Keep Manatee Beautiful seeks volunteers and sponsors for Earth Day Manatee on April 18, a community-wide effort also celebrating America 250 in Bradenton and Palmetto.
Events will go on simultaneously from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., including beautification projects such as tree and flower plantings, litter cleanups and more, thanks to a partnership between Keep Florida Beautiful, both cities, and Manatee County Government.
Folks volunteering as individuals or representing businesses and organizations are encouraged to preregister, wear closed toe shoes, bring a reusable water bottle, and dress for planting activities.
For details, visit: manateebeautiful.com.
· Happy trails to retiring Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputies Damon Ackerman (34 years), Jonny Simpson (29) and Beverly Barbieri (14).
· Good luck to Dr. Giovanna Durman and Dr. Alfred Thomas, internal medicine resident physicians from Manatee Memorial’s Graduate Medical Education program and 2026-27 Future Fellows. Durman will pursue Geriatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Thomas will pursue Pulmonary/Critical Care at the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport.
· Well done to Shannon Johnson, Palmetto Boys and Girls Club 2026 Youth of the Year.
· Props to Parrish Community High’s new cheerleading teams.
The varsity includes Bella Ashley, Layla Brunner, Kavya Carmen, Linsey Coffey, Cheyenne Crabtree, Isabella Fontaine, Ava Gagne, Payton Harvill, Kemrie Hynson, Alexis Jackson, Kiley Johns, Laura-Li Lamprecht, Julia Michel, Aubrey Mitchell, Sasha Montanus, Morgan Olney, Maddie Osborne, Addison Pearman, Lana Pozzie, Caitlin Revell, Adreanah Sabolesky, Ella Sergi, Ruby Stith, Brooke Tenorio, Brooklyn Ward, Kendall Williams and Haidyn Wylie.
The JV includes Kennedy Ballard, Olivia Baty, Jordyn Brown,Maddie Butz, Keelyn Camburn, Alyse Davis, Chloe Gordon, Chloe Harmon, Nevaeh Harmon, Janelle Hills, Tori Keane, Annabelle Licata, Avery Quinn, Kayliz Rodriguez Ortiz, Nomaris Rodriguez Ortiz, Rebecca Shone, Maggie Smith, Vanessa Storm, Khloe Vavra and Charlie Weenk.
· Polli Geyer Stroup is 39. Again.
· The 2026 Bradenton Marauders host “Meet the Players” Tuesday at LECOM Park. Gates open at 5 p.m. There will be autographs and meet-and-greets with players and coaches followed by a practice-simulation game.
The fan plaza will be open with concessions, inflatables, cornhole and more.
The Marauders first home game is April 7 against the Palm Beach Cardinals.
For details, call 941-747-3031, visit BradentonMarauders.com or email MaraudersInfo@pirates.com.
· Oh, no! Ilya Stemkovsky hit the Big 5-0!
· When the exclusive golf club near Bob and Pam Carroll’s place advertised openings for range attendants, he decided to apply. But the retired Southeast Hall of Fame boys basketball coach decided to have a little fun with the application.
He wrote he didn’t want to get paid or work that much.
“I just want to play golf,” he said.
The application was rejected.
“They don’t have a sense of humor,” he joked.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Earth Day Manatee needs volunteers for April 18 events
Reporting by Vin Mannix, Special to the Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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