Last Sunday, the Gulf Islands Ferry Service made its long anticipated debut after months and months of planning, cross municipal coordination and sea trials with the Coast Guard. The ferry service, which runs from the day dock in downtown Bradenton to the Anna Maria City pier on Anna Maria Island and back, is available Friday through Sunday and takes about 35 minutes each way.

What makes the Gulf Islands Ferry Service unique from other forms of public transportation on the water is that the ferries, Miss Anna Maria and Downtown Duchess, are 50-foot open-air catamarans, capable of holding up to 49 passengers each. While the destination is the reason for the Gulf Islands Ferry Service’s existence, the journey is almost as important. Enjoying the natural beauty of Manatee River and the Palma Sola Bay, sure beats sitting in traffic for an equivalent or longer amount of time when traveling to the island. “This is an initiative to enhance multi modal transportation from the mainland to the island using that incredible asset called the Manatee River,” says Elliott Falcione, Executive Director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s an idea that’s been on the table for decades.”

While implementing an intercoastal ferry service in the heart of the Gulf Coast makes perfect logical sense, actually starting the service is another thing entirely. Because Manatee County is not as densely populated as say Pinellas County, just north of it, the Gulf Islands Ferry Service needed to be more than just an industrial water taxi system. It needed to be a destination in and of itself.

Connecting downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island was also more difficult than expected. As of right now, there is a second stop at the Historic City Pier at Bradenton Beach further south on the island set to arrive later this year, with hopes of adding another stop at the ever popular Coquina Beach. Anna Maria Island, however, is home to three different municipalities: Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Coordinating a ferry service with stops in Anna Maria Island, meant coordinating with all three municipalities.

Friday through Sunday 10am to 9pm, www.gulfcoastwatertaxi.com.

Photo courtesy of Manatee County Government.

To learn more, visit

Most visitors flock to Sarasota this time of year to escape the cold winter, enjoy the beautiful beaches or have some festive fun. While many were counting down to Christmas and singing about five golden rings, athletes at Nathan Benderson Park (NBP) had their sights set on the five Olympic rings. More than 18 top rowers from around the country have been training at NBP since November, and more are arriving for practice in the coming weeks, in the hopes of earning a spot in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.  Leading up to the world’s biggest sporting event, Sarasota will take center stage for three prestigious Olympic events: the USRowing Winter Speed Order Regatta, Olympic Selection Camp and the US Olympic Rowing Trials that will decide the team advancing to Paris. With such prestige on the line, this year more than ever, athletes are arriving not weeks but months prior to the events to fine tune their skills on NBP’s world-class course. Top rowers began arriving in October from all over the country, especially from the northeast region, due to Sarasota’s milder weather and the controlled, Olympic-level competition course at NBP. Ranked the No. 1 rowing destination in North America two years in a row, NBP features a 10-lane, 2000-meter protected competition course with starting docks, adaptable to 500m, 1000m and 1500m distances. The course features a floating wave attenuator to ensure calm water and a coach’s lane that spans the entire length of the course. Adjacent to the 2000-meter course is a protected practice area with an adaptable number of lanes as long as 1500 meters. Thanks to the efforts and support of Visit Sarasota, NBP attracts attention from aquatic sports teams and organizations from around world. The area has become an ideal destination for visitors to return each year, benefitting local businesses, shops, restaurants, hotels and area attractions. In fact, many rowers who visit the area for a competition often end up moving here and become permanent residents. They are drawn to the area for the access to world-class aquatics, close proximity to both retail and leisure activities, and the emphasis on quality of life.  “Sarasota has made a remarkable investment in the community,” shared Casey Galvanek, head coach with Sarasota Crew and the men’s lead sweep coach for USRowing, the national governing body for the sport of rowing in the US. “Thanks to this investment, we have been able to bring events of this caliber to the area. The organizations and their athletes receive great support from the community and local businesses, which encourages them to plan multi-year events and keep returning. These teams share their positive experiences with other organizations and the ripple effect is felt far beyond what you would imagine. I’m so grateful to be a part of these efforts locally and on the national scale.”  KEY OLYMPIC RACES: February 14-17, 2024:  USRowing Speed Order Regatta, March 4-April 1, 2024: Olympic Selection Camp, April 2- April 7, 2024: US Olympic Rowing Trials. 

Looking for real deal blues from Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf? The Bluestar Band will perform live on the outside stage at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime this Saturday, January 20 from 6-9pm. Bluestar is a five member band complete with saxophone, keyboards, drums, and guitars. Lead guitarist and singer Kevin O’Connor was born to play the blues and was the opening act for Buddy Guy! The Velvet Hammer Beth can also be heard on her Blues Radio Show on WSLR. Carolyn Davis will be tickling the keys and singing some of your favorites. Saxophonist Michael Pawlus is the newest addition to the band but no stranger to the Sarasota music scene. On the drums is Vinny Vingelli who has years of experience. Together Bluestar will wow you with your favorite blues tunes. Doors open at 5:30 for dinner at Hamlet’s Eatery and the dancing starts at 6pm. Located at 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota. For more information call 941-445-1938 or visit www.HamletsEatery.com  

 Fox Lea Farm, recognized as one of the nation’s top horse show facilities in Sarasota County, is set to kick off its annual 8-week Grand Prix and Hunter Derby show circuit on January 17th with support from Visit Sarasota County. The prestigious equestrian series will run every Wednesday through Sunday, featuring daily competitions from 9 am to 4 pm, until March 10th. Friday evenings come alive with a strong community focus during the show circuit, as local organizations join forces to curate engaging and family-friendly events at the farm. With live music, local food options, and beverages— these curated evenings are designed to warmly welcome the community to Fox Lea. Esteemed local businesses such as The Venice Symphony, Family Promise of Sarasota County, Venice Main Street, Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County, Venice Lions Club, Sertoma Club of Venice and more, will be orchestrating these unique Friday evenings, turning the farm into a vibrant hub of entertainment and camaraderie. Proceeds of admission will directly benefit these organizations. For the full schedule of these events, visit online at https://www.foxleafarm.net/event-calendar. Since its inception in 2016, the Venice Equestrian Tour's winter hunter/jumper circuit has grown into a renowned event, attracting horses and riders from across the United States and North America. The $24,999 Show Jumping Under the Stars Grand Prix events have become a highlight, drawing notable horses and riders to participate in this year's circuit. Fox Lea Farm stands as a vibrant hub of activity, hosting events over 42 weekends annually. An indispensable presence in the Venice community, Fox Lea Farm has etched its name as a prominent figure in the equestrian world. The anticipation for this year's Venice Equestrian Tour is heightened with the recent enhancement—a new synthetic footing ring, recognized as the second largest horse show ring in the state of Florida—promising a truly exceptional and noteworthy experience. For those interested in attending this year's Venice Equestrian Tour, detailed information are available on the farm’s Facebook events page: https://www.facebook.com/FoxLeaVenice/events/. The show circuit warmly welcomes the public, and your furry friends on leashes too. Friday evenings bring a special ambiance for just $10 admission, which includes complimentary parking. VIP tables are additionally available for purchase, offering exclusive access to a designated pavilion section. As the entire farm boasts sand and dirt flooring, we recommend comfortable walking shoes for attendees. Feel free to enhance your outing by bringing a cooler stocked with your favorite refreshments. 

It's time to clean out the garage and gather discarded household items, appliances, junk and tree trimmings as Sarasota County hosts a free community cleanup in the Newtown and Beverly Terrace area from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Jan. 20. Dumpsters for residential customers will be available at the following locations:  Newtown Estates Park and Dr. Martin Luther King Way, Sarasota (Main Site) and 23rd Street and Chester Avenue, Sarasota. Hazardous waste, such as paint, oil, gas, electronics, appliances and computers will be accepted at the Newtown Estates Park site. Tires 25 X 16 or smaller will be accepted at the Newtown Estates Park location, limit of four tires per household. Hazardous materials may also be taken to the Sarasota County Chemical Collection Center, 8750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, dial 311 or visit scgov.net. 

New College of Florida is debuting a version of its liberal arts degree in Spring 2024 that will feature classes offered through distance learning, supported by live video-conferencing seminars and discussion groups so that it will be accessible to students everywhere. The liberal arts curriculum spans the period from Ancient Greece to the modern age, and planned program outcomes include a four-year bachelor's degree, a two-year associate degree, and a one-year certificate. New College was established on the foundation of great western traditions in the liberal arts. The New College faculty-led program includes Ricketts Great Books College materials and will expand access to these timeless lessons to a global audience. This program will empower students with a liberal arts education adapted for life in an ever-changing world by providing curriculum based on essential teachings from the greatest thinkers in history.  The new distance learning courses will be taught by New College faculty. The program will be overseen by Dr. David Allen Harvey, who was recently appointed as the inaugural dean of the Center for the Study of Western Civilization. Harvey, who holds a Ph.D. in Modern European History from Princeton, is tenured and has taught at New College since 2000. He is the former chair of the Division of Social Sciences and Chair of the Faculty, and former chair of the Educational Policy Committee. Mr. Ricketts has generously pledged scholarship funding to the program so that the projected tuition cost of a bachelor’s degree will be less than $12,000. With the scholarship, each 4-credit course will cost eligible students less than $160. The scholarship rewards students for investing in themselves, working hard and seeing the program through to completion. The Ricketts Scholarship will be administered through the New College Foundation. The program is designed to suit everyone from recent high school graduates to advanced lifelong learners. After completing their A.A. degree, students will have the option of continuing as distance education students to a B.A. degree or finishing their studies at New College’s beautiful Sarasota Bay campus to combine their Great Books studies with other academic programs offered by the college. The four-year completion of the program involves eight 16-credit semesters. All students completing the program will be invited to attend New College’s traditional May graduation ceremony. The program is launching for the Spring 2024 semester, which begins January 29, with three courses: Euclid’s Elements, Plato, and History of Ideas Part 1. The History of Ideas is an eight-part sequence covering Western Intellectual History from ancient Greece to modern America. The program is designed so that students may take the history of ideas sequence to understand the broad framework of intellectual history and then take individual courses for a deep dive into subjects of interest. More courses will be added with each semester.  

Kaththea Johnson, former Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year in the School District of Manatee County, was recently selected to serve as the district’s Executive Director for School Improvement and Leadership Development. The position is a new one created to provide specialized support and professional development for school leaders. Ms. Johnson has served as a school leader in Manatee County for the past decade, first as an Assistant Principal from 2014-2018 at Palma Sola Elementary, then as Principal from 2018-2023 at Palm View. She also served as an Assistant Principal at Daughtrey Elementary from 2012-2014, and as a Classroom Teacher at Palmetto Elementary from 2005-2012. As Principal at Palm View, she successfully guided the school through the transition from a traditional elementary to the first K-8 school in the Manatee District, and she played a key role in making Palm View the first WOZ Ed Career Pathway school in the nation, a program which teaches elementary students lessons in STEAM courses such as Coding, Drones, Cyber Security and Mobile Development. In 2016, Ms. Johnson was chosen as the district’s Assistant Principal of the Year while serving as an AP at Palma Sola Elementary. Then, in 2020, she was selected as the district’s Principal of the Year while leading Palm View K-8. Ms. Johnson started her new position on January 4, 2024. 

Data clearly shows that 5th grade is a pivotal point in children’s development at which they are ready to move beyond the framework for elementary school but benefit from a specialized bridge program to make the transition to middle school less stressful and more successful. Backed by ample research, Hershorin Schiff Community Day School (CDS) is proud to offer a new program, called 5th Grade Bridge. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, the private school’s 5th grade will neither be a part of the elementary nor middle school but rather a transitional year between the two. Studies show that introducing specific changes – such as the use of lockers, switching classrooms for at least one class period, teaching more advanced problem-solving, study techniques, organizational, and executive functioning skills (to help students “learn how to learn”), and giving students more space to flex their increasing autonomy – as significant factors in ensuring that students will be able to hit the ground running in 6th grade … and beyond. Like a traditional classroom, CDS’s 5th grade will have a primary teacher – Joannie Bloch, who has taught 5th grade at CDS for many years, will serve in this role – for both homeroom and the humanities. Students will begin the process of switching rooms for classes such as math, science, and foreign language, more akin to a traditional middle school schedule. Also like middle school, students will utilize individual lockers throughout the day and be able to participate in many middle school activities, such as athletics, select art offerings, leadership activities, and certain speakers and presentations. They will also have access to certain elective classes in the second and third trimesters. This program will be overseen by CDS’s Elementary Director, Barbara O’Brien, with its Middle School Director, Dr. Vincent Miller, also involved in many aspects of the curriculum. As the year progresses, Dr. Miller will engage with more intensively with the program to begin the process of getting to know each 5th-grade family/child and introduce them to CDS’s middle school program. CDS will offer two upcoming Elementary School Open Houses to assist families in learning more about the 5th Grade Bridge program, on January 30 at 6:30 p.m. (in person), and February 13 at 9:30 a.m. (virtual). To register for one of these sessions, visit communityday.org/admissions/open-houses.
CDS is located at 4335 Wilkinson Rd., Sarasota. To learn more, visit CommunityDay.org or call 941-552-2770. 

Pictured: (from l-r) Head of School Dan Ceaser, Elementary Director Barbara O’Brien, Middle School Director Dr. Vincent Miller, and longtime 5th grade teacher Joannie Bloch Provided photo/Community Day School.

For many children and teens, farms, ranches and many outdoor areas offer an irresistible opportunity to play and explore, with an array of livestock and machinery, wildlife and rugged settings, and more. But, these areas also can pose an array of unforeseen dangers for the youngsters who work on or visit these settings. UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, in partnership with Progressive Agriculture Foundation, is showcasing ways to spot and avert these often-unexpected risks at a “Youth Safety Day” Feb. 03 at the Sarasota County Farm Bureau, 7289 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota. Each year, roughly 100 children die and thousands more suffer injuries on America’s farms and ranches, according to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety. Many of the deaths and injuries come in non-work settings, with children simply playing or relaxing, and are preventable. The Youth Safety Day event, running 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will offer for youth ages 8 through 18 an array of hands-on demonstrations that highlight and help to avoid harmful, hidden hazards of farm surroundings and other rural settings, including large animals, tractors and heavy equipment, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and more. Additional sessions teach lifesaving first-aid techniques, staying safe in the sun or around the machine shop, firearm safety, and more. As a bonus, a helicopter and rescue truck are scheduled for the event, plus an onsite food truck and entertainment. Through the array of engaging activities, children can learn about potential dangers and the importance of taking responsibility for their own safety, understanding and respecting safety rules and guidelines, and then sharing what they learn with their family and friends. Parents are encouraged to attend and support their children’s learning. Supported by donations from local farmers, volunteers, manufacturers and merchants, the event is one in a series held across the United States and Canada by Progressive Agriculture Foundation to raise awareness of the potential dangers inherent in operations that typically feature large equipment, livestock, and a range of other less-obvious hazards. Cost to participate is $5 per youth, in advance or at the gate, and includes snacks, a take-home bag, and a Safety Day T-shirt. Parents or guardians are admitted free with a paid youth. Space is limited, so save your spot by registering early at www.eventbrite.com/e/625674097067. For more information, contact Dr. Rod Greder, sustainable agriculture agent, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, at 941-861-9810 or rgreder@ufl.edu.