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: Gabrielle Versmessen
After reading about the events and powerful testimonies from students during the Kiwanis Key Leader program in a March 2020 issue of Kiwanis Magazine, Judge Ed Nicholas was sold on bringing the program to Manatee County.
Targeted toward eighth-grade through eleventh-grade students, the Key Leader weekend helps students develop leadership and team-building skills while assisting them in becoming the best they can be. According to the Kiwanis …
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: Carlee Colonneso
2020 was an interesting year, needless to say, but my family still has plenty of enthusiasm for the upcoming holidays, even with all the ups and downs.
Embracing the traditions this year has been vital towards maintaining our kids’ well-being, plus my husband and I have been open to trying new ideas to help limit activities outside of the home.
Speaking of traditions, whether …
CUCUMBER COOLER
INGREDIENTS
• 2 granny smith apples
• 5 stocks of celery
• ⅓ of a cucumber
• 5 splashes of coconut water
• ½ of a squeezed lemon
Makes 2 (8oz) glasses
PREPARATION
Juicer:
1. Juice the apples, celery, and cucumber into a cup.
2. Squeeze one half of the lemon and add the coconut water.
3. Pour over ice and …
Transitioning from summer into a new school year can be tough for kids. Establishing a different routine can be difficult, and from my own experience when you add in new subjects, different teachers, or switching classes, the first day or couple of weeks can be overwhelming at times. Parents and teachers are there to help ease students into these changes, and an awesome way to build up their confidence is …
I appreciate handmade presents for Mother’s Day – and I especially love the expression on my kids’ faces as I open their gifts!
It is also nice to look back at their artwork from over the years to see how their handwriting has changed, how they have grown in their photo gifts, as well as the creative ideas that their teachers have come up with.
Being on the receiving end …
https://laurenconrad.com/blog/2014/08/edible-obsession-gummy-bear-popsicles/
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
1. Drop a few gummy bears into your Popsicle mold. We made some that were multicolored and some that had a color scheme like green ombre and peach ombre.
2. Pour the orange juice into the molds. Insert popsicle sticks as directed on mold instructions.
3. Freeze your popsicles for about four hours or until they are completely …
