The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 14 No. 23 - April 2, 2014

sports

Youth flag football awards presented

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

scott dell | submitted

AMICC Flag Football Female MVP award to
Ava Alderson, Hagan Powers and Moriah Goode.

The 2014 Anna Maria Island Community Center’s youth NFL Flag Football season concluded with the annual awards ceremony.

The co-ed youth league is a recreational fun league where everyone participates. The awards ceremony honors every participant with some sort of an award and individual recognition on stage. No matter what age and what ability, everyone walked away from the ceremony with something.

The ceremony also honors those teams and individuals for their success during the season on the field. The Community Center gives away first place trophies for the regular season champions and also for individual accomplishments.

Regular season first place trophies were awarded to the West Coast Air Conditioning and Heating Dolphins in the 8-10-year-old age division, the LPAC Cardinals in the 11-13-year-old age division and the Mr. Bones Bengals in the 14-17-year-old age division.

Individual trophies were awarded to the Sportsmanship recipients Tuna McCracken in the 8-10-year-old age division, Ben Dalto in the 11-13-year-old age division and to Andrew Zink in the 14-17-year-old age division.

Individual trophies were awarded to the Defensive Player recipients Evan Christenson in the 8-10-year-old age division, Bathie Thiam in the 11-13-year-old age division and to Danny Doyle in the 14-17-year-old age division.

Individual trophies were awarded to the Female Most Valuable Player recipients Ava Alderson in the 8-10-year-old age division, Hagan Powers in the 11-13-year-old age division and to Moriah Goode in the 14-17-year-old age division.

Individual trophies were awarded to the Male Most Valuable Player recipients Gavin Johnston in the 8-10-year-old age division, Michael Latimer in the 11-13-year-old age division and to Danny Doyle in the 14-17-year-old age division.

The entire flag football season will conclude on Wednesday, April 2, with the last Super Bowl game in the 18-year-old and up division. The number two seeded Beach to Bay Construction Dolphins team plays the number four seeded Duffy’s Tavern Eagles team in the league’s final game.

Healthy food can taste great

As a TV reporter ages ago, I used to get paid the big bucks (ha) getting all sides to a story and doing the research it takes. So this volunteer column is the result of my week’s experiences and what I can write in two to three hours time. I always hope to inspire and prevent needless suffering of humans and animals that occurs way too often.

It is my belief that in our area, it would be a huge financial benefit if we had more vegan restaurants. Really vegan restaurants.

Like the exclusively vegan restaurant Ionie’s in Sarasota. My friend, Carl Lovejoy, is the amazing chef there. Check out restaurants’ Facebook pages or websites to see what they’re serving.

What I love are restaurants that aren’t afraid to say they are vegan in their name. Leafy Greens in St. Petersburg is an example. The first yelp review says, “Very fresh ingredients and the largest dehydrator I've ever seen combine for a menu that is very palatable even to non-vegans. 

Highly recommend the chilled curry soup, spinach salad with berry dressing, Mediterranean pizza and The Real Deal.

Also, the vegan chocolate lava cake is the perfect balance of dates and cacao. This is the way things should be. Healthy food can taste great!”

My problem is that I’ve traveled the country on book tour, and my publisher and others have taken me to the best and outrageously, financially successful vegan restaurants. Karyn’s on Greens in Chicago, The Chicago Diner, Café Gratitude all over California, New York’s Candle 79, San Francisco’s Millenium, Philly’s Vedge are just a sampling of restaurants that are exclusively vegan and even boast it in their titles.

Guess what? All those cities have lots of people, I bet, who travel here and would love an exclusively vegan restaurant option. I for one, would be a regular. Even an exclusively vegetarian restaurant on the Island would be awesome.

Speaking of food, the deadline is approaching to register for my noon Taste of Vegan cooking classes at the Anna Maria Island Community Center on all Thursdays in February. Fresh Market has donated the food. To whet your appetite, here’s what I’ll be demonstrating, and what you get to eat:

Feb. 6: Eating/Staying Fit on $4/Day – Thai no-fry spring rolls, braised collards, stone-broke soup;

Feb. 13: Getting Enough Protein on Just Plants – garbanzo bean salad, tempeh broccoli saute, breakfast scramble;

Feb. 20: Sumptious Salads – easy bean salad, community garden salad, tropical salad;

Feb. 27: Delectable Desserts – chocolate mousse, coconut ice cream, heavenly Island smoothies.

We had a small, but mighty, turnout to brave the cool temps at my free Manatee Public Beach hour-long, mini-workout last week. I start with warm-ups that have kept me injury free, then a walk and or run, depending on group interests, and cool down stretches. Feel free to join us every Monday at 9 a.m. at the Manatee Public Beach playground.

All abilities are welcome. I separate the group if needed. We’re always there as long as the temperature is 50 degrees or warmer. If it’s windy, bring a windbreaker and a towel and water. And I promise never to mention the “v” (vegan) word unless you ask.

I placed first in my age group at the Bradenton YMCA 5K this weekend – the 63rd time placing in a race since 2006. I thought it would be a gentle cross-country course on the county fairgrounds. Instead, it wound through the actual fair itself – heavy lighter fluid, BBQ smoke, people smoking and a fuel truck that blocked the narrow path at one point. But I got to hold my trophy by the Beef-It’s What’s For Dinner sign.

I’ll be attempting the marathon in Celebration next weekend. I’ve been spending way too much time in the chair writing. Sitting is the new smoking you know.

You can follow Island resident Ellen Jaffe Jones on her Facebook page and keep up with her just released book:,"Eat Vegan on $4 a Day," or her website: www.vegcoach.com. She is also a nationally certified personal trainer and running coach. For training in a gym or private hire, contact Ellen at ejones@vegcoach.com or 941-704-1025.


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