PEACE DAY comes to Anna Maria Elementary

AME celebrates Peace Day

BY JASON SCHAFFER

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - Each year, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on Sept. 21, and each year, students at Anna Maria Elementary School (AME) hold a celebration of peace at the school known as Peace Day.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly (UN). Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Each year the UN designates a specific theme for the day, and this year’s theme was “End racism, build peace.”

Students spent the day putting on performances, flying international flags and enjoying presentations from guest speakers such as Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island President Jim McDaniel. During his presentation to the students, he used three different kinds of apples to explain how - just like the apples - people may look different on the outside, but are the same on the inside, regardless of race.

The Manatee High School Drum Line was also on hand to perform.

“Every grade level got up and sang a song for Peace Day,” AME principal Mike Masiello said. “Every class also did a different craft project, some did shirts, some did Peace Day plates, and they all did bulletin boards with themes like what does Peace Day mean to you. It’s a lot of fun and the kids learned a lot about diversity while having a great time.”

Masiello also said his staff and students are thrilled to be able to once again have events like Peace Day where students, parents and staff can all get together in person after two years of no activities or restricted activities due to COVID-19. He said as long as there are no drastic changes regarding COVID, all the plays and gatherings this year are back to the way they were pre-COVID.

“Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights," according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”

Students perform for peers and parents during Anna Maria Elementary School’s annual Peace Day celebration.

SUBMITTED Left, special Peace Day shirts were worn by many students during Anna Maria Elementary’s 2022 Peace Day celebration. Right, Anna Maria Elementary School students display flags from around the world.

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Singers of all ages needed for Roser cantata

Calling singers of all ages and experience levels! Craig Ramberger, director of music ministries at Roser Memorial Community Church, is preparing a special Christmas cantata this year, one that includes both youth and adult singers.

This year’s cantata is entitled “The Gift” and singers as young as age 8 are welcome to come and participate in the production. The cantata will be one of several planned performances including youth at Roser as a part of the church’s new youth performing arts program. The program is being developed by Ramberger to nurture children’s passion for singing, performing and other elements of the dramatic arts. He said he hopes to grow the program and create more performance opportunities in the future, such as a youth musical.

Adults and older singers also are needed for the cantata choir. Singers do not need experience or to be a member of the church to participate, though they do need a love of song and willingness to perform. Cantata choir rehearsals begin on Thursday, Sept. 29 and continue each Thursday evening into December from 6:45-8 p.m. Each singer will receive a musical score and recording of the cantata so they can practice at home in between scheduled rehearsals.

Youth singers will begin their rehearsals on Wednesday, Oct. 5 and continue practices on Wednesdays from 6:15-7 p.m. in the sanctuary.

For more information, contact Ramberger at craig@roserchurch.com or call 941-781-0414.

Roser is located at 512 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria.

WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE? Chamber breakfast at Compass Hotel

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will host its next breakfast at the Compass Hotel on Thursday, Oct. 6 from 7:30-9 a.m. The fee is $10 for members and $18 for prospective members. Feel free to bring a raffle prize with your company name on it, as well as plenty of business cards for this buffet breakfast networking event. RSVP to becky@amichamber.org or call 941-778-1541 by Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Bridge Tender Inn Halloween party approved

The Bradenton Beach City Commission approved a special event permit for the Bridge Tender Inn’s annual Halloween party on Monday, Oct. 31 from 2-10 p.m. The permit allows for the temporary closure of Bay Drive South between Bridge Street and Third Street South.

Register now for Anna Maria Veterans Day Parade

The City of Anna Maria is now accepting applications for the 2022 Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade on Friday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. The parade honors all veterans, actively serving military personnel and veterans organizations. Veterans will lead the parade down Pine Avenue and be recognized at a brief ceremony at City Pier Park after the parade. Area civic organizations such as Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary are also encouraged to join in the parade, as are school and youth groups, local businesses, marching bands, dance and sports teams and anyone else interested in participating. Participants may march, walk, or drive in vehicles or floats. For more information and to register your organization, call Amy Moriarty at 941-708-6130 or email amsradmin@ cityofannamaria.com.

Holiday events coming to Bridge Street

Bradenton Beach city commissioners approved a special event permit for the Bridge Street merchants’ Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 19. The commission also approved special event permits for the Christmas on Bridge Street celebration and the Holiday Boat Parade planned for Saturday, Dec. 17.

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