WORDS: Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, PBS KIDS for Parents
It’s so hard to watch our children struggle, fall, and even fail. However, for learning to take place, struggling and failing are part of the process. As parents, we want to protect our children from hardships, so we may think hovering and plowing through dangers up ahead will somehow help them.
However, removing every potential obstacle takes away opportunities for our children …
WORDS: Sheri Roca
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Come one, come all and see The Amazing Emilie Bergbom flying high! Emilie is a nine-year-old Aerial Acrobat with her sights set on the Circus. And, where else but the home of the Ringling legacy, the land of big tops and big cats, would you see elementary school children dangling from great heights?
For over three years, Emilie has been training at South Florida …
WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
It’s just after sunrise, and Pastor Jerry Parrish curves down a familiar road in east Bradenton, easing his black Impala into the driveway of a dilapidated house that seems to sigh into the Earth with walls harboring heartache. Thirteen siblings inhabit the home where a mom roams in and out of a jail cell and a dad – illiterate and a gang member …
WORDS: Sheri Roca
Just west of the Ellenton outlet mall and interstate 75 lies a hidden gem on the banks of Lovelee Lake, called Worthington. Originally Lee’s Crab Trap II, Worthington has recently been transformed into a historical and charming wedding and event venue.
You may remember Lee’s Crab Trap II, a restaurant known for its Old Florida décor and historical dishes and flavors. The restaurant was conceived and built …
WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Like intriguing characters woven into a page-turner adventure novel with each chapter more astounding than the next, a collection of diverse life journeys leap into focus from a dazzling, mile-long resume and demand attention.
There’s the 16-year-old who hired his football buddies to hammer nails after school until 2 a.m. each night for his startup construction company and the high school track star …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Nick Leduc and a dozen boys met for the first time in May 2018 at tryouts for the 11 and under team that Leduc would be coaching for the Braden River Soccer Club. They couldn’t know then that in two-and-a-half years, they would rank number one in Florida.
Still, from the beginning, Leduc had a feeling this team would be special.
“I knew we …
WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
When a dusting of stars illuminated the night sky, and most of Manatee County slipped into a peaceful slumber, a predictable rumble hummed from Robby’s driveway. Turning the ignition of his mother’s borrowed car, Robby rolled out each evening to work overnights at a fast-food restaurant and prove a commitment to carving out a successful life.
Stoic work ethic and drive powered Robby, despite vast adversities …
WORDS: Svetlana Ivashchenko
You may be familiar with the term Guardian ad Litem (GAL). But do you know how crucial the role is that GALs play in our local community? And can you help meet the need for more of these special people who do so much for children who find themselves in such desperate situations?
Sadly, over 100 Manatee County foster children do not have a GAL volunteer to …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Bob Slicker realized his dream of owning a restaurant when he opened Slicker’s Eatery in February in Cortez. Slicker’s vision for his place, which he and his daughter Molly Slicker formulated together, was specific: to focus on kindness, goodness, and intentionality.
For running a restaurant, that vision translates to taking care of people. He offers employees health insurance and does fundraisers for local charities. …
WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
Like a flipbook of vintage Florida postcards – popping with vivid color and rolling seascapes – Mary Glass’ childhood stretched out before her with idyllic, adventure-seeking charm filled with sandy horse trails, bare feet, swimsuits, and spontaneous football scrimmages on quiet streets.
A dreamy, tropical snow globe to explore, the 1950s and 60s Sarasota unfolded during a time when famous authors gathered at restaurants over strong …
WORDS: Amy Treis
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
It is often said that fire and water are the Yin and Yang of the existing world. They create the requisite nature of rising and falling, ebbing and flowing, and remaining stoic and wilting. If you ask East Manatee Firefighter Erik Nicholson, he will say that fire and water are essential elements that have contributed to his success and passions in life.
Since becoming …
WORDS: safety.com
Outdoor time for kids is an essential part of their development. Unfortunately, most children’s average amount of unstructured outdoor playtime has been four to seven minutes per day, pre-pandemic. Coronavirus lockdowns have made matters worse, forcing even the most active kids to stay indoors.
As a parent, guardian, or childcare provider, you may have noticed that the abrupt change to children’s daily habits has made it challenging to …
WORDS: Kristin Louis
Summer is a great time to throw a party. You can have it inside or outside and draw from a wide range of menu possibilities and potential activities, from swimming to outdoor games. And there’s no need to worry about the size of your budget — you can have a great summer get-together without breaking the bank. Fire up the grill, lay out some delicious summer food, …
WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Like an inevitable Tsunami swirling dark, angry waves in the ocean, perilous influences, and risky behavior nearly drowned Russell Serreia in the mid-1990s. Plagued with alcohol addiction and a fractured home, 15-year-old Serreia navigated the cold shadows of Bradenton neighborhoods, rolling in and out of street fights and jail cells.
Hardened, lost, and flirting with danger, Serreia happened to land in a recovery …
WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
A single word unexpectedly and beautifully burst from the mouth of a non-verbal teenage girl in a class for students with profound special needs, igniting a surge of joy and excitement through the heart of Pam Parmenter in the early 1980s.
The sound, “Vickypoo,” floated out assertively and purposely into the busy classroom and commanded attention like a surprise visit from a four-star …
