Vol. 13 No. 41 - August 7, 2013

news

Long Bar Pointe compromise reached during marathon meeting

BRADENTON – After twelve and a half hours of discussion that included five and a half hours of citizen input, Manatee County Commissioners and Long Bar Pointe developers reached a compromise granting a requested mixed-use land use designation, while denying changes to the county comp plan that would have allowed for the construction of a publically-opposed marina.

Commissioners unanimously denied a text amendment request that would have allowed for a marina by removing environmental protections for mangroves, sea grasses and Sarasota Bay. More...

Mixed messages on Long Bar project

MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners received strong messages from both sides of the Long Bar Pointe debate prior to the Aug. 6 public hearing expected to determine the scope of the controversial development proposal.

On Thursday, July 25, attorney William Moore, acting on behalf of Long Bar Pointe developers Carlos Beruff and Larry Lieberman, filed a lawsuit with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Manatee County. More...

Tree house declared in violation

HOLMES BEACH – After a daylong hearing, code enforcement board members found tree house owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen, 103 29th Street, in violation of 10 sections of the land development code.

The city has maintained that the tree house was constructed without a permit and encroaches 20 feet into the erosion control line. The couple was ordered to remove the violations or demolish the structure by Aug. 28.

“We knew it would happen,” Tran said. “Our attorney prepared us for it, but we had hoped something would change. I’ll fix what I can, but they need to be reasonable about what will work now. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryKayak, paddleboard rentals approved at Gulf Drive Café

BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioners approved Kayak Jack’s request to rent paddleboards and kayaks at the Gulf Drive Café until Dec. 31, allowing time to monitor the operation in light of opposing neighbors’ concerns about traffic and safety.

The board voted 3-1, with Jan Vosburgh opposed, to allow the business to open with several stipulations, including that all customers must use the Gulf Drive Café beach access, not the public beach access, and if the business has any adverse impacts, the commission may close the business as it did with a beach market at the café last year. More...

Monti makes proposal to police Anna Maria

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Carmel Monti has submitted a proposal for Holmes Beach to police the city of Anna Maria.

Monti made the proposal to Anna Maria Mayor SueLynn last week. Both he and Chief Bill Tokajer declined to comment other than to say that they made the proposal and now it’s up to Anna Maria to respond.

The cost for the first year is listed as $485,000, as opposed to the Sheriff’s Office 2013-14 proposal to Anna Maria, which is $615,543.73. More...

Lifeguards produce rip current safety video

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – They’re smaller – and deadlier – than you think.

Rip currents are usually only 10 to 20 yards wide, but they have caused more than 250 deaths in Florida waters since 1995, according to a new safety video produced by Manatee County’s Marine Rescue Division.

Florida is number one in the U.S. for rip current deaths, according to Marine Rescue Captain Joe Westerman, who advises always swimming at one of the two lifeguarded beaches, Coquina Beach or Manatee Public Beach. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Bidding open for pier

BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission has published its request for proposals seeking concessionaires interested in leasing the Bridge Street Pier restaurant, bait shop and harbor master’s office.

The minimum required bid is set at $5,500 a month plus 12 percent of gross sales for the restaurant and at $750 a month for the bait shop and $550 a month for the harbor master’s office, with no percentage of profit for those buildings, according to the RFP. More...

Traffic delineators returning

BRADENTON BEACH – Beachgoers parking on private beachfront property across Gulf Drive from Bridgeport, Gulf Watch and Imperial House condos prompted condo residents last week to ask the commission to replace reflective traffic delineators there.

George Turner, president of Gulf Watch, made the written request and presented it at the commission meeting last week on behalf of all three condo associations. More...

Meteors coming soon to a sky near you

The annual Perseids meteor shower will peak on Aug. 11-13 this year, NASA predicts, with the best viewing times between 10:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m.

With lights out for sea turtles on Anna Maria Island and the moon just a crescent, the beaches should be a good vantage point to see the phenomenon, which happens when the dust trailing behind the comet Swift-Tuttle hits the Earth’s atmosphere.

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features

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryBarbecue, Beer & Bluegrass

It was all fast-pickin', good eatin' and thirst-quenching Saturday at the inaugural Barbecue, Beer & Bluegrass Festival on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach. Bluegrass band Stumble Creek Station provided great tunes ranging from traditional classics to the Grateful Dead, while the barbecue was hot and delicious and the beer was cold and crafty. All in all, not a bad way to spend an Island Saturday night.

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OUTDOORS

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryICAST showcases new products

ICAST, the world’s largest recreational fishing trade show was held July 9-12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This was the 56th International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, a show produced by the American Sportfishing Association. Exhibitors, buyers and media congregated at the Center, where the latest innovations in gear, accessories and apparel were showcased.

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real estate

Real estate is roaring back

They say the lion is king of the jungle because of his demanding presence and hearty roar. Using that analogy, Manatee County may be king of the real estate jungle or at least right up there with the other big cats.

Reviewing the marketing data from the Manatee Association of Realtor’s website comparing June 2012 to 2013 should make all homeowners' hearts beat a little faster. Every category that the association tracks was substantially improved for both single family homes and condos in Manatee County. More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryKeep it simple at Su's

Do you like razzle dazzle or would you just rather keep some things low key? When it comes to hair salons, you can find just about any size and shape to suit your comfort level, but if you really want to be the center of attention try Su’s Hair Design in Holmes Beach.

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Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Why bond investors should be concerned

Investment Corner

In my last column in the Sun, I pointed out that gold may be at risk of further price decline as a higher level of certainty returns as the economic recovery continues. Of course, I don’t know how the future will unfold, and if the right events (mostly bad) occur, then the price of gold could rise. But, with the information we have today, that seems like the less likely scenario in my opinion.

Another scenario also seems to be a logical outcome based on the information in hand today. While we can’t be sure, since the future is uncertain and unpredictable, if history can be a useful general guide, which it usually is, then I believe that investors need to acknowledge the risk of investing in higher quality bonds at the present time. More...



turtles

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

More federal protection proposed for loggerheads

LONGBOAT KEY – Two federal agencies have proposed more protection for loggerhead sea turtles on land and at sea, including Longboat Key.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service proposes that more Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean waters be designated as critical habitat for loggerheads, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes more nesting beaches be designated. More...



SPORTS

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryIsland Real Estate’s volleyball victory

The Sun sports game of the week was the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s Adult co-ed volleyball matchup between the Island Real Estate team and the Salon Salon team.

Coming into the contest, Island Real Estate was still looking for its first win of the season. It won the match by taking the first two out of three games straight. It won the first game 25 to 18 and then also the second game by the same exact score. This was an important game in the standings and moved it into a tie for third place in the league with Salon Salon. More...

Success at the senior games

Feasting on Fitness

What a great week! Back from the National Senior Games in Cleveland. I met so many inspirational people, that I could write a column on each one of them. Since I’m not a paid reporter, what I write here is my own experience. I didn’t do the paid reporting job to find out more details other than what came my direction. Being a participant and even a semi-reporter at the same time is challenging.

Hours before boarding the plane, I placed seventh in the U.S. in my age group in the 1500 meters. This was after placing 10th in the 400 meters on Tuesday, and on Monday with a stormy, puddle-filled track, 16th in the 200 meters, and 19th in the 100 meters. Before I brag too much, there were many women faster than me. I was shocked that most women my age and older train full time. Many even had their coaches travel with them. More...


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