Kids Shop for Christmas with Cops

Bradenton's annual Honoring the Badge Christmas-time gift event pairs Bradenton Police Department officers with families in the community as they shop together for toys at the local Toys R Us.  Funded in cooperation with Kingdom Life Christian Church, this will be the event's fifth year.  It was great to see uniformed officers and clean-cut detectives helping bring smiles to the faces of needy children Tuesday as they teamed up to find gifts.  Each child had a $25 gift card to spend and the officers, many with families themselves, helped them keep track of the tally as they perused the aisles.  Here, Officer C. Ward lends a little extra hand to a family as she holds their baby, 5 month-old Roshyia, while checking out a gift with Roshyia's brother , 7 year-old Robert.  It's multitasking at its best, and apart from the obvious good will effort, I'm willing to bet there's a good chance that this brief but positive encounter between officers and children will make a lasting impression on many young minds and hearts.  Best wishes to the BPD and look forward to seeing you next year!
-pvidela@bradenton.com

Remembering Christmases Past

There's only one shopping week left until Christmas!  If you're feeling a little burned out from navigating the endless aisles of big-box stores while holiday shopping for everyone on your gift list, it might be time to take a little breather!
At the Manatee County Agricultural Museum in Palmetto's Historical Park, there's a whole host of vintage Christmas toys and decorations arranged into thoughtful displays that are sure to bring back even the most sleepy childhood memories of years past.    But be prepared! Any children in tow will be sure to fire off lots of questions, most of which will relate to how you ever survived childhood with such, "boring," toys.
Ah, here's to those simpler times, when whiz-bang didn't have a screen, run on batteries, or require a credit card and email address.  And if you dropped it, it probably wouldn't break, because it was made of wood and metal, and in the grand old U.S. of A.
- pvidela@bradenton.com

Framed at sea

A sailboat is framed in the leaves of sea grape plants as it glides upon tranquil waters of the Manatee River.

Crisp blue skies, steady winds and cooler temperatures turn the stifling dog days of summer into a distant memory.

Humidity, thunderstorms, and sweat give way to increased traffic on the roads and longer lines, as visitors from the north migrate to the area to escape the probability of brutal snowy winter.

But who can blame them, this is one of the best times of the year, now is a good time to get out and enjoy it!

-Grant Jefferies

Catch of the Day

A Snowy Egret turns its head to the side as it arranges a scaled sardine for a nice little side meal at Coquina Bayside Park.

The “tiny dancer with yellow slippers” according to the Ultimate Guide to Birds of Lakewood Ranch, once was hunted and killed in the 1800’s for its plumage that was used to decorate ladies’ hats.

The shorebird is currently protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 which has led to its’ population growth. As for the fish, a “razor belly” some may call it, its scales never adorn ladies’ hats and fish-odor perfume may not be in vogue, but it did make a good meal for this hungry bird.

-Grant Jefferies

Let your ears flap in the wind!

While driving along Manatee Avenue with my window open enjoying the brisk breeze, I was passed by a car where the passenger was also taking in the fresh air.

The passenger’s long hairy ears were airborne as it poked its head out of the car’s sunroof. This was one happy dog.

With the wind in its face and the open road ahead, this dog was sitting in doggie heaven. No doubt a notch or two above hanging out the side window like I was doing.

A quick shot with the camera was about all I could do as the car and wind-blown K-9 disappeared in a long line of traffic heading west on the busy street.

Dogs are man’s best friend, so let your best friend’s ears and tongue flap in the wind. If you do not have a sunroof in your car, get one, your dog will thank you.

-Grant Jefferies

Osprey detente

I had a bad experience-traumatic-but now I can look into the steely eyes of the fish-hunting raptor without diving for cover.

It began innocently enough; a balmy evening, the swing of the bat at G.T. Bray, the setting sun.

Then, it hit me.

On the side of the head.

I reached up to explore what it was-and smooshed it into my hair.

Osprey poop.

Or more precisely: the droppings of ‘Pandion haliaetus.’

The baseball players I was photographing laughed and pointed; my feelings about the situation were less amused.

But that’s all in the past now. I’m on good terms with the fishermen of the sky.

As long as I have my hat on.

--Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Never Forget

Fred Fisher carries a flag as he walks down the Green Bridge onto Eighth Avenue to the Tribute to Heroes Memorial Service on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012 at Palmetto's Sutton Park.

Fisher lost a good friend, Jerry Olcott, on Sept. 11, 2001, when a plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center.

Eleven years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, many of us remember where we were that day when we heard the terrible news. I was with members of the Secret Service at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport watching it unfold on a small television in a security room, then rushed onto the tarmac where Air Force One was waiting to take off with President George W. Bush.

In reality, this is trivial compared to those, like Fisher who lost loved ones in the attack. Their memory is not so much where they were, but who they lost. Yes, may we never forget their loss and remember the strengths of our great nation to carry on.

-Grant Jefferies