District justifies building purchase

HOLMES BEACH – West Manatee Fire commissioners approved the purchase of a building on Third Avenue West in Bradenton for $1.1 million using the contingency fund.

The building will house the district’s administration, and it will cost $400,000 to $500,000 for renovations. Prior to the vote, the commission took comment from members of the public that had come in response to a letter they received from Holmes Beach Commissioner Al Robinson opposing the purchase. More...

Parking panel meets Friday

ANNA MARIA — A committee charged with coming up with suggestions for balancing the parking needs of the business district with the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists is set to meet Jan. 8 at 10 a.m.

The committee will discuss parking in the residential/office/retail district, which runs along Pine Avenue and a part of Gulf Drive just south of Pine. More...

Person of the Year: Charlie Hunsicker

Charlie Hunsicker, director of Manatee County’s Natural Resources Department, is a natural resource himself, according to his colleagues, and is The Anna Maria Island Sun’s 2009 Person of the Year.

“He’s got the vision, he’s got the passion, and when you have those two things, you’re pretty much unstoppable,” Deputy County Administrator Karen Windon said. More...

Chickee hut first step in Gulf Drive Café plans

BRADENTON BEACH – The first phase of the Gulf Drive Café expansion, at 900 Gulf Drive N., in Bradenton Beach, is finished. Workers for Seminole Chickee Hut have completed the construction of the large hut that will be used for special events booked through the café such as parties, wedding receptions and other celebrations.

“They still need to apply the fire retardant on the fronds,” said Gulf Drive Café Bar Manager Michael Nation. “Then we’re going to put a concrete floor with tile under it.” More...

Inquiry continues into fatal crash

denton Police traffic homicide investigators are still trying to figure out what caused a 79-year-old man to steer his 2004 Mercury Sable sedan into an oncoming Mack Truck tanker truck about 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 1, on the Palma Sola Causeway near the Anna Maria Island Bridge. More...

Cortez fisherman opens quota brokerage

CORTEZ – Glen Brooks saw a need and filled it as fast as a fish takes bait off a line.

The Cortez fisherman’s startup company, Gulf of Mexico IFQ Inc., brokers sales, leases and trades individual fishing quotas among Gulf of Mexico fishermen in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. More...

Hunt petition in hands of attorney

A legal challenge to actions of the Anna Maria City Commission has been turned over to City Attorney Jim Dye.

Dan Lobeck, a land use attorney, filed the petition on behalf or Robert and Nicky Hunt and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Muzzy and Pineapple Corner, LLC, the owner of 303 Pine Avenue. More...

Holmes Beach man knows his hockey

HOLMES BEACH – The beaches of Anna Maria Island and the cold ice in a hockey arena are about as opposite as you can get, but one resident of our fair Island makes a living coaching youngsters in hockey, and his team is making a run at a national championship.

Fred Eaton, of Holmes Beach, coaches the Gulf Coast Flames in the Statewide Florida Hockey League, sanctioned nationally by USA Hockey. More...

Group is for the birds

Hit the trail! The Gulf Coast BRADENTON BEACH – Something small and fragile is making noise in the mangrove bushes on Leffis Key as John Ginaven walks by, followed by a binocular brigade.

Coming to a silent stop like troops on patrol, they wait, listening and watching.

Ginaven makes the same noise they’ve been hearing, called “pishing.” More...

Sarasota Bay Watch evolves

2009 was a pivotal year for Sarasota Bay Watch. During the last 12 months, the organization’s identity has evolved through events, partnerships, a new e-commerce Web site, and a membership database. Sarasota Bay Watch also produced a brochure, window decal and a public service announcement, which is being broadcast through media outlets in Sarasota and Manatee counties. More...

Welcome to the state of happiness

I can’t think of anything I would rather talk about for the first column of the new year than happiness.

And if last year wasn’t a real happy one for you, I’m here to tell you that based on a newly published survey, you were a lot happier than most people in the country. More...

East meets West at Alchemy Acupuncture

The human body is a mystery. Sometimes it responds predictably and sometimes it eludes traditional treatment. If you believe that the body is comprised of more than bone, tissue and fluids, then you may also believe in the ancient Chinese theory of Qi and be open to more non-traditional methods of healing.

Qi is the belief that the body has a natural energy flow that runs along meridians throughout the body. If one or more of these natural patterns of channels becomes blocked or unbalanced the result could manifest itself with a variety of physical symptom. More...

Safety – At a price

Investors and savers scour the landscape searching for the bank certificate of deposit that will pay them that extra one-fourth of 1 percent on their savings, while offering the peace of mind of the FDIC insurance guaranteeing them against the failure of the bank up to a limit of $250,000.

CDs, bank money market and savings accounts are always popular with savers who wish to place a portion of their funds in vehicles which are safe from market fluctuation and have a guarantee of return of principal value. When the financial markets go through one of their periods of extreme volatility, we typically see investors flee vehicles like corporate bonds and equities, which traditionally return more over time, but can go through periods of fluctuating principal value. More...

Friday, Jan. 8

Opening reception for 16th Annual James Pay Exhibit, Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd, Holmes Beach, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Opening reception for featured artist Jane Curtan, Artist’s Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Opening reception for featured artist Joe Fletcher, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 9

Privateer’s Thieves Market, Coquina Beach, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Barbara Orear will demonstrate painting Florida boats and water, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in the S&S Plaza, 10 a.m. to noon.

Sunday, Jan. 10

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program kayak tour of Leffis and Jewfish keys, depart at Coquina Bayside, 9 a.m. Call 955-8085 to reserve.

Thursday, Jan. 14

Lecture on birding and conservation by Jeanne Dubi, president of the Sarasota Audubon Society, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:30 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 15

Opening reception for all media art exhibit with Old Florida theme, Florida Maritime Museum, Cortez, 5 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program kayak tour of Leffis and Jewfish keys, depart at Coquina Bayside, 9 a.m. Call 955-8085 to reserve.

Caroline Whitmore will demonstrate how to paint watercolor seascapes, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in the S&S Plaza, 10 a.m. to noon.