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It All Starts with Children!

It All Starts with Children!

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Our local community has a plethora of established clubs and organizations that work hard every day to make Manatee County a better place to live. The Rotary Club of Bradenton especially strives to bridge the gaps in early childhood education to set young students up for educational success. 

Rotary International focuses on six specific issues: teacher training, fighting diseases, saving mothers and children, supporting education,

A Decade of Service…

A Decade of Service…

A Lasting Legacy!

By almost any conceivable standard a school district can be measured, Superintendent Saunders’ five-year tenure as superintendent has been a rousing success. 

Since being sworn in as superintendent on June 26, 2018, she has been a difference-maker. 

Leadership in a Crisis 

When the COVID-19 global pandemic broke out in early 2020, Ms. Saunders presided over one of the most challenging periods in the school district’s history.  

Working

The Dancing Queen…

The Dancing Queen…

WORDS: Sheri Roca
PICTURES: Whitney Patton

Ms. Tracey Vita is a name you may recognize. She has become something of an icon in Manatee County, touching the lives of more than 200 families each and every year, for more than 42 years, through the art of dance. 

At Tracey Vita’s School of Dance, the kids don’t dance for trophies, medals, or ribbons. They don’t dance to prove they are the

Cream of the Crop…

Cream of the Crop…

WORDS: Sheri Roca
PICTURES: Whitney Patton

Hunter McGrath has always had a love for cows (all animals, really), and when she saw some of her friends showing animals through the 4-H club, she knew that it was something she just had to do. Armed with a cattle halter, a show stick, and determination, Hunter took first place with her steer, Big Mac, in the 2023 Manatee County Fair. For Hunter,

A Roadmap to Success…

A Roadmap to Success…

WORDS: Merab Favorite
PICTURES: Whitney Patton

At the height of COVID-19 in 2020, working mom Katie Becker found herself at a figurative crossroads. Her three-year-old son had a respiratory vulnerability, so to ensure his safety, Katie placed her career on hold and became a stay-at-home mom. In order to earn income, she watched her neighbor’s son too.  

A few months into her new career path, she found herself at another

A Trophy of a Guy…

A Trophy of a Guy…

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Someone you wouldn’t necessarily think would be connected to every part of a community is the “trophy guy.” But chances are if you or your kids played sports in Manatee County in the last 37 years or have received an award in school or at work, you’ve obtained a piece created by Don Ide of The Trophy Case. 

Don moved from south of Buffalo, New

A Breakfast with a Purpose… 

A Breakfast with a Purpose… 

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

The Early Learning Taskforce held its first Transition to Kindergarten (T2K): Breakfast with a Purpose in January. The Breakfast sought to lay the foundation for a successful transition between prekindergarten and kindergarten for students. 

The Taskforce is comprised of representatives from Step-Up Suncoast, the Manatee County School District, and the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. In attendance at the Breakfast were kindergarten teachers, VPK

High Soaring Spirits…

High Soaring Spirits…

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

A penguin is unlike your typical bird due to its inability to fly, but that doesn’t stop the bird from having its own beautiful uniqueness. It is from this philosophy that The Penguin Project was born. 

The Penguin Project is a national musical theater program where children and young adults with disabilities perform in a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical. All roles are

Not Just Horsing Around!

Not Just Horsing Around!

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

When walking up to Prospect Riding Center, one is greeted by the sounds of chickens clucking, roosters crowing, cows mooing, and horses snorting. Not your typical equine therapeutic riding center, Prospect Riding Center offers a variety of hurdles to help folks with special needs overcome many different drawbacks, whether they be mental or physical. 

“Coming here, you don’t know what you’ll come up on,” Susan

#IAMchange

#IAMchange

WORDS: Sheri Roca
PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Coach Logan Wells is more than simply a coach. He has made it his mission to give young athletes a chance to play baseball or even go on to college when they may not otherwise have the means to do so. During his five years as a coach of a Florida Travel Baseball team, three of those years have been at the high school

Books For Kids!

Books For Kids!

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

When Ted Lindenberg moved to Lakewood Ranch, he wanted to find a way to help people, especially in the process of reading. He joined a literacy council in Sarasota whose objective was to work with adults who have difficulties reading. However, while he found the organization wonderful, it wasn’t quite enough for him; he needed to help children. Thus, Books for Kids was born. 

He

A Circle of Givers…

A Circle of Givers…

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

The needs of local women, children, and families are being radically changed for the better, thanks to The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle. Based out of Lakewood Ranch, the Circle is comprised of philanthropic women who are residents of The Lake Club community. 

Barbara Najmy founded The Lake Club (TLC) Women’s Giving Circle in 2014 after having the vision to create a women-only donor-advised philanthropic

De Soto Children’s Parade: Putting the Kids in Charge! 

De Soto Children’s Parade: Putting the Kids in Charge! 

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Dating back to 1948, the De Soto Children’s Parade has been a great source of joy for young ones in Manatee County. This tradition was created by the Hernando de Soto Historical Society and included children of all ages parading through what is now Old Main Street to where Pier 22 sits. While the Hernando De Soto Historical Society also facilitates the De Soto Grand

Pirates, Dead Ahead!

Pirates, Dead Ahead!

WORDS: Merab Favorite
PICTURES: Whitney Patton

While many families from all over the U.S. travel to Florida for an annual trip to Disney World, Craig Warzecha’s family from New Jersey, made the pilgrimage for a different reason. They came to experience spring training games in Florida’s historic Grapefruit League.  

During February and March, 15 Major League Baseball teams leave their home states (many still amid blustery winter months) to play

What A Guy!

What A Guy!

WORDS: School District of Manatee County
PICTURES: Whitney Patton

The School District of Manatee County has partnered with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) to establish the first-ever Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science at Anna Maria Elementary School. The academy, named for the world-renowned wildlife artist, conservationist, and businessman, will focus on marine sciences, conservation, and the arts. 

The collaboration between the district and GHOF will begin this