Christmas arrives early at Palmetto Historical Park

Ready for an early taste of that holiday spirit?
Then check out the festivities at an old-fashioned Christmas at Palmetto Historical Park and Manatee County Agricultural Museum.
It's from 5-9 p.m., Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and there is something for everyone.
There will be creatively decorated buildings, vintage toy exhibits, children's crafts, entertainment and, of course, Santa.
Among featured activities will be letters to Santa, contests for prizes, letters to soldiers, birdfeeders with FFA, recipes to collect in each of the park buildings and a “Memory Tree” in the Military Museum.
Santa will arrive by fire truck at 6 p.m.
Bring a camera for a photo with Santa.
Food vendors on the premises include Demetrio’s Pizza, Word of Mouth BBQ and Snack It To Me.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand will be raising funds for children’s cancer research and the Sweet Shop will raise funds for family programming.
In the spirit of Christmas, help needy families by bringing canned goods for First United Methodist Church of Palmetto’s food pantry and drop them off at park entrances.
The park is 515 10th Ave. W., Palmetto.
Call 941-721-2034.
Admission is free.

Monday night drive home an eventful one

Driving home from work most nights is an uneventful 20-minute ride.
Monday evening was an exception.
Heading south on First Street I saw a couple of Bradenton's finest parked in the turn lane opposite RaceTrac.
Their cruiser lights were flashing.
Traffic stop? Fender bender?
Oh, man. Don't let it be another bicyclist like the man who was struck trying to cross First Street and died.
It wasn't.
It was a dog.
The pooch was on its side, bleeding, and a motorist was trying to comfort it as best she could while the police looked on.
A sad sight.
Hope they were able to save the dog.
Continuing onto US 301, I drove over the ramp and headed for the light at Ninth Street East.
Off to the right I could see a man on a bicycle pedaling full tilt boogie north toward the intersection with US 301.
The light was still green for me.
Is this guy going to stop or what? I said.
It sure didn't look like it.
I don't drive fast anyway, but slowed down.
The bicyclist swerved behind me and continued pedaling north across US 301.
Thankfully, the rest of my drive home was uneventful.
Whew!

Veterans Day epitaph for World War II soldier

Lorraine and Warren Sweetman

Warren Sweetman would sit at the counter in Popi’s Place IV eating breakfast, one of the regulars who enjoyed the family diner in Ellenton.
New patrons might take him for another retiree until they spotted his World War II veterans ballcap.
Maybe they’d nod respectfully and leave it at that.
Or maybe they’d ask him about the war.
Whether they did, the decorated infantryman was content to be in their company.
“When I see a family ... at the restaurant, I just feel like I had the privilege to fight so those people could go and do that,” he told the Bradenton Herald in 2004.
It’s a shame they won't see him anymore.
Sweetman died Oct. 23.
The former construction worker and Palmetto volunteer firefighter was 89.
Pancreatic cancer did what German artillery and machine gun fire could not.
Another member of the Greatest Generation is gone.
Sweetman will be memorialized at a military service 3 p.m. Nov. 16, at Impact Community Church, 209 Seventh St. W., Palmetto.

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

Get your dog ready for Guinness Sit-Stay Challenge

 

Trish Antonelli holds a sit-stay boot camp for dogs 10 a.m. Saturday at Bishop Animal Shelter, 5718 21st Ave. W., Bradenton, to prepare for the Guinness Sit-Stay Challenge, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Bishop.
Call Trish at 941-544-6907. Or call Laurie Crawford at 941-746-3611.

What do Chris Ciaccio, Dr. Joe Ganey, Mark Goodson, Ernie Lisch, Stewart Moon Jr., Chris Pennewill Jr., Will Robinson and Tim Vining have in common?
They’ll be honored Nov. 16 by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County as the 2012 Magnetic Men of Manatee for their personal achievements, community involvement and philanthropy.
The event, “Little Wishes, Big Dreams,” presented by Florida Community Bank, is 6:30 p.m. at the Bradenton Auditorium.
Bay News 9’s Summer Smith will emcee.
For ticket information call 941-761-2582. Or visit www.bgcmanatee.org.

Like good blue grass?
The Bradenton Elks, 2511 75th St. W., have a treat for you then when they host Highway 41 South, a renowned blue grass band 5 p.m. Nov. 17.
Call 941-792-1511 for details.
Tell them Dewey Eason sent you.

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

Audobon offers beginning bird watching course

Ever wanted to take up bird watching as a hobby?
Here's your chance to do so.
The Manatee County Audubon Society is offering an invitation to wildlife photographers interested in learning bird identification and location skills by taking the 2013 MCAS Beginning Bird Watching Course taught by Nancy and Bob Dean.
Information about bird behavior may be especially interesting to videographers as
well as folks who are simply charmed by the antics of the colorful creatures.
The Deans will teach the 2013 course 6:30-9 p.m. Jan. 21, 24, 28 and 31 2013 at the First United
Methodist Church of Palmetto, 330 11th Ave. W.
The course includes two full-day field trips that begin at 7 a.m., Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, 2013
Fee is $50 plus the 2013 MCAS membership fee ($20).
Reservations are first come first served and must be reconfirmed between Jan. 11-18, 2013.
Call Nancy Dean at 941-792-9235. Or email: nancybobdean@juno.com.

No more TV campaign spots, no more robo-calls...

It's almost over.
No more TV spots.
No more mailers.
No more robo-calls.
Election day is almost here.
THANK GOD!
If I never hear "I'm (fill-in-the-name) and I approve this message" again it will be too soon.
The past month or more I would hit the mute button on our TV remote as fast as I could. 
I didn't always get to it in time, but my intentions were good.
Whether they were about the presidential campaign or the U.S. Senate or Congressional races, the TV spots passed the saturation point long ago.
Enough is enough.
That goes for the robo-calls, too.
Eeeeegad!
They started up the last couple of week and have increased exponentially in number and level of annoyance.
I hit the off button on our wireless phones as quickly as I can, too.
But I listened to one Monday morning for a few seconds.
"Hi, this is Pat Boone. Yes, that Pat Boone, the one who sang ... "
I laughed and turned it off.
Pat Boone?
I thought he was dead.

Reunion for Hurricanes 1992 state champions

Ex-Canes, Auburn's Mike Blakeley, Ole Miss's Chris Conley, after Oct. 13 Rebel win.

The Manatee Hurricanes 1992 state champions will be honored at a special reunion in conjunction with tonight’s Sarasota-Manatee Class 7A-District 10 finale at Hawkins Stadium.
The one-and-only coach Eddie Shannon, now 90 years young, will also receive a special award and recognition.
The celebration begins 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.

Main Street at Lakewood Ranch will hold its monthly Music on Main concert today at 6 p.m.
Shotgun Justice will entertain.
Volunteers and supporters of Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART), will be serving beer, wine and bottled water during the evening. Proceeds will benefit SMART.
Visit www.smartriders.org or www.facebook.com/smartriders.
Or call 941-907-9243.

Who will be Mr. Sugar ‘Cane?
Manatee High’s Zane Butler, Christian Diaz, Matt Dinius, Michael Galati, Zach Hill, Dixon Jernigan, Danny Kerwin, Yuri Pereira, Zach Stephenson, Alex Timmerman and Aaron Vanhook will vie for the title at the annual Sugar ‘Cane fashion show fundraiser 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
It’s at the Davis Performing Arts Theater.
Former Sugar ‘Cane and DeSoto queen Caitlen Murrell will emcee.

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




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