With the Fourth of July fresh in the rearview mirror, patriotic fervor is still running rampant throughout the nation as we approach the dog days of summer. And if there is one thing that is more purely American than anything else, you guessed it, it’s baseball. Apple pie, hot dogs and even hamburgers are all merely adaptations that our young country has taken on and molded into our identity, but baseball, well that comes from us.

On that note, baseball continues to thrive on Florida’s Gulf Coast as we progress further into the summertime. In Sarasota, the Florida Complex League Orioles have not gotten off to the hottest start, with a 9-12 record in their first 21 games. However, for fans of the team, there’s no need to fret–the FCL Orioles actual record matters far less than the individual development of their young prospects.

Over in Bradenton, where the Bradenton Marauders have continued to storm through the Florida State League with a 6-4 record to start the second half of the season, the city celebrates its 100-year anniversary of having baseball in Bradenton. The tradition began in 1923, when the St. Louis Cardinals started playing their Spring Training games at City Park–the stadium that later became LECOM Park, where the Marauders currently call home.

Today, LECOM Park is the third-oldest stadium used by a Major League team, just behind Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago. The stadium, which in 1923 was constructed for just $2000, has held a number of different occupants over the years including the St. Louis Cardinals, the Boston Red Sox, the Oakland Athletics, the Pittsburgh Pirates and more. During World War II, LECOM Park was even taken over by the U.S. Army and used as a military base. The Pittsburgh Pirates, who currently call Bradenton home for the duration of Spring Training, began their run at LECOM Park in 1969 and have stayed there ever since.

LECOM Park, 1611 9th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205. 

Pictured: Bradenton Celebrates 100 Years of Baseball. Photo courtesy of StadiumJourney.com.

To learn more, visit

The Bradentucky Bombers are excited to announce our next home game of 2023 on Saturday, July 15th against Swan City Roller Rebels, a team out of Lakeland, Florida. We will be hosting the game on Saturday, July 15 at Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex (5309 29th St E., Ellenton, Florida 34222) at 5:00 p.m, doors open at 4:30pm. Tickets are available! Presale—$10 online; Adults at the door—$15; Kids 6-12––$10 at the door; Kids 5 and under FREE! For more information visit www.bradentuckybombers.com or our Eventbrite to purchase tickets (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bradentucky-bombers-vs-swan-city-roller-derby-tickets-504879005697). The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is the international governing body for the sport of women's flat track roller derby. We are located at Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex. We are excited to be a part of the world-class athletes that Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex trains all year round. 

Photo by Patrick Laughrey.

Mote Marine Laboratory is pleased to announce the establishment of a voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zone (STPZ) in Sarasota County. Its main focus is to protect sea turtles from unintended boat strikes. The Sea Turtle Protection Zone initiative was created in 2021 through a partnership between the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research at the University of Florida. Mote Marine Laboratory scientists documented boat-strike hotspots in local waters and mapped the voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zone for this area. The zone stretches from Longboat Key to Siesta Key, including Sarasota Bay, and extends from shore to 1.5 miles offshore. “We’re excited to partner with the community to help protect sea turtles in the areas where we see the most animals struck by boats,” said Gretchen Lovewell, Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program Manager. “By closely monitoring for changes in stranding numbers and boater speeds, we hope to expand the zone and our monitoring efforts to all hot spot areas in the county.” Sea turtles are threatened and endangered species found year-round in southwest Florida waters. During nesting season, sea turtles spend more time closer to the surface and close to their nesting beaches. With more turtles near the surface, there’s a greater chance that a boat might strike one by mistake. Many of the grass flats in the area are prime foraging grounds for sea turtles, which also puts them at risk for boat strikes. The good news is, boaters can protect sea turtles by slowing down and using vigilance in key locations. The project is funded by the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research with funds from Disney Conservation Fund and in part by a grant awarded from the Sea Turtle Grants Program. The Sea Turtle Grants Program is funded by proceeds from the sale of the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate. Hot Spots for boat-struck sea turtles are Longboat Pass, New Pass, Big Pass, Siesta Key, Venice Inlet, and offshore two miles north of New Pass to two miles south of Big Pass extending out one and a half miles; limit travel time within these Hot Spots and travel at a minimum safe speed when in these areas. Enjoy coastal waters and help sea turtles by making sure you Go Slow for Those Below! To report distressed, injured or deceased sea turtles, manatees, dolphins or whales in the Sarasota/Manatee area call our strandings hotline at 888-345-2335. For locations elsewhere in Florida, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: 888-404-3922. 

Photo courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory.

ALSO Youth, a local non-profit organization serving the LGBTQ+ youth community in Sarasota & Manatee Counties is proud to present the art showcase, Expressions Exhibition on Thursday September 7, 2023, at the Sarasota Opera House. The Exhibit will feature the works of local artists as well as youth artists from Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The Expressions Exhibition will include a silent auction of local artists works, live music, free lite bites, and a cash bar. Artwork in various mediums submitted by youth from Sarasota and Manatee County will also be showcased in celebration of their creative expressions. The exhibition will be held at the Sarasota Opera House, located at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue in downtown Sarasota on September 7th from 5-7 pm. Tickets are $50 for adults (over 24), and youth tickets are $15. Youth ticket sponsorships are available. To purchase tickets for the event, please visit www.givebutter.com/expressionsexhibit. The Expressions Exhibition is sponsored by The Sarasota Opera House, and additional sponsorships are available. For further information, contact: Fallon Markwell, Administration & Operations Coordinator, info@alsoyouth.org; or Becky McDonough, Executive Director, ed@alsoyouth.org. 

PGT Innovations (NYSE: PGTI), a national leader in the premium window, door, and garage door industry, today announced that it has appointed Chris J. Stephens Jr. to its Board of Directors, effective June 28, 2023. Stephens was appointed to serve on the board’s audit committee, also effective June 28, 2023. He will serve as a Class III Director, and the board expects to nominate him to stand for election as a Director at PGT Innovations’ 2024 annual meeting stockholders. In connection to Stephens’ appointment, the board increased its size from 10 to 11 directors. Most recently, Stephens served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE). His leadership responsibilities included corporate finance, accounting, treasury, tax, investor relations, operations finance, business planning and analysis, and global shared services. He has an extensive career track record in financial leadership and business transformation knowledge across the aerospace, industrial, and manufacturing sectors. A Certified Public Accountant, Stephens also holds a master’s in business from Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from King’s College. Throughout his career, he has attended leadership programs at Harvard Business School, University of Michigan, and Stanford University, as well as completed executive leadership development programs at Honeywell and Boeing. Stephens currently serves as a member of the Fairfield University Dolan School of Business Advisory Board. Previously, he served as Chair of the Manufacturers Alliance CFO Council, was a member of the Connecticut Business Industry Association (CBIA) Board of Directors and was a member of Loyola Marymount University’s Business School Advisory Board.  

OCEAN GARDENS | Tekmara founder Todd Kleperis hopes to make waves in sustainable agriculture, July/August 2023. 

Read Here!