Bradenton native earns Navy League Honor, Courage, Commitment Award at training school

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·4 min read
Southeast High School students get an inside look at State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota as part of a new Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast workplace mentoring partnership. “We want to engage students at a younger age so they understand the importance of higher education, and remove barriers so any student can attend SCF,” school President Carol Probstfeld said. The mentoring program, “Beyond School Walls,” was launched in 2014, allowing high school students to interact with leaders in a business setting. For information, call 941-746-7000 or visit bbbssun.org.

Bradenton native earns award at Naval Supply Corps School

Navy Ensign Vanessa Alvarez of Bradenton recently received an award for her performance while training to join the Navy Supply Corps.

Navy Ensign Vanessa Alvarez of Bradenton.
Navy Ensign Vanessa Alvarez of Bradenton.

Alvarez, who graduated from Bayshore High School in 2005, received the Navy League Honor, Courage, Commitment Award while attending the Basic Qualification Course at Naval Supply Corps School in Newport, Rhode Island. Alvarez graduated from the course on March 29.

Alvarez, who also earned a degree from MidAmerica Nazarene University in 2009, joined the Navy 13 years ago and serves as a supply officer.

Port Charlotte businesswoman, author to sign children's book

Katherine Baumgartner of Port Charlotte, founder of eco-friendly Ocean Family Games Inc., will be signing her children's book, "OCEARCH Sharks in the Ocean," during the Shark Tooth Festival at Centennial Park in Venice on April 13-14.

Katherine Baumgartner of Port Charlotte is founder of Ocean Family Games Inc.
Katherine Baumgartner of Port Charlotte is founder of Ocean Family Games Inc.

Baumgartner, who has been diagnosed with a reading disability and autism, founded Ocean Family Games in 2018 with a mission to create educational ocean-themed products. A percentage of sales go to shark and turtle research and education.

“I have faced numerous challenges on my journey to writing this book, but through perseverance, determination, and a belief in my vision, I have succeeded," Baumgartner said. "My hope is that my story can serve as inspiration for others who may be struggling on their own paths."

"OCEARCH Sharks in the Ocean" is available on Amazon and from Ocearch.org. For more about Ocean Family Games, visit oceanfamilygames.com.

Girl Scouts earn their mental wellness and first-aid patches

HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Sarasota and Manatee Counties recently teamed up to help local Girl Scouts earn their mental wellness and first-aid patches.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida recently teamed up with Sarasota Doctors Hospital and NAMI Sarasota-Manatee to earn their mental wellness and first-aid patches.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida recently teamed up with Sarasota Doctors Hospital and NAMI Sarasota-Manatee to earn their mental wellness and first-aid patches.

Therapists and nurses from the hospital and NAMI provided a special workshop for girls from Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida in grades 4 through 12. The girls learned coping skills, self-care, how to seek help when needed and how to support others. The Girl Scouts also toured the hospital emergency room, learned first-aid and made first-aid kits with nurses.

The mental wellness patch program is part of a national program developed in partnership by HCA Healthcare Foundation, NAMI, and the Girl Scouts of the USA Program Advisory Committee. For more information, visit girlscouts.org/en/activities-for-girls/for-every-girl/mental-wellness-patches.html.

Temple Emanu-El announces Meltzer Israel Scholarship Fund

Temple Emanu-El benefactors Barbara and Philip Meltzer have established the Stephen Meltzer Israel Scholarship Fund.

The fund, named for the Meltzers' son, will support youth traveling to Israel for study and enrichment – primarily in summer or semester programs – and welcomes further contributions to expand its reach. The fund’s first recipient is Temple Emanu-El member Rachel Mintz, currently spending a semester of high school in Israel at the Union for Reform Judaism’s Heller High.

“Stephen Meltzer was a lifelong Jewish camper, staff member, youth adviser, teacher, song leader, songwriter and performer,” Senior Rabbi Brenner Glickman said. “He died unexpectedly in 2009 at the age of 45. This gift has the ability to be transformational in the life of a teenager."

For more information about the Stephen Meltzer Israel Scholarship Fund, contact the Temple Emanu-El office at 941-371-2788.

Around and about

· The Neuro Challenge for Parkinson’s Foundation Cause for Hope fundraiser is April 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Michael’s On East in Sarasota. The event, which will honor Neuro Challenge founder Dr. Dean Sutherland, includes immersive experiences showcasing Neuro Challenge programs and services. For tickets and sponsorships, visit NeuroChallenge.org/Cause4Hope.

· The Warm Mineral Springs/Little Salt Spring Archaeological Society will hold its monthly meeting on April 9 at 7 p.m. at North Port Community United Church of Christ, 3450 S Biscayne Drive. Guest speaker: Archaeologist Jeffrey M. Mitchem. The group offers monthly presentations on archaeology, history, paleontology, and related subjects. (wmslss.org)

· The Venice Shark Tooth Festival, hosted by Venice MainStreet, is April 13-14 at Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave. The event features live music, food, and family activities and vendors selling shark teeth and other beach-themed merchandise. Free admission and parking as well as a trolley available to and from offsite parking. (venicesharkstoothfestival.com)

· The 26th Sarasota Film Festival is underway through April 14 featuring over 200 films, including features, documentaries, shorts and kid-friendly options. The festival also hosts conversations with film stars, celebrity guests, events, parties and educational programs to support the art of filmmaking. (sarasotafilmfestival.com)

· The Pickleball Club of Lakewood Ranch will host professional pickleball players James Ignatowich and Anna Bright for a clinic, exhibition and Q&A session on April 17 at its club located at 1300 Sarasota Center Blvd. For more information or to register, contact 941-271-4444 or lwrinfo@thepickleballclub.com.

Submissions by Gina Taylor, Ashley Craig, Ocean Family Games, Monica Yadav, Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman, Aimee Chouinard, Michelle Calhoun, Maddy Kraftchick, Joel Kaiman, and Kate Ritz De Michieli.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Bradenton native, Navy ensign honored at Naval Supply Corps School