Thursday, March 7, 2013
Pittsburgh Pirates fans will get to meet their favorite players and mascots in Bradenton's McKechnie Field.
Watch out, Buccos, here come the Pirate fans. The eighth annual Pirate Fest returns to McKechnie Field on Saturday March 9, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., where fans get to meet and greet with their favorite Pittsburgh Pirates players. The event festival will be held on 9thStreet West, just outside the main gate at McKechnie Field. Following the party, the Pirates will play the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 p.m. The party is free and open to the public, and tickets are required for the spring training game. Stay after the game for a country music concert with Chris Lane on the new boardwalk in the outfield. Here is what's on tap at Pirate Fest: Inside the gates for fans with tickets, Pirates 1971 World Series pitcher Steve Blass will sign his new …
Monday, March 4, 2013
It’s looking like Gov. Rick Scott’s decision to go along this major plank in the Obamacare plan is getting a frigid reception from State lawmakers. What do you think about it Tampa Bay?
Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s recent flip-flop on Obamacare might be a moot point. It looks like the plan to expand the state’s Medicaid coverage to another 1 million or so people is falling flat with other Florida lawmakers. A state House committee recently decided that expanding Medicaid to provide care for the uninsured wasn’t the way to go, according to a report on TBO.com. Committee members, TBO reported, said they were concerned about the quality of care and the costs associated with the proposal. Scott recently said he’d go along with the notion of expanding Medicaid since the federal government would be paying for it for the first three years as part of the Obamacare package, which is more formally known as the Affordable Care Act. The…
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
IndyCars on display for fans at Bradenton Area Convention Center to help entice fans.
One of the premier racing events on the Gulf Coast will descend on St. Petersburg in March, and Bradenton tourism officials hope to bring those fans south of the Sunshine Skyway bridge. The Honda GrandPrix of St. Petersburg will zoom and dart through the streets of St. Pete March March 22-24, while assembly of the course began Feb. 15. The IZOD IndyCar Series stop is making St. Pete its home for the ninth year in a row, and no wonder why—the race brought 125,000 fans to the area. And while a good portion of fans are local, many of them need hotel rooms, and they are having a tough time finding rooms in St. Pete, said Kelly Klotz, a spokeswoman for the Bradenton Area Convention Center. Fans coming to the grand prix should look for rooms in …
Manatee County Commission approved a bid plan for the rowing championships at Nathan Benderson Park while Sarasota commissioners provided more money for marketing.
The University Park and Lakewood Ranch area could be home to the largest rowing event outside of the Olympics if a bid to lure the 2017 World Rowing Championships is successful. The Manatee County Commission gave the OK on Tuesday to bid for the world rowing championship, the Bradenton Herald reported: "This event would mean so much more than the $25 million economic impact" over 13 days in September 2017, said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This will brand our course, and give it the credibility worldwide for future sports championships." The Sarasota County Commission on Feb. 13 approved a plan to bid for the championships operated by the Fédération Internationale des …
Saturday, February 16, 2013
We want to know what you think, Tampa Bay!
With Super Bowl championships occupying the top three slots in most-watched telecasts in U.S. history, it seems football is as popular as ever. Yet the sport is at the epicenter of a national debate on the long-term effects of concussions and whether tackling is safe for youngsters. President Barack Obama recently threw his two cents in, saying if he had a son he would think twice before letting him get on the gridiron. And Boston University researchers last year released a comprehensive study showing there is a link between permanent brain injury and repeated blows to the head, according to the Boston Globe. Of concern to some is the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in some older athletes. Often referred to as simply CTE, …
Friday, February 15, 2013
You may be surprised by the answer!
Want your child to stay fit or trim down? Join the local YMCA or other local gym. You even can make it family time. Patch recently spoke with the YMCA to get some tips on how kids can stay healthy. Patch: How much exercise should youngsters get? YMCA: Getting 45 to 60 minutes of activity on as many days as possible, even if it is broken up into 15-minute segments, is an important goal. Patch: At what age is it considered safe for children to begin lifting weights? YMCA: The American Academy of Pediatrics position on strength training supports the implementation of strength and resistance training programs, even for prepubescent children, that are monitored by well-trained adults and take into account the child’s maturation level. The only …
If he had a son, the president probably would not let him play football. But a doctor at All Children's Hospital who has treated many concussions said his boy will be free to get on the gridiron.
Football and hard hits go together like beer and chicken wings. But the debate over concussions and player safety has intensified, with President Barack Obama saying he would have to think “long and hard” if he had a son who asked to play football. While NFL players are adults who know the risks they are taking, some say, the same can’t always be said for youth athletes — and that has many parents and medical professionals concerned. “We have always seen concussions but there is more emphasis on their diagnosis and recognition,” said Dr. Patrick Mularoni, who works in the emergency room and the sports medicine concussion clinic at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. The majority of concussions in young athletes are occurring during …
Even if a young athlete doesn't lose consciousness, the injury may be a concussion. Here's what to look for.
Head injuries on the football field is of increasing concern to parents and coaches, as more is learned about the long-term impacts. Local doctors are stepping up their warnings about the signs and symptoms of concussion in young athletes. First and foremost, a person does not have to be knocked out to suffer a concussion. In fact, only 10 percent of athletes who have concussions lose consciousness, according to Dr. Patrick Mularoni, who works at the sports medicine concussion clinic at All Children’s Hospital's St. Petersburg location. New state legislation was introduced last year that requires any youth suspected of receiving a concussion to be immediately removed from a game or practice, unable to return until obtaining medical …
Monday, February 11, 2013
You may be surprised by the answer!
Want to help your child stay fit or trim down? One of the more popular options, of course, is to join the local YMCA. Patch recently spoke with the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA to get some tips on how kids can stay healthy. The association consists of nearly 20 locations throughout the Bay Area. Patch: How much exercise should youngsters get? YMCA: Getting 45 to 60 minutes of activity on as many days as possible, even if it is broken up into 15-minute segments, is an important goal. Patch: At what age is it considered safe for children to begin lifting weights? YMCA: The American Academy of Pediatrics position on strength training supports the implementation of strength and resistance training programs, even for prepubescent children, that…
Friday, February 8, 2013
Want to try paddleboarding? Here are tips to get you started off on the right foot!
Paddleboarding is one of the more popular watersports today. It's fun and a great way to get fit, too. If you're looking to hit the waves on a paddleboard, Prescott Metcalf, a paddleboard instructor with the Suncoast Surf Shop in Treasure Island, offers these tips: Want to give paddleboarding a try? Check out one of these regional shops: Sarasota Paddleboard Company 690 Ben Franklin Dr. Sarasota, FL 34234 (941) 650-2241 AMI Paddleboard Adventures 3902 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, FL (941) 896-6422 Suncoast Paddleboard Company 5032 Creekside Trail, Sarasota, FL (941) 549-0466
Mike Farnham
10:39 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Great event. Lots of fun! We have been every year! Mark your calendars! more ›