Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from December 2006

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from December 2006

Buy or sell this house; we'll toss in furniture or a car.(A SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Byline: MICHAEL POLLICK michael.pollick@heraldtribune.com ONE OF A SERIES Southwest Florida's slow-mo real estate market has Bradenton real estate agent Frank Maruca settling into the leather seats of a 2007 Lexus ES 350. Maruca...

In and out of politics, friendship counts for Crist; The governor-elect values loyalty and trust.(A SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Byline: JOE FOLLICK H-T CAPITAL BUREAU TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush frequently chose people with strong conservative credentials from out of state to lead state agencies. But Charlie Crist, set to be sworn in as the state's 44th governor...

WHEN IT'S TIME TO ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES.(A SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Here are some of what is likely to be near the top of Charlie Crist's agenda after he is sworn in in January: ANTI-MURDER LEGISLATION Crist has already backed away from campaign promises to sign no other bills into law before...

Court too hot to handle; Championship game is halted after gym floor becomes too slippery from the heat.(SPORTS)
December 31, 2006... Byline: BRIAN NEWBERRY CORRESPONDENT BRADENTON -- There was no champion crowned in the Eddie Shannon Holiday Classic on Saturday night. Due to condensation on the floor from an air conditioning problem in the championship game...

A woman of means; Laura Ramsey's determination pays off as her stock rises.(SPORTS)
December 31, 2006... Byline: DOUG FERNANDES doug.fernandes@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- It's 6:28 p.m., and darkness has arrived at the Sarasota Boxing Club. Laura Ramsey hasn't. Club director Harold Wilen checks his watch. He knows his pupil...

This may be last game for slew of veterans; From Mike Alstott to Simeon Rice to 15-year vet Dave Moore, a long list of Bucs could be headed for the exit.(SPORTS)
December 31, 2006... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- What's left of the shredded Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster will be limping to the finish line of this nightmare season the team cannot wait to end. Without Carnell Williams, Chris...

Riverview undefeated at Big Blue Jam.(SPORTS)
December 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT WINTER HAVEN -- Mike Peipert led Riverview with 13 points as the Rams defeated Lake Region 48-38 Saturday at the Big Blue Holiday Jam at Winter Haven. The Rams went undefeated in the 12-team jamboree, taking...

Secret revealed; Successful anglers don't have a magic lamp or knowledge they won't share with others. They just fish in the right places.(SPORTS)(Outdoors)(Column)
December 31, 2006... Byline: Steve Gibson We talked to a number of fishing experts and they shared their secret of success. Although we swore not to share the secret (it's highly classified, you know), we've decided that it's too good to keep to...

ENDURING life's lists; Sarasotan Doug Minturn confronts his epilepsy with an unflinching eye, technology and hope.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Byline: BILLY COX billy.cox@heraldtribune.com Sometimes it seems as if Doug Minturn's essence can be whittled into lists. Some lists are better than others. The wheels he used to have so much fun with, for example -- that's a good...

Long-awaited 'Stars of Broadway' takes the stage, wows crowd.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)(Column)
December 31, 2006... Byline: Marjorie North Two years of prodding and seed money later, Betty Schoenbaum saw the Jewish Family and Children's Service "Stars of Broadway" gala ring from the Ritz rafters the other night as 500 guests enjoyed the symphony's...

DeMeritts celebrate 60 years.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Hyrthol and Jean DeMeritt of Sarasota celebrated their 60th anniversary Dec. 14, 2006. They were married Dec. 14, 1946, in Flushing, Mich., and have lived in Sarasota for 28 years. They are the parents of Lorna Uber of Punta Gorda...

Dunns celebrate 50 years.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... James R. and Ruth E. (Rector) Dunn of Sarasota, celebrated their 50th anniversary Dec. 28, 2006. They were married Dec. 28, 1956, in Akron, Ohio, and have lived in Sarasota for 40 years. They are the parents of Rev. Daniel K. Dunn of...

Marines celebrate 60 years.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Donald and Janet Marine of Sarasota celebrated their 60th anniversary Dec. 21, 2006. They were married Dec. 21, 1946, in Aberdeen, S.D., and have lived in Sarasota for 21 years. They are the parents of Cathy Marine of Sarasota and...

Milazzos celebrate 60 years.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Chuck and Dottie Milazzo of Venice celebrated their 60th anniversary Nov. 28, 2006. They were married Nov. 28, 1946, in Onarga, Ill., and have lived in Venice for 25 years. They are the parents of Cindy Milazzo, David Milazzo and...

Wilsons celebrate 60 years.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Steve and Jill Wilson of Venice celebrated their 60th anniversary Nov. 30, 2006. They were married Nov. 30, 1946, in Flat Rock, N.C., and have lived in Venice for 17 years. They are the parents of Penny Scott of Greensboro, N.C.,...

Bock-Jacobs.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... The engagement of Jessica Sue Bock and Nathan Bonnett Jacobs, both of Washington, D.C., is announced. She is the daughter of Janet Bock of Sarasota and Andrew Bock of Riverview. He is the son of Kay and Lynn Jacobs of Killeen, Texas....

Dutmers-Floyd.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... The engagement of Kathleen Dutmers of Sarasota and Kevin Floyd of Jonesboro, Ga., is announced. She is the daughter of Joseph and Christine Dutmers of Sarasota. He is the son of Ronald and Carol Floyd of Jonesboro. The...

Hart-Patella.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... The engagement of Jessica Elizabeth Hart and Jonathan Nicholas Patella, both of Mesa, Ariz., is announced. She is the daughter of Jeff and Joyce Hart of Sarasota. He is the son of Perry Patella of Sarasota and Tina and Randy Johnson...

Moreland-Hite.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... The engagement of Renee Moreland and Dustin Hite, both of Orlando, is announced. She is the daughter of Michael and Christine Venezio of Sarasota. He is the son of Donald and Frances Hite of Sarasota. The bride-elect is a student...

Rule-Gleitsman.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... The engagement of Kristin D. Rule of Sarasota and Wolfe S. Gleitsman of Santa Fe, N.M., is announced. She is the daughter of Katherine Rule of Sarasota and John D. Rule of Manhasset, N.Y. He is the son of Wayne and Gretel Underwood...

Smith-Hyer.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... The engagement of Robin Marie Smith of La Place, La., and Daniel Charles Hyer of Bradenton is announced. She is the daughter of Allen and Donna Smith of La Place. He is the son of Richard and Valerie Hyer of Bradenton. The...

Chandler-Callaway.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Rotosha Bishay Chandler of Sarasota and Tendayi Eugene Callaway of Bradenton, were married Nov. 18, 2006, at 2 p.m. at Bethelhem Baptist Church in Sarasota. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Chandler Jr. of Sarasota. ...

Felton-Mobley.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Carol Darlene Felton of Palmetto and Daryl Maurice Mobley of Lake Mary were married Nov. 25, 2006, at 5 p.m. at First Church of God in Bradenton. The bride is the daughter of Willie and Lucy Felton of Ellenton. The bridegroom is the...

Gruen-Hunt.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Amy Christina Gruen and Christopher Scott Hunt, both of Sarasota, were married Nov. 25, 2006, at 5 p.m. at The Sandbar in Anna Maria. The bride is the daughter of Elizabeth and Eric Gruen of Sarasota. The bridegroom is the son of...

Paoli-Sanchez.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Teina Ann Murphy Paoli and Richard Fernandez Sanchez Jr., both of Sarasota, were married Nov. 3, 2006, at 5 p.m. at Arlington Park in Sarasota. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Murphy of Martin, Tenn. The bridegroom...

Twigg-Venezio.(FLORIDA WEST & TRAVEL)
December 31, 2006... Anne Twigg and Joe Venezio, both of Sarasota were married Sept. 30, 2006, at 4:30 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Sarasota. The bride is the daughter of Jeff and Cyndi Twigg of Sarasota and Wayne and June Douglas of Palmetto. The...

Spared by a chance encounter.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
December 31, 2006... Byline: Vicki Dean In 1970, it was one of many split-second decisions that changed dozens of lives. After Phil Beuth spoke at a Rotary Club meeting in Huntington, W.Va., a Marshall University booster talked him into giving up his...

Ford healed a divided nation.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
December 31, 2006... Byline: Waldo Proffitt Gerald R. Ford was one of three presidents in the last 30 years who lost their bid for a second term. The others were Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. All three were good presidents -- not great but good --...

Manatee to-do list; Some issues that should be high on the county's 2007 agenda.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
December 31, 2006... Procrastination generally isn't considered a good way to start the new year, but today we'll offer a diversion for Manatee County residents mulling over their resolutions for 2007. Instead of pondering a diet, a new exercise regimen or...

Taking the good with the bad; In Sarasota County, things changed but not always for the better.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
December 31, 2006... The more things change, the more... Ah, Sarasota County. In 2006, for example: The number of building permits issued went down, but public pressure to control development increased. The cities and county government engaged...

Thank you; Our customers, advertisers and colleagues made 2006 a success.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
December 31, 2006... Traditions are many things to many people. At their best, they offer consistency, tying us to our past and linking us to our future. But, even at their worst, when they become scripts for going through the motions, traditions give us...

From shovels to scissors; Hurricane recovery continues to dominate Charlotte's landscape.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
December 31, 2006... In Charlotte County, 2006 could easily be remembered as the "Year of the Shovel." Groundbreakings for major post-Hurricane Charley reconstruction projects set a tone of optimism for the year, which was also blissfully hurricane-free. To...

It's never too late to make it right.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
December 31, 2006... Byline: Eric Ernst The letter from Tom Macres started on a somber note: "2006 hasn't been my best year." "My doctor advised me to enroll in a hospice (emphysema) program. I expect to see this Christmas but it will likely be my last....

TOP STORIES OF '06.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... For Southwest Florida, 2006 was a year that defied predictions. Start with hurricanes. Forecasters said there would be lots of them. But, for only the 11th time since 1945, not a single one hit the coastal United States. Yet, if the...

BEST BETS.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... TODAY Ring in the new year: Turning Leaf Productions presents its annual New Year's Eve concert featuring Valerie Sneade, Michelle Kasanofsky, Judy Alexander and Amanda Segur, with Alex Albanese on bass and Bob Ryan on drums. Shows at 7...

CHYC salutes its commodore.(B SECTION)(In the Loop)(Column)
December 31, 2006... Byline: Ann Henderson Floral arrangements cascaded from the tall, slender, crystal vases on the tables at the elegant Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club Commodore's Ball as more than 200 members gathered to salute their commodore, Chari Leitch....

Leadership Institute could be a boon to North Port.(B SECTION)(Column)
December 31, 2006... Byline: Kathy Silverberg Community service. Community leadership. Community growth. These three go hand-in-hand and, realizing that, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation has invested considerable time and money establishing the North Port...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 31, 2006... CHARLOTTE COUNTY Frank R. Azevedo Frank R. Azevedo, 79, Deep Creek, died Dec. 22, 2006, at Peace River Regional Medical Center Hospital, Port Charlotte. He was born Jan. 7, 1927, in Providence, R.I., and came to Deep Creek in...

BEST BETS.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... TODAY Ring in the new year: Turning Leaf Productions presents its annual New Year's Eve concert featuring Valerie Sneade, Michelle Kasanofsky, Judy Alexander and Amanda Segur, with Alex Albanese on bass and Bob Ryan on drums. Shows at 7...

Children make sock puppets.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT Using his imagination, Gilbert Millares, 5, glued five wobbling eyes and two puffy noses inside the felt mouth of his sock puppet. "It's my alien," he said. Gilbert made his puppet at a...

BEST BETS.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... JOIN A DISCUSSION GROUP Discussion: "Radical, Liberal and Conservative" led by Will Fridy, Ph.D., will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday and then the first Tuesday of each month through May at Venice Library, 300 S. Nokomis Ave. Join Fridy's...

Sarasota Garden Club offers $2,000 scholarship.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT The Sarasota Garden Club is offering the $2,000 Wayne Hibbs Natural Science Scholarship to a student of academic excellence who is interested in attaining a degree in a natural-science field of study. The field of...

Idaho? Maybe that's the ticket.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
December 31, 2006... Byline: Larry Evans While growing up in Key West, Billy would pass Ernest Hemingway's home as he rode his bicycle to the community's baseball field on Saturday mornings. The famous novelist was no longer alive. Hemingway killed...

Garden club offers scholarship.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT The Sarasota Garden Club is offering the $2,000 Wayne Hibbs Natural Science Scholarship to a student of academic excellence who is interested in attaining a degree in a natural science field of study. The field of...

Celebrating 40 years of service.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
December 31, 2006... Byline: John Hamner We're coming up on a new year, which sort of sets the stage for other changes. And one of them has mixed overtones for our community. I refer to the retirement of Majors Jack and Janice Repast, commanders of the...

Ex-teacher discovers new life in Turkey.(B SECTION)(Column)
December 31, 2006... Byline: Yvette Kimm In the summer of 2001, Diane Kanzler took her first trip out of the country. She had received a Fulbright-Hays fellowship to study in South Africa for a month. Kanzler returned with such a zest for life that she...

BEST BETS.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... GO TO THE DOGS Gather with other poodle owners at Poodle play day from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Happy Tails Dog Park, 2900 block of 51st Street West, Bradenton. Presented by the Poodle People of Manatee. Bring your poodles, or just come and...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 31, 2006... MANATEE COUNTY Jeffrey Scott Haughey Jeffrey Scott Haughey, 40, Bradenton, died Dec. 30, 2006, at TideWell Hospice and Palliative Care House in Palmetto. He was born May 17, 1966, in Fort Wayne, Ind., and came to Bradenton in...

Lakewood Ranch is 2nd at Fiesta Bowl contest.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT PHOENIX -- The Lakewood Ranch High School Marching Mustangs finished second in Friday's Fiesta Bowl national band competition. The Mustangs were one of a dozen schools from 10 states competing for the Grand...

BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Pedestrian hit, killed by vehicle on U.S. 41 SARASOTA -- Police say a man died several hours after he stumbled into northbound traffic on U.S. 41 Saturday afternoon and was hit by a boat hitched to the back of a pickup. The incident...

Sarasotan works way through rough times.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Byline: PATTY ALLEN-JONES patty.allen-jones@heraldtribune.com Sixteen months ago, life was good for Kenneth Knecht. He was engaged to the love of his life, Karen Steel. They were purchasing the Venice house that they were renting, and...

BEST BETS.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... TODAY New Year's Eve Free Downtown Block Party. 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Downtown Sarasota drops the Orange at midnight at Main and Lemon. Free downtown block party, first since 2001. Three live bands, Budlight party express, food vendors....

Youths gain self-confidence at holiday production.(B SECTION)
December 31, 2006... Byline: KAZUAKI NAGATA CORRESPONDENT Child performers exuded energy and Christmas merriment during the Dec. 23 production of "A Winter Wonderland Christmas" at Robert Hines Ministries. The ministries' community production consisted...

Crist still raking in cash for his inaugural events.(B SECTION)(CAPITAL COMMENT)(Column)
December 31, 2006... Byline: JOE FOLLICK, LLOYD DUNKELBERGER Don't think that Charlie Crist's decision to cancel a formal inaugural ball has affected the governor-elect's ability to raise money from the state's most connected special interests. A report...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 31, 2006... SARASOTA COUNTY Lucille M. Blesi Lucille M. Blesi, 92, Sarasota, died Dec. 30, 2006. She was born Sept. 27, 1914, in Dayton, Ohio, and came to Sarasota from there in 1980. She was a homemaker and a founding member of St. Thomas...

McGrath shared love of literature, writing.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
December 31, 2006... Byline: MARK ZALOUDEK mark.zaloudek@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Bob McGrath celebrated good writing, whether it was by classic authors or novices hoping to publish their first book. As a high school English teacher for more than 30...

A student returns; This time, Julie Albers will be a guest soloist.(ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT)
December 31, 2006... Byline: CHARLIE HUISKING CORRESPONDENT Eight years ago, cellist Julie Albers was one of 100 students at the Sarasota Music Festival. Next weekend, she returns to Sarasota in a much more prominent role -- as guest soloist with the...

10; Tumult and renewal mark strange year for local arts scene.(ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT)
December 31, 2006... It was a strange year for the arts in the Sarasota area. In 2006, the Asolo Theatre Company (now the Asolo Rep) and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall both lost their senior directors -- the former to retirement, the latter to involuntary...

He don't think he said what they said he said.(ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT)
December 31, 2006... Byline: CHARLIE HUISKING CORRESPONDENT You don't have to be a sports fan to be familiar with Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra's famous quotes, from "It ain't over 'til it's over" to "90 percent of baseball is half-mental." Remember...

Into an ANGRY SEA; Author recreates fatal voyages of a Bradenton resident, two others in 1999.(ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT)
December 31, 2006... Byline: SUSAN L. RIFE susan.rife@heraldtribune.com John Kretschmer is an experienced sailor who has logged more than 200,000 offshore sailing miles and has a long history of teaching aspiring sailors, including Bradenton resident Carl...

GOING UP/River Club, Port Charlotte; Model homes open in moderately priced enclave.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
December 31, 2006... Byline: NICHOLE L. REBER CORRESPONDENT Three designer-decorated models are now open at the River Club, another gated subdivision of single-family houses coming to Port Charlotte. The models will demonstrate three of the seven floor plans...

At home in 2007; Design professionals reveal trends that could define domestic life in the coming year.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
December 31, 2006... Byline: MARSHA FOTTLER marsha.fottler@heraldtribune.com "Global mix," "summer cottage," "lake retreat" and "simple elegant modern" are among the phrases that will hit home as design professionals shape the look of American homes in the...

MANATEE COUNTY PROPERTY TRANSFERS.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
December 31, 2006... $125,000 MINIMUM Source: Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court. Recorded October 2006. Apple, Jerry L., to Caballero, Lucia C., Lot 1, Preslar Subdivision, $240,000. Applegett, John A., to Lajoie, Bonnie, Lot 58, Whitney...

CHARLOTTE COUNTY PROPERTY TRANSFERS.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
December 31, 2006... $125,000 MINIMUM Source: Charlotte County Clerk of Circuit Court. Recorded December 2006. Amodio, Dennis, and Pace Realty Corp. to Parkway Motor Inn Inc., Lot 11, Block 27, Charlotte Harbor, $2,000,000. Amodio, Dennis, and Pace...

SARASOTA COUNTY PROPERTY TRANSFERS.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
December 31, 2006... $125,000 MINIMUM Source: Sarasota County Clerk of Circuit Court. Recorded September 2006. Adams Homes of Northwest Florida Inc. to Monteiro, Marguerite, Lot 32, Block 1229, 27 Addition, Port Charlotte, $250,900. Adams, Holly E.,...

Jennings suffers a double setback; Buchanan will be seated; judge tosses her lawsuit.(A SECTION)
December 30, 2006... Byline: JEREMY WALLACE and CAROL E. LEE STAFF WRITERS Republican Vern Buchanan won two major victories on Friday, removing key barriers that had stood in the way of him representing the 13th District in Congress. Hours after...

Judge: Case built on 'speculation and conjecture'.(A SECTION)
December 30, 2006... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER H-T CAPITAL BUREAU TALLAHASSEE -- In delivering a major setback to Christine Jennings' bid to prove that faulty voting machines led to her defeat in the District 13 congressional election, a trial judge on...

Signed, but not delivered; Sarasota-Reds deal generates mixed emotions.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 30, 2006... News that the city of Sarasota and the Cincinnati Reds have come to terms on a new stadium leaves us with decidedly mixed emotions. The signed pact represents a tremendous effort by officials and staff, on both sides of the table, to...

Pride Park's new promise; Proposed YMCA-run center could transform neighborhood.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 30, 2006... The residents of the Pride Park neighborhood in southeastern Manatee County have waited so long for a community center that it seems a bit risky to welcome news of a major change in the scope for the project. But there's no denying that...

Palmetto to play for championship.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2006... Byline: BRIAN NEWBERRY CORRESPONDENT BRADENTON -- It will be Palmetto and Tampa Bay Tech in the finals of the Eddie Shannon Holiday Classic tonight. The Tigers overcame a sluggish first half to put away Tampa Middleton 64-50 while...

Area schools fall short in finals; Sarasota and Palmetto lose in pair of finals while Venice is defeated in consolation contest.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2006... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- It was a tough night for the locals during the final round of the Willie Clemons Scholarship Girls Basketball Classic. Sarasota turned in the best effort of...

Another final game for Alstott? Sunday's game against the Seahawks may be fan favorite Mike Alstott's last with the Bucs.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2006... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- Mike Alstott is once again walking on eggshells regarding his future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The six-time Pro Bowl fullback, all but phased out of the offense for most...

One-Eyed as ace of a club.(SPORTS)(Comment)(Column)
December 30, 2006... Byline: Doug Fernandes SARASOTA -- Daniel Negrean-who? By the time I was finished with "Kid Poker," they'd have me arrested for child abuse. Johnny Chan? He'd be Johnny Chum. Johnny Chump. But just to show I'm a guy with a...

READY TO RUMBLE.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2006... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com VENICE -- Anthony Liakakos and Phil Hall, two former state champions in wrestling and football at Venice High, have entered the octagon-shaped, fenced-in world of mixed martial arts....

Mixed martial arts for dummies.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2006... AN EXPLANTION * Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a combination of boxing, wrestling, and martial arts. First introduced to the U.S. in 1993, MMA was often referred to as human cockfighting, barred in many states and banned on television. It...

Manta Rays capitalize on Gulf Coast's foul.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT NAPLES -- A costly technical foul on the Gulf Coast High School coach allowed Lemon Bay to take a late lead in their game at the Gulf Shore Shootout at Golden Gate High School on Friday before Gulf Coast came back...

Beavers win on 2-point conversion.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2006... Byline: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS EL PASO, Texas -- Oregon State wanted nothing to do with overtime. Yvenson Bernard barely pushed into the end zone on a gutsy 2-point conversion run after Joe Newton caught a 14-yard touchdown pass with...

Pro Football.(SPORTS)
December 30, 2006... Byline: Jason Swancey N.Y. Giants at Washington 7-8 8 p.m. 5-10 How bad is the NFC? With a win the Giants can still grab a wild card despite dropping six of the last seven. How bad are the Giants?...

Patient by patient, hospital relocates; HealthSouth Rehab workers team up with firefighters to make the move.(BUSINESS)
December 30, 2006... Byline: DAVID GULLIVER david.gulliver@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota opened its brand-new building Friday morning. One minor problem: Its patients were still in the old one, five miles...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
December 30, 2006... New sales associate joins Barry D. Edwards Michael von Waldner recently joined Sarasota real estate firm Barry D. Edwards & Associates Inc. as a sales associate, specializing in commercial sales, leasing and property management. Mary...

Students flip for Circus.(PLAY!)(Go!)(Column)
December 30, 2006... Nathon Deets, a senior at Sarasota High School, plays the Grinch in this year's holiday edition of the Sailor Circus. He's also the catcher in the flying trapeze act. The furry green costume adds a degree of difficulty to the act. ...

New Year's PLAY; Polar Bear Swimmers splash into 2007.(PLAY!)
December 30, 2006... Byline: THOMAS BECNEL thomas.becnel@heraldtribune.com The Polar Bear Swim started out with Saturday-morning runners who cooled off with a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. "Then it got colder and colder," says Tom Richardson, "so we said,...

Experience brings out best in sailing.(PLAY!)(Sailing)(Column)
December 30, 2006... Byline: Morgan Stinemetz It was 30 years ago this year that I got real lucky. A friend from my teenage years, Mike Winston of Washington, D.C., introduced me to sailing in 1976 while he and some mates were preparing a boat, a Heritage...

Local snapshots; Brief comments on life and times in our region.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
December 30, 2006... Thinking big for I-75 Transportation planners are thinking big when it comes to Interstate 75 in Lee and Collier counties. A recent study indicates that 10 lanes with four toll lanes would be the optimum configuration in 2015 for the...