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TJ Wright, a 28-year-old Lakelander, grew up in the YMCA.

Now he’s the Y’s West Central Florida CEO.

The West Central Florida YMCA encompasses three branches including its Family branch on Cleveland Heights Boulevard with a large addition nearing completion, as well as six after-school sites.

On May 20, its board promoted Wright to CEO, a role he took up June 1.

Wright had been the interim CEO since Jan. 29, when previous CEO Natalie Dyal resigned.

The new role, Wright said, feels “amazing.”

Growing up at the Y: Wright grew up in Lakeland’s Webster Park neighborhood. He has spent much of his life at the Y, starting at 9 years old in its Par 3 First Tee program, learning how to golf. 

“I fell in love with the branches,” he said. “We would play golf in the morning and swim in the afternoon.”

At 19, he began working at the YMCA’s Par 3 as a program coordinator. He went on to run the Par 3 program and the YMCA’s Lake Wales location, then became the YMCA of West Central Florida’s vice president of administration, then its chief operating officer.

Along the way he graduated from Southeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s in Nonprofit Leadership. 

“Coming out of the pandemic… a lot of doors opened up because (the Y) had to survive,” he said. “I was very fortunate and willing to wear multiple hats and that’s what propelled me to where I am now.” 

The renovation: He’s taking the reins during a pivotal time for the Y. Its Lakeland Family branch renovation is a $25 million project, which Wright said has been fully funded by donors. 

“We were jam-packed,” he said, “had no space available in youth sports. (We needed) additional space in the field house for more youth sports programming, more summer camp programming.”

Rodda Construction has kept the project on schedule, he said.

The five-phase renovation is slated to be completed by May 2026.

• The field house is expected to be completed by October. It will have a full basketball court, an indoor turf field, an elevated 1/10-mile walking track, a cardio deck, and strength-training equipment on the first floor.
• The child care building is partially completed; the pavilion has been enclosed, allowing for more indoor play. They’ve also added an indoor turf room and a commercial kitchen. Renovations to the classrooms in the child care facility are expected to pick up in the fall and be completed by May 2026. 
• After the field house is completed, the Y plans to renovate its existing building with updated locker rooms and expanded parking.

New programming on the horizon: According to Wright, the Y is hoping to be able to offer more running-related programming once the new indoor track is complete.

He said they will be able to expand youth sports programming and have more availability for summer camp participants. 

He expects the Family YMCA will also be able to add more exercise classes and club sports such as volleyball, soccer and basketball.

Wright said they would like to use the commercial kitchen to partner with Lakeland Regional Health to offer nutrition classes, teaching its members how to lose weight through exercise and better eating habits. 

Wright said he hopes local organizations will rent the new facilities when they’re not being used. 

The other branches: Wright said the Y is also exploring how to make renovations to the  Fontaine Gills Family YMCA and searching for funding opportunities. 

Although the YMCA branch in Lake Wales closed in 2023, Wright said the YMCA will open an Early Learning Center at the McLaughlin Academy of Excellence in Lake Wales in the fall, which will offer voluntary pre-kindergarten and early childhood education.

By ANDREW SIMPSON
Ward Media Staff Reporter

CASHMERE — At the west end of Cottage Avenue stands a landmark business that’s finally made its way back into the hands of the family that established it. Dave Doane purchased the pharmacy with his own name on the wall last year, and came home in August to reclaim the family name from the owner his father sold it to decades ago. It’s been in business the whole time, and the previous owner never even changed the name.

But now Doane’s Valley Pharmacy belongs once again to the Doane family.

Back to his roots

Doane sits down at a table on the south end of the soda fountain inside the store. He was about to make a move for the north end of the counter, but then he noticed a regular there about to order and said to himself, “Oh, they like to go out the back way.” Turning, he says, “Let’s not block their path.”

There’s a Jory Dean sundae — vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and peanuts in layers — for only $6.50 right at your fingertips. But hearing Doane in his element, you know what the real scoop is. A hometown pharmacy stays open as long as this one by knowing which entrance their customers prefer. In the distance, you can hear Doug behind the pharmacy counter say “Hi, Josephine” to a customer when she’s still a good 30 feet away.

This is what it’s like to run a place where you know you’re likely going to see every single one of your customers at least once a month. They don’t just see the ones who come in, either. Dave says within minutes of sitting for an interview that his team delivers medicine to long-term care customers from East Wenatchee to Leavenworth.

Although he’s a familiar face in town, being the son and nephew of the Doane brothers, Ron and Wayne, who bought this place in 1953, he’s actually only been in the store himself since last August. He’d been on the other side of the mountains, where he met his wife so many years ago and worked as a pharmacist in Kirkland. But Cashmere is home, and the family name called out to him.

In fact, Doane touches on that for a minute. Dave had heard about the digitization of the Cashmere Valley Record, but when he’s informed that he can search for things online about himself as he was growing up in Cashmere, he seems excited. “I played a lot of sports,” he tells us, and upon looking him up in the database as the subject of this month’s entry on businesses over 40 years old, the archives confirm his glory days as a center for the Bulldogs. He has the height of a basketball player, and the Record has, well, the record of it.

As he reflects on his return to the valley — going from the history of his family to how much he values his staff now, from the pieced-together records of sales of the business to what seems like the best decision he’s made in years, coming back and buying it himself, Doane finally turns to the present.

The people behind the counter

To keep himself focused, he answers the question of what keeps people coming in to Doane’s for their pharmacy needs, rather than one at a medical center or in a supermarket. Doane is careful not to step on toes. “I’ve been in the big chain stores around the valley, and they’re really good people that are working there,” says Doane. “But, I spent 35 years in Kirkland, and there’s plexiglass,” he says, making a motion like a wall in front of him, “and no access to really talk to people. We’re personable. We work hard and play hard, and we’ve got a lot of really good people here who work with a smile on their face. We take really good care of people.”

Doane has more people on staff here than you might see in most busy pharmacies, and he jokes about paying too many people. But he goes back to the wait times at the chain stores: “I’m not going to be critical of them, because they’re not managed by pharmacists. It’s tough, pharmacy is hard.”

This is where Doane is gentle when talking about his counterparts in other stores, knowing that other pharmacists really care for their customers as well, but aren’t given a hometown setting like his.

“[Chain stores are] businesspeople — they put the pharmacy in the back of the store so you buy stuff on the way in and you buy stuff on the way out to get your prescription filled. They don’t put money in the pharmacy, it’s almost a loss leader. The people that are here, almost every one of them, grew up here, went to Cashmere schools. The pharmacist that’s working in long-term care started out as a fountain girl, became a pharmacy assistant, became a pharmacy technician, went to Washington State [University], became a pharmacist, came back, and here she is.”

And Doane’s assistants, techs, and pharmacists work closely with the folks they feel like they share the medical field with; doctors and nurses advise them and supervise patients coming right here into the pharmacy on Cottage Avenue for monthly injections aside from just plain old vaccinations. That coincidentally happens as Doane is explaining it, with a patient who lives in an adult family home and comes in for a monthly injection — Dave noticed her as she came in.

A fixture in the community

Knowing his regulars could have something to do with his pedigree. Bouncing back to family history, Doane says, “Grandpa raised chickens in one of the valleys above us. [Uncle] Wayne raised his kids in Sunnyslope. My parents, Ron and Carol, raised us all right here. I’m the youngest of four, three sons and a daughter for my folks, and all three boys are pharmacists. My son’s a pharmacist. Maybe someday he’ll be back here.”

The place was out of the family almost as much as it was in. It went from just plain Valley Pharmacy to Doane’s in 1960. Then Wayne left the business in 1970, and Ron sold the business to Ben Ellis in 1991. Ellis had it for 33 years, and when the opportunity to buy it back into the family came up, Dave Doane’s wife reminded him: “You know, it’s always sunny over there.”

When the interview pauses to gather the team for a photo for this interview, Doane says the high school kids keep the soda fountain “afloat,” as it were. “They come here after school, and you know, once in a while if it’s not too busy, the crew will ask me if I want some ice cream. I’ve been known to partake.”

During the time it takes for the photographer to get everyone facing the same direction, Doane has reminisced about the kids sitting up while their folks were in bed and reading the police blotter in the Cashmere Valley Record. “Bike was stolen on Mission Creek, bike was found in the creek a mile away,” he recalls.

The photo taken, Doane sits back down for one more question: What is the most important part of his mission here at the pharmacy?

A legacy defined

“Keeping the store here for this town. Independent pharmacies are really under the gun. And this is a fixture in this community. Ben kept it going strong, and my goal is to keep it strong, and maybe add a little to it, so when I’m ready to retire, someone can pick up where I left off.

“My personal expertise in pharmacy, I don’t think, is the key to this business. I think a lot of people are nostalgic [who] remember my parents. There are a lot of people that I grew up with, who now, I’m taking care of their grandchildren. The ‘Hi, Josephine’ when she comes in, that comes to these people naturally.”

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media

By Heather Schaefer, Editor

The president of Hodag Little League has asked the City of Rhinelander to consider formally honoring the memory of assistant fire chief Dan Bauer by renaming a ballfield in Hodag Park .
In a letter dated May 21, Ben Gauthier asked that the Little League field closest to Messer Street be renamed Dan Bauer Memorial Field.
Bauer, a 19-year employee of the Rhinelander Fire Department and a youth baseball coach, died of a heart attack last fall at the age of 42.
“To my knowledge this field does not currently have a name and in all of our usage have always referred to it as the Minors Field,” Gauthier wrote. “Dan Bauer was a pillar in the youth sports community here in Rhinelander and especially when it came to youth baseball. Dan spent more time curating the fields and young ball players than anyone I can remember in the 30+ years that I have lived here and have been a part of the baseball program.”
Gauthier went on to note that Bauer was a member of the Hodag Little League board of Directors for six years and served as both president and vice president of baseball.

“He coached countless teams including two of our Little League All-Star teams that qualified for the Wisconsin State Tournament,” Gauthier continued. “Dan was instrumental in growing our organization from the around 200 participants we had each year when we started to the almost 400 we have had for the last three seasons. Dan was also heavily involved in the development and execution of having the playing surfaces replaced and irrigation installed on both Little League diamonds at Hodag Park.”
The letter also notes Bauer’s service to the community as a paramedic and firefighter.
“I am hoping that through this letter, either I can receive approval to move ahead with this process or be given direction on how to best proceed,” Gauthier wrote. “The naming of the field would include a plaque being affixed to the fence and sign being made to hang behind home plate notating the name of the field. I would also like to have a small ceremony to complete these items.”
The letter was included in the packet for the council’s May 27 meeting and the panel indicated the topic should be placed on a future agenda for discussion.
The council will also discuss an idea submitted by Jim Barber who has proposed changing the name of the Davenport Street Bridge to Veterans Memorial Bridge “to honor all veterans for their sacrifice, service and dedication to our country.”

In a letter to city officials included in the council packet, Barber suggests placing a sign on each end of the bridge and banners of each branch of service on each light pole on one side of the bridge and banners of the city’s veterans organizations on the other.
Finally, in response to a question, city administrator Patrick Reagan noted that the city is in the process of ordering a sign to be placed in the city-owned plaza across from the State Theater. The council voted last year to rename that plaza in memory of the Rouman family, longtime operators of both the State Theater and Rouman Cinema. A move to rename the plaza began last year after Rouman Amusement Co. president George Rouman was killed in a car accident last June 9.

FLORENCE, Ky. — The Florence Police Department has issued a warning about a “disturbing” trend among children and young adults that has recently come to their attention.

In a press release, the department described behavior similar to the prank known as “ding dong ditch,” but with a more alarming twist: Individuals are reportedly kicking doors and causing property damage, specifically targeting homes in the middle of the night.

Police are urging parents and guardians to ensure they know the whereabouts of their children during evening and nighttime hours.

Police emphasized that this prank can be highly unsettling for residents, potentially leading to dangerous consequences.

“Being awoken at 3 a.m. by someone forcefully kicking a front door could lead a homeowner to believe a break-in is occurring, potentially prompting them to take defensive action,” the release stated.

The Florence Police Department is actively investigating these incidents and is committed to pursuing charges against those responsible to the fullest extent possible.

Anyone with information regarding these events or those who may have video footage of suspicious activity is encouraged to call 911, the Florence Police Department at 859-647-5420, or the non-emergency dispatch at 859-371-1234.

The Harvard Extension Alumni Association honored its 2024 Alumni Award recipients for their extraordinary achievements and service at its annual Alumni Banquet in the historic Annenberg Hall on May 27.

“These remarkable alumni embody the spirit of the HEAA through their impactful leadership, service, and innovation,” noted the HEAA.

Nancy J. Coleman, dean of Continuing Education and University Extension, encouraged attendees to “honor the achievements of those who have come before us and embrace the bright future that awaits us. As a community united by passion and purpose, we can continue to push boundaries, effect change, and make our mark on the world.”

Casey Lartigue Jr., A.L.B. ’89, Ed.M. ’91, received the Michael Shinagel Award for Service to Others, which honors alumni who have devoted over a decade to community-driven service initiatives that spark meaningful and lasting social change. As co-founder of Freedom Speakers International, Lartigue has spent more than 10 years empowering North Korean refugees through English education and public speaking. His work has supported nearly 600 individuals as they reclaim their voices and share their stories with the world. Through his books, speeches, and grassroots advocacy, Lartigue has helped raise global awareness about one of the most marginalized populations in the world.

Cynthia Tam, A.L.B. ’21, A.L.M. ’22, is the recipient of the Emerging Leaders Award. This award honors a recent graduate who has made a meaningful impact in their field and shown exceptional promise as a leader. Tam’s work addresses the deep-rooted issue of financial inequity in Native communities. As the founder of the Native Finance Development Corp., she raised $1.2 million in its first year to launch culturally rooted financial education and services in underserved areas, many of which are banking deserts. Her groundbreaking initiatives include youth programs grounded in Native values, pro bono financial coaching, and a mobile app that blends ancestral wisdom with modern financial tools. Her team’s work received national recognition as a semi-finalist in the 2024 MIT Solve competition.

Javier Jimenez, A.L.M. ’23, and David Lemont, A.L.M. ’19, are both recipients of the Military-Veteran Distinguished Service Award, which honors military service members who continue to give back through public service and leadership.

Jimenez, a U.S. Air Force veteran and rescue specialist, served courageously across multiple regions during his eight years of active duty. He earned numerous prestigious military honors, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, Distinguished Achievement Medal and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.

Beyond the military, he has dedicated himself to tackling food insecurity among veterans, drafting policy, and leading nonprofit initiatives through organizations like the United Soldiers and Sailors of America and DAV.

Lemont, a decorated Army officer, has served with distinction for over 30 years. His career includes two combat tours in Iraq, leadership in state emergency response efforts, and command at multiple levels within the Rhode Island Army National Guard. He currently serves as the director of Plans, Operations, and Training, and remains deeply involved in local community initiatives, including youth sports and homelessness advocacy.