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Anna Maria provides ongoing Center support

Anna Maria provides ongoing Center support

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – In response to its annual funding request, The Center of Anna Maria Island will receive $21,000 from the city of Anna Maria.

Center officials sought $28,000, but during the Thursday, June 13, city commission meeting Mayor Dan Murphy recommended $21,000 instead. Murphy said that’s what remains in the city’s recreation fund for the current fiscal year.

The city’s contribution will help support The Center’s youth programs. There was some discussion about earmarking some of the money for senior programs, but that idea remains on hold for another year while those additional programs are developed.

When addressing the commission, Executive Director Chris Culhane introduced The Center’s new director of development, Jim McDaniel.

“He’s going to be a huge part of The Center moving forward,” Culhane said.

Culhane then reviewed the financial figures provided to the commission.

“We had a good year. In the past 18 months we’ve had a dramatic turnaround,” Culhane said.

“In addition to the significant revenue increase, we’ve also cut operating expenses by $120,000,” he said.

Culhane said fundraising increased by about $30,000, due in part to the new concert series The Center and the Manatee County Tourist Development Council initiated this year. Culhane said six more concerts are planned for the coming year.

“We’re not going to do anything outrageous,” Center board of directors’ chairman David Zaccagnino added. “As much as I like Van Halen, we’re not going to bring Van Halen out here.”

Zaccagnino addressed The Center’s current financial position and the financial challenges it faced in recent years.

“The numbers are fabulous, but this has been working with a skeleton crew for most of the year. We plan on hiring people,” Zaccagnino said, noting that Culhane’s former position, director of operations, still needs to be filled.

“We have 3,000 members. It’s not just kids anymore, it’s the whole gamut – people from four to 95. The confidence is back in the community. Two years ago, we were on the ropes and you gave us a chance,” Zaccagnino said.

He also noted that Anna Maria Elementary School is the only school in the county school system that doesn’t provide after-school care. He said The Center providing this service allows parents to continue working.

At one point, Culhane held seven-year-old Dylan Sato in his arms as the youngster expressed his support for The Center.

“Hi, my name is Dylan. I’ve been going to The Center ever since I was one. Last year I started playing, soccer, T-ball and I also watch my dad (Jason Sato) play sports,” he said, getting very emotional as he spoke.

“He’s a fourth generation Island resident,” Culhane added.

When recommending the $21,000 contribution, Murphy said, “You’re to be commended for what you’ve done, and I look forward to you doing more in the future.”

Commissioner Dale Woodland revisited an idea he’s proposed in the past as a potential means to address the Island’s changing demographics and shift toward a more tourist-oriented community. He suggested the Island’s real estate and vacation rental companies add a half-percent fee to their rental rates and donate that money to The Center. Their guests would then gain access to The Center in exchange.

“We’re working on that,” Zaccagnino said of those efforts that remain in a very early stage of development.

“You guys have done an outstanding job. You guys have really focused on turning around your financials,” Commission chair Brian Seymour said.

Seymour praised the concert series and said they provide an opportunity for people to get together and see each other again. The inaugural concert series included performances by The Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws B.J. Thomas and others.

“People talk about those concerts,” Seymour said.

Related coverage

McDaniel joins Center team

Marshall Tucker Band rocks The Center

Center starts new year on solid financial footing

Beach bums

Beach Bums basketball champions

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Basketball, Sports.

Last Tuesday night proved to be the close championship basketball game predicted by fans, parent, players and coaches at The Center.

The number one and number two teams went head-to-head in a 36-minute battle on the hard court. In the end, Team Beach Bums’ three-point lead gave it the championship.

Bryce Higgins started off the game with the first two points for Slim’s Place, that finished in first place during the regular season because of a forfeit by Beach Bums.

Beach Bums’ Connor Ludwig hit a three-point shot three minutes into the game, only to be met with a goal by Tyler Brewer, Slim’s Place’s top scorer. Higgins hit two more shots in the half, giving his team the lead and momentum.

During the first half of play, Beach Bums’ hot hand, Brock Soletti, had shooting problems. Uncharacteristically, Soletti found himself at the free throw line missing both shots.

David Daigle hit two shots back-to-back, advancing Slim’s Place’s lead to 12-3. Buckets by Travis Bates and his team gave his team a nine-point lead with five minutes left in the first half of the championship game.

The hard long shot by Evan Christenson was rebounded by Tuna McCracken giving his first score of the game. Soletti matched the hoop with one of his own moving the score to 22-13.

Christen was fouled going up for the score giving him two shots at the line. Hitting both of them gave Beach Bums a little pep in its step during the last minutes of the game. Scoring by Ludwig, McCracken and Jeremiah Sculco narrowed Slim’s Place’s lead to five points at the end of the half.

Still looking to find his groove, Brock Soletti’s brother Shane entered the game. The brotherly competition flipped the switch for B. Soletti.

To start the second half, both teams came out aggressive and quick. When the game finally slowed down, Brewer made a smooth lay-up.

Matthew Spiedel made the first of two three-pointers with 13 minutes left in the competition, making it a two-point game.

With the score 30-28, Slim’s Place called a timeout to regroup and work widen the lead.

From downtown, both Daigle and B. Soletti net the long shot. Beach Bums called a timeout with 11 minutes on the clock.

Returning to the court, B. Soletti was fouled during a shot attempt. Making one of two free throws, Beach Bums made it a open point game.

Dribbling the basketball all the way down the court, weaving in and out of traffic, McCracken drove down the lane for a lay-up. Spiedel’s second three-point shot tied the game for the first time in the game.

Scoring went back and forth, and the spark of B. Soletti was finally lit with a layup and three-pointer, giving Beach Bums its first lead of the game with only two minutes left in regulations time.

Ludwig hit both of his free throws only to be followed by behind the arc shot by Daigle.

Hoping to retain the lead, Beach Bums called a timeout with five seconds left on the clock. B. Soletti got the throw in alone under the hoop for a quick bucket to end the championship game with the score 43-46.

center events quilt

Murder and home tours come to Center

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – Spring is on the way and so are two major events for The Center of Anna Maria Island.

First up is the annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. This year’s theme is “Viva Las Vegas,” featuring Elvis, mobsters and a who-dun-it at the Hard Rock Anna Maria Hotel and Casino. In its 10th year, Executive Director Kristen Lessig said the two-night event has quickly taken the place of the discontinued gala Affair as the Center’s signature event.

Lessig said both title sponsors for the event, Air and Energy and the Hagen family, are interested in committing to a multi-year sponsorship for the dinner theater. Former board member Erik Abrahamson stepped up as bar sponsor for the event. Though tickets are still available at $45 each, Lessig said they’re selling out quickly. This year’s murder mystery will be solved Friday and Saturday nights, Feb. 16 and 17, at the Center.

Another event Center leadership hopes will sell out is the 25th Annual Tour of Homes. Lessig said four homes have now been confirmed for the Tour with a fifth being considered for inclusion. A new stop on the Tour route this year is the Center campus in Anna Maria which will be home to the Tropical Treasures Boutique, sponsored by Duncan Real Estate. This year’s Tour quilt, the 18th one designed and created for the event by the Eyeland Needlers, will be on display at the boutique and raffled off near the end of the one-day event. Also at the Center will be food and refreshment vendors. Tours of the facility also will be available throughout the day.

Tickets for the quilt raffle are available at the Center for $1 each or six for $5. Tickets for the Tour also are available for $25 each. This year’s Tour of Homes takes place March 17.

A new event continuing through the spring is bingo, a bi-weekly event taking place the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Lessig and board chair David Zaccagnino praised the event for bringing community members of all ages to the Center. Attendees do not need to be members of the Center to play.

Cash Carter

Blue Lagoon ekes out the semi-final victory

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Football, Sports.

Playoff fever hit the gridiron at the north end of Anna Maria Island as the youth flag football league starts to wind down for the season. The second-ranked Blue Lagoon faced the third-ranked Tyler’s Ice Cream last Wednesday night.

Last week’s semi-final games were an exciting lead-up to this week’s match-ups for all three of the age group leagues.

With his female dominated team, Coach Rob Alderson, owner of Tyler’s Ice Cream, led his team to the first touchdown of the game on their second offense possession of the game. After huge yardage gains by Cash Carter and defensive flag pulls by Sam Leister and Kale Petrin for Team Blue Lagoon, quarterback Ava Alderson hit Carter on a long pass with a strong run after to put him in the end zone.

Ava Alderson
Tyler’s Ice Cream’s Reese Riley puts the pressure on David Patterson for Blue Lagoon in the semi-final. – Monica Simpson | Sun

Ava Alderson found Caleb O’Connor for the extra point moving the score to 7-0 for Team Tyler’s Ice Cream.

Strong on offense as the QB, A. Alderson also brought her A-Game to the defensive side of the game with a flag pull on the first down play to John Holbrook. The ladies of Tyler’s Ice Cream played a critical part of the season, including a critical second down play flag pull by Torri Fidler. On third down, what would appear to be a touchdown by Jiles Kirkland III was negated due to an impeding rusher call on the Blue Lagoon center, giving the football back to Alderson’s team.

Blue Lagoon’s Matt Speidel pulled the flag on the first down snap. A sneak play resulted in a four-yard gain by Reese Riley leading to another A. Alderson-Carter connection short of the first down.

After an incomplete pass, Speidel made a nice reception short of the first down, with a flag pull by Fidler. Fidler soon found her hands on the ball with a beautiful interception cause by the tipped pass.

While in scoring range, A. Alderson threw a scoring pass to O’Connor for another six points.

With the score 13-0, resulting from the missed point after, the one-minute warning for the first half was called by the official.

A. Alderson’s younger sister, Josie Alderson, put the quick pressure on Blue Lagoon’s David Patterson, but Patterson threw a first down pass. Holbrook caught the next pass, but lost his footing before he could gain additional yardage as the scoreboard clock only showed seconds left.

Blue Lagoon coach Jeff Holbrook called for the first timeout after J. Alderson’s sack. Lining up with two wideouts, Holbrook used his height as a receiver to his advantage catching the football in traffic, snagging it out of the air in the end zone.

Another J. Alderson sack kept the score at 13-6 to end the first half of semi-final action play.

The second half of the game put Tyler’s Ice Cream on offense. Riley, Carter and A. Alderson continued to play strong football moving the ball down the field. On a miraculous pass by A. Alderson, Carter found his way into the end giving his team a 13-point lead with the score 19-6.

Matt Speidel sped down the sideline on the first play of Blue Lagoon’s possession. Carter made a flying, diving flag pull to prevent the touchdown. A. Alderson stopped the first down carry by Kirkland.

Despite the strong pressure by rusher A. Alderson and the near sack, Holbrook hit his receiver for a Blue Lagoon TD. Speidel scored the point after changing the score once again to 19-13.

With the help of Tres Maddox on defense, Patterson pulled the flag of Carter on the Tyler’s Ice Cream first down play. On third down, A. Alderson fired the ball, but Kirkland intercepted the catch and ran it back for a score tying the ballgame 19-19.

After the pick-six, and with the game’s momentum swinging their way, Blue Lagoon worked to prevent another Tyler’s Ice Cream touchdown. Carter’s ability to catch the ball on the run helped to put another six points on the board.

Leading again by six points, Tyler’s Ice Cream went on the defensive with Nicholas Yatros on the field. Riley stopped field advancement twice with great flag pulls. In the pass-only zone, on third down, Speidel gained the first with a run past midfield to within five yards from the end zone.

Yatros’ flag pull prevented the score initially, but on first and goal Petrin threw the ball to Holbrook to once again tie the game.

On the point after, from the five yard line, the quarterback hit Patterson in the hands for the go ahead point advancing the score to 25-26.

In the last minutes of the game, Tyler’s Ice Cream worked hard and never gave up, with an impressive run by A. Alderson. With lost yardage due to a flag guarding call on the run, the Blue Lagoon defense stepped up preventing the catch by J. Alderson.

The first down catch by Carter kept the hope alive. A flagrant foul call on Blue Lagoon put Tyler’s Ice Cream in position to take the win.

Maddox made important flag pull stopping Carter before the score. The tough rush by Maddox forced A. Alderson to throw the football on second down with nobody near the ball.

In a perfect play, A. Alderson fooled the rusher evading the sack. A. Alderson’s pass was on the money, but Riley just could not make the winning catch in a heartbreaking loss for Tyler’s Ice Cream.

The championship game will be won by Blue Lagoon or Planet Stone to finish out the 11-to 13-year-old flag football league.

adult soccer

Jiffy Lube takes the Hayward Cup

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

ANNA MARIA – The pitch at the Island’s community center was warmed up and ready for the big championship game after three fun-filled pick-up games with current and former league members. As the spectators filled the bleachers and stands, the anticipation of the much-awaited final game of the season thickened.

At the conclusion of last week’s semi-final match-ups, it was clear that Danny Anderson’s Team Jiffy Lube was the team to beat. The eight-player squad moved like a well-oiled machine, making great passes and taking shots on goal challenging the opponents defense to the hilt.

Veterans in the goal, Jason Sato for Jiffy Lube and David Greene for Slim’s Place took their places in the box for 46 minutes of championship soccer. Matt Kretzmann and Damir Glavan started the game strong for Slim’s Place with solid ball movement down the field, but Sato’s fearless play kept the ball out of the net.

Jiffy Lube’s Eliza Faillace made her move only to have the Greene make the save. Ricky Anderson and Chis Klotz turned up the game with corner shots and strikes.

Greene showed his Ultimate Frisbee tenacity and agility saving goal shots by both Anderson brothers within seconds of each other.

The intensity of the game was apparent on the field. After 12 minutes of play, Klotz and Kretzmann tumbled with a yellow card handed out as a quick warning by the referees to keep the game under control.

Quick goals by Kretzmann and D. Anderson made it a 1-1 match and got the scoring going deep into the first half of the game.

The penalty called on Kretzmann and free shot by D. Anderson ignited Jiffy Lube’s energy level, moving the game to a whole different level of action.

Klotz found the net with his only goal of the game in the 20th minute of play.  Chris Culhane scored his first goal 90 seconds later, giving Jiffy Lube a two point led.

With the scoreboard clock ticking down, Slim’s Place’s Greg DeMeuse tried to make something happen with a shot that went right of the post. The official time left two minutes in the first half of the game, but neither team could take advantage of the extra time on the pitch.

Second half play started with a rapid-fire shot and score by Angela Wiles for Slim’s Place, moving the score to 2-3. More than six minutes later after heavy defensive play by both teams, R. Anderson was denied his goal, but Culhane hit his second shot of the big game, once again giving Jiffy Lube a two point lead.

Brad Laudicina worked both ends of the field for Jiffy Lube, while Charles Buky and Lyn Clark aggressively worked the defensive end for Slim’s Place.

Kretzmann hit the net less than a minute later. D. Anderson answered back with a goal of his own taking the score to 3-5.

DeMeuse made a move of his own, only to have Sato make the stop.

The dynamic duo of Anderson and Anderson put another point up for Jiffy Lube with D. Anderson taking the ball down the field to find R. Anderson ready to finish.

Mike “Il Toro” Brusso was called in the 35th minute of play for a foul against Slim’s Place’s captain Kris Yavalar, who played strong with a nagging injury.

Kretzmann’s free kick took a curve right into the net. With the score 4-6 the battle continued with a DeMeuse shot, save after save by Greene and a dangerous play call for a high kick by Klotz.

Making outstanding saves of his own, Sato kept the soccer ball out of the net for the remaining minutes for Jiffy Lube, despite the many efforts by Team Slim’s Place.

With no time on the scoreboard clock and seconds of official time, Klotz scored the last point of the game with a beautiful free kick, finishing the game with the score 4-7. Jiffy Lube captured the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup championship game with amazing teamwork and solid play all season.

Center soccer

Adult soccer finishes the regular season

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

After a team’s first loss of the season, the phrase “everyone makes the playoffs” starts to become the catch phrase at the community center during an adult sports season. Co-ed soccer is no different.

Only three of the eight teams that started the season with high hopes of finishing at the top ended the seven game regular season with more wins than losses. Four teams finished with the exact same record of 2-4-1 going into the first week of playoffs: Sato Real Estate, Acqua Aveda, Moss Builders and Ross Built Construction. Mar/Kis Insurance tied their last game with Moss Builders ending with a 1-5-1 record.

Slim’s Place finished with a single loss that came in the last game to Mulock Flynn Law who finished in the second seed. Jiffy Lube settled into third place with a win over Sato Real Estate during the first game of the night Thursday, Nov. 9.

Team Captain Josh Sato put early points on the scoreboard for Sato Real Estate with a strong long strike against older brother Jason Sato in goal for Jiffy Lube.

Jiffy Lube started the game with Ricky Anderson back on the field after an injury early in the season. The Anderson brothers showed their skills and abilities on the field early with a quick response goal by captain Danny Anderson. Sato Real Estate’s goalie Adam Mott was drawn off and with defender Nate Talucci slightly out of reach the score was tied 1-1 after just four minutes of play.

Two minutes later Josh Sato found himself in perfect scoring position in front of the goal for the easy tap in score. D. Anderson saw his opportunity to once again tie the soccer game with a beautiful assist by Chris Klotz.

Klotz got his own statistic by using his ball handling and control along with patience on the field before taking the shot past Mott at the ninth minute of the game to push Jiffy Lube up by a goal.

As expected, Sato Real Estate would keep the scoring pressure on their opponent. Nate Welch scored his lone goal of the game with five minutes left in the first half. Welch’s goal took the score to three goals all.

Great saves by both goalies kept the offense of both teams working hard to break the tie. Finally, with seconds quickly ticking off the scoreboard clock, R. Anderson struck hard only to be batted away by Mott. Mott’s save bounced the soccer ball right back to the feet of R. Anderson.

With 30 seconds left in the half, R. Anderson took advantage of a rattled Mott and scored Jiffy Lube’s fourth goal of the game. Welch tried to put another point on the board for Sato Real Estate, but the shot hit hard off the goal post to end the first 23 minutes of play.

Josh Sato took over protecting his team’s goal as Mott took the field. Jiffy Lube quickly proved to Team Sato Real Estate that they are a top tier team with another Klotz-D. Anderson combination. Well into the 30th minute of play, D. Anderson scored with a shot into the right corner of the net to widen his team’s lead by two goals.

Down on the Jiffy Lube end of the pitch, Mott found the ball at his feet. Looking for an open man, Mott hit Zorn Kolega in front of the goal for a skillful header and a goal advancing the score to 4-5.

Anderson took advantage of Sato Real Estate’s goalie out of position after out maneuvering Kolega for another shot and his fourth goal of the game. Five minutes later, R. Anderson took strong leg to the soccer ball, sailing it just past the feet of Josh Sato for the final goal of the game, ending with the score 4-7 and Jiffy Lube’s fifth win of the season.

The first quarterfinal play off game on Thursday matches #4 seed Moss Builders against the fifth ranked Sato Real Estate. Playing the 7 p.m. game pits third place regular season finishers Jiffy Lube against sixth seed Acqua Aveda. The number two team Mulock Flynn Law faces #7 seed Ross Built Construction at 8 p.m. The topped ranked Slim’s Place looks to knock off last place Mar/Kis Insurance in the final game of the night.

Each team is planning to fight hard to play another game toward the league championship and capture the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup and post-game celebrations at Slim’s Place.

Adult Co-Ed Soccer League

Jiffy Lube                          7 (5-2)

Sato Real Estate                4 (2-4-1)

 

Ross Built Construction     2 (2-4-1)

Acqua Aveda                    2 (2-4-1)

 

Mulock Flynn Law             5 (5-1-1)

Slim’s Place                     4 (6-1)

 

Moss Builders                   5 (2-4-1)

Mar/Kis Insurance            5 (1-5-1)