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AMI Chamber awards scholarships

AMI Chamber awards scholarships

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, Business.

HOLMES BEACH – The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Business Card Exchanges are always a great networking event, but the March 28 exchange at LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air was extra special for two area high school seniors who were each awarded $1,000 college scholarships by the chamber.

Bryanna Sparks and Jacob Burdette were on hand to accept their awards and meet Island business owners and managers.

According to AMI Chamber President Terri Kinder, money for the scholarships is raised through the organization’s annual Bayfest event, as well as the annual chamber golf tournament.

“Portions of the proceeds from those two major events is what funds our scholarships,” Kinder said. “We have a committee that does the scholarship awards. This year we had a record 26 applications for the scholarships. They all go to the committee, which scores the scholarships.”

Only two of three scholarships were given out at the event. One of the winners, Nathan Rupprecht, was away with his family for spring break, so his award will be given at the next April business card exchange with the Anna Maria Island Historical Society. Kinder said the historical society, which will be awarding its own scholarships at the upcoming exchange, was gracious enough to allow the chamber to award its final chamber scholarship then.

BRYANNA SPARKS

Sparks is graduating from Manatee High School after excelling in its Medical Academy and serving in leadership roles as president of both Future Health Professionals and the National Honor Society. She also serves as webmaster for Key Club. Sparks has been active in Girl Scouts since 2011, including receiving the Gold Award for her focus on maternal mental health. She also has over 300 hours of community service, including Downtown Ministries, Blake Hospital and work with the homeless population.

Sparks plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in biology and then work toward her goal of becoming a pediatrician in Bradenton, attending LECOM for her doctorate in osteopathic medicine.

JACOB BURDETTE

Burdette is graduating from Manatee High School in the top 1% of his class. His long list of honors includes AP Scholar Distinction, AP Capstone Diploma, White M, National Honor Society, Junior Manatee & Boys State Leadership and more. Burdette is also an Eagle Scout and has more than 225 hours of community service. Burdette has been accepted to the University of Florida to pursue a bachelor’s in business finance and a master’s in business administration with a minor in chemistry.

Bowlers roll to raise funds for Center

Bowlers roll to raise funds for Center

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – Several hundred people gathered Saturday night with a common goal in mind – to support The Center of Anna Maria Island.

All 64 lanes of the Bowlero Bradenton bowling alley were sold out, filled with participants in the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament, a fundraiser for The Center. This year marks the first time that the tournament took over the entire bowling alley.

This year’s winners were Salty Dolphin for best team; Joey Newell won for top-scoring male with a 266-point single game and Cali Hanson won for top-scoring female with 184 points. The Gutter Ball winner was Dhaval Patel. Charlie Serra won the Top Kid award, and the Morey Foundation hippies team, sponsored by Laura King, won Best Costume.

“We sold out,” Center Executive Director Christopher Culhane said. “All of the proceeds will benefit The Center.” Culhane declined to speculate on the anticipated amount of funds raised by the event.

The cost of participation was $50 per person; $700 for Signature Lane sponsors; $450 for Lane sponsors with six players; and $250 for Lane sponsors without players.

The event also featured multiple silent auction items.

The tournament was named for Greg LaPensee, who passed away on Dec. 21, 2021 at the age of 39, and was sponsored by his family’s business.

“Thank you to LaPensee Plumbing • Pools • Air for sponsoring and to the LaPensee Family for all you have done to help grow this event into what it is now,” The Center’s Facebook page said. “A huge shout out to the committee – Carlee LaPensee, Ashley Chiles and Janae Rudacille – and staff for all of their hard work.”

A non-profit community center, The Center on Magnolia Avenue meets the needs of those living on or near the Island, and serves all ages, including youths, teens and senior citizens.

The Center’s Director of Development Jim McDaniel, local restaurateur and philanthropist Bob Slicker and Carlee LaPensee celebrate the life of her late husband, Greg, on Sept. 10 at the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament benefiting The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Shona Otto | Sun

The Center’s Director of Development Jim McDaniel, local restaurateur and philanthropist Bob Slicker and Carlee LaPensee celebrate the life of her late husband, Greg, on Sept. 10 at the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament benefiting The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Shona Otto | Sun

Team Salty Dolphin took home the trophy for best team during the bowling tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

Team Salty Dolphin took home the trophy for best team during the bowling tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

Team Duncan Real Estate brought a crowd, but it wasn’t enough to beat out the Salty Dolphin group for top team in this year’s bowling tournament. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Team Duncan Real Estate brought a crowd, but it wasn’t enough to beat out the Salty Dolphin group for top team in this year’s bowling tournament. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

All 64 lanes at Bowlero Bradenton were sold out for this year’s Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

All 64 lanes at Bowlero Bradenton were sold out for this year’s Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

From left, Jane Engelke and Shona Otto get ready to try their luck bowling for top honors. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

From left, Jane Engelke and Shona Otto get ready to try their luck bowling for top honors. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Carlee and Chandler LaPensee help Center board Chair David Zaccagnino and Shawn Shields with the awards at the 2022 Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

Carlee and Chandler LaPensee help Center board Chair David Zaccagnino and Shawn Shields with the awards at the 2022 Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

Even the younger bowlers got in on the costume contest fun during the bowling tournament. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Even the younger bowlers got in on the costume contest fun during the bowling tournament. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Center board Chair David Zaccagnino shows off one of his favorite costumes of the night. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Center board Chair David Zaccagnino shows off one of his favorite costumes of the night. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

The trophies weren’t the only things up for grabs at the Center’s 2022 bowling tournament held at Bowlero Bradenton. - Shona Otto | Sun

The trophies weren’t the only things up for grabs at the Center’s 2022 bowling tournament held at Bowlero Bradenton. - Shona Otto | Sun

Score a strike at the LaPensee Bowling Tournament

Center fans rock the lanes at bowling tournament

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Bowling, Featured, Sports.

BRADENTON – More than 300 bowlers took to the lanes Sept. 8 in a bowling tournament that was more about comradery than competition.

Bowlers filled 52 sponsored lanes for the annual LaPensee Bowling Tournament held at the AMF Bradenton Lanes. Two kids’ lanes, sponsored by the Zaccagnino and Talucci families, were filled with laughter and a lot of excitement as children took turns rolling bowling balls down the lanes. After taking a year off in 2017, the tournament returned stronger than ever as one of the primary fundraisers for The Center of Anna Maria Island, this year bringing in more than $15,000 in sales and donations.

bowling
From left: Center Board Chair David Zaccagnino; 50-50 winner Martha Jones, who donated half her winnings back to the Center; event chair Karen Harlee; and Cindy Jones, Martha’s mom. – Chantelle Lewin | Sun

Throughout the three-game tournament, bowlers cheered on each other and surrounding teams as some people rolled strikes and others rolled gutter balls. Everyone agreed they had a great time as they came out to support the Center in one of the organization’s signature events. Though the competition was all in good fun, there were a few awards handed out.

The bees of Team Bins Be Clean took home the award for best team costume, beating out the “Dodgeball” inspired costumes from Team Purvis. Young bowler Fiona McCarthy took home the award for the highest kids score. Bowler Charles Wade, from the team from Roser Memorial Community Church, won the award for the highest male score after bowling three nearly perfect games. Lauren Powell took home the highest scoring female bowler award. The award for lowest male score went to Greg McKinney, while Isabella Miller took home the award for the lowest scoring female in the bowling tournament.

In addition to competing for awards, bowlers also were competing against each other for silent auction items and raffle prizes along with $603 in the 50/50 raffle. Auction and raffle prizes included gift baskets from local businesses, a two-hour sunset cruise with Capt. Ben Webb, an original artwork print by artist Patricia Bowers, a trip to LEGO Land, a fishing charter and a one-year family membership to the Center. The two largest raffle prizes were a grill donated by Rice’s Appliances and a beach cruiser bicycle donated by Beach Bums. Winner of the bicycle, Alex Harllee, even considered taking the bicycle for a quick spin through the bowling alley at the urging of Center board chair David Zaccagnino causing a round of laughter to erupt from nearby bowlers.

While not everyone went home with an award or a prize, everyone agreed they had a great time. Center executive director Chris Culhane said the tournament was a lot of fun for everyone involved.

“We’re thankful to everyone who came out tonight,” he said.

Lapensee bowling 2016 champions

LaPensee Bowling Tournament to benefit Center

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News.

Dust off your bowling shoes and come out to the AMF Lanes, 4208 Cortez Road in Bradenton, to support The Center of Anna Maria Island at the LaPensee Bowling Tournament.

The tournament returns for the first time since 2016 and takes place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8. This year’s event will include three games for participants, a 50/50 raffle, silent auction and door prizes. Some of the items for the door prizes and auction include themed baskets, along with a $50 gift certificate and Yeti cooler donated for the event by Crowder Brothers Ace Hardware. Donated items are still being accepted for the door prizes and silent auction at the Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held at the bowling alley immediately following the tournament. Prizes will be awarded for the men’s and women’s highest and lowest score and the highest score for ages 12 and under. An award also will be given for the best team costume.

As in years past, The Anna Maria Island Sun is once again a sponsor of the event.

Though LaPensee Plumbing, Pools & Air is the title sponsor, lane sponsorships are open for businesses for $150 and will come with the business logo displayed on the lane and at registration. Lane sponsorships at $200 also include playing for up to five bowlers, shoe rentals, and a choice of pizza or chicken wings to munch on during the three-game tournament. Individual bowlers also are welcome at $30 each, which includes three games, shoe rental, and a choice of pizza or wings. Children’s lanes with bumpers to help discourage gutter balls for the little ones also will be available for play.

Participants are encouraged to register early to make sure they have a space reserved. Bowlers can register by calling the Center at 941-778-1908 or going online to www.centerami.org. For more information, or to sponsor a team or lane, call the Center or email info@centerami.org.