Pipeline placement talks ongoing

PORT MANATEE – Representatives of Port Manatee and Port Dolphin are negotiating over the placement of a controversial proposed natural gas pipeline, according to Manatee County officials.

"They came to us with their project and we’re trying to meet their requirements as we did with Gulfstream," said Port Manatee Director Dave McDonald, referring to an existing natural gas pipeline running from Port Manatee to Mobile Bay, Ala.

McDonald met with Port Dolphin representatives last week to discuss the county’s concerns about the proposed project, Manatee County Port Authority Chairman Joe McClash announced Thursday at a port authority meeting. More...

Hydraulic problems force closures of bridge

HOLMES BEACH – Island residents and visitors got a taste of things to come Saturday when the Anna Maria Island Bridge got stuck in the closed position and police had to block traffic from using it.

It happened Saturday about 3 p.m. and the bridge stayed closed for about an hour. While it caused traffic jams as drivers scrambled to use the Cortez Bridge, it could have been worse. Beach-goers usually start leaving the Island a little later. More...

Pipeline scuttles beach meeting

ANNA MARIA – The site plans for the first two buildings in the Pine Avenue restoration project have been unanimously approved by the planning and zoning board.

"This shows how the citizens and elected officials can work together to arrive at an outcome that is beneficial to everyone," said Michael Coleman, who originally conceived of the project, which is envisioned to ultimately contain small offices or retail businesses on the ground floor with residences on the second. More...

Snooks’ Kid’s Day a ton of fun

BRADENTON BEACH – The Anna Maria Island Privateers spent last Saturday entertaining several dozen kids and their parents at the annual Snooks Adams’ Kid’s Day on the bayside of Coquina Park in Bradenton Beach. Adams, the Island’s first police chief, started the tradition 50 years ago when he brought a bunch of Island boys to the beach to enjoy summer vacation. The event soon included girls and the Privateers took it over several years ago. More...

Jim Gee’s kids going out into the world

Jimi Gee has some advice for the five students that have been with him since Island Middle School and are now preparing to graduate from high school.

"You have to give yourself to every situation," he emphasized. "Go with the flow, pay your dues and stick with it."

Students Zac O’Brien, Cory Costello, Billy Krokroskia, Cody Beaver and Brandon Kerr said their first impression of Gee, with his wild hair, colorful tropical shirts, clinging leggings and dangling earrings, was not pretty. More...

Celebrate Memorial Day on Bridge Street

BRADENTON BEACH – The Historic Bridge Street Merchants are putting together a Memorial Day celebration for residents, visitors and beach-goers that will benefit the victim of a shooting in Holmes Beach earlier this year.

The Memorial Day Celebration will be held on Sunday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Bridge Street with the proceeds to go to Sue Normand, the businesswoman who was wounded by a gunman Dec. 5. Normand, who did not have health insurance, suffered financial loss and still has problems getting around. More...

Fire assessment approved

West Manatee Fire Commissioners last week approved the tax assessment rates for the 2008-09 budget year. Rates are based on the state’s personal income growth of 6.35 percent. More...

T-end dock ordinance revised

Homes Beach commissioners last week approved the first reading of a revised T-end dock ordinance.

"We needed it because we’re piecemealing new docks and we have to treat them all the same," Mayor Rich Bohnenberger explained. More...

Reader's Choice 2008 - The results are in

THE RESULTS ARE IN and the winners have been selected by The Sun Newspaper subscribers from as far away as England, Ireland and Germany and as close as your next door neighbor. Join the fun and read all about your favorites, from where to get a grouper sandwich or a cheeseburger in paradise to the best place to catch a sunset. It’s all here in the Readers’ Choice Awards 2008. More...

Tarpon Season: Show some respect

Tarpon season is here, and anglers, who rig properly, are patient and show a little respect to the fish and other Waltonians, can experience one of angling’s greatest pleasures. But don’t let the fact that you’re unfamiliar with tarpon fishing deter you. Anna Maria Island has some of the state’s top tarpon guides who can help you experience the thrill of a lifetime.

Tarpon will fall for a well placed crab, pinfish, artificial lure or fly, but anglers need to be on top of their game. You’ll hear many fishermen say that they just like to see a tarpon jump when first hooked and are not interested in actually landing them. More...

Beach and bay views at Bermuda Bay Club

One of the advantages of living in a beautiful beach community is that you may be away from family but never for too long. Once family and friends visit you can count on them returning. And what’s even better than having them visit is having them rent their own place, especially if its one as great as the Bermuda Bay Club in Bradenton Beach.

Built in 1999, the Bermuda Bay Club features townhouse condos located at 1401 Gulf Drive North on the bay side of Gulf Drive. The two rows of townhouses line the main road running through to the end of the complex between Gulf Drive and the bay. More...

One-stop shopping at Gagne

Pine Avenue has seen a lot of changes since the ferry docked at The Anna Maria City Pier to bring day trippers from Tampa to the Gulf beaches early in the last century. With all of the exciting plans on the drawing board for Pine Avenue, the face and function of the historic street is about to change even more. However, one small building has already changed and is a living example of a well designed renovation.

In February of this year, Dan Gagne moved his construction business into a house on Pine Avenue that you’ve probably walked or driven by dozens of times without ever taking notice. He restored the 1936 cottage and converted the former residential space into a charming office and showroom where his clients can feel comfortable and relaxed. More...

Both 'Bucs' undefeated

Football schedules & Football standings

It’s time for ‘kid pitch’ in AA

In the heat and humidity last Saturday at AMICC, it was decided to let those kids that had practiced hard pitch in the game between Americo Title and Florida Eye Tours. More...

Click here for a virtual tour of Island baseball

Fun Day had by all at AMICC

It was the Anna Maria Island Little League’s Fun Day at the community center last Saturday. Dana Evens, Michelle Ellsworth-Vita, Robert Vita, Marne and Amador Salinas worked tirelessly with other volunteers to ensure a fun time for all. More..

Doyle dominates at horseshoes

The Anna Maria horseshoe pits hosted 20 players on Saturday, May 10, and two of the 10 teams present advanced to the morning’s playoff round by virtue of their unbeaten records. In the championship match, Steve Doyle and Jerry Bennett dispensed a 21-5 thrashing to Norm Good and myself to erase any hopes we had of grabbing bragging rights for the day. More...