Anyone looking to make their mark on Lakewood Ranch needn’t look any further than the Lakewood Ranch Library.
For a minimum donation of $100, your name will be added to the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library’s Giving Wall, located in the library’s lobby.
Donations support the group, which in turn, supports the library. The group pays for the extras, such as special programming and equipment for the makers space.
Board members, such as Sue Glass (above), and various staff and supporters of the library met on the rooftop for wine and cheese Jan. 31 to celebrate the wall’s installation.
Visit FriendsofLakewoodRanchLibrary.org to add your name.
Picture of love at Waterside Place
The Kettlers, Brett, Kimber, Lilly and 16-week-old Skyler (above), moved to Lakewood Ranch from The Netherlands this past August.
Still getting acclimated to the area, the family stopped by Ranch Nite Wednesday at Waterside Place to check out the local scene and check out the Valentine’s Day kissing booth for a photo.
“Our friend Wendy invited us out here,” Kimber Kettler said. “She’s a big Waterside patron and thought we would enjoy this.” Brett said he “might have something planned” for Valentine’s Day, which prompted some surprise from Kimber. The couple has been together 12 years and recently welcomed the newest addition to their family, Skyler. THURSDAY,
Photo finish for school zones
Jay Heater
Sisterhood for Good founder Angela Massaro-Fain says many who attend the nonprofit’s All That Jazz, Cabaret for a Cause on Feb. 21 will dress in keeping with the jazz age of Chicago during Prohibition.
Vinnie Portell
Courtesy image
Vinnie Portell
prime time at UTC with Fleming’s
VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER
University Town Center has gained another fine dining option.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar at 8306 Tourist Center Drive in Bradenton opened to the public Monday just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Fleming’s has 64 locations in 25 states, with the second-most in Florida (10), including one in Sarasota that opened in 2004.
Rebecca Gaines, director of operations for the southeast region of Fleming’s, said the success of the Sarasota location and the growth of UTC were key factors in adding a new location just 12 miles from the one on Siesta Drive.
“Our Sarasota Fleming’s on Siesta Drive has been a favorite among both locals and visitors, and we’ve seen how much the community has flourished over the last five years,” Gaines said. “We knew that expanding our elevated steakhouse experience to Sarasota-Bradenton was the natural next step, allowing us to bring our signature hospitality, prime steaks, and innovative menu offerings to an even broader audience in this thriving area.”
There was a full parking lot on Monday with people eager to try UTC’s newest offering.
Lakewood Ranch resident Deborah Croce was most impressed with the service and said she would be coming back for another meal the following day.
“I always like trying a new place
and usually the first day is a good indication to see how the staff engages with the client,” said Croce, who added that she’s in tune with service after working for the Ritz-Carlton.
“I’ve been watching it come up from the ground and I was excited to try it.
“It’s great. The staff is great, the food quality is great. I would highly recommend it.”
Service at Fleming’s UTC includes valet parking and greeters at the door.
Alyssa Hoskinson, operating partner of Fleming’s at UTC, said some of the can’t-miss dishes at Fleming’s include prime bone-in ribeye, A5 Japanese Wagyu, a 14-ounce Australian Wagyu strip, mizo-glazed Chilean sea bass, signature Fleming’s potatoes and chocolate lava cake.
Some menu items exclusive to the
CHEF MATT’S FEATURES
location include Gulf black grouper and signature cocktails, such as the Cloud 9 martini.
The restaurant will offer an under-$30 daily lunch menu and a social hour from 3-6 p.m.
The dining room features an open floor plan concept that Hoskinson said draws inspiration from the Florida and California coastlines with three private rooms — the Ranch Room, the Lakewood Room and the Mangrove room — and a full bar flanking either side. The bar houses a glass wine vault that includes 2,500 bottles from around the world.
The kitchen is led by chef Matt Nabor, who started as a line cook at Fleming’s in Naples in 2014. He then moved on to become a sous chef in 2016 and then the chef partner for
the Sarasota location in 2018.
“Matt’s culinary roots run deep,” Hoskinson said. “He got his start at just 15 years old, working in familyrun restaurants in Fort Myers. From there, he went on to refine his craft at Disney’s Grand Floridian, gaining invaluable experience in high-end dining, and was later selected as the first kitchen hire at The Clubhouse at Golden Oak, an exclusive dining destination.
“Now, with years of fine dining expertise and a dedication to excellence, Matt is proud to lead the kitchen at Fleming’s UTC, where he brings creativity and a deep passion for hospitality to every plate.”
The addition of a fine-dining restaurant like Fleming’s is something that Taylor Bouldery, who visited the restaurant on opening night, said was needed in the area.
“It’s something different in this area,” she said. “I don’t think anything in this area, at least UTC, has anything to offer like this. I thought it was actually kind of cool to have something right in the middle of everything that is going to have a nice steakhouse vibe that’s higher-end.
“I think the money is here. Ruth’s Chris Steak House does killer out there (in Lakewood Ranch), and as soon as they opened and I saw they were doing killer, I thought this was something that (UTC) needs for sure.”
The Bloomin’ Brands-owned steakhouse hosted a soft opening event Feb. 8 during which it invited members of the community to sample some of its menu. For information, visit FlemingsSteakhouse.com.
Photos by Vinnie Portell
Dick Vitale’s daughter, Terri Vitale, accepts a $10,000 check from Sheilina Henry, president of Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar, to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research during a soft opening event Feb. 8.
Greet-
ers Ethan McNary and Sarah Williamson welcome guests to Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar at UTC during a soft opening event Feb. 8.
Engineers identified and fixed issues inside Lakewood Ranch within months, but problems still exist beyond its boundaries.
SMR president, CEO says LWR has dealt with flooding issues
Residents whose homes flooded in Summerfield Woods and Bluffs following Hurricane Debby on Aug. 5 are still seeking answers as to how and why stormwater damaged their homes.
Several of the flood victims attended a Town Hall meeting Feb. 5 with Commissioner Bob McCann at the Lakewood Ranch Library.
“What belongs to us (Manatee County), we’re going to fix,” McCann told constituents. “What belongs to Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Rex (Jensen) says he’s going to fix.” Rex Jensen is the CEO and president of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the developer of Lakewood Ranch.
After McCann offered a public invitation to three major developers in the area — Jensen, Pat Neal and Carlos Beruff — Jensen was the first to take the commissioner up on his offer. The two men met at the Manatee County Administration Building on Feb. 3.
McCann’s invitation was to talk about a residential building moratorium in District 5, which includes Lakewood Ranch. McCann cited flooding from Hurricane Debby as a reason to halt construction.
Following the Town Hall, McCann told the East County Observer that while he never made the motion for a building moratorium that was scheduled for the Feb. 4 commission meeting, he didn’t pull the motion either.
He pushed the item to March so he could meet with developers first to discuss alternatives.
The East County Observer spoke with Jensen Feb. 7 to get more details on what was fixed in Lakewood Ranch and what he believes still needs to be fixed to reduce the threat of flooding.
“I fixed all the stuff I could fix,” Jensen said. “Regardless of how well the stormwater system works in Lakewood Ranch, if (the water) can’t get off the property (because of inadequate engineering outside of Lakewood Ranch), it backs up like a toilet.”
LOOKING DOWNSTREAM
Jensen’s team of engineers went straight to work Aug. 6 to locate any issues, which were then fixed within a matter of months after the storm.
Even with the unprecedented amounts of rain Hurricane Debby dumped across the region (more than 16 inches in the Lakewood Ranch area), the engineers were baffled as to why the stormwater didn’t flow out of the Lakewood Ranch area.
That same area of Summerfield flooded in the late 1990s, so an elaborate flood control system was installed near the intersection of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Hidden River Trail to prevent another incident.
SMR originally had platted about 178 homesites for the area, but decided against it because of a “deep bend” in the river, which causes the water to slow down.
“Rather than develop these lots and create more potential for water to stack up, we thought why not turn these neighborhoods into a flood control mechanism,” Jensen said.
There are three huge detention ponds, which work in unison to trap stormwater.
The first pond on the east side of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard is divided in half by a spillway. Right now, one half looks nearly full, while the other half looks nearly empty.
Water travels from the north side of that pond over the spillway, then passes underneath Lakewood Ranch Boulevard into the second pond, which spills into the third pond.
Then, the water flows into the Braden River having bypassed the neighborhoods that flooded both in the 1990s and after Hurricane Debby.
Because the system showed no signs of a breach and had proved itself to work efficiently through similar rain events, the SMR team started looking downstream from Lakewood Ranch.
The engineers examined two sets of Lidar data the Southwest Florida Water Management District collected in 2004 and in 2018. Lidar stands for Light Detection and Ranging. The technology measures ground elevations.
Manatee County commissioners are currently trying to secure $1 million from the Legislature for a Lidar system to update flood maps of the Manatee River.
Jensen said two blockages in the Braden River, downstream from
BY DESIGN
Much of the flooding that was seen around Lakewood Ranch after Hurricane Debby was by design. Adventure Park is a prime example.
“It was intentional and purposeful,” Jensen said. “If the park is flooding, your house is not. There’s no harm in flooding a park — a lot of harm in flooding a house.”
Adventure Park floods regularly when it comes to hurricanes. It also floods during regular rain events, as seen in the above file photo from 2017. Roads are also another form of flood control as they are designed to eventually flood so water has a place to go other than homes.
Lakewood Ranch, were identified in the 2018 data that were not present in the data from 2004. Both are in the River Club, which also saw flooded homes after Hurricane Debby.
The first impediment was found where River Club Boulevard crosses the Braden River. The Lidar data indicates there’s a buildup of sediment under the bridge. That spot is outside of Lakewood Ranch.
Data points collected in 2018 show that part of the embankment on the north side is 3 to 4 feet higher than it was in 2004.
The second impediment was found near one of the holes on The River Club Golf Course. The data points show the river to be more narrow in 2018 than it was in 2004.
Manatee County has not dredged the river since the data was collected.
“It is our understanding that this portion of the Braden River has not been historically maintained by Manatee County,” reads an email from Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan. McCann said the county has been in touch with the Army Corps of Engineers because approval is required to dredge the river. Manatee County staff members said permits are not underway at this point and cannot be applied for until direction is given from the Manatee County Commission.
That direction will likely come in
March when commissioners will be asked to prioritize a list of projects that are eligible for a $252.7 million disaster grant the county was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
QUICK FIXES
While Jensen can’t deal with problems in the River Club, he said issues SMR identified in Lakewood Ranch were fixed within a couple of months of Hurricane Debby. Jensen said that University Parkway, between Lorraine Road and Bourneside Boulevard, was flooded for a period of time, and he said that was not acceptable.
SMR worked with Manatee County to increase the size of the drainage inlets and change how they accept water.
A home in the Shoreview neighborhood at Waterside Place was flooded because a stormwater pond was breached. There was a low spot at the top of the bank.
“Once the water starts to flow, you don’t stop it until the whole pond is back down,” Jensen said. “One house is not a minor thing, but it is fixed.”
Flooding in the Star Farms neighborhood, which did not actually flood any living areas as was initially thought, was an isolated issue that didn’t require work.
It was more a matter of bad timing because the area was under construction. The Manatee County K-8 school being built nearby didn’t have any of its stormwater mechanisms in place yet, and some of the drains at Star Farms were covered with sandbags.
Sandbags are standard procedure to protect a stormwater system from being filled with construction dust and sediment after a rain event.
Jensen said the rain predictions for Hurricane Debby were not high enough to warrant removing the sandbags. He said he doesn’t have concerns about Star Farms moving forward, but Summerfield Woods and Bluffs remains a concern because the River Club problems are out of his control.
“There are two problems here that I can’t fix,” he said. “So regardless of everything I have fixed, if this isn’t fixed, it’s possible that we’re going to have the same situation again.”
“What belongs to us (Manatee County), we’re going to fix. What belongs to Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Rex (Jensen) says he’s going to fix.”
Commissioner Bob McCann
Commissioner Bob McCann speaks to residents following his Town Hall meeting Feb. 5.
SMR originally planned 175-plus homes for this section of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard near Hidden River Trail. Instead, the
File photo
Greenbrook Adventure Park is closed in 2017 due to heavy flooding. Water levels were at least 4 feet deep in some areas because the Braden River overflowed as designed into the park.
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
LESLEY DWYER | STAFF WRITER
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JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR
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THE CURRENT STATE AND PROBABLE FUTURE OF RUSSIA Russia’s war on Ukraine has resulted in international sanctions and a revived NATO. In a conversation with Craig Kennedy, Amb. John Beyrle will discuss the state of Russian politics and prospects for ending the conflict with Ukraine. He will also address Vladimir Putin’s leadership in these turbulent times.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025 @ 5:00 PM
ISRAEL AT WAR, THE SECOND YEAR
The Terror Attack of October 7, Israel’s war with Hamas, and the human toll in Gaza impacted lives, alliances, and governments in the region and beyond. Amb. Dennis Ross will suggest how the situation can settle and whether there is still a path away from permanent conflict towards peace and stability.
“She always would say, ‘I am an elected official, not a politician,’” said Rahn’s daughter, Pam Rahn. “I always was proud of my mom, and I wanted to be like her.”
Saundra Rahn will be remembered during a Celebration of Life service at Peace Presbyterian Church in Lakewood Ranch beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 15.
She was living in Greenfield Plantation at the time of her death on Dec. 24, at 88.
Pam Rahn said her mother was serving as Bradenton Mayor Sterling Hall’s secretary when she decided to run for a city council seat in 1970. She was the first woman elected to the council.
Six years old at the time, Pam Rahn said she learned how the government worked over the years by watching her mom at meetings and by accompanying her to various events.
“I was with her (along with the rest of her family) when she met President (Gerald) Ford and Betty,” Pam Rahn said.
She said local residents will remember that her mom was instrumental in getting the Pittsburgh Pirates to agree to train in Bradenton.
For 62 years, Saundra Rahn was a member of the Bradenton Woman’s Club. In 2022, the club created the Silver Service Award, in which the platter is designated as the Saundra Rahn Devotion Platter. It honors the member who best exemplifies “living the volunteer spirit.”
“She was a wonderful mentor to me,” said Bradenton Woman’s Club President Tammy Kesky. “Everyone looked up to her.”
IF YOU GO
What: Celebration of Life service for Greenfield Plantation’s Saundra Rahn, who died Dec. 24
When: Visitation 10:30 a.m.; service at 11 a.m. Feb. 15
Where: Peace Presbyterian Church, 12705
S.R. 64 E., Lakewood Ranch
Notes: Also being remembered during the ceremony will be Saundra’s husband, Eugene Rahn, who died March 10, 2024. ... The Bradenton Women’s Club, where Saundra Rahn was a member for 62 years, will hold a Memory Dance, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21. The public is welcome.
Pam Rahn said her mom always remained humble through her years in office. She remembered late one night when a constituent called her mom and said, “I have snakes in my house.”
“Mom dropped everything she was doing and went to that lady’s house to get the snakes out. That’s the kind of person she was.”
She is survived by her three children, Connie, Greg and Pam.
Courtesy image Saundra Rahn’s Bradenton City Council campaign photo from 1969.
School speed cameras rev up criticism
Commissioners limit the ticketing hours and make the speed limits uniform following complaints.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Tara resident Elizabeth Barry can afford to pay $300 for the three tickets she was issued by a speed detecting camera in the school zone at Tara Elementary School, but she’s going to fight them on principle.
“It’s absolutely, positively a trap,” she said of the camera’s position in front of the school.
Many residents agree with Barry that the signs around Manatee County school zones do not adequately make drivers aware of what the speed limit is before the cameras snap a photo.
“I do not object to the rule (of no speeding in a school zone),” Tara resident Sandy Coffman said. “But the signage should be appropriate and more noticeable.”
Barry’s tickets were also issued outside of the flashing beacon hours, when students are traveling to and from school.
At the Feb. 4 Manatee County Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously approved turning the cameras off in the middle of the day when students are safely indoors. The cameras will now only issue tickets 30 minutes before and after the start and end of the school day.
Out of the 1,674 tickets written in front of Tara Elementary School from Sept. 12 through Jan. 27, 1,039 were issued in the middle of the day when the lights were not flashing.
The board also voted to set a uniform speed limit of 20 miles per hour in school zones to lessen some of the confusion for drivers. The speeds had been either 15 or 20 mph, depending on the school zone.
There were 34 school zones that had signs showing 15 miles per hour.
Only eight of those school zones had speed detecting cameras installed.
Strategic Affairs Manager Ogden Clark said those eight were updated to show 20 mph by Feb. 6. The remaining locations will have updated signage by the end of the day on Feb. 12.
THE COST OF SPEEDING
The cameras were placed in front of 30 elementary, middle and high schools throughout the county at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, based on where drivers posed the most risk to children.
Since the cameras were installed in August 2024, approximately 30,200 tickets were issued through the end of January 2025.
Commissioner Tal Siddique said the fines are disproportionately affecting low income, working-class residents who can’t afford to contest the tickets.
Each ticket carries a $100 fine, and the driver has to be traveling 10 miles or more over the speed limit to be ticketed.
“I’m the one who made the motion
(in October 2022) to get rid of the red light cameras,” Commission Chair George Kruse said. “There’s a time and place for these things, but they always end up being a money grab, and this is no exception.”
Kruse said the long period during the day when the cameras are on but children are at their desks “disproportionately adds to the revenue stream.”
RedSpeed is the county’s vendor for the cameras. RedSpeed Vice President Greg Parks said the company has 70 customers in Georgia and 28 in Florida.
RedSpeed collects $21 on each violation that’s issued. Approximately 30,200 tickets equals $634,200. The county collects $39 on each ticket, which equates to $1,177,800 and must be spent on public safety initiatives.
The remaining $40 of each ticket goes toward programs outside the county, such as the School Crossing Guard and Recruitment and Retention Program.
Commissioner Jason Bearden had a question for commissioners and
staff during the meeting, “Should we start over?”
Bearden wanted to know if the county could issue refunds to anyone who was issued a ticket, but Kruse pointed out that the county doesn’t have all the funds that were paid, and not all 30,000-plus tickets have been paid yet.
Even though the hours of enforcement have since changed, motorists who received tickets must either pay the fine or contest the notice of violation.
Commissioner Bob McCann said the traffic court magistrate is “throwing (the tickets) out left and right.”
However, if the violation is not thrown out, the penalty for contesting the ticket is the original $100 and up to $250 more to cover additional county costs. Failure to pay or contest the violation can result in fines of up to $1,000 and a suspended license.
Deputy County Administrator Courtney De Pol said residents can contact code enforcement if they’re having any issues.
AFFECTED EAST COUNTY SCHOOL ZONES
These 11 East County schools met the criteria for a heightened safety risk, so speed detecting cameras were installed in the school zones.
■
“Follow the instructions on the ticket first,” De Pol said. “If there is an extenuating circumstance, contact us.”
De Pol used the example of calling the number on the ticket and not being able to get a hold of someone because there’s a constant busy signal.
Signage is another example. If a resident feels there was inadequate signage, code enforcement can ask the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to assess the site.
But ultimately, residents have to act. Even though changes have been made to the system, the tickets that were written are still valid.
A speed detecting camera sits in front of Tara Elementary School.
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Community ‘cheerleader’ named Educator of the Year
Stacy Freeman’s impact at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary goes beyond the classroom.
VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER
Stacy Freeman had trouble accepting the fact she was named as a finalist for the School District of Manatee County 2025 Educator of the Year award.
She was similarly stunned when she was announced the winner at the Excellence in Education Awards at Manatee Technical College on Feb. 5. Now in her 18th year of teaching at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, Freeman said her efforts were no different than any of her peers at McNeal or anywhere else throughout the county.
“I was so nervous, and I did not expect to win at all, honestly,” said Freeman, who was given a trophy and a check for $5,000 from the Suncoast Credit Union. “Like the one support employee said, we’re just doing our job. It doesn’t feel like anything extra to me. I started this just thinking that it would be great to get a certificate and a picture and my husband would get to come.
“To be a finalist was great, but I absolutely expected them to say someone else’s name. It was shocking, like I was in a dream.”
BEHIND THE SCENES
Freeman’s co-workers haven’t had difficulty seeing what makes her so deserving.
Third grade teacher Tina Peters has worked alongside Freeman for several years.
She said some of the first words that come to mind when she thinks about Freeman are “energetic, giving and thoughtful.”
“She is someone who will drop everything to be there for you,” Peters said. “She’s a mentor to every person who comes in. I might be the team leader, but I go to her for a lot of my questions because she’s one of those people who has been there
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION OVERVIEW
Stacy Freeman had some stiff competition for the Educator of the Year award.
Other nominees included:
■ Kathleen Bayliss, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher at Sea Breeze Elementary School
■ Linda Chamberlain, Medical Assisting Instructor at Manatee Technical College — East Campus
■ Susan Nova, Fourth Grade Teacher at Harvey Elementary School
Suzanne Theiss, a senior school secretary at Southeast High School, won the School District of Manatee County Support Employee of the Year award.
She was nominated alongside:
■ Eric Cooke, Safety Guardian at Williams Elementary School
■ Angela Nowakowski, LPN (School Nurse) at Witt Elementary School
■ Nicole Yancey, Paraprofessional at Myakka City Elementary School
and done that and is willing to share everything she knows.”
Much of what makes Freeman stand out among her peers is the extra work she does beyond the school bells, her colleagues said.
Some of those endeavors include a monthly book club, a “Battle of the Books” event, a Heritage Day event and parents nights.
She also makes an effort to stay in touch with former students, whether that be attending a student’s sport-
ing event or showing up to another’s baby shower.
“I’ve never met anyone like her who touches the students the way she does,” McNeal Principal Sheila Waid said. “She genuinely loves them, and they come back year after year to see her. She goes behind the scenes and does so much for so many people.”
MCNEAL’S CHEERLEADER
Waid, now in her third year as principal at McNeal Elementary, said Freeman also treats her colleagues with the same affection that she gives to her students.
“I just had a staff member come into my office who is a new teacher who came here in October,” Waid said. “She was in tears because she has been teaching for 20 years and she had never had a colleague like Stacy Freeman, who is her mentor teacher.
“She said, ‘She’s always in my room just to listen and talk to me and give me hugs and tell me how great I’m doing.’ And that’s Stacy Free -
man. She’s a cheerleader for not just her students, but all of her colleagues as well. I mean, how lucky am I? How lucky is McNeal and our community to have her as our cheerleader?”
Freeman’s supporters had a chance to reverse roles and be her cheerleader during the Excellence in Education awards ceremony.
A hearty contingent of coworkers, students, friends and family members showed up and they weren’t shy about showing some love.
When Freeman was announced as the winner, several of her third grade students broke out in chants of “Miss Free-man” before joining her on stage as she accepted her award.
“It meant so much,” Freeman said of her students showing up to Manatee Technical College on a school night. “They’re the reason we do this, so to have them here is the icing on the cake.”
Freeman will now advance to the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year program.
Vinnie Portell
Stacy Freeman said she felt as though she was living in a dream when she heard her name announced as the Manatee County Educator of the Year on Feb. 5 at Manatee Technical College. Superintendent Jason Wysong is to her left.
When it comes to philanthropy, Sisters dress the part
Annual Sisterhood for Good gala has been a boon to the region’s nonprofits.
JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR
Sporting a narrow headband with feathers and an elegant green dress, Melissa Howard walked into the Bourbon & Bones Chophouse in Lakewood Ranch decked out at lunchtime, apparently for a formal occasion.
This, however, was a chance for four members of the Sisterhood for Good nonprofit to promote their upcoming “All That Jazz: Cabaret for a Cause” event Feb. 21 at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota.
It also served as a kind of a dress rehearsal.
As Howard puts it, if it involves feathers and dressing up, “I’m in.” Howard, the event’s presenting sponsor, joined Sisterhood for Good founder Angela Massaro-Fain and members Kathy Collums and Becca Towery at the local restaurant, which partially is decorated as a Prohibition-era speakeasy that fits right in with the event’s theme.
Although Howard had come to have photos taken in advance of the event, she wasn’t wearing the dress she picked for that night. This gave her a chance to go into her closet to find something that fit the style she wanted for the photo shoot.
Why miss an opportunity to dress up?
Howard said she loves living in an area where a woman can overdress for events and nobody stares.
And, obviously, lots of other women feel the same way.
Sisterhood for Good has capitalized on that desire to benefit the region’s nonprofits.
In 2023, Massaro-Fain was discussing possible events that would allow those who attended to dress to the theme, and even step out of character for a night, when Towery suggested a Gatsby-themed party. The idea and the ensuing work to put the event together led to a smashing fundraising success. In 2024, Towery suggested “Phantom: A Masquerade Ball” and that was equally successful.
While this year’s fundraiser returns to the Prohibition era of the Gatsby event, Towery said it is a much different storyline that those
IF YOU GO
What — All That Jazz: Cabaret for a Cause Who: Sisterhood for Good
Date: Feb. 21
Time: 6 p.m. cocktail hour (open premium bar and hors d’oeuvres); 7 p.m. dinner (short rib, corvina or vegetarian)
Where: Hyatt Regency, 1000 Boulevard of The Arts, Sarasota
Features: Silent and live auctions; “Come To The Cabaret” entertainment; music by Jonathan Cortez; special performances by Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Sarasota, and the Suncoast Swing Band with Lady Z
Tickets: $300
Information or tickets: SFGFlorida.org or call 730-7900
Benefits: Local nonprofits through Sisterhood For Good grants
ver dress and white boa. MassaroFain dressed as Velma Kelly, wearing a black wig and a provocative black dress.
Towery smiled throughout, enjoying her time as a bad girl.
“I’m always the good girl,” she said.
Whether good or bad, those who attend will be served plenty of entertainment.
The night will include music from “Chicago” by the 19-piece Suncoast Swing Band with Lady Z, DJ Jonathan Cortez, a special performance by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Sarasota, silent and live auctions, dinner, drinks and dancing.
While the “Chicago” storyline led to an Oscar, the Sisterhood for Good storyline has been just as remarkable. Sisterhood for Good was founded in 2011 with 10 members, and first presented two $500 grants in 2013 to the only two applicants: Hope Family Services and Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast. The group, which has grown to approximately 275 members, now receives more than 100 applications for grants.
Massaro-Fain calls it affordable philanthropy because the annual dues are only $225.
who attend will be considering as they pick out their attire.
The theme follows the musical, and later movie, “Chicago,” in which the storyline of the “black comedy” follows a pair of murderers in Roxie Hart (played in the movie by Renée Zellweger) and Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) awaiting trial.
The film version won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Involving celebrity, corruption and an environment of decadence, “Chicago” certainly provides fodder for those who want to dress to a role during “All That Jazz: Cabaret for a Cause.”
During the photo shoot, Towery dressed as Roxie Hart, complete with a blonde wig and a sparkly, sil-
With its successful gala and its Designer Bag Bingo event, combined with the dues and other fundraising activities, Sisterhood for Good has become a major philanthropic player in the region. In 2023, the nonprofit provided a then-record $110,800 in grants and then smashed its own record with $153,036 in 2024. The 2024 funds were distributed to 40 nonprofits.
All the net proceeds from “All That Jazz: Cabaret for a Cause” go to Sisterhood for Good’s annual grants program. The program has given out $472,277 since its inception and will go over $500,000 in 2025.
For tickets to the event or more information on how to join, go to SFGFlorida.org.
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Kathy Collums, Melissa Howard, Becca Towery and Angela Massaro-Fain all dress to a Prohibition-era theme to promote All That Jazz: Cabaret for a Cause.
Sisterhood for Good members Becca Towery and Kathy Collums say they enjoy stepping out of character at events such as All That Jazz: Cabaret for a Cause.
Sisterhood for Good’s Melissa Howard says she loves dressing up for fundraising events such as All That Jazz: Cabaret for a Cause.
Promoter plans next LWR Blues Festival
Morgan Bettes Angell is considering tweaks to better serve the community.
Independent Jones President Morgan Bettes Angell already has put together her December shopping list.
Not for Christmas, though. Bettes Angell has a lineup selected (but yet to be released) for the second Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival.
The first Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival was held Dec. 7 at Waterside Place to an underwhelming crowd of 750 music fans. While those who attended were thrilled by the level of talent that Independent Jones and co-producer Paul Benjamin assembled, the local community seemed rather apathetic to what seemed to be an artistic bonanza for the area.
The locals were more stirred up when, afterward, they were asked why they balked at attending the event.
Many noted the $75 ticket was too expensive, even though the lineup included seven nationally known bands (but certainly not household names). Others said that the blues just isn’t the right genre for the Lakewood Ranch demographic. The all-day length of the festival was said to be a detriment and the fear of parking woes rose to the surface as well.
On Feb. 9, Bettes Angell sat at the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch, to which she supplies the live entertainment, and talked about the blues festival with her Independent Jones partner, Antonio Hernandez.
A second Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival was never in doubt, as Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch and event
sponsor Bank of America were both pleased with the first edition. However, as Bettes Angell noted, “I am passionate about servicing the community.”
When Bettes Angell considers the needs of the community vs. the needs of potential tourists, she sees differences. Those willing to travel to Lakewood Ranch for blues likely want a full slate of bands and many hours of entertainment. If they are going to pay for airfare and a hotel room, they want top-flight entertainment and lots of it.
The local community, in contrast, might want a shorter lineup of bands because they can make a 15-minute drive from home and back. They might not care as much about name value because they have little invested. In general, they are less willing to pay for a higher priced ticket.
“In our mind, we are hoping we can satisfy both,” Bettes Angell said of locals and tourists. “Who are we trying to serve? We’re trying to serve everybody.”
Benjamin is more concerned with satisfying those who travel to blues festivals, and Bettes Angell said the event can thrive for years on that basis alone. But she would rather strike a balance.
She has noted all the comments the East County Observers’ readers made about the festival along with all the feedback she has received on her own.
“I want to say that it was a quality run event from top to bottom,” she said of the Dec. 7 premiere. “I do think there is a weird perception of money. In my mind, people spend $70 for two people in a bar in
a couple of hours. Our ticket price isn’t going to change.”
She said charging $75 is needed to keep the talent level high.
“We spend $6,000 to $8,000 per band,” she said. “We had about a $40,000 (budget for bands).”
The producers are considering a shorter time frame, starting the festival at 11 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. and finishing at the same time (8 p.m.).
She said promoting the event better is a priority for the second go-round. She wants to make it clear that ticket-holders can come and go as they please during the event. Some who attended in December thought there was a no reentry policy. Some of the feedback was that
the event, which broke even financially, should have had a reduced price scale for those who didn’t want to see all seven bands. She said they are considering a “secondhalf” concert ticket at a reduced rate as well as a “headliner” ticket.
But she said the event is a festival, and those who travel to a festival expect multiple bands.
“We can’t take the blues festival and make it into a concert,” she said.
A concert is an interesting thought for Lakewood Ranch.
Whether the local community embraced the blues, the festival proved that Waterside Park can be an excellent venue for artistic events, including concerts. The area is large enough for thousands
of fans to fit comfortably, and the lakeside site elevates the atmosphere considerably.
Independent Jones is intrigued by the possibilities.
“I can say confidently that in a year, we will put on a concert (at Waterside Park),” Bettes Angell said. That has to be music to the ears of residents who have been disappointed by the near misses on the local arts scene. The Sarasota Players had a failed financial campaign to build a theater at Waterside that could have served as a great concert venue.
Then Manatee County teased us by saying it would build an amphitheater when it bought land from SMR that eventually became Premier Sports North Campus. Although there has been no official announcement, that plan is all but dead because there has since been a “no amplified sound” ordinance passed for that parcel. The only hope at Premier Sports North Campus would be a much-needed events center to serve the county’s center of population that is now in East County. Unfortunately, the county remains mum on any plans for the site, so that, too, might not be anything more than wishful thinking.
Bettes Angell is working to fill a musical void in the area. But she does need your help.
“Will you support this event?” Bettes Angell said. “Will you give it a shot at Waterside?
Jay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.
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We offer affordable Empty Leg Flights for flexible travelers, with a range of aircraft options from light jets to helicopters.
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Blues artist Dylan Triplett gets up close and personal with fans during the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival.
Venice Home Show
Implementation of moratoriums are crucial to District 5
Manatee County Commissioner Robert McCann explains his views on moratoriums.
In recent discussions surrounding the implementation of moratoriums, a number of arguments have surfaced in opposition to these temporary halts. While the concerns raised are important, it is crucial to consider the broader context and the benefits that moratoriums can bring to Manatee County. One common argument against moratoriums is that they can hinder economic progress by halting development projects. However, moratoriums are often implemented in response to urgent issues that necessitate immediate action, such as environmental degradation, housing crises, or public health emergencies. By temporarily halting activities that contribute to these problems, moratoriums provide policymakers the necessary time to develop sustainable and effective
long-term solutions.
Opponents often claim that moratoriums disproportionately affect businesses and economic growth. However, it is essential to recognize that unchecked development and activities can have severe consequences on vulnerable populations. For instance, a moratorium on evictions during a public health crisis can prevent widespread homelessness and protect public health. Similarly, environmental moratoriums can safeguard marginalized communities from pollution, floods, financial devastation, and other harmful impacts.
Critics argue that moratoriums stifle innovation and progress. On the contrary, moratoriums can serve as a catalyst for more thoughtful and sustainable development. By pausing harmful activities, policymakers and stakeholders can take the time to assess the long-term impacts, explore alternative solutions, and implement regulations that promote responsible and sustainable growth.
It is often suggested that moratoriums are a sign of poor planning or reactive governance. However, the implementation of a moratorium can be a proactive measure to address unforeseen challenges and mitigate potential risks. Moratoriums allow for comprehensive planning and the development of robust policies that consider the needs of all stakeholders, ensuring a more balanced and equitable approach to growth and development.
Finally, opponents may argue that moratoriums infringe on individual rights and freedoms. While it is important to protect individual liberties, it is equally important to
ROBERT MCCANN
uphold the public interest. Moratoriums are typically enacted through democratic processes and are subject to public scrutiny and debate. This ensures that they serve the greater good and reflect the collective will of the community.
In conclusion, while there are valid concerns about the use of moratoriums, it is essential to recognize their potential to address urgent needs, protect vulnerable populations, promote sustainable development, encourage comprehensive planning, and uphold the public interest. Rather than dismissing moratoriums outright, we should approach them as a valuable tool in the policymaker’s arsenal, capable of creating a more just and sustainable society.
While the proposed one-year moratorium (would be) in effect, the county will not accept, process, or approve any building permit which would increase impervious surface within District 5 or any district that wishes to join the moratorium. Examples of impervious surfaces can include new singlefamily homes, additions, detached garages, sheds, pools, driveways, patios, apartment complexes.
Building permits that are related to storm damage or those that have already been submitted prior to the effective date of the ordinance will not be included in this moratorium. During the temporary moratorium, the county (would) repair, maintain, and improve ditches, canals, and other stormwater systems while the county awaits the completion of the master stormwater plan to make new improvements.
The second of the ordinances in my proposed moratorium will be imposed on the consideration of annexations, rezonings, comprehensive plan amendments, site plans, preliminary plats, and final plats. Commercial and industrial zoned parcels are excluded from the moratorium. While this temporary moratorium is in effect, the county will not accept, process, or approve any new applications for annexations, rezonings, comprehensive plan amendments, site plans, preliminary plats, or final plats from any applicants who received entitlements more than three
months prior to the effective date of the moratorium and who does not have an application submitted. Applications submitted prior to the effective date of this ordinance (would) be allowed to complete the development process if an applicant had received approval for an annexation, rezoning, and/or comprehensive plan amendment within the last three months prior to the effective date of this ordinance, said applicant shall have the right to submit a site plan and/or a preliminary plat and subsequently a final plat.
If an applicant has submitted for a preliminary plat prior to the effective date of this ordinance, said applicant shall be allowed during the moratorium to submit for final plat. During the duration of these moratoriums, the following tasks will be accomplished — entire land development code update, entire comprehensive plan update, stormwater code update, stormwater maintenance activities, delivery of stormwater master plan by outside consultant, stormwater impact fee ordinance, housing impact fee ordinance.
In light of the ongoing discussions and recent developments concerning our county’s planning and zoning policies, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. I urge all builders, developers, and relevant stakeholders to actively cooperate in addressing the pressing issues that have necessitated the proposed moratorium. This includes, but is not limited to, participation in meetings, providing transparent project details, and adhering to guidelines that promote sustainable development. I recognize the importance of collaboration and am confident that, with your cooperation, we can achieve a balanced and sustainable approach to growth and development.
Robert McCann Manatee County’s District 5 Commissioner
Photos by Vinnie Portell
Theresa Pelayo celebrates crossing the finish line alongside her daughter, Luna Pelayo, on Feb. 8 at the Taste of ODA 5K.
Ethan Romocki crossed the finish line in 26th place with a time of 26:39 at the Taste of ODA 5K on Feb. 8 at The Out-of-Door Academy.
is on the community aspect, and the fundraising is secondary,” AllenBurnstein said.
Despite limited marketing efforts, 143 runners showed up to participate in the 5K event for $30 per runner on Saturday at ODA’s Upper Campus.
The event had something for everyone of all ages, from a competitive 5K race, to a kids’ fun run, a bounce house, food trucks, and a DJ.
Money raised from the event will benefit Thunder athletic teams in a variety of ways, from new jerseys for some teams to the ability to take a charter bus on a long road trip for others.
The biggest motivating factor for Meyers, who has had two of her own children —Jack and Brooke — participate in athletics at the school, was to encourage others to be excited about playing for the Thunder one day.
“We want to retain our kids,” Meyers said. “We want our little kids to be excited about coming up to ODA and being an athlete at ODA. We don’t want them to go away. We want them here, so we try to bring them here as much as we can for athletic events.”
One of those students who has stayed with ODA is 11th grader Emerson Miller. Miller, a cross-country runner and track athlete at ODA, led the fun run. She said events like the Taste of ODA 5K are an example of a way that teachers at ODA empower students to lead.
“It’s very easy to get involved at ODA,” Miller said. “Everyone is encouraging and open to new ideas. If you have something you want to get done, people will work with you to get it done. It’s a friendly relationship that’s more than just studentteacher.
“The coaches are very willing to work with you, and if you have an idea you want for your team, they’ll work with you to make it happen. They encourage student leadership and that’s made a big difference for me.”
Finn Randall placed first overall in the Taste of ODA 5K with an 18:36 while Vicky Romocki (sixth overall) led all female runners with a time of 22:11.
Meyers and Allen-Burnstein said the popularity of the Taste of ODA 5K means it could likely become an annual event.
Elegant Home Transformations…
The Taste of ODA 5K in Lakewood Ranch featured a kids fun run once the 5K portion of the event was finished on Feb. 8.
Here’s looking at you ... Casablanca
The Voyager library program introduces residents to countries and cities, such as its upcoming trip to Morocco.
LESLEY
The Manatee County Public Library System is planning a vacation, and residents are invited to join.
If an eight-night trip to Morocco doesn’t fit the budget this year, the librarians have patrons covered with a staycation of sorts.
“The trip is just part of the series,”
Library Services Manager Tammy Parrott said. “Not everyone feels comfortable traveling internationally, even if they have the money.”
With that in mind, the librarians choose travel destinations that lend themselves to interesting and plentiful programming. The intent is to introduce different countries and cultures to those who can’t or don’t want to travel.
Residents can be swept away by Moroccan music, spices, belly dancing and crafts, all within the various library branches.
Parrott said Voyagers is popular among its patrons, many who asked for its return since the program was forced into hiatus during the pandemic in 2020.
Mosaic tile work is a classic Moroccan design element. The two classes
scheduled for February, during which attendees can make a mosaic candleholder or a set of coasters, are already on a waitlist.
The library is also offering information sessions for anyone with questions about the trip, which will tour travelers through the cities of Rabat, Fez, Casablanca and Marrakesh.
The library sends two staff members to accompany residents, but the members have to pay their own way.
Former librarian and East County resident Pamela Gibson traveled to Spain with the Voyagers in 2018 before retiring in 2020 after 43 years of service.
Health-wise, Gibson isn’t up for a trip to Morocco this year. But if she could, she would travel with the group again.
MOROCCO TRIP
The registration deadline is March 19. The trip is scheduled from Sept. 20-29. The land price is $1,999, which is based on double occupancy and doesn’t include airfare. A solo traveler has to pay an additional $530.
Hotel stays for eight nights are included, along with 14 meals, travel by motor coach, English-speaking guides and entrance fees while sightseeing. The library is offering information sessions at different branches up until the registration deadline. The next session is scheduled for Feb. 15 at 11:30 a.m. at the Rocky Bluff Branch Library. Visit ManateeLibrary. Libcal.com/Calendar for a complete list of Manatee County library events.
“I can’t stress enough how wonderful the tour guides were,” she said. The tour director was with the
group for the entirety of the trip, but after arriving in each new city, an expert “city guide” took over. The tour director offered the history of each city en route. As a reference librarian with a penchant for history, Gibson especially enjoyed the extra stories that were sprinkled in, such as what it was like to grow up as a girl in Francoist, Spain. Gen. Francisco Franco was the dictator of Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975.
The tour guide said girls had to marry by a certain age and couldn’t travel without their husbands. All female names had to be chosen from an approved list and start with Maria.
Gibson felt safe traveling with the group, which was mostly seniors, and described the venture as well planned. She was provided with “detailed documentation” from the travel agency ahead of the trip that included information about the hotels and each day’s activities and special excursions.
The base price for Morocco is $1,999 (without airfare) and includes activities, such as a tour of the Royal Palace in Rabat and a home cooked meal with a local family in Fez.
However, three excursions are available as add-ons.
Spend a day in Essaouira, a seaside resort city, for $50 per person; or take a hot air balloon ride over Marrakesh at sunrise for $200.
For $85, guests can learn to make tagine from a Dada chef, who has mastered traditional Moroccan cuisine. After lunch, a horse-drawn carriage will guide guests through the bustling streets of Marrakesh.
The next at-home excursion, which is free of charge, is scheduled for the Rocky Bluff Branch Library Feb. 15 at 11:30 a.m. Tahja will be performing a live concert with Moroccan music and dance to “sweep you off to a land full of sand, stained glass lanterns and warm sun” at 12:30 p.m.
“(Voyagers) is something unique,” Parrott said. “I haven’t heard of another library system that does this. It speaks to the creativity of the staff we have here in Manatee County.”
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Former librarian and East County resident Pamela Gibson recalls her 2018 travels to Spain with the Voyagers Program.
Pamela Gibson keeps a scrapbook of her trip to Spain in 2018.
SPORTS
FAST BREAK
The Lakewood Ranch High boys and girls varsity soccer teams have been progressing through their respective Class 6A state tournaments. On the boys’ side, the Mustangs (17-2-2) defeated Cape Coral’s Ida Baker High 2-0 at home in the regional quarterfinal Feb. 4. Juniors Paolo Morales and Broden Beorlegui scored once. The Mustangs went on to outlast Parrish Community High 1-0 at home in the regional semifinal Feb. 7, with Beorlegui scoring the lone goal. On the girls’ side, the Mustangs (14-4-2) first defeated Charlotte High 8-0 at home in the regional quarterfinal Feb. 4 before beating Naples’ Palmetto Ridge High 5-0 at home in the regional semifinal Feb. 7. … The Lakewood Ranch High girls varsity basketball team (17-5) has advanced to the Class 6A state tournament. After falling 39-36 to Manatee High at home in the semifinal of the 6A District 11 tournament, the Mustangs’ strong season record still secured them the seventh seed in Region 3 of 6A state tournament. Lakewood Ranch will travel to Fort Myers to face Gateway High (22-5) on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Region 3 quarterfinals.
… Quote of the week: “The 800 meter is a tough race to describe,” said John Rivera Jr. Lakewood Ranch High alum and professional runner on the Brooks Beasts Track Club. “It’s a very lactic race — you’re never comfortable in what’s essentially the world’s longest sprint. I know that if I feel good around the 500- to 600-meter mark, then I have the chance to do something special.”
… Bradenton native and LPGA World No. 1 Nelly Korda finished tied for seventh in the Founder’s Cup held at the Bradenton Country Club on Feb. 6-9. American Yealimi Noh shot 21-under total par to win the tournament.
“My speed is what gives me the ability to stretch the field vertically, especially as an outside player.”
A shot at polo success
The Sarasota Polo Club youth team of four started in fall 2024.
DYLAN CAMPBELL SPORTS REPORTER
Dust kicks up onto the wooden bleachers of the arena.
The sound of horses, the clomping of their hooves, and their snorting breath fills the space as they thunder past. The sweet smell of grass and manure wafts through the air. This isn’t a rodeo. It’s something much rarer, a practice for Sarasota Polo Club’s interscholastic polo team.
Held in the regulation-size polo arena — a 300-foot-by-150-foot dirt field lined with waist-high wooden walls and mesh fencing, head coach Stuart Campbell calls out instructions to his team. The fourperson team is practicing two-ontwo in anticipation for the U.S. Polo Association’s Southeastern Open Preliminary I at the New Bridge Polo and Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina Feb. 7-9.
THE TEAM
Polo is a somewhat exclusive sport. The requirements to play are a barrier to most — not only does a player need to have at least two horses, but he or she needs to be a skilled rider and on top of that, a skilled athlete. Polo requires a combination of hand-eye coordination, riding skill and peripheral vision. When thoroughbred horses are thundering by, one wrong move can result in a serious injury.
While intercollegiate polo and adult polo are more established levels of the sport, interscholastic polo for players is less so. That’s why in summer 2024, longtime Sarasota Polo Club members Mark and Kate Mulligan came to Campbell, the head pro at the Club, with the idea to start a team.
Their daughter,Ainsley Mulligan, a sophomore at The Out-of-Door Academy, has been a horse rider since she was 6 months old. She tried polo for the first time during the pandemic.
Ainsley Mulligan had the passion and competitive spirit that made her a natural. What she didn’t have, however, was a place to play with other youth polo players. She had been forced to play with other adults.
“By creating this team, we opened up opportunities for kids to have kid-on-kid interactions with polo,” Mulligan said. “Even though some of the adults that we play with are on the same level as the kids, it’s a different dynamic than playing with other kids our age.”
The team, which plays in arena polo tournaments across the Southeast, consists of Mulligan; Hazel Hill, a 15-year-old who travels from Fort Myers; Jayda Link, a 13-year-old from Sarasota; and Gregory Shepard, a 12-year-old from Lakewood Ranch.
WHEELING AND DEALING
Practicing technique with the polo mallet on horseback isn’t always a possibility for the youth players of Sarasota Polo Club. In place of a horse, Shepard and others will ride on a Onewheel, an electric self-balancing unicycle that can reach speeds upward of 30 mph.
“My best skill is probably my ability to control the ball,” said Shepard. “I’ll grab my foot mallet, hop on my Onewheel and go practice for hours, just stick and balling, working on different types of shots and passes.”
Led by Campbell, the team has progressed over the course of the season, coalescing from disparate adolescents to a cohesive group.
“At the first practice I was wondering what I’d gotten myself into,” Campbell said. “I hate to use the word ‘clueless,’ but I was pulling my hair out that first day. Their riding skills have improved immensely, however, as well as their ability to work as a team.”
PROGRESSION
The ability to not only function as a team, but to do so in an arena, were the two biggest challenges the group faced when it started its season in early fall 2024.
Prior to joining the team, most of the players had never played together before, at least not for an extended period of time. At the Polo Club’s practices, teams are often not predetermined and decided on the day by skill set.
“It’s a different experience to practice every week with the same bunch of people,” Kate Mulligan said. “You realize what everybody’s strengths and weaknesses are and you try to work alongside them. One
of the things that Stuart emphasizes is your ability to communicate in the moment, calling out to your teammates what the next play will be and where they should go.”
Arena polo is different from that of its traditional counterpart. It’s played in teams of three — with one alternate.
A regulation polo field, however, is 300 yards long by 160 yards wide. Prior to joining the team, most of the members had spent the majority of their time playing in the field.
A polo arena is 300-by-150-feet, making for a much more contained, technical game.
“On grass, the game is a lot more open,” Campbell said. “People go for passes and long runs whereas in the arena you’re working behind the action to pick up the scraps, so to speak.”
While players had to adjust to the arena, the natural tendencies of each player helped to make the transition smoother. There are three positions in arena polo — No. 1, the offensive attack position; No. 2, the pivot position responsible for both attacking and defending; and No. 3, the tactical leader and stronghold of the defense.
Although these positions are somewhat fluid, the two youngest players, Shepard and Link, are the offensive engines of the team.
“Gregory and Jayda can both hit it far and score goals from one side to the other,” Ainsley Mulligan said.
Hill, Ainsley Mulligan said, is great at ride-offs — a maneuver where one player uses their horse to bump an opponent off the line of the ball — and does most of the work to get the ball back in her team’s possession.
As for herself, Ainsley Mulligan said, she likes to run with the ball and take shots on goal.
More than just the action in the arena, however, is the bond that the players form with one another.
“It’s been so much fun playing with Ainsley, Hazel and Jayda,” said Shepard. “We’re close friends.”
Courtesy image
Junior forward Broden Beorlegui has helped power Lakewood Ranch through the FHSAA 6A state tournament, scoring twice in the Mustangs’ first two wins.
Lakewood Ranch 13-year-old Gregory Shepard practices his stick handling on his Onewheel electric unicycle at the Sarasota Polo Club on Feb. 4. Jayda Link, a 13-year-old polo player from Sarasota, chases after the ball on her horse named Honeybun.
The Sarasota Polo Club’s Interscholastic Polo Team from left: head coach Stuart Campbell, 15-yearold Hazel Hill, 13-year-old Jayda Link, 15-year-old Ainsley Mulligan and 12-year-old Gregory Shepard.
Photos by Dylan Campbell
Former Mustang performs in rarefied air
There’s a moment toward the end of every Tuesday and Friday when John Rivera Jr. has to remind himself of why he’s doing this.
The sun has long set over Albuquerque’s Mount Taylor, his home base for the month, and he finds himself alone, standing at the edge of a pool, dreading what’s to come in his cross-training session.
“Pretty much every time I go, this is the last thing that I want to do,” said Rivera Jr.
Then the Lakewood Ranch High alum gets to thinking. He thinks about the broken foot he suffered in 2022 during his senior track season at the University of Mississippi, pressing the pause button on a professional running career that was about to be shot out of a cannon. He thinks about the sponsorship opportunities that he missed out due to the injury.
He thinks about the fact that despite being the 47th ranked athlete in the 800-meter dash last year, he was not one of the 48 selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He dives in the water.
The workout, a grueling affair, lasts about an hour, focusing on high threshold efforts and breath work to build Rivera Jr.’s VO2 max, the highest amount of oxygen that a person can use during intense exercise. Think of it as the air intake on a high-performance race car — the more oxygen that Rivera Jr. can use, the faster his engine will run.
“The cross-training allows me to get another hard effort in without further taxing my legs,” said Rivera Jr. “I’ve already done a hard running workout in the morning, followed by a lift, so this gives my legs a rest while working to increase my oxygen intake when I’m running.”
Oxygen intake is why Rivera Jr. finds himself in Albuquerque this
February. He’s in an altitude training camp with the Brooks Beasts Track Club, a Seattle-based team of professional runners who compete in distances from 800 meters to 10,000 meters.
Rivera Jr. signed with Brooks Beasts this January, the culmination of what has been a steadily rising track career since his days at Lakewood Ranch High. Rivera proved to be an elite high school runner when he won gold in the 800-meter at the 2017 FHSAA’s Class 4A state championships (1:53.12).
During his five-year career at Ole Miss, from 2018-2022, Rivera Jr. grew from good to great. As a sophomore, Rivera Jr. earned second-team All-American status when he placed 13th at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships (1:49.03). In 2022, he placed third in 800-meter at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships (1:48.03).
After graduating in 2022, however, Rivera Jr. has had something of a tough road. Yes, he’s had success as a professional runner — the Lakewood Ranch native of Puerto Rican descent has represented Puerto Rico at the 2023 Word Athletics Championships in Budapest and in the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
His time in the 800-meter dash — which he runs almost exclusively along with the 600-meter during his indoor season — has gotten better and better. In July 2023, he placed third at the DC Track Championships with a 1:45.29. In July 2024, he ran a personal best 1:44.76.
The Olympic cutoff at the 2024 Games was 1:44.70. As of Jan. 28, Rivera is ranked 48th in the world for the 800-meter dash, a ranking decided not only by time, but by points accrued over the season.
Being a professional runner, however, is not easy. Until he signed
Veins
with Brooks Beasts, Rivera Jr. was not sponsored by a corporate entity, instead training on his own with funding from the Puerto Rican national team.
Running, Rivera Jr. said, is not nearly as glamorous of a professional sport as people may think.
Not only is it grueling both mentally and physically, but it’s also a lonesome sport. When training on his own, Rivera missed the team he had at Ole Miss, the camaraderie and the friends he’d made. He missed having a life outside of running.
“It’s a big, difficult shift to make,” said Rivera Jr. “I enjoyed every single year at Ole Miss more than I did my last two as a professional. There was so much more to do. As a professional runner, you have to be OK with being bored. Your life revolves around running and recovery for 10 months out of the year.”
It’s a lifestyle that Rivera Jr. almost gave up last summer after missing out on the Olympics. He’d been steadily climbing in the world
rankings, reaching 47th, but found himself without a team to represent.
Universality rankings allowed nations without athletes represented in the games to select their own — runners with times slower than Rivera’s were slotted in front of him, despite his higher world rankings and faster time.
“I almost ended up quitting after that,” said Rivera Jr. “I’m a pretty realistic person and while I have goals and ambitions, you set a timeline for yourself — if I can land a better contract by this date or make the Olympics this year, I’ll keep going.” Rivera Jr., however, decided to keep running. He said that missing out on the 2024 Olympics filled him with a renewed motivation to not only to qualify for the 2028 Games, but to represent Puerto Rico at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow this March and the Outdoor Championships in Tokyo this September. He hopes to break the Puerto
Rico 800-meter record (1:43.82), set in 2019 by Wesley Vasquez, this season. To compete for an Olympic medal, Rivera Jr. said that his time needs to be in the 1:43-1:42 range. The top three times at the Paris Olympics were all within 1:41. Rivera Jr. believes training with the Brooks Beasts team, which features Olympians and world champion medalists, will help him reach his goals.
“When you have to think a lot about your training and how you’re running, that’s when things go south,” said Rivera Jr. “I’m doing the least amount of thinking that I’ve done in a long time, and it’s paying dividends.”
Dylan Campbell is the sports reporter for the East County Observer. Contact him at DCampbell@ YourObserver.com.
Veins
LAKEWOOD RANCH 9114 Town Center Pkwy. Ste 101 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
T, W, Th: 8:00am-5:00pm Friday: 8:00am-12:00pm
Courtesy image
John Rivera Jr. said that before each race, he visualizes different parts of the track. “Before the race, I close my eyes for around 1 minute 45 seconds and imagine myself running at different points of the race to mentally prepare myself.”
Maggie Yull
Maggie Yull is a sophomore forward on The Out-of-Door Academy girls soccer team (13-4-2). On the season, Yull leads ODA in goals scored with 11. In the Class 1A District 10 championship game against Bradenton Christian at home Jan. 28, Yull scored once in the first half of regulation and once in penalty kicks to help ODA beat Bradenton Christian 5-4 in penalty kicks after the game was tied 1-1 through regulation.
When did you start playing soccer and why?
When I was around 4 years old, I started playing recreational league soccer. My older brothers all played soccer, and watching them play and seeing how much they loved it inspired me to try it out. I fell in love with it quickly.
What’s the appeal?
For me it’s the team aspect. On both my club (FC Sarasota) and high school teams, we all get along well and have a lot of fun together. Being around my teammates and creating those friendships and memories is probably my favorite part of playing soccer.
What’s your best skill on the field?
I’d say my speed. My speed is what gives me the ability to stretch the field vertically, especially as an outside player, which gives me better matchups with defenders and more opportunities to score.
What are you working to improve?
My overall ball handling is some thing that I’m always working to improve. I’ve been particularly focused on trying to have a better first touch — having more control over the ball when it first comes to me is what provides me with those opportunities to cre ate space for myself and use my speed to my advantage. I’m always fine tuning my first touch, at both club and high school practices. I’m constantly
If you would like to make a recommendation for the East County Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Dylan Campbell at DCampbell@ YourObserver.com.
critiquing how I receive the ball and practicing my first touch off of passes over and over again.
What has gone right for your team this season?
We’ve come together and grown as a team a lot over the course of the season. We’re a young group and a lot of those first-year players have stepped up and filled in holes that were left by last year’s seniors. It’s been great to see it happen.
What’s your favorite movie or television show?
As far as TV, I love “The Vampire Diaries.” In terms of movies, I’ll go with “The Bourne Identity,” where Matt Damon’s really young. I love all of the Bourne movies, but that one is my favorite.
What are your hobbies? I love to read. I wake-surf whenever I can. I play tennis.
What’s the best advice that you’ve received?
That even if you make a mistake it’s not the end of the world. You’ll always have other opportunities to make up for it.
Finish this sentence. Maggie Yull is …
•
•
• Women’s health, no obstetrics
• Medicare Annual Wellness Visits
• Preventive screenings and immunizations
Lennar comes up clutch for Community Foundation
The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation awarded more than 20 grants to nonprofit organizations in the region in 2024, and it is getting a head start on funding for 2025.
The LWRCF hosted its first Charity Golf Scramble on Monday at the Calusa Country Club course, which opened to the public Feb. 1.
The event raised approximately $20,000 thanks to 58 golfers who paid $1,000 per foursome, along with sponsorships and donations.
The event is meant to begin an annual tradition, but some changes likely will be made in the future when it comes to the date of the event.
“The biggest challenge was that the Super Bowl was yesterday,” said Kate Mulligan, the LWRCF executive director. “We’ll have to look at the calendar and adjust how we schedule for next year.”
The Charity Golf Scramble was made possible due to the generosity of Lennar (Calusa’s builder) which gave all proceeds from the event back to the LWRCF.
“This is awesome for Lennar to step up and throw this tournament together,” LWRCF Board President Mark Clark said. “It’s exciting, and we want to make this an annual event.”
— VINNIE PORTELL
Photos by Vinnie Portell
Scott Antritt can’t help but smile after missing a tricky putt at Calusa Country Club during the first Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation Charity Golf Scramble on Monday.
Scott MacDonald tries to chip his ball close to the pin during the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation’s Charity Golf Scramble at Calusa Country Club.
Long stretches of dirt serves as the backdrop for many holes at Calusa Country Club, which is open to the public, but still not fully completed.
Jason Mitchell goes for the green during the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation’s Charity Golf Scramble.
Nick Irle, Curtis Ross and Garrett Shinn watch as Jason Mitchell gets ready to stroke a putt during the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation event at Calusa Country Club on Feb. 8.
Car show drives business to Main Street
Billy Gallagher’s 2004 Ford Thunderbird looks the same today as it did when he drove it off the lot in 2003.
On Feb. 5, he parked the cherry red beauty on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch for the Classic Car Show hosted by Ed’s Tavern on the first Wednesday of each month from 5-8 p.m.
Gallagher said the key to keeping a car looking brand new is to never let it get too dirty. Little messes are OK, but big messes are a no-no. He’s got a few other tips, as well.
Never allow anyone to eat or drink in the car. While it’s a “pricey endeavor,” protect the paint job with a ceramic coating. Park at the
far end of the Publix parking lot, so it never gets nicked by a shopping cart. The Thunderbird is just about to hit 50,000 miles because driving it is so much fun, Gallagher can’t let it sit in the garage all the time.
He participates in the car show because he gets a thrill when others love his car as much as he does.
Gallagher said he’s always been “a Thunderbird guy.” It started when he saw one in the movie “American Graffiti.”
“I thought if I get the car, I can get the girl,” he said.
— LESLEY DWYER
Parrish resident Billy Gallagher used to live in Lakewood Ranch. Now, he visits monthly for the car show.
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
An antique Chevrolet pickup parks along Main Street at Lakewood Ranch for the Classic Car Show.
The owner of this purple dune buggy has a sense of humor.
Bradenton’s Mary Wingate and Lakewood Ranch’s Frank Lee stop to admire a 1965 Datsun 320. Lee said the model used to be as popular as the Ford F150.
Braden Woods resident Gary Hatfield stands behind his 2005 Jaguar XKR.
COMMUNITY
THURSDAY, FEB. 13 THROUGH
SUNDAY, FEB. 16
LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING
Runs from 3-6 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Steve Arvey (Thursday), Soundwave (Friday), Coral Caribbean Cowboys (Saturday) and Deadwood Dick and the Drifters (Sunday). The Friday and Sunday concerts are $5; the Saturday concert is $15; and the Thursday concert is free. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.
FRIDAY, FEB. 14 AND
SATURDAY, FEB. 15
MUSIC AT THE PLAZA
Runs 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Frankie Lombardi plays acoustic rock and pop for those strolling through Waterside Place on Friday night. Blues musician Zach Pomerleau will entertain the crowd on Saturday. For more information about the free music series, go to WatersidePlace.com.
SUNDAY, FEB. 16
POLO Gates open at 10 a.m. and the match begins at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Lakewood Ranch. General admission is $15. VIP tickets run $20 and up. Each week has a theme for those who want to participate. For more information, go to SarasotaPolo.com.
FARMERS MARKET
Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. The Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch, which was voted as the top farmers market in Florida for the second year in a row in 2024, will run year-round every Sunday. Vendors will be offering seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. Other features are children’s activities and live music. For more information, visit MyLWR.com.
YOGA IN THE PARK
Runs 9-10 a.m. at Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Sarasota. Start the morning off with gentle
BEST BET
FRIDAY, FEB. 14
MOVIE IN THE PARK
Runs from 6-9 p.m. at 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch. The free monthly movie series at Waterside Park features “Frozen.” The movie, which is sponsored by Grace Community Church, begins at sunset. The first 200 who attend will receive half of a grilled cheese sandwich and a bag of chips from Big Blue Grilled Cheese Co. Seating is on a first-come, firstserved basis. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Concessions available from We B’ Poppin Popcorn and Kettle Corn. Inflatables for the kids will be available from 6-7:30 p.m.
yoga with lake views. For more information, go to LakewoodRanch.com.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19
BINGO
Begins at 10 a.m. at James Patton Park, 7525 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Bingo under the pavilion is hosted by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities. For information, go to LakewoodRanch.com.
RANCH NITE WEDNESDAY
Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place. Ranch Nite Wednesday features food trucks, dessert trucks, live music, weekly programing, outdoor bars and a recreational cornhole league. Please do not bring coolers or bring outside food or beverages. Go to Waterside.com for more information.
YOUR CALENDAR
File photo
Hundreds of people attend Movie in the Park at Waterside Place.
By Nicole Kenedy, DOGPerfect Operations Manager
A dog’s dental health plays a big role in their overall health, including gut function and hygiene. Here’s how you can support your pup to keep them healthy and happy:
Oral Hygiene
Just like us, dogs need regular brushing with a soft toothbrush and canine toothpaste to maintain clean teeth and gums.
Gut Health
Bad breath could be a sign of underlying gut issues.
Probiotics support a healthy GI tract and help with oral health concerns. At DOGPerfect, we offer a range of options, including supplements, dental wipes, powders, chews, and dental bones.
Chew Time Engaging in chewing activities is beneficial for your dog’s dental and mental health, as it not only provides enjoyment but also helps control plaque and tartar and supports gum health.
DOGPerfect offers a variety of premium chews like raw bones, bully sticks, antlers, and more. Whether your dog is a puppy or a senior, we can guide you to the best options for their unique chewing needs.
Need Help? We’re Here for You! If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry! Our trained staff is ready to offer personalized recommendations based on your dog’s breed, age, and specific needs.
Plus, to keep your pup’s smile shining, we offer monthly nonanesthetic dental services at all of our locations, ensuring their oral health stays in tip-top shape. Connect with us @officialdogperfect to see upcoming dental dates!
Fun with philanthropy
About the Author: Nicole Kenedy, Operations Manager at DOGPerfect, has over 10 years of experience in the pet industry and is an expert when it comes to helping pet parents choose the right food for their dog. DOGPerfect is a locally owned pet retail store with locations in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and University Park. Visit DOGPerfect.com to learn more and book a FREE Nutrition Consult!
The Women’s Club at Cascades of Sarasota fosters camaraderie by raising money for local nonprofits.
Living at Cascades of Sarasota comes with many perks.
The “active adult community” has a near endless array of amenities to choose from. There is not one, but two kilns on site to fire pottery.
But some amenities are less tangible than an artist’s oven or a resort pool, such as the laughs and camaraderie that come with being a member of the Women’s Club at Cascades of Sarasota.
During the club’s annual installation of its new leaders Feb. 4 at the Peridia Golf & Country Club, members read aloud the “Pledge of Friendship.”
“We come together in fellowship. Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving. We celebrate homes and the community from which we come. May we return to them richer in mind and heart. And may enduring friendships be formed. For we remember — there are no strangers, just friends who we have yet to meet.”
When newly installed President Susan Braunstein moved to Cascades from New Jersey eight years ago, she didn’t know a soul. She met another
ABOUT THE NONPROFIT
WOMEN’S CLUB AT CASCADES OF SARASOTA. Mission Statement: To instill camaraderie among our members while developing common bonds through educational, charitable and social activities. We work together to support the needs of the community and to educate and provide entertainment for members.
member of the club playing tennis and now has at least 119 friends.
The community is made up of 453 homes, so about a quarter of the community is represented in the club.
“Most of us are retired women who like to have a good time,” Braunstein said.
However, the club is as charitable as it is social. Usually, the two endeavors are intertwined.
Instead of simply raising $3,500 to donate to the American Cancer Society, the women participated in the nonprofit’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Nathan Benderson Park in December.
Members are currently organizing a carnival for April 5 to benefit Girls Inc. In addition to carnival activities set up on some of the athletic courts, there will be corn hole and
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
From left, these are the newly installed leaders of the Women’s Club: Kathy Matheson, Joanne Byrne, Sue Pace, Stefanie Fine, Shirley Driskill, Susan Braunstein, Kathy Stewart and Susan Francisco.
round robin tennis tournaments for the entire community.
The club’s donation will go toward scholarships for the after-school and summer programs Girls Inc. provides.
The nonprofits that benefit vary from year to year. The common thread is that the majority of nonprofits supported by the club serve women and children.
Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee is an exception in that it serves everyone. Each year, club members get together to pack shoeboxes full of goodies for the Holiday Shoebox Collection before Christmas.
“We put little presents inside the shoeboxes — hand creams, mirrors, all kinds of little things,” Braunstein said. “This might be their only gift for the holidays.”
Last year, the group also donated “barrels of food” before the summer break and made a $500 cash donation.
The Food Bank of Manatee, which is operated by Meals on Wheels, runs a summer program called Food4Families that distributes bags of food in areas where most students rely on free lunches during the school year.
“We are so grateful for the tremendous support we receive from our community,” said Maribeth Phillips, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels. “We rely 100% on the sup-
port of the community to meet the needs of those turning to us for assistance, and we appreciate each and every donation.”
Braunstein said the goal is to introduce different nonprofits to club members. While the club doesn’t continue to support the same charities year after year, sometimes individual members do.
After learning more about the Women’s Resource Center, a couple members signed up to be mentors.
“We’re very proud of what we do as a small group,” Braunstein said. “We really reach out to the community.”
While Cascades is its own tightknit community, the club is all about exposing members to what lies outside their gates.
Co-first Vice Presidents Joanne Byrne and Stefanie Fine set up speakers for the monthly luncheons.
Upcoming speakers range from a representative from Town Square, an adult day center, to Rick Piccolo, president and CEO of the SarasotaBradenton International Airport.
They also explore together. Instead of a monthly meeting in June, the club will be headed to the Asolo Repertory Theatre for a private tour.
“We’re part of a community, so we feel we should give back to that community,” Braunstein said. “But we like to do fun things, too.”
Concession home tops sales at $3.75 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
AConcession home on Ganton Avenue
topped the week’s sales at $3.75 million. Ricardo and Donna Espino, of Bradenton, sold their home at 18916 Ganton Ave. to Joel King, of Bradenton, for $3.75 million. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,428 square feet of living area.
CONCESSION
Lilian Weippert, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 8432 Lindrick Lane to Thomas and Debra Reavis, of Bradenton, for $3 million. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,019 square feet of living area.
Dean Stuart Bartlett and Julie Ann Bartlett, of Lancashire, United Kingdom, sold their home at 19444 Beacon Park Place to Richard Azizkhan and Geralyn Brindisi Azizkhan, of Bradenton, for $2,275,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,434 square feet of living area.
COUNTRY CLUB
Jon and Mintha Esformes, of Palmetto, sold their home at 7207 Teal Creek Glen to Douglas Callander, trustee, of Richland, Michigan, for $2.75 million. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, six baths, a pool and 5,657 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,525,000 in 2019.
Charles Churchman, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 7008 Brier Creek Court to Carol Campbell, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.25 million. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,063 square feet of living area.
Bryan and Samantha Dwyer, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7675 Silverwood Court to Harry and Helga Williamson, of Lakewood Ranch, for $735,000. Built in 2010, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,252 square feet of living area. It sold for $451,000 in 2015.
Mavis Ackerman, of Carmel, New York, sold the home at 7142 Sandhills Place to John Patrick Wolfe and Helen Grace Wolfe, of Huntington Beach, California, for $590,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,817 square feet of living area. It sold for $346,800 in 2002.
COUNTRY CLUB EAST
Jerald and Marilyn Schneider, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7511 Ladybank Crossing to Dawn Del Haye, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2,475,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,956 square feet of living area.
Frederick Burrows Jr., of Whitesboro, New York, sold his home at 16508 Kendleshire Terrace to David and Kerri Helms, of St. Louis, for $2,265,300. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,973 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,295,000 in 2023.
LAKE CLUB
Jeffrey Falk and Janice Topper, of Sarasota, sold their home at 16333 Daysailor Trail to Scott and Eileen Zelken, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.25 million. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,960 square feet of living area.
BRIDGEWATER
Howard Rogosa, of Bradenton, sold his home at 5621 Cloverleaf Run to Kleopatra Karamichos, trustee, of Glenview, Illinois, for $950,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,079 square feet of living area. It sold for $532,800 in 2014.
Daniel Muccio and Bernadette Mattei, of The Villages, sold the home at 13408 Ramblewood Trail to Jeffrey and Melissa Johnston, of Lakewood Ranch, for $740,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,231 square feet of living area. It sold for $415,000 in 2015.
RIVERDALE REVISED
Ronald Charles Green, of Bradenton, sold his home at 4603 Blue Marlin Drive to David Anderson, of Bradenton, for $850,000. Built in 2002, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,808 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2018.
MONTEREY
Toll Southeast LP Co. Inc. sold the home at 2529 Waterfront Circle to Tammie and Brian Woodring, of Sarasota, for $837,900. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 2,517 square feet of living area.
GREYHAWK LANDING
David and Christina Fairey sold their home at 279 Petrel Trail to Jason and Chloe Bellan, of Bradenton, for $830,000. Built in 2005, it has six bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,933 square feet of living area. It sold for $440,000 in 2015.
LAKEWOOD NATIONAL GOLF
CLUB
Thomas and Sarah Woodland sold their home at 17404 Hickok Belt Loop to Mark Moran, trustee, of Au Gres, Michigan, for $810,000. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,900 square feet of living area. It sold for $426,000 in 2019.
HIGHGATE
Paul Flattery Jr., trustee, of Katy, Texas, sold the home at 7211 Marston Court to Heather Dunn, of University Park, for $782,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,821 square feet of living area.
GREENBROOK
Matthew Bedran, of Port Charlotte, and Brittany Stone, of Bradenton, sold their home at 6453 Indigo Bunting Place to Richard Drew Patrick and Stacy Patrick, of Lakewood Ranch, for $775,000. Built in 2004, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,076 square feet of living area. It sold for $514,500 in 2020.
Alicia Turner, of Naples, sold her home at 6207 Warbler Lane to MHTH Investments LLC for $580,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,429 square feet of living area. It sold for $381,000 in 2019.
MOTE RANCH
James and Linda Lustgarten, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 6215 Stillwater Court to George and Deborah Voloch, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, for $775,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,469 square feet of living area. It sold for $252,500 in 1997.
SUMMERFIELD
Sylvia Mirisola, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 11116 Marigold Drive to Zsuzsanna Dorko, trustee, of Milwaukee, for $690,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,496 square feet of living area.
Pinellas Equities LLC sold the home at 11018 Pine Lilly Place to Forensic Foreclosure LLC for $485,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,596 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,000 in 2006.
Carlos Ojeda-Christiansen, of Bradenton, sold the home at 11018 Pine Lilly Place to Pinellas Equities LLC for $470,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,596 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,000 in 2006.
TARA Robert Longwell, trustee, and Anne Longwell sold the home at 5824 Covey Court to Alex Freed, of Bradenton, for $662,000. Built
RESIDENTIAL
27-31
in 2005, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,301 square feet of living area. It sold for $460,000 in 2018.
WATERLEFE GOLF AND RIVER
CLUB Vic Kuffner and Suzanne Mireault, of Bradenton, sold their home at 750 Foggy Morn Lane to Donna Brown, of Johns Island, South Carolina, for $660,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,135 square feet of living area. It sold for $276,900 in 2001.
NOTTING HILL Albert and Myra Burstein, of
Sarasota, sold their home at 7351 Kensington Court to Jonathan Fox and Linda Susan Fox, of Sarasota, for $649,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,035 square feet of living area. It sold for $409,000 in 2016.
RIVERWALK Kevin and Joy Foust, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 7428 Arrowhead Run to Marc Aaron McCorrison and Paola McCorrison, of Lakewood Ranch, for $645,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms,
Photo courtesy of Stacy Haas, Realtor.
This Concession home sold for $3.75 million. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,428 square feet of living area.
three baths and 2,718 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2017.
RIVER WIND
Jason Daniel Mayfield and Ashleigh Rae Mayfield, of Madison, Alabama, sold their home at 1040 River Wind Circle to Timothy Smidlein, of Bradenton, for $615,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,690 square feet of living area. It sold for $566,300 in 2022.
WENTWORTH
Alan Fernback, trustee, of Kent United Kingdom, sold the home at 7300 Saint Georges Way to Amalfi Management II LLC for $570,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,858 square feet of living area. It sold for $103,600 in 1997.
CHAPARRAL
Gerald and Carol Sanders, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, sold their home at 6034 Chaparral Ave. to Linh Yen Tran, of Hollywood, for $550,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,047 square feet of living area. It sold for $188,400 in 1999.
SARACINA AT ESPLANADE
Anthony David Barak, of Lakewood Ranch, sold his Unit 103 condominium at 13506 Messina Loop to James and Andrea House, of Ottawa Lake, Michigan, for $549,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,146 square feet of living area. It sold for $525,000 in 2021.
INDIGO
Jeannette Paul Jackowski Aubuchon, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her home at 12729 Seasong Terrace to Christer and Peggy Ann Wingardh, of Bradenton, for $547,500. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,832 square feet of living area. It sold for $579,100 in 2023.
SAPPHIRE POINT
Beverly Breard, of Spicewood, Texas, sold her home at 16308 Hidden Oak Loop to Roxanne Massa, of Bradenton, for $530,000. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,650 square feet of living area. It sold for $103,600 in 1997.
COACH HOMES AT RIVER
STRAND
Dolores and Bernard Weisser, trustees, sold the Unit 6102 condominium at 6802 Grand Estuary Trail to Robert and Karen Lowe, of Bradenton, for $500,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,108 square feet of living area. It sold for $305,000 in 2019.
STONEYBROOK AT HERITAGE
HARBOUR
Jamie Carson and Mark Howell, of Bradenton, sold their home at 9003 Willowbrook Circle to Opendoor Property J LLC for $478,800. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,909 square feet of living area. It sold for $310,000 in 2015.
CARLYLE AT THE VILLAGE OF PALM AIRE
William Shaw, trustee, of Oak Hill, Virginia, sold the home at 6712 Cheswick St. to Anette Dearden, of Sarasota, for $468,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,021 square feet of living area. It sold for $209,300 in 2000.
MILL CREEK ROAD Douglas Baker and Lauren Crist, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1223 Mill Creek Road to Tyler Schule and Darian McDaniel for $460,000. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 960 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2022.
Abraham Lincoln revisited as teacher of valuable leadership lessons
A New Jersey college professor and Abe Lincoln aficionado, at a Southwest Florida event, details why one of the most famous Americans ever is also an underappreciated leadership expert.
By Mark Gordon
It’s hard to overlook Abraham Lincoln.
For starters, the 16th U.S. president signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, ending slavery in the country. It’s also well known that Lincoln was physically hard to miss, standing six-foot-four, the tallest of the 46 U.S. presidents. And, of course, he was so celebrated for telling the truth that his famous nickname, Honest Abe, lives on 159 years after he was assassinated.
What is sometimes overlooked with Lincoln—despite the 16,000 books written about him—is the set of soft skills he learned, and then exhibited, about leadership throughout his life. This is the message Louis Masur, a Lincoln expert and Distinguished Professor of American Studies and History at Rutgers University in New Jersey, shared in Southwest Florida in 2024.
Masur was a keynote speaker for a Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. Speaker Series event. His talk, “Lessons of Abe Lincoln: How Effective Leadership Can Change the World,” was given at the Tribby Arts Center at Shell Point in Fort Myers. In a virtual interview, Masur remarked, Lincoln “saved the union and freed the slaves, but what made him such an incredible leader during such a divisive and partisan time?”
Masur, who has researched, taught, and spoken about other historical figures, says Lincoln remains his No. 1 educational and leadership muse. Masur has distilled Lincoln’s leadership into a few powerful lessons:
Education: Lincoln’s dedication to selfeducation was critical to his success. Despite his father’s disapproval of reading, Lincoln’s “love of learning” played a pivotal role in his ability to lead. When Lincoln became president in 1861, he had no formal military experience, except for volunteering in the Black Hawk War. To prepare, he read military strategy books from the Library of Congress, immersing himself in the details of military tactics.
Diplomacy: Masur points to Lincoln’s letter to General George Meade after the Battle of Gettysburg as an example of his restraint. Lincoln wrote a letter to express disappointment that Meade didn’t pursue Confederate General Robert E. Lee after the Union victory. However, Lincoln ultimately chose not to send the letter, recognizing that chastising his general would be counterproductive.
Empathy: Lincoln’s empathy and ability to step outside himself were hallmarks of his leadership. Masur tells a story of Lincoln writing a condolence letter to the daughter of a friend who had died in combat. In the letter, Lincoln wrote, “You are sure to be happy again,” sharing his own experience with grief. This ability to connect with others helped him lead with compassion.
Principle over power: Lincoln’s commitment to principles is another lesson Masur highlights. During the 1864 presidential election, Lincoln refused to postpone the vote, even though he risked losing. He believed that “We cannot have free government without elections.” This resolve to uphold democratic principles, even in times of war, defined his legacy.
Masur’s insights emphasize that Lincoln’s leadership was as much about character as it was about strategy. “I just never tire of reading about him and thinking about him,” Masur says.
Join us for an engaging speaker series featuring two of the nation’s leading historians. Dive deep into American history as our expert speakers bring the past to life with captivating stories and fresh perspectives.
HINDQUARTERS by Zachary Gallardo, edited by Taylor Johnson
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Enhanced Connectivity
Market-leading connectivity with uninterrupted hands-free calls and streaming
I recently purchased Phonak Sphere 70 hearing aids and I can hear much better. I'm super happy with these. I think anybody would be very happy with them. It's how hearing aids should really work. I highly recommend them. Thank you.
