Nice article regarding Newsmanatee.com (Bradenton, Bayshore Gardens: violent crime, attorney, neighborhoods)

[Ladywithafan]

On Wednesday, August 6, 2008, NewsManatee, Inc. corporate officers, friends of NewsManatee, law enforcement personnel and other media threw a surprise sixth anniversary party for Mike Quinn, President of NewsManatee, Inc.

The event was a total surprise to Quinn, who received a USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Service Gold Award for the not-for-profit Web site from President George W. Bush. The award included a certificate, a letter from Mr. Bush and a gold pin.



Above, the USA Freedom Corps
Volunteer Service Gold Award


In the letter to Quinn from President Bush, he said, in part, "Through your service to others, you demonstrate the outstanding character of America and help strengthen our country."

Quinn appeared pleased and was a bit awestruck by the surprise presentation, and told the audience of about 50 people, "NewsManatee.com is not just a bunch of horror stories. It's also a tool with which to educate the public about how to avoid certain crimes from happening to them by reading how they happened to others. NewsManatee.com also assists law enforcement, who have solved other cases by reading about similar crimes committed by certain bad guys. It also provides a psychological lift to the readers when they realize their own lives are much better off than those of the victims of the crimes we report. Plus, many crimes are solved through our links to Crime Stoppers when people who have certain knowledge provide tips to law enforcement with which to solve those crimes. We've also helped law enforcement capture fugitives from justice. In addition, we provide emergency information in the event of a hurricane and/or other active situations. It must be working, because since last Sunday, August 3rd, 1.8 million pages have been read."

Then Quinn added, "You guys have me all choked up." The partygoers laughed with Mike, as he dabbed the real tears in his eyes with tissue.

Quinn told NewsManatee over the weekend, "I'm deeply humbled by the President's award. I join President Bush in asking all Americans to serve their community and the Nation by mentoring a child, caring for an elderly neighbor, teaching someone to read and creating safer neighborhoods."



Among those in attendance at the event: From law enforcement were Manatee County Violent Crimes Task Force Detective Bill Waldron, K-9 Deputy David Brady and his K-9 "Rosco," all from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office; Lt. Ed Kish and Detective Greg Price from the Bradenton Police Department and retired Probation Officer Jake Jacoby.

Also in attendance were Bonner Joy, publisher of the Anna Maria Islander newspaper and Web site; Adraine LaRoza, Executive Director of Volunteer Manatee and Hands On Manatee and the Florida Inland Communities; Laura Lockwood, Founder of the ManaTEENS; Rosie Wiley from AmeriCorps; Harold Crapo, Jr., of the SaraMana chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution; and Eric McGrath, publisher of the MugShot, Manatee County's newest publication.

Putting in appearances also were local attorney and Manatee County School Board candidate Dave Miner, and Kathy Kloth, of World One Realty, a long-time NewsManatee supporter.

Kevin Murphy, Vice President and Treasurer of NewsManatee, Inc., and one of the partners of Skyway Investigations and Security, Inc., and Cas Zona, another Skyway partner, rounded out some of the attendees.

NewsManatee friends and associates who assisted NewsManatee Executive Vice President Carole Atkins with preparing the party's food, setup and decorations were Ashley Bower and Laura Lockwood, ManaTEENS; Rosie Wiley, AmeriCorps; Becky Morris, CPA Associates; Martha Murphy, Janna Chambers, Jeanne Martin and Jackie Law.

Craig Herbert, NewsManatee photographer and Director of External News Operations, was there with his wife and their two girls. Naturally, Craig was snapping pics of the event.

A delicious Pistachio cake was made by Heather at the new Alpha Omega Cafe, located at the corner of Bayshore Gardens Parkway and 26th Street West, in Bradenton.

NewsManatee coporate officers and volunteers extend their thanks to everyone who prepared and participated in the event.



Finally, a nice article to read about something in Bradenton!