprains Strains and Broken Bones

143577

Principal: Sharon Scarbrough

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FROM THE Carlos E. PRINCIPAL: Haile Middle School is such a special place, and I am so proud to be your principal this year.

Ten years ago, I came to Haile as an assistant principal and was so fortunate to have my first administrative experience here. To come back as principal in 2014 is such an honor.

Haile has a tradition of excellence, and we plan to continue to add new and exciting programs and opportunities for our students and school community.

JUST THE FACTS

28 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

R DAN NOLAN •

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

MIDDLE SCHOOL

6615 Greenbrook Blvd., Lakewood Ranch • 751-8200 manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/ middleschool/nolan

Y DASH PROGRAM

I am pleased FROM THE PRINCIPAL: to be principal of Nolan Middle School.

I have had the opportunity to meet the faculty, staff and many students.

Everyone has been kind in welcoming to me to Nolan.

I am especially impressed by the students and their politeness and interest in getting to know me.

On several occasions, students have approached me as I walked in the halls and classrooms.

They have introduced themselves, asked me questions and told me a little about themselves.

The impression I have is of a school that is caring, polite and proud. I look forward to working with the interesting

Y DASH is a youth development program that increases Development Assets, Fosters Academic Achievement, Teaches Social Responsibility and promotes Healthy Living for Manatee County children.

The Y provides before & after school care, and day camp (no school days, and winter, spring, summer and fall breaks) Camps held at our Y branches.

Before & After School participating locations:

JUST THE FACTS Principal: Scot Boice Mascot: Colts Colors: Blue and silver Open house: 5:45 p.m. Aug. 14 (sixth grade and new students)

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Projected enrollment: 1,104 PTO president: Beth Grogan Special programs or offerings: eSTEAM Academy and BYOD program

A (2013-14) and engaging students, parents and staff at Nolan Middle School.

— Scot Boice

FUN FACT: This year is the Chinese Year of the Horse. Nolan's mascot is the Colts. So we will be celebrating our commonalities in the 10 years since Nolan opened. Go Colts!

Imagine North Manatee and Moody Elementary Schools.

Manatee County Y Bradenton Branch * Parrish Branch Lakewood Ranch Branch

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For more information visit www.manateeymca.org or call the Y at 782-0220 ext. 123.

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Braden River, Buffalo Creek, Haile, Johnson, King, Lee, Nolan and Sugg Middle Schools.

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL

I Love all the friends i have made at Nolan and the learning experience from my teachers.

— Madi Grogan

AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

29

Dreams Are Free

Catholic School at Bishop Nevins Academy

MIDDLE SCHOOL

ROUNDUP

Catholic Successful Proven

Providing students with special needs the opportunity to succeed • Grades K-8 • Small Class Sizes (12 students or fewer per class) • ESE Certified Teachers • On-Site Occupational, Speech & Physical Therapy • Technology Lab & eBooks • Music & Art Programs • Daily Physical Education • Before & After School Care • McKay Scholarship Participant • Financial Aid Available

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144126

Classes begin August 19, 2014

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BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

BRADEN RIVER HIGH SCHOOL 6545 S.R. 70 E., Bradenton • 751-8230 edline.net/pages/sdmcbradenriverhs

JUST THE FACTS Principal: Jennifer Gilray Mascot: Pirates Colors: Maroon, black and silver Open house: 9 a.m. or 6 p.m.

Aug. 14

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Projected enrollment: 1980 PTO president: Jamie Phillips Special programs or offerings: Wall-to-Wall model Academy

FCAT: N/A

FROM THE As the principal PRINCIPAL: of Braden River High School, it is my honor and pleasure to welcome all of the Pirate Nation to the 2014-2015 school year. Braden River has a rich history of academic and cultural excellence, which is a result of a collegial partnership between the school staff, the parents, and the surrounding community who provide a wealth of experience for the students.

The Pirate Nation has four academies: Arts and Communications; Business and International Studies; Engineering Design and Leadership; and Science Technology and Health. All these academies are model academies.

To be a successful wall-to-wall academy school, Braden River welcomes families and communities’ members to become involved with

the Pirate Nation as we work hard to continue the tradition of excellence of being a wall-to-wall model school.

The faculty and staff look forward to meeting our incoming Pirates at our new student orientation on Aug. 14. We will offer two sessions — a morning session at 9 a.m. and an evening session at 6 p.m.

Both sessions will be held in the auditorium.

I am looking forward to a wonderful school year. Let’s go Pirates!

— Jennifer Gilray, principal

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL Braden River High School is special because it perfectly balances everything I wanted from my high school experience. It offers a huge variety of unique extra-curriculars, some really good sports teams and fun after-school activities, all the while providing a strong education with many academic opportunities.

— Emma Slotabec

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30 AUGUST 2014

FUN FACT: This year Braden River celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Say goodbye to awkward...

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

AUGUST 2014

31

HIGH SCHOOL

146316

ROUNDUP

32 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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LAKEWOOD RANCH HIGH SCHOOL 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch • 751-8200 edline.net/pages/sdmclakewoodranchhs

JUST THE FACTS Principal: Craig Little Mascot: Mustangs Colors: Green, silver and black Open house: 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14

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Projected enrollment: 2,100 PTO presidents: Kim Arnold Special programs or offerings: Robotics, ceramics, and horticulture

FCAT: N/A

FROM THE I am so thankPRINCIPAL: ful to have the opportunity to be the new principal at Lakewood Ranch High School.

It is truly an honor to take over a school that has such an impressive tradition of academic, athletic and extracurricular excellence. The whole administrative team is working hard to ensure that we have a great 2014-2015 school year.

We are committed to providing our students with high quality educational experiences, while also preparing them for both post-secondary educations and careers.

Information about the 20142015 school year is available on our website. There, you will find information about our upcom-

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL

I love my school because it has a superb theater program that provides me with many opportunities to experience new things.

— Jessica Kroupa

ing schedule pickup nights, student dress code information, and many other items. I look

forward to seeing everyone in a few short weeks. Go Mustangs!

— Craig Little, principal

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4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Rd Sarasota, FL 34231 (941) 924-1802 www.TempleSinaiSarasota.org

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Young Children’s Dance, Contemporary & Hip Hop Preschool to Adult • Recreational & Competitive Levels

$20 OFF

Registration Fee

For New Students Only

www.BeyondDancingSarasota.com • 941.907.8183 7313 International Place • Lakewood Ranch

145779

Call 922-9322 for more info

FALL Registration

CONNECT with US . . . GROW with US . . .

CELEBRATE with US . . .

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Grades K-10 Sunday mornings at the Temple

AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

33

high hopes by Amanda Sebastiano | Staff Writer

principal sets sights on national prize Lakewood Ranch High to begin new chapter with new principal, Craig Little.

Former Lakewood Ranch High Assistant Principal Craig Little, is now the school’s new principal.

He earned Lakewood’s administrator of the year award in 2012 and 2014.

Bio

Craig Little identifies with a range of titles.

He’s a father, husband, runner, New Englander, New York Yankees enthusiast and most recently, Lakewood Ranch High School’s principal.

After receiving the final approval from the Manatee County School District July 22, he will lead the East County high school into the 2014-2015 school year.

“I’d say one of my main goals is to not only maintain an A rating, but also to become a nationally ranked high school,” Little said. “I think we have the tools to do that.”

Little refers to the U.S. News ranking system that receives data on more than 19,400 high schools nationwide. Ranked schools are chosen based on test scores and the school’s

CRAIG LITTLE Age: 38 Former school: Lakewood Ranch High School Years as an educator: 15 Random fact: He wanted to be a police officer when he was in high school. He even attended a state police youth camp, before deciding on being an educator.

ability to prepare students for college.

Little believes by discovering which students are struggling and why, he can “close the achievement gap,” between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students, or students who have outside circumstances that make learning more difficult.

Once he discovers which students need the extra help through analyzing data on test scores and assignment grades,

he will work with his administrators and teachers to create tools to help students succeed in class, he explained.

By calling parents to discuss poor grades on students’ progress reports, he hopes to foster an environment that stresses academic importance outside of the classroom.

Ultimately, he wants to provide his students with a well-

rounded, thorough education.

“First of all, this school is an educational institution,” Little said. “But, data doesn’t improve student achievement, people do, although we will use data to identify (students) weaknesses.”

Little also hopes to improve campus safety and implement grade-level meetings to improve student achievement.

Hair Studio

BEST This School Year!

Look Your

45 $ 18

$

Teenage Boy Haircuts

146251

941.753.7737 8729 SR 70 E. Bradenton, FL 34202

(formerly located off of PalmBrush Trail)

146074

Face Frame Hi Lights

IMAGINE SCHOOL JUST THE FACTS Principal: Selenia Quinones Mascot: Sharks Colors: Blue and yellow Open house: 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 14

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Projected enrollment: 500 Special programs or offerings: National Junior Honor Society, middle school drama and more

B (2013-14)

AT LAKEWOOD

RANCH

10535 Portal Crossing, Bradenton • 750-0900

imagineschoolslakewoodranch.sharpschool.com/ FROM THE I am very PRINCIPAL: excited in welcoming all of our Imagine students and families to the 20142015 school year.

Our Imagine family is ready to help our students continue to demonstrate academic growth and social growth through character development. Last year, our students achieved wonderful learning gains in state exams, and this year we are ready for continued success.

Join our Imagine family on Barbecue Night from 5 to 7

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BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

p.m. Aug. 7. Meet-the-Teacher Night will be from 4 to 6 p.m.

Aug. 14.

Looking forward to meeting and seeing all of our SHARKS. — Selenia Quinones, principal

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34 AUGUST 2014

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL I love my school because teachers are really nice and they help me in school.

— Sofia Flores

FUN FACT: Imagine's middle-school offerings include drama, music appreciation and Spanish.

ART MUSICBEST BETS

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FOOD& WEEKEND’S DRINKS nightlife

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

AUGUST 2014

‘‘

35

TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 4141 Desoto Road, Sarasota • 365-1050 • tcssarasota.org

Principal: Ronda Crickenberger Mascot: Knights Colors: Navy and silver Parent-only Orientation: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14

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Projected enrollment: 260

The Tabernacle FROM THE PRINCIPAL: Christian School family is excited about the upcoming school year.

This is our 38th year of serving the community with academic excellence.

As we enter this new school year, we will continue to offer a strong academic program supported by a biblical

PTO president: Lori Sandwall Special programs or offerings: Fine arts, athletics, and honor societies

FUN FACT: This year’s school theme is “Transformed and Unashamed.”

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL The unique thing about my school is we are like a giant family. Some of my classmates have been friends since (kindergarten), so we know each other very well. The bonds we have made are amazing. One of my favorite parts of the Tabernacle is the fabulous theater productions of which I am a part. This upcoming school year is my eighth-grade and final year at The Tabernacle Christian School. I can't wait to see what's in store.

— Haley Stilwell

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JUST THE FACTS

world view that develops strong moral character in our students.

This year, students can look forward to our amazing middle school trips. These include Big Pine Key, Williamsburg and Washington D.C. Our athletic programs and award-winning fine-arts program continue to grow. Our faculty, staff and families are looking forward to another exciting school year at The Tabernacle Christian School.

— Ronda Crickenberger, principal

Back To School Special For Moms!

FREE LASER TREATMENT* *one complete under arm treatment with mention of this offer.

UNIVERSITY PARKWAY 941.351.5700 www.IDEALIMAGE.com

OFFER LIMITED TO 10 PEOPLE WHO MENTION THIS AD.

MUST BE 18 OR OLDER FOR FREE OFFER. RESTRICTIONS APPLY. OFFER MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.

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Medical Director, Dr. Andrea Kreithen

36 AUGUST 2014

THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY JUST THE FACTS Principal: David Mahler Mascot: Thunder Colors: Navy blue and white Open house: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 3 (Upper School)

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Projected enrollment: 700 PTO president: Daria Spina Special programs or offerings: Blended and online offerings

FUN FACT: The Out-ofDoor will celebrate its 90th year with the largest enrollment in school history.

5950 Deer Drive, Lakewood Ranch • 349-3223 • oda.edu FROM THE The 2014-15 PRINCIPAL: school year will be filled with excitement at The Outof-Door Academy.

A celebration for Out-of-Door’s 90th year will commence on the first day of school.

Special events to commemorate our school’s founding on Siesta Key in 1924 will continue throughout the year.

Faculty and students prekindergarten through 12th grades will return to classrooms that have been equipped with new interactive technology this summer. Our middle-school students will experience a totally remodeled campus.

Our entire school community will watch as a new Upper School Student & STEM Center is built over the course of the school year.

This 20,000-square-foot facility includes a cyber café, technology center, writing lab, academic commons, collaborative work spaces,

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BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

outdoor dining, state-of-the-art science labs, a design center with 3D printers and a STEM Project Lab for students to pursue individualized research and to transform ideas and dreams into functioning models.

The world of education is changing rapidly and these transformational academic spaces will provide our students with amazing new learning opportunities. As we prepare to celebrate Out-of-Door’s storied past, we also embrace a dynamic future in which the capacity to change and innovate will be essential for the success of the next generation..

— David Mahler

WHY I LOVE MY SCHOOL Out-of-Door strives to make its students better global citizens, better people, and better scholars.

When you have that as the driving force behind the school's development, everything else I love about my school simply falls into place. I treasure my dwindling time at The Out-of-Door Academy and look forward to seeing it change the lives of others as it surely changed mine.

— Cammy Harris

Local News that’s Local News.

The East County Observer, Longboat Observer, Sarasota Observer and Pelican Press are weekly newspapers that connect readers to their communities in Greater Sarasota and Manatee counties with 100% local, unique content. Every issue is packed with news, photos, events and newsmakers to inform, entertain and delight readers and help build a sense of community.

From backyard birthday parties to the black-tie social scene, if it’s news in your neighborhood, it’s in the Observers.

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The family-owned Observer Media Group has been sharing stories locally for more than 35 years. The Observers are passionate about offering the communities we serve a relevant and trusted source to connect you, your neighbors, your neighborhood.

AUGUST 2014

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

37

AREA ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS PRIVATE SCHOOLS

CHARTER/MAGNET SCHOOLS

For more information about magnet schools in Manatee County, visit magnet.manatee.k12.fl.us/index.html.

ELEMENTARY MANATEE ELEMENTARY MAGNET ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PLUS ADDRESS: 1609 Sixth Ave. E. PHONE NUMBER: 741-3319 WEBSITE: edline.net/pages/

ROWLETT ELEMENTARY MAGNET COMMUNICATION AND THE CREATIVE ARTS ADDRESS: 3500 Ninth St. E. PHONE NUMBER: 708-6100 WEBSITE: manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/

elementary/rowlett/index.html PRINCIPAL: Brian Flynn

WAKELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

sdmcwakelandes PRINCIPAL: Mario Mendoza

MIDDLE LOUISE R. JOHNSON MIDDLE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL

IMG PENDLETON COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL

ADDRESS: 3304 43rd St. W.,

ADDRESS: 5500 34th St. W.,

WEBSITE:

PHONE: 739-3964 WEBSITE:

Bradenton PHONE: 792-5454

ADDRESS: 2121 26th Ave. E. PHONE NUMBER: 741-3344 WEBSITE: edline.net/pages/

bcspanthers.org/

sdmcjohnsonms PRINCIPAL: Carl Auckerman

sdmcmanateees PRINCIPAL: Deborah Houston

ADDRESS: 1812 27th St. E. PHONE NUMBER: 741-3358 WEBSITE: edline.net/pages/

STUDIES

BRADENTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

SUPERINTENDENT: Dan

Bradenton

imgacademy.com

LINCOLN MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL

vande Pol GRADES: K-12

PRESIDENT AND HEADMASTER: Rich Odell GRADES: Kindergarten

ADDRESS: 305 17th St. E., Palmetto PHONE NUMBER: 721-6840 WEBSITE: edline.net/pages/

CARDINAL MOONEY HIGH SCHOOL

PINNACLE ACADEMY

through post-graduate

sdmclincolnms PRINCIPAL: Ronnie King

ADDRESS: 4171 Fruitville

MANATEE SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS

WEBSITE:

Road, Sarasota PHONE: 371-4917

Road, Lakewood Ranch

ADDRESS: 700 Haben Blvd., Palmetto PHONE NUMBER: 721-6800 WEBSITE: msfta.org/site/default.

cmhs-sarasota.org Principal: Steve Christie GRADES: 9-12

PRINCIPAL: Dr. Bill Jones

COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

HIGH SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL I.B. PROGRAM

ADDRESS: 5500 18th St. E.,

aspx?PageID=1

ADDRESS: 1200 37th Ave. E. PHONE NUMBER: 741-3366 WEBSITE: manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/

highschool/southeast/

PRINCIPAL: Jim Pauley

ADDRESS: 6215 Lorraine

Bradenton PHONE: 756-8748 WEBSITE: community christianfl.com ADMINISTRATION: Pastors Jesse Nicholson GRADES: K-12

PHONE NUMBER: 755-1400 WEBSITE:

thepinnacleacademy.com DIRECTOR: Dr. Kristina Ordetz AGES: 18 months to 6 years

ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL ADDRESS: 315 41st St. W.,

Bradenton

PHONE NUMBER: 746-2121 WEBSITE:

saintstephens.org

HEAD OF SCHOOL: Janet

Pullen

GRADES: Pre-K through 12

Expect More

from your school !

• More Learning • More Care • More Commitment • More Focus • More Success

Why

Choose

146419

RENTALS & REPAIRS Sales & Lessons

Apply Now!

Band and orchestra Books and accessories

for the 2014-2015 School Year

Band & Orchestra instruments available for purchase and rental

www.keyboardsandmore.com

• Focus on character education and leadership to prepare students for the future • Students wear school uniforms to avoid distractions and enhance security • Meaningful parental involvement helps students perform better

4550 30th Street E Bradenton, FL 34203

Online: ManateeCharter.org Or call for more information 941-465-4296 146459

Desoto Junction 3611 1st Street Suite 520 Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-1414

Manatee Charter School?

• Dedicated, caring, certified teachers • Core curriculum and enrichment classes to keep students engaged • Personal learning plans to assure each student’s success • Instruction is based on individual strengths and weaknesses

Keyboards & More

Ranch Lake Plaza 8734 State Road 70 East Bradenton, FL 34202 941-753-6633

Educating Grades K - 8

M ANATEE CHARTE R SCHOOL

Manatee Charter Schoos is a Tuition-Free Public Charter School 146479

38 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE • EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES PHONE: 316-8120 WEBSITE: med.fsu.

ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, SARASOTA ADDRESS: 5250 17th St., Sarasota PHONE: 1-800-331-5995 WEBSITE: argosy.edu

EAST WEST COLLEGE OF NATURAL MEDICINE ADDRESS: 3808 N. Tamiami Trail,

Sarasota PHONE: 355-9080 WEBSITE: ewcollege.edu

Blvd., Suite 106, University Park PHONE: 957-3397 WEBSITE: eckerd.edu

EVERGLADES UNIVERSITY

Suite 300, Sarasota

PHONE: 751-8479 WEBSITE:

PHONE: 313-3919 WEBSITE:

manateetechnicalinstitute.org

ITT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ADDRESS: 8039 Cooper Creek

MERIDIAN CAREER INSTITUTE

KEISER UNIVERSITY

Parkway E., Suite 200, Lakewood Ranch PHONE: 377-4880 WEBSITE: meridian.edu

Blvd., University Park PHONE: 309-9200 WEBSITE: itt-tech.edu

Drive, Lakewood Ranch

ADDRESS: 8031 Cooper Creek

ADDRESS: 5899 Whitfield Ave.,

edu/?page=sarasotaRegional.home

ADDRESS: 6151 Lake Osprey

ECKERD COLLEGE

SARASOTA SCHOOL OF MASSAGE THERAPY

PHONE: 907-3900 WEBSITE: keiseruniversity.edu

LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE BRADENTON ADDRESS: 5000 Lakewood Ranch

sarasotaschoolofmassagetherapy. edu

ADDRESS: 7020 Professional

NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA ADDRESS: 5800 Bay Shore Road,

Sarasota

PHONE: 487-5000 WEBSITE: ncf.edu

RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN ADDRESS: 2700 N. Tamiami Trail,

Drive, No. 110, Lakewood Ranch PHONE: 907-2262 WEBSITE: everglades university. edu

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY REGIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL CAMPUS — SARASOTA

MANATEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

ADDRESS: 4748 Beneva Road,

ADDRESS: 6305 State Road 70 E.,

Sarasota

Bradenton

PHONE: 924-1365 WEBSITE: scti.edu

Sarasota PHONE: 351-5100 WEBSITE: ringling.edu

Bradenton (SCF Bradenton); 7131 Professional Parkway E., Lakewood Ranch (SCF Lakewood Ranch); 8000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice (SCF Venice) PHONE: 752-5000 (Bradenton); 363-7000 (Lakewood Ranch) or 408-1300 (Venice) WEBSITE: scf.edu ADDRESS: 8043 Cooper Creek

Blvd., Suite 101, University Park

PHONE: 358-3840 WEBSITE: webster.edu

SARASOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE Sarasota

kin’ I ic

After School Care

t ss

r Ka

at e e & Fitn

We will provide transportation from your childs school “Lakewood Ranch and East Manatee Areas Only” For $80 a week your child will be given a safe place to learn self defense and have fun while you work

Learn: Martial Arts / Self Discipline Social Skills / Responsibility Teamwork / Respect / and More!

Children will need to be picked up by 6:00pm each day

Kickin’ It Karate & Fitness /MyHouseOfPain

www.myhouseofpain.com

6815 SR 70 E Bradenton, FL 34203 Just West of I-75 next to La Petite Academy (941) 755-6000

146290

K

ADDRESS: 201 Cocoanut Ave.,

ADDRESS: 5840 26th St. W.,

WEBSTER UNIVERSITY

Blvd., Lakewood Ranch PHONE: 756-0690 (College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy); 405-1500 (LECOM School of Dental Medicine) WEBSITE: lecom.edu

ADDRESS: 6001 Lake Osprey

STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA MANATEE-SARASOTA

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER • BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE

A private, non - profit K-12 school focused on individualized education and tolerance.

Helping children thrive in a small, emotionally supportive setting.

Offering services to students (including, but not limited to):

ADD/ADHD Various Learning Disabilities Dyslexia Anxiety Developmental Delays Developmental Disabilities Asperger’s/High Functioning

AUGUST 2014

Celebrating 10 years as Sarasota’s Premiere Social Skills and Bully-Free School!

Our Philosophy: The GAP School has a unique foundation that is based on individualized education and social skills. We support an anti-biased curriculum in a bully-free environment and enforce the concepts of personal character tolerance, diversity and social responsibility.

The staff strives to help students attain success by reconnecting them to their sense of respect, learning, belonging and acceptance.

Why The GAP School Works!

• The GAP School is a safe and nurturing environment • Teachers are dedicated, creative, consistent, well-trained and motivated!

• Student/Teacher ratio is 8:1 or less • Individualized education throughout all curriculum areas • Teamwork is the foundation for problem solving and cohesive relationships • Building emotional connections through communication • Students are recognized for their unique talents and accomplishments • Family are supported • Areas of curriculum: Social Skills, Art, Music, Personal Fitness, Executive Functioning Skills and core courses • Teachers instruct, encourage and support the students to reach their individual learning potential • Strong community involvement

Autism PDD-NOS We strive to bridge academic, cognitive, developmental, social and emotional GAPS.

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All students are welcome McKay Scholarship Participant, 501(c)(3)

“This year was really good for me. It was a reboot year and it was all made possible by you and your staff. This is, in my opinion, one of the best years, school-wise. So, thank you for restarting my career and giving me a chance. Also, in one word, something I learned from you is leadership.”

Jackson H. - former student, 2014 “Thank you for all you have done this year. Although my son excels in English, it is his least favorite subject and therefore more difficult to keep him engaged. It has required more patience and understanding on your part, which you have readily provided, while also maintaining your expectations.”

Parent -2012 to present

133 S. McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 941 - 552 - 9090 (p) | 941 - 552 - 9081 (f ) | thegapschool133@gmail.com

TheGapSchool.org

39

40 AUGUST 2014

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE â&#x20AC;˘ EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

t r a t S t r ! r a e A Sma Y l o o h c S w e to the N

Lakew Our new ood are n Ranch offi ow ce 1150 5 Ran open at s g Brade eland Pkw nton, y.

FL

Back-to-School & Sports Physical Exams l l l l

Michael Bentze, D.O.

Nicole Bentze, D.O.,FAAFP

Felicia Canada, M.D.

Accepting new patients Most insurance plans accepted Convenient locations and hours Same day appointments often available

Josette Grice, M.D.

Anthony Hemmer, M.D. Samuel Quartermaine D.O., Pharm. D.

IMG Lakewood Ranch Medical Office 11505 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211 (SR 70, exit 217 off I-75) Your Neighborhood, Board Certified, Family Practice Physicians

145789

941-907-6016