The Bradenton Marauders remain not only one of the best attractions in town, but one of the hottest teams in all of Minor League Baseball with a 7-3 record in their last 10 games. The Marauders–or Young Buccos as they are commonly called–have a 35-29 record on the season, good for second in the Florida State League West division, just behind the Philadelphia Phillies Single-A affiliate the Clearwater Threshers.

As one would expect, the Marauders’ success has been built upon the backs of their young players–they are, after all, the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. All of the players on the Marauders’ roster are under the age of 25. However, it is the bat of the team’s youngest player, 19-year-old shortstop Termarr Johnson, that has propelled the team to such success this season.

Take for example Tuesday night’s game against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. In the top half of the first inning, Johnson–the fourth overall pick of last year’s MLB Amateur Draft and the Pirates top ranked prospect–drove a ball over the right field wall to give the Marauders a one-run lead early in the game. Later on, down 2-1 in the top of the 7th inning, Johnson rocketed a second home run over the center field wall to tie the game at 2-2, giving the Marauders much needed momentum to seal the victory later that night.

In his last 10 games, Johnson has had a batting average of .333, good for a slash line of .262/.425/.462 on the year. Tuesday night’s twin blasts amped up his home run total to seven on the season, with an additional 25 RBIs tacked on for good measure. At this rate, Johnson might not be in Bradenton much longer, so catch him in LECOM Park while you can!

LECOM Park, 1611 9th St W, Bradenton. 

Pictured: Termarr Johnson. Photo courtesy of piratesprospects.com.

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On June 22, Mote Marine Laboratory scientists will release approximately 4,000 of the 20,000 red drum into Phillippi Creek on Sarasota Bay as part of an ongoing partnership with Salt Strong designed to find the most effective methods to replenish and enhance red drum populations. The rest of the fish will be released later this month. With support from Salt Strong, Mote was able to produce and release its largest number of red drum yet with fish that tip the scales at 6-10” in length to boost survival of the stocked fish, enable monitoring their post-release behavior, and help promote sustainable fisheries. At approximately 11:30. a.m., the red drum will be released at Phillippi Creek which is located at the end of Montclair Pl, Sarasota. 

Local breweries will step out of their comfort zones to battle each other in an epic lip sync showdown at Big Top Brewing Co. (975 Cattlemen Road - Sarasota, FL 34232) on Thursday, June 29th at 6:00 pm. Come see them try and take the Championship Belt from Mike Bisaha, the co-founder of Big Top Brewing Co. We will be posting his award winning performance soon for all to enjoy, and see what the others are up against. Along with other teaser videos up until the event on all Big Top’s social media platforms. Today millions of children in America go hungry everyday. We believe that's millions of kids too many! When school ends, hunger begins… This event will raise money for the All Faith’s Food Bank and will correspond with our Annual "Give us your PB&J, and we'll give you ours." fundraising campaign. We at BTB Co. eagerly set out to be a part of the solution by creating a speciality beer to help raise awareness about this important issue. During the month of June, for every jar of peanut butter or jelly donated in any of our taprooms we give a PB&J Pale ale in return. Made with locally sourced strawberries & raspberries, this brew brings out all of the important notes of a PB&J sandwich. Help us in fighting childhood hunger today! One tall glass of nostalgia at a time. Brewery Participants: Big Top Brewing Co., Naughty Monk Ale Works, 3 Car Garage Brewing, Brew Life Brewing, Calusa Brewing, Motorworks Brewing, Origins pizza, 3 Bridges Brewing, Cock n Bull. Beer Highlight: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Pale Ale - American, 5.3% ABV.

Give OUT Day is a month-long fundraising campaign culminating on June 28th, 2023. It is the only national day of giving for the LGBTQ+ community. With your gift, you are providing free counseling for youth and their families, weekly programs, community enrichment, and so much more. Together, we can uplift LGBTQ+ youth and provide resources that make a difference in their lives. Give OUT Day takes place all month long, but the main day of giving is June 28th. On that final day to give, there are special incentives for non-profits like ALSO Youth. These opportunities to win more money are called Power Hours! The organizations that raise the most money on the Give OUT Day platform during specific hours on June 28th (12 PM ET, 3 PM ET, and 6 PM ET) will receive prize money, helping us reach our goals! We are also eligible for other prizes through Give OUT Day. The more individual donors we have, the better our chances are to win. The donation minimum to count toward the leaderboards is $10. Click on the link below and share it with a friend to help support ALSO Youth! 

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Lucia Warren (Sarasota High School), Mateo Rizzo (Riverview High School), and Kasey-Huong Nguyen (Venice High School)—recently graduated high school seniors who served as members of their school’s Coexistence Club—were awarded $1,000 four-year renewable scholarships by Embracing Our Differences. Rizzo and Nguyen will be entering the University of Florida while Warren will be entering the University of South Florida in the fall. They join Chloe Labrecque and Cam Pham, rising seniors at the University of Florida, who received their first scholarships in 2020; Kennedy Hart and Emilia Przepiora, rising juniors at Rice University and the University of Florida, who received their first scholarships in 2021; Anela Ajkic and Megan Meese, rising sophomores at the University of Florida, and Mya Fraser, a rising sophomore at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, who received their first scholarships in 2022. In addition, Jay Murphy, who served in an internship position for EOD this spring through New College of Florida, will receive a $1,000 two-year renewable scholarship to attend Ringling College of Art and Design in the fall. 

Adventure for All (AFA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding inclusive opportunities for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental exceptionalities, is proud to introduce its groundbreaking Adventure Biking Program. The program aims to empower individuals with exceptionalities, fostering self-confidence, independence, and personal growth through the skill of biking. AFA's program received essential support through a generous grant from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. The Adventure Biking Program offers participants three progressive levels of instruction. The Intro to Biking program focuses on building foundational skills, with the goal of participants being able to pedal independently for at least 20 yards. In the LVL Up program, participants advance their skills by learning how to turn the bikes with control in each direction, brake with control, and stand on the pedals off the seat while moving. Finally, the BLAST program, the most advanced level, focuses on decision-making, predicting terrain, and further building confidence and control on the bike. As a culmination of the BLAST program, participants embark on group biking trails, experiencing the thrill of riding trails together for the first time. AFA is proud to announce that eight individuals, ranging in age from 9 to 15 years old, have successfully completed the beginner and intermediate levels of the Adventure Biking Program. Their dedication and progress have earned them the opportunity to advance to the BLAST program, the highest level of instruction offered by AFA. In the BLAST program, participants will further develop their biking skills, focusing on decision-making, predicting terrain, and building confidence and control on the bike.

"We believe that every individual, regardless of their exceptionalities, deserves the chance to experience the thrill of adventure and the freedom of riding a bike," says Chase Pettey, Founder of Adventure for All. "The Adventure Biking Program is not just about teaching biking skills; it's about empowering our participants with a newfound sense of self-belief and the courage to conquer challenges. Witnessing their smiles, laughter, and the sheer joy they experience as they ride independently is an incredibly moving and rewarding experience." The Adventure Biking Program seeks to address the unique challenges faced by individuals with exceptionalities, breaking down barriers and challenging societal limitations. By providing participants with the opportunity to learn and excel in biking, the program goes beyond physical activity and instills essential life skills, improved communication abilities, and a growth mindset. Barancik Foundation's support has been instrumental in the launch and sustainability of the Adventure Biking Program. 

Pictured: Coach Kate Maccarone with a youth athlete.

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Failure to Land | Losing Grip documents a gymnast's trial through adversity to represent the United States in the 2020 Olympic Games in a world that seems to care less and less about his sport, May/June 2023. 

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