March Madness almost here

The 2014 NFL Flag Football season at the Anna Maria Island Community Center is drawing near to the conclusion and the Super Bowl Championships. Thirty-three competitive recreational teams will enter the playoffs this week and all will have a shot at their divisional title.

In sports, the term March Madness is associated with the NCAA men’s basketball end of the year tournament to determine the number one team in the country. Sixty-four teams enter the basketball tournament in March, but only one will reign as champion.

At the Community Center, March Madness means thirty-three teams will enter the flag football tournament this year, but at the end, only five teams will reign as Super Bowl champions in their respective divisions. The divisions are: 8-to-10-year-old; 11-to-13-year-old; 14-to-17-year-old; 18-years and up; and 30 years and up.

By the number of teams, the Center’s NFL Flag Football program is the largest season offered. The leagues are all co-ed recreational and family oriented with an emphasis on having fun and learning good sportsmanship. The madness of the end of the year tournament on the road to the Super Bowl might be competitive, but the spirit of the play remains fun no matter what the outcome.

The playoff action will heat up this week and continue for the next two weeks. If you love football and the true spirit of recreational sports, catch all the games at the Community Center or check back weekly to read how it all turns out!

Youth 5-7-Year-Old Flag Football Schedule

March 7, Friday, 6 p.m. – Miller Electric Broncos vs. Air & Energy Bucs

March 10, Monday, 6 p.m. – Beaches Real Estate Packers vs. Miller Electric Broncos

Youth 8-10-Year-Old Flag Football Results

Manatee Diagnostic Ravens  12
Beach Bistro Buccaneers  7

West Coast Air & Heating Dolphins 19
Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings 18

LPAC Cardinals  37
DoJo Martial Arts Cowboys  31

West Coast Air & Heating Dolphins 26
Manatee Diagnostic Ravens  0

Beach Bums Patriots  27
Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings  6

Youth 8-10-Year-Old Flag Football Schedule

March 7, Friday, 6 p.m. – DoJo Martial Arts Cowboys vs. LPAC Cardinals

March 7, Friday, 7 p.m. – Beach Bums Patriots vs. West Coast Air & Heating Dolphins

March 8, Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5th Seeded Team vs. 4th Seeded Team – Playoffs

March 8, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6th Seeded Team vs. 3rd Seeded Team – Playoffs

March 8, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7th Seeded Team vs. 2nd Seeded Team – Playoffs

March 10, Monday, 6 p.m. – Winner March 8th 9 game vs. 1st Place Seed - Playoffs

March 10, Monday, 7 p.m. – Winner March 8th 10 game vs. Winner March 8th 11 game – Playoffs

Youth 11-13-Year-Old Flag Football Results

Sandbar restaurant Colts 29
Will C. Photos Falcons  28

LPAC Cardinals  39
Eat Here Redskins  6

Sandbar restaurant Colts 42
Beach to Bay Bucs  20

Bark & Company Realty Ravens  28
Will C. Photos Falcons  6

Youth 11-13-Year-Old Flag Football Schedule

March 5, Wednesday, 6 p.m. – Beach to Bay Bucs vs. Eat Here Redskins

March 7, Friday, 8 p.m. – Beach to Bay Bucs vs. LPAC Cardinals

March 8, Saturday, 12 p.m. – 5th Seeded Team vs. 4th Seeded Team – Playoffs

March 8, Saturday, 1 p.m. – 6th Seeded Team vs. 3rd Seeded Team – Playoffs

Youth 14-17 Year Old Flag Football Results

Integrity Sound Lions  40
Galati Yacht Sales Bucs  12

Mr. Bones Bengals  40
Waterfront restaurant Cowboys  25

The Island Sun Bears  26
Swordfish Grill Browns  21

The Feast restaurant Broncos  40
West Coast Surf Shop Jaguars  26

Youth 14-17-Year-Old Flag Football Schedule

March 6, Thursday, 6 p.m. – The Feast restaurant Broncos vs. The Island Sun Bears

March 8, Saturday, 2 p.m. – 8th Seeded Team vs. 1st Seeded Team - Playoffs

March 8, Saturday, 3 p.m. – 7th Seeded Team vs. 2nd Seeded Team - Playoffs

March 8, Saturday, 4 p.m. – 5th Seeded Team vs. 4th Seeded Team - Playoffs

March 8, Saturday, 5 p.m. – 6th Seeded Team vs. 3rd Seeded Team - Playoffs

March 10, Monday, 8 p.m. – Winner March 8th 2 game vs. Winner March 8th 4 game – Playoffs

Adult co-ed 18 & Over Flag Football Results

Slim’s Place Bears  39
Waterfront Restaurant Panthers  13

Agnelli Pool & Spas Giants  16
Beach to Bay Dolphins 13

Duffy’s Tavern Eagles  54
Beach Bistro Raiders  32

Adult co-ed 18 & Over Flag Football Schedule

March 5, Wednesday, 7 p.m. – Waterfront restaurant Panthers vs. Beach Bistro Raiders

March 5, Wednesday, 8 p.m. – Slim’s Place Bears vs. Agnelli Pool & Spas Giants

March 5, Wednesday, 9 p.m. – Duffy’s Tavern Eagles vs. Beach to Bay Dolphins

Adult co-ed 30 & Over Flag Football Results

Island Gourmet Bills  26
Ross Built Panthers  18

Jessie’s Island Store Bucs  16
Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings  12

Agnelli Pool & Spas Giants  41
Island Real Estate Raiders 20

 

Adult co-ed 30 & Over Flag Football Schedule

Playoffs

March 6, Thursday, 7 p.m. – 5th Seeded Team vs. 4th Seeded Team - Playoffs

March 6, Thursday, 8 p.m. – 6th Seeded Team vs. 3rd Seeded Team - Playoffs

Adult co-ed Volleyball Schedule

March 11, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. – Southern Greens vs. Duncan Real Estate

March 11, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. – Southern Greens vs. Florida Discount Signs & Wraps

March 11, Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. – Duncan Real Estate 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.