Wellen Park Living | Fall Edition 2025

TOGETHER

67 At Wellen Park Taste and Tours Summer Series, there is never a shortage of things to do and people to meet. 72 A group of Lakespur neighbors–Women Entrepreneurs, Light in Lakespur are building businesses and lifting each other up. 76 The Geremias, also known as “Mr. and Mrs. GameShow,” host weekly game nights for Wellen Park community members. 82 Each month, Ace Hardware and Suncoast Humane Society team up to find loving homes for dogs. 88 Parting Shot.

SPECIAL SECTION

44 Explore Wellen Park’s neighborhoods and the builder’s model homes.

CALENDAR

Take your pick of ongoing and newly added events this Fall. Come to Downtown Wellen to enjoy a variety of local music, arts and family-friendly events including Oktoberfest and the Wellen Park Halloween Spooktacular. Turn to page 59 for upcoming events.

THIS PAGE Principal Mark Grossenbacher of Wellen Park High School, photography by Wyatt Kostygan. Lago Tacos, photography by Wyatt Kostygan. COVER CREDITS PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® program recognizes U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Beesting and his family, photography courtesy of PulteGroup.

EXPLORE

8 Wellen Park President Rick Severance shares key updates on development in the community. 11 PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® Program and Building Homes for Heroes surprise veteran with a new mortgage-free home in Wellen Park. 14 Along with his family, Jamie Albano is serving up delectable dishes at Lago Tacos. 18 The Wellen Park area is a haven for golf enthusiasts. 28 Mark Grossenbacher will lead Wellen Park High School as it prepares to open in August 2026. 32 The Academy is where all future Atlanta Braves begin their journey to the big leagues. 36 Discover Senior Friendship Centers of Venice. 40 At the second annual Great Wellen Bake-Off 2025 contestants put their long-held family recipes to the test in a battle to see which pie reigned supreme.

Welcome to your new friend: Wellen Park Living. You’ll find stories about the people behind fun-loving experiences in the neighborhood and beyond, sips and forkfuls of scrumptious food and crafted beverages and ways to soak in the abundant outdoor adventures just around the corner.

LAGO TACOS

Jamie Albano serves up flavorful food.

Dear Wellen Park Community,

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Developer’s Update

Here at Wellen Park, we work tirelessly to deliver on our promises, and we’re incredibly proud of the momentum and energy that we continue to build throughout our community. As always, it’s my pleasure to share just a few of the exciting developments underway.

We’re thrilled to announce that Phase II of Downtown Wellen is on track to open in early 2026 with tenant openings scheduled throughout the first quarter of the year. This new phase reflects the voices of our residents and visitors, whose feedback has guided our plans to further elevate the vibrant downtown experience. We’ve curated a dynamic mix of tenants that includes a wonderful flower and orchid show, a casual dining restaurant, a high-end hair salon, Pilates studio, two boutique retailers (one may even have a wine bar), a pet store and a health-focused eatery o ering delicious açaí bowls.

In addition to these exciting new spaces, our own development o ces will be moving onto the second floor above the new downtown businesses. We will be joined by professional service tenants including insurance providers and—in a unique twist—a brokerage firm specializing in planes and helicopters. It’s a bold and unexpected addition that truly captures the spirit of innovation and possibility that defines Wellen Park, and the tenant lives right here in Wellen Park! Beyond downtown, we currently have three major commercial ventures under construction: an outpatient surgery center, a 40,000-square-foot o ce building, and the long-awaited addition of a car wash—a small but much-requested convenience that we’re happy to bring to life.

We’re also proud to announce the arrival of a landmark hospitality project downtown. A Tribute Boutique Hotel by Marriott will o er 148 guest rooms and suites, ample meeting space for events, a resort-style pool and a stunning rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the Grand Lake. This thoughtfully designed hotel is expected to open in the summer of 2027 and will serve as a premier destination for visitors and locals alike. Finally, one of our most beloved annual events is just around the corner. Wine Festival tickets are now on sale, and we’re anticipating up to 40 exceptional vintners this year, with the VIP vintner being Silver Oak Winery! It’s an unforgettable event for the entire region—a celebration of taste, community and good cheer. Thank you for continuing to make Wellen Park such a remarkable place to live, gather and ENJOY! The future is bright, and we will continue to deliver on our promises.

Warmest regards,

Rick Severance | President, Wellen Park

CEO / PRESIDENT

EDITOR IN CHIEF CREATIVE DIRECTOR

LISL LIANG

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER WES ROBERTS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT Ashley Grant

ACCOUNTS DIRECTOR Robinson Valverde

SENIOR SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE Suzanne Munroe

SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE

Nichole Knutson Rob Wardlaw

VP OF PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEO Wyatt Kostygan

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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS, ARTISTS + INTERNS Kate Wight, Cecilia Marty, Cecilia Mould, Jack Coleman, Mobtagha Bejaoui, Chloe Kidd

PUBLISHED BY SRQ MEDIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WELLEN PARK © 2025—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. SUMMER 2025 EDITION RECOGNIZING PUBLICATION

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PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® Program and Building Homes for Heroes surprise veterans with new mortgage-free home in Wellen Park. WORDS BY BARBIE HEIT

EXPLORE ANewHome

giving back

Building Homes for Heroes®, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring hope and independence for our nation’s injured veterans, first responders and their families, recently partnered with PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® program to gift a brand-new, mortgage-free home to U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Beesting and his family.

LOCATED IN THE LAKESPUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT WELLEN PARK, the home was custom-built to meet the family’s needs, reflecting the organization’s mission to empower heroes with safe, accessible housing and ongoing support to help them thrive. Building Homes for Heroes® was formed in the wake of the September 11 attacks, when founder Andy Pujol, after volunteering in search and rescue at Ground Zero, pledged to serve those who serve our country. What began as a mission to gift one home to one veteran has grown into a national effort. Now, with the support of volunteers, donors and corporate partners, the organization is on track to celebrate its 400th home by the end of 2024—averaging one every 11 days. PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® program, launched in 2013, has built and donated over 95 mortgage-free homes to deserving veterans nationwide.

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The ceremonial groundbreaking for Sergeant Beesting’s new family home was hosted in Wellen Park’s Lakespur neighborhood.

A red carpet and flag raising ceremony were part of the special surprise for Sergeant Beesting and his family.

The groundbreaking ceremony—which was a total surprise for the Beesting family—took place on Friday, May 23. The family, who had applied for a home through the program, believed they were simply being shown a potential neighborhood in case they were ever selected. Beesting knew he was a candidate for a possible home, but so were hundreds of other veterans nationwide who have faced hard times. When he arrived at the Lakespur neighborhood in Wellen Park with his wife and three children, however, they were met by a crowd of 200 people, a motorcycle brigade, American flags and red carpet—and that’s when it became clear: they had been chosen. “It was mind-boggling,” said Sergeant Beesting. “We were so surprised.”

Director of Construction for Building Homes for Heroes, Rusty Smallwood says Sgt. Beesting’s application stood out to them for several compelling reasons. “Daniel came to us a while back. He served his country and was injured. He also suffers from PTSD and other ailments caused by being deployed overseas—in the Air Force, he flew remotely piloted aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan. His story is especially moving—not only because of his service but because just two and a half years ago, Hurricane Ian devastated the home where his family had been building a peaceful life.”

“At Wellen Park, we believe strong communities are built through meaningful connections and a shared purpose,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. “While we focus every day on creating an extraordinary place for our residents and visitors, it’s the people who bring that vision to life. We’re honored to welcome the Beesting family to Wellen Park and grateful for the opportunity to

support them alongside PulteGroup through this incredible initiative. Our community will continue to be here for them as long as they live here.”

The Beestings’ future home will feature Pulte’s popular Mystique floor plan, offering four bedrooms designed to comfortably accommodate their family and lifestyle. Thoughtfully planned with flexible living spaces and modern finishes, the home will provide the comfort and stability the family deserves. The home is expected to be completed later this year.

PulteGroup’s VP of Procurement, SWFL Division, Wes Copeland, said the home is 1,900 square feet with a two-car garage, four bedrooms and two bathrooms and is one of the company’s bestselling floor plans in the Southwest Florida market. In addition to the many upgrades provided, the home will be delivered fully furnished with a pantry stocked by the community. The family will also have the opportunity to visit a design center to select their preferred interior finishes at no cost to them. As a final touch, a “notes of love” event was planned before drywall installation, where the community wrote inspirational messages on the walls.

“Seeing the faces of the recipients and their families when they are surprised with a new home always blows me away,” shares Copeland. “The sacrifices that they’ve made, not only to the country, but to their bodies and their mental health are enormous. To be able to provide something like this is a tearjerker for me every time. We really do get to change the lives of these people and I feel like it’s the least we can do. The veterans and specifically Sergeant Beesting— they don’t feel entitled to this at all. I think that is the thing that catches us the most off guard.” WPL

BringingFlavor

With his latest venture Lago Tacos, Jamie Albano is serving up flavorful food.

WORDS BY KATE WIGHT

JAMIE ALBANO HAS A LOT OF IRONS IN THE FIRE. As the proprietor of Kind Vibes Outfitters, he was one of the first people to establish a business in Downtown Wellen Park along with his wife, Tracy. They then added the Hydration Station to the shop, a walk-up window where people can grab an assortment of cold, refreshing beverages, including sodas, electrolyte drinks, wine and local craft beers. Next, they opened Lakeside Bites, a fast-casual eatery with an eclectic menu featuring a range of delectable snacks, including golden-fried pickles and zucchini fries, alongside heartier handhelds like the chicken parmesan panini. Their latest venture, Lago Tacos, opened last December and has been delighting diners with its colorful, flavor-forward fare.

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Jamie Albano and his family are serving up mouthwatering Mexican fare at Lago Tacos. The wildly popular tacos are served street-style with onion and cilantro. Located in The Yard at Downtown Wellen Park, Lago Tacos is a walkup casual eatery housed in a refurbished shipping container.

“IT’S BEEN AWESOME,” ALBANO SAYS. “I’VE NEVER SERVED THIS MANY TACOS TO PEOPLE AND THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN GREAT.”

Like Lakeside Bites, Lago Tacos is located in The Yard in Downtown Wellen. These compact restaurants are made from repurposed shipping containers and are just big enough to accommodate a kitchen and a window to take orders—all of the seating is outside. The menu is small and streamlined to keep the kitchen moving quickly, but Albano is constantly fine-tuning it to make

sure they’re always putting their best food forward. Take the tacos, which were already wildly popular. Served on flour or yellow corn tortillas, they’re presented street-style with onion and cilantro. People had raved about the three filling options (succulent pork, citrusy chicken and tender, slow-smoked brisket) but Albano has also added shrimp tacos to the mix. These feature crispy shrimp dressed in a zesty “boom boom” sauce and are served in a tortilla with shredded cheese and crisp, fresh lettuce. Alba-

forkful

no has also added Mexican street corn to the menu. For this dish, a corn cob is chopped in half and fried until it’s crispy with a nice char. It’s topped with cotija cheese, red taco sauce and cilantro and can also have onion added. Cutting the corn in half makes it easier to eat while wandering. While there is ample outdoor seating, plenty of people come to Lago Tacos in the evening to enjoy live music and like to mingle and enjoy the atmosphere (on live music nights, Lago Tacos often stays open past its usual closing hours to feed the hungry masses).

Ease of eating is something that Albano is always paying attention to. Currently, the restaurant offers long churros dusted with cinnamon and sugar for dessert, but he has been exploring the option of changing over to churro bites to make them easier for people to enjoy on the go.

“We make sure that we’re understanding what the customers like,” Albano says. “Everybody eats, so everybody has an opinion.”

Possibly the best addition to the menu is the empanadas. Many of the items at Lago Tacos are made in-house, including the salsa and guacamole. The empanadas are sourced from an out-

side vendor but they are handmade and it shows. Golden and crisp, they emerge from the fryer with those little bubbles that are the hallmark of a great empanada. They’re stuffed with an array of fillings, including beef, chicken, spinach and cheese, ham and cheese and hot Italian sausage.

Even the drinks at Lago Tacos pack a punch. When you order your tacos, be sure to sip something sweet like Jarritos, an all-natural fruit-flavored soda from Mexico. Lago Tacos carries a variety of flavors, including lime, mandarin and pineapple. Then there’s the strawberry limeade, made in-house with fresh juice from Key West limes and a botanical strawberry syrup. It’s tart, sweet, refreshing and as flavor-packed as the food.

Albano may be busy, but he’s happy that he still finds time to spend with his family even as his new venture has taken off.

“My kids have really stepped up and started to work in the business. My son got his food handler permit and helps me set things up and close them down,” he says. “It’s been really rewarding to see the family be a part of all this. That’s probably been my biggest reward of all.” WPL

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In addition to tantalizing tacos, Lago Tacos offers other exciting menu options like crisp empanadas and a refreshing house-made strawberry limeade. Lago Tacos, 19777 Wellen Pk. Blvd., Venice, 941-244-5888.

The Wellen Park area is a haven for golf enthusiasts.

WORDS BY DYLAN CAMPBELL

THIS SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT A golfer tees off at the Wellen Park Golf and Country Club course; golfers drive past the driving range of the Wellen Park Golf and Country Club.

OntheLinks

FOR GOLFERS, THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN BEING OUT ON THE FAIRWAY, WITH A GOOD LIE, A COOL BREEZE AND THE SUN SHINING DOWN. It’s a good thing then, that Sarasota County could be considered a golfer’s paradise—from decades-old clubs that don’t require a tee time to nationally ranked institutions, here are just a few of the amazing golf offerings around Wellen Park.

Wellen Park Golf and Country Club

The 18-hole golf course at Wellen Park Golf and Country Club is something of an enigma, even to assistant pro, John Batson. The course, which plays roughly 7,000 yards from the back tees, can vacillate widely from an approachable, yet challenging course to a very di cult day for even the seasoned golfer when the weather turns. “A lot of the holes play pretty short—in that if you can drive the ball long, then your second shot is going to be within 150 yards. It’s a course that can be user friendly, if you’re having a day where there’s not a lot of wind, then you can get favorable play and it’s advantageous to a low score,” says Batson. “If we get any kind of weather conditions out here, however, the course flips and it becomes very di cult to play.” It is a course, Batson maintains, that is in excellent condition with smooth fairways and ripping fast greens. Nestled amongst the neighborhoods of Wellen Park, the fairways can feel tight and twisty, forcing golfers to make tough decisions—lay up and take the conservative approach or go for broke with one big swing? “Our most challenging hole would probably be 18. It’s a pretty big dogleg left par-5 and the tee boxes on the left side are lined with houses, so you have to play it to the right even though the hole goes left, which sets you up for a far second shot. Additionally, the green runs away from the hole no matter where you put it, so you need to have a really well-placed shot to stick on the green.”

BELOW

Boca Royale Golf and Country Club sports a completely redesigned course. 1601 Englewood Rd, Englewood, 34223.

Boca Royale Golf and Country Club

Boca Royale Golf and Country Club, nestled just east of the Gulf in nearby Englewood, is not a new establishment. It does, however, feature a brand-new golf course, thanks to complete renovation of the original 18-hole course first built in 1965. The redesigned course, which opened in December 2024, features a slew of improvements. The par-71 course, which measures just over 6,600 yards from the back tees, was completely re-grassed with Seaside Paspalum Platinum grass, a salt-tolerant grass that allows the use of Boca Royale’s well water for supplemental irrigation and can withstand the nearby salty Gulf breeze. All of the greens complexes have been redesigned, cart paths have been added to all 18 holes and additional tee boxes have been added to accommodate golfers of all handicaps. “Our membership is absolutely ecstatic about how the course turned out,” says Brian Macoy, head golf professional at Boca Royale. “We offer a reciprocal in the summertime where members can go and play other golf courses, but we haven’t had a lot of that, because they just want to play here. It’s night and day from the way the course used to be to how it is now.” On the front nine, Macoy points to the par-3 fifth hole, which sits 178 yards from the back tee, as one of the most scenic on the course. “A lake runs down the right side and along the back with a very narrow green complex that you’re hitting into,” says Macoy. “Depending on what tee you’re playing, it’s a very challenging place to hit the golf ball, but an incredibly beautiful hole.” The following hole, the sixth, is the most difficult on the course. The sixth hole, which plays 453 yards from the back tee, is a par-4 that previously was a par-5 and is the number one handicap hole on the course. In addition to redesigning the golf course, the facilities at Boca Royale have also been revamped. The driving range has doubled in size, a new 10,000 square-foot short game area has been added and the clubhouse has been remodeled as well. “It’s vastly improved,” says Macoy. “The membership and our outside players as well have all commented on how amazing the changes have been.”

Myakka Pines Golf Club

Myakka Pines Golf Club in Englewood has an alligator in its logo for a reason. There are plenty of alligators around the lush wetlands and ponds within the semi-private club’s 27-hole golf course—all of which are easily avoidable with a good dose of common sense— but only one has made national news. That gator would be Goliath, an estimated 13-footer that has twice caused Myakka Pines to go viral in the past 10 years. “People are often inclined to ask, ‘Where’s Goliath?’ Oftentimes our retort is, ‘Wherever he wants to be,’” says General Manager Ryan Co ey with a chuckle. There is more to Myakka Pines than just gators, however. The 27-hole course was designed by architect Lane Marshall and, since opening in 1978, has provided players with a fair, yet challenging day on the links. Myakka Pines is characterized by its picturesque scenery and sports a variety of tee locations to best suit a wide range of golfers. The club also has plenty of instructional o erings at its facilities, which include a pro shop, chipping and putting greens, a full driving range and a restaurant, Goliath’s Grille. “We have four PGA professionals on sta . Rich Williamson handles the predominant amount of our instruction; he’s been our local chapter PGA Assistant Player of the Year the last few years,” says Co ey. “We have programs for juniors and brand new players, up to instruction for the very best players around. One of our PGA professionals is Penny Porter; she approaches the game from a woman’s point of view and a lot of people are drawn to that as well.”

The pro shops at the various golf courses get you geared up and ready for the course.

Pelican Pointe Golf and Country Club

At Pelican Pointe Golf and Country Club, there is a higher chance of seeing a bald eagle gracing the skies, a cottontail rabbit moseying around the rough or a great blue heron walking along the wetlands than there is of seeing another golfer. That’s not because the 27-hole course is not up to par—the award-winning course is fastidiously maintained, replete with live oaks, streams, wetlands and all the trappings of a true Floridian golf course. It’s because at Pelican Pointe, there are no parallel fairways, leaving the golfer free to lose themselves in the magic of the game. The 27-hole course, designed by Ted McAnlis, is divided into three different nines—the Meadows and Preserve nines which opened in 1995 and Hatchet-Creek which debuted in 2002. All three nines possess their own personalities, says Head Golf Professional Bill Neal, and can be played in any combination. “The Meadows nine is the longest of the three and the most open off the tee. The fairways are a little more generous on that side, but it’s longer,” says Neal. “The other two nines are a bit shorter, but the fairways are more narrow and there are more severe doglegs, which puts more of a premium on accuracy off the tees than there is on the Meadows. For those looking to work on their game, Pelican Pointe offers a myriad of instructional offerings from its staff, from individual lessons to group lessons and clinics, all on its practice facility, which includes an 8,000 square foot putting green, chipping green and bunker green as well as an all-grass, full-scale driving range.

Lake Venice Golf Club

Rod Parry and the team at Lake Venice Golf Club have a mantra: “We carry to the masses, not classes.” The semi-private 27-hole golf club, established in 1959, is something of a throwback. There are no tee times at Lake Venice, golfers can walk or ride at any time and play all 27 holes, starting from either the first or 19th tee. There is a purity to Lake Venice that Parry, who has been the General Manager for 34 years, wants to keep. There are no housing developments along Lake Venice Golf Club, meaning that the course, located adjacent to the Gulf on Venice Island, gets plenty of ocean breezes and marvelous sunsets. Some things at Lake Venice have changed over the years. Parry has added more tee boxes to make life easier on some of the course’s older regulars. “We moved the tees up and gave them a chance to play from something where they can at least have some fun and play the way they did when they were younger,” says Parry. “That’s the beauty of golf. You can play anywhere in the world without knowing another person.” The course, originally designed by Mark Mahannah, has undergone renovations, such as the redesign of holes 19-27 in 2013 by renowned golf course architect Jan Bel Jan. Other things, like Parry’s desire to grow the sport, have not changed. For just $3, juniors who attend a Venice school, can walk the course. Holes 16 and 17 lie adjacent to the intercoastal waterway, with Parry calling the 17th one of the toughest in the county. “It’s a par-4 dogleg left with a narrow landing area,” he says. “You can either go for it or you can lay up and then you’ve got around a 165-yard shot to the green over some mangroves with water on both sides.”

Riverwood Golf Club

Since being built in 1992, Riverwood Golf Club’s par-72 championship course in Port Charlotte has been consistently ranked as not only one of the best courses in Florida but in the entire country as well. The 18-hole course, which was designed by Gene Bates, sports five sets of tees and takes the golfer through two types of natural Florida: a heavily wooded front nine, full of pine and oak trees and a back nine that winds its way through a salt marsh and wetlands. “The signature hole on the front nine is probably the eighth,” says Bob Ridge, PGA, director of golf operations at Riverwood, of the 434-yard par-4. “You drive the ball to a landing area short of a lake and then hit over that lake to the green, which is bordered by that same lake.” Ridge’s favorite hole on the course, which he doesn’t get to play quite as often as he’d like to, is the sixth, a similarly long par-4 with a difficult tee shot bordered by a lake on the left and a thick copse of trees on the right. The approach shot doesn’t get much easier—a large pine tree stands tall in front of the jelly-bean shaped green. While challenging, Riverwood Golf Club is also recognized for its approachability. “It has large landing areas off the tees and there is only one bunker around any one of the greens,” says Ridge. “It makes approach shots easier for all players. The course itself plays throughout the housing development, but there are only houses on one side of the fairway, so you don’t feel like you’re playing in a concrete corridor.”

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The pro shop at Riverwood Golf Club; The verdant fairways of Myakka Pines Golf Club; Golfers can gear up at the Myakka Pines pro shop before hitting the links.

New Principal

Mark Grossenbacher will lead Wellen Park High School as it prepares to open in August 2026.

WORDS BY CECILIA MOULD

THIS NEW PRINCIPAL IS FOCUSED ON CONNECTION. In August 2026, Wellen Park High School will open its doors for the very first time, led by inaugural principal Mark Grossenbacher. The first new high school to open in the Sarasota and Venice area since North Port High School in 2001, Wellen Park High will prioritize building community and connection to achieve Grossenbacher’s central goal—to support students in becoming successful leaders long after they’re rung out by the schoolhouse bell on graduation day. “I am thrilled to be principal of Wellen Park High School, but more importantly, to help the whole Wellen Park community set the tone of building a positive culture and new traditions,” Grossenbacher says.

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Still in the school’s early stages, Grossenbacher has been overseeing construction of the brand-new facilities.

A lifelong educator, Grossenbacher began his career teaching English and coaching in Indiana in 1997. When he moved to Florida in 2001, he began a position at North Port High—at the time, it was the first new high school in the region in 44 years. Now, he’ll take his experience there as he leads the opening of Wellen Park High, the first new high school since then. Lessons from these early career experiences have stayed with him even 25 years later. “From early on, I have always focused on relationship-driven instruction. I believe in building relationships to achieve success,” Grossenbacher says.

Grossenbacher brings experience spanning elementary, middle and high school. Most recently, he has spent time as principal of Englewood Elementary and Woodland Middle Schools, before his recent appointment at Wellen Park High. He says that he’s been able to smoothly transition across schools serving a wide range of ages because of his focus on community, and feels confident that his past experiences will provide him valuable insight in his new position at Wellen Park High. “As a leader, if you make decisions based on what is best for the kids and community, then

schools

you are making the right decision, regardless of age,” Grossenbacher says. “The benefit of having worked with children from kindergarten through 12th grade is that I see the big picture. I know the various developmental stages and I know what it takes for children and students to feel valued. When they’re made to feel valued, they’re able to perform and be successful as well.”

The new principal has several priorities for his first year in the position, as the school gears up for its opening in 2026. He has already begun to enter the design phase for the school, ordering the essentials while keeping in mind how to provide the best quality education for students. He’s particularly excited about the schoolhouse bell he’s ordered—he hopes to make ringing freshmen in on their first day and ringing out seniors on graduation day a tradition at the school. Grossenbacher also hopes to continue building traditions and making connections with families and local business owners to establish Wellen Park High as an integral part of the community. “I want to create academic leaders who become leaders for the community,” Grossenbacher says. “It’s extremely

important to produce successful high school students, but also to produce successful citizens for the Wellen Park, North Port and greater Venice communities. Doing that entails providing a package that goes beyond just what happens every day in the schoolhouse.”

For Grossenbacher, supporting students on their path to becoming successful citizens and leaders means providing high-quality education, but also establishing a variety of clubs, sports and performing arts activities. As he prepares for the opening date, he’ll look for teachers and staff members who share his sense of pride in building relationships with students, families and community members. In Grossenbacher’s eyes, the key to producing leaders is connection and hiring teachers who are invested in their students’ success. Grossenbacher recognizes and hopes that many of his students will stay in the Wellen Park area throughout their lives—this is why he sees the school’s role in the community as vital. “It’s an incredible blessing to be a leader for this school, to help cultivate it for the community,” he says. WPL

BELOW

The new high school will feature state-of-the-art athletic facilities. 10801 Manasota Beach Road, Venice.

sports TheAcademy

BELOW

The Academy is where every Atlanta Brave begins their professional baseball journey.

Nestled within the Atlanta Braves’ 90-acre Spring Training facility in Wellen Park, the Academy is where all future Atlanta Braves begin their journey to the big leagues. WORDS BY DYLAN CAMPBELL

THE ROOTS OF A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FRANCHISE RUN DEEP. In the case of the four-time world champion Atlanta Braves, those roots trace down to Wellen Park, where CoolToday Park and the team’s 90-acre Spring Training complex are located. On those 90 acres, which house a multitude of full-size and half-size ball fields and training facilities, there is a building called the Academy. “It sits right here in the middle of the complex, but there is not any directional signage for it or anything like that,” says Mike Dunn, vice president of Florida Operations for the Atlanta Braves. “You’d have to know what you’re looking for to get to it—it’s not something that we really broadcast or tell everybody about, but we’re definitely proud of it.”

sports

THE ACADEMY, A 45,000 SQUARE FOOT, TWO-STORY “BOUTIQUE HOTEL” AS DUNN CALLS IT, is the place where every Atlanta Brave gets their start. Although it’s not quite Quantico, the Academy does serve a crucial role in the development of Braves’ minor leaguers—it develops them as people, not just baseball players. “It houses some of our younger players and international players throughout the course of the year. It serves multiple purposes from a hotel standpoint, but we also feed the players and control their nutrition,” says Dunn. “We have a curriculum that we implement on the players during their stay called our way of life curriculum, which includes money management, public speaking and housekeeping practices among other things.”

While the vast majority of first-year players in the Braves’ farm system will have a stay at the Academy, there is no definitive timeline. A 23-year-old collegiate player from the United States, for example, may only be at the Academy for a matter of weeks. A 17 or 18-year-old international free agent from Latin America, however, may spend most of the year at the Academy, learning English and getting acclimated to American culture. “It is certainly geared toward our international players. We want to instill our beliefs, the “Braves Way” and American culture, which we can do through our curriculum and English courses. We want the player to garner as much education as he can get, because, quite frankly, less than 3% of players are going to make it to the big leagues,” says Dunn. “So if they spend five years of their lives with us and don’t make it to big

leagues, at least they have something to fall back on.” For players at the Academy this summer, the day starts early, with breakfast in the cafeteria before heading off to the instructional fields for drill work and later the weight rooms for strength training and treatment. Next comes lunch, after which players head out to play in either CoolToday Park or another one of the stadiums in the Florida Complex League and return to the Academy. For Dunn and the Braves, it’s important that the Academy be a place of solace for the players. Their days are filled with baseball, one of the most mentally taxing sports, so it’s paramount that they have a space where they can detach from the game for a couple of hours every night. The rec rooms, replete with pool and ping pong tables, televisions and gaming systems and a barber shop are a part of making the Academy somewhere where players want to be.

“When we built the Academy, we tried to design it to be neutral, because they don’t need to be thinking about baseball 24/7. At 11 o’clock at night, when they’re walking down the halls, they don’t need to see pictures of the Cy Young winners from the last 20 years,” says Dunn. “There’s an outdoor courtyard with soft seating in which you have no idea that A) you’re in a hotel, B) that it’s a baseball facility or C) that it’s even an athletic complex. It’s very mundane and plain by design, they sit out there and talk and play cards and dominos and don’t have to look at the tomahawk or big Braves script logo or anything like that.” WPL

ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT

The two-story, 45,000 square foot building houses a 220-seat auditorium for instituting the “Braves Way” curriculum; The Academy’s locker room is replete with Braves signage and memorabilia.

From coffee and conversation to music, exercise and arts and crafts, there is truly something for everyone at Senior Friendship Centers of Venice.

Circleof Friendship

Discover Senior Friendship Centers of Venice, a vibrant community for seniors right in our own backyard. WORDS BY BARBIE HEIT

WELLEN PARK RESIDENTS ALREADY ENJOY A WEALTH OF AMENITIES THAT ENRICH DAILY LIFE, but for those seeking a lively, welcoming space for themselves or a loved one aged 50 and up, the Senior Friendship Centers (SFC) of Venice provides something truly special. Conveniently located on Scenic Drive, just a short drive from home, the Venice campus has been serving the community for over 25 years—offering friendship, fun and essential support services in a warm, inclusive environment. From dance classes and live music to fitness sessions, games and lifelong learning opportunities, there’s no shortage of engaging activities.

lifestyles

“WE HAVE A LITTLE BISTRO, A FABULOUS BOUTIQUE, AND ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES—Zumba, line dancing, a chair core class, bingo, cards and mahjong,” says Senior Center Manager, Robin Boyce. “We even have volunteers who offer free haircuts.” The center’s seasonal membership options make it accessible for snowbirds or part-time residents. In addition, SFC partners with Breeze Transit to provide transportation to and from the center for those without personal transportation.

Once a week, SFC offers a caregiver support group open to the public—a valuable resource for those navigating the often difficult journey of caregiving. A grief support group is also available. For families caring for loved ones with mild cognitive or physical impairments, SFC offers a comprehensive adult day care program, featuring a low staff-to-participant ratio of 1:6. This program includes therapeutic activities such as brain fitness exercises, art and pet therapy and personalized care, all designed to enhance quality of life.

“Our goal is to provide caregivers with the tools and help they need, whenever they need it,” says Director of Marketing and Communications, Tracie Cardwell. Inclusivity is at the heart of the center’s mission. “We work with the VA, Medicaid and longterm care plans. We also offer scholarship pro-

grams through the Agency on Aging of Southwest Florida,” shares Marketing and Communications Manager, Jodel Velarde. “We truly want to serve everyone, regardless of financial status.”

For homebound seniors, the Friendship at Home program provides vital social interaction. “We match volunteers with isolated seniors for weekly phone check-ins or in-home visits,” explains Director of Program Initiatives, Jenny Macias. “They might go for walks, play games or watch TV together. We also conduct home safety and compatibility assessments and offer crisis intervention for seniors struggling with utilities or other urgent needs.” In addition to its day-to-day offerings, the Venice and Sarasota SFC locations host public events throughout the year—including car shows and shopping days at the newly redesigned on-site boutiques, which welcome both shoppers and donations.

Open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, the center operates on a membership model and encourages prospective members to stop by for a tour. A five-day free trial membership is also available to ensure a good fit. Whether you’re looking for community, care or just a place to have fun and stay active, the Senior Friendship Centers of Venice offers something for everyone. WPL

BELOW, CLOCKWISE

Glenna Ramstein finds the perfect dress at the boutique; Caregivers engaging in support group discussions. Senior Friendship Centers of Venice, 2350 Scenic Drive, Venice, 941-584-0052, friendshipcenters.org

TasteofHome

At the second annual Great Wellen Bake Off 2025, contestants put their long-held family recipes to the test in a battle to see which pie reigned supreme. WORDS BY DYLAN CAMPBELL

THERE IS SOMETHING INNATELY HOMEY ABOUT PIE. Think of the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word—whether it’s a slice of all-American apple served à la mode at your favorite diner or your grandmother’s sacred pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving—and warm, fuzzy feelings are sure to bubble up. Even the act of making a pie, from rolling out the dough and forming the crust to creating the filling and baking it at just the right temperature, is an act of love. A pie is an extension of oneself, oftentimes steeped in familial traditions and lore. To share a pie is to share a part of oneself with the world, which is exactly what contestants did at Solis Hall on June 28 at the second annual Great Wellen Bake-Off 2025.

THE BAKE-OFF WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE SEPARATE JUDGING CATEGORIES FOR CONTESTANTS—Junior Bakers (under 13), Teen Bakers (13 to 18) and Adult Bakers (18 and older). Pies were judged by a panel of three judges on a scale of 1-25 on flavor, filling, crust and appearance, with a maximum score of 100 points possible for each pie. Pies, of which there were many in each age bracket, ranged from the traditional, such as Kerri Tucker’s Kerri’s Cherry Pie, to the festive like Bella Coffey’s Blueberry Cherry Flag Pie for the 4th of July, to the delightfully whimsical, like junior baker Olivia Matyas’s Pink Lemonade Pie. In the adult category, with a near-perfect 288 points out of a possible 300, Linda Bumgarner’s Delicious Reese’s Peanut Butter Pie took first place. It’s a pie that is fitting for a hot Florida summer day—the no-bake dessert is a decadent affair that takes the best of the beloved candy and puts

THIS SPREAD CLOCKWISE

it into pie form. “It has an oreo crust bottom and is made with peanut butter, cream cheese and real whipped cream,” says Bumgarner, who has been making different iterations of the recipe for her family for years. “You crush Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, fold them in, top it with whipped cream and then I drizzle it with a chocolate ganache and melted peanut butter.”

While the teen category featured a slew of more adventurous pies like Kendal Ingoglia’s second-place Mint Chocolate Chip Pie and the highly-rated Citrus Blast Pie, 17-year-old Jacob Colon’s classic Key Lime Pie took the top prize. “I made the crust the day before I baked it. It’s a graham cracker crust that I formed from graham crackers that I blitzed in the food processor,” says Colon. “For the filling, I used blue eggs which have a more amber yolk. I squeezed the key limes by hand, mixed it all together and baked it for about 18

minutes.” The secret to Colon’s key lime pie may just have been his meringue, which judges raved about. Using the leftover egg whites, Colon mixed in a touch of cream of tartar and sugar, before mixing until stiff peaks formed to create the meringue.

For the Matyas family, the Bake-Off was a family affair, with four entries in the Junior Bakers category for the brood. “We had four kids enter, so they were all competing against each other,” says mother Allison Matyas. “All of them wanted to taste their pies first, so we had to make two of each. We spent many, many hours yesterday baking—we had pie for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.” Two of the Matyas clan walked away winners at the Bake-Off, with eight-year-old Car-

son taking second with his S’Mores Chocolate Pie and his older brother Connor taking first place with his Strawberry Rhubarb pie. “The crust is graham cracker crumbs and the filling is chocolate and cream cheese,” says Carson of his S’Mores pie. “We toast the marshmallows in the oven, before slicing them in half and putting the sticky part on top of the pie.” Connor, 11-years-old, went with an age-old summer favorite, strawberry-rhubarb, albeit this time with a bit of a twist: “The crust is homemade and features a crumbly layer of streusel on top,” says Connor. “The filling is made from strawberries with sugar, cornstarch and diced rhubarb. It’s my favorite pie.” WPL

WELLEN PARK NEIGHBORHOODS MAP

FALL 2025 | GUIDE TO BUILDERS

ACACIA PALMERA

ANCLOTE SUNSTONE

BISCAYNE II EVERLY

CARAVEL EVERLY

COSTA MESA OAKBEND

DELMAR II LAKESPUR

DESTIN GRAN PLACE

DUNNET SOLSTICE

EGRET V PALMERA

HERITAGE II PALMERA

JUBILEE PALMERA

KIAWAH II GRAND PALM

LAPIS BRIGHTMORE

MARIA WELLEN PARK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

MONTE CARLO LAKESPUR

OCEANA RENAISSANCE

PALM BAY II EVERLY

PATRIOT WYSTERIA

PRESTIGE LAKESPUR

RUBYTAIL PALMERA

SANIBEL II

BOCA ROYALE

SEA SPRAY II AVELINA

THE COVE OAKBEND

TIDELAND PALMERA

WARRINA EVERLY

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M/I HOMES

• Personalization: Spacious & open plan with flexibility at every corner. The Jubilee fits the needs of your family perfectly, o ering a flex room & optional bonus room

• Entertainer’s Delight: Gather with family & friends in the gourmet kitchen, open great room & expansive lanai over looking the most beautiful views in Wellen Park.

• Tranquil Retreat: Rest and relaxation awaits in your private owner’s suite with spa-like owner’s bath and walk-in closet

• Great

• Two bedrooms sharing Jack & Jill

LENNAR HOMES

• Spacious two-story home with open layout among the kitchen, breakfast nook & great room with access to a lanai

• Separate formal dining room & living room for versatile living

• Additional bedroom for guests second level includes four secondary bedrooms, an owner’s suite & multipurpose bonus room

• Resort –

• Final opportunities – don’t miss your chance to

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PRESTIGE LAKESPUR

• 2-3 Bedrooms + flex/den, private owner’s suite, and lanai

• Spacious kitchen and openconcept gathering room

• Owner’s suite featuring a spacious bathroom with dual walk-in closets as well as a dual sink vanity

• Sliding glass doors open to the patio for the ultimate indoor/ outdoor living space

Sunny family & dining spaces throughout to the serene lanai

Heart of the Home Kitchen

Private owner’s retreat: Large walk-in closet & bath • Three secondary bedrooms: privacy & space for personal style

Versatile Sunlit Study: Ideal for home o ce, student library, or welcoming lounge

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• Elevated, customized, contemporary-transitional style luxury home

• Master bedroom/ensuite, 2 walk-in closets, soaking tub, walk-in shower, private water closet

• State-of-the-art gourmet kitchen

• Great room with designer ceilings & 16’ wide sliding glass doors

• Pool & outdoor oasis, elevated deck & integrated firepit

CALENDAR ofEvents

Wellen Park Jazz Cabaret

29 AUGUST

August 29, 2025 7-10PM

Step into a night of vintage glamour, soulful rhythms and unforgettable vibes featuring The American Sirens at the Wellen Park Jazz Cabaret! Tickets are $45 for this event inside Solis Hall where you will enjoy smooth jazz, glowing lights, hors d’oeuvres and dancing. Space is limited!

October 4, 2025 | All Day Mark your calendars for Wellen Park’s 2nd annual Oktoberfest celebration! This family-friendly event will have a traditional Oktoberfest atmosphere with German Dancers, a live polka band, a stein-hoisting competition, and of course, plenty of beer, brats and other traditional eats!

OCTOBER

Oktoberfest at Wellen Park 4

NOVEMBER

Wellen Park Wine Festival

Wellen Park Spooktacular

Halloween

OCTOBER

31

October 31, 2025 | 11am-6pm Celebrate with pumpkins, costumes and trick or treat at Downtown Wellen businesses. Be sure to stop by the photo booth to take home a Polaroid photo.

November 15 | Various Events Save the date for a day of sipping, swirling, and socializing at the Wellen Park Wine Fest. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or just love a good glass of red, white or rosé, this is a can’t-miss event. Stay tuned for more details and get ready to raise your glass.

BUILDING COMMUNITY | ONGOING EVENT PROGRAMS

Wellen Park invites the community to celebrate the fall with a vibrant lineup of events. Come to Downtown Wellen to enjoy a variety of local family-friendly happenings. From live music to fun-filled festivals, there are plenty of ways to participate. Most activities are free and open to the public.

Music and Art

Wellen Park hosts a variety of musical genres and musicians throughout each week. Visitors are invited to bask in the captivating scenery and waterfront vibe by bringing their own lawn chairs or blankets for maximum comfort. These musical gatherings offer an open-door policy, requiring no prior RSVP for attendance. Guests can participate in Wellen Park’s Sip & Stroll program by purchasing to-go alcoholic beverages from Downtown Wellen food and beverage merchants.

First Friday Concert Series

First Friday of the month 6–10pm

Jazz Cabaret

Featuring The American Sirens Friday, August 29 7-10pm

Community Connections

Dueling Pianos

Third Thursday, monthly

August 21, 2025

September 18, 2025

October 16, 2025

Fresh Harvest Farmers Market, Every Sunday 9am-1pm Join us at the Fresh Harvest Farmers Market where you can shop for fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, seafood, cut flowers and more.

Wellen Park Night Market, Second Thursday of the Month, 6-9pm Enjoy the Wellen Park Night Market, bringing together independent artists and makers specializing in home decor, fashion, art, design, food and more in a fun and inspiring environment that champions community. Dates for Night Market are August 14, September 11 and October 9, 2025.

Cars & Caffeine—First Saturday of the Month starting in September, 7:30-10:30am Rev up your engines! Wellen Park and co-sponsors, Foxtail Coffee and Antique Automobile Club of America-Venice Region, are excited to offer car enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to come together for an informal early morning gathering to share their passion for all things automotive. Show cars will be in the parking lot behind the two-story building downtown. A directional parking attendant will be at the parking entrance off of Sunglow Blvd. We invite you to stick around afterwards for some shopping and dining in Downtown Wellen. Attendees receive 50 percent off of drip, iced and cold brew coffee from 7am to 10am at Foxtail Coffee.

Solis Hall Summer Series, Monday and Tuesday Throughout August and September

Wellen Park invites you to experience the Solis Hall Summer Series, a curated collection of weekday events designed to offer residents and guests a refreshing way to engage, explore and connect. The series features a diverse range of activities—from hands-on workshops to wellness sessions and cultural programming, there’s something to appeal to every interest.

Fun Fitness

Get your fitness on with a dynamic lineup of weekly fitness activities for the community. Groups will meet in Downtown Wellen in front of Kind Vibes Outfitters. Yoga and Zumba classes meet on the Great Lawn.

Walking Group Meet-Up Saturdays, 9–10am

Zumba Class Mondays, 8–9am

Yoga Class Saturdays, 8–9am

Running Meet-Up Mondays, 6–7pm

Mind & Body Fitness Class Tuesdays, 8–9am

For more details on Wellen Park events, visit: wellenpark.com/events

ZOOMERS KIDS

SECOND ANNUAL ZOOMER SUMMER RUN SERIES. The Zoomers Kids series was open to all children and families living in Wellen Park. The runners had a blast and got some great exercise, too!

SPONSORED BY SOUTHERN OXYGEN & WELDING SUPPLY

The second annual Zoomers Summer Run series, sponsored by Southern Oxygen & Welding Supply in Downtown Wellen, provided continuous enjoyment for local children and families in Wellen Park. These one-mile races were open to children aged one to sixteen and were held on Tuesday evenings in June. Each week, participants endeavored to improve their running times, enjoyed recreational activities with their parents and siblings and met new friends and neighbors. Refreshments were served following the runs.

ROOTED IN COMMUNITY

MISSION YOUTH IN VENICE

A few months ago, a group of volunteers from Mission Youth in Venice, ages 12 to 15, came together to plant trees and help beautify the community. It was a small but meaningful way to give back to the environment we all share. The event turned out to be a big success—the local kids pitched in to plant over 20 trees in a new neighborhood that’s being developed. Those trees will grow right along with the community and serve as a lasting reminder of what young people can do when they come together for a good cause.

TOGETHER ASenseof Belonging

At Wellen Park, there is never a shortage of things to do and people to meet. WORDS BY

DYLAN CAMPBELL

ladies of Wellen

pose for

MOVING CAN BE DAUNTING TASK. To uproot oneself from one part of the country to another, to collect everything that is sacred and essential to one’s life and relocate somewhere new is not only a logistical challenge, but an emotional one as well. Because whether someone is moving for a new job, a new relationship or just looking for a fresh start, there is always the underlying question: Will I find my people in this new place? For the thousands who move to Wellen Park each year, that question can be answered with just one word—yes. “I love it here. I love Lakespur and I love Wellen Park,” says Deborah Hecht, who moved to Wellen Park from Jacksonville last August. “I’ve met more people in my eight months of living here than I did in seven years in Jacksonville. Everybody’s so welcoming and supportive, there are a lot of families in Lakespur, so all the kids get along together as well.”

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The chicken parmigiana with San Marzano tomatoes, ricotta and mozzarella cheese at Acqua Pazza; Hungry diners pick out their dinner orders after starting the night next door at PAINT Nail Bar; For residents of Wellen Park, the Taste and Tour Summer Series offers a chance to relax, unwind and make new friends.

HECHT, WITH A FRESH COAT OF NAIL POLISH ON HER FINGERNAILS, was among over a dozen other residents of the Lakespur neighborhood inside Downtown Wellen’s Paint Nail Bar on a warm June night. The group was there as a part of the Lakespur neighborhood’s Taste and Tour Summer Series, a program developed by Kate Ferguson, the Lifestyle Director at Troon, the homeowner association management firm that provides lifestyle directed activities for Wellen Park’s Lakespur and EVERLY neighborhoods. This particular event featured cocktails and free dazzle dry polish change at Paint Nail Bar before heading next door to grab dinner at Acqua Pazza Coastal Italian Restaurant.

“All of these communities are brand new. You have a lot of people moving in from all over the country, which is really neat, because they’re all just getting to know their neighbors at the same time,” says Ferguson. “Everybody’s in the same boat, plus we have all these new businesses downtown, and I thought it’d be great to be able to highlight those as well.”

For Lakespur and EVERLY residents, the Taste and Tour Series was not only a chance to get to know one another, but to be familiarized with the businesses of Downtown Wellen. Paint Nail Bar, which opened its Wellen Park location in August of 2023, is not your average nail salon. “It’s more of an experience than your typical nail salon where you have a service performed,” says owner Jessica Haworth. “We get to know our clients and their families. We are non-toxic, which means that all of the polishes in our nail salon are free of harmful chemicals found in traditional polishes. We take the time to make sure we’re using the best products on them.”

Haworth, who has only lived in Wellen Park for a little over a year, takes pride in using her business to foster a sense of community. “It’s so important. We’re doing monthly events across the board to establish that community,” says Haworth. “Not only does this provide others with the platform to meet one another, but I get to meet people too, which is a great experience.” WPL

WELLRounded

A group of Lakespur neighbors–Women Entrepreneurs, Light in Lakespur are building businesses and lifting each other up.

IN THE LAKESPUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF WELLEN PARK, a growing group of female entrepreneurs have come together to support, celebrate and elevate one another through a new group called WELL: Women Entrepreneurs, Light in Lakespur. Starting out as casual neighborly chats by the pool, the group has evolved into something much bigger–a network of empowered women who are rooting for each other in business and in life–a group that blends entrepreneurship, community and the magic that happens when women support women.

network

LAKESPUR RESIDENTS FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE A WONDERFUL LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR NAMED KATE WHO ORGANIZES EVENTS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. “We just love our Kate,” says WELL Founder, Kate Hixson. “Through various events she’s organized for us over the past several months, different women here have gotten to know each other—whether it’s from little chats over coffee or a glass of wine while our kids are splashing in the pool. We’re all new here, so there’s a lot of introductory information that’s so exciting to uncover.” Little by little, Hixson felt like all these incredible women with various talents could have some really powerful conversations aside from just casual chats at the pool. “I started to piece it together, thinking what would make sense for all of us, knowing that we are working, busy and on the go,” she says. “Most of us do have kids and really great skills and interests, and so WELL was born from that.”

Currently, the group consists of approximately 10 women and aims to provide a safe and encouraging space for each member’s entrepreneurial pursuits

to grow. The women meet face-to-face monthly at Foxtail Coffee in Downtown Wellen Park with a set agenda. In addition to these meetings, they maintain accountability through a text chain, where they encourage each other, discuss challenges and celebrate successes in achieving their monthly goals. The group’s mission is to provide a safe and uplifting space for the respectful growth of their entrepreneurial pursuits.

Hixson says the group has already had success since forming in February of this year, including growth in community networking and increased business revenue. Members have also benefited from skill-sharing, covering topics from technical skills like video editing and portfolio building to exploring new revenue streams. The businesses represented in WELL are as diverse as the women behind them, ranging from custom embroidery and bamboo pajamas to artisanal cocktails, real estate services and music classes for young children—which have even grown into a successful YouTube channel. Although WELL originated in the Lakespur neighborhood, it is open

to women beyond its borders. Hixson credits the neighborhood’s unique energy and the entrepreneurial drive of young families in “hustle mode” for the group’s momentum.

Looking ahead, Hixson envisions expanding WELL’s reach to bring the broader Wellen Park community together. “We’ve been thinking about how to scale this—how to create more in-person opportunities to connect,” she says. “There’s still this post-COVID yearning for real human interaction. We want to gather, have fun and learn together.”

Hixson has hopes to collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce or the Wellen Park Welcome Center in the future to create larger-scale events focused on entrepreneurship. “There’s so much potential here,” she adds. “And moms especially know how to mix education, encouragement and fun into something truly wonderful.” WPL

This story was pitched to us by a Wellen Park resident. If you know of ideas for future stories in this magazine, please reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you!

GameNights

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This couple is bringing fun to the Wellen Park community with their weekly game shows.

Every week, the Geremias, also known as “Mr. and Mrs. GameShow,” host game nights for Wellen Park community members. WORDS BY CECILIA MOULD

WHEN TRACEY AND ANDY GEREMIA FOUND THEMSELVES STUCK AT THEIR HOME IN WELLEN PARK DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, the two knew they needed to find a new form of entertainment. For years, Andy had loved creating board games, and building on this hobby, the couple came up with the idea for a company, “Mr. and Mrs. GameShow.” The Geremias began by hosting game nights in their driveway for nearby neighbors. Soon enough, word had spread and Tracey and Andy were hosting at outdoor venues throughout the community. Now, the two have formed strong connections throughout Wellen Park and continue to host game show nights twice a week at local clubhouses. “When we moved to Florida, we didn’t know one person besides each other. But recently, on a trip away, we were at the airport, and someone was like, ‘Hey, that’s Mr. and Mrs. GameShow,’” Tracey says.

residents

ANDY, WHO WORKS AS A SALES ENGINEER FOR SCHLAGE—a company that creates security products such as card readers, door locks and security systems–likes creating board games and planning the GameShow nights in his spare time. The most popular is music bingo, where players have a card full of song titles and can cross out squares as Andy plays each song. “We spend a lot of time tailoring the song list, and people have actually come up to us afterward and asked us for our playlist because they enjoy it so much,” he says. Andy has also planned trivia nights and adapted popular gameshows to allow for large numbers of players, calling them Friendly Feud, Majority Rules, Wheel of Fun and The Price is Rite.

After raising their three children in Connecticut, Tracey and Andy moved to Wellen Park six years ago. When their three daughters—Kasey, Carly and Abby—graduated from college and had moved away from home, Tracey and Andy finally made the move to Florida, a dream they’d had for years. “Besides our daughters, all of our family lives in Connecticut. We are the only ones who have left the state, and so it was quite an amazing adventure for us to move here,” Tracey says. The couple has been through many adventures together—they met

at a high school party when they were seventeen. When Andy headed off to the Navy after his eighteenth birthday, he and Tracey stayed in touch. After he returned home five years later, they married and raised their daughters up north until it was time for their Florida adventure to begin. Kasey is now a head pastry chef in Boston, Abby works in the homecare field in Seattle and Carly is with a travel agency in Denver, but all three regularly come to visit their parents in sunny Florida.

Beyond her work as Mrs. GameShow, Tracey is an ambassador for Wellen Park’s Welcome Center, where she helps new and potential residents learn about everything her community has to offer. She found that after retiring from her career as an ultrasound technician, she was missing the connections she had formed with her patients and colleagues. The position at the Welcome Center is the perfect way to fill that gap. Through her work as an ambassador and her years in Wellen Park, Tracey says she and Andy have built lasting friendships with other residents.

“We just have fantastic neighbors around us,” Tracey says. “The beautiful thing that we found living here in Florida is that you just meet some amazing people from all over the place.” WPL

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The Geremias began hosting outdoor game nights with neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the third Saturday of every month, Ace Hardware and Suncoast Humane Society team up to find loving homes for dogs.

WORDS BY BARBIE HEIT

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Pick up some tools and adopt a dog (like Valencia pictured below) while you’re at it at the Ace Hardware and Suncoast Humane Society adoption events.

Shop&Adopt

LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE WELLEN PARK PUBLIX SHOPPING CENTER, the freestanding Ace Hardware facing U.S. 41 offers approximately 8,000 square feet of retail space. Inside, you’ll find everything from tools to grills—and dogs? That’s right. On the third Saturday of every month from 11am to 2pm, Ace Hardware Wellen Park hosts a meet-andgreet with rescue dogs and puppies from Suncoast Humane Society, a no-kill animal shelter dedicated to helping animals and their people live safer, healthier and love-filled lives. Serving Southwest Florida, Suncoast supports over 50,000 animals and people annually with shelter, affordable prevention services and ongoing community support. At the Ace monthly events, visitors can meet, foster or adopt pets, learn about volunteering and donate to support Suncoast’s mission.

STORE OWNER

CHANDLER SHORT AND EMPLOYEE MATT CONSIDINE have partnered with the shelter since 2023. The idea was sparked by Considine’s parents’ visit to Suncoast’s older facility, which appeared in need of support. Recognizing a chance to help—and to set their store apart from other retailers—they aimed to create a convenient satellite adoption site for the Wellen Park community, located 30 minutes from Suncoast’s main Englewood location.

“We didn’t really know what we were doing at first,” admits Considine. “But we knew we wanted dogs here, we wanted to help, we wanted to advertise it to the community—and we wanted to make it fun for employees. So we started incorporating things like BBQ cooking and raffles for donations. Now we’re going on three years of hosting events. “They’ve made the timing consistent—every third Saturday—so visitors can “put it on their calendars,” says Considine. In warmer months, dogs stay inside the air-conditioned front of the store, often with individual handlers. Puppies are typically kept in a separate section of the store. Volunteers from the Humane Society help with handling and care.

The public response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many successful adoptions each month. “We see a lot of smiles, especially from folks walking in for the first time who see four dogs lying on the floor and little kids running around with puppies,” says Considine. “Our customers

tend to be in better moods on dog days.” Success stories include Considine and Short themselves— each has adopted two dogs from the event. Their pups often accompany them to work, though both jokingly admit they’ve banned their partners from attending. “They always seem to bring home another puppy,” Considine says with a laugh.

The events also raise funds through hot dog and pulled pork sandwich sales and a donation jar at the register. Supporting Suncoast fits naturally with Ace Hardware’s philanthropic culture, which includes backing the Children’s Miracle Network and All Children’s Hospital in Tampa.

“Matt and Chandler have been tremendous supporters of Suncoast Humane Society. They go above and beyond to turn the adoption events at Ace into a celebration of our animals and our mission. We are truly thankful for their continued partnership with us,” shares Director of Development and Communications, Christine Varcoe. Considine and Short estimate that around 150 dogs have found homes through the events. “The adoption fees are very reasonable, and they’ve got a great veterinary staff on site,” says Considine. “And now they’ve got a state-of-the-art facility. So for the folks in Wellen Park—if you can’t make it to Englewood—just remember, every third Saturday, from 11 to 2, you’re more than welcome to stop by, see some puppies running around and enjoy a good lunch.” WPL

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Chandler Short and Matt Considine are bringing pets and people together every third Saturday of the month at their Ace Hardware store in Wellen Park, pictured above Jael (left) and Star (right). West Villages Ace Hardware, 12236 Mercado Dr, Venice, 941-220-7424, acehardware.com; Suncoast Humane Society, 2620 Worth Ave, Englewood, 941-474-7884, humane.org

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NIGHT MOVES

The Wellen Park night market takes place on the second Thursday of each month from 6-9pm in Downtown Wellen Park.