Lesley Dwyer

Greyhawk Landing’s Reagan McDonald wasn’t always a veterinarian. She started her career as a computer programmer. “I didn’t want to sit in a cubicle for the rest of my life writing code,” McDonald said. “This was always something I wanted to do, and life allowed me to take the chance, so I did.” McDonald has been practicing veterinary medicine since 2010 and is now the medical director and managing partner at Partners Animal Hospital Lakewood Ranch.

Every year, each of Manatee County’s approximately 236,000 real estate parcels receives a valuation. Sometimes it goes up. Sometimes it goes down. Most importantly, this appraisal of valuation is the basis of that property owner’s tax bill, which makes it an essential process for the county. So just how does Charles Hackney, Manatee County’s elected property appraiser since 1992, get that work completed each and every year?

In front of Joy Stone’s home in the Lake Club, there’s a pile of Amazon deliveries at the door atop a big yellow bin. Inside the home, there are two more bins and stacks of boxes lined up in the living room. Every bag, box and bin is filled with sneakers. The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle is hosting its fifth annual Sneakin’ Back to School Sneaker Drive. The shoes will be given to The Twig, a nonprofit that allows foster children to go back-to-school shopping for free.