Sarasota’s Sports & Community Highlights
The USTA National Campus in Lake Nona hosted the Florida Special Olympics tennis event, where Team Sarasota dominated, securing nine medals across various categories.
| Athlete | Event | Medal |
|---|---|---|
| Dylan Mayes & Virginia Barakos | Red Ball Skills | Gold |
| Barry Gradert | Red Ball Skills | Silver |
| Elisa Bacacio & Nicole Minero | Red Ball Skills | Bronze |
| Allison Volner | Red Ball 1 | Gold |
| Lucca Bacci | Red Ball 1 | Silver |
| Kristin Mevn | Red Ball 2 | Bronze |
| Chris Cartile | Orange Ball | Silver |
Coaches Ron and Brenda Shields led nine athletes to podium finishes. The team’s success underscores the strength of community coaching and athlete dedication.
Upcoming Clinics
Tennis For Fun will resume clinics in November at Arlington Park, offering free weekly sessions for special‑needs athletes aged 8–70.
Contact: 941‑977‑1806 or visit tennisforfun.org and smartdoubles.com.
Fresh Fridays Finale
The Fresh Fridays series in Sarasota ends with a “Dance Dance” celebration on June 5, 7–10 p.m. at North Palm Avenue.
- DJs, dance instructors, vendors, and games
- Giveaways at the welcome table
Organized by JT Grano, it’s a community gathering for music and movement.
HCA Florida Englewood Hospital Hiring Fair
- Date: June 9
- Location: 700 Medical Boulevard
- Positions: Registered nurses, dietitians, ER nurses (sign‑on bonuses up to $10,000), speech‑language pathologists
- Walk‑ins welcome; pre‑registration recommended for faster processing.
More info: https://bit.ly/4wIld58
North Port Health Care Exposition
- Date: June 6, 9 a.m.–noon
- Location: George Mullen Activity Center
- Free event connecting residents with local health care providers and educational organizations.
Details: https://tinyurl.com/yc5brad7
Suncoast Humane Society Foster Call
The Suncoast Humane Society seeks volunteers to foster neonatal kittens.
- Intensive role: feed every 2–3 hours, including overnight during first weeks.
- One‑on‑one training provided.
Contact: [email protected]
Joyful Journeys Authors Series
- Speaker: Dalia Colón, cookbook author
- Date & Time: June 4 at Senior Friendship Centers
- Registration available online.
