Cortez festival location uncertain

They came to the beach this Memorial Day just like they have since the first bridge to the Island was built and they came despite the ongoing oil spill on the other side of the Gulf. Memorial Day was a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, a day to forget the grim news headlines and a day to enjoy the beautiful weather on Anna Maria Island’s beaches.

“We’ve had strong crowds of people all three days of the weekend,” said Capt. Joe Westerman, lifeguard for the Manatee County Department of Safety stationed at Coquina Beach. “It’s been busy, but we haven’t had any big problems.” More...

Plan could drive oil slick onto beaches

If an oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon approaches Anna Maria Island, officials plan to divert it with booms away from mangroves and estuaries and onto the Gulf’s sandy beaches.

The plan is not likely to be used during the current disaster, since forecasters predict that if oil reaches the Island, it will be in the form of subsurface tar balls and patties that could not be diverted by booms floating on the surface. More...

Pierce resigns as mayor

BRADENTON BEACH – Michael Pierce shocked those attending the regular monthly meeting of the city commission last night by resigning, turning over his office to Vice-Mayor Bob Bartelt and having the city commission appoint Janet Vosburgh, who recently served on the city’s Charter Review Commission, to replace Bartelt as fourth ward city commissioner. More...

Perico project continues

BRADENTON – Minto Communities is moving ahead on developing its Perico condominium units, said Mike Belmont, executive vice president for Minto, a subsidiary of the Canadian Minto Group, which purchased St. Joe’s suspended development last fall. More...

Walkable, livable community a possibility

ANNA MARIA — Someday in the future, residents and visitors may stroll down shady Pine Avenue, stop for an ice cream, pick up a baguette from an artisan bakery, or stop for lunch or dinner under the trees in an historic park area. They will encounter friends and neighbors. Perhaps they’ll sit on a bench and chat briefly. More...

Kingfish Ramp now in Holmes Beach

HOLMES BEACH – It’s official – Kingfish Ramp is now in the city of Holmes Beach. The annexation was completed when Gov. Charlie Crist signed HB 147 last week.

“I appreciate the cooperation between the county and state to get this done,” said Commissioner David Zaccagnino, a major proponent of the annexation. “It’s great that everybody agreed on everything and it worked out.” More...

Recall Stoltzfus committee hits the streets

ANNA MARIA — Members of the committee to recall Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus took to the streets over the weekend to begin collecting the signatures of 15 percent, or 204, of the registered voters they need to force a recall election. More...

Trolleys sporting advertising

In case you hadn’t noticed, the blue and green trolleys that service the Island are now showing new colors along with messages for favorite Island restaurants, resorts and real estate offices.

The ads are a result of efforts by David Teitelbaum, owner of several resorts and developer of Old Bridge Village in Bradenton Beach, who wanted to ensure that trolley rides would continue to be free. Teitelbaum said all is going as planned. More...

Businesses concerned about oil spill impact

BRADENTON – As the first tar balls approached Florida last week, about a dozen Anna Maria Island business owners listened intently to local leaders discussing the Deepwater Horizon oil spill’s impact to local businesses and tourism.

People all over Europe and the U.S. are checking Mote Marine Laboratory’s Beach Conditions Report for oil updates on Florida beaches, said Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick of Mote’s Environmental Health Program. More...

Oil’s arrival alters state tourism message

D-Day was two days early this year for Florida tourism officials, who were forced to change their message after the first oil from the Deepwater Horizon struck Florida shores on June 4.

The statewide message, “The coast is clear,” was cancelled by Visit Florida, the state’s tourism agency, which recommended that local tourism operators adopt the philosophy that “honesty is the best policy.” More...

Island Blood Drive sets another record

HOLMES BEACH – It was sweltering outside over the weekend and that made it much easier to head over to the Island Blood Drive inside the air-conditioned St. Bernard Catholic Church Activity Center. In fact, a record 392 donors enjoyed the cool air inside. Last year, the record was set at 368.

"This is wonderful," said Florida Blood Services organizer Wanda Read-Burke. "I want to thank St. Bernard Church for the use of their activity center, people who helped keep things running and the people who came out to donate their blood and save lives." More...

Island teen learns the value of giving

HOLMES BEACH – Daniel Janisch turned in his sixth guide dog recently and is giving up training them for a while. It may be his last, but that depends on what he wants to do later on in life.

Daniel got into raising the dogs for Southeast Guide Dogs when his parents, Suki and Curt, volunteered. As he got older, he participated more in the training, but now at age 16, he needs to concentrate on getting through high school and college. His last dog was Casey. More...

Chico Fernandez, flyfishing pioneer

Chico Fernandez needs no introduction to dedicated fly anglers, as he is one of the pioneers of saltwater fly fishing in South Florida. Early on, anglers sought him out in south Florida and the Keys to buy his bonefish specials and honey shrimp patterns which he had perfected to catch bonefish or macabi as they were known in his native country of Cuba. He caught his first bonefish on the fly in Cuba in 1956 and the "grey ghost" of the flats have captured his imagination ever since. His infatuation for bonefish didn't keep him from pursuing other species, including a world record 42 pounds, 5 ounces (I.G.F.A. record on 12 pound test tippet)red drum (redfish) which he caught on a fly in North Carolina. More...

The changing face of credit

It’s true that our national financial crisis has made obtaining credit a little more difficult, making a great credit rating more important than ever. However, in spite of or because of our housing crisis, defaulting on your home may not be the end of the credit road that it once was. More...

Paradise Café moves and reopens the next day

HOLMES BEACH – Jackie Estes said the only times she has closed her restaurant, Paradise Café, in 15 years is when the Island evacuated for Hurricane Charley and last week when she moved to a new location.

“I had no choice,” she said, “but everybody’s really excited about the new place. In addition to what we had at the other place, it has a separate dining room.” More...

Volatility – friend or foe?

In my column two weeks ago, I discussed the concept of expecting financial markets to be uncertain and to learn how to capitalize on volatility rather than being a victim. Of course, the idea for that article was primarily the very sharp intraday market drop that occurred on May 6, which is now known as the “flash crash." More...

Basketball action heats up as season winds down

The 2010 basketball season is coming to a close as there are only a few remaining games until the playoffs begin and conclude this coming weekend. In Division 3, Connie’s Landscaping and Sandbar have identical 6-3 records and will play each other one more time to determine who will finish the regular season in first place heading into the playoffs. Walter & Associates, of Division 2, finished the year in first place with a 7-1 record and has secured the number one seed and a first round bye. The Gathering Place team of the Premier Division has clinched first place as well with a 7-2 mark to round out the year. It will take on the winner of the game between the 2nd and 3rd place teams to determine the league champion on Saturday. On Saturday, each age division will feature a Championship Game and All-Star Game to wrap up the 2010 season of AMICC basketball. For more information, final standings and statistics you can visit the Community Center’s Web site at www.islandcommunitycenter.com. More...

Turtle deaths anger fishermen

CORTEZ – Commercial fishermen who warned that a single oil spill would kill more sea turtles than the entire Gulf of Mexico longline fleet now have proof.

As of June 5, 235 dead turtles and 45 injured ones had been collected in the five states bordering the Gulf since the April 20 oil rig explosion, according to Deepwater Horizon Unified Command. Of those, 27 dead turtles were collected in Florida before the first tar ball hit Pensacola Beach on June 4. More...