The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is back!
After a two-year hiatus, the fun, frolic and “Wearin’ o’ the Green” return Sunday, March 13, on Anna Maria Island, beginning 4 p.m. at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, and ending at The Center of AMI Community, 407 Magnolia Ave.
Want to participate in the parade, hosted by the AMI Center, the AMI Chamber of Commerce and Duncan Real Estate? Visit centerami.org/events for important details.
For more information, email executive director Christopher Culhane at Chris@CenterAMI.org.
• “Yes, We Can DANCE!” is also back!
Manatee County’s scholastic showcase, orchestrated by doyennes of dance Helen Dolbec, Linda Boone and Kelly Hillman, returns March 26 at Manatee High for two shows – 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Sugar ’Canes national team members Peycien Handel and Jillian Loudermilk can’t wait.
• That’s 64 years of wedded bliss for Sue and Jim Manring, who turns 84 years young.
• Well done to Parrish Community High School’s Marissa Saunders and Braden River Middle School’s Noah Lassiter, winners of the Palmetto Youth Center’s 21st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay and Speech Contest. Kayla Geyer, Skylar Jandula and Carsen Abbs, all from PCHS, were second, third and honorable mention, respectively, in their division. Ashley Romero-Vicente, Sadie Barbour and Mehmet Cemek, all from BRMS, were second, third and honorable mention, respectively, in their division.
• Ballard Elementary educator Amber Hatch is 38.
• Realize Bradenton executive director Johnette Isham is beaming. So is Andrea Knies, director of communications and community engagement. The nonprofit won six American Advertising Awards from the American Advertising Federation Suncoast – the industry’s highest accolade for creative spirit and advertising excellence at the local, regional and national level. It’s the first of a three-tier national competition.
Their ADDYs included: Best in Category, Gold and Silver Awards in Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign for the “Love This City Bradenton” campaign; Silver in Illustration for 2021 Bradenton Blues Festival Poster (created by Arte Coyoacan Gallery owner Alfredo Garcia in Village of the Arts); Silver in Logo Design for the “Love This City Bradenton” logo; and Silver in Film/Video/Sound Branded Content for “Our Fair City” music video.
• Alphonso Walker is 39. Again.
• When Southeast girls flag football opens Monday against Manatee, the Lady Noles will be led by new coach Elgin Hilliard. An alum of state prep power Miami Northwestern, he played quarterback at Florida International and Valdosta State, then for the Arena League’s Quad City Steamwheelers of Moline, Ill.
• And a bow to Rich Lansky. Braden River High’s respected strength and conditioning coach, who’s been in the profession 34 years, was inducted into the 2022 National High School Strength Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
• Whoa! Joey Kerns is one year shy of the Big 4-0!
• Manatee County Community Paramedic Chief Bradley Hughes and Paramedics Aaron Fullenwider and Ashley Robinson were recently certified through the International Board of Specialty Certifications.
• There will be “Shamrock Sur-prizes” today and the next two Sundays during Bingo, 1-4 p.m., at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, 833 Magellan Drive, Sarasota. Call 941-685-8663 for details.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.
Travis Burnett
A pioneer in the flag football community, Travis helped co-found the Flag Football World Championship Tour, FlagSpin and USA Flag. Featuring 15+ years of content creation for the sport of flag football, creating and managing the largest flag football tournaments on the planet, coaching experience at the youth and adult level as well as an active player with National and World Championship level experience.
