WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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 speaks the language of the heart but helps its students find an identity—and discover community. In the seven years since it opened, this family-owned studio has produced a family-like environment among its students, fostering close-knit …
WORDS: Rachel Spivey
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, initiated by the Children’s Services Advisory Board (CSAB) and spearheaded by Board Chair Connie Shingledecker, is making waves in our community. The CSAB, a group of dedicated members acting under the Manatee County Code of Ordinances, recommends programs for funding to the Board …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Katelyn Disbro
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 of its residents wear fur, feathers, shells, and even scales. Here, Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center preserves and protects native wildlife, with its ultimate goal of releasing native species back into the wild.
Founded in 1988 …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
MAIN PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
“A college education will adversely affect a woman’s health and fertility.”
Wait. What?
In the late 1900s, women pursuing higher education battled against widely circulated myths like the one above. For women who had obtained a college degree, opportunities were scarce. But in 1881, a group of women rolled up their sleeves and decided change would begin with them.
It started with …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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 scene, with her friends and boyfriend waving her off at the bottom of the escalator. She traded the cool winter of cosmopolitan Buenos Aires for the comparably sleepy town of Boca Raton, Florida, in sauna-like July. It was …
Tom Bennett Park | 280 Kay Rd, Bradenton, FL 34208
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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) compliant Bradenton Kiwanis Playground located at 280 Kay Road in Manatee County.
In 2022, the Kiwanis Club celebrated its 100th anniversary. To celebrate the huge milestone, the then-incoming president, Neil …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Since 1980, the mission of HOPE Family Services has been to promote safety, strength, and well-being for those affected by domestic violence in Manatee County.
HOPE Family Services CEO Char Young started as a part-time employee handling their new computer and accounting systems 25 years ago. Soon after, the Business Director left, and Char moved into a full-time job, which then led to a CFO …
WORDS: Rachel Spivey
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
As the sun rises higher in the sky and the days grow longer, the anticipation of summer fun fills the air. For many children, summer is a time of endless play and exploration. Still, for educators and families, it can also bring unease due to the notorious “summer slide” – the loss of academic skills that can occur during the break from school.
According …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
As a 5th Grader at Prine Elementary, Elyan Rivera is described by his teachers as an all-around amazing kid! As a member of the Technology Student Association (TSA), Elyan is excelling and, in his words, is “really having a lot of fun with it!”
“I really enjoy the problem-solving part of technology,” said Elyan. “It’s really entertaining, and I think I’m really good at …
WORDS & PHOTO: Wendy Dewhurst
Nine years ago, a group of three very influential and impactful organizations whose mission is to support early learning came together with the purpose of pursuing initiatives that would enrich the community, prioritizing collaboration while strengthening their individual agencies.
“This all began with the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Program,” said Shela Halpin with the School District of Manatee County (SDMC). “We wanted to form a …
WORDS: Rachel Spivey
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Ever heard the old adage, “The early bird catches the worm?” Well, it turns out this saying applies to early learning, too! The earlier children are exposed to stimulating environments, the better the outcome. Years of research have reported that investing in early education programs yields a higher return on investment than at any other time in academia. Estimates on this return are said …
WORDS: Sheri Roca
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
ReImagine Dance is a local, nonprofit organization offering dance classes, at no charge, to young people between the ages of 5 and 25 with any disability. Constructed through the love and imagination of two sisters who both have children with disabilities as a way to involve their kids in a creative outlet where they can socialize and express themselves in healthy ways.
Sisters Shannon …
The City of Bradenton hosted a ribbon cutting last month for the Bradenton Reads! Exhibit Grand Opening. The project, a partnership between the City of Bradenton and the School District of Manatee County through the Public Art Advisory Board, the School District of Manatee County Early Learning Team, and Soar in 4 Manatee, promotes the importance of early literacy through art. Mayor Gene Brown assisted in the ribbon cutting alongside …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Station Manager Charles Clapsaddle, along with his Manatee Education Television (METV) staff and board members, have created a legacy here in Manatee County that will transcend time.
Before moving to Bradenton, Charles lived in Washington, DC, where he worked as a television production manager for the US Army. “My 11-year career working with the Army was very rewarding,” said Charles. “It gave me the opportunity …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
We see the names Bishop and Parker on buildings throughout Manatee County, but who were Edward and Lillian Bishop and Mary Parker? How did they help to shape our community? What role does the Bishop Parker Foundation have in Manatee and Sarasota County today?
The first thing I found interesting was that they didn’t go by Edward and Lillian. Everyone knew them as Ned and …
