WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst & Katelyn Disbro
You’re staring, bleary-eyed, at a spreadsheet, and the numbers still don’t add up. You’re on hold with the insurance company (again). Your inbox just hit triple digits, and your laundry pile rivals Mt. Everest. Somewhere between rush-hour traffic and remembering to defrost the chicken, life starts to feel like one long to-do list that never ends.
But occasionally, amidst all the …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
It’s 7:45 a.m. on a Tuesday, and one by one, fourth grade girls trickle into the STEM lab at Palm View K-8. They bring their differences—various backgrounds and personalities, likes and dislikes. But they walk together on common ground, drawn by a growing curiosity about coding.
They’re also all wearing the same shirt, and they’re excited. Because Tuesday mornings at Palm View belong to …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
Parents of newborns often dread those long nights—the baby crying, the rocking, the desperate wish for sleep. But for some, the real nightmare is waking up to silence.
Retired law enforcement officer Connie Shingledecker spent decades investigating child fatalities, but one discovery shocked her most. In 2005, a reporter called, concerned about rising teen suicides. Connie dug into five years of data. “I thought drowning would be …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
“I remember it like it was yesterday.”
This is the quote I heard again and again when I spoke to several staff and attendees who were at LECOM Field on February 21, 2023. That day, the Pittsburgh Pirates were hosting an event for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. Among the attendees was avid sports fan Ernie Withers, who was in the outfield catching balls for …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Leah Brown’s journey has taken her from Hometown Queen to Community Champion. Long before she was the visionary behind some of the Southeast Region’s most vibrant celebrations, she was a proud Manatee High School Hurricane—Homecoming Queen, Class of 1997—with a heart for service and a natural flair for bringing people together. Her love for community and tradition was already shining through, especially after high school. …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
What if foster care wasn’t just about providing a bed, but building a future?
Decades ago, Graci McGillicuddy asked that question as she worked with children in Florida’s child welfare system. Kids shuffled between homes, struggling with untreated trauma and a lack of stability. Graci saw they needed more than temporary solutions. What if they had a place where they could heal, grow, and …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
To read is human; to listen without judgment is divine—or, in this case, canine.
Every Thursday, students at Anna Maria Elementary School gather in the media center for a much-loved program: Reading with the Dogs. One class at a time sits and reads to therapy-trained and socialized dogs and their volunteer handlers for a time of tale-sharing, tail-thumping fun. What better way to gain …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Once upon a time, families in Palmetto watched as 10th Street transformed into the pages of their favorite stories. Presented by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC), the 77th DeSoto Children’s Parade continued its annual tradition with this year’s theme, “Once Upon a Parade: A Storybook Collection.” Along with performers and the usual conquistadors, story-worthy floats inspired by favorite children’s books …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Jenna Bush Hager may be a TV personality and bestselling author, but at the recent Booked for Lunch event in Lakewood Ranch, she felt more like a fellow book lover sharing stories with friends.
On April 4, the Library Foundation of Manatee County welcomed 300 guests to the Grove Restaurant for this sold-out fundraiser featuring Bush Hager as the keynote speaker. Educators, community leaders, …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
MAIN PHOTO: Katelyn Disbro
Hope. A small word with life-changing power—and it’s what Tim Pedon has dedicated his life to sharing. As a Program Specialist at Volunteers of America (VOA) Florida, Tim helps others discover the hope that turned his life around.
In the mid-1990s, Tim walked a road of significant mental health challenges. Feeling unmoored and in need of stability, he turned to VOA, which helped …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
As I reached out to family, friends, and colleagues for a quote about Eleni Sokos for this article, it became clear very quickly that she is well respected and loved in our community, and the passion in the quotes I received left me feeling like I couldn’t have said it better myself.
It was a gorgeous day on St. Armands Circle when I sat down …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Think about your life: every success you’ve celebrated, every hurdle you’ve overcome. Chances are, you only got there because someone helped you—a teacher, mentor, parent, or friend. For hundreds of students across Florida, Take Stock in Children provides that same critical support. This life-changing program offers scholarships to students facing economic hardships and matches them with mentors who encourage, guide, and inspire them to …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Katelyn Disbro
At just 10 months old, Liam’s world looks a little different from other babies in his child care group. While his peers babble, interact, crawl, and scoot, Liam tends to sit and watch quietly from a distance, taking in his surroundings with gentle curiosity. His caregivers have observed that he thrives in one-on-one interactions, but they wonder if providing extra support could help him …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Katelyn Disbro
February 1st was no ordinary Saturday for Manatee County’s early childhood educators. The Manatee Conference on Young Children (MCYC), with its 300 attendees, transformed Manatee Technical College into a bustling hub with an inspirational keynote speech, breakout sessions, vendor booths, raffles, giveaways, and dancing.
Yes, you read that right. Dancing. (Keep reading.)
Sold out for its third consecutive year and hosted by the Early …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Under bright gym lights, a team forms a perfect circle, arms outstretched like spokes in a wheel. The coach crouches low. “Your effort matters more than the scoreboard,” she says, locking eyes with each player. “Play hard, play fair, and have fun.”
With a resounding cheer, the huddle breaks, and the players take their positions. The whistle cuts through the buzz of the crowd, …
