Vol. 16 No. 6 - December 9, 2015

news

Vacation rental lawsuit dismissed

ANNA MARIA – One of two lawsuits filed in objection to the vacation rental ordinance has been dismissed.

During an emergency City Commission meeting Tuesday morning, the attending commissioners voted 3-0 in favor of the motion to accept the settlement agreement brokered by City Attorney Becky Vose, the city’s mediation team that also included Mayor Dan Murphy and Commissioner Carol Carter, and the legal representatives for the lawsuit plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs in the suit originally filed on May 22 were Timothy and Kimberly Iafolla, Carol Roaldi, Salouh Florida LLC, Rysal Enterprises. Seven Emeralds LLC, Island Real Estate and Anna Maria Island Vacation Property Association. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryMoratorium request discarded

BRADENTON BEACH – Mayor Bill Shearon tried to fulfill his campaign pledge to enact a building moratorium, but could not garner enough commission support to do so.

During the Thursday, Dec. 3, City Commission meeting, Shearon asked the commission to direct City Attorney Ricinda Perry to turn a previously tabled draft moratorium ordinance into a fully-developed moratorium ordinance to be presented for commission consideration in January. More...

Port Dolphin’s demise celebrated

Local environmentalists and some local officials applaud Port Dolphin Energy’s decision to abandon its plans to build a liquid natural gas port 28 miles off Anna Maria Island and a 42-mile-long underwater pipeline to Port Manatee.

Norway-based parent company Höegh LNG confirmed last week that due to market changes, it will not build the proposed submersible port where tankers would have converted liquid natural gas (LNG) into vapor, pumped it into a pipeline landing at Port Manatee, and delivered it to energy suppliers.

“It’s good news,” said ManaSota-88 Director Glenn Compton, an early opponent of the project, which began more than a decade ago.

“We were concerned with the environmental impact of a new pipeline coming into the area,” as well as the visual impact of the port from Anna Maria Island’s beaches, he said. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryAnna Maria plans holiday open house

The Sun and the AMI Historical Society are sponsoring the Anna Maria Holiday of Treasures Open House on Friday, Dec. 11 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Stroll through the city enjoying lite bites and musical entertainment at participating businesses and organizations along Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue. Complimentary hayrides will be offered by CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

The Roser Children's Choir will perform in the Historical Park, adjacent to the Historical Museum at 402 Pine Ave. at 6 p.m. Visitors can pick up a Bingo card at any participating location and have it marked. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryPrivateers parade to Santa

The Anna Maria Island Privateers will be heading toward Santa at their annual Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 12, starting at 10 a.m. at Bayfront Park, in Anna Maria.

The parade is open to all individuals or groups not supporting a political cause or candidate. Participation is free and you may decorate your vehicle for the season. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Winterfest this weekend

A variety of art will fill Holmes Beach City Hall field this weekend, Dec. 12 and 13, during the Anna Maria Island Art League’s 28th Annual Winterfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

The annual juried art festival will feature more than 100 artists from the U.S. and Canada and their paintings, glass, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, fiber arts, photography, wood and more.

Also on tap is the Young at Art children’s exhibit, featuring works by Manatee County elementary and high school children, plus a children’s art activity area.

The family event features continuous live music on stage Saturday and a large food court offering a variety of food and beverages. Community organizations also will be on hand, including historical and environmental groups. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryAngel art graces The Studio

ANNA MARIA – “A Collaboration of Angels and Other Works” is a unique partnership between two artists to enhance each other’s paintings to create a series of unique angels now on display at The Studio at Gulf and Pine.

On Friday, Dec. 11, the public is invited to meet the artists, Jill Krasner, of Sarasota, and Raven Skye McDonough, of Venice, at an opening reception from 4 to 8 p.m.

The pair said their collaboration happened unexpectedly when McDonough was helping Krasner organize her art studio.

“Jill showed me one of her watercolors, and I said, ‘There’s an angel in there,’ but she didn’t see it,” McDonough explained. “I took it to my studio and enhanced it with acrylics and paper collage, and it became our first piece, “The Guardian Angel of the Arts.” More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryPrestigious medal found

The Air and Space Campaign medal awarded by the United States Air Force, and shown in this photo, was recently found by Drift In patron Brian Quinn. Quinn found the medal in the parking area behind the Drift In and across the street from the Pines Trailer Park.

The medal has been turned over to Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale and is being held at the Bradenton Beach Police Department headquarters, 403 Highland Ave. To inquire about the medal, stop by the police department Monday through Friday before 4 p.m. or call 941-778-6311. More...



features

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryLawn party delights attendees

LONGBOAT KEY – Attended by approximately 1,200 people. Saturday’s Fifth Annual Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party was a sold out event graced by beautiful weather and extraordinary food.

Ticket holders spent two hours on the grounds of the Resort at Longboat Key Club sampling cuisine, wine and beer provided by 36 participating restaurants and vendors from the greater Bradenton/Sarasota area.

“We’ve only been here 30 minutes and I’m already getting full,” said Canadian and Longboat Key resident John Thurston, who with his wife Barbara was enjoying the chicken Marsala being served at the Amore by Andrea booth. More...



OUTDOORS

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryWinter wading

Many anglers think that wade fishing is a warm water activity, but winter wading can produce some fantastic results and, as always, gives you many advantages over anglers fishing from a boat. Getting out of the boat puts you in the fish’s realm, giving you the advantage of a silent approach. This can be particularly important when it’s cold and the water clears up making fish especially wary. Getting in the water allows you to keep a low profile and make a more stealthy approach.

If you find fish, but they are particularly spooky or hard to see, try standing still and waiting for them! A good indication this is the case is when fish see you just before you see them. That’s a good time to try this approach. Anchor well away from the area you intend to fish, get out of the boat and stake out a pothole or sandy area where you have visibility. By staying a long cast away, you can easily see fish when they enter a hole or pass across the white sand bottom. Position yourself off to the side in the grass where you’re less visible, keep a low profile and be still. Just waiting them out gives you a big advantage when targeting reds, trout, snook and other game fish as they wander the flat. When you make a presentation, don’t make any quick moves, and make your casts low and slow. It takes patience, but can be productive. More...



real estate

What’s happening with million dollar properties?

I remember being fascinated as a child with the 1950’s television show “The Millionaire,” where people were given $1 million by a benefactor who was never revealed. The show told the story of how wealth changed their lives for both the good and the bad. It’s a good thing this show, which was on for five years, isn’t on today because $1 million isn’t what it once was.

My last analysis of $1 million and over properties in the three cities of Anna Maria Island and Cortez was done in July covering the first six months of the year. Since everyone is getting in gear for the busy real estate selling season ahead, I thought it’s time for another look. July, August, September and October have always had the lowest number of closings during the year, but considering that we’re comparing six months to four months the sales numbers are looking pretty good. More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryThe Feast: casual and fine dining

What does it say to you when a restaurant provides a birds-eye-view into their kitchen? What it says to me is they have a level of confidence in what goes on behind closed doors that most cooks in their own homes don’t have. The Feast restaurant in Holmes Beach opened in October of 2009, and the confidence level is a direct result of the success and consistent following the restaurant has acquired.

Owners, chefs and brothers Christofer and Joseph Dale accrued years of experience and training working in many of the Island restaurants. They classify their restaurant as casual fine dining and have recently completed a total renovation that supports their dining concept. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

High-income earners can still use a Roth IRA

Investment Corner

Have you ever known something was right for you and been told you couldn’t have it? It can be pretty frustrating. Many high-income earners, who would like to contribute directly to Roth accounts, cannot do so because of IRS income limits. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for high-earners to reap the benefits associated with Roth accounts, such as tax-free growth, tax-free distributions and no required minimum distributions. They may be able to participate in Roth accounts by:

1. Converting an existing Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Anyone can move the assets accumulated in a traditional IRA account to a Roth IRA account, regardless of income. The catch is you’ll owe current income tax on the amount converted. This may be a sound choice if: More...



SPORTS

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryFinal four: Adult soccer playoffs continue at the Center

The fans and players were “smilingdeep” Thursday night despite the drizzly cool air and damp field watching the first four playoff games of the fall adult soccer season at the Center. The playoff games lead to the awarding of the Paul “Ace” Hayward Island Cup. Hayward the creator of the smiledeep sentiment would have loved the competitive action on the pitch.

The first game of the night pitted #7 seed Beach to Bay Construction against #3 see Progressive Cabinetry. In the ninth minute of the game, Progressive scored the first goal of the night. Three minutes later, Beach to Bay tied up the game. Beach to Bay was able to contain offensive threat Anthony Barberio, ending the first half only one point difference with the score 3-2 for Beach to Bay. More...



Turtles

Turtle ‘terrorist’ case closed, unsolved

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has closed the unsolved case of who ran over and killed three black skimmer chicks, a state species of special concern, and ran over five nests, each holding up to 100 eggs of loggerhead sea turtles, a federally threatened species.

The investigation was closed because of insufficient evidence to bring charges against the unidentified person of interest in the case, FWC spokesman Gary Morse said, adding that the state attorney’s office declined to prosecute the case.

Witnesses to the June 27 incident described a laughing couple in their late 20s in a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with a single headlight around 10:30 p.m. near the Holmes Beach/Bradenton Beach line, aiming at yellow-staked turtle nests and driving over them, running over three flightless baby birds in the process.

The crimes are violations of the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, ranging from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, carrying penalties of $500 to $1,500 in fines with jail time of 60 days to five years. More...


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