Vol. 13 No. 22 - March 13, 2013

news

Summer storms might hasten renourishment

A planned renourishment set for 2015 may come this year thanks to Debby and Sandy.

That’s the word from Manatee County Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker after a trip to Washington to talk with the National Shore and Beach Preservation Association and federal officials.

Hunsicker said the Coast Guard has been clued in on federal funds available for beaches damaged by Tropical Storm Debby in June and Hurricane Sandy in October. More...

Commission: Do you want a pier?

HOLMES BEACH – After Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said there may be money to rebuild the city’s pier at Manatee Public Beach, commissioners said they are not sure the community wants it.

“There was a lot of passion about it when it was taken down and a commitment from county commissioners,” Chair Jean Peelen said. “That didn’t happen, and I really don’t know whether the community wants the pier built back. More...

Board recommends moratorium time limit

ANNA MARIA – After much discussion, the planning and zoning board has recommended the moratorium on new building permits, adding only a 90-day limit, but they discussed and dismissed other changes.

With all board members present, P&Z Chair Tyom Turner recommended the 90-day limit, but board member Carol Carter said she had a problem with the section that allows property owners who have already spent money on a project to get a permit. More...

St. Patrick's parade, new festival this Sunday

HOLMES BEACH – It all began in 14 years ago, when Beach Bistro owner Sean Murphy decided there was a need to do more to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than just drinking green beer. He loaded up some kids in a lawn trailer, and armed with a permit from the city and a boom box, drove down the middle of Gulf Drive.

Now the parade is part of the Island lore, and Murphy boasts it’s the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade south and east of Savannah, Ga. In fact, he says, it might be the only St. Patrick’s Day parade south and east of Savannah. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StorySpringfest has sprung

Visitors flocked to the 25th Annual Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts last weekend at the Holmes Beach City Hall field, enjoying original artwork by more than 80 artists and live music from four bands. The event, along with its winter version, Winterfest, is a fundraiser for the Anna Maria Art Island League, which funds scholarships, art programs and art exhibits on the Island. More...

New contract employee in Holmes Beach

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Carmel Monti has hired Mary Buonagura as the city’s human resource specialist.

Monti made the announcement in a press release on March 6 stating, “Buonagura is charged with revising job descriptions for city staff, most of which have not been updated since 2005. She is also updating policy and procedure manuals, creating performance evaluations tools and reinstating grievance procedures and EEO representation for staff.” More...

Commission hones lot, yard and bulk regulations

ANNA MARIA – Working to gain control of new construction in the city, commissioners explored the legislative possibilities last Thursday.

They discussed whether to measure allowable volume for rooms under air or under roof, and City Planner Alan Garrett said under air is better and asked for discussion of the possibilities using the numbers he supplied. Those numbers portrayed several sets of circumstances from existing 30 percent of lot area for homes with one story over elevation and 40 percent coverage for homes that have two livable stories over elevation, as it is now, to a proposal allowing either 40 or 45 percent of lot area for both stories. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Landscaping project wilts

BRADENTON BEACH – A landscaping project for Bradenton Beach’s gateway area at Cortez Road and Gulf Drive, coordinated by Commissioner Gay Breuler, never made it to a vote last week.

Breuler, who said she was disappointed, had received permission from three condominium associations - Bridgeport, Imperial House and Gulf Watch - to plant native landscaping on their roadside beachfront across Gulf Drive from the condos, as specified in a draft contract between the condos and the city. Some of the landscaping, which would have been low enough to avoid interfering with motorists’ visibility, also would have been planted on the Florida Department of Transportation easement adjacent to the condo property. More...



features

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryRemembering Sue Maddox

All of us in Cortez were shocked and saddened by the sudden death of my cousin, Sue Turner Maddox, on March 1. She will not be forgotten by those who knew her and the good she did. According to the Bible, the good we do can live after us. That is true only if such is made known and remembered. I write this to recall some of her activities that need remembering by us.

Sue was born in Mulberry, Fla., the second daughter of Chris and Myrtle Fulford Turner. Sue is the granddaughter of Nathan and Betty Whitehurst Fulford, of Cortez. They were one of the five first families to come to the village called Hunter's Point. In fact, Sue lived in the first house built in the village in 1889. She was dedicated to its preservation. More...



OUTDOORS

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story A healthy bay is everybody’s business

In 2012 Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) expanded its presence in the bay area with a continuation of its popular events, crafted to get people involved in the bay and to help improve the local coastal environment.

The signature annual Great Scallop Search celebrated its fifth season with over 140 volunteers combing the waters from Manatee to Sarasota County. In addition the group conducted the Fourth Annual Sister Keys cleanup with 120 volunteers. Sponsored by the Mar Vista Restaurant participants were treated to a shore lunch at the popular north Longboat Key restaurant. More...



real estate

Come on out with that for sale sign

There are a lot of homeowners who have been hiding in their garages for the last couple of years wondering when it’s going to be safe to come out and stick the for sale sign in the front lawn.

Guess what, go get your shovel because now’s the time More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryAir & Energy celebrates 30 years

You know the expression “youth is wasted on the young.” Sometimes it is, and sometimes youth is exactly what we need to get us going and kick us into the next century.

Air & Energy has been one of the Island’s premier air conditioning companies on Anna Maria for 30 years this month. For more than 20 of those years, the company has been owned and operated by Trudy and Stewart Moon who have continually expanded and refined the level of service and products they offered. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Social Security going 'e'

Investment Corner

There are smart ways for single, divorced, and widowed women to capture more Social Security income over their lifetimes. Because women tend to outlive men, by four to five years, on average, it is important they be informed and smart about the choices that are available to them. Since they tend to collect benefits for a longer time, the right choice can mean tens or even hundred’s of thousands in additional benefits

A single woman who has never married may be able to collect greater cumulative lifetime income by examining her top earning years and trying to further build her projected Social Security income benefit. Generally, she will collect more income by delaying the age at which she starts collecting benefits from eligibility at 62 up to the full retirement age (FRA) of 66. More...



SPORTS

Anna Maria Island Sun News StorySuper Bowl set for youth football

The play-offs are over, and the stage has been set for the big games. Twenty-one youth flag football teams entered the play-offs in the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s competitive co-ed NFL flag football leagues and only six remain. These six teams will square off in their respective age divisions for the coveted title of 2013 Super Bowl Champions. More...

Standing at the table

Feasting on Fitness

If you read nothing more, find me this Wednesday at 2 p.m. the Island Branch Library where I’ll be speaking about how to incorporate cheap vegan eating and fitness ideas into your lifestyle. It is the same talk I give all over the U.S. and Canada since my book, “Eat Vegan on $4 a Day” came. I’m starting on time. My daughter is getting married the next day to an active military man. Long story, but I’ll have a plane to catch.

I’m still high from having been one of the main speakers at the New York City Vegetarian Food Festival in Manhattan last weekend. The vegan food – OMG. There’s a chance I may take it off running a half marathon next weekend. My talk was standing room only, as my talks often are. This was the second year in a row I spoke at New York’s VegFest. More...


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