Upsets of the unbeatens

The last two unbeaten teams in the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s NFL Youth Flag Football leagues fell to defeats for the first time all season.

In the 8-to-10-year-old division, the West Coast Air & Heating Dolphins defeated the undefeated Beach Bistro Buccaneers by a score of 40 to 7. Dolphins quarterback Julius Petereit threw an amazing 17 completions and seven touchdowns. Callen Achor caught eight of those passes and five touchdowns. Connor Allen and Charlie Halfacre caught the other two touchdowns.

For the Beach Bistro Bucs, quarterback Chris Snyder ran for their only touchdown of the game and threw an extra-point pass to German Rivera.

In the 11-to-13-year old division, the Sandbar Colts knocked off the undefeated LPAC Cardinals by a close score of 20 to 13. Colts quarterback Matt Manger threw three touchdown passes and had five flag pulls to lead his team to victory. Michael Latimer caught two touchdowns and had five flag pulls. Nathan Hyman caught the other touchdown pass, and Joe Rogers had a key interception on defense.

For the LPAC Cardinals team, quarterback Joey Stewart threw for one touchdown and also caught one TD. Andrew Proctor threw the other TD pass and also caught an extra-point pass from Stewart. Daniel Sentman caught the other touchdown pass.

Playoffs begin in two weeks, and the race to the season championship and the first place seed are coming down to the home stretch. Catch all the red hot flag football action at the Community Center to find out how it all turns out.

To see or purchase pictures of this and other games, visit www.amisun.com

Youth 5-7-Year-Old Flag Football Schedule

Feb. 28, Friday, 6 p.m. – Miller Electric Broncos vs. Beaches Real Estate Packers

Feb. 24, Monday, 6 p.m. – Beaches Real Estate Packers vs. Air & Energy Bucs

Youth 8-10-Year-Old Flag Football Results

Beach Bums Patriots  12
LPAC Cardinals  12

West Coast Air & Heating Dolphins  40
Beach Bistro Buccaneers  7

Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings  19
DoJo Martial Arts Cowboys 13

Beach Bums Patriots  24
Beach Bistro Buccaneers  13

LPAC Cardinals  21
Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings  6

Manatee Diagnostic Ravens  18
DoJo Martial Arts Cowboys  13

Youth 8-10-Year-Old Flag Football Schedule

Feb. 26, Wednesday, 6 p.m. – Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings vs. West Coast Air & Heating Dolphins

Feb. 28, Friday, 6 p.m. – DoJo Martial Arts Cowboys vs. LPAC Cardinals

Feb. 28, Friday, 7 p.m. – Manatee Diagnostic Ravens vs. West Coast Air & Heating Dolphins

March 1, Saturday, 9 a.m. – Beach Bums Patriots vs. Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings

Youth 11-13-Year-Old Flag Football Results

Beach to Bay Bucs  12
Will C. Photos Falcons  6

Bark & Company Realty Ravens  31
Beach to Bay Bucs  12

Sandbar restaurant Colts  20
LPAC Cardinals  13

Will C. Photos Falcons  37
Eat Here Redskins 31

Youth 11-13-Year-Old Flag Football Schedule

Feb. 28, Friday, 8 p.m. – Beach to Bay Bucs vs. Sandbar restaurant Colts

March 1, Saturday, 10 a.m. – Will C. Photos Falcons vs. Bark & Company Realty Ravens

Youth 14-17-Year-Old Flag Football Results

West Coast Surf Shop Jaguars  39
The Island Sun Bears  0

Galati Yacht Sales Bucs  45
Swordfish Grill Browns  37

Mr. Bones Bengals 27
Integrity Sound Lions  8

The Feast restaurant Broncos  55
Waterfront restaurant Cowboys  6

Youth 14-17-Year-Old Flag Football Schedule

Feb. 27, Thursday, 6 p.m. – Galati Yacht Sales Bucs vs. Integrity Sound Lions

March 1, Saturday, 11 a.m. – Waterfront restaurant Cowboys vs. Mr. Bones Bengals

March 1, Saturday, 12 p.m. – The Island Sun Bears vs. Swordfish Grill Browns

March 1, Saturday, 1 p.m. – West Coast Surf Shop Jaguars vs. The Feast restaurant Broncos

March 4, Tuesday, 6 p.m. – Integrity Sound Lions vs. West Coast Surf Shop Jaguars

March 4, Tuesday, 7 p.m. – Swordfish Grill Browns vs. Waterfront Restaurant Cowboys

March 4, Tuesday, 8 p.m. – Mr. Bones Bengals vs. Galati Yacht Sales Bucs

Adult co-ed 18 & Over Flag Football Results

Slim’s Place Bears  19
Beach Bistro Raiders 12

Duffy’s Tavern Seahawks 54
Agnelli Pool & Spas Giants  20

Beach to Bay Dolphins 33
Waterfront restaurant Panthers  16

Adult co-ed 18 & Over Flag Football Schedule

Feb. 26, Wednesday, 7 p.m. – Waterfront restaurant Panthers vs. Beach Bistro Raiders

Feb. 26, Wednesday, 8 p.m. – Slim’s Place Bears vs. Agnelli Pool & Spas Giants

Feb. 26, Wednesday, 9 p.m. – Duffy’s Tavern Seahawks vs. Beach to Bay Dolphins

Adult co-ed 30 & Over Flag Football Results

Island Gourmet Bills  43
Jessie’s Island Store Bucs  25

Agnelli Pool & Spas Giants  47
Ross Built Panthers  13

Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings  27
Island Real Estate Raiders  6

 

Adult co-ed 30 & Over Flag Football Schedule

Feb. 27, Thursday, 7 p.m. – Island Gourmet Bills vs. Ross Built Panthers

Feb. 27, Thursday, 8 p.m. – Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings vs. Jessie’s Island Store Bucs

Feb. 27, Thursday, 9 p.m. – Island Real Estate Raiders vs. Agnelli Pool & Spas Giants

Adult co-ed Volleyball Results

Duncan Real Estate  25
Southern Greens  14
(First game of best 2 out of 3)

Duncan Real Estate  25
Southern Greens  18
(Second game of best 2 out of 3)

Florida Discount Signs & Wraps  25
Southern Greens  19
(First game of best 2 out of 3)

Florida Discount Signs & Wraps  25
Southern Greens  15
(Second game of best 2 out of 3)

Florida Discount Signs & Wraps  25
Duncan Real Estate  19
(First game of best 2 out of 3)

Duncan Real Estate  25
Florida Discount Signs & Wraps  17
(Second game of best 2 out of 3)

Duncan Real Estate  25
Florida Discount Signs & Wraps  10
(Third game of best 2 out of 3)

Adult co-ed Volleyball Schedule

March 4, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. – Southern Greens vs. Duncan Real Estate

March 4, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. – Duncan Real Estate vs. Florida Discount Signs & Wraps

March 4, Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. – Southern Greens vs. Florida Discount Signs & Wraps

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.