Cheers to new Culinary Crawl in Manatee, jeers to disrespect candidate showed opponent, his family
A push toward culinary tourism
Cheers to both the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and the Bradenton Area Development Corp. for establishing a fresh initiative to boost tourism and serve residents — working to make the area a culinary destination. Two months ago, the EDC hosted a brainstorming session on the idea, and a seven-step plan emerged.
While this event is not connected to that strategic effort, it sure could be viewed as such: The chamber will host the initial Culinary Crawl on Aug. 27 whereby participants pay $50 to visit six Manatee restaurants, sample some small plates, enjoy drink specials, get goody bags and more — all while relaxing aboard a motorcoach between stops. The Culinary Crawl will begin in downtown Bradenton and visit Cortez, Lakewood Ranch and University Park before returning to downtown.
Both the chamber and EDC efforts to promote the county’s culinary scene will benefit locals as well as attract visitors. That’s a win-win.
Political blunder to bring in children
Jeers to Steve Vernon, one of the two Republican candidates for Florida House District 73, which encompasses a vast area of East Manatee. Vernon dragged his opponent’s three children into the fray by insinuating Joe Gruters was stretching himself too thin with his many commitments and would not have time to adequately serve the district’s constituents. Vernon defended the campaign flier, claiming Gruters was taking the “bullet point” out of context.
There’s only one way to take anything remotely like that: badly.
This smacks of a bygone era when society frowned upon women entering the workforce, insisting they stay home, raise the kids and bake cookies.
Gruters’ wife, Sydney, put the matter in the correct context in a letter to Republican women voters in stating no child should ever to described as a distraction: “This is disgusting.” Indeed.
‘Slice of heaven’ headed for preservation
Cheers to the late Carl Bergstresser for bequeathing his beloved and pristine 12 acres along the Braden River in East Manatee to any organization or government agency willing to preserve the property for wildlife and other conservation purposes. Bergstresser, whose grandparents built the original Linger Lodge, passed away several weeks ago at age 56.
Living there more than three decades, Bergstresser once relayed how much he enjoyed watching all the wildlife, including deer, bobcats and wild board. His wish to save his “slice of heaven” from becoming just another development amid many off Linger Lodge Road will now be realized.
His legacy will live on.
Proof positive that rich guys rule
Jeers to government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich. The 2016 Florida Legislature featured at least 55 millionaires. The august body consists of 160 lawmakers.
The 2017 Legislature could be wealthier, the Tampa Bay Times reported just ahead of last month’s deadline for filing for political office. The money figures are mind-numbing: $1.61 million, average net worth of House filers; $4.54, average net worth of Senate filers. This number is a reality check: $30,000, annual salary for legislators, chump change for the wealthy.
While lawmaking is officially called a part-time job, that’s a joke with all the time and days they put in. Without a bankroll, the average Joe and Joan could not survive on $30,000 a year. So few if any run.
It’s true: Rich guys rule. Tallahassee is their playground.
That’s more discouraging than shocking.
Quote of the week
“We treat even a suspect case. We will go out as if it is a true case of Zika. We don’t want to waste time so we will go out.”
— Mark Latham, Manatee County Mosquito Control director, telling county commissioners that his troops are poised to battle even a hint of Zika
This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 11:57 AM with the headline "Cheers to new Culinary Crawl in Manatee, jeers to disrespect candidate showed opponent, his family."