Soccer season opens

The Sun sports game of the week was the opening game of the 2014 AMICC adult co-ed spring soccer season. The opening contest featured the Agnelli Pool & Spas team versus the Jessie’s Island Store team.

The league this year seems to have a lot of new faces, and being the first game of the year, prior scouting of teams showed signs of unexpected play. This game started that way with both teams getting a good feel for each other before things opened up.

Thirteen minutes into the game, veteran player Aaron Parkin scored the first goal of the year. He found a loose ball on the right side. He turned and ripped a long hard bender into the opposite corner of the goal and gave the Jessie’s Island Store team the lead 1-0.

The Jessie’s team wasted little time and one minute later scored again. Danny Burton intercepted a pass deep in the Agnelli Pool & Spas team end. He dribbled in one-on-one with the goalie and finished the easy goal. Just like that Jessie’s Island Store took a 2-0 lead and carried that through until halftime.

Two minutes into the second half, Burton scored his second goal of the game for Jessie’s. He took the ball coast to coast down the right sideline past all defenders and found the back of the net that gave his team the commanding 3-0 lead.

The Agnelli Pool & Spas team finally regrouped one minute later. Matt Kretzman received a pass at midfield. He dribbled in closer and then blasted a low right shot that went in for their first goal and made the score 3-1.

Eight minutes into the second half, the Agnelli team started to put the offensive pressure on Jessie’s. Alisha Keene fought her way into the box area and shot low left for the goal. This made the score 3-2 with plenty of time left, and you could see the momentum start to shift towards the Agnelli team.

With five minutes left in the game, Kretzman made a nice crossing pass through defenders to the right side of the goal. Keene was there waiting and one-timed it into the back of the net for the tying Agnelli teams goal. The score was now 3 to 3 and Agnelli had battled its way back to the tie.

One minute later, B.J Grant scored the winning goal for the Jessie’s team. He found himself in front of the goal with the ball and made a nice low shot to the left and into the net. This gave his team the lead and eventually the win for Jessie’s Island Store 4-3.

It was a very close and well-played game by both teams and a great way to start the spring adult soccer season.

To see more pictures of this game or to purchase them, please visit www.amisun.com.

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Results

Jessie’s Island Store  4
Agnelli Pool & Spas  3

Ross Built Construction  3
LaPensee Plumbing & Pools  2

Island Pest Control  7
Slim’s Place 2

Sato Real Estate  6
Beach to Bay Construction  1

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Schedule

May 8, Thursday, 6 p.m. – Ross Built Construction vs. Slim’s Place
May 8, Thursday, 7 p.m. – Jessie’s Island Store vs. Island Pest Control
May 8, Thursday, 8 p.m. – LaPensee Plumbing & Pools vs. Beach to Bay Construction
May 8, Thursday, 9 p.m. – Sato Real Estate vs. Agnelli Pool & Spas

Adult Basketball Schedule

May 6, Tuesday, 7 p.m. – The Feast Restaurant vs. The Island Sun
May 6, Tuesday, 8 p.m. – Gator Man Pools vs. Island Gourmet
May 6, Tuesday, 9 p.m. – Duncan Real Estate vs. Bug Guys

Adult Co-Ed Kickball Schedule

May 7, Wednesday, 7 p.m. – Tyler’s Ice Cream vs. Southern Greens
May 7, Wednesday, 8 p.m. – Beach To Bay Construction vs. Tyler’s Ice Cream
May 7, Wednesday, 9 p.m. – Florida Discount Signs & Wraps vs. Beach To Bay Construction

Youth Baseball Schedule

May 7, Wednesday, 5:15 p.m. – Signarama vs. Miller Electric
May 9, Friday, 6:15 p.m. – AMI Hammerheads vs. Air & Energy
May 12, Monday, 6 p.m. – Miller Electric vs. Signarama
May 12, Monday, 7:15 p.m. – Air & Energy vs. AMI Hammerheads

Youth Basketball Schedule

5-7 Year Olds

May 10, Saturday, 9 a.m. – Palmetto Lodge #110 F & A.M vs. DoJo Martial Arts
May 12, Monday, 6 p.m. – DoJo Martial Arts vs. Palmetto Lodge #110 F & A.M

8-10-Year-Olds

May 7, Wednesday, 6 p.m. – Beach Bums vs. Island Real Estate
May 10, Saturday, 11 a.m. – Island Real estate vs. Beach Bums

11-13-Year-Olds

May 9, Friday, 6 p.m. – Bridge Tender Inn vs. Eat Here
May 10, Saturday, 10 a.m. – Sandbar restaurant vs. Bridge Tender Inn
May 10, Saturday, 12 p.m. – Eat Here vs. Sandbar restaurant
May 12, Monday, 7 p.m. – Bridge Tender Inn vs. Eat Here

14-17-Year-Olds

May 9, Friday, 7 p.m. – Beach Bistro vs. Walter & Associates
May 9, Friday, 8 p.m. – Dips Ice Cream vs. West Coast Air & Heating
May 10, Saturday, 1 p.m. – West Coast Air & Heating vs. Beach Bistro
May 10, Saturday, 2 p.m. – Dips Ice Cream vs. Heritage Paper Company
May 12, Monday, 8 p.m. – Walter & Associates vs. Heritage Paper Company
May 13, Tuesday, 6 p.m. – West Coast Air & Heating vs. Heritage Paper Company

Healthy food can taste great

As a TV reporter ages ago, I used to get paid the big bucks (ha) getting all sides to a story and doing the research it takes. So this volunteer column is the result of my week’s experiences and what I can write in two to three hours time. I always hope to inspire and prevent needless suffering of humans and animals that occurs way too often.

It is my belief that in our area, it would be a huge financial benefit if we had more vegan restaurants. Really vegan restaurants.

Like the exclusively vegan restaurant Ionie’s in Sarasota. My friend, Carl Lovejoy, is the amazing chef there. Check out restaurants’ Facebook pages or websites to see what they’re serving.

What I love are restaurants that aren’t afraid to say they are vegan in their name. Leafy Greens in St. Petersburg is an example. The first yelp review says, “Very fresh ingredients and the largest dehydrator I've ever seen combine for a menu that is very palatable even to non-vegans. 

Highly recommend the chilled curry soup, spinach salad with berry dressing, Mediterranean pizza and The Real Deal.

Also, the vegan chocolate lava cake is the perfect balance of dates and cacao. This is the way things should be. Healthy food can taste great!”

My problem is that I’ve traveled the country on book tour, and my publisher and others have taken me to the best and outrageously, financially successful vegan restaurants. Karyn’s on Greens in Chicago, The Chicago Diner, Café Gratitude all over California, New York’s Candle 79, San Francisco’s Millenium, Philly’s Vedge are just a sampling of restaurants that are exclusively vegan and even boast it in their titles.

Guess what? All those cities have lots of people, I bet, who travel here and would love an exclusively vegan restaurant option. I for one, would be a regular. Even an exclusively vegetarian restaurant on the Island would be awesome.

Speaking of food, the deadline is approaching to register for my noon Taste of Vegan cooking classes at the Anna Maria Island Community Center on all Thursdays in February. Fresh Market has donated the food. To whet your appetite, here’s what I’ll be demonstrating, and what you get to eat:

Feb. 6: Eating/Staying Fit on $4/Day – Thai no-fry spring rolls, braised collards, stone-broke soup;

Feb. 13: Getting Enough Protein on Just Plants – garbanzo bean salad, tempeh broccoli saute, breakfast scramble;

Feb. 20: Sumptious Salads – easy bean salad, community garden salad, tropical salad;

Feb. 27: Delectable Desserts – chocolate mousse, coconut ice cream, heavenly Island smoothies.

We had a small, but mighty, turnout to brave the cool temps at my free Manatee Public Beach hour-long, mini-workout last week. I start with warm-ups that have kept me injury free, then a walk and or run, depending on group interests, and cool down stretches. Feel free to join us every Monday at 9 a.m. at the Manatee Public Beach playground.

All abilities are welcome. I separate the group if needed. We’re always there as long as the temperature is 50 degrees or warmer. If it’s windy, bring a windbreaker and a towel and water. And I promise never to mention the “v” (vegan) word unless you ask.

I placed first in my age group at the Bradenton YMCA 5K this weekend – the 63rd time placing in a race since 2006. I thought it would be a gentle cross-country course on the county fairgrounds. Instead, it wound through the actual fair itself – heavy lighter fluid, BBQ smoke, people smoking and a fuel truck that blocked the narrow path at one point. But I got to hold my trophy by the Beef-It’s What’s For Dinner sign.

I’ll be attempting the marathon in Celebration next weekend. I’ve been spending way too much time in the chair writing. Sitting is the new smoking you know.

You can follow Island resident Ellen Jaffe Jones on her Facebook page and keep up with her just released book:,"Eat Vegan on $4 a Day," or her website: www.vegcoach.com. She is also a nationally certified personal trainer and running coach. For training in a gym or private hire, contact Ellen at ejones@vegcoach.com or 941-704-1025.