VIN MANNIX: Bucs tryout and other Bradenton goodies
Can you imagine singing "The Star Spangled Banner" in front of 7,000 appreciative baseball fans at McKechnie Field on a beautiful March afternoon?
Here's your chance.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are holding a cappella auditions from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday for people of all ages to sing our national anthem at 2015 Grapefruit League home games. Singers will perform in the order they sign up Saturday at McKechnie, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. There is no preregistration.
Folks who can sing the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada," are always in demand when the Toronto Blue Jays visit and that performance has added significance this year. The Jays-Pirates game on March 4 is McKechnie's Grapefruit League home opener. They play again March 28.
Call 941-747-3031 for more details.
Speaking of the Pirates, Jim Trdinich, the ballclub's five-tool director of baseball communications, is ready to get out of the cold and snow and head for B'town: "Feb. 16 can't get here soon enough."
Lovebirds Gina and Dave Tuttle celebrated 32 years of marriage at Ormond Beach.
Teacher Julia Budnick's first-graders got a real treat when Miller Elementary School held its annual Read Across Manatee Day. Former circus performers Marta Belle joined Toby Ballentine, who was decked out in full clown attire, to read to the children.
Miller media specialist Cindy Bigelow said the school had 45 volunteer readers, most ever for the event.
Hizzoner, Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston, is 71 years young.
Ann Stobaugh, who passed Jan. 19, would have loved the celebration of her life by family members last Saturday before a large turnout at Hope Lutheran Church.
There were many moving moments and lots of laughter, but son Rick Stobaugh's rendition of "Yellow Bird" was especially poignant. He sang the enchanting calypso song while playing guitar and was accompanied by brothers, Bobby Stobaugh and Rob Morgan.
"That was my wife's favorite song," said Dr. Bob Stobaugh.
They were married 57 years.
A belated bow to Ed Dick, 2015 Manatee County Distinguished Citizen. Can't think of a more deserving person than this righteous man who has done so much for people of all creeds and color.
The Manatee County Fair is gone, but the fairgrounds will still be hopping this weekend with the fifth annual Conley Buick GMC Southern States Bull Riders Finals Friday and Saturday nights. The Southeast's top 30 bull riders converge on Mosaic Arena in a fun event benefiting the county's 4-H and FFA clubs. Go to conleyssbrfinals.com or call 941-755-8531 for details.
Uh, oh! George Harris just hit the Big 7-0! The birthday boy is a retired lieutenant who spent 27 years with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. The last 18 he was bomb-squad commander and director of the county's Haz-Mat team. He was also a detective five years with Sarasota's sheriff's office.
His proud family are wife, Barbara; daughter, Jamie Breton, and her children Brooke and Logan; daughter, Kim Zink, and her husband, Todd; and their children, Emily and Alex.
That's 68 years of wedded bliss for Bob and Mary Jo Forney, who moved to Holmes Beach from Indianapolis in 1959.
The annual Manatee High Baseball Booster Club Steakout is 5-9 p.m. Feb. 6 at McKechnie Field. For details, call Bruce Braithewaite at 941-720-9224, or coach Rob Viera at 941-779-3314. Or visit mhscanesbaseball.com
Just got a surprise postcard from Curacao from in-laws, Sue and Jim Manring, who went on a two-week Caribbean cruise. The surprise? They've been home for a month.
Vin's People, appears Fridays, and reader participation is encouraged and contributions are welcome. You can email vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-757-9563.
This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "VIN MANNIX: Bucs tryout and other Bradenton goodies."