Contents
February/March 2018
PUBLISHER
Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
EDITOR
Darrell King
PRODUCTION EDITOR
Kelly Harbour
DESIGN EDITOR
Mara Stork
PHOTOGRAPHY
Whitney Patton
Wendy Dewhurst
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kara Chalmers, Carlee Colonneso,
Caroline Kelly, Dr. Sharon Otis,
Jen Colombo, Wendy Dewhurst, Amy Bell,
AnnaMaria Carleton, Lela Rast Hartsaw,
Marlene Yanelli, Ruth Lando, Bridget Stack
CALENDAR OF FAMILY EVENTS
Bradenton Macaroni Kid: Denise Granata
ADVERTISING SALES
Hilarie Jackson: hjackson@elc-manatee.org
PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION
PCI Communications, Inc.
CONTACT NEXTGEN
EDITORIAL ..............................941-757-2912
ADVERTISING .......................941-757-2904
FAX ......................................941-757-2917
EDITOR
editor@nextgenmagazine.org
COMPETITION ENTRIES
competitions@nextgenmagazine.org
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
advertising@nextgenmagazine.org
ADVERTISING SUBMISSIONS
adsubmissions@nextgenmagazine.org
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
articles@nextgenmagazine.org
EARLY LEARNING COALITION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEES
Howard Veltz (Chairman)
Robert Bell (Secretary/Treasurer)
Andrew Minor
PRIVATE SECTOR APPOINTED MEMBERS
Patrick Cassella, Tim Pye, Madison Wells,
Joseph Miller, Rachel Kendzior,
James R. Chatham, M.D., Diane Neeves,
Lupita Wells, Len Tabicman,
Dr. Sharon Otis, Adam Mohammadbhoy,
Michael Rampino, Christina Riggio,
Rev. Nathan Speck-Ewer
LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED MEMBERS
Debbie Kibler
Children With Disabilities
Program Representative
Deborah Ludwig
Private, For-Profit Provider Representative
Dr. Robin Thompson
Manatee County School Board Designee
Jennifer Passmore
Board of County Commissioners' Appointee
Kathy Patreka
Head Start Director
Mary Beth Wehnes
Department of Children and Families Designee
James Disbro
CareerSource Suncoast
Dr. Carla McGill
County Health Department Designee
Dr. April Fleming
Florida College System Designee
Marjani Jones
Faith-Based Provider Representative
Paul Sharff
Chief Executive Officer
SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE BOARD
Linda Guritz
Annette Larkin
MANATEE COUNTY
BOARD OF EDUCATION
John Colon, Dave Miner, Scott Hopes
Charlie Kennedy, Gina Messenger,
Dr. Diana Greene, Superintendent
8 EXECUTIVELY SPEAKING
Jeff Podobnik and His Pirates Passion!
14 CHILDREN’S CHAMPION
Meet Elena Cassella
28 BON APPETIT
Sea What’s Cooking?
34 ASK DR. OTIS
ADHD Do’s and Don’ts
38 KEEPING KIDS
SAFE AT HOME
44 AN OASIS IN THE DESERT
Inside Palmetto’s New MLK Library
54 THE DISTINGUISHED
CITIZEN
56 A NEW UNIVERSE!
60 BEYOND GENEROUS
Elaine Graham
70 THE BIG PRIZE!
Win Marauders Season Tickets!
74 Calendar of Events
February - March 2018
78 Kids in the Kitchen
79 On the Bookshelf
82 MANATEE’S GOT TALENT
The Sailing Siblings
88 IN SAFE HANDS
Meet Manatee Elementary’s Principal
Nonprofit of the Year
In Education
Tampa Bay
Metropolitan 8 County Area
2016 FINALIST 2017
2015 WINNER
NEXTGEN and the Early Learning Coalition do not endorse or warrant any products or services contained herein,
unless otherwise expressly noted. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors. Submitted materials will not
be returned. Whole or part of this publication may not be used or duplicated in any way without written permission
from the Early Learning Coalition.
The Early Learning Coalition is a 501-C (3) nonprofit organization committed to ensuring affordable and creditable
early child care and early education through School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs.
Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the State of Florida, Office of Early Learning
and Manatee County Government.