Since owner Aziz Tejpar bought TreeUmph! Adventure Course in early 2025, the park has only continued to grow. The Bradenton destination has long been known for its ziplines and ropes courses, but it has recently expanded its walking trails and introduced a new mini-golf course and a gem-mining experience.

Sitting on over 15 acres of land, Tejpar knew the location had potential for expansion. “It had basically just the whole tree climbing and zip lining experience, but we’re on 15 acres of land, so there is a lot more potential to add to it,” he says, “The idea was, you’ve got the basis of something really good, and now we can put other things together.”

One of the newest additions to the park is a gem mining experience designed as an educational program for children to learn more about different minerals and stones. Guests purchase filled bags and can sift through them at the course’s water station. Tejpar explains, “As they work through their sifting in the water mines, they’ll end up with a bunch of minerals, and they can then see what they’ve found.”

Additionally, TreeUmph! launched an 18-hole mini golf course over Mother’s Day weekend. After three months of construction, the course now allows guests to spend an entire day in the park, instead of just spending a couple of hours tree climbing. As Tejpar says, “People who used to come in and spend three, three-and-a-half hours on the lines can now spend a few more hours playing mini golf or doing the mining.”

Tejpar’s main goal is to expand the possibilities of TreeUmph! and make it more accessible for families. To achieve this, TreeUmph! has been expanding its walking trails to accommodate family members who do not want to climb, allowing guests to enjoy the property’s scenery.

Looking forward, TreeUmph! will continue to expand with the addition of laser tag and evening events. Tejpar hopes TreeUmph! evolves into something larger over the next few years. “We want it to become a venue for more than just hanging in the trees,” he says.

21805 State Road 70 E, Bradenton, 941-322-2130, treeumph.com 

Pictured: New mini-golf course at TreeUmph creates more fun for families. Photo courtesy of TreeUmph 2026

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System reached an important milestone–both its Sarasota and Venice hospitals earned the highest 5-Star quality rating from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In the update to the CMS Care Compare website–a federal tool that helps patients evaluate quality and safety in more than 4,000 hospitals nationwide–Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota earned a 5-Star rating for the 11th consecutive year, while Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice improved from four stars to its first 5-Star rating since opening in 2021. The community-owned health system boasts the only 5-Star hospitals in the four-county Suncoast region, and its flagship SMH-Sarasota campus remains the only hospital in Florida, and among just 17 in the nation, to maintain a perfect 5-Star rating every year since the ratings began in 2016.  

BayCare is opening its seventh state-of-the-art HealthHub location May 18 in Carrollwood, expanding access to comprehensive, coordinated care in one convenient location. The HealthHub’s integrated model brings multiple health care services together to simplify care for patients and families. BayCare HealthHub (Carrollwood) supports preventive care, provides timely treatment for unexpected illnesses and injuries, and offers coordinated follow-up care — all delivered through an enhanced patient experience.
For more information: BayCare HealthHub: baycare.org/locations/healthhub 

Bliss Dermatology + Wellness is pleased to announce the addition of Ashley Gyeszat, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), to their team of expert healthcare professionals. She will play a key role in enhancing patient care and supporting the practice's mission of providing exceptional skin health and wellness services. Gyeszat brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team. A board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida. Prior to joining Bliss, Gyeszat built an extensive and diverse clinical background spanning gynecologic oncology, hormone management, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery recovery, interventional radiology, and critical care nursing. She is a proud member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Menopause Society. Learn more at www.BlissDermatologyGroup.com. Offices are located at 315 Nokomis Ave. S., Venice, FL, and 699 S. Indiana Ave., Englewood. 

The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority (SMAA) has officially renamed Airport  Circle at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) to Rick Piccolo Circle, honoring  Fredrick J. (Rick) Piccolo for his three decades of service as President and Chief Executive  Officer. The updated street signage has been installed, and the new Rick Piccolo Circle designation is now active on mapping services for airport access, wayfinding, and traveler navigation. 

Colleagues from five HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals in Southwest Florida recorded more than 452 volunteer hours in April as part of the annual We Show Up for Our Communities campaign, supporting local organizations and addressing critical community needs. Across HCA Florida Blake Hospital, HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital, HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital and HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, 209 colleagues participated in 14 events, representing an estimated $15,783 in community impact based on the current value. Efforts focused on key drivers of health, including access to food, workforce development, environmental conditions and lifesaving donations. Partner organizations included Suncoast Blood Centers, OneBlood, LifeLink of Florida, Manatee Technical College, Venice High School, Big Brothers Big Sisters, All Faiths Food Bank, Meals on Wheels Plus, Lehigh Community Services, Venice Area Beautification Inc., the Center of Anna Maria Island and the Pace Center for Girls. 

To learn more, visit

As homebuyers continue to prioritize lifestyle, resiliency and community, Babcock Ranch is carrying its national momentum through the spring with a record-setting start to the year. The solar-powered town recorded 470 sales from the start of the year through April, a 43.7% increase over the same period last year. The strong performance was fueled in part by the community’s highest monthly sales total to date, with 138 homes sold in March, the most since Babcock Ranch’s debut in 2017. April results further contributed to the town’s strong start to the year, with 96 homes sold. The spring results continue Babcock Ranch’s upward trajectory following its ranking as the nation’s fourth top-selling master-planned community in 2025 by RCLCO and John Burns Research and Consulting. The community recorded 1,066 home sales last year, a 34% year-over-year increase, even as many top markets experienced modest declines. To learn more visit BabcockRanch.com. 

On Monday, May 11, the 14 newest recruits of the Courts and Corrections Division gathered at Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, Venice, to celebrate with family, friends, and agency members. The graduation ceremony followed their extensive academy curriculum, where the recruits were instructed in physical fitness, firearms, defensive tactics, first aid, legal, officer safety, and correctional supervision. Additionally, they trained in emergency response, communications, and were made familiar with the agency’s facility and equipment. Visit SarasotaSheriff.org for more information.