Vol. 9 No. 51 - September 16, 2009

news

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story 'Monsoon' scours Island

One of the most intense series of rainstorms in recent memory flooded many areas on the Anna Maria Island over the weekend, forcing many residents into mop-up mode.

While the official rainfall at the Sarasota-Manatee Airport only showed 3.03 inches of rain on Saturday, which is a new one-day record, areas west got much more water on Friday and Saturday.

“Radar estimates on the Island were closer to nine inches,” said Rick Davis, forecaster for the National Weather Service in Ruskin. “In northwest Bradenton, where I live, my rain gauge measured 8.6 inches.” More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryNeighbors hear upscale development plans

ANNA MARIA — Representatives of the Walker estate hosted a neighborhood get together last week to explain a development project slated for the beach end of Park Avenue.

The land formerly held 11 buildable lots, which will be turned into 9 larger lots, all conforming to code, David Teitelbaum told the neighboring property owners. More...

Governor approves Port Dolphin

ANNA MARIA – With the Sept. 11 approval of Gov. Charlie Crist, Port Dolphin is one step away from final approval of its liquefied natural gas port, proposed 28 miles off Anna Maria Island in the Gulf of Mexico.

Crist approved the port subject to 13 conditions required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. An executed agreement between Port Dolphin and the two agencies is required by Friday, Sept. 18, to document the conditions. More...

Budget draws protests

HOLMES BEACH – Several residents sounded off last week after City Treasurer Rick Ashley proposed a 1.7549 millage rate at the first public hearing on the $7.8 million 2009-10 budget.

Mayor Rich Bohnenberger pointed out that the millage rate was the rollback rate and would not generate any more revenue than the current budget. More...

Board chair reports on the ‘State of the Center’

HOLMES BEACH – Tom Breiter, chairman of the board of directors of the Island Community Center, gave city commissioners an update on the “State of the Center” last week.

“A lot has changed at the Center in the past couple of years,” Breiter said. “It’s a tough environment for non-profits. With the state of the economy and people drawing back on their donations, we have seen revenues go down. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryPerico cell tower preserve site likely

PERICO ISLAND – A cell phone tower needed to improve police and fire communications likely will be built in the Perico Preserve, over the objection of neighboring residents.

The site on Manatee Avenue is preferred for several reasons, Manatee County officials told residents at a meeting at the Island Branch library last week. More...

Three seats, five candidates in city commission race

ANNA MARIA – At least five candidates will vie for three seats on the city commission in the Nov. 3 election.

Qualifying for the election officially ends at noon Tuesday, September 15, so the books for candidates have not yet officially closed. More...

Festival organizers to change some plans

BRADENTON BEACH – The Real Florida Festival planned for next April got some real tips from the police chief last week on how to make it more enjoyable.

After hearing about plans to block off Bay Drive, Bridge Street and the Bridge Street Pier parking lot, Police Chief Sam Speciale asked for a meeting with the organizers to go over their plans. More...



feature

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryIsland Weddings

Anna Maria Island is the perfect place for a destination wedding or a sunset ceremony. Use our wedding section to help you plan your special day. More...

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reel time

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryFishing with Captain Joe Harley

Smokehouse Bay, Two Pines, The Rock Hole, Jug Creek. The names alone convey some of the magic and mystery of Matlacha and Pine Island, situated just south of Charlotte Harbor. Anglers, photographers, kayakers and nature lovers alike will find some of Florida’s most productive and picturesque waters, shallow in depth but deep in tradition and diversity. This past week I had the pleasure of fishing with a new friend, Captain Joe Harley, and reacquainting with one of my favorite destinations, The Sun & Moon Resort in Matlacha. More...



real estate

Flipping, bubbles and housing scams

There is always a fine line between ambition and ethics and success and morality. It was easy for these lines to become blurred when property values were increasing every day with annual never-before-seen, double digit appreciation rates. Now that the party’s over, it’s time to return to our basic human ethical beliefs, but, unfortunately, the new real estate reality could be making that harder to do. More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Bond-based portfolios

Investment Corner

Traditionally, most mainstream advice on asset allocation within investment portfolios has tended to lean toward emphasizing common stocks over fixed income to take advantage of the higher long-term rates of return traditionally offered by equity investments compared to bonds.

This philosophy lead to typical portfolio allocations for retired individuals of 60 percent in stocks and 40 percent in bonds. Of course, the recommended allocation could vary based on the individual situation and personality for assuming risk. More...



SPORTS

Golf sponsors needed

Sponsors, raffle prizes and goodie bag gifts are needed for the first Anna Maria Island Community Center Golf Outing on Friday, Oct. 9, at IMG Academics Golf and Country Club, 4350 El Conquistador Parkway, Bradenton. More...



turtles

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryEdgrens are 16-year turtle watch volunteers

Bud and Gretchen Edgren have devoted the past 16 summers to the sea turtles that nest on Anna Maria Island shores.

Edgren said he heard about Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and thought it would be a good thing to volunteer for.

“I’d see crowds of people digging in the said,” Edgren said. “I took a lot of walks on the beach, so I thought, ‘Why not?’” More...



HORSESHOES

Horseshoe tossers endure heavy rain

The rainy season is here in force and the horseshoe players take advantage of the canopy of native trees around the pits at Anna Maria City Hall to stay dryer than most people out in the weather, thanks to Perfect Island indigenous landscaper Mike Miller, who planted them. More...


 

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