Stronger than a Hurricane
Once you've lived in Florida long enough, you likely don't bother with daily weather updates. From May to November, it's hot, with those predictable 4 p.m…
Aktion Packed!
Margaret J. Wheatley once said, "There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." In the heart of Manatee County…
Goodness Will Prevail…
When I sat down to chat with Maribeth Phillips, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee (MOW), she was in the midst of handling their Stuff The Bus event, providing meals…
A Kickoff to Literacy!
Who says the most exciting plays happen on the field? Tampa Bay Buccaneer #95 C.J. Brewer traded the playbook for a storybook as he promoted literacy at The Bishop…
Little Minds, Big Adventures!
In a lively preschool classroom, excited children gather around a tub of water. Four-year-old Jackson grips a shiny metal spoon. "What do you think, friends—will it sink…
The Goals That Matter Most!
For nearly five decades, the Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization (MAYSO) has been more than just a soccer program—it's been a community where kids thrive…
The Pride of Palmetto
The Honorable Shirley Groover Bryant, Mayor of Palmetto, has called the city home her entire life. As the youngest of six, Mayor Shirley, as most locals…
From Bradenton to Barcarrota…
My name is Robyn Bell, and this year, I had the honor of being selected for the Dr. Art Engelhard Student Exchange Program. This program, offered through the Hernando…
Building Brighter Futures!
In the Outpatient Pediatric Therapy clinic of Manatee Memorial Hospital (MMH), you'll see children at play. Board games and puzzles, climbing frames and…
The Dance Family
To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak, goes the Hopi proverb. For Michele Mercier, owner and director of Dance University in Lakewood Ranch, dance not only…
Leading the Charge for Safe Sleep
The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) proudly leads a life-saving initiative funded by the Manatee County Government. The Sleep Baby Safely project…
A Sanctuary of Second Chances
On a quiet street in Bradenton Beach, among stately homes and rental cottages bathed in bright pastels, one property is not like the others. That's because many…
What Women (Really) Want…
"A college education will adversely affect a woman's health and fertility." Wait. What? In the late 1900s, women pursuing higher education battled…
Creating a Better Tomorrow, Today…
On her 19th birthday, Veronica Thames (then Veronica Lequeux) boarded a plane and reluctantly said goodbye to her old life. Tears flowed in this movie-like…
Time to Play!
It was an exciting morning at Tom Bennett Park for the much-anticipated ribbon cutting and grand opening for the fully ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)…
