WORDS: Amy Bell
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
As the husband of State College of Florida (SCF) President Dr. Carol Probstfeld, Bill Murphy is often referred to as the “First Gentleman” around the SCF campus. Although he chuckles at the mention of it, it’s a title that Bill takes seriously. Like his wife, he is fully committed enhancing education in Manatee County – and it shows through his tireless work with the …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Greg Campbell was 12 and home – supposedly sick – from school, when he cooked on his own for the first time. Always ambitious, he chose popovers – light-as-air, eggy bread rolls, known for soft interiors and crisp golden crusts. He used all his mom’s flour, “destroyed the kitchen,” he said, and the popovers he made were an utter failure.
Chef Campbell, now 48, …
WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
When life swells uncomfortably out of proportion and the phone buzzes impatiently every five minutes, Annette Larkin – the gregarious, charismatic director and owner of Happy Cubs Child Care Center who has a talking speed fast enough to challenge any auctioneer – knows exactly where she needs to go for a deep breath and re-centering: The baby room.
Turning her phone on silent …
WORDS: Amy Bell
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
As the radio host of 92.1 CTQ’s “Maverick & Lulu in the Morning,” Maverick Johnson is a household name for local country music fans. But there’s more to this popular media personality than meets the ear. In addition to his love of music, entertainment, and sports, Maverick is also passionate about giving back to the community.
“Being able to help and make a difference …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
When Sophie Potillo dances, she is graceful, precise, and expressive. All things that make her a winner. Sophie, 10 and in fifth grade at Braden River Elementary School, has been succeeding in dance competitions since she was six years old. Of all the dance styles she’s performed — tap, contemporary, hip-hop, and lyrical — jazz is her favorite. “Because it’s sassy,” Sophie said.
At …
Southwest Florida has a new early learning resource. The Mosaic Backyard Universe at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Bradenton is a brand-new permanent exhibition geared toward children two to eight years old, providing a welcoming and safe place for them to begin learning about science and nature.
The Mosaic Backyard Universe is part of the North Education Center, the Museum’s new wing that opened October 1. The …
First-time parents must quickly learn to adjust to a new schedule and daily routine. Luckily, certain apps and other tools are great for first-time parents, because they can help you to set reminders to enforce the new schedule and build good habits for your child. Here are the best ones to keep in mind:
Apps to Download
There are tons of task-specific apps available for fine-tuning your organization as a …
WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
With a towering frame over six-feet tall, Deputy Ralph Bryant exudes a bigger-than-life, stoic force field and a nature so humble and serious you may wonder if this 26-year employee of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) will ever crack a smile.
However, last January, Bryant, who molded a fierce basketball program for the Police Athletic League of Manatee County (PAL) over a …
WORDS: Dr. Paige Laudicina, Eye Center, Inc
Much like the fact that we are not born with the innate ability to recite our ABCs and 123s, we are not born with innately perfect vision, either. It’s a process for the visual system to develop, one that typically occurs through a series of events and along an average time-line. In this article I thought I’d discuss that average timeline, and when …
REVIEWS: ANA RODRIGUEZ
Amazing Me! Dressing Up!
By Carol Thompson
(Birth to 3)
“Dressing Up!” is one of the books of the “Amazing me!” series, created for the infant and toddler age group. This book is a medium sized board book perfect for little hands but big enough for the kids (and parents) to enjoy the colorful pictures. Perfect for this season, enjoy as this inclusive and diverse group of …
My seven year old child is good at school but bad at home. What am I doing wrong? (Denise, Bradenton)
Erma Bombeck was a writer and comedian for over forty years. Her titles included, If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, Why am I in the Pits? and, At Wit’s End. Erma claimed she had six children – but we know she actually only has three. She said: “I …
WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
In summer, the Pops Orchestra in Bradenton runs “Camping with the Pops,” an intensive program that gives kids a chance to learn from, rehearse with, and perform alongside professional musicians for three hours every night for a week. While the camp brochure says it’s open to students ages 12-18, this past summer, the youngest cellist was only 10. Wrigley Rinsema, a fifth grader at …
WORDS: Jim Knapp, Triumph Martial Arts
The Physical Child
As children grow ever bigger and stronger it becomes increasingly important that parents take into consideration this question: Is my child Physically Literate? In school, children are taught how to read and write, then continue to be tested on their improvement of these skills. Physical skills should be treated the same way. Physical Literacy includes not only the understanding of several …
WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
With the clock barely striking 7 am on a recent morning, Esperanza Gamboa rushed to get ready for a bustling day when her cell phone rang unexpectedly. Surprised at the sunrise call, Gamboa – Director of Outreach and Eligibility for MCR Health – answered to a boisterous and excited woman rattling off a battalion of questions before Gamboa could barely squeak in hello. …
WORDS & PICTURES: Jessica Schubick
Palm View Elementary began the new school year on an exciting note after receiving excellent news over the summer when the Florida Department of Education released school grades for the state. Palm View showed the greatest gains in the School District of Manatee County, going from a D grade in the 2017-2018 academic year (and the 2016-2017 year), to an A grade in 2018-2019! Of …
