Oil study reveals risks, rewards

A think tank’s report on the implications of future oil and gas exploration and drilling off Florida’s Gulf coast offers evidence of limited rewards and potential risks should the current drilling ban in state waters be lifted.

Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater called on the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida – created by the Legislature in 2005 to study long term statewide planning solutions – to make an unbiased, comprehensive review of the issues after the Legislature considered a proposal last year to allow the governor and Cabinet to approve oil drilling leases in state waters, within 10 miles of shore. More...

Plans filed for possible Walgreen's move

HOLMES BEACH – Although Walgreen’s corporate officials and management are tight lipped, plans filed with the city’s building department show a proposed move into the former Shell’s location.

“I can’t comment,” Walgreens’ spokesperson Robert Elfinger said. “There is no lease signed for anything in the area except the store we’re in.”

Walgreen’s is located in the Anna Maria Island Centre, owned by Benderson Development Co., on East Bay Drive. The store is at the north end of the strip center, while Shells was at the south end. More...

Consultant: 'Shadow government' at work

ANNA MARIA — A legal consultant who made a public records request for the e-mails of City Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus and Jim Conoly, a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board, claims a “shadow government” is running the city.

“I find the e-mails very troubling,” said Michael Barfield, who made the request to the city last month. “I’ve gone through thousands of pages, and it’s apparent to me that a ‘shadow government’ exists in Anna Maria with citizens acting as liaisons and conduits.” More...

Progress made on parking

ANNA MARIA — After months of deadlocked discussion, members of the City Commission and the Planning and Zoning Board appear to have taken a step towards resolution of disagreements of how parking in the residential/office/retail district should be regulated.

After an hour or so of debate, during which no one moved off their original positions, Commission Chairman John Quam called for public comment. More...

Board sends business tax to ordinance process

BRADENTON – After a lengthy discussion and hearing a great deal of opposition, Manatee County commissioners voted to hold a work session on a proposed business tax and sent it to the ordinance process.

The Coalition of Business Organizations recommended a $35 tax on every business in the county to fund a recruitment effort to encourage businesses to relocate to the county. The CBO is task force of the Manatee Economic Development Council, a private not for profit organization that is a division of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. More...

Port Dolphin, Port Manatee ink deal

PALMETTO - The Manatee County Port Authority approved a $30 million agreement on Thursday with Port Dolphin Energy to bring natural gas to Port Manatee from a submersible port planned 28 miles off Anna Maria Island.

“The Manatee County Port Authority, along with port staff, guided this agreement to a successful conclusion, and as a result, the community will benefit with new jobs and the state will benefit with a new source of natural gas,” Port Manatee Executive Director David McDonald said. More...

Triple density requested near Robinson

The Manatee County Commission has sent a request to triple the housing density in a neighborhood east of Robinson Preserve to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for consideration.

John Neal, of Neal Communities, requested the change in the county’s comprehensive plan from one unit per acre to three units per acre on the 49–acre property north of Ninth Avenue N.W., east of 99th Street N.W. and south of 17th Avenue N.W. in the Robinson Farms neighborhood. More...

Bridge Street Pier work finished

The weather couldn’t have been any better for the Community Center’s 17 Annual Tour of Homes Saturday as visitors toured five homes to help net $30,000, a record amount for the event.

Once again, the shuttle buses proved to be very popular with visitors. Two buses ran continuously from the parking lot at Gloria a Dei Lutheran Church, and there was never more than a five to 10 minute wait for one. More...

Additional stimulus money not likely

The weather couldn’t have been any better for the Community Center’s 17 Annual Tour of Homes Saturday as visitors toured five homes to help net $30,000, a record amount for the event.

Once again, the shuttle buses proved to be very popular with visitors. Two buses ran continuously from the parking lot at Gloria a Dei Lutheran Church, and there was never more than a five to 10 minute wait for one. More...

Arrest made in jewelry store burglary

HOLMES BEACH – Police have arrested a suspect in the burglary of one of four stores that were hit overnight on Dec. 18, 2009.

In a press release, Holmes Beach Police announced last Thursday afternoon that they arrested Derek Lauterbach, 27, of Holmes Beach, for burglarizing The Tide and The Moon jewelry store, 5337 Gulf Drive. The release said that the arrest was a result of DNA evidence that “positively identified Mr. Lauterbach as the perpetrator of this crime.” More...

Crowds come early to Friday Fest

ANNA MARIA – Crowds were in the field at Pine Avenue and Bay Boulevard long before the work week ended last Friday, a sign that our seasonal visitors and tourists were ready to party, and party they did.

The Island Rockers started off the music with some old time rock and roll. As the aroma of the food vendors wafted through the field, some people broke their diets and started dinner a little early. More...

Kissick book a living history lesson

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach resident Jim Kissick’s new book brings aviation history to life.

Ever notice the Sikorsky wing at Tampa International Airport? Kissick hovered the helicopter named for Igor Sikorsky over his parents’ house in Terra Ceia, and met Sikorsky to boot.

The World War II combat veteran later headed a task force in Viet Nam, then embarked on a civilian aircraft career. During his military career, he served on 19 aircraft carriers and became one of fewer than 100 people quadruple qualified as a naval aviator, having served as a dive bomber pilot who flew in jet fighters and helicopters and commanded an airship. More...

Fly fishing Argentina: Bariloche

The white Nissan pickup truck lurched from side to side as Miguel’s rosary swung in wide circles, threatening to dislodge from the rear view mirror. Up ahead the dirt road stretched menacingly with deeply rutted gullies that would have long ago turned me around. Instead our guide Miguel Sanchez (miguelflyfishing@gmail.com) commented on how lucky we were to have the road in the best condition he had ever seen. On many occasions he would have to park the truck and walk the fishing gear, food, drink and other necessities the last half mile to Fonck Lake nestled in the Argentinean Andes. Sanchez’s friend and partner Alex Davis (www.patagoniaflies.com) had promised that they were taking us to a magical place, and his predictions far exceeded our expectations. There on the lake’s edge we stood spellbound at the vista of giant trees, crystal clear waters and the white glacial majesty of Mount Tronador as a backdrop. More...

April 15 is on the horizon

A week ago, we fast forwarded our clocks one hour to begin the annual event of daylight-savings time. It seems like every year I dread this weekend, not only do you lose an hour’s sleep but the cumulative hours lost over your lifetime could add up to two or three days, or if you have really good genes, four days. In addition, by coming in March, it also brings you one hour closer to April 15, and who needs that? More...

Don't monkey around here

What’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys, you have no idea until you visit the Island’s funnest gift shop which also happens to be one of the newest.

Kandi Kerekes grew up with monkeys, not real ones of course but monkey collections starting first with her grandfather and then passed down to her mother. So when she decided it was time to do what she always dreamed of and open her own gift shop she knew exactly what to name it. More...

Disciplined risk control

Last May, my article here in the Sun reviewed the debate between passive and active allocation approaches to managing an investment portfolio. Passive allocation techniques generally involve holding specific amounts of the portfolio in different asset classes like stocks, bonds, cash and other alternatives and then periodically rebalancing the portfolio back to these targets as market fluctuations cause the allocation to be off. More...

Events are free unless otherwise indicated..

Wednesday, March 24

Lecture on “Architecture’s Nobel: The Pritzker Prize,” by Dr. Peter Lizon, The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10101 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 11 a.m.

Learn about Florida edible plants and preparation, age 16 and older, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street N.W. and 17th Avenue N.W., Bradenton, 6 and 8 p.m. Reservations required by calling 941-742-5757, ext. 5.

Friday, March 26

Two Gourds, Two Days, Two Techniques with Pam McMillen, Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., $68 for members and $78 for non-members.

Fit2 run 5K and one-mile fun run and after party with food, music, prizes, and a silent auction, suitable for all ages and levels Robinson Preserve, 99th Street N.W. and 17th Avenue N.W., Bradenton, 5 p.m. Registration is required. To register visit www.Fit2Run.com

De Soto Seafood Fest, Barcarrota Boulevard and Old Main Street, Bradenton, 5 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, March 27

Bridge Street Market, 107 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Naturalist-led wagon tours, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street N.W. and 17th Avenue N.W., Bradenton, 9 and 10:30 a.m., $3 per adult and $2 per child. Call 941-742-5757, ext. 1, to reserve.

Jean Ehlis will demonstrate watercolor painting techniques, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in S & S Shopping Plaza, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to noon.

Save Our Seabirds yard sale, 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway, City Island, Sarasota, 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

Afternoon adventure paddle, bring your own canoe or kayak and safety gear, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street N.W. and 17th Avenue N.W., Bradenton, 2 and 4 p.m. Reservations required by calling 941-742-5757, ext. 7.

De Soto Seafood Fest, Barcarrota Boulevard and Old Main Street, Bradenton, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday, March 28

De Soto Seafood Fest, Barcarrota Boulevard and Old Main Street, Bradenton, noon to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 31

Einstein Circle discussion on “Can we trust scientific data? Did science become too political?” The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10101 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is required by calling 359-4296.

Full moon wagon tour, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street N.W. and 17th Avenue N.W., Bradenton, 7 p.m. Reservations required by calling 941-742-5757, ext. 1.

Saturday, April 3

The Sun/Sandbar Easter Egg Hunt, Sandbar restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria. 9 a.m.

Barbara Hines, watercolor artist, will demonstrate fun and fashion with silk painting, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in S & S Shopping Plaza, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to noon.

Wednesday, April 7

Lecture on “What horrors befell some residents of Macon County, Ala.? The dirty truth of medical ethics,” by Dr. Samuel Gross, Island Community Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 11 a.m.

Friday, April 9

Opening reception for Linda Schmid, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in S & S Shopping Plaza, Holmes Beach, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 10

Privateers’ Thieves’ Market, Coquina Beach parking lot in Bradenton Beach, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bridge Street Market, 107 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

DeSoto Bottle Boat Regatta, Palma Sola Causeway, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Debra Ridgedill will present a demonstration of burnishing (polishing clay), Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in S & S Shopping Plaza, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to noon.