Officer Pete Lannon SUN FILE PHOTO

By Tom Vaught
sun staff writer

HOLMES BEACH – Students at Anna Maria Elementary School brought home a note bearing bad news to their parents last week.

"Officer Pete" Lannon, the Holmes Beach police officer who serves as the school’s resource officer, is suffering from cancer.

Lannon, who has served in that position since the department hired him in May 2000, had been on sick leave for nearly two months suffering from what he thought was a bad back. Further diagnosis concluded it was cancer. He said by telephone Monday that he is going to fight it.

Members of the PTO, the school staff and the Holmes Beach Police Department are rallying to raise money for Lannon and his family, which includes his wife, a daughter in high school and a 10-year-old son. Plans include:

• Thursday, Oct. 19, 5-8 p.m., a spaghetti dinner at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. Tickets will be children’s area, which will be located in the parking lot across the street from Roser Memorial Community Church. This year, Captain Kim Ibasfalean will have her children’s touch tank in the area, there will be face painting and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will have mascot Raymond along with the team’s Hummer.

Kids will also have a chance to enjoy some kettle corn, shaved ice, water and soda, all available near the play area.

You can’t have a festival without music and this year, Bayfest offers live music on two sound stage and at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society.

The lineup for the main stage, located at the Bay end of Pine Avenue in the field across the street from the city pier, goes as follows:

9:30 to 11 a.m., Jimi Gee’s Swinging Cats of Rhythm;
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Almost Famous
2 to 4 p.m., Koko Ray and the Soul Providers;
5 to 7 p.m., the Dr. Dave Band.

Disc jockey Scott Barr will play music between the live acts.

There will again be a children’s stage, located this year just south of the children’s play area. The lineup there will be:

10 to 11 a.m., Dave Moran, international preschool entertainer;
11 a.m. to noon, Scott Achor’s "School of Rock;"
Noon to 1 p.m., Holly and Trina Rizzo's "A Century of Broadway;"
1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Eric von Hahmann;
3 to 4 p.m., Bootleg Reggae Band;
4 to 7 p.m., the Chase Vickers Band and the Drum Studio All Stars.

In addition, disc jockey Lance will spin classics at the car show, located on the north side of Pine Avenue near Gulf Drive.

The Historical Society will have live music at its wine garden, Tom Benjamin plays from 1 to 2 p.m. and Bill Bowdish plays from 2 to 4 p.m.

In addition, there will be a Crab Cake Cookoff. Organizer Cindy Thompson said there are six contestants signed up so far, and they have room for more. If you think your crab cake recipe might be a winner, call her at 761-4766 for information and to sign up.

The Anna Maria Island Sun is the main sponsor this year. Music sponsors are Coast Bank and Surfside Realty, car show sponsors are LaPensee Plumbing and Dr. Gary Messer and the dining tent sponsor is The Sun House restaurant. Children’s area sponsors are Webb, Wells & Williams and Palma Sola Early Learning Academy, margarita booth sponsors are Lois Finley, Mike McCaleb Architect and Smith Realtors and the electrical sponsor is Herb Dolan/Electrical Services.