St. Joseph Eagles Gulf Coast League tennis champs

Big ups to Saint Joseph Catholic School’s tennis team, new Gulf Coast League Champions. They are Courtney Berardi, Danielle Bolle, Elijah Bolle, Karissa Bolle, Abby Cuva, Ethan Hudson, Jimmy Heagerty, Joey Heagerty and Noah Koike. Coach is Joe Cuva and assistant Jay Heagerty. Krys Kolbe is athletic director.

Good luck to the Miss Manatee 8-U All-Star team at the 2013 USSSA REC Ball Tournament this weekend at Palma Sola Park. The team includes Amanda Estling, Caitlin Flitcraft, Hailey Hirter, Brooke James, Amanda Lee, Riley O’Neill, Hannah Ott, Isabelle Pettis, Taylor Shephard, Miriam Traugutt, Kelsey Vogel, Jessica Wagner and Naomi Whinery. Coaches are Joe Ott, Laura Estling, Todd Lee and Jon James.

Manatee Cal Ripken Baseball’s 8U All stars are Christopher Conboy, Justin Cook, Alex Heintz, Judson Hildreth, Ashton Lamb, Jason McReynolds, Jack Muller, Ryan O’Sullivan, Dylan Reiser, Tristan Schellinger, Rylen Stockton, Jaden Stockton and Lucas Viera.The ballclub begins district tournament play at Ocala in June.
Coaches are Lee Heintz, Mike Stockton and Shane Reiser.Anyone interested in making a donation or being a sponsor call Kristin Heintz at 941-720-2356.

Read more Friday in Vin's People on Bradenton.com.

Favorite Ronde Barber memory? Not in football

My favorite Ronde Barber moment?
No, not his 2002 NFC championship clinching interception for a TD against my Philadelphia Eagles that sent the Bucs to the Super Bowl.
Nor his two INTs for TDs against the Eagles again in that 2006 regular season game won by the Bucs on a last-second 62-yard field goal at the RayJay.
Nope.
My favorite moment and memory of the Bucs nonpareil cornerback who retired Wednesday after a 16-year career happened on an offseason plane bound for Columbus, Ohio.
I was flying up for a wedding and noticed this fit-looking fellow a few seats away.
Ronde Barber?
Can't be.
Then it hit me.
We were both going to the same wedding.
Greg Bellisari's wedding.
I had coached Greg in T-ball many moons ago in Boca Raton, followed him in high school, then later at Ohio State and remained good friends with his family.
He made the Bucs as a rookie free agent at middle linebacker, backing up Hardy Nickerson and playing special teams for one season in 1997.
His best friend? Another rookie, Ronde Barber.
Anyway, I took a taxi from Port Columbus Airport to the church and who should arrive about the same time, but Greg's former teammate.
We finally met during the reception and joked about the coincidence, small world and all that.
I flew back to Tampa the next day.
Greg is now an orthopedic surgeon in Columbus and his friendship with Ronde is as strong as ever.
How strong?
Ronde is godfather to one of Greg and Mary Bellisari's four children.

Hear our orators of tomorrow on Saturday

Hear tomorrow's orators today.
Or make that Saturday.
That's when students in fourth, fifth and sixth grade, representing 35 Manatee County public, private and charter schools, will vie for top honors at the 44th annual 4-H/Tropicana Public Speaking Competition.
The event is at the Manatee County Agricultural Center, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto and starts at 9 a.m. with the finals around 2:30 p.m.
The inspiration for the 4-H/Tropicana Public Speaking program traces back to Inez Pettigrew, a devoted teacher at Palm View Elementary School, who began working with students on public speaking skills more than 60 years ago.
Then in 1969, 4-H and Tropicana teamed up to offer this program to all Manatee County elementary and middle school students.
The program is now offered statewide.
For details, call Diana Smith, the county's 4-H coordinator and extension agent at 941-722-4524, ext. 244.

Would fixed span help or hurt for Cortez Bridge?

It’s not often I get to do it, but I enjoy driving across high-level fixed bridges in Florida.
Admiring the sweeping elegance of Sarasota’s Ringling Causeway on a lazy Sunday cruise.
Being mesmerized by the vast Gulf of Mexico from the crest of the Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge on the way to visit longtime friends.
Taking in panoramic views from Florida’s East Coast high-level fixed bridges spanning the Intracoastal.
I’d like to imagine receiving the same aesthetic pleasure from such a soaring span replacing the old Cortez Bridge.
I just don’t know if it would work there.
What brings up that perennially nettlesome point are the Florida Department of Transportation’s unfolding plans for the aged 2,617-foot bridge that’s in dire need of repair or replacement.

Read more Sunday in Mannix About Manatee on Bradenton.com.

Heather Hills neighbors rally 'round disabled couple

The Lockwoods try out their new golf cart.

Heather Hills Estates came to the rescue for Susie and Henry Lockwood, the disabled couple whose golf cart was stolen recently.
Fellow residents chipped in, along with mobile home park owners Chris and Rick Stephens, and bought them another one.
The couple received the golf cart at an emotional presentation last Saturday morning.
“My sister came and said she was taking us shopping, so it really was a surprise,” Susie Lockwood said. “We’re going to send out thank you cards to everybody.”
Not necessary.
“The Good Samaritan didn’t walk by the injured man, but stopped and took care of him,” resident Vi Brunner said. “So have the residents of Heather Hills Estates.”
“A very happy ending,” resident Jan Gorsuch said.

Future Florida Gator Lauren Pierce, competing for KC & the Sunshine Dancers, took first place with her solo ballet at the Edge National Talent Competition in Winter Springs.

Doss, Betts, Butler and Jaworowski.

Big ups to Southeast High School FFA’s Zach Butler, Kaylee Betts, Alyssa Doss and Brie-Ann Jaworowski.
They’re 2013 state champs after topping a 52-team field at the recent State Vegetable Career Development Event in Gainesville.
Butler and Betts finished 1-2 in the competition where students had to identify:
65 kinds and varieties of vegetables.
35 harmful and beneficial insects.
28 different diseases that affect vegetables.
24 kinds of vegetable seeds.
15 types of weeds.
There was also an exam with 25 multiple choice questions related to vegetable gardens in Florida.
Mike Buckley is the FFA adviser.

Read more Friday in Vin's People on Bradenton.com.

Good roadside BBQ stand pleasure to find

Every Friday evening  I'd drive by the roadside barbecue stand, beep the horn and keep going.
Sherman would wave back amidst the billowing smoke.
Gotta stop and try out what he's got one of these times, I'd tell myself.
Yet I never did.
Until last Friday night
Glad, too.
For a change, Sherri and I weren't going shopping at Publix, our usual Friday night date, nor did we know what we'd be having for dinner.
It had been a long week for her anyway.
So as I drove by the familiar BBQ stand I pulled over.
I called my wife, told her where I was, what I had in mind for dinner and she said, "OK!"
One problem.
After asking how much for a half-a-rack of ribs and a whole chicken and then ordering same, I realized I was a few dollars short.
Story of my life.
Sherman won my undying gratitude.
And business.
"Pay me the rest next time," he said.
That half-a-rack of ribs was more like a whole slab and we ended up finishing the rest of the chicken for lunch Saturday.
They were excellent.
When I asked Sherman what he used, he said a couple of things I can't remember at the moment.
But I can't forget the last ingredient.
"A whole lotta love," he said.
We drove back by the BBQ stand Saturday afternoon and paid the man what we owed plus a tip.
Drivers beeped their horns while we were there.
Sherman waved back.
"Could be our Friday night routine," Sherri said as we drove away.
It is now.

Bashaw kindergartener was a bead magnet

Tatum Fisher (right), with unidentified pal, was a bead magnet.

If there was a contest for who collected the most beads last Saturday night at the DeSoto Heritage Festival Parade, my money would be on Tatum Fisher.
My wife and all the other folks who enjoyed the parade from our vicinity of Manatee Avenue's 2100 block by Gateway Bank will vouch for it.
The Bashaw Elementary School kindergartener was a bead magnet.
Folks on every float would spot the little pig-tailed girl dancing and waving and smiling and beads of all colors and shapes and lengths flew her way.
Then there were the walkers accompanying the floats, who draped more beads around Tatum's neck like precious necklaces.
She got them from us, too.

Jacks

People like yours truly, who aren't big on beads, were happy to give whatever descended our way to her, as well.
Tatum looked like she was wearing ropes of them at times, but not for long.
She'd take them off, hand them to a family member holding a bulging plastic bag, and go back to imploring the float folks for more.
Tatum wasn't the only one in our party who went home with their share of shiny swag.
So did Jacks. who didn't have to dance and wave and smile, but still ended up wearing a necklace of parade beads, too.
He's a 6-month-old lab mix puppy.