What do Jalapeno Cracklin’ Cornbread, Nana’s Christmas Cookies and Sweet Hot Death Sauce have in common? Why, they were just a small sample of a vast array of goodies folks around the community created for the 2018 Manatee County Fair’s Culinary Arts & Food competition.
New year’s resolutions be hanged, judges such as Marianne Barnebey, Betty Brooks, Melissa Burns, Debbie Crowe, Pat Dodson, Rich Groover, Melvin Hester and Rich Kirby tasted their way through nearly 75 delights like Big Ben’s Shepherd’s Pie muffins, Curried Apple Chutney, Sweet & Sour Popcorn, and much, much more.
Competition chair Patty Keen-Freed’s able volunteers who kept the treats coming were Notina Kennedy, Peggy Long, Punkin Olmstead and Cheryl Rickly.
• A salute to Larry Bustle, recipient of the Manatee County Distinguished Citizen Award.
• Say it ain’t so! Anna Maria Island native Annamaria Diamant is about to hit the Big 3-0! The milestone arrives Monday for the New York-based professional dancer.
• There will be a ribbon cutting at noon Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of Rowlett Middle Academy, 400 30th Ave. W., Bradenton. The principal is Jamara Clark, a Georgia Tech graduate and Southeast High alum. For more information about the big day, visit, rowlettmiddleacademy.org.
• Oh, no! Terry O’Connor has hit the Big 6-0!
• Sabrina Freeman and Patrick Zadai will tie the knot April 7.
• Cathy Wooten is 39. Again.
• So is Dee Bennett.
• And Robert Moates.
• Dr. Mark Kauffman will be associate dean of academic affairs at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, succeeding Dr. Robert George, who is retiring after 14 years with the school. Kauffman is currently associate dean of students, enrollment management and graduate studies.
• Uh, oh! Austin Jensen is one year shy of the Big 3-0!
• Big ups to the quartet of former student-athletes being inducted into the State College of Florida Hall of Fame Induction. They are B’town’s Lance Carter, baseball; Aurora Davis, volleyball; Tiffinee Harvey, softball; and James Life, basketball.
The ceremony is at 6 p.m. Thursday at IMG Academy Golf Club, 4350 El Conquistador Parkway, Bradenton. For details, contact Loretta DeMonte at 941-752-5261 or demontl@scf.edu.
• Jeff Smith is 71.
• Tenor Joseph Grosso is a student at the Manhattan School of Music.
• Patricia Cook is 90 years young.
• Michael Ohlman’s baseball journey continues. The Lakewood Ranch High alum signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers and will join the ballclub for major league spring training in Surprise, Arizona. Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14.
This will be the 27-year-old catcher’s fourth team going into his 10th season of professional baseball. Drafted by Baltimore in 2009, the B’town native later spent two seasons in the St. Louis organization, and one with Toronto, where he made his major league debut last season.
Ohlman appeared in seven games with the Jays, going 3-for-13 with one RBI, but eventually chose free agency last October.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.