A bow to those brave souls who joined in the recent Over The Edge Rappelling Event at the Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa, a daring fundraiser for the Salvation Army of Manatee County.
The building is eight stories high!
Among those hardy folks were Palmetto Mayor Dan West, Judge Kennedy Legler, County Commissioner George Kruse, Longboat Key Mayor Debra Williams, Bradenton Police Officer Connor Horsley along with Stephenie Whitfield, Bank of America president (Sarasota-Manatee) and Salvation Army board member, as well as Greg Ciaccio, the resort’s general manager.
North River Fire Department Chief Joe Sicking and Assistant Chief Joel Baker provided safety support.
“This bold act of courage translates into real hope,” said Deral Pitts, the Salvation Army’s director of Community Relations and Development. “Meals on tables, safe shelter for children and a pathway forward for families who need us most.”
· Shake Pit owner Debbie Crowe is going to be a grandma come November. That wily ol’ stork is on the way for daughter Hannah Pollock and husband Michael.
· All the best to Dustin Dahlquist, recently named principal for new Rangeland High, opening August 2027. Dustin has been with the Manatee School District 30 years and principal at Lakewood Ranch High since 2019.
· Big ups to the Manatee LEGACY 14U hoopsters, AAU Memorial Day Classic winners at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Coached by Demetrius Parrimon and Eugene Williams, the players are Kolby Crosnon, Jordan Crowell, Demetrius Downer, Leontai Evans, Maurice Hird Jr., Gabriel Jones, Isaiah McKenzie, Xian Nueva, Roman Parrimon and Kaden Velazquez.
· Here’s to a full recovery for guitarist-vocalist Billy Rice, our town’s renowned musician and bandleader who underwent right rotator cuff surgery.
· Well done to the winners at the State College of Florida’s Spring 2026 Honors Convocation ceremonies. Among the SCF Image Awardees, were Tyrese Jefferson and Aura Brock. The Wayne Gulbrandsen Academic Scholarship for Single Parents recipients were Analia Tramontozzi, Danielle Bogachoff, Hunter Verrall-Wells, Whitney Voutour and Shakira Brown. The SCF Mathematical Memorial Scholarship Awardees were Jacob Masters and James William Mohan IV.
· Kevin Haddon is 44.
· And Jalyn Thompson is 25.
· New Manatee High grad Konnor Oelfke won the $5,000 John van Zandt Scholarship, which funds students pursuing a trade.
· Lakewood Ranch High’s Jack Crosbie received an appointment to the Air Force Academy.
· Happy trails to the Anna Maria Elementary’s Pidge Barreda, Regina Fallgren, Sandy Fisher, Julie Gramman and Rhea Skaggs, retired after a combined 157 years in education.
· And that’s 35 years of wedded bliss for Bunni and Tom Roberts.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Manatee officials rappel down building for charity
