As the days grow longer, the weather hotter, and the thunderstorms more frequent, one constant remains in the Gulf Coast: baseball. Monday, June 5 marked Opening Day for the rookie-level Florida Complex League–the starting point for prospects looking to make it to the big leagues for half of the organizations in Major League Baseball. The FCL is home to three divisions–East, North and South–the last of which includes the FCL Orioles, who play their home games at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium.

Players to watch on the FCL Orioles include outfielder Braylin Tavera, the Orioles 23rd ranked prospect according to mlb.com, shortstop Maikol Hernandez, the organization’s 25th ranked prospect and 26th best prospect, fellow shortstop Leandro Arias. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the FCL Orioles is the potential and sheer talent of the players on the field–Baltimore’s farm system is currently rated as the top player development system in all of baseball, meaning that in just a few short years, fans could be seeing players like Tavera, Hernandez and Arias up in Baltimore at Camden Yards.

Additionally, there is no cost to attend FCL Orioles home games at Ed Smith stadium. While concessions will be closed, free parking is readily available to all who wish to attend. The FCL Orioles are scheduled to play 28 home games between June 5 and August 22, which will be scheduled to start at 12 pm Monday-Friday and 10am on Saturdays, with potential playoffs from August 25-27. 

Pictured: Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Photo courtesy of Florida Pro Baseball.

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Fireworks, food and family-friendly fun are in store at the annual NBP Fireworks on the Lake Driven By Lamborghini Sarasota, returning to Nathan Benderson Park on July 3. This year’s patriotic party will include live entertainment; a 5K run/walk; the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Kid Zone; food and refreshments for purchase; local vendors; and a spectacular 15-minute fireworks show that will light up the sky around 9:00 p.m. above Nathan Benderson Park Lake. Those who prefer to watch the show from home can tune in to WWSB ABC 7 on Tuesday, July 4 for a recorded Independence Day special starting at 9 p.m. Guests will enjoy live music by popular regional band Kettle of Fish from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. on the main stage on Regatta Island. The blues, soul and funk band has headlined numerous music festivals and is regarded as one of the hottest live acts in Southwest Florida. All evening long, families can stop by the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Kid Zone, complete with kid-friendly inflatables, face painters, crafts and more. Adding to the festivities, runners and walkers alike will enjoy the annual Publix Fireworks 5K On The Lake, a partnership of the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy and Fit2Run, The Runners Superstore. The 3.1-mile race will start at 7:00 p.m. and wind around the park’s Bill Robinson Lakeside Loop. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the fireworks show will begin just after 9 p.m. The event is free with paid parking. Tickets for parking are $30 per car on Regatta Island, $20 per car in the park’s south lot, and $50 for recreational vehicles. Limited tickets are also available for a VIP viewing experience at the Finish Tower for $75 per person. Tickets are on sale now at https://fireworksonthelake.com/ 

More than 50 young participants in UnidosNow’s Future Leaders Academies program were acknowledged for their academic successes on May 25 at the Harvest House’s Life Enrichment Campus in Sarasota. During the event, UnidosNow Executive Director Cintia Elenstar announced that of the group, 15 high school seniors achieved 100 percent college acceptance and collectively earned approximately $4.5 million college scholarships and grants. The graduates will attend MIT, Wake Forest, University of Portland, UF, New College, USF, Ringling College of Art, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, among other schools. The Future Leaders Academy (FLA) is a rigorous year-round program offered primarily to low-income, first-generation Latinx high school students and their families in Sarasota and Manatee counties.  

Pictured: Future Leaders Academy senior Maria Prisila E. and her parents. She will be attending New College of Florida.

New College of Florida recently unveiled its new mascot, the “Mighty Banyan.” The mascot, is a fierce-looking, flexing banyan tree, based on a design by first-year student Anna Lazzara. As the college progresses toward being the best liberal arts college in the country, a student-designed mascot, inspired by the many banyan trees on campus, will be the new face of the college. The banyan tree is known for its aerial roots, which sprout from branches and eventually reach the soil, and its ability to live for centuries. They are also considered the world’s biggest trees in terms of the area they cover. In a way, the entanglements of the roots and branches all under the vast canopy echoes the interweaving of the past, present, and the future. “When I heard the news that the college was seeking a new mascot, I began to think about what the New College spirit means to me,” said Lazzara. “After much thought, I realized that the New College spirit is the combination of a supportive community and a stunning natural landscape. Both of these things, I believe, are perfectly represented in the form of a mighty Banyan tree.” 

Pictured: New College Interim President Richard Corcoran with Anna Lazzara. Photo courtesy of New College of Florida.

Manatee County 4-H is hosting an Animal Science Day Camp the week of June 26th through June 30th. The camp will run daily from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. The earliest drop-off time is 8:30 am. This camp is for youth 12-15 years old and is limited to 20 participants. The cost is $250 per week. There are scholarships available in which case you should email aldraper@ufl.edu. All campers are required to fill a participation form before attendance. The link for this form and where to sign up is at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4-h-animal-science-camp-tickets-641503282587. For youth who are considering a career in the animal industry or veterinary medicine, our Animal Science Camp offers a unique opportunity to participate in hands-on labs, gain animal handling experience, visit local farms and animal care facilities, and interact with local farmers, veterinarians, and professionals working in animal science. Participants will practice hands on activities including animal handling, dissections, taking vitals, reading medication labels, giving injections, and fecal floats. Educational topics will include animal behavior, husbandry, nutrition, disease transmission and prevention, and more. Throughout the week participants will also travel to various field trip locations to speak directly with local farmers, veterinarians, and professionals in animal science. Participants will learn about the following veterinary categories: small animals, exotic animals, equine, livestock, and shelter medicine. Please contact Alexandra Draper at (941)722-4524 ext. 1844 or email at aldraper@ufl.edu to learn more.  

The Exchange (formerly the Woman’s Exchange) announced that it will award $500,000 to 24 regionally based arts and cultural organizations and 14 high school and college students. Additionally, five organizations are recipients of the new Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education grant. The awards will be given at an invitation-only event at The Exchange on June 8, 5 to 6:30 p.m. (Media is invited to cover this event.) Karen Koblenz, The Exchange’s executive director and CEO, explains that the new Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education Grants Program is intended to “encourage local art organizations and educators to work collaboratively to design and develop artistically creative and innovative projects involving the visual and performing arts benefiting students grades K-12.” Grants may include curriculum-based residencies, workshops, arts-related day trips, assemblies/performances and out-of-school experiences. Elizabeth (“Liz”) Lindsay was the co-founder of The Exchange and a long-time pillar in Sarasota's art community before her death in 2022. Koblenz points out that the organizational grants are for specific projects and outreach programs, including performances, exhibitions, education initiatives and special series. She explains that The Exchange’s board bases its granting decisions on the long-term stability and financial health of the organizations, the program’s overall appeal to the public and the impact these programs will have on the surrounding community. Individual scholarships are awarded based on grade point averages, the individual’s artistic goals and achievements, and letters of recommendation.

“We’re honored to play an integral role in our region’s rich arts and cultural industry,” says Koblenz. “These funds are game-changing for our grantees, who often credit The Exchange for supporting pivotal moments in their success.” Koblenz adds that The Exchange is especially interested in programs that promote a vibrant and engaged community. “The cultural arts industry plays a pivotal role in our region’s economic health and serves as a magnet for tourism. We’re proud to invest in our home-grown creative talents.” She adds that the monies used for these grants and scholarships were earned entirely through the organization’s 15,000-square-foot consignment boutique in downtown Sarasota. Since 1962, The Exchange has awarded more than $9 million in grants to local non-profits and high school and college students pursuing a higher education in the arts. 

Pictured: The cast of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s production, Big Sexy The Fats Waller Revue, a grant recipient from The Exchange.