Parking agreement inches closer

ANNA MARIA —Consensus is quietly growing on a parking plan for the city's mixed-use district.

After a year of stalemate, bitter debate and polarization on the parking regulations for the residential/office/retail district, agreement seems to be evolving.

Mike Coleman, managing partner for Pine Avenue Restoration, laid out an example of how a parking plan proposed by City Commissioner Gene Aubry might work. The layout is in front of the PAR buildings at 216 Pine. More...

Person of the Year 2010: Rex Hagen

Rex Hagen is being honored as the Island Sun's person of the Year for 2010.

Hagen and his late wife, Helen, have donated more than $100,000 to the cities of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria and the Island Community Center over the years through their Hagen Family Foundation.

"The Hagens have been more than generous to the city, and we truly appreciate their generosity," Holmes Beach Mayor Rich Bohnenberger said. "With the limitations on public funding, it is wonderful to have a benefactor like this. It improves the quality of life for everyone." More...

A year in The Sun - 2010 in review

Anna Maria Island news in 2010 was overshadowed by one story that crossed all boundaries, affecting tourism, real estate, fishing, retail businesses, the environment and just about everything else in our world.

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the northern Gulf of Mexico on April 20, killing 11. It gushed oil until it was capped on July 15.

Tourism operators struggled to let visitors know that oil did not wash up on local beaches, but cautious travelers bided their time. Several local water sports-related business owners, rental owners and one property owner unable to sell a home filed claims against BP. Galati Marine cancelled two Memorial Day weekend fishing contests planned in the Gulf. More...

Pirate invasion overwhelms mayor, city hall

ANNA MARIA – They came as advertised, the whole gang of pirates with swords drawn and firing cannons, and they got what they wanted from the city officials.

The Anna Maria Island Privateers invaded Anna Maria City Hall Monday afternoon, searching for Mayor Mike Selby. They found him and tied him to the crow's nest while some of the pirates went out and collected an undetermined amount of money from the crowd that gathered there. When it was apparent they got as much money as the crowd was willing to give, they released the mayor and took him to the front door of city hall where they were given a key to the city and a proclamation that gives them permission to pillage in the name of their 40th anniversary. More...

For the birds - Audubon count tallies 7,300

Nearly 7,300 birds were counted by 24 birders who canvassed Anna Maria Island, part of Longboat Key, Perico Island and Cortez during the annual Manatee County Audubon Society Gulf Circle Christmas Bird Count last week.

Four fewer species than last year were identified, (96 versus 100) coordinator David Williamson said, but no species was "surprisingly absent." The count information is not used to predict changes in species success or failure, he said. More...

PAR seeks sanctions against Nallys, Hunts, Stoltzfus, Wall

Pine Avenue Restoration, LLC has filed for sanctions against William and Barbara Nally, Robert and Nicky Hunt, former City Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus and Robin Wall.

Attorneys for PAR filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit the Nallys lodged against the city for approving the plans for the structures at 216 Pine Avenue.

"It's logical that PAR would want to intervene in a lawsuit that directly affects them," said Michael Barfield, a legal expert working on behalf of the company. More...

Growing up in Rosedale Cottage

ANNA MARIA — Watching the beginnings of the Anna Maria Historic Green Village take shape from two elderly structures in the 500 block of Pine Avenue is interesting to pedestrians and passing motorists.

To Dick Rosedale, it's another thing all together.

"I grew up here," Rosedale said recently as new owners Mike and Lizzie Thrasher showed him the work that is being done on Rosedale's childhood home.

Rosedale Cottage is a 1913 structure which will house a restaurant or coffee house when it's completed in the spring. More...

Karate class is a family affair for the Millers

ANNA MARIA – For Sensei Bob Miller, teaching karate at the Community Center is like coming home.

"I took karate lessons at the Center when I was six years old," Miller recalled. "I taught my first karate school at the Center in 1989." More...

More advice for 2011

New Year's resolutions: Baby steps

I seldom make New Year's resolutions and when I do I almost never keep them. I think the problem has been breaking resolutions down into manageable bites. When I thought about it I realized that there are a few simple things that every angler can improve on that will make a big difference when he/she is out on the water. Below are a list of things you can do on a cold and windy day when you can't go fishing. I guarantee you they will pay dividends when you're back in the game. More...

Bradenton/Sarasota tops for retirement

All good things must come to an end, otherwise, they wouldn't be good things. This quotation has been burned in my brain after a friend shared his mother's favorite expression with me. So what good things are there in our lives that we're happy to see end? How about our jobs? More...

Some great investment resolutions to consider for 2011

At the end of past years I have developed a habit of setting myself up for failure. Making predictions about the direction of prices in the financial markets is a hazardous business where guessing right 50 percent of the time is good. But yet, there is an expectation among the majority of investors that individuals who provide investment advice should be able to predict the future, somehow magically providing all the right tips to help them succeed at an above average rate. More...