My desk phone rings plenty.
Mostly folks with story ideas, a tip or a column item.
Some want information.
Or just chew me out.
It goes with the territory.
But I did receive a phone call the other day that threw me for a moment.
It was a campaign rep for one of the candidates in Florida’s Republican presidential primary on Tuesday.
He identified himself and said he wanted to tell me about his White House office-seeker.
Hold on a second, pardner, I said.
Read more Sunday in Mannix About Manatee on Bradenton.com.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Southeast baseball Beast Feast Feb 3
Get your grub on at the annual Southeast Beast Feast, 2:30-8 p.m. Feb. 3 at the school cafeteria.The BBQ benefit for coach Dan Durrance’s Seminoles baseball team is co-sponsored by BJ’s Wholesale, Manasota Plumbing and Sam’s Club.
Call 741-3366, ext. 2217. Or email dadurrance@gmail.com.
When Palmetto football coach Dave Marino played at Rutgers in the 1980s, guess who was a grad assistant? New Bucs’ coach Greg Schiano.
The 13th annual Manatee Hurricanes Baseball Steakout & Reunion is Feb. 3 at McKechnie Field. Call head coach Dwayne Strong at 725-2293. Or Bruce Braithwaite at 720-9224.
Well done to Saint Joseph Catholic School’s winners in the Knights of Columbus Council #5604 Spelling Bee.
Lexi Boynes and MaryAnn Placheril went 1-2 in grades 7/8.
Ben Cendana and Elijah Gelongo were 1-2 in grades 5/6.
Not to be outdone, seventh-graders Leah Roddenberry, Mark Causin and Nate Ellis went 1-2-3 in the annual VFW essay contest.
Remember the national anthem auditions 9 a.m. Saturday at McKechnie Field, 1611 Ninth St. W.
Call Kris Koch at 747-3031, ext. 4361. Or email kris.koch@pirates.com.
Read more Friday in Vin's People on Bradenton.com.
Call 741-3366, ext. 2217. Or email dadurrance@gmail.com.
When Palmetto football coach Dave Marino played at Rutgers in the 1980s, guess who was a grad assistant? New Bucs’ coach Greg Schiano.
The 13th annual Manatee Hurricanes Baseball Steakout & Reunion is Feb. 3 at McKechnie Field. Call head coach Dwayne Strong at 725-2293. Or Bruce Braithwaite at 720-9224.
Well done to Saint Joseph Catholic School’s winners in the Knights of Columbus Council #5604 Spelling Bee.
Lexi Boynes and MaryAnn Placheril went 1-2 in grades 7/8.
Ben Cendana and Elijah Gelongo were 1-2 in grades 5/6.
Not to be outdone, seventh-graders Leah Roddenberry, Mark Causin and Nate Ellis went 1-2-3 in the annual VFW essay contest.
Remember the national anthem auditions 9 a.m. Saturday at McKechnie Field, 1611 Ninth St. W.
Call Kris Koch at 747-3031, ext. 4361. Or email kris.koch@pirates.com.
Read more Friday in Vin's People on Bradenton.com.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
McKechnie auditions too good for Tyler
Steven Tyler's abominable singing (if you can call it that) of our national anthem at last Sunday's AFC championship game got me to thinking.
The rock icon burnout would've bombed at McKechnie Field this Saturday morning.
That's when the Pirates and Marauders are holding auditions for singers good enough to perform the Star Spangled Banner.
He isn't.
Tyler probably would've put people in the stands for a Grapefruit League game, but so what.
Guaranteed they would've booed his skinny rear end out of the ballpark.
But enough about him.
The national anthem auditions are always a fun experience at McKechnie.
Unless you happen to be one of those unlucky people who forgets the words in mid-song.
That hasn't happened a lot in the years I've covered them.
Most folks perform smoothly, despite the elements (seems it's always windy) and the funky PA system setup where singers can hear themselves like an echo.
You get all types auditioning, too.
The truly talented types who make the cut year after year.
The young lady who talks in a whisper, yet belts out our national anthem like a virtuoso.
The woman who is out for her regular morning run, hears the singing and decides to try out herself.
The waitress you've been served by so many times, yet you didn't know she could sing like that.
I wonder if she'll be there again Saturday.
I'm looking forward to finding out.
They'll all put Steven what's-his-face to shame.
"Oooooh, say, can you seeeee ... "
The rock icon burnout would've bombed at McKechnie Field this Saturday morning.
That's when the Pirates and Marauders are holding auditions for singers good enough to perform the Star Spangled Banner.
He isn't.
Tyler probably would've put people in the stands for a Grapefruit League game, but so what.
Guaranteed they would've booed his skinny rear end out of the ballpark.
But enough about him.
The national anthem auditions are always a fun experience at McKechnie.
Unless you happen to be one of those unlucky people who forgets the words in mid-song.
That hasn't happened a lot in the years I've covered them.
Most folks perform smoothly, despite the elements (seems it's always windy) and the funky PA system setup where singers can hear themselves like an echo.
You get all types auditioning, too.
The truly talented types who make the cut year after year.
The young lady who talks in a whisper, yet belts out our national anthem like a virtuoso.
The woman who is out for her regular morning run, hears the singing and decides to try out herself.
The waitress you've been served by so many times, yet you didn't know she could sing like that.
I wonder if she'll be there again Saturday.
I'm looking forward to finding out.
They'll all put Steven what's-his-face to shame.
"Oooooh, say, can you seeeee ... "
Monday, January 23, 2012
Fair was one heck of a party, all right
This was two weeks ago, the Monday before the start of the 96th annual Manatee County Fair.
Fair manager Dan West was running around the fairgrounds, taking calls, making calls, checking on this and that while he got back into his SUV.
Before he took off, though, he said something that said, he's got the right outlook on this 11-day affair.
What, Dan West worry?
"You know how you plan a party, making sure everything is ready, and checking things and re-checking things before it starts?" he said. "That's what the fair is like --- one big party. And when it starts and everybody shows up, you join right in and hope everybody has a good time."
Sounds like it was a whale of a party.
A record total of 172,400 people went to the fair, which wrapped up last Sunday, shattering the old high of 155,000 set by the 2006 fair.
The terrific weather throughout made a huge difference.
It used to be when the fair rolled around, rain came with it.
You could count on it.
Not this year.
The showers that fell one evening last week hardly mattered.
I'm sure a lot of folks who were outside during the past week-and-a-half would stop, take a moment to bask in the sunshine say, yes, it's another good day for the fair.
My family and I were at the fair during one of those glorious days.
Walked all around. Ate fair food. Rode the ferris wheel.
Had a real good time.
Yeah, Dan West and those fair folks sure threw a heck of a party, all right.
Fair manager Dan West was running around the fairgrounds, taking calls, making calls, checking on this and that while he got back into his SUV.
Before he took off, though, he said something that said, he's got the right outlook on this 11-day affair.
What, Dan West worry?
"You know how you plan a party, making sure everything is ready, and checking things and re-checking things before it starts?" he said. "That's what the fair is like --- one big party. And when it starts and everybody shows up, you join right in and hope everybody has a good time."
Sounds like it was a whale of a party.
A record total of 172,400 people went to the fair, which wrapped up last Sunday, shattering the old high of 155,000 set by the 2006 fair.
The terrific weather throughout made a huge difference.
It used to be when the fair rolled around, rain came with it.
You could count on it.
Not this year.
The showers that fell one evening last week hardly mattered.
I'm sure a lot of folks who were outside during the past week-and-a-half would stop, take a moment to bask in the sunshine say, yes, it's another good day for the fair.
My family and I were at the fair during one of those glorious days.
Walked all around. Ate fair food. Rode the ferris wheel.
Had a real good time.
Yeah, Dan West and those fair folks sure threw a heck of a party, all right.
Friday, January 20, 2012
A man to be admired, emulated, mourned
A loving dad and husband.
A good coach.
A super neighbor.
Don Vautrinot was all those and more, attest friends and members of the Bradenton Christian School family.
A man to be admired.
A man to be emulated.
A man to be mourned.
Last Wednesday Mr. Vautrinot was found dead after an apparent weight-lifting accident at home, a tragedy that tears at the fabric of our community.
That his daughters Katie, 12, and sister Lauren, 10, discovered their dad like that is unimaginably painful.
So is such a sudden loss for his wife, Lynne.
Read more Sunday in Mannix About Manatee on Bradenton.com.
A good coach.
A super neighbor.
Don Vautrinot was all those and more, attest friends and members of the Bradenton Christian School family.
A man to be admired.
A man to be emulated.
A man to be mourned.
Last Wednesday Mr. Vautrinot was found dead after an apparent weight-lifting accident at home, a tragedy that tears at the fabric of our community.
That his daughters Katie, 12, and sister Lauren, 10, discovered their dad like that is unimaginably painful.
So is such a sudden loss for his wife, Lynne.
Read more Sunday in Mannix About Manatee on Bradenton.com.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Rowlett's drum line makes big noise
Big ups to the Strikers, Rowlett Magnet Elementary School’s drum line.
Ably coached in cool and cadence by music specialist Cathy Noeth, they strutted their stuff in red berets and shades and brought down the house during the Manatee County Fair’s second annual drum line competition.
The Strikers are Katia Armonda, Jack Barnard, Jayden Bayne, Luke Brunner, Dyjore Holmes, Eli Jeffs, Aliyah Lopes, Mark Lozado, Victoria Thomas and Leland Wheeler.
A salute to Bayshore High senior Olivia Trevorrow, who received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy.
Speaking of crowd pleasing performances by our town’s students, “Yes, We Can Dance!” returns March 24 at State College of Florida’s Neel Performing Arts Center.
The fourth annual showcase will have a 3 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 performance, featuring high school teams from Bayshore, Braden River, Lakewood Ranch, Manatee, Palmetto, Southeast and Manatee School for the Arts along with middle school teams from Braden River, Haile, Lee and Sugg.
The event has been an annual hit, but needs business/organization sponsorships to continue.
Email Helen Dolbec at bhsmabear@verizon.net.
Props to Kevin Thielen, a new Eagle Scout for Troop 181 at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church.
The Southeast High senior planned, fundraised and built a recovery cage for raptors at Crowley Nature Museum.
Mark, Charlotte and Michael are proud.
Read more Friday in Vin's People on Bradenton.com.
Ably coached in cool and cadence by music specialist Cathy Noeth, they strutted their stuff in red berets and shades and brought down the house during the Manatee County Fair’s second annual drum line competition.
The Strikers are Katia Armonda, Jack Barnard, Jayden Bayne, Luke Brunner, Dyjore Holmes, Eli Jeffs, Aliyah Lopes, Mark Lozado, Victoria Thomas and Leland Wheeler.
A salute to Bayshore High senior Olivia Trevorrow, who received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy.
Speaking of crowd pleasing performances by our town’s students, “Yes, We Can Dance!” returns March 24 at State College of Florida’s Neel Performing Arts Center.
The fourth annual showcase will have a 3 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 performance, featuring high school teams from Bayshore, Braden River, Lakewood Ranch, Manatee, Palmetto, Southeast and Manatee School for the Arts along with middle school teams from Braden River, Haile, Lee and Sugg.
The event has been an annual hit, but needs business/organization sponsorships to continue.
Email Helen Dolbec at bhsmabear@verizon.net.
Props to Kevin Thielen, a new Eagle Scout for Troop 181 at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church.
The Southeast High senior planned, fundraised and built a recovery cage for raptors at Crowley Nature Museum.
Mark, Charlotte and Michael are proud.
Read more Friday in Vin's People on Bradenton.com.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Drum line camaraderie trumps competition
It was the coolest thing and kept happening over and over.
During Tuesday night's high school drum line competition at the Manatee County Fair, one drum line would be performing, singing out a chant as they rocked, rattled and rolled --- and the other drum lines would call out the chants right along with them from the stands.
For instance, Lakewood Ranch was up, performing and chanting.
Nearby Southeast chanted right with them, waving their arms, bopping along.
Manatee, too.
So did Bayshore over on the other side of the Bright House Main Stage tent.
What gives?
Bob Schaer, Ranch's estimable band director, indulged me.
"All these kids know each other and respect what everybody else does," he said. "The drum line world is a family. No matter what school you're from, they call and cheer for each other. It's very cool."
So "competition" is a misnomer, because it's more about camaraderie.
That was evidenced, as well, by the high- and low-fives drum line members from the Ranch and Braden River exchanged as the latter finished performing and left the stage area.
Bayshore got the same warm reception after its performance.
"These kids like seeing other schools and what they're doing," said Danny Boyd, the Golden Regiment's new band director. "They're all doing the same thing and they respect how much work it takes to get where they're at."
Even when it came down to determining the night's winner -- judges used a decibel meter to gauge each drum line's level of crowd support -- each team cheered for the other.
Southeast was the champion, but all those drum lines were champs Tuesday night.
During Tuesday night's high school drum line competition at the Manatee County Fair, one drum line would be performing, singing out a chant as they rocked, rattled and rolled --- and the other drum lines would call out the chants right along with them from the stands.
For instance, Lakewood Ranch was up, performing and chanting.
Nearby Southeast chanted right with them, waving their arms, bopping along.
Manatee, too.
So did Bayshore over on the other side of the Bright House Main Stage tent.
What gives?
Bob Schaer, Ranch's estimable band director, indulged me.
"All these kids know each other and respect what everybody else does," he said. "The drum line world is a family. No matter what school you're from, they call and cheer for each other. It's very cool."
So "competition" is a misnomer, because it's more about camaraderie.
That was evidenced, as well, by the high- and low-fives drum line members from the Ranch and Braden River exchanged as the latter finished performing and left the stage area.
Bayshore got the same warm reception after its performance.
"These kids like seeing other schools and what they're doing," said Danny Boyd, the Golden Regiment's new band director. "They're all doing the same thing and they respect how much work it takes to get where they're at."
Even when it came down to determining the night's winner -- judges used a decibel meter to gauge each drum line's level of crowd support -- each team cheered for the other.
Southeast was the champion, but all those drum lines were champs Tuesday night.
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