Vol. 11 No. 45 - August 24, 2011

news

SCHOOL DAYS Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Ayden Pahle took the first step Monday morning as school started at Anna Maria Elementary. The fifth-grader was the first to step off the bus and onto the sidewalk for his last year at the little school by the bay.

He and other bus riders were asked how they were getting home and then given an armband showing whether by bus, walking or parent pickup. Even the newest students got the tags, which were color-coded. One young lady, dressed in pink, looked at the armbands and said, "I want a pink one," eliciting chuckles from all inside the auditorium, where the kindergartners were staged before being marched to class. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryCity says 'whoa' to horse ban

BRADENTON - The Bradenton City Council has unanimously voted to reverse direction on banning horses from Palma Sola Causeway and Palma Sola Bay.

The council had directed City Attorney Bill Lisch to draft an ordinance prohibiting horses at the popular recreational area in June, but last week, he advised council members that the Causeway and bay are under the Florida Department of Transportation's jurisdiction, not the city's. More...

Fire districts' merger studied

BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Chief Andy Price told fire commissioners he has been approached by the chairman of the Cedar Hammock Fire Commission to investigate the feasibility of merging the two districts.

"He told his board that the public has been asking the question, 'Why are there so many fire districts?' He said they have a responsibility to the people they serve to answer that." More...

O'Connor tourney this weekend

To reserve a lane, bowlers must prepay by Thursday, Aug. 25, for the 21st annual O'Connor Bowling Challenge set for Saturday, Aug. 27.

Pre-registration is required, and bowlers can register at Duffy's Tavern, 5808 Marina Drive, Homes Beach, from now until the event is sold out. For the first time, teams can choose their lane, but must register early. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryFISH ready for hikers, kayakers

CORTEZ – The FISH Preserve is ready and waiting for hikers and kayakers to explore it, with the first phase of its restoration complete.

Hiking and kayak trails have been developed for recreation and to increase tidal flow at the 95-acre preserve on Sarasota Bay on the east end of the historic Cortez fishing village. More...

Few changes in proposed Anna Maria budget

ANNA MARIA – Commissioners had a few questions, but didn't change anything in the proposed 2010-2011 budget, which totals $2,219,756 and has a 2.05 millage rate.

Finance Director Diane Percycoe said the increase in millage would bring in $1,153,879 in ad valorem taxes. She said the only other changes she made were to add a line item of $113,000 to replenish the reserve fund and a line item of $112,000 for the loan repayment on the six lots the city plans to purchase. More...

City approves price cap for parking lot project

BRADENTON BEACH – The engineer the city hired to design and oversee the construction of parking facilities on an empty lot next to the public works building and around Lou Barola Park near the police station has come up with a contractor eager to help the city save money.

The Bradenton Beach City Commission, acting as the city's Community Redevelopment Agency last Wednesday approved a plan to hire Woodruff and Sons to do the work with a contract that sets a cap of $55,000 on the work. More...

Holmes Beach candidate qualifying next week

HOLMES BEACH – Candidates for three seats on the Holmes Beach City Commission must qualify between Monday, Aug. 29, at noon and Friday, Sept. 2, at noon with the Holmes Beach city clerk's office or the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Seats held by Commissioners Al Robinson, Pat Morton and David Zaccagnino, all two-year terms, will be up for election on Tuesday, Nov. 8. More...



features

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Local chef faces reality

Former Island resident Jamie Gregorich recently blazed into primetime reality TV as a star on the FOX show "Hell's Kitchen." The Kitchen is an hour-long show where Chef Gordon Ramsay puts a group of aspiring chefs through intense challenges to see who can outlast the others and win the competition. The winner receives a life-changing prize: a head chef position at BLT Steak in New York City. More...



OUTDOORS

Dog days strategy

The name "dog days" comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in close proximity to the sun, was responsible for hot summer weather. Dog days is a common term among fishermen signifying the long hot days of August and September, when fish can be hard to find and catch. While there's no doubt that late summer days are long and often intensely hot and uncomfortable, they can also yield some surprising results for savvy anglers. By employing a change of strategy and tailoring their efforts to maximize comfort and opportunities, anglers can catch fish in relative comfort. More...


real estate

50 years later – Cuba for sale

If you think this country's got real estate problems, how would like to live in one where owning real estate was forbidden? I happen to know of one, and it's only 90 miles from Key West. More...

business

Anna Maria Island Sun News StorySea-renity Spa a peaceful place

Napa Valley, Calif., is one of the country's most beautiful regions. It has rolling hills, vineyards, barrels of wine, but it doesn't have white sandy beaches and aquamarine water, the one thing Amanda Escobio missed the most.

Originally from Tampa, Amanda Escobio enjoyed Anna Maria's beaches frequently, something she never forgot during the 10 years she lived in California. Naturally, when it was time to move back to the East Coast she knew exactly where she was headed to establish her new massage therapy business. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Don't let bouts of volatility change your plan

Investment Corner

After two years of positive, relatively calm results since the end of the 2008-2009 financial crisis, investors were once again reminded that uncertainty and fear can strike at any time. This time in the form of a 17 percent correction, which started quietly in May and culminated in a crazy and volatile first two weeks of August.

No one knows if the worst of this market correction is history. One sign, discussed in detail below, would seem to suggest that it is, but I believe the correct attitude for investors is to expect some additional volatility over the next month or two and be happy if it passes faster than that. More...



SPORTS

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Dolphins are Super Bowl champions

After 10 weeks of hot summer flag football action, the Agnelli Pools & Spa Dolphins are crowned Super Bowl champions. Eight teams vied for the illustrious Community Center championship this year, which came down to a showdown between the second place Dolphins and the undefeated first place MartiniVille Saints.

The Saints won the toss and started with the football first. The usually high powered offenses of both teams took a while to settle down, but both defenses came ready to play. The Saints and the Dolphins offenses could not get anything going for the first two series. More...

Orientation prepares parents

Feasting on Fitness

Local schools are in session or about to be with kids getting what they need to begin another year of readin' and writin.' This isn't your grandmother's one-room school house. More...


AMISUN ~ The Island's Award-Winning Newspaper