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: City of Bradenton
Once you’ve lived in Florida long enough, you likely don’t bother with daily weather updates. From May to November, it’s hot, with those predictable 4 p.m. thunderstorms rolling through. From November to April, it’s less hot, and, if we’re lucky, we might get a day or two we call “chilly.” It’s predictable. There’s usually no need to scrutinize the forecast.
The exception, …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Who says the most exciting plays happen on the field? Tampa Bay Buccaneer #95 C.J. Brewer traded the playbook for a storybook as he promoted literacy at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.
On September 10th, downtown Bradenton’s Bishop Museum buzzed with excitement as the Bucs defensive lineman stepped into the spotlight, reading Mary the Manatee by Suzanne Tate to an eager group …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Robyn Bell
My name is Robyn Bell, and this year, I had the honor of being selected for the Dr. Art Engelhard Student Exchange Program. This program, offered through the Hernando De Soto Historical Society, allows local students to visit Bradenton’s sister city of Barcarrota, Spain, and learn firsthand about the history that unites us while being fully immersed in the Spanish culture.
During my time abroad, …
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 …
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 & PICTURES: School District of Manatee County
A handful of professional baseball players were special guests at Tillman Elementary in Palmetto. Brandan Bidois, Elijah Birdsong, Owen Kellington, Patrick Reilly, and Landon Tomkins are pitchers for the Bradenton Marauders, our local minor-league team for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They joined third and fourth-grade students, as well as physical education teachers Tyler Bench, Kyle Mauk, and Hunter McGarry.
The players used their …
WORDS: Sheri Roca
PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen
Did you know that there is a magical place right here in Manatee County where you can not only get up close and personal with elephants but help in the global conservation of these majestic creatures? Just east of Lakewood Ranch, you will find the Myakka Elephant Ranch. This facility is a family-owned and operated nonprofit conservation center that offers once in a lifetime, …
WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen
Hailing from Delaware, working in management at Walmart, longing to sell snow cones on the beach somewhere, Stephanie Edwards made her dreams a reality in 2015.
Stephanie worked for Walmart for 23 years. She sat on the board of directors for a food bank and the local chamber of commerce through her management position with the company, as well as served in various local reading …
WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen
Imagine living in a community where language barriers are broken, creating a common ground where we’re able to see ourselves as more the same than different. ¡HOLA! Elementary at Manatee School for the Arts is striving to do just that.
As an arts-infused dual-language public charter school, ¡HOLA! Elementary is the first and only school of its kind in Manatee County. It opened its doors …
WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen
April 7th marked the 75th De Soto Children’s Parade sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC). Children from all over gathered in Palmetto to watch a slew of handmade floats, performance acts, and conquistadors march down 10th Street to Sutton Park. The winning float for “Best Use of Theme” was designed by Palma Sola Elementary School.
It featured students …
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 …
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 …
