Lakewood Ranch CERT hosts the Celebrate Our First Responders event

By Madison Bierl
| 2:07 p.m. February 7, 2026

Lakehouse Cove's 16-month-old Hunter Colon shows his excitement to be inside a fire truck at the Celebrate Our First Responders event Feb. 7 at the Greenbrook Adventure Park.

East County
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Bradenton 11-year-old Jamari Hooks said he had no idea how to perform CPR when he approached Pat Knowles, a Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team volunteer of 12 years, on Feb. 7 at the Celebrate Our First Responders even at the Greenbrook Adventure Park.

Knowles quickly changed all that, demonstrating on a dummy the procedure, and giving Hooks basic instruction that might someday come in handy.

Hooks said he wants to teach his older brother what he learned and now feels prepared to take action if someone ever needs him.

"I'll be the first person to help," he said.

The event was hosted by the Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team not only to salute first responders, but also to celebrate CERT's 20th anniversary.

Among the first responders who participated were members of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, East Manatee Fire Rescue, and Manatee County Search and Rescue.

Jim Emanuelson, the president of Lakewood Ranch CERT, said despite the organization having 264 members, it is not enough in the case of a hurricane. CERT always is looking for new members.

"There's a lot of people who work very quietly to take good care of us when we have emergencies," Emanuelson said.

Lakehouse Cove's Nicole Colon brought her two children, 16-month old Hunter and 5-year-old Harper to the event.

"We always love to support the first responders," Colon said. "I think they're very under-appreciated."

Justine McNaughton is a probationary firefighter with East Manatee Fire Rescue who was having a great time at the event.

"It's a lot of fun meeting the people in our community and getting to teach some fire safety, especially to the kids so they're not afraid of us when we come," McNaughton said. "It's fun to see passion for the fire service start at a young age."

Charlie Lawfer is a deputy with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office who said such events serve an important purpose.

"It's nice to bridge the gap between police and community," Lawfer said. "You know, a lot of times, people never get to meet us unless something terrible is happening. It's nice to be out here in a positive light."

Those attending were able to check out first responder vehicles and equipment.

"What kid doesn't love robots and cop cars?" said PJ McCartney, a deputy for thre Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Greenbrook's Kevin Scerry and Katrina Scerry, 5-year-old twins, take advantage of the opportunity to sit on the GTO Performance airboat.

Braden Woods' Mason Eibe, 3, and Archer Eibe, 6, take a seat on the Manatee County Search and Rescue boat.

Lakehouse Cove's 16-month-old Hunter Colon looks out the window of the East County Fire Rescue firetruck while 5-year-old Charlotte McCulley sits inside.

Sapphira Weese, Jade Hooks and Jamari Hooks learn how to do CPR from Pat Knowles. Knowles has been a CERT volunteer for 12 years.

Bradenton's Jamari Hooks says performing CPR was both easy and difficult. He says he now feels prepared to help in the case of an emergency.

Greenbrook's Josephina Ferda, 3, points up at the ceiling of the Search and Rescue truck and shouts "Mama look!" She says her favorite part of the truck is the roof.

Lakewood Ranch's Whitney Matijevich and her daughters Monroe, Winona and Cecelia are eager to check out the East Manatee Fire Rescue firetruck with the help of probationary firefighter Justine McNaughton.

Greenbrook's Stephanie Tretolo gives her 5-year-old son Oliver a boost to take a photo in the sheriff's cutout.

PJ McCartney and Charlie Lawfer, deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, pose for a photo with Oliver Tretolo, Audrey Malinosky and Roman Malinosky.

Greenbrooks 16-month-old Lina Osterman checks out the bomb squad robot at the Celebrate Our First Responders event put on by Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team.

Greenbrook's Payton Merritt, 5, gives a big smile while sitting in an East County Fire Rescue firetruck at the Celebrate Our First Responders event on Feb. 7.

Lakewood Ranch CERT's Dave Esslinger, president Jim Emanuelson and John McInally are glad so many were able to attend their event to honor first responders and celebrate CERT's 20th anniversary.

Manatee County Search and Rescue's Kevin Vreeland and Jared Leggett bring Bella Grace, a 3-year-old Weimaraner, and Kaido, an 8-year-old German shepherd, to be part of the fun at the Celebrate Our First Responders event.

author

Madison Bierl

Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.