North River helps keep kids safe

Michael Williamson, Battalion Chief of the North River Fire District, provided this photo as his department and Manatee County EMS teamed together to create awareness to motorists that school was back in session.

Picture, left to right, are Paramedic Amy Kemp, firefighter Logan Wells, Paramedic/Firefighter Sara Wells, and Captain Russ Emmons.

He offered special thanks to Gold Coast Distributors for the posters and to Fire Inspectors Leslie Adent and Diane Chrzanowski.

Jim

Emergency flasher gets attention

The traffic signal warning drivers to slow to 20 mph for a school crossing on State Road 70 and River Club Boulevard is getting some attention this morning. The flasher, which had been out since the start of school, is located on the north side of S.R. 70 facing west-bound traffic.

A maintenance crew was on the site to return it to service.

Jim

Cedar Hammock

Firefighters from Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue were on the job today, seeking to persuade drivers to watch for school children, especially at school crossing zones.

Photo courtesy of Diane Chrzanowski, Fire Safety Inspector and Life Safety Educator for
Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue

More school crossing safety

It's the first week of school and fire departments across the county have had trucks with banners and crews urging drivers to slow down. Here is a unit from the Myakka City Fire Department.

Dawn Graf, an office assistant at the fire department, said, "Hopefully they will make people think and be a little more careful!"

Myakka has positioned units along State Road 70 and Verna Bethany Road and on Wauchula Road, next to Myakka Elementary School.

Jim

Slow down out there

With one anemic school crossing light lazily flashing and the other not working at all, State Road 70 East at River Club Boulevard is a dangerous way for children to get to school.

To help get the school year off to a safe start, East Manatee Fire Rescue has parked a fire truck with its emergency lights flashing in the median of the six-lane highway, just west of the crossing zone. Parked just east of the crossing zone is an EMS ambulance, with a sign asking motorists to slow down and its emergency lights flashing.

The extra precautions were working this morning with most motorists slowing way down and allowing children headed to Braden River Elementary and Braden River Middle to get to class safely.

Much appreciated. Thanks for the extra attention folks.

Jim

Mustang Mania

Even though the first day of school in Manatee County isn't until Monday, Aug. 24, members of the Lakewood Ranch band and their supporters are already making ambitious plans.

In response to the severe recession, they are organizing the first Mustang Mania Festival, which could become an annual event.

The Lakewood Ranch Band Association is inviting performing groups to showcase their talents on the school stage Oct. 17 -18.

There will also be vendors to showcase their edible delights, products and services at the outdoor venue.

Also planned: carnival rides, food, and arts and crafts.

The association hopes to raise money for the Lakewood Ranch music program and other school related programs.

Anyone interested in participating is invited to contact the association at LRBBAMustangs@yahoo.com.


Jim

What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?

As a life-long non-hippie, revisiting Woodstock through the memories of several who were there was an enlightening assignment for me (see Saturday's story on the 40th anniversary of that historic festival).

I most enjoyed hearing their recollections about the legendary bands and performers who took the stage back then.

But I was also fascinated by the adventures they shared about just getting there. It was a time when bus fare from Michigan to New York was $25 -- a lot of money to some back then.

Several of those I interviewed were curious about my past, and to learn that at the time I was serving in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. It was a time when those in short-hair almost stood out more than those with long hair.

Regardless of what side of the cultural divide you might have been on back then, most would have agreed that they would like to see more peace, love and understanding. Still do.

And the music lifted the spirits of a generation, whether they were in Haight-Asbury, Bradenton, or Long Binh.

Jim