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

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 …

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 …

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

The Bradenton Kiwanis Club is well-known around Manatee County for the many good projects they have done for our community. This year, the Club turned 100 years old, and to celebrate, they not only did things throughout town but also explored the history behind the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. 

Established on August 22nd, 1922, the Club was initially named the Manatee River Kiwanis Club. …

WORDS: Kara Chalmers

The COVID-19 pandemic has been disastrous for visitor and tourist attractions worldwide, and Sarasota Jungle Gardens, a beloved, Old Florida park that’s been around for more than 80 years, is no exception.

However, things are starting to look up. Jungle Gardens has returned to its pre-COVID schedule; it’s hopeful to continue a seven-day-a-week schedule. The park, which in March cut 80 percent of its staff, is now …