Baseball has long been hailed as America’s pastime. And it’s true, baseball is the United States’ oldest, original, organized sport. However, America’s pastime hasn’t always been for everybody. As the sport exploded in popularity in the late 1800s, an alternative sport, softball, was constructed for women to play, with larger balls and smaller fields. While softball is an exciting, fast and truly original sport, with a large and passionate fan base of its own, the distinction between baseball and softball has inherently left a specific group of people out of luck: the women who love to play baseball.

On November 17, Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium will host the 2nd Annual All-American Women’s Baseball Classic Tournament, a three day event hosted by American Girls Baseball. The tournament, which includes 52 female baseball players from across the country–many of which were recently selected to be on USA Baseball’s 2023 National Team–will feature four teams with eight professional coaches as well as a free skills clinic hosted by the tournament players on Monday, November 20 for girls up to 16 years old.

American Girls Baseball is an affiliate of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association. The AAGPBL, popularized by the 1992 film A League of Their Own, was a professional women’s baseball league that ran from 1943 to 1954, originally started by Major League Baseball executives to provide the public with baseball while many of their players were serving in World War II. Sue Zipay, Founder and President of American Girls Baseball and the organizer of the tournament, was a member of the AAPGPBL’s most successful team, the Rockford Peaches from 1953 to 1954. “The initial idea for the tournament was for me to get the public to see how well these women can play baseball. Not many people in this country have ever seen high level girls play,” says Zipay. “I’ve had girls who are 13, 14, 15 years old come crying to me about how now that they’re out of Little League they have to switch to softball and that they don’t like softball and I think to myself, that was me some 80 odd years ago, having to play softball while I looked over at the boys baseball team in school and knew that I could play as well as they could.”

Zipay’s mission with American Girls Baseball is to build enough momentum and excitement so that a women’s professional baseball league can once again be alive and well. “It’s the right thing to do. The time is now for another league of our own,” says Zipay.

November 17 to 19, Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St, Sarasota. 

Pictured: 2022 All-American Women's Baseball Classic

In the age of Amazon Prime and the fast-fashion craze, the luxurious experience of shopping has become increasingly rare, but at Modern Soul Boutique on St. Armands Circle you’ll find both fashion forward items and the kind of customer service that transports you back to a time when shopping was an exciting occasion.

Holly Skowronski is a Sarasota native who worked in corporate retail as a buyer at Bealls for 15 years, a career that not only sharpened her eye for fashion, but also sparked the idea to open her own boutique one day. Even from her earliest years, Skowronski has had a serious passion for fashion, one that was developed through shopping with her grandmother. “The reason I opened my store was because I felt like shopping is different now compared to when I used to shop with my grandma. She would take me to buy all these pretty dresses and it would be such a personal experience, but I feel like stores lack that experience now,” Skowronski says. “In stores now there’s no special service included. The reason I opened Modern Soul is because I felt like it’s an old soul in a modern world. When you walk in you get that old-school experience where we want to help you and we want to make you feel good.”

In January 2019, Skowronski opened Modern Soul and today the boutique caters to women of all ages, with pieces that will help any shopper reinvent or find their own unique style, no matter what phase of life they are in. Skowronski’s background in buying allows her to offer items that are timeless such as denim pants and satin blouses, as well as trendy pieces like matching sets and rompers that are more risky. “It’s knowing your customers, but it takes a lot of guts too. Sometimes you have to take risks and try new things, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s a fun process, picking the items and learning what the customers like.”

Skowronski’s customer-service ideals extend to the boutique’s social media, with regular try-on videos and new arrival hauls giving customers the ability to stay up to date on what items are in the store at all times, making the shopping experience seamless and reliable. Modern Soul will be having a multitude of sales starting on Black Friday and continuing throughout the following weekend, both online and in-store, making it the ideal place to kickstart the looming holiday shopping marathon.

Modern Soul Boutique, 59 S Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota, modernsoulboutique.com, @modernsoul_boutique, 941-260-5744 

Pictured: Modern Soul Boutique is the Perfect Destination for Holiday Shopping. Photo Courtesy of Holly Skowronski.

For more information visit, modernsoulboutique.com.

Aqua Plumbing and Air is holding its first Christmas Card Contest and encourages local students to let their imagination roam to reflect ‘The true meaning of Christmas’ in any artistic medium. Christmas is a time of spiritual reflection on the important foundations of the Christian faith. As many people know, the Christmas season has been translated in many ways; however, the etymology of the word Christmas literally means Christian Mass. It’s a shortened form of Christ’s Mass. The grand prize winner will receive $500, the winner’s name will appear on the back of the card, and all entries will receive a voucher for a complimentary book redeemable at any Goodwill Manasota retail or bookstore location in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Findings suggest that experiencing art can connect people more deeply with the world around them and to common issues in society. Essentially, creative art allows young children to develop deeper connections and empathy. Submission: Christmas-related painting, drawing, photography, digital, mixed media - anything as long as it is flat and can be printed on a Card. It must be appropriate for business and consumer use. Artwork should be no bigger than 9” x 12”. It can be either portrait or landscape orientation; however, it must be your own original work. How to enter: Entries will be accepted until midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. Artwork must be submitted electronically with the completed entry form found on the company’s website at www.aquaplumbing.com. 

Registration is now open for the 35th annual Gulf Coast Games for Life, which takes place in January and February throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. The 2024 Gulf Coast Games for Life events are open to amateur athletes 50 years and older as of Dec. 31, 2024. The games consists of 16 events beginning with the women’s doubles pickleball on Jan. 9, 2024, and continuing with events from Jan. 10 through Feb. 3, 2024. Events take place in Sarasota County, Manatee County and the City of North Port. Other Gulf Coast Games for Life events include basketball shooting, bowling, golf, rowing and paddling, shuffleboard and more. A one-time registration fee of $13 is required, with $4 for each event. Some events may also have an additional facility fee. The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the first date of each event. The Gulf Coast Games for Life are a qualifying event for the 2024 Florida Senior Games State Championships, to be held in December 2024 at Florida’s Sports Coast/Pasco County and are a collaborative effort between Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, Manatee County Sports & Leisure Services and the City of North Port Parks and Recreation. For more information call 311 or visit SarasotaCountyParks.com. 

To learn more, visit.

Artwork by Lauren Holbrook, a Manatee High School freshman and member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, will appear on Manatee County voter lapels whenever they cast a ballot at the polls in 2024. Holbrook’s drawing of a flag-toting “I voted” manatee was selected from among 50 pieces of art turned in as part of the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections’ (SOE) local contest that has become a fun tradition for Manatee County high school students in recent years. During non-election years, the SOE has worked with the School District to solicit art from future voters around the county. This year, the SOE invited Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County members to the competition. Lauren’s design, 1 of 16 submitted by Club members, will appear on 300,000 stickers. “I took a civics class in school last year and understand the importance of voting,” Lauren said regarding her inspiration to enter the contest. “My family is very excited that I won. I appreciate my Boys & Girls Club for encouraging me to submit my design.”  The Manatee County School Board and Superintendent Jason Wysong will recognize Lauren for winning the “I Voted” Sticker Contest at the School Board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m., and it will be held in the Board chambers at the Miller School Support Center located at 215 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. On June 6, members of the Palmetto Boys & Girls Club presented at the County Commissioners meeting and voiced their interest in having the “I voted” sticker designed by a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. Commissioners sent a letter to the Supervisor of Elections recommending that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County be included in the “I voted” sticker contest. “We’re so proud of Lauren’s recognition,” said Dawn Stanhope, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. “While she may not be old enough to vote, her voice and that of her peers matter. Expressing her pride for our community through art, while encouraging civic duty, demonstrates the ability for youth to express themselves in ways that truly impact those around them.” 

The School District of Manatee County invites families to attend a School Showcase Fair on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, and “Discover the Difference” traditional public schools can make for all students. The event is happening from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Manatee Technical College – Main Campus, located at 6305 State Road 70 East. School principals and educators will be available to discuss the various academic and extracurricular opportunities available. Our traditional public schools offer rigorous academic opportunities, such as International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge AICE, Advanced Placement, Dual Language and Dual Enrollment. We also provide innovative programs such as Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science, Woz-ED Pathways and Garner Holt Animatronics, preparing young learners for high-demand careers. The School District of Manatee County offers a variety of life-enriching arts experiences, championship caliber athletics and award-winning Career & Technical Education organizations from sectors including agriculture to technology and business to health care. The School District of Manatee County’s “School Choice Open Enrollment” is Monday, November 27, 2023 through Wednesday, December 20, 2023. School Choice Open Enrollment is the only time during the year when parents and/or guardians can apply to send their child(ren) to a school other than their zoned school without specifying a reason. Approval of school choice applications is subject to class size allocation capacities. For more details, please visit www.ManateeSchools.net/SchoolChoice. 

"Awesome!” “I’m gobsmacked.” “Oh, my goodness. Are you for real?” Those were just three of the reactions of Sarasota County Schools educators who were notified in late October that they had been selected as 2024 TIME Fellows by Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. The TIME Fellowship provides teachers and school-based administrators with funding and support to pursue a unique, self-designed personal project intended to reignite their passion for education. In all, Barancik Foundation awarded 25 TIME Fellowships for 2024. “All of these wonderful educators are committed to lifelong learning, professional development, and, most importantly, student enrichment,” said Teri A Hansen, president and CEO of Barancik Foundation. “We want to give them the time and space to renew that love of teaching, because it will only mean better things for their students.” Through its TIME Fellowship program, Barancik Foundation invites teachers, principals, and assistant principals in the Sarasota County School District to submit proposals for a project or experience that will revitalize their commitment to the teaching profession. Winning proposals are meant to be intellectually stimulating and personally rejuvenating while expanding the educator’s experience. Among the projects selected for 2024 fellowships are a science teacher’s ecological adventure to the Galapagos Islands with the goal of inspiring future scientists and conservationists, and an elementary school teacher’s expedition in the paths of past pioneers to bring back new insights on U.S. history and geography for her students. The TIME Fellowship is part of Barancik Foundation’s initiative to recruit, retain, and recognize good teachers in Sarasota County. “Outside of family, teachers have the greatest influence on a child’s academic performance and future success,” said Hansen. “That’s why we want to help our school district retain and refresh the dedicated professionals serving in this vital role.” All TIME Fellowship applicants are asked to commit to teaching in the Sarasota County School District for at least three more years after they complete their fellowship. TIME Fellows receive up to $12,000 to complete their project. Other proposals selected for 2024 fellowships include a theater teacher’s transatlantic excursion to experience world-class stage performances in the live-theater capitals of New York and London, a once-in-a-lifetime journey to South Africa to learn about the country’s pre- and post-Apartheid history, and an Alaskan adventure to bring back firsthand experiences for an annual, multi-subject teaching unit built around the famed Iditarod dogsled race. The fellows, who were selected through an open application process, teach a diverse range of subjects across elementary, middle, and high schools from Sarasota to North Port. Launched in 2022, the TIME Fellowship honors Barancik Foundation cofounder Margie Barancik’s chosen profession of teacher. TIME stands for “Time to Inspire Margie’s Educators.” The Foundation previously awarded 25 TIME Fellowships each for 2022 and 2023. A full list of 2024 TIME Fellows and summaries of their fellowship projects can be found at BarancikFoundation.org. 

To learn more, visit.

Lakewood Ranch will be celebrating the holidays in November and December, at its Main Street and Waterside Place town centers, and everyone's invited! Ranch residents are encouraged to come out to one or all events and to bring friends, family, and visitors to experience how the Lakewood Ranch lifestyle exemplifies what community is all about. There is so much to do – and not just for the holidays, but year-round! Make sure you don’t miss anything; stop by our Information Center pop-up events at Waterside Place on Nov. 19 at the Farmers’ Market and Nov. 22 during Ranch Nite Wednesday, to learn more about living in Lakewood Ranch and all our award-winning lifestyle has to offer! First, start the season out right by finding the hidden elves from Nov. 22 through Jan. 1. Spot the elves hidden around Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street and you could become a winner! More than 15 mischievous elves are hiding inside and outside, so be sure to look high and low. Record what they’re doing and drop your entry form off at the Lakewood Ranch Information Center to enter. Entry forms can be picked up from the Lakewood Ranch Information Center, 8131 Lakewood Main St, Lakewood Ranch. Make sure to do some seasonal shopping at the Main Street Small Business market, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, and don’t forget to visit local businesses for Small Business Saturday, on Nov. 25 at both town centers and all independent stores on The Ranch. On Dec. 2 and 3, Main Street will host the LWR Holiday of the Arts Festival, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The official Main Street tree lighting will be held from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 1, preceding Music on Main, at LWR Main Street. There will be breakfasts and brunches with Santa all throughout December at both Main Street and Waterside Place. Santa will also stroll Main Street and Waterside Place throughout the month; visit lakewoodranch.com/connect/events-list for times and dates. Chabad of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch’s annual Chanukah Celebration will be held at LWR Main Street from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 7; for more information visit chabadofbradenton.com. On Dec. 15, come to see the Holiday Movie in the Park – “The Santa Clause” – from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Park, with a visit from Santa from 6-8 p.m. Also at Waterside Place, catch the Out-of-Door Academy’s holiday performance at the Sights and Sounds arts series from 6-7 p.m. If you’re trying to get a jump on your New Year’s resolutions, sign up for the Jungle Run 5K on Dec. 15, “one of the largest and most cheerful 5K races in the area”! Registration opens at 4 p.m.; the night ends with a post-race holiday festival. For more information visit thejingle5k.org. With both town centers decorated for the holidays, don’t forget to come out and enjoy favorite activities such as Music on Main, from 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month; Ranch Nite Wednesdays, weekly at Waterside Place from 6-9 p.m.; and the Farmers’ Market, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, at Waterside Place. And to start 2024 out right, come celebrate the new year at Waterside Place, starting at 6 p.m. and running until midnight, when the sky will be illuminated with a drone show over Kingfisher Lake! DJ Truth will be spinning high-energy tunes, and food and beverage will be available for purchase from town center merchants and participating food trucks. Come out and enjoy the holidays with us!