When Scott Albright created Combat Waffle Studios in 2022, it was done with a purpose: to launch the game development studio’s flagship title, Ghosts of Tabor. “We always knew that Combat Waffle might become something, but our biggest focus was just making it through those first 11 months and hoping to make a paycheck at the end of every month,” says Albright, founder, CEO, creative director and U.S. Army veteran. “We could be a total flop as long as we had enough users buying the game to where we didn’t have to get rid of any original IP and we made the minimum that we needed to live.”

Three years later Albright and Combat Waffle Studios have done more than just scrape by. Ghosts of Tabor, a VR, first-person extraction shooter, was an instant hit after its early access release in March 2023 and has grossed over $30 million in revenue to date. Ghosts of Tabor’s success has coincided with Combat Waffle’s exponential growth. The studio, based in Nokomis, has two other games in early access—Grim and Silent North—and more titles in development. In February, Combat Waffle Studios—named after the military jargon for a landmine—moved locations from a 7,000 square foot space to a 23,349 square foot building to accommodate a rapidly growing staff and increased production demands.

“We have room to hire an extra 100 people, which is great,” says Albright, who currently leads a staff of 50 employees. “It also gives us room to grow our media team—we currently have a team of eight on staff. We do all of our own motion capture, trailer creation and CGI work in house. Now we have space to bring in voice actors for studio recordings, which is something that no other game VR studio does.”

The increased size, however, gives Albright a different perspective on leadership. While his drive has not subsided—the chance to impact players’ lives and create a legacy is what brings him into the office as early as 3am some mornings—the scope of his company is something that he’s still adjusting to. “I like to be involved in everybody’s lives at my company, to know their families and for them to know they can talk to me, because that’s how it was for me in the military. Once you hit 50 people, you can’t do that as much as you’d like to,” admits Albright.

Combat Waffle Studios, 195 W Triple Diamond Blvd, Nokomis, 34275. 

Production still from Ghosts of Tabor. Provided photo.

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The brand-new Pork Roll Pete’s in Bradenton is bringing a taste of New Jersey down to Florida. Owner Pete Ferraro, who moved from New Jersey six years ago, says he was always looking for a deli with the same food and atmosphere of his home state. When he couldn’t find one in the Bradenton area, Ferraro decided it was time to start his own breakfast and bagel shop. “I found some places in Florida that were good, but just didn’t have the hometown feel of an eatery or the same camaraderie of the locals and regulars,” he says.

With his business partners, AJ Altes and Chuck Casagrande, Ferraro established Pork Roll Pete’s, their shop offering breakfast sandwiches—including offerings with the classic New Jersey pork roll—and a broad lunch menu. “Every place in New Jersey that serves any type of breakfast or lunch, you can get a pork roll sandwich. But in Florida, it's very rare. So seeing that and the amount of potential customers that would really enjoy this type of concept, we decided to jump into it,” Ferraro says. The shop’s traditional breakfast offering, “The PRP Special,” featuring a pork roll, egg and cheese on your choice of bagel, brings that classic Jersey breakfast Ferraro had been looking for to Florida.

Ferraro took his time opening the shop, making sure to source only high-quality ingredients and learning how to be the best in the bagel business. All of the bagels are made from scratch, in-house, and Ferraro has even invested in a New York City water maker. “It's a filtration system that creates, on a molecular level, the composition of New York City water,” he says. “We're able to ionize, filter and send water through a brine tank that then matches what makes New York City and New Jersey bagels the best in the country.”

Looking ahead, Ferraro and his business partners plan to continue bringing the Jersey taste and feel down to Florida, for both customers who are long-time fans of the pork roll and those who are intrigued to try it for the very first time. “We want to provide an experience that when customers walk through the door, they feel like they've just flown a couple hundred miles north and are at a deli in New Jersey, and they're able to sit down and enjoy an amazing plate of food. If you're not from New Jersey, we want you to experience it,” he says. 

Pictured: Pork Roll Pete's offers a taste of New Jersey with its homemade bagels and breakfast sandwiches. Photo by Cecilia Marty.

The American Heart Association recognized both Sarasota Memorial hospital campuses this month as role models for delivering lifesaving stroke and heart care. Part of AHA’s 2025 quality review, SMH-Sarasota and SMH-Venice received multiple “Get with the Guidelines” awards recognizing the hospital teams for advanced treatments, safety protocols and evidence-based practices that promote the best outcomes for stroke patients and those suffering cardiac arrest in the hospital. James Fiorica, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, credits the hospitals’ skilled clinicians and their unwavering focus on research-based care for SMH’s superior performance and patient outcomes.“Clinical expertise, best practices and patient preference are at the heart of every decision we make,” Dr. Fiorica said. “Asking critical questions and applying the latest advances in medical science ensures our patients receive the best possible care.” In this year’s study, SMH’s Sarasota and Venice campuses received AHA’s highest honor for stroke care and multiple awards for emergency heart care. 

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As visitors are eyeing the Sunshine State for cooler weather and reduced crowds this Fall, Visit Sarasota County’s newest seasonal tourism marketing campaign aims to position the region as the destination for serenity and sport. From July 1 through September 30, the campaign will appeal to travelers seeking a relaxing escape, with a visual focus on shopping and golf, emphasizing the charm in trading scarves for sandals along the Gulf. Visit Sarasota County will lean into a combination of digital and print ads and social media storytelling, targeting key drive markets – including Atlanta, Greater Tampa Bay, Orlando, Miami, and Naples – as well as further-off major metros like Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Washington, D.C., among others. 

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Manatee Memorial Hospital’s freestanding emergency department, ER at Bayshore Gardens, (located on 14th Street West) has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze recognition for its commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing a specific type of heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks. 

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is saddened to announce the passing of one of its own: G. Duncan Finlay, MD, a prominent physician leader at SMH for decades and former CEO, died Friday at age 85. Dr. Finlay passed away at SMH’s Rehabilitation Pavilion, surrounded by the care of the dedicated staff at the institution he had led with vision, expertise and compassion. “Dr. Finlay was a brilliant star in our health system and community for more than three decades,” Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder said. “He was a wonderful mentor and friend to so many of us. We owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for the major role he played in SMH’s history.” 

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HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. These quality achievements underscore the hospital team’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. Following these guidelines ultimately leads to more lives saved and reduced disability. The hospital is also a Comprehensive Stroke Center, with the capability to rapidly diagnose and treat stroke patients arriving in the emergency department. 

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Join us for the inspiring 10th Annual SRQ Women Who Roar Leadership and Awards Luncheon, celebrating local women leaders who significantly impact our community. Enjoy a dynamic program featuring the introduction of the esteemed 2025 Leadership Circle inductees, engaging PopUp Boutiques, and opportunities to network during our post-event reception. 

Get ready to be inspired at the Annual Giving Coast Luncheon: Philanthropic Agenda & Good Hero Awards, recognizing local changemakers. Join us in bringing the philanthropic community together on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at Michael's On East and help celebrate the nonprofit spirit of our area. Featuring a panel of distinguished philanthropic leaders discussing giving trends, the honorable Good Hero Awards, and the interactive Giving Tree Program, this event will be nothing short of spectacular. Also highlighting the acclaimed SRQ Lifetime Good Hero Achievement Award, the program will uplift attendees and spark meaningful change.