Vol. 14 No. 4 - November 20, 2013

news

INUNDATED New flood insurance rules leave public awash in confusion and skyrocketing rates

A trickle of concern about rising flood insurance rates has turned into a torrent of Congressional bills and a court challenge seeking to delay, modify or abolish the law responsible.

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act phases out subsidized flood insurance rates to make the National Flood Insurance Program more financially sound. More...

State to conclude Morris inquiry

The 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office in Manatee County will announce its findings this week on the Sheena Morris case, a spokeswoman said Monday.

Morris’ body was found hanging from her dog’s leash in a Bradenton Beach hotel room shower on New Year’s Day 2009, after hotel guests called 911 during an argument between Morris and her fiancé, Joe Genoese.

Bradenton Beach Police Det. Lenard Diaz determined that her death was a suicide, but Morris’ mother, Kelly Osborn, rejected the conclusion, implicating Genoese. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StorySpring bags fourth in World Food Competition

Two Island mayors left a roundtable meeting on soaring flood insurance rates on Friday with a clearer picture of just how devastating the Biggert-Waters Act could be for Anna Maria Island.

Anecdotes included how people are being forced to sell their homes at low prices because they can’t afford flood insurance premiums and how sales are falling through because buyers don’t qualify for mortgages once high flood premiums are added in, Anna Maria Mayor SueLynn said. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story BeachHouse renovation moves forward

BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s Planning and Zoning Board has unanimously granted conditional approval to the BeachHouse to add a double decker open air dining area to the Gulf front side of the restaurant.

The conditions are that the restaurant must definitively identify its seating capacity and submit parking schematics that adequately document the number of corresponding parking spaces. More...

Carleton arrested on state charge

HOLMES BEACH – An Island real estate agent under investigation for his professional practices was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 12, for acting as a real estate broker without a license.

Michael P. Carleton, 61, was taken into custody in the morning and immediately bonded out. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Real Estate ordered the arrest. A complaint filed by Bruce Nelson, of Massachusetts, caused the investigation. More...

Vacation rental project denied

BRADENTON BEACH – The Planning and Zoning Board has unanimously denied a request to add vacation rentals at 114 Third St. S. in back of a proposed 60-seat open air restaurant and four-store retail project at 119 Bridge St.

The denial is a recommendation that will be considered by the city commission, which approved developer Michael Hynds’ proposed restaurant/retail project as a planned unit development in May after previously denying it based on parking concerns. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryTrolleys to roll on holiday

The Anna Maria Island Trolley and the Beach Express to and from the Island will continue normal routes on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 and 29. The connecting Longboat Key Trolley will be suspended on Thursday, Nov. 28, and will resume operation on Friday, Nov. 29. Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) announced the regular mainland route and the Handi Bus service will not operate on Thursday but will resume operation Friday. More...

Churches serve on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the time for giving thanks for all we have and those who are on vacation here will be looking for a place to worship. Some of the Island’s churches will be offering services on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, and all of them will be participating in the All Island Denominations service on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation. A choir made up of all the churches will provide music and the Rt. Rev. Michael Garrison, retired Bishop of New York, now a local resident, will lead the service. There will be a reception following the service. Everyone is invited to attend. More...



features

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryKids learn about Turtle Watch

HOLMES BEACH – When a mother turtle comes ashore on Anna Maria Island, Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring does what it can to ensure that the mother’s eggs hatch and the hatchlings make it to sea. Anna Maria Turtle Watch also works to ensure safe nesting for seabirds and the second graders at Anna Maria Elementary School appeared to be aware of what the group does.

Turtle Watch volunteer Sue Anderson spoke to the students at the auditorium last week and was pleased when most of the class raised their hands when she asked who had seen a nest on the beach and who had seen hatchlings make their run for the Gulf of Mexico. More...



OUTDOORS

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Coming attraction: winter wading/hot action

If you’re one of those fishermen who think of wade fishing as a summertime activity, you may be missing the boat. Winter wading can be extremely productive and will often give you an advantage over boat-bound anglers. When you get out of the boat and in the fish’s domain, you gain the same advantage of a silent approach that you do in the spring, summer or fall. When the water is cold it is often very clear, and the fish can be very wary. Getting in the water allows you to keep a low profile and make a stealthy approach. More...



real estate

Explore creative financing options

You know the old expression, "There is more than one way to skin a cat," used when you want to make the point that there is always more than one way to get something accomplished. Financing real estate doesn’t always have to be done in the conventional way; you would be surprised at the options.

Having parents is a wonderful thing, not only for the red fire engine and Barbie dolls on Christmas morning, but they also come in handy for first time homeowners. With real estate prices and interest rates both on the move up, first time buyers are faced with either purchasing less expensive homes or adding more cash into the pot. Parents can help close the gap for first time buyers by gifting money to their children. More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

The ‘Best Days’ Myth

Investment Corner

Most brokerage firm and mutual fund websites have articles to inform us of the dangers of trying to time the stock market, meaning that they discourage any effort to move into and out of the market in an attempt to participate in the good times, and to miss out on the bad times.

At first glance this seems like noble advice, but it is often provided in a manner which excludes half of the truth. The gist of most of this material is to show you how little your investment plan will make if you miss out on the best 25, 50, or 100 days of the last 20 years, and therefore imply that you need to stay invested at all times so you won't miss out on these very best days. More...



turtles

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryNesting split nearly evenly among cities

HOLMES BEACH – Sea turtles apparently like to nest on all three cities on Anna Maria Island almost equally.

Bradenton Beach hosted 130 nests this year, with Holmes Beach in second place at 128 nests and Anna Maria not far behind with 112 nests, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Director Suzi Fox.

This year was a record season, with 370 nests and more than 23,000 hatchlings that made it to the Gulf of Mexico. More...



SPORTS

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story The Feast Restaurant 11-13
Shootout Soccer Champs!

The Anna Maria Island Community Center’s 11 to 13-year-old soccer championship game was concluded with an exciting shootout to determine the 2013 champions.

Tyler Pearson led all scoring in the game with four goals and Paige Charron added a goal for the LPAC team in regulation play. League male MVP, Michael Latimer, scored three goals and Joe Rogers added two goals for the Feast team in regulation play. More...

How to pick a personal trainer

Feasting on Fitness

Recently I was asked, “What makes a good personal trainer or running coach?” I’ve had conversations with many trainers and coaches and we all ask ourselves that question. The answer changes over the years.

I had a lengthy conversation with a trainer who at least at one point worked with a lot of celebrities. He echoed the same sentiment I’ve heard from many other trainers who say that the business is very fickle. People often change trainers by the week, month, or year. It does seem rare that some people will stay with the same trainer for more than a year, though it can vary by the time of year, location, and age of the client. Way before I ever became a personal trainer, I had two over the years that really stood out. They seemed totally focused on my goals, past and future, and medical history as it affected the reality of the goals. They asked many questions and focused on clients, not themselves. More...


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