Vol. 10 No. 18 - January 27, 2010

news

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story SHOAL SURVIVOR

BRADENTON BEACH – Seven people were rescued with no injuries from a luxury yacht that ran aground west of Longboat Pass early Saturday morning.

The 120-foot, four-deck Miami-based “Sir Winston” was freed from a sand shoal overnight Sunday by Taylor Boat Works in Cortez. No fuel was spilled, and one of the two main engines and a generator was saved, Taylor’s John Banyas said, adding that the boat was towed to Tampa for repairs. More...

Sparks fly at special meeting

ANNA MARIA — Emotions ran high at a special meeting of the city commission last week. Under the city charter, any sitting commissioner can call a special meeting with 24-hour notice. Last Wednesday, Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus called a special meeting for the next day, Thursday, Jan. 21, raising the ire of at least one commissioner and the mayor.

Stoltzfus said he called the meeting to address the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists on Pine Avenue where he says they are in danger from vehicle traffic, which must cross sidewalks to enter and exit parking spaces. More...

Relief effort continues

Island businesses continue to collect money and items to send to the Haitian relief effort.

Bridge Street Jewelers, 129 Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, is donating all proceeds from any form of jewelry repair on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29 and 30. Owner Brad Smith said he was inspired to help while watching a young Haitian boy meet his adoptive partive parents in America after his own parents were killed in the earthquake. Smith urges everyone to bring in his or her jewelry needing repair on those two days. More...

Record manatee count follows record death count

Researchers counted a record 5,067 manatees in a one-day, statewide survey of the endangered marine mammals on Jan. 11.

The number, up from 3,807 in 2009, is primarily due to record cold weather that caused manatees to congregate at shallow warm water sites such as power plant discharge areas, where they are easy to find, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). More...

Cancellation causes controversy

ANNA MARIA — The parking safety committee chairman’s decision to cancel a meeting scheduled for Jan. 22 caused some members of the committee to question the act.

When Chairman Larry Albert learned that the minutes of the previous meeting wouldn’t be ready in time for the meeting, he postponed the meeting until Jan. 29, stating that the availability of the minutes was crucial. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Pier project progressing with extra funds

ANNA MARIA — The addition of more than $600,000 to a $350,000 transportation enhancement grant brought Florida Department of Transportation officials to town last week to meet with the committee that’s been working on a project to add a boardwalk, picnic areas and a covered trolley shelter to the base of the city pier.

JoAnn Mattick initially wrote the grant request before she was elected to the city commission. More...

Staff mistake leads to continuance of site plan

ANNA MARIA — A mistake on the part of the city staff has let to the postponement of a ruling on a site plan for one of the Pine Avenue Restoration mixed-use structures on Pine Avenue.

The planning and zoning board was to consider whether or not to grant approval to the plan for the property at 216 Pine, a double lot on the northwest corner of Pine Avenue and North Shore Drive. More...

Community Center prepares for Affaire

ANNA MARIA – With Chairman Trudy Moon back as chair, the Community Center is making plans for its 26th annual Affaire to Remember.

“I’ve been with the Affaire to Remember for 19 years, and I chaired it for 16 years.” Moon told the board. “I’ve seen it grow over the years, and it’s been a very exciting time. We are the only live auction left around town. That puts us in a strong position.” More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryRobinson addition in negotiations

BRADENTON – A planned golf course in northwest Bradenton could become Manatee County’s newest preserve.

Adjoining the 487-acre Robinson Preserve to the east, the 200-acre parcel is slated for development as an 18-hole golf course with clubhouse, pool and recreational fields by developer Bill Robinson, according to Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Natural Resources Department. More...



feature

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryPlants chilled, not killed

Dead fish washing up onto the beaches is the most obvious evidence of the prolonged cold snap earlier this month, but plants may fare better.

That is, if people leave them alone, plant experts say.

Don’t trim cold-damaged plants until at least Valentine’s Day, say the master gardeners at the Manatee County Extension Service. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryWest View: The Atlantis of Anna Maria

Beneath the azure Gulf waters between Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key lies what is left of West View, a subdivision that its owner once hoped would rival Hollywood.

West View was the first subdivision platted on the Island by a man named Frank Palmer, of Cortez, who purchased the 60 acres in 1905 for $13.43. At the time, there was no bridge to the Island. More...

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reel time

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryHistoric freeze could have a silver lining

Hopefully, the historic cold weather that has decimated fish stocks state-wide is behind us for this year. It’s only the end of January, but already we’ve experienced the most devastating cold wave in more than a century. The record breaking temperatures caused massive fish kills as far away as Flamingo and Islamorada. Chief among the victims are snook, tarpon, bonefish, cravelle jacks; but species including catfish, grouper, snapper and even mullet perished in large numbers. It seems the worst damage occurred along the lower west coast of Florida in the Everglades near Flamingo. More...



real estate

Back to the 'reality retrospective'

For at least three weeks, while still basking in the glow of the holiday season, I’ve given you a break from what I’ll call the real estate "reality retrospective." But it’s Jan. 27 in a brand new decade, it’s time to shake off the glitter, stick your head out from under the covers and get back into the real world. More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Salon savvy at John Thomas

If you don’t count the more than 3,000 miles between Florida and California, you’ll find many similarities between the two states. Plenty of coastline, plenty of water, plenty of sunshine and just a few offbeat personalities. Two of those personalities are hair and make-up specialists in Bradenton, but there’s nothing offbeat about them.

Lisa Gugliemini and Sonia Woolford are professionals who have worked in the salon business for over 20 years each. Currently they are with the John Thomas Studio of Hair Design on Manatee Avenue West in Bradenton providing a variety of services from hair cuts to waxing. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

2009: The year of the bond market

Investment Corner

The 2009 recovery rally fit the pattern of other early phase recoveries from steep market declines in that lower quality companies tend to experience the largest appreciation from the nadir of the selling panic phase. This trend is sometimes called a junk rally, a risk rally or, most creatively, a dash for trash. More...



SPORTS

Two teams still unbeaten in AMICC flag football

As the season rolls along, the only two youth teams with a perfect record are the Tortilla Bay Dolphins of Division 3 and the Ross Built Raiders in Division 2, as each team earned another win this past week. The adult division has a two-way tie between the Raiders and Titans, who are both 3-0 this year. For more stats, standings, schedules and information please visit the AMICC’s Web site at www.islandcommunitycenter.com. More...



WEEKLY CALENDER

Through Feb. 7

The Island Players present “Self Help,” 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 2 p.m. Sundays and 8 p.m. evenings except Mondays, $15.

Wednesday, Jan. 27

Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s Plein Air Painters meet at Coquina Beach; park in the parking area north of the Longboat Pass Bridge and meet at Longboat Pass where the path leads to the Gulf, 9 a.m.

Lecture on “American Disasters in the Middle East/Walking on Thin Ice” by James McCartney, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 to 3 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30

Cecy Richardson demonstrates uses of various media, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in the S&S Plaza, 10 a.m. to noon.

Anna Maria Island Art League workshop on How to Photograph Your Artwork with James Corwin Johnson, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

Thursday, Feb. 4

Historical Society Jazz Fest, Sandbar restaurant pavilion, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria, 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets $6 per person before noon on Feb. 4 at the Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, or $8 at the door.

Friday, Feb. 5

Anna Maria Island Art League workshop on Faces, The Basics of Drawing Portraits with Doug Land, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

Lecture on “The Human Animal,” by Joe Kerata, Island Community Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 11 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6

Nancy Law will demonstrate painting on wood, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in the S&S Plaza, 10 a.m. to noon.

Afternoon adventure paddle, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street N.W. and 17th Avenue N.W., Bradenton 2 to 4 p.m. Bring your own canoe or kayak and safety gear. Call 941-742-5757 ext. 7, for reservations.

 

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