tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65528309690366224372024-03-09T18:45:44.030-08:00EastwordAbout this blog:http://www.blogger.com/profile/06966335735120190138noreply@blogger.comBlogger601125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-23022274635707921532015-11-06T10:03:00.001-08:002015-11-06T10:05:56.591-08:00One-room school house in Duette hosts fall festival Saturday, Nov. 7<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbK99VwSrPXBGUU1BMr-vG90TykXcB1eogJ6s_9HunVfsqPv9HTKSCTAOeg4X5Hr7kSiZ2XQU_YG-fHpz0qR4iFkJ0tknGf09VpWB_00LYwHVk6DXCL0Htm26hDsjkrjDrad8NP51rGw/s1600/0928_brlo_duette06.jpg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbK99VwSrPXBGUU1BMr-vG90TykXcB1eogJ6s_9HunVfsqPv9HTKSCTAOeg4X5Hr7kSiZ2XQU_YG-fHpz0qR4iFkJ0tknGf09VpWB_00LYwHVk6DXCL0Htm26hDsjkrjDrad8NP51rGw/s400/0928_brlo_duette06.jpg.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donna King at Duette Elementary School. Herald file photo</td></tr>
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DUETTE -- Donna King, the longtime principal of Duette Elementary, is back in the classroom of the one-teacher schoolhouse again this year, and loving it.<br />
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The public has an opportunity to learn why King loves the school and its students so much by attending the 2015 Duette Elementary Fall Festival noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7.<br />
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Planned at the school, which originally opened in 1930 at 40755 State Road 62, are tours, food (hamburgers, hot dogs, fried green tomatoes, nachos, and barbecue sandwiches), crafters, and folk singer JD Lewis.<br />
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There will also be an auction at 2 p.m. with tickets to Disney, Sea World, Dinosaur World, and more up for bid. Other bid items include bikes, restaurant gift certificates, and a fishing trip.<br />
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Duette Elementary is Florida's last one-room school.<br />
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This year, the school has an enrollment of 11, and Keen says she is retiring after this year.<br />
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"I really am retiring but no one believes it," said the 67-year-old cancer survivor.<br />
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For more information call 941-721-6674.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjggxUHcwESj-UtJhd2BMjfF70Suuk8r7Uw_jz_04hVHoUiOm4oLLG10klUIxDiVZFJ-Msk7WFpFmVSx6uLgFostOLvnhmeq7_0Oa31jUbjCwq2wn8E2q2VLRx3XtSKPt_9VS0g_5GvhM/s1600/0928_brlo_duette12.jpg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjggxUHcwESj-UtJhd2BMjfF70Suuk8r7Uw_jz_04hVHoUiOm4oLLG10klUIxDiVZFJ-Msk7WFpFmVSx6uLgFostOLvnhmeq7_0Oa31jUbjCwq2wn8E2q2VLRx3XtSKPt_9VS0g_5GvhM/s400/0928_brlo_duette12.jpg.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duette Elementary School. Herald file photo</td></tr>
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<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-17925316068346460982015-10-16T13:09:00.001-07:002015-10-16T13:09:33.460-07:00Lakewood Ranch Community Fund awarding $76,500 grants to local nonprofits<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KW2DH2iHcejFg1mf8eIjlZin3zCynVoklWHnCpSY_mUhU5CIGR06Fcrt8LXsyw-6jG8jkXnShZCGRxWC-5H2N-vOPx1vmtk8oezwyoCW_oEHX2foxcl-wtHkSHFx6nyTZRsFdEKQBSI/s1600/1112_brlo__food.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KW2DH2iHcejFg1mf8eIjlZin3zCynVoklWHnCpSY_mUhU5CIGR06Fcrt8LXsyw-6jG8jkXnShZCGRxWC-5H2N-vOPx1vmtk8oezwyoCW_oEHX2foxcl-wtHkSHFx6nyTZRsFdEKQBSI/s400/1112_brlo__food.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meals on Wheels Plus is one of the nonprofits that will benefit from the latest round of grant awards from the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund. Shown above is Lakewood Ranch volunteer Don O'Leary. Herald photo</td></tr>
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LAKEWOOD RANCH -- The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund has selected 26 charitable or nonprofit organizations to share $76,500 in grants to be awarded from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday at Northern Trust Community Room, 6320 Venture Drive, Lakewood Ranch.<br /><br />The John Clarke Humanitarian Award, normally awarded during the grant presentations, will instead be announced during a gala in March.<br /><br />Grants range from $6,500 to the Stillpoint House of Prayer to help feed the needy to $500 to McNeal Elementary School for a fourth-grade claymation project.<br /><br />The complete list:<br /><br /><b>Beyond the Spectrum</b> - $3,500 to purchase technology items (tablets and walkie-talkies) to be used for education and communication purposes.<br /><br /><b>Childrens Guardian Fund</b> - $2,500 to provide enrichment services for children in foster and State care.<br /><br /><b>Coexistence/Embracing Our Differences</b> - $2,000 to provide school bus transportation to the Embracing our Differences exhibits.<br /><br /><b>Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities</b> - $2,500 to Selby Preschool support for therapy, training and counseling.<br /><br /><b>Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing</b> - $3,500 for communications program at Beyond The Spectrum for Lakewood Ranch children.<br /><br /><b>Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County</b> - $4,000 to to purchase "Raising a Reader" book-kits consisting of books, book bags, library bags, and parent DVD.<br /><br /><b>Easter Seals Southwest Florida </b>- $5,000 for Project Rainbow program support providing respite care services.<br /><br /><b>Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies</b> - $2,000 to purchase food for the backpack program.<br /><br /><b>Family Network on Disabilities of Manatee/Sarasota</b> - $3,500 to provide in-home respite care services.<br /><br /><b>Family Resources</b> - $1,800 for shelter enhancements (new blinds) and therapeutic rewards for youth.<br /><br /><b>Feeding Empty Little Tummies</b> - $2,000 to sponsor children with weekend meals for the 2015/2016 school year.<br /><br /><b>Foundation for Dreams</b> - $5,000 to provide scholarships for children to attend Dream Oaks Summer, Spring Break and/or weekend camp programs.<br /><br /><b>Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida</b> - $2,500 to support the "STEM Saturday" program in Lakewood Ranch.<br /><br /><b>Benjamin David Gullett Elementary School</b> - $3,000 to support the "Power Hour" after school tutoring program.<br /><br /><b>Junior Achievement Sarasota/Manatee Chapter</b> - $3,100 for Braden River Elementary School field trip to JA "BizTown".<br /><br /><b>Lakewood Ranch High School</b> - $1,200 to purchase (4) Activeon DX Action Camcorders to be used in the Filmmaking/Media Literacy class.<br /><br /><b>Making Connections Counseling</b> - $2,000 to support Mental Health Counseling (individual, family, couples, and group counseling).<br /><br /><b>Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School</b> - $500 to purchase materials needed to do a Claymation (Clay Animation) project in 4th grade.<br /><br /><b>Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee</b> - $2,500 to purchase equipment for a media center at Daybreak Adult Day Center.<br /><br /><b>Miracle League of Manasota</b> - $2,900 to purchase one adult changing table and two child changing tables for field restrooms.<br /><br /><b>Myakka City Foundation</b> - $3,000 to purchase food for the food pantry.<br /><br /><b>Nature's Academy </b>- $1,500 to support fifth grade students and teachers to participate in the Science Literacy Project.<br /><br /><b>Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART)</b> - $3,000 to provide partial and full scholarships of 120 therapeutic riding sessions to children with special needs.<br /><br /><b>Stillpoint House of Prayer </b>- $6,500 to support the Benevolent Fund (for purchase of food for the needy). Includes $1,500 grant from John & Lydia Kolbas Fund.<br /><br /><b>Visible Men Academy </b>- $2,500 to support Literacy on the Lawn and Literacy Labs programs.<br /><br /><b>Manatee County Family YMCA</b> - $5,000 to assist the Y DASH Program for students attending Haile, Nolan and Braden River middle schools.James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-64274923962958284112015-06-25T12:43:00.000-07:002015-06-25T12:43:34.352-07:00What about P.J.'s? Teresa Giles says her Parrish sandwich shop can't grow without county service<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ70ePQb4mTGhMJu1oNDvTQAlHTLibRe5hRfsD4T68YhbBgyYEFC0wL3Z23hWkXcm2shSmjyXfUByjVK9T4jJUUjCgh8rWu42DKG0BVi99wfHf07HtU4MlSd99ogjM4iFoeQoUSMkbQg/s1600/eastwordblog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ70ePQb4mTGhMJu1oNDvTQAlHTLibRe5hRfsD4T68YhbBgyYEFC0wL3Z23hWkXcm2shSmjyXfUByjVK9T4jJUUjCgh8rWu42DKG0BVi99wfHf07HtU4MlSd99ogjM4iFoeQoUSMkbQg/s400/eastwordblog.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teresa Giles of P.J.'s Sandwich Shop.<br />Herald photo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>n a recent Bradenton Herald story, Sia Mollanazar, Manatee County's deputy director of public works, talked about the timetable for bringing sewer to the village of Parrish.<br />
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The southern half of Parrish already has sewer, everything south of County Road 675.<br />
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And the northern half will be getting it too, all the way to Erie Road. Parrish has been around for well over a century, and most residents probably don't mind waiting another year or so to have the modern convenience that we take for granted.<br />
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It'll happen as soon as developers start those big new developments around Parrish.<br />
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But just a minute, said Teresa Giles, owner of P.J.'s sandwich shop, which has been serving its tasty sandwiches for more than 30 years.<br />
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"What about us?" said Giles. Her sandwich shop is located north of Erie Road.<br />
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"I would love to be able to increase my seating, but I can't expand without sewer," Giles said.<br />
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At lunch time, P. J.'s has a crush of business, with customers literally lining up out the door to order a sandwich.<br />
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"We're at a standstill. I feel like we are always behind the eight ball," Giles said.<br />
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Mollanazar has an answer for Giles.<br />
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Sewer will become available to P.J.'s, located at the corner of State Road 62 and U.S. 301 North, when Cone Ranch, is built, Mollanazar said.<br />
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Cone Ranch, which is located several miles east of P. J.'s on S.R. 62, will need to run a sewer line to Parrish before it can start moving residents into the new homes planned there.<br />
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The Herald previously reported that 1,100 homes are planned for Cone Ranch.<br />
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Also planned near Cone Ranch are 584 homes by Neal Land Ventures on the Dakin Homestead.<br />
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The force main from Cone Ranch will be installed right next to P.J.'s, Mollanazar said.<br />
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The developer of Cone Ranch will install the sewer line, but the county will also participate in the project, Mollanazar sid.<br />
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"The idea is for growth to pay for itself," he said.<br />
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For more on P.J.'s and Parrish sewer improvements, check these links:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bradenton.com/2015/02/05/5620366_pjs-sandwich-shop-marks-30-years.html?rh=1">http://www.bradenton.com/2015/02/05/5620366_pjs-sandwich-shop-marks-30-years.html?rh=1</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.bradenton.com/2015/06/22/5861728/extension-of-sewer-to-heart-of.html">http://www.bradenton.com/2015/06/22/5861728/extension-of-sewer-to-heart-of.html</a><br />
<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-87948999256474098652015-06-17T07:29:00.000-07:002015-06-17T07:29:23.266-07:00Parrish's Amber Putnam becomes first woman to command Florida Veterans of Foreign Wars<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBJsAo-uL2Pe6gtDRgjEVQeG9OGxCLqILlJjTQ1bce5HTpcr_O2fjEig-UTmAtjCcue5mrxR-qhtU9l1rCDkgNkRLpLxoWPnqJpFJ9HgEohQpn6G_l3TfSbp4Fn5Vq8axP97_B3GE5lY/s1600/Amber%2527s+Installation+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBJsAo-uL2Pe6gtDRgjEVQeG9OGxCLqILlJjTQ1bce5HTpcr_O2fjEig-UTmAtjCcue5mrxR-qhtU9l1rCDkgNkRLpLxoWPnqJpFJ9HgEohQpn6G_l3TfSbp4Fn5Vq8axP97_B3GE5lY/s400/Amber%2527s+Installation+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amber Putnam at VFW State Convention in Orlando.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>t's a record year for women commanders at state headquarters of Veterans of Foreign Wars around the United States.<br />
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This year, seven women took the helm at state VFWs, the most ever.<br />
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Never had a woman commanded the Florida VFW, however, until Amber Putnam of Parrish was installed on Sunday, June 14, at the state convention in Orlando.<br />
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Putnam, an Air Force veteran, was installed as the 85th commander of the combat veterans non-profit organization with more than 70,000 members.<br />
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For the next year she will lead the members who work in their communities to foster patriotism, assist veterans and their families and act as strong advocates for legislation affecting veterans’ benefits.<br />
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Putnam served in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve from 1978 to 2013 in worldwide assignments to include support of Operation Noble Eagle in Kuwait.<br />
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Her goals for the Florida veterans group are to support and attract younger veterans as well as women and minorities and re-invigorate the organization’s mission of fostering patriotism and service in the community.<br />
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For those interested in more information about the VFW mission and membership, visit www.myfloridavfw.org or call 352-622-5126.<br />
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For more information:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bradenton.com/2015/06/15/5850540_parrish-resident-amber-putnam.html?rh=1">http://www.bradenton.com/2015/06/15/5850540_parrish-resident-amber-putnam.html?rh=1</a><br />
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James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-14870453305190559852015-03-27T14:26:00.000-07:002015-03-29T10:38:42.646-07:00Palm-Aire Country Club womens golf tournament has a classic fairy tale edge, really!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, second place winners.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>R</b></span>uth Bley of Palm-Aire Country Club told us about her community's annual Spring Fling Golf Tournament on March 17 and March 19.<br />
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The Spring Fling is Palm-Aire's biggest ladies event of the year. This year the theme was Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes, chaired by Barbara Saabye.<br />
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A committee of 12 transformed the clubhouse into a fairy tale and wonderland. The field included 116 players, all of whom, paraded around in creative costumes.<br />
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<b>Winners:</b><br />
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The Brothers Grimm flight -- Pam Webster, Judy Bickford, Donna Neale, and Jimmy Hayes.<br />
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The Mother Goose flight -- Linda Miller, Debbie Stehle, Patty Stehle and Sally Read.<br />
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Aesop's Fables flight --Sherri Patchen, Tracy Graham, Lola White, and Pauline Bennett.<br />
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Hans Christian Andersen flight -- Verna Reber, Anne Pistilli, Linda Kitz, and Sandy Plette.<br />
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Raffle proceeds were donated to The Campaign for Grade Level Reading which is an innovative national reading program committed to help children become better readers.<br />
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The two-day event included a costume parade, lunch followed by golf on Tuesday, then golf on Thursday morning with a grand finale of dinner and prize awards, and a bedtime fairy tale, scripted and read by Anne Millard on Thursday evening.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinocchios<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackbirds, first place in the costume contest.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Riding Hoods.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHv1IDATy5FEwhoIrizTxTkpqXqYfg18PR6UyktOcy9w_flS_5bDfSUFY1ZeT__oon_PFPv472lMBGxrBfgiTHAgL4hBTNGZsLMkUemxf0oK1hHMtZL49c7TkLCyuF6FAT808EQ5lWBY/s1600/shoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHv1IDATy5FEwhoIrizTxTkpqXqYfg18PR6UyktOcy9w_flS_5bDfSUFY1ZeT__oon_PFPv472lMBGxrBfgiTHAgL4hBTNGZsLMkUemxf0oK1hHMtZL49c7TkLCyuF6FAT808EQ5lWBY/s1600/shoe.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First prize cart winner. Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.<br />
PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-39773824320479270182015-03-13T09:57:00.000-07:002015-03-13T09:57:49.487-07:00Lakewood Ranch woman chosen for Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellows program<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2JVNyhw7vmbs9THOUsw9blg43k3LP9pn9FEnYSXjOiXR7FjAcDaf3tbbZNoS1pfNLH5fmN9hVem9c6xU8MFOTOpe3ZmSJuY942bgFYMYnbCFAxdbefD0GoKLv_QsGaoHf2DlUn0pRcg/s1600/1bH8ol.AuSt.69.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2JVNyhw7vmbs9THOUsw9blg43k3LP9pn9FEnYSXjOiXR7FjAcDaf3tbbZNoS1pfNLH5fmN9hVem9c6xU8MFOTOpe3ZmSJuY942bgFYMYnbCFAxdbefD0GoKLv_QsGaoHf2DlUn0pRcg/s1600/1bH8ol.AuSt.69.jpeg" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patti and Kenneth Katter.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>P</b></span>atti Katter of Lakewood Ranch has been chosen for the 2015 class of military and veteran caregivers chosen for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellows program.<br />
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The fellowship is a national program of military and veteran caregivers who have stepped forward to serve as advocates and spokespeople for the 5.5 million parents, spouses, children and other loved ones caring for America’s wounded, ill and injured warriors.<br />
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“Our Fellows are the heart and soul of our Foundation’s work,” said Dole in a press release Friday. “The wisdom of their personal experience is invaluable, and it helps guide the focus of our National Coalition. I am personally grateful that these hidden heroes would add to the selfless service they already provide as caregivers by volunteering to represent the millions of their peers in need of better support from our nation.”<br />
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For more about the fellowship, visit <a href="http://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org./">www.elizabethdolefoundation.org.</a><br />
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For more about Patti Katter and her family's service, visit <a href="http://www.bradenton.com/2014/12/24/5549296/lakewood-ranch-veteran-family.html">http://www.bradenton.com/2014/12/24/5549296/lakewood-ranch-veteran-family.html</a><br />
James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-14321364845186502482015-03-13T09:32:00.001-07:002015-03-13T09:32:48.292-07:00Art Association of Palm-Aire members visit studios of Clyde Butcher and Bill Farnsworth<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY64kam2qPRAHECX0E2v_LhJO1anY6-mreMrqX6sO_9dkwl1hS3xE-3JlkiF-wOhoANfJAJMybWWgYYb1jTKvGVZ9Sx6Fqmio7_yK1HJyU9ZfjND6MMJtTsNg55Rmjk7zGi_GlOtgXE-I/s1600/Big+Cypress+National+Preserve+1+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY64kam2qPRAHECX0E2v_LhJO1anY6-mreMrqX6sO_9dkwl1hS3xE-3JlkiF-wOhoANfJAJMybWWgYYb1jTKvGVZ9Sx6Fqmio7_yK1HJyU9ZfjND6MMJtTsNg55Rmjk7zGi_GlOtgXE-I/s1600/Big+Cypress+National+Preserve+1+.png" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Cypress National Preserve by Clyde Butcher.<br />USED BY PERMISSION</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>M</b></span>embers of the Art Association of Palm-Aire annually plan and take a bus trip as a fundraiser for a scholarship awarded to a local student of the Ringling College of Art and Design.<br />
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This year, 72 members visited the studios of famed Florida photographer Clyde Butcher and painter Bill Farnsworth in Venice, reports Charleen Gorbet.<br />
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Butcher is known for his large-scale black-and-white images of natural Florida and is particularly passionate about saving the Everglades.<br />
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A collection of Butcher's photos were shown at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton in 2012.<br />
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"We had a wonderful time seeing the artist in his Venice studio," Palm-Aire's Barb Gold said. "He showed us his amazing cameras, and gave an explanation of the manual film processing techniques used to produce the immense black-and-white pictures seen throughout his studio. They show incredible highlights, subtle background and design in each hand-made print.”<br />
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Sharpness is the key to Butcher's nature portraits.<br />
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"That makes the viewer relate to my images in a way that is similar to the peace felt when being out in nature. I want my images to create a positive emotion in people, with the hope that they carry that emotion out into their lives to make the world a better place in which to live," Butcher said.<br />
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The Palm-Aire artists also got to meet painter Bill Farnsworth, and one of the artists, Barb Saabye, won a drawing for one of his prints.<br />
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Farnsworth is a nationally known illustrator, portraitist and landscape painter,<br />
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"My goal with my work is to paint what I love and convey that honestly so the viewer can feel that as well," he said.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF8dMXwiVwS9-12V-KyxLTet_J4ze21NG4choDEyX7Hh0TkHggPab2Mo9VSGnZg2-HEpKPljr6nT3cLWtDa8QPqkczU5rke-RTf3Tb6nNmTPSu9FG8n84YcomykQqBv59GbgTCk0pW8c/s1600/Barb+Saabye+and+Bill+Farnsworth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF8dMXwiVwS9-12V-KyxLTet_J4ze21NG4choDEyX7Hh0TkHggPab2Mo9VSGnZg2-HEpKPljr6nT3cLWtDa8QPqkczU5rke-RTf3Tb6nNmTPSu9FG8n84YcomykQqBv59GbgTCk0pW8c/s1600/Barb+Saabye+and+Bill+Farnsworth.jpg" height="340" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barb Saabye and Bill Farnsworth.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO<br /></td></tr>
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<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-24472204941315971012015-03-04T12:04:00.001-08:002015-03-04T12:04:45.955-08:00Braden River Veterans of Foreign Wars Post celebrates World War II and Korean veterans<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlM894iKbEATjxuW43S8l5IVJQwyUMewIMiT7-4AXI3LdWNIQ7dw7Cn9X8hIfOEZkiePu3_hXhGw2zk9nbVx_MD8V95tgEjfRQj8F4-CXTuMYlSCidfsZmRLbjtXRhQItx4Z8j6jP2ayM/s1600/photo+5+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlM894iKbEATjxuW43S8l5IVJQwyUMewIMiT7-4AXI3LdWNIQ7dw7Cn9X8hIfOEZkiePu3_hXhGw2zk9nbVx_MD8V95tgEjfRQj8F4-CXTuMYlSCidfsZmRLbjtXRhQItx4Z8j6jP2ayM/s1600/photo+5+(1).JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braden River VFW recently saluted the service of its oldest wartime vets.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>wice a year Braden River VFW Post 12055 celebrates the service of World War II and Korean War veterans by taking them to lunch at a local restaurant.<br />
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On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Post Commander Dave Daily and member Gil Ruderman, hosted five World War II and Korean War veterans at Marina Jacks on the waterfront in Sarasota.<br />
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"All of these veterans are getting along in years and we need to celebrate them and their service while we can. I look forward to these bi-annual lunches as do all the veterans. The VFW Post 12055 is honored to have these veterans as members,” Dailey said.<br />
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Veterans of Foreign Wars, Braden River Post 12055 meets at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month at the American Red Cross building in Lakewood Ranch, 10311 Malachite Drive.<br />
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Information: George Johnston at 941-753-0035.James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-66858759597406803382015-02-24T15:44:00.001-08:002015-02-27T08:07:49.465-08:00Claire Strickland takes top individual honors in the 54rd Annual Manatee Land Judging Competition<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTJu4P6gs4ry706Hh7-X0W-3f-ems9ZrB_0zKLxH1EVVYF6XL4g5FDI9AGiOiKkbHDntyhx0GzM7ENsEeE8a-aHJSbwFyv1Aixi8tcnNAe3-z3haDELe8a8Nt2wbTmjKBJzr595XMDW0/s1600/Claire+Strickland+High+Scoring+Individual+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTJu4P6gs4ry706Hh7-X0W-3f-ems9ZrB_0zKLxH1EVVYF6XL4g5FDI9AGiOiKkbHDntyhx0GzM7ENsEeE8a-aHJSbwFyv1Aixi8tcnNAe3-z3haDELe8a8Nt2wbTmjKBJzr595XMDW0/s1600/Claire+Strickland+High+Scoring+Individual+(800x600).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claire Strickland with award presenter Dan West.<br />
PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<b style="font-size: xx-large;">T</b>aking top honors in the 54th annual land judging competition sponsored by the Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District was senior 4-H student Claire Strickland. She won the I.H. Stewart Award with the highest individual overall score, reports Gail Cameron Somodi, soil conservation supervisor for Manatee County Government. The top award was sponsored by ECo Consultants.<br />
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The 4-H senior team composed of Claire Strickland, Jesse West, Samuel West, and Benjamin Hoffner won the Callon Keen, Sr. Award for the team with the highest score overall. The team also won the senior 4-H division. In second place, was the team composed of Hannah Whitaker, Casey Wingate, Westin Maye, and Joshua Groover.<br />
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The intermediate 4-H team including Shelby Bryan, Janna Groover, Jo Hoffner, and Jay West, placed first in the 4-H intermediate division. <br />
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Placing first in the FFA high school division was a team from Southeast High School, advised by Mike Buckley, with students Kenan Alemhoca, Isabel Cushing, Colt Travis, and Jasmine Villegas.<br />
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Placing second was the FFA high school team from Southeast High School, advised by Mike Buckley, with students Luis Solorzano, Jaimie Davis, Samantha Lockhart and McKayla<br />
Moreno.<br />
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The FFA high school team from Braden River High School placed third, advised by Deb Barry with students Meagan Gigliotti, Christine King, and Emily Courson.<br />
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Buffalo Creek Middle School swept the middle school FFA division. Placing first at the middle school level was the team of John Greer, Caissy Chase, Savannah Cannon, and Camrie Henderson. The second place team, included students Zach Stolze, Faith Gilray, Jade Parrish, and Hannah Hattaway. In third place, were Mara Behringer, Chloe Flourney, Alexis Orloski, and Sorryl Cannon. Steve Harber, advised all Buffalo Creek FFA students.<br />
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Medals were awarded to the high scoring individual at each of four fields. This year, Claire Strickland was recognized for the highest score (perfect) at two of the four fields in the senior division. Luis Solorzano and Jasmine Villegas, from Southeast also scored highest at the 3rd and 4th fields, respectively. Villegas had a perfect score at the 4th field. Junior division winners, both from Buffalo Creek Middle School, were Fields 1, 2, and 3: John Greer and Field 4: Camrie Henderson.<br />
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FFA teams from Haile and Nolan Middle Schools and Palmetto High School also competed. Participating as guests were Charlotte, Pinellas and Orange FFA students. In all, 83 students competed, resulting in one of the largest turnouts in recent years.<br />
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The winning FFA teams from Southeast High School, Buffalo Creek Middle School, and the intermediate and senior 4-H teams are eligible to compete in the state land judging competition to be held in late March hosted by the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District.<br />
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The competition was held at Ed Chance Reserve-Gilley Creek Tract, a Southwest Florida Water Management District property, on one of the coldest days of the year. Students answered test questions concerning soil properties at four fields in such categories as slope, depth, texture, permeability, erosion and nutrients. One of the fields represented a potential homesite location, and students were questioned on how well the land could serve as a building site. <br />
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For more information visit <a href="http://landjudging.org/">http://landjudging.org/</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGld3NybLOTeyoIIVCdYW0Nl6nC6fkdaetMnHcfab-FsFI7IGBw7nRaiFHvyEXmV0olY2LpeKlqVELFFlWb01_IF8GgyTKEPkM3qNaHuL-49r5xf7O-LzLGpG_XtJ2SpS3RAGKV-dj4Q/s1600/1st+place+4-H+Intermediate+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGld3NybLOTeyoIIVCdYW0Nl6nC6fkdaetMnHcfab-FsFI7IGBw7nRaiFHvyEXmV0olY2LpeKlqVELFFlWb01_IF8GgyTKEPkM3qNaHuL-49r5xf7O-LzLGpG_XtJ2SpS3RAGKV-dj4Q/s1600/1st+place+4-H+Intermediate+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4-H intermediate team: Shelby Bryan, Janna Groover, Jo Hoffner and Jay West.<br />
PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRtX_YYuw042GCdI8aYeNgr_MmPwZ61ySX-2hyphenhyphenZMjuIq8MPGamP0GhY1z-W9WPBLuUn7oLBMs_q19MuYnDD7kue6q_kfCv_HRFN6MdF5ztWf5el4Ts0k1TSdsfJkiXTmvyRWGw4sA7F8/s1600/Callon+Keen+Award+High+Scoring+Team+4-H+Seniors+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRtX_YYuw042GCdI8aYeNgr_MmPwZ61ySX-2hyphenhyphenZMjuIq8MPGamP0GhY1z-W9WPBLuUn7oLBMs_q19MuYnDD7kue6q_kfCv_HRFN6MdF5ztWf5el4Ts0k1TSdsfJkiXTmvyRWGw4sA7F8/s1600/Callon+Keen+Award+High+Scoring+Team+4-H+Seniors+(800x600).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4-H Senior Team.<br />
PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRpbaS3RL7yAVpfPSRqJIqTu05zXJoTrCoC6aWRHhJPqYPm5fIQ0drdD6VDIDLfrAEhWWNMGnh1i3ZVaEbpo79mpUX7_bdf0OzkyxyGYYDfX5XggCW-1uKNhpc0f9z5bQao8CZ69Jjvc/s1600/FFA+High+School+1st+place+SEHS+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRpbaS3RL7yAVpfPSRqJIqTu05zXJoTrCoC6aWRHhJPqYPm5fIQ0drdD6VDIDLfrAEhWWNMGnh1i3ZVaEbpo79mpUX7_bdf0OzkyxyGYYDfX5XggCW-1uKNhpc0f9z5bQao8CZ69Jjvc/s1600/FFA+High+School+1st+place+SEHS+(800x600).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FFA team from Southeast High School.<br />
PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaiBvtiKx5wnQ0gaXYyIvf_hecfoIuChjd6qPzY3krj_gpPTJm9G2Ree_dY_dmiXi2nRjkw8ezYWNpc8iiSfft04WRkbF6vrK5XgFsc3BMZ8PiSFkSlVK00Q3RvF41MekoiAcBdoCO4E/s1600/Group+at+a+Field+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaiBvtiKx5wnQ0gaXYyIvf_hecfoIuChjd6qPzY3krj_gpPTJm9G2Ree_dY_dmiXi2nRjkw8ezYWNpc8iiSfft04WRkbF6vrK5XgFsc3BMZ8PiSFkSlVK00Q3RvF41MekoiAcBdoCO4E/s1600/Group+at+a+Field+(800x600).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students examining one of the fields in the land judging competition.<br />
PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsr-qC6ooGJRPs33IBACaA2hTozxUwlUjkqmzdVjZ1lcOhvGBjiMGyX3pv3xADnmQF4Cpw0od8u9qXcplmD8L74AnARIc898ifzLP7Z5UEmJPACQKqSxIPjqaJyTIrScoqSUwJ0ODPYw/s1600/Juan+Vega+discusses+results+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsr-qC6ooGJRPs33IBACaA2hTozxUwlUjkqmzdVjZ1lcOhvGBjiMGyX3pv3xADnmQF4Cpw0od8u9qXcplmD8L74AnARIc898ifzLP7Z5UEmJPACQKqSxIPjqaJyTIrScoqSUwJ0ODPYw/s1600/Juan+Vega+discusses+results+(800x600).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chief Judge Juan Vega explains the results of the competition to the students.<br />
PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo4BiCluc5EloIqpls9Mtp07Nnqw2DquqT86li8KOryq4K-bZ4NAMIkxIe_OJByNYikIxNE_45B7aZwfO5jHQh1LuDqDUzHqFBrAtfTZ-kiPZE5jmqthuxz7VJ9HH6A9DzMJLUu8VtVo/s1600/Middle+School+FFA+1st+Place++Buffalo+Creek+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo4BiCluc5EloIqpls9Mtp07Nnqw2DquqT86li8KOryq4K-bZ4NAMIkxIe_OJByNYikIxNE_45B7aZwfO5jHQh1LuDqDUzHqFBrAtfTZ-kiPZE5jmqthuxz7VJ9HH6A9DzMJLUu8VtVo/s1600/Middle+School+FFA+1st+Place++Buffalo+Creek+(800x600).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FFA team from Buffalo Creek Middle School team.<br />
PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-43136906286210617632015-02-17T13:33:00.002-08:002015-02-17T13:33:46.285-08:00East Manatee's Rosedale community steps up to support Homes for Our Troops<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGGfVv8LrWlSWikMt-Amqsxz6CoxLYXsqVulqbD9wAYmANzhFeiEn_WZhMh-IpBiufpPKGM-qNF5AFwjXA_TUyQTvmqxC9wwpQlhtgm3duUyZS0ZWgYkLfWfOP4fPu7iRGK7A_Aew2O0/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGGfVv8LrWlSWikMt-Amqsxz6CoxLYXsqVulqbD9wAYmANzhFeiEn_WZhMh-IpBiufpPKGM-qNF5AFwjXA_TUyQTvmqxC9wwpQlhtgm3duUyZS0ZWgYkLfWfOP4fPu7iRGK7A_Aew2O0/s1600/1.jpg" height="387" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Lt. Col. Steven Skelton, who provided the initial information to the Rosedale </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> community about Homes for Our Troops, is shown with his father, John Skelton.</span><br style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">PROVIDED PHOTO</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>R</b></span>osedale residents have decided that they need to do more than just say "thank you for your service" to grievously wounded members of the military who sacrificed so much in Iraq and Afghanistan.<br />
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Recently, Rosedale held a golf tournament that raised $18,275 to help build a specially adapted, mortgage free home for Marine Sgt. Anthony McDaniel in Navarre, Fla., reports Kathi Skelton.<br />
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"We started the first year, 2013, with about a three-week window and just put an informational display and donation box in the pro shop. After sending out an email to Rosedale residents, we raised $4,500," she said.<br />
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The second year, 2014, Rosedale added the golf tournament as well as information and donation box in the pro shop, and raised $11,500.<br />
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"This year we tried to promote the golf tournament outside of the Rosedale community as well as within and raised the $18,275," Skelton said.<br />
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"The Rosedale community is very supportive since they are now very familiar with Homes For Our Troops. We are already looking to next year. The event will be the last Saturday in January and we have identified a new recipient. Our plan is to continue what we have done in the past but try to increase our fundraising goal by trying to solicit larger corporate sponsors," she said.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzc-s280FIAlX8K32l2jcOP0P_iHttKeuszJUUdl0sRf9s52UhKZoEbaEnaePk_poe-u0DaTN7DYYnqtTjqLSqlg0sVb2ZWRYD-5cDEZE7MLIS2ehexpw5dlSKwkpkuk3yU-5obgZh10k/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzc-s280FIAlX8K32l2jcOP0P_iHttKeuszJUUdl0sRf9s52UhKZoEbaEnaePk_poe-u0DaTN7DYYnqtTjqLSqlg0sVb2ZWRYD-5cDEZE7MLIS2ehexpw5dlSKwkpkuk3yU-5obgZh10k/s1600/2.jpg" height="345" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Heart recipient Larry Gill addressed players after the Rosedale tourney.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhx4YjwQmIvF3GXEmFfzXCPlUcnAmgL0lrGxBSZL4jZWGDkKnZQqpjDqleLC-SJl1S0NMBTNVBHoQgJobkjwgf393f5cNT95s76AHifWInKIphn-GvJu9izND2cWRkG8DzwP5Bvut_94/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhx4YjwQmIvF3GXEmFfzXCPlUcnAmgL0lrGxBSZL4jZWGDkKnZQqpjDqleLC-SJl1S0NMBTNVBHoQgJobkjwgf393f5cNT95s76AHifWInKIphn-GvJu9izND2cWRkG8DzwP5Bvut_94/s1600/3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Design on Rosedale's first tee.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</span></td></tr>
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<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-90388789518080547332015-02-16T07:39:00.001-08:002015-02-16T07:39:31.802-08:00Photos from Cracker Trail Ride bring us about as close to the event as possible without being there<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0vFZxIjN06bHkCTQx7Umvg1NRcRpbTx0xdoXFtmeJzBxAK9wJKwbC46ou9MFvcZdx0D3n88pCG33G4_Uh54FezH9B6GLfax5yfY7QB4kbci4GKLwTSDvUi3JBzL-rTqC90JnH10Lr-U/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966660922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0vFZxIjN06bHkCTQx7Umvg1NRcRpbTx0xdoXFtmeJzBxAK9wJKwbC46ou9MFvcZdx0D3n88pCG33G4_Uh54FezH9B6GLfax5yfY7QB4kbci4GKLwTSDvUi3JBzL-rTqC90JnH10Lr-U/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966660922.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cracker Trail riders forge a small stream, and horses pause to take a sip.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>orses and riders streamed out of Kibler Ranch, located about 15 miles east of Bradenton on Saturday, headed to Fort Pierce.<br />
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They won't arrive on Florida's east coast until Friday, Feb. 20, as they retrace the cattle drives of the 19th Century.<br />
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The event is, of course, the annual Cracker Trail Ride, which takes its name not from Saltines, but the bull whips cowboys used in the old days to drive cattle.<br />
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Here are photos sent by smart phone to the Bradenton Herald by trail boss Suzanne Park, and some of the other riders. All were sent from horse back. They give a sense of the fun and adventure, as well as some of the natural Florida beauty along the trail.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bradenton.com/2015/02/14/5636370/cracker-trail-riders-to-head-cross.html">http://www.bradenton.com/2015/02/14/5636370/cracker-trail-riders-to-head-cross.html</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbamFkj7WeFxHb1GokmgzOrjA-0FAcBN7-SgRUZjB7DIIDjsjccusC3haPHovovpQ6TXhhutdaWP8LoytWBBPHlaEltvNb6QdVZhSSqGUbuPAzMnKmlf7aTHETMWmYU9C0Cdrd9ppflHs/s1600/20150214_111458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbamFkj7WeFxHb1GokmgzOrjA-0FAcBN7-SgRUZjB7DIIDjsjccusC3haPHovovpQ6TXhhutdaWP8LoytWBBPHlaEltvNb6QdVZhSSqGUbuPAzMnKmlf7aTHETMWmYU9C0Cdrd9ppflHs/s1600/20150214_111458.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riders get a view of new crops being readied under plastic.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtxYL4Z3M6BSFDBG88riQwp5F1g59v7OPJgkIF6JAmSsqr3CmvJW2wcYN14BsdZPuo-9YlKUlbiGVpuzlwFsK3YnWXZRbq-BgPM4L7kw_0EIoEDteLiggKXMlrzEfOS2ze-6mhHS0Hkc/s1600/20150214_114317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtxYL4Z3M6BSFDBG88riQwp5F1g59v7OPJgkIF6JAmSsqr3CmvJW2wcYN14BsdZPuo-9YlKUlbiGVpuzlwFsK3YnWXZRbq-BgPM4L7kw_0EIoEDteLiggKXMlrzEfOS2ze-6mhHS0Hkc/s1600/20150214_114317.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portion of the Cracker Trail takes riders along state highways.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aH2QvvNFtAAGigs2hlhyphenhyphen4B7-wQdk5890331BJ8VjReVrAZ6QrtxEsNKzWSQGO8of7B-I3HVI0pFU_uayJd2dNKt_Dp0fP1Jk7WWbzcrrUomPAbp56ZiJ0CeMZkbg37d4jcXuXK6UQIs/s1600/20150214_130231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aH2QvvNFtAAGigs2hlhyphenhyphen4B7-wQdk5890331BJ8VjReVrAZ6QrtxEsNKzWSQGO8of7B-I3HVI0pFU_uayJd2dNKt_Dp0fP1Jk7WWbzcrrUomPAbp56ZiJ0CeMZkbg37d4jcXuXK6UQIs/s1600/20150214_130231.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cracker Trail Ride is a family friendly event.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCaGcycEaWIaxUH_TnaOs1cQ43dbxj86zMaC3fJEw7448tYsSrLan_G7N-biNanhRouok2vL95-DTIWde3WOJ_vTlMVFWgAze8gDTgKLaPFzhsId9w7c-b8YuhlBJNXmudoDCQ92SeGQ/s1600/20150214_134853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCaGcycEaWIaxUH_TnaOs1cQ43dbxj86zMaC3fJEw7448tYsSrLan_G7N-biNanhRouok2vL95-DTIWde3WOJ_vTlMVFWgAze8gDTgKLaPFzhsId9w7c-b8YuhlBJNXmudoDCQ92SeGQ/s1600/20150214_134853.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horse seems to be smiling for the camera.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36bf5pYVts_Ih4yVnA_ChMMUY90Wb1SmoFn2mwjLCsUXB_m_K1Yqq1SCPrFlyaJFQLK6xASRK_PAY-Tapfdqmv41bNrEui6I8dgncWgmhLFSTHgJOfg2f6IeP2jz1e4ImGo7JdatjYtM/s1600/20150214_135223+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36bf5pYVts_Ih4yVnA_ChMMUY90Wb1SmoFn2mwjLCsUXB_m_K1Yqq1SCPrFlyaJFQLK6xASRK_PAY-Tapfdqmv41bNrEui6I8dgncWgmhLFSTHgJOfg2f6IeP2jz1e4ImGo7JdatjYtM/s1600/20150214_135223+(2).jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Togetherness on the trail.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4ajS0idQnT7XtOF-bizs2zi_m2HeBhRPwHGMiK4eypO69kaMKu53C2IeecJm2tVfGBuLUTHzB3b9eLZhkaFkxlVrVXEwxUxn56UVfK8MrbTYZXJG7dddVkyYixkei5CBex5mpSX1q1k/s1600/20150214_143835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4ajS0idQnT7XtOF-bizs2zi_m2HeBhRPwHGMiK4eypO69kaMKu53C2IeecJm2tVfGBuLUTHzB3b9eLZhkaFkxlVrVXEwxUxn56UVfK8MrbTYZXJG7dddVkyYixkei5CBex5mpSX1q1k/s1600/20150214_143835.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riders are happy when they reach open country.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO<br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThcFIuhBBlMidwYyd8151E6R20Kwd8mVHCCr6Q2z0EsaunOZDm_s43LgmsTqamAJlHYXtmsA4uUMq_DDnWpYprQHdX9Ese7Z96bL7_ArRi2-eE7Zl0yK1V1MEcFcq-yV_GEWbqsZ0qgs/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966318794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThcFIuhBBlMidwYyd8151E6R20Kwd8mVHCCr6Q2z0EsaunOZDm_s43LgmsTqamAJlHYXtmsA4uUMq_DDnWpYprQHdX9Ese7Z96bL7_ArRi2-eE7Zl0yK1V1MEcFcq-yV_GEWbqsZ0qgs/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966318794.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail boss Suzanne Park.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMVZnrxaVw2BBetvS3heU2uMiNe7gO8qAz2HHbwK5XCZim9giQpd2SjHjey8d5xNKZB8EVI0Z-dL7BAV8gf_dvCJp_r5o4NsqMSE4MFJ5HP2gcqUBZ9clHLy6uKqbbOOVEBT4vS7xBEM/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966335508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMVZnrxaVw2BBetvS3heU2uMiNe7gO8qAz2HHbwK5XCZim9giQpd2SjHjey8d5xNKZB8EVI0Z-dL7BAV8gf_dvCJp_r5o4NsqMSE4MFJ5HP2gcqUBZ9clHLy6uKqbbOOVEBT4vS7xBEM/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966335508.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riders meet old friends and meet new ones.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjVggiMkhZP9GfGArmrpoGVPyWGKTV7mLoLCJX5wF_3gb6wtkyM92LazyNIBW2c4DaKKxReslzh5oXufeurSdwqqA4OJt5XW9a6rdFZpgvZHj6EWUAzKaGJFi5s6rXa1uox2aYl2vLWs/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966354044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjVggiMkhZP9GfGArmrpoGVPyWGKTV7mLoLCJX5wF_3gb6wtkyM92LazyNIBW2c4DaKKxReslzh5oXufeurSdwqqA4OJt5XW9a6rdFZpgvZHj6EWUAzKaGJFi5s6rXa1uox2aYl2vLWs/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966354044.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riders take over the road shoulder.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWDD7O2wNkGb8uvFBhGokv8AOUJTa7anntSRQ866vs4hiUaQRHpbF2gFaR1EO1DKeE0nY0T39dP3W7mmz1sT0o6qUSlrkfDlC8-IGwm6eh-1SPt1lWnUQqVSMDxs6IbTfr5jThxlu4AQ/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966586688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWDD7O2wNkGb8uvFBhGokv8AOUJTa7anntSRQ866vs4hiUaQRHpbF2gFaR1EO1DKeE0nY0T39dP3W7mmz1sT0o6qUSlrkfDlC8-IGwm6eh-1SPt1lWnUQqVSMDxs6IbTfr5jThxlu4AQ/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966586688.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is possible to kick back on horseback.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG8v4QQ1Qwd1uoBt1hd-V-Jp7UdmDWlOVGM6RuH2vtqgXqW-ykYrdMuMeocBTro3IJyMHq5AfDsr5r7E5MXEGIvb6a_fjbnGZ-jF8KCU2-pdNL_lQhVldbfsYs5y-MXQnaUCFFP0B98Q/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966639548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG8v4QQ1Qwd1uoBt1hd-V-Jp7UdmDWlOVGM6RuH2vtqgXqW-ykYrdMuMeocBTro3IJyMHq5AfDsr5r7E5MXEGIvb6a_fjbnGZ-jF8KCU2-pdNL_lQhVldbfsYs5y-MXQnaUCFFP0B98Q/s1600/FB_IMG_1423966639548.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open country.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocbwHbty2QVMADDOIKF88oxca6NheA6t2GrFh2QOrM5MK3r1OQvw7SnqpRCZcEyzi4RISyfX4mft49RAgNnCSK4h94PYVwuuaUiuPeu9SFbpMDF3y2XhUjHciPqhHdlM4m9ZqBsFeBuM/s1600/FB_IMG_1423967084843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocbwHbty2QVMADDOIKF88oxca6NheA6t2GrFh2QOrM5MK3r1OQvw7SnqpRCZcEyzi4RISyfX4mft49RAgNnCSK4h94PYVwuuaUiuPeu9SFbpMDF3y2XhUjHciPqhHdlM4m9ZqBsFeBuM/s1600/FB_IMG_1423967084843.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mule-drawn covered wagon.<br />PROVIDED PHOTO</td></tr>
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<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-76297777251378284472015-01-27T14:13:00.001-08:002015-01-28T06:47:39.965-08:00Chester LeGrange was one of a kind, and he'll be missed by all who knew him<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejgyuvGPf_104zBOOGXSNw4AGYCB1KOjq_-KfNlze3wpXDwINjkGCkMiV1uYGoKya8aP9wbCYrgQzZKKLpuwtklPTQSYWQqe6aZE81MLE4zQW971EujZkCQoq0YJuTKC-rllpQ5DrOcI/s1600/1221_BRLO_terrasiesta_05.jpg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejgyuvGPf_104zBOOGXSNw4AGYCB1KOjq_-KfNlze3wpXDwINjkGCkMiV1uYGoKya8aP9wbCYrgQzZKKLpuwtklPTQSYWQqe6aZE81MLE4zQW971EujZkCQoq0YJuTKC-rllpQ5DrOcI/s1600/1221_BRLO_terrasiesta_05.jpg.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chester LeGrange, left, with Skip Glasson at Terra Siesta in December.<br />
JAMES A. JONES JR./Bradenton Herald</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>W</b></span>e met William A. "Chester" LeGrange, 99, while working on a neighborhood feature in December. He lived in Terra Siesta, one of the 55-plus communities along U.S. 301 North in Ellenton.<br />
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You knew right away that Chester was something special. He was beloved by his neighbors for his kindness and his concern for others, and his sprightly sense of humor.<br />
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The day we met him, he was with Skip Glasson in a golf cart, and had just picked up a statue of a gnome that he was going to repaint for a neighbor.<br />
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Unfortunately, Chester, the oldest resident of Terra Siesta, fell and broke his hip some weeks later. But he lived to see the Bradenton Herald story, and was happy with it, we're told.<br />
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You know that the folks in Terra Siesta, and his family members are missing him terribly.<br />
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"In the 1950s and 1960s, we lived on 16th Street in Samoset. Each year he would put up a Christmas display that was a block long, He cut every piece out of lumber. The display was animated, and set to music," said his daughter, Norma Kennedy, who is now a civic leader in Parrish.<br />
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"People came from miles around to see the display. The ones who knew my family would stop by for coffee and the fruitcake that my mother baked," Kennedy said. "Christmas was always his thing, and when he was older, he would just decorate his golf cart."<br />
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In his younger days, Chester's home was on what is now Skyway Memorial Gardens, where was laid to rest.<br />
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Charles Lee Howell, property manager at Terra Siesta, says that Chester was the "happiest guy in the place."<br />
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Chester looked after his neighbors, and they looked after him, too.<br />
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"He was a heck of a carpenter, and there wasn't anything that he couldn't do," Howell said. "I always liked to drop in to see Chester. Some times I would see him napping in his golf cart."<br />
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When Dave Warner bought in Terra Siesta 15 years ago, Chester was his neighbor.<br />
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"He was pleasant and charming; just a very good neighbor," Warner said.<br />
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"Chester was a very active volunteer in the community, and over the years his activities changed as he got older, He used to lead all the golf cart parades. Chester was going great guns until the day he went down," Warner said.<br />
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Chester passed away Jan. 10, 2015.<br />
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He was born in Princeton, Ind., on Oct. 22, 1915. On December 23, 1936, He married Ruth Saunders LeGrange in 1936.<br />
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He was a carpenter at Miller's Trailers and Rasmussen Construction until retirement. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to Emmanuel Baptist Church, 8305 US 301, Parrish, FL 34219.<br />
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In case you missed that Terra Siesta feature, you can read it here, and learn a little more about Chester and his neighbors:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bradenton.com/2014/12/22/5544451_our-neighborhoods-terra-siesta.html?rh=1">http://www.bradenton.com/2014/12/22/5544451_our-neighborhoods-terra-siesta.html?rh=1</a><br />
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<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-68308203058186212052015-01-21T07:57:00.000-08:002015-01-21T13:24:07.466-08:00Parrish residents come together to clean up their historic cemetery<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parrish residents gathered to tend the graves at Parrish's historic cemetery on Saturday.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span>n awesome day.<br />
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That's what Iris McClain calls Saturday, Jan. 17, when 65 black and white residents of Parrish got together to clean up the historic Parrish Cemetery.<br />
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"It was a community thing," said Floyd Dozier, who has many relatives buried there. "I think it was a good idea."<br />
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The cemetery, which opened in 1876 with the burial of an infant, Rose Lee Turner, belongs to all residents of Parrish, and is historically important to Manatee County.<br />
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Major William Iredell Turner, a Seminole War and Civil War veteran, was a Parrish pioneer and Bradenton's first postmaster, when it was still called Braidentown.<br />
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Also interred there are World War I and World War II veterans.<br />
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Originally, blacks and whites were buried in separate parts of the cemetery.<br />
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But, that was many years ago.<br />
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"We took that fence down a long time ago," McClain said.<br />
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"What a wonderful day we all had on Saturday. It turned out to be a beautiful day with at least 65 people showing up to help make this old historical cemetery look beautiful again," she said.<br />
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"We all got to see people that we have not seen in awhile. When stopping long enough to rest a few minutes, we would visit a little and then get back to work," McClain said.<br />
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Prime movers in rallying the community to cleanup the cemetery were longtime pillars Vivian Boice and JoAnn Rogers.<br />
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"Our cemetery was just going down, down," Rogers said of her decision to personally recruit neighbors to come to the cleanup.<br />
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"We are all God's children. I asked the Lord to let me live a bit longer until we got the cemetery cleaned up," said Rogers, 86.<br />
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In addition to locals, some volunteers came from outside the county to tend to relative's graves.<br />
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McClain spent her day weeding around the graves of infants and children so that their names and other poignant information could be read.<br />
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"We plan to have another work day when the old leaves fall and the new leaves come in," she said. That should be some time in the spring.James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-55683492056646063492014-12-12T13:13:00.003-08:002014-12-12T13:15:01.831-08:00Ellenton's Colony Cove residents aid Marines by digging deep for Toys for Tots drive<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SIbtKCGHS7lMr98bcBR1U-ViudGSDzhGVPgCJHkvZelrRgUjO9UmuIwd1AOH8arVIDO5RNQ7m3bV4n31bp1_jp7GY4kLM7-tK2lbhO8q3Or8-XXebtpjJtQpC79e5QvmTDcNoxIeT98/s1600/DSC05453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SIbtKCGHS7lMr98bcBR1U-ViudGSDzhGVPgCJHkvZelrRgUjO9UmuIwd1AOH8arVIDO5RNQ7m3bV4n31bp1_jp7GY4kLM7-tK2lbhO8q3Or8-XXebtpjJtQpC79e5QvmTDcNoxIeT98/s1600/DSC05453.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Colony Cove residents donated 15 bikes for the Toys for Tots drive.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Photos provided by Vickie Cochran and Isabel Jaekel</span> </h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span> little Christmas elf -- well actually it was Vickie Cochran -- told us that Colony Cove residents came through in a big way with their Toys For Tots drive on Dec 7. <br />
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"Sponsored by the New England Club this year, Santa's little helpers, collected over 800 toys including 15 various sizes of bicycles. Also, the business community along U.S. 301 participated with boxes and also donated several toys for our drive," Vickie said.<br />
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Colony Cove residents collected $1,000 which will be used in Manatee County for special needs kids. The money will help pay for adjusting toys in a way that children with special needs will be able to ride or play with them. <br />
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Colony Cove residents started their evening with a spaghetti and meatball dinner, made by Fred and Carol Roselli. Many volunteers helped out with serving more than 200 meals.<br />
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After dinner, residents got into their golf carts and drove through the community in their Christmas attire to pick up toys. The Marines came with their truck and collected the toys.<br />
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"All the residents involved hope that this will put a smile on a child's face come Christmas morning. We all enjoyed being Santa. Next year we hope the drive will be even bigger and better. Thank you to all involved," Vickie Cochran said.<br />
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Spaghetti dinner for Colony Cove residents, and a ton of toys for kids..<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Photos provided by Vickie Cochran and Isabel Jaekel</span> </h3>
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Spaghetti dinner for Colony Cove residents, and a ton of toys for kids..<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Photos provided by Vickie Cochran and Isabel Jaekel</span> </h3>
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James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-18084542188285779042014-11-18T13:02:00.000-08:002014-11-18T13:02:02.787-08:00Artists at Palm-Aire open their 23rd season with circus theme, circus legends<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pedro Reis, Helen Martin (Committee chair) and Dolly Jacobs.<br /><span style="text-align: start;">Provided photo by Nan Miller</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>he Art Association of Palm-Aire opened its 32nd season with a champagne luncheon this month at the Palm-Aire Country Club, reports Charleen Gorbet.<br />
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Famed aerialist Dolly Jacobs and her husband Pedro Reis spoke to the packed house about their life in the circus, and Dolly added anecdotes about her father Lou Jacobs, renowned as one of the foremost professional clowns in the world. His star was installed on the Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armand’s Circle in 1988.<br />
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If Lou was known as King of the Clowns, Dolly was Queen of the Air. Her many accolades include her own star on the Circus Ring of Fame, awarded in 1997. But Dolly did not speak of these; she and Pedro, who met on a circus tour, now share their passion for circus arts as founders of The Circus Arts Conservatory in Sarasota. <br />
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They developed and manage Circus Sarasota and its youth version, Sailor Circus. Through teaching, outreach into the community, and performance, they promote and help to maintain the love of circus for which Sarasota is famous.<br />
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The circus theme was carried out with table decorations made by the members, and a menu that used champagne in each dish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Judy Hall with table decoration honoring Lou Jacobs.<br /><span style="text-align: start;">Provided photo by Nan Miller</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Circus scene became table decoration.<br /><span style="text-align: start;">Provided photo by Nan Miller</span></span></td></tr>
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James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-40228476862688619662014-11-06T13:23:00.001-08:002014-11-06T19:01:19.464-08:00Here's a chance to check out the lemurs of Myakka City: annual open house is set for Nov. 8<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemurs at Myakka City reserve.<br />
Herald file photo</td></tr>
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MYAKKA CITY — It's not every day that the public has a chance to see the beautiful and rare lemurs of Myakka City.<br />
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But there is an opportunity 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, when the Myakka City Lemur Reserve has its annual open house .<br />
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The reserve is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the primates of Madagascar through captive breeding, scientific research, and education, according to the reserve's website.<br />
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Planned at the free family-friendly open house are food and beverages, lemur-themed games and fun.<br />
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To RSVP and get directions to the 100-acre reserve, send an email to nhendrickson@lemurreserve.org.<br />
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For a gallery of photos, click here:<br />
<a href="http://www.bradenton.com/2014/06/10/5197846_lemur-conservation-foundation.html?rh=1">http://www.bradenton.com/2014/06/10/5197846_lemur-conservation-foundation.html?rh=1</a><br />
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For more about Myakka City Lemur Reserve, visit:<br />
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<a href="http://www.lemurreserve.org/mission.html">http://www.lemurreserve.org/mission.html</a><br />
<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-67004055959495583392014-10-23T13:39:00.001-07:002014-10-23T13:39:48.748-07:00Artists capturing the look of Parrish 'en plein air'<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFN88koQC3lXgcmNnrVyaJ44asPJ2NS6DDlVYIfm70liYEzKF5qrHlFxieRICo1-7T9eY0tPx5aPvNuSI7L47Jww3Qfi6ARhGpBoChbYyyvfNMW7PM2aag4dUB48gXHiYJw_r9mpPSo0/s1600/Browns+Grove+Artists+%231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFN88koQC3lXgcmNnrVyaJ44asPJ2NS6DDlVYIfm70liYEzKF5qrHlFxieRICo1-7T9eY0tPx5aPvNuSI7L47Jww3Qfi6ARhGpBoChbYyyvfNMW7PM2aag4dUB48gXHiYJw_r9mpPSo0/s1600/Browns+Grove+Artists+%231.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eileen Laske works on a painting at Brown's Grove and Produce Stand. Provided photos by Norma Kennedy.</td></tr>
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PARRISH -- Local artists have taken paint brush in hand and set about capturing images of Parrish on canvas "en plein air," French for in the open air.<br />
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Members of the Parrish Arts Council know that the Parrish of 2014 will change, just as did the Parrish of 1890 and the Parrish of 1940.<br />
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The en plein air days are one way of capturing time in a bottle for posterity. Thus far, they have painted Fort Hamer Park and Brown's Grove and Produce Stand.<br />
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The next Parrish en plein air is set for Music & Art by the Train between 11:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Nov. 8.<br />
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For more information, contact Jerri Phillips at www.parrishartscouncil.org or on Facebook at parrishartscouncil.<br />
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Music and Art by the Train will be held at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish.<br />
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It will be the Council's first arts festival, and feature the museum running its regular train schedule. Bands scheduled to play include Kim Betts & Gamble Creek Band, Buffalo Creek Middle School Jazz Band, Chasing Blue from Boston, Mass., Berklee College of Music.<br />
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"It's a biggie," said Arts Council President Norma Kennedy of the festival. The council is working to make Parrish a tourist destination with its Fort Hamer rowing facility, farm history, and railroad museum.<br />
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One of Jerri Phillip's paintings of the Manatee River at Fort Hamer will be auctioned at the fest.<br />
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To round out the day, barbecue, hot dogs, drinks, snacks and beer and wine will be available for purchase.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxkSgIPb3oGGJo2iYqQcR8ah9KPD8SeHwh1eXiJeJ0GoXtUE5MLH57Nk1IotcosScrcr4uH4Rsqiz556lqPj4nFi6cHd4NPhFWLe8xh1cncQKd3mniZInZjaMorUzldBmySbcGggfwQQ/s1600/Browns+Grove+Artists.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxkSgIPb3oGGJo2iYqQcR8ah9KPD8SeHwh1eXiJeJ0GoXtUE5MLH57Nk1IotcosScrcr4uH4Rsqiz556lqPj4nFi6cHd4NPhFWLe8xh1cncQKd3mniZInZjaMorUzldBmySbcGggfwQQ/s1600/Browns+Grove+Artists.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerri Phillips paints a tractor at Brown's Grove and Produce Stand. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQSBZEOSI_9IwSwsW7wS7MsNZDt6l3fGwZx6zszo7YS_HmCdIJMaM4yXRV7rYv_FiP7jfWUK7kk8gz73RIkS4sQIaQhGGu9-h-7xgRUDCvpR_r0nfr53haTF9x2vQcxJvjRB-4TeVkmU/s1600/P9120103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQSBZEOSI_9IwSwsW7wS7MsNZDt6l3fGwZx6zszo7YS_HmCdIJMaM4yXRV7rYv_FiP7jfWUK7kk8gz73RIkS4sQIaQhGGu9-h-7xgRUDCvpR_r0nfr53haTF9x2vQcxJvjRB-4TeVkmU/s1600/P9120103.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artis Wick sets up her easel at Fort Hamer Park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbB8OPKBoWvCOEiq9hyphenhyphenq7knZQu4QFVlWgyZi7AAQQlM2JTg5wRz-ndERgtKE9BCFpS58TyNb8id9juyHRL_EZrw6x8nut_ZPVTlJK6xveTVKhIfZwnCn1tmZAdVWojHzh8XsQWIpr49k/s1600/P9120105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbB8OPKBoWvCOEiq9hyphenhyphenq7knZQu4QFVlWgyZi7AAQQlM2JTg5wRz-ndERgtKE9BCFpS58TyNb8id9juyHRL_EZrw6x8nut_ZPVTlJK6xveTVKhIfZwnCn1tmZAdVWojHzh8XsQWIpr49k/s1600/P9120105.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Kanoza works on a river scene.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyGyg-T46kCnJprmh6RvKGFtZ8VrN7MpJjdjdWE74I38G0P3IAs1EwVquhDvjtCkDs4wUDz_iprmvt3yTZcnYfsQxkOCUf0S0GE9EFvgrxIwJ1DpN-ePxELI3hy5UCB77VH0DEX3aHZI/s1600/P9120113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyGyg-T46kCnJprmh6RvKGFtZ8VrN7MpJjdjdWE74I38G0P3IAs1EwVquhDvjtCkDs4wUDz_iprmvt3yTZcnYfsQxkOCUf0S0GE9EFvgrxIwJ1DpN-ePxELI3hy5UCB77VH0DEX3aHZI/s1600/P9120113.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerri Phillips' painting of Fort Hamer Park will be auctioned at Music and Art by the Train.</td></tr>
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<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-37653221171599833652014-09-11T11:00:00.000-07:002014-09-11T11:00:56.970-07:00Get your downward facing dog on: Yoga festival in East Manatee to benefit All Faiths Food Bank<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>H</b></span>eartwood Retreat Center, 17507 Waterline Road, East Manatee, celebrates National Yoga Month with a fundraising yoga festival 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.<br />
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Afterward there will be community music by Kirtan 5-7 p.m.<br />
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The festival features a full day of events, including eight yoga classes in a variety of styles and levels, special interest workshops, Sutra lectures, a kid’s yoga zone from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., a yoga art gallery, yoga art activities, music entertainment, more than 30 healthy lifestyle and food vendors, dance performances, and more.<br />
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Several of the area’s leading yoga facilities, ReFlex Arts Yoga, Prana Yoga and Garden of the Heart Yoga are represented to support this celebration for a community cause. Tickets are $25 for the full day’s events and all money collected will be donated to the All Faith’s Food Bank.<br />
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For more information or a schedule of activities, visit HeartwoodRetreatCenter.com.<br />
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Tickets are available online at Eventbrite, HeartwoodRetreatCenter.com, ReFlex Arts, Prana Yoga or Garden of the Heart Yoga as well.<br />
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For more information, call 941 359-9642.<br />
<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-46043497128388302542014-09-07T15:22:00.002-07:002014-09-07T15:23:29.817-07:00Former Lakewood Ranch High School student Alisha Erozer wins state speech contest<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsI0qBuOQGU71SHK2yNnoriK-6DUSBYHI1y7chOEV1aSNhvUX6G0PLdsbXCyYZC-XGXK1BMPQfFgu4EADUKtcaGGi3-wDPrLnCg3dn4I0H8CMptkKiSwF_R-TQQjIoYfU5o6Ftnazw00/s1600/1122_brlo_agriculture_11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsI0qBuOQGU71SHK2yNnoriK-6DUSBYHI1y7chOEV1aSNhvUX6G0PLdsbXCyYZC-XGXK1BMPQfFgu4EADUKtcaGGi3-wDPrLnCg3dn4I0H8CMptkKiSwF_R-TQQjIoYfU5o6Ftnazw00/s1600/1122_brlo_agriculture_11.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Alisha Erozer, shown in November of 2013, at the Manatee Agriculture Hall of Fame annual luncheon, recently won a state speech contest. Herald file photo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span>lisha Erozer, a former Lakewood Ranch High School student, recently won a state speech contest sponsored by the Association of Florida Conservation Districts in Ocala.<br />
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The contest was designed to develop leadership through participation in public speaking activities and to stimulate interest in conserving natural resources,<br />
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Students in grades six through 12 gave six-eight minute speeches. The topic this year was “Dig Deeper -- What are the Mysteries in the Soil?”<br />
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Erozer, who competed against students representing other Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the state, placed first and was awarded a prize of $500.<br />
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Last school year at Lakewood Ranch High School, Erozer served as Junior Advisory Board president, was a student government member, and started a speech and debate club.<br />
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Shortly after winning the state contest, Erozer left for Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina where she will be attending the United World College for the next two years, as one of four Americans in the pre-university college accelerated International Baccalaureate program.James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-43954255471406630322014-09-03T13:12:00.000-07:002014-09-03T13:12:12.662-07:00Parrish resident Carmine DeMilio specializes in keeping them safe and happy at Manatee parks, playgrounds and beaches<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7OPuZh0cy1iIpBJVdEKgH-WWB-3ADHTNeIWKa5luCPhSGpeOwspw86lcPEoTa4nydng0rcJeMhTl_9XRogZIou5OTyluJir-65LheP9lROHSoZshjcjXYO7pr2SdTEAwkxCgXn2-ShE/s1600/IMG_9921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7OPuZh0cy1iIpBJVdEKgH-WWB-3ADHTNeIWKa5luCPhSGpeOwspw86lcPEoTa4nydng0rcJeMhTl_9XRogZIou5OTyluJir-65LheP9lROHSoZshjcjXYO7pr2SdTEAwkxCgXn2-ShE/s1600/IMG_9921.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carmine DeMillio tries out a swing at the county's G. T. Bray Park. Bradenton Herald photo by James A. Jones Jr.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Y</b></span>ou've got to like what Parrish resident Carmine DeMilio does for a living.<br />
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"My responsibility to all park patrons is to provide safe playgrounds and facilities as well as aesthetically pleasing parks and beaches," he said.<br />
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As property management grounds operations manager for Manatee County, those responsibilities include three beaches -- Anna Maria Bayfront Park, Coquina, and Manatee -- as well as 52 parks and playgrounds.<br />
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The New Jersey native had similar responsibilities in North Brunswick, N. J., during a 22.5 year career before moving to Manatee County about five years ago. Except that what he was doing in New Jersey was not quite as broad. There, he had responsibility for 23 parks and 17 playgrounds.<br />
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"This is a great state and there are great people here," he said.<br />
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The DeMilios rented when they first moved to Parrish, and ended up liking the community so much that they bought a home there.<br />
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Even though DeMilo has 27 years in the business, he says there is more to learn.<br />
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He recently earned national certification as a Park and Recreational Professional. All the better to help keep parks and beaches users safe and having a good time, he said.<br />
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DeMilio plans to next seek certification as a Park and Recreation Executive.<br />
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"The bar has been raised in the recreation and parks profession," he said.<br />
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He is particularly proud of the changing stations that are going up at Manatee beaches.<br />
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For more about that, see story by Amaris Castillo (@AmarisCastillo):<br />
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<a href="http://www.bradenton.com/2014/07/07/5244132/beach-changing-cabanas-coming.html">http://www.bradenton.com/2014/07/07/5244132/beach-changing-cabanas-coming.html</a><br />
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<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-17626211550328251632014-08-20T08:10:00.000-07:002014-08-20T08:10:10.605-07:00Duette Elementary opens school year with 16 students and one teacher<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFown7CIFzdwBxQ_-PCdyMDYr4d5UzIbiBvGa7fBpcnekg_4f6xQ5dLoG3wZGyX2GRjYxe_HoyYDdrU4LlmL4nGW_gFyvW6AKRgFesjm3K_zVw398nhS9AivYMgBY9lLAIe5dicl4lzik/s1600/duette+backpacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFown7CIFzdwBxQ_-PCdyMDYr4d5UzIbiBvGa7fBpcnekg_4f6xQ5dLoG3wZGyX2GRjYxe_HoyYDdrU4LlmL4nGW_gFyvW6AKRgFesjm3K_zVw398nhS9AivYMgBY9lLAIe5dicl4lzik/s1600/duette+backpacks.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lipman Farms manager Larry Moss joins Duette Elementary School students with their new backpacks. Provided photo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>D</b></span>uette Elementary School, Florida's last one-room, one-teacher school house, reopened this week with 16 students, the same enrollment as last school year.<br />
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Founded in 1930, Duette Elementary actually has more than one room, but since the school has only one teacher, the students are usually in one room together. The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade.<br />
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Duette Elementary started as a "strawberry school" to allow children of farm families help bring in crops.<br />
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Donna King, the executive director of Duette Education Foundation, Inc., provided a photo of this year's students with Larry Moss, manager of Lipman Farms, which provided stuffed back packs.<br />
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In 2009, the Manatee School District decided it could not justify keeping the school open. Ever since, the Duette Education Foundation Inc. has been responsible for footing the bills to keep the school operating.<br />
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The community of Duette has more than 16 students, but many of them attend conventional schools around Manatee County.<br />
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For more on the opening of the 2014-2015 school year in Manatee County, see Meghin Delaney's story<br />
<a href="http://www.bradenton.com/2014/08/18/5310026/back-to-school-is-always-a-whirlwind.html">http://www.bradenton.com/2014/08/18/5310026/back-to-school-is-always-a-whirlwind.html</a><br />
<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-8214684343437897852014-07-29T12:49:00.001-07:002014-07-29T12:49:38.501-07:00Going the extra mile to get the job done at Tara Community Development District meeting<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUA_ffeUwDsYfo114RGrQr9ONtqfLcPbpFirjYZGUAjcH4EekEbOrChDC4HqetQfygw1KVOUqngcF_Fwod3QRoxH4oL5ZekRcf_jdQ8HAyG7d2VFtsL9FBWe96hk2ZcWUDr_v-WIawdc/s1600/IMG_9228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUA_ffeUwDsYfo114RGrQr9ONtqfLcPbpFirjYZGUAjcH4EekEbOrChDC4HqetQfygw1KVOUqngcF_Fwod3QRoxH4oL5ZekRcf_jdQ8HAyG7d2VFtsL9FBWe96hk2ZcWUDr_v-WIawdc/s1600/IMG_9228.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tara CDD chair John Schmidt, center, was flanked by district manager Matthew Huber on the left and district counsel John Vericker on the right. Herald photo by James A. Jones Jr.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>J</b></span>ohn Schmidt, chairman of Tara Community Development District 1, was hands-on during the district meeting Tuesday, July 29.<br />
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Not only did he offer audience members coffee before the meeting, he also sat down at a computer and opened the Skype connection to allow supervisor Michael Dyer to participate long-distance.<br />
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Also participating long-distance was supervisor Beth Bond, on a conference call, while watching the proceedings through a security camera in the community center.<br />
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During the meeting, two residents complained about the quality of lawn maintenance near their home. Schmidt promised that after the meeting he would stop by to check out the mowing for himself.<br />
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You had to admire the way Schmidt juggled having two long-distance supervisors taking part in the meeting, along with vice chair Joe Mojica, and supervisor Dan Powers who were sitting around the dais.<br />
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By the way, those in the audience were sitting in chairs just as plush and comfortable as the supervisors. That's a rarity for audiences who at some meetings have a hard bench or folding chair for a seat.<br />
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For the business of the Tara CDD, see the Wednesday, July 30, Bradenton Herald/Lakewood Ranch Herald.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQZzSrgNF5YIFZMLX_zGF89dRlaUeJ4wG9H8uqvMhlstg9Ls3dDcMody9EaziqV67ym6OEcthsrQI9n_7Ur_FUg4fvrLLGfZSO-ydnyoLOepYjt40jm4-y5Z103nqqkuduU0aKD3CuZE/s1600/IMG_9225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQZzSrgNF5YIFZMLX_zGF89dRlaUeJ4wG9H8uqvMhlstg9Ls3dDcMody9EaziqV67ym6OEcthsrQI9n_7Ur_FUg4fvrLLGfZSO-ydnyoLOepYjt40jm4-y5Z103nqqkuduU0aKD3CuZE/s1600/IMG_9225.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tara CDD audience members watched the meeting from the comfort of executive chairs. Herald photo by James A. Jones Jr.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSR7U65JP49x6bvpmjSQmjzI4LyIqJo1IEyEsJSYh9sOSIq8-CpfBz75UDWrMsKDAP3dLT_x0IGd-trzs5-lBg4XvviVOdKnQDDZNSpGOn0j1kD79oh1OLS9KZ-3V2Wooap2UvqEQmYqM/s1600/IMG_9226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSR7U65JP49x6bvpmjSQmjzI4LyIqJo1IEyEsJSYh9sOSIq8-CpfBz75UDWrMsKDAP3dLT_x0IGd-trzs5-lBg4XvviVOdKnQDDZNSpGOn0j1kD79oh1OLS9KZ-3V2Wooap2UvqEQmYqM/s1600/IMG_9226.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Dyer participated in the Tara Community Development District meeting via Skype. His image was shown on a flat-screen TV at right. Herald photo by James A. Jones Jr.</td></tr>
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<br />James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-10143035010091733692014-07-17T07:48:00.001-07:002014-07-17T07:48:30.933-07:00SWAT Networking Lakewood Ranch chapter honors new, returning members<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfjanb0NShY/U8fhjGTfRSI/AAAAAAAAAws/_lo63Q07D6Q/s1600/lwr_new+members.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfjanb0NShY/U8fhjGTfRSI/AAAAAAAAAws/_lo63Q07D6Q/s320/lwr_new+members.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honorees at the July meeting of the SWAT Networking Lakewood Ranch Chapter. PHOTO PROVIDED</td></tr>
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Six women were recognized as new and returning members at the July meeting of the SWAT Networking Lakewood Ranch Chapter.<br />
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Recognized were Shelly Gutowsky, of Boutique Out East; Debbie Lee, of Debbie’s Loving Pet Care; Laurel Rund, of Essence of Laurel; Kathleen Feeney, of Skin NV; Beth Prichard, of Planet Stone Marble and Granite; and Adrian Griffin, of Longboat Title.<br />
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SWAT, which stands for Successful Women Aligning Together, meets at four different locations around Manatee and Sarasota - Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Manasota and Nokomis. All women in business are welcome to attend.<br />
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Each month, a woman from each of the four chapters is honored for dedication and hard work, positive spirit and willingness to enhance themselves and their career. This month's Woman of the Month from the Lakewood Ranch Chapter is Tonya Merrill of Jennette Properties.<br />
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For more information, visit <a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.swatnetworking.com">swatnetworking.com</a> or contact Dr. Robyn Spirtas at 941-962-0884 or director@swatnetworking.com.<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-70342780637758480732014-07-16T08:13:00.000-07:002014-07-16T08:13:19.918-07:00Nolan Middle School FFA students make summer trips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nolan Middle School FFA students recently returned from two summer trips.
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The first was to the Florida Outdoor Adventures camp in Haines City, a four-day exploration into nature, sporting events wildlife management, firearm safety and hunter safety certification, challenge courses and leadership development.<br />
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The second was to the 86th Florida FFA State Convention & Expo, held in Orlando. FFA members and guests experienced motivational speakers, award presentations, exciting exhibits, challenging career development events, and plenty of entertaining activities.
Many Nolan FFA students participated in state final career development events, which they qualified for throughout the school year. Kate Cranos, Shelby Parks, Jalyn Thompson, J. T. Girman, Hunter Martin and Savannah Freitag took part in the parliamentary procedure. Luke Cornwall also participated in extemporaneous speaking, and J.T. Girman was awarded fifth place in the state for his ornamental horticulture career development event.<br />
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Students also attended “A Day of Service” and visited a food bank in the Orlando area, where they sorted, boxed, weighed and labeled over 1,000 pounds of food. Along with attending general session meetings, students attended leadership workshops, working with state FFA officers from many states.<br />
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Here are some more photos of the students' trips, provided by Stefani Heidenthal, agriculture teacher at Nolan Middle School:
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552830969036622437.post-20661290691439842402014-07-11T08:38:00.001-07:002014-07-11T08:50:40.277-07:00Junior members of Manatee County Cattlemen Association attend state convention<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Members of the Junior Manatee County Cattlemen Association attending the state convention include, front, left, Genaveve Henson, Annabell Henson, back, left, Ben Hoffner, Chloe Bunyak, Casey Wingate, Anna Bunyak, Jennifer Green, and Darrylin Cannon. Provided photo</span>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>his year’s 2014 Florida Cattlemen Convention was held at the Marriott Marco Island Resort.</div>
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Attending for the Manatee Junior Team:<br />
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<b>Marketing</b>: Jennifer Green of Lakewood Ranch High School, Casey Wingate, who is home schooled, and Darrylin Cannon of Braden River High School.<br />
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<b>Quiz Bowl</b>: Genaveve Henson of Braden River High School, Chloe Bunyak,who is home schooled, Ben Hoffner of Palmetto High School, and Anna Bunyak, who is home schooled.<br />
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<b>Public Speaking contest</b>: Annabell Henson of King Middle School, first place.<br />
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"We are very proud of our Sweetheart Jessie Embach. She was a great representative for Manatee County, Cully Rowell said.<br />
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"All who attended had a great time watching the contestants, attending the meetings, and enjoying the great expo. Manatee County had approximately 86 members in attendance," he said.James A. Jones Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18351388808283768410noreply@blogger.com0