Vol. 14 No. 23 - April 2, 2014

news

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryShining performances for ‘Mama Won’t Fly’

ANNA MARIA – “Mama Won’t Fly” was a challenge for the Island Players, mainly because the large number of roles required that almost everyone who participates in the annual plays be in the cast. And even then, there was still some duplication where an actor had to play more than one role.

But throw in a hilarious script full of belly laughs, some unique stage automobiles from the State College of Florida, plus a Manatee High School student who flashed placards across the stage between scenes, and you end up with some marvelous insanity that never fails to deliver. More...

Board questions taking funds from Grassy Point

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners expressed their displeasure at a request by Public Works Superintendent Tom O’Brien to take $20,000 from the Grassy Point Preserve line item in the public works budget and put it toward the purchase of a small backhoe.

In a memo, O’Brien said the backhoe is essential to maintain the city’s drainage system. He said $20,000 would be allocated from maintenance funds set aside for Grassy Point, and the remainder of the $37,812 would be from the stormwater utility fund. More...

City eyes ban on truck traffic

ANNA MARIA – Mayor SueLynn used a map at last Thursday’s commission work session to explain suggested changes to the traffic ordinance as they continue to deal with the flood of cars and trucks that visit the city.

Perhaps the most radical was an effort to keep truck traffic off the side streets and streets parallel to Pine Avenue. The mayor initially wanted to erect signs with the international code circle with a slash over a picture of a truck and the wording “8 Tons” on it. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryWin a pink sapphire and diamond bracelet

ANNA MARIA – Put some sparkle into your life and get into the pink of things by winning a pink sapphire and diamond bracelet at An Island Affaire on Saturday, April 12.

Donated by Bridge Street Jewelers, this stunning bracelet is appraised at $4,500 and was designed by John Krake. It is a 14k, white gold, ladies hinged bangle with a safety catch, and it contains two rows of princess cut, fine, Burmese pink sapphires (4.0 carat total weight), which are accented on both sides by a row of diamonds (0.50 carat total weight). More...

Commissioner questions attorney’s fees

HOLMES BEACH – After Commissioner Marvin Grossman questioned the city’s legal fees at last week’s city commission meeting, Mayor Carmel Monti provided a breakdown of the fees for January and February.

Grossman, thinking that the $11,000 for professional services was due to commissioners calling the attorney, told the board, “We’ve been spending a lot of money. In January, we spent $19,000 on attorney bills, and over $11,000 of it was for calls. More...

Repeal of vacation rental law possible ...

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Both branches of the Florida State Legislature are considering bills that would repeal a portion of the vacation rental law created in 2011 by the passage of House Bill 883.

The new legislation would return to local officials the ability to pass legislation pertaining specifically to vacation rentals. The state law enacted in 2011 dictates that local legislation cannot single out vacation rentals and must apply to all residential properties. More...

... while reactions differ widely

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Many Island residents are closely following two bills working their way through the state legislature that pertain to the partial repeal of the vacation rental law created by House Bill 883.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Jean Peelen and Anna Maria Mayor SueLynn have been at the forefront of the local efforts to repeal HB 883. More...

City to consider plan for ball field use

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners plan to consider a proposal from resident Andy Proctor, of Manatee West Hurricanes Baseball (MWHB) to improve the city’s baseball field for youth baseball.

The discussion came during a report by City Attorney Patricia Petruff that Manatee County has agreed to the city’s request to terminate the interlocal agreement for construction and maintenance of the baseball field made in 1998. More...



features

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryNeal Preserve opens in April

You can’t take it with you, but you can hold a piece of history thousands of years old at Neal Preserve by simply picking up a conch shell.

Prehistoric Native American inhabitants of the preserve, just across the Manatee Avenue bridge from Anna Maria Island, opened the shells at the crown to get at the meat inside, said Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County’s natural resources director, reminding visitors that taking anything from the preserve is against the law. More...



OUTDOORS

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Sarasota Bay Watch made great strides in 2013

In an executive summary prepared by Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) President Larry Stults Ph.D., J.D., he recapped the organization’s accomplishments in 2013. In total, Sarasota Bay Watch and its volunteers donated well over 2500 hours to restore and protect local waterways, marine life and habitat. Volunteers also removed over two miles of fishing line from local waterway bird rookeries and rescued live entangled birds.

During 2013, SBW sponsored seven volunteer-based events, including the 6th annual Great Scallop Search, the 5th annual Sister Keys Cleanup and a scallop nursery cleanup at Mote Marine. Students from numerous area schools and from Sarasota CREW partnered selected events. More...



real estate

April 15 – impossible to ignore

It comes around every year, the one day of the year that you never look forward to, the one day of the year you would like to sleep through and the one day of the year it’s impossible to ignore. No it’s not your birthday or your brother-in-law’s winter visit, it's tax day.

As much as we hate to pay Uncle Sam, if you’re a homeowner you are probably eligible for a very substantial annual deduction, your mortgage interest. Last year United States’ homeowners received a total of roughly $70 billion dollars in federal tax breaks through deductions on their primary home, second home or investment property. And not surprisingly there are critics and supporters of this deduction. More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News StorySister act stylin' at Studio 104

Not everyone woman has a sister, but those of us who do understand what a special and challenging relationship it is. When you complicate an already complicated relationship with the difficulty of starting and running a business, it becomes almost a miracle when it all works out. Well miracles abound at Studio 104 in Bradenton Beach where Kim Skardoutos and Christine Morin are both sisters and business partners.

In January 2008, Skardoutos and Morin, Canadian natives, decided to start their own business in hair and nail care and purchased Milena’s Beauty Salon, which was a fixture in Bradenton Beach for 24 years. The sisters are so busy with their year 'round regular clientele as well seasonal visitors to the island, they are actively looking to expand with the addition of a stylist and nail tech. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Municipal bonds may be in sweet spot

Investment Corner

In sports the phrase “sweet spot” refers to the ideal position on the racquet, club or bat to strike the ball in order to get the maximum desired result. In investing, sweet spot refers to the segment of an asset class which may offer the best future return in the foreseeable future. Unlike the physics involved with striking a ball, there are never any guarantees to investment concepts, but looking for sweet spot opportunities can help keep risk in check, and hopefully, enhance returns. More...



SPORTS

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Youth flag football awards presented

The 2014 Anna Maria Island Community Center’s youth NFL Flag Football season concluded with the annual awards ceremony.

The co-ed youth league is a recreational fun league where everyone participates. The awards ceremony honors every participant with some sort of an award and individual recognition on stage. No matter what age and what ability, everyone walked away from the ceremony with something.

More...

Healthy food can taste great

Feasting on Fitness

As a TV reporter ages ago, I used to get paid the big bucks (ha) getting all sides to a story and doing the research it takes. So this volunteer column is the result of my week’s experiences and what I can write in two to three hours time. I always hope to inspire and prevent needless suffering of humans and animals that occurs way too often.

It is my belief that in our area, it would be a huge financial benefit if we had more vegan restaurants. Really vegan restaurants.

Like the exclusively vegan restaurant Ionie’s in Sarasota. My friend, Carl Lovejoy, is the amazing chef there. Check out restaurants’ Facebook pages or websites to see what they’re serving. More...


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