New Parrish housing development breaks ground on amenity center
Encore by David Weekley Homes, the 55 and older lifestyle division of David Weekley Homes, has broken ground on a 4,465-square-foot amenity center for its upcoming gated 55 and older community, Encore at Rye Ranch, within the master-planned community of Rye Ranch in Parrish.
The new amenity center, The Wellhouse, will include a main gathering area, kitchen, meeting room, yoga room, fitness center, outdoor kitchen and lounge area, a 3,025-square-foot pool, pickleball court, a 1,646-square-foot covered porch, and a 5,055-square-foot deck.
The facility is projected to open in early 2027.
Encore at Rye Ranch will offer three collections of homes on 35-, 45- and 55-foot homesites. The builder is scheduled to begin construction on three model homes in August.
“We are very excited to begin building our second Encore by David Weekley Homes community in the Tampa area,” said Kristina Lloyd, co-division president for David Weekley Homes in Tampa.
Two Manatee charter school grads win scholarships
FORT LAUDERDALE — Two graduates of Manatee County charter high schools are among 12 statewide to receive merit-based scholarships from the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools.
The local recipients are Kezia Alvin, of State College of Florida Collegiate School in Bradenton, and Mateo Suarez, of Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto.
The Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Scholarships are for $1,500 each. They are awarded to graduating college-bound or technical school-bound students from Florida charter schools.
Dr. Carlo Rodriguez was the head of the charter school office of Miami-Dade Public Schools and was named to head the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice. He passed away unexpectedly in 2007.
Manatee County to celebrate Gateway Greenway Trail groundbreaking
Manatee County will celebrate the official start of construction on the Gateway Greenway Trail with a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, June 18, at 8:30 a.m. Residents are invited to attend as the county marks the milestone in the development of its first countywide trail system.
The ceremony will be held at 17915 Waterline Service Road and will mark the beginning of construction on the initial phase of the Gateway Greenway Trail, a project that lays the foundation for a larger vision to create a connected network of trails linking communities, parks, preserves, and destinations throughout the county.
“This groundbreaking represents more than the start of a construction project — it is the beginning of a long-term investment in connectivity, recreation, and quality of life for our residents,” said District 7 Commissioner George Kruse. “The Gateway Greenway Trail will serve as the backbone of a future trail network that connects people to places and communities to one another.”
The Gateway Greenway Trail is planned as a regional multimodal corridor that will ultimately connect Palmetto and Parrish while providing access to key destinations throughout Manatee County. Planned extensions south of SR 64 along Bournside Boulevard will connect with trail facilities developed by private partners, creating a more comprehensive regional trail network.
“The Manatee Gateway Greenway Trail will create new opportunities for safe recreation and transportation,” said Trust for Public Land Florida Gulf Coast Trail Project Director Charles Hines. “This groundbreaking is an exciting milestone for Manatee County and brings us that much closer to a more connected Florida Gulf Coast Trail.”
The groundbreaking ceremony will feature remarks from county officials, project partners, and community leaders, followed by a ceremonial shovel-turning to commemorate the start of construction.
$50K matching gift challenge to help feed kids, families in summer
BRADENTON — The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, has received a $50,000 matching gift commitment from local philanthropists Sara and Steve Bayard to help provide food for children and families facing hunger during the summer months.
“Summer is one of the most challenging times of the year for families struggling with food insecurity,” said Amy Towery, vice president of development for Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. “Many parents face difficult choices between paying bills and putting food on the table. The increased demand we’re seeing this early in the summer underscores the growing need in our community.”
To help bridge this gap, Sara and Steve Bayard have pledged to match every donation made in support of the Food4Families program, dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000.
Through the Food4Families program, The Food Bank of Manatee distributes free bags of non-perishable food each Friday at select locations throughout Manatee County. These food bags help ensure that children and their families have enough to eat when school is out and access to school meals is unavailable.
“This matching gift challenge provides an incredible opportunity for our community to make twice the impact,” Towery said. “Every donated dollar will immediately be doubled, helping us provide even more meals to children and families who are struggling.”
The Food Bank of Manatee is the only food bank based in Manatee County and serves as the community’s largest hunger-relief organization. Those interested in supporting the program can make donations online at http://www.MealsOnWheelsPLUS.org/donate, by mail to 811 23rd Ave. East, Bradenton, FL 34208, or by calling 941-747-4655.
Families in need of food assistance can visit the following locations to receive food, free of charge, every Friday through July 31. Exceptions to those dates are noted.
• Turner Chapel
Noon-1 p.m.
317 11th Street Drive W
Palmetto
• Manatee Mobile Home Park
Noon-1 p.m.
2204 Manatee Ave. E
Bradenton
• Lincoln Park
1:15-2:15 p.m.
501 17th St. E
Palmetto
• Pride Park
1:15-2:15 p.m.
6032 Ninth St. E
Bradenton
The Friday, June 19, distribution will take place on Wednesday, June 17. The Friday July 3, distribution will take place on Thursday, July 2.
‘$10 for10’ campaign to mark decade of group helping shelter animals
BRADENTON — Friends of Manatee County Animal Welfare is marking the group’s decade-long commitment of service to homeless and vulnerable shelter animals with the “$10 for 10” fundraising drive.
For the past 10 years, the nonprofit organization has worked to save lives, provide critical medical care, and help find loving, forever homes for thousands of shelter pets.
Animal lovers and shelter animal advocates are asked to give a milestone gift starting at just $10, representing one dollar for each year of community impact. The animal welfare group notes that even larger donations produce larger results. A gift of $100 provides a special Kuranda dog bed, while a gift of $500 or more helps fund life-saving emergency surgeries or heartworm treatment.
“For ten years, our mission has been fueled by a simple belief: every shelter animal deserves a second chance at a happy, healthy life,” said the Board of Directors at FOMCAW. “The $10 for 10 campaign is built on the power of community and a shared love for these animals. A single 10-dollar bill might seem small, but when thousands of us join together, it transforms into life-saving medical care and bright new futures. We are asking everyone who has ever loved, adopted, fostered, or simply had a heart for a shelter pet to stand with us by supporting this campaign.”
The campaign will run through December 2026. Donations can be made quickly and securely online by visiting the official campaign page at http://www.fomcaw.org/10for10.
Former Ringling College president to receive SRQ lifetime achievement award
SARASOTA — SRQ Media has named Larry R. Thompson, the former president of Ringling College of Art and Design, as the 2026 recipient of its Good Hero Lifetime Achievement Award.
The honor will be presented Dec. 9 at the Annual SRQ Giving Coast and Good Hero Awards Luncheon at Michael’s On East.
Thompson led the Sarasota art college for 26 years. During his tenure, the school built 14 new buildings on its 48-acre main campus, grew enrollment from 800 students to a record 1,722 and expanded from six majors in 1999 to 13 degree programs today. The college now employs nearly 500 full-time faculty and staff.
“I have always believed that when creativity and opportunity meet, extraordinary things happen,” Thompson said. “At Ringling College of Art and Design and within the Sarasota community, I’ve had the opportunity and privilege of seeing that principle come to life again and again.”
The award goes each year to a community member recognized for philanthropic leadership. Thompson joins 2025 honoree Teri Hansen, former president of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, and inaugural honoree Roxie Jerde, former president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
Registration opens at 10:30 a.m., with the program running from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East Ave.
Veterans nonprofit lands $25,000 grant to expand job training
SARASOTA — Operation Warrior Resolution has won a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to expand its workforce training for veterans.
The Sarasota nonprofit will use the money to grow its Tactical Workforce Reintegration Program, which pairs mental health support with hands-on skills training to ease the move from military service to civilian work.
Since launching the training in July 2024, the group has provided commercial driver’s license instruction to more than 200 veterans, with a 96% completion rate. Leaders credit the organization’s model, which combines its Brain-Based Healing services with job training.
The grant will help add trade and construction skills through a partnership with Operation Lifeline, a veteran-led nonprofit. Participants will learn the work while helping build and repair affordable housing for veterans, including those without stable homes. A statewide expansion is expected later this year.
“When veterans have the opportunity to heal, gain meaningful skills, and provide for their families, they begin to rebuild confidence, connection, and hope for the future,” said Kendra Simpkins Walsh, the group’s founder and CEO.
Founded in 2018, Operation Warrior Resolution has served more than 2,500 veterans and family members. For more information, visit operationwarriorresolution.org.