Longboat Island Chapel held its annual Farewell Italian Dinner Wednesday, April 13, at the chapel.

Just like the annual Alaskan dog sled race, Out-of-Door Academy first-graders participated in their own iditarod race on campus.

The Lakewood Ranch High girls track team ran past the competition, claiming its 12th consecutive Manatee County Track Championship April 7 at Manatee High. The Lady Mustangs scored 201 points finishing ahead of Braden River with 128 points. Madison Bradley and the distance quintet of Olivia Ortiz, Kristin Zarrella, Devin McDermott, Natalie Novak and Ashley Platt led the way for the Lady Mustangs. Bradley won the triple jump (30 feet, 3 inches) while the Lakewood girls won the 3,200-meter relay in 10:14.56. Ortiz also won the 1,600-meter run (5:22.83) and the 3,200 (11:22.11) and Zarrella won the 800 (2:19.16). Bridget Lanier led the way for Braden River, finishing first in the long jump (15-10) and the 300 hurdles (51.21). Jill Koenig won the pole vault (9-6). On the boys side, Lakewood finished third with 131 points while Braden River was fifth with 47 points. Braden River's Mike Glover won the long jump (20 feet, 6 inches) while Dipo Kolawole won the triple jump (41 feet). Lakewood's Callum Johnstone won the pole vault (11-3) while Daniel Clifford won the 400 (51.56).

Sarasota Military Academy students Nick Hallorn and A.J. Robman spent the day fishing on Siesta Key. The students had the day off from taking the FCAT.

Tim Dutton, of SCOPE, was the guest speaker at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Public Interest Committee, held April 10, at the Bayfront Park Recreation Center.

The Sara DeSoto Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a Mad Hatter Tea Party on Sunday, April 10 at the chapter clubhouse.

Tea to Tequila, a women's networking group, celebrated its 10th anniversary April 10, at a gathering held at the home of Teena and David Kantor.