A bow to Bayshore High’s Carrell Andrews and Buffalo Creek Middle’s Melissa Baker. Both music teachers were among 100 K-12 educators chosen nationwide for a noted arts program for professional learning – Connected Arts Networks – with the National Association for Music Education.

Funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant, CAN is launching virtual Professional Learning Communities to help educators in the arts strengthen their instruction and leadership skills to better serve students.

Andrews and Baker will meet with peers virtually and attend workshops through June 2026.

· That’s 54 years of wedded bliss for Susie and Leonard Copeland.

· A salute to Ashley Wells, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office February Employee of the Month. A master intelligence analyst, she’s responsible for reviewing data regarding multiple gun purchases from shops in Manatee County.

Wells identified a suspicious pattern involving a large number of firearms bought at the same location over several months. So she notified the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, assisting the ATF in an investigation that led to the exposure of a gun trafficking scheme linking Florida and the Caribbean.

· Say it ain’t so! Linda Braithwaite hit the Big 7-0!

· And Melissia Varnadore hit the Big 4-0!

· A reminder to former Manatee High Sugar ’Canes: There is a general meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the MHS theater to begin preparations for the celebration of the tradition-rich dance program’s 75th anniversary.

The steering committee – Linda Boone, Tracy Bernthal Capozella, Holly Franklin Cole, Katy Frank, Nicole North Grier, Carolyn Quintero and Bunni Bradbury Roberts – will have information on the date, social events, etc.

For more details, email: [email protected]

· Welcome to Rev. Alan Baldarelli, newly ordained Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Lakewood Ranch.

· Well done to Southeast High junior Arely Resendiz-Galvan’s, whose artwork “Mannequins” was chosen for the Manatee Arts Education Council’s Fifth Annual Arts Alive Celebration Friday at State College of Florida’s Performing Arts Recital Hall.

· Betsy Benac is 39. Again.

· So is Polli Geyer Stroup.

· Good luck to Lincoln Memorial Middle School’s 2024 volleyball team, which includes Kelly Castillo, Presley Cross, Jazelle Drew, Mariah Green, Trinity Houston, Aubrie Kersting, Madalyn Lesnoski, Heidy Lopez, Alyssa Medina, Yaritza Ramirez-Santiago, Reginae Singleton and Layla Trobaugh.

· And the ageless Mike Sicard is 86 years young.

Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at [email protected]. Or call 941-962-5944. X (formerly Twitter): @vinmannix.