ArtsHOP draws thousands to Island

With perfect weather and people in a party mood, the third annual artsHOP was called the best ever by organizers from Cultural Connections, which represents nine Island arts and cultural groups that present the weekend of activities.

“It was for the people to celebrate the arts and for the arts to celebrate each other,” organizer Marsha Bard said.

“It was a great weekend for Anna Maria Island’s arts and culture. Something I feel we can all hold our heads up and be proud of,” event chair Melissa Williams declared. More...

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Scientists call for oil spill agency

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill’s ripple effect on life in and around the Gulf of Mexico could become a tsunami, affecting everything from the tiniest plankton to the largest animal in the sea, experts say.

Trophic cascades – chain reactions that occur when the health of species declines – could lead to dramatic shifts in the balance of Gulf ecosystems, according to stakeholders who met last week at a national symposium at Mote Marine Laboratory. More...

Cramer beating suspect acquitted

One of the two suspects in the April 17, 2008, beating of former Anna Maria City Commissioner Linda Cramer has been acquitted in a jury trial.

Michael Gambuzza, 41, was acquitted on charges of home invasion robbery and false imprisonment. A second man accused of robbing and severely beating Cramer, Christopher Drescher, pleaded guilty on those charges and in August, he received 15 years on the home invasion and five years on false imprisonment to run concurrently and minus time served while waiting for the trial. More...

Selby hits the ground running

ANNA MARIA — Mayor Mike Selby sat in his new office in city hall last week learning his job and studying all the aspects of what’s facing the city.

“Frannie (outgoing Mayor Fran Barford) left me notes on everything,” Selby said. “She wrote everything down for me.”

Selby gestured to stacks of folders on his desk, including one stack representing the lawsuits that have been filed against the city in the past year or so – those that remain unresolved. More...

Cities' officers sworn in

ANNA MARIA — Newly elected Mayor Mike Selby was sworn into office on Nov. 9. City Clerk Alice Baird administered the oath of office to Selby and to Commissioners Jo Ann Mattick and Chuck Webb, who were elected two-year terms. Neither commissioner faced opposition in the election earlier this month.

All commissioners and the mayor were asked to sign a code of conduct statement. More...

Cortez Folk Art Festival Saturday

CORTEZ – Folk music, arts and crafts and good food will be served up at the Cortez Village Folk Art Festival on Saturday, Nov. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez.

Musicians include Andrew Eddie, Mike Jorgensen, Brian Smalley, Bee & Boo and the Myakka Blue Grass Band, the Main Hatch Motleys and Soupy Davis and friends. More...

City seeks new home for cottage

BRADENTON BEACH – The white cottage sitting on concrete blocks for the past 64 years at 304 Church St. will be gone soon, one way or another.

Bradenton Beach city commissioners voted on Tuesday, Nov. 9, to approve the removal of the cottage if a new home is not found within 30 days. The vote is a result of the city’s plans to add parking spaces for city employees, employees of the shops in the commercial district and customers of those shops. The city is considering a project that would convert an empty lot next door, at 306 Church Street, into parking as well as the lot on which the old home, known as the Monroe Cottage, is located. More...

Face up to social media

To attract tourists to Anna Maria Island, business owners must face up to the reality of social media, according to Steve Berlin of Miles Media.

While using Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other social media will require business owners to update their skills, one thing hasn’t changed, he said. More...

County hopes effort reels in filmmakers

Manatee County commissioners have passed a new ordinance designed to make it easier for filmmakers and commercial producers to work here.

“It’s all about economic development,” said Deputy County Attorney Rob Eschenfelder, who revised the 20-year-old ordinance previously on the books to cut through red tape. “The focus needs to be on ease of use for producers of films and commercials." More...

Sandblast competition Saturday at BeachHouse

Keep Manatee Beautiful will celebrate America Recycles Day at Sandblast, its annual sand-sculpting contest, on Nov. 17 through 20 at the BeachHouse restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach.

Team Sandtastic, a professional sand sculpture team, will start on Nov. 17 by building an 80-ton exhibition sculpture at the site. In addition, WIL-MATH Metal Art Studio will be exhibiting samples of its recycled art. More...

A marathon runner's diary

On Dec. 5, I will compete in my first full marathon in Palm Beach, Fla. A marathon has been on my bucket list forever. I’ve always admired those who can run that 26.2-mile legendary race. The modern marathon began in 490 B.C. with the run of the soldier Pheidippides from the site of the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens. The soldier was charged with bringing news of a Greek victory. Legend has it that Pheidippides delivered the message, "Niki!" (Victory! – also a shoe company by the same name), then collapsed and died. Wonderful. More...

Catch and release: Investing in a fishing future

I've mentioned fishing guides on many occasions in these articles. If it weren't for the graciousness of guides, much of what I write about wouldn't be possible. Over the years I've learned invaluable lessons from fishing guides and been taken to places where I've had the opportunity to get stories and images that have become lasting memories and won me awards. My number one admonition to anglers that have the good sense and good fortune to spend a day on the water with a guide has always been, "Listen to the guide." I don't care how experienced an angler you are, you will never have the local knowledge of a professional that spends up to 250 days a year on the water. More...

What will sell your home

The Florida selling season is upon us, and this season is shaping up to be busy now that buyers have finally figured out that Anna Maria Island, in my opinion, has the best waterfront for the value on the west coast of Florida. So what do you do or don’t do to make your house or condo stand out from the pack? Some ideas are obvious, but some may surprise you. More...

Equity investors have reasons for optimism

The first 10 months of 2010 have been pretty good for investors in most of the major asset classes. Just a few short months ago investors were quite pessimistic as the first correction of the new bull market larger than 10 percent occurred in May and June, convincing many that Armageddon II was just around the corner. More...

Island Real Estate wins Instructional tournament

This week’s Sun sports Game of the Week was the 6 and 7-year-old tournament championship game, Island Real Estate vs. Sandbar restaurant. Island Real Estate had to pull off an exciting come from behind win. The Sandbar team dominated the first half. Ashton Pennell got an early goal with a hard shot that deflected off the goalie and in. Not long after, teammate Tyler Brewer booted a high ball from the other side of the field that bounced so high it went right over the goalie and into the net. Amazing goal tending by Sandbar goalie Dylan McKee, and great defense led by Emily Sackett and Emma Laade shut out the high scoring Island Real Estate team for almost the whole first half. It wasn’t until just before the half that Jaysen Berzowski finally fought through that tough defense and scored for Island Real Estate. This left the score 2-1 at halftime. More...