Your Town

+ Lapping the track

Students in the Tara Elementary School Runners' Club were revved up to launch the new season Nov. 3 on the school’s new clay track.

The Manatee County School District installed the track at the beginning of the school year per the Tara administration’s request. Heavy rains left the previous grass path muddy and not suitable for running.

"The running club is a great opportunity for students to exercise and release some energy prior to class," said Linda Haluska, physical education and health teacher at Tara. "Exercise before school can significantly improve students’ academic performance, cognitive abilities and their health."

The club meets twice a week in the morning to learn the importance of physical fitness and to have fun with classmates and parents who sometimes attend club runs.

+ Food for thought

After Scott Adams had a hemorrhagic stroke in February, he has needed medical treatment and supplies. The Adams family launched a GoFundMe page in May and has generated $4,405 of their $5,000 goal.

To jump the nearly $600 hurdle to achieve the goal, the school partnered with Braden River High School's Future Farmers of America (FFA) program and Texas Roadhouse on State Road 70 to earn dollars for Scott Adams' needs.

A portion of the proceeds generated from dinner sales Nov. 9 benefited the family.

To donate on the family's GoFundMe page, visit gofundme.com/scottadams.

+ Peanut gallery

Out-of-Door Academy students brought Snoopy, Linus and other characters to life from the Peanuts comic strip.

Students in Andy Lemieux's Advanced Placement Literature and Composition class wore hats shaped like Snoopy and carried blankets like Linus to portray characters as they read "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," by Charles Schulz, Oct. 30 at The Lily School, in Sarasota.

The students also participated in a school parade that day.

+ Strike a pose!

It's not a stretch to say some local residents go to great lengths to support charity.

Goodwill Manasota and the Garden of Heart Yoga Center of Sarasota partnered on a 24-hour challenge from noon Nov. 9 to noon Nov. 10 to raise donations for Goodwill Manasota's Veterans Service programs. 

The challenge was to bend, twist, or arch into a yoga pose in "extraordinary places."

The four suggested poses were Proud Warrior, Powerful/Chair Pose, Downward Facing Dog and Tree Pose.

After posing, participants took a photo, posted it to Goodwill's Facebook page and donated dollars on Goodwill's website. The organization matched donations up to $250 per person.