Vol. 11 No. 51 - October 5, 2011

news

Shark bite victim comes home

LONGBOAT KEY – Charles (C.J.) Wickersham came home Friday night after spending six days at Bayfront Medical Center because a shark tried to take a chunk of his leg last Saturday. His mother, Ella, said it's nothing short of a miracle.

"They said it would be 10 days minimum and here we are at six days," she said. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story'Too much of a good thing'

HOLMES BEACH – Vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods are making it difficult for some Holmes Beach residents to live up to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce slogan, "Paradise without the attitude."

Late night parties, yards packed with cars and trash cans left out for days brought resident Tom Sabow to the city commission for some action last week.

Tourists are not obeying the law, a frustrated Sabow told the board, including noise ordinances, parking ordinances and trash ordinances. More...

Bayfest to feature fancy wheels

ANNA MARIA – Bayfest turns 10 when it returns this year on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 15. That's a credible track record for this first-of-the-season festival.

Once again, parking might be a problem during the music and food warm-up on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., and visitors would be wise to take the trolley. There will be fewer parking spots on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. because Pine Avenue will be blocked to all traffic except the 100 or more classic and antique vehicles that are part of the unique car show along the street. More...

Chief: No additional golf cart streets

HOLMES BEACH – Police Chief Jay Romine is opposed to expanding golf cart usage to more streets in the city limits, but would favor a change in the city's law that would require golf cart drivers to have valid driver licenses.

Romine addressed city commissioners at their request in a work session last week on the long-debated issue. More...

City: Sandbar plan complies with code

ANNA MARIA – Attorney Jeremy Anderson has requested all site plan documents, approvals and minutes of commission or planning and zoning board meetings regarding remodeling taking place at the Sandbar restaurant in Anna Maria.

However, City Planner Alan Garrett said the project received administrative approval and explained, "The site plan code allows you to administratively increase or improve a building by 10 percent. According to the plans for the main structure, they are adding 5.8 percent. More...

Red tide bloom reported in Gulf

A bloom of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was discovered last week along the shores of Sarasota and Charlotte counties and offshore of Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties in concentrations ranging from not present to high.

Background concentrations also were found in samples collected alongshore of Manatee and Pinellas counties.

Based on satellite images taken on Wednesday, Sept. 28, the bloom extended approximately 15 miles offshore and 10 miles alongshore of Sarasota County. More...

City to go green without going in the red

ANNA MARIA – Members of the city' s environmental committee met with Drew Smith, of Two Trails, Inc., a green building consulting firm, last week to begin the process of obtaining a green government certification.

In June, Lizzie Vann Thrasher, of the Historic Green Village on Pine Avenue, urged city commissioners to make Anna Maria the greenest small town in the country. They gave that task to the Environmental Education and Enhancement Committee. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Chinnis celebrates 30

LONGBOAT KEY – Rusty Chinnis is celebrating 30 years in business as Rusty Chinnis Contractor Inc.

RCCI, located at 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 201-A on Longboat Key, has been building and remodeling homes and condominiums on Longboat Key, Lido Key, St Armands Key and Bird Key for 30 years. More...



features

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

A day of peace

HOLMES BEACH – It was a single day devoted to peace, but it was meant to inspire Anna Maria Elementary School kids for the rest of their lives.

The 10th Annual Peace Day celebration started and ended the day on the school lawn with parades, music and talk of peace.

Students carried flags of all nations, followed by Manatee High School cheerleaders, two of whom graduated from AME, performing a peace cheer. More...



OUTDOORS

Anna Maria Island Sun News StorySarasota Bay Watch event protects seabirds

On Oct. 1, members of Sarasota Bay Watch teamed with Save Our Seabirds, and Audubon Coastal Islands Sanctuaries to conduct a monofilament clean up of bird rookeries in Sarasota Bay. The event was organized to remove fishing line from mangroves during the season when birds are not nesting. The event was a great success, despite the arrival of an early cold front that roiled local waters. During the morning event, participants collected yards of line from Roberts Bay to Manatee County. More...


real estate

Truth in lending

Do you remember when you were first eligible for credit, For most of us, it was our first step into adulthood and financial independence. You've undoubtedly changed since that first credit card appeared in your wallet and so has federal policy governing credit. More...

business

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Insiders see better days ahead

Investment Corner

In the midst of the extreme market volatility in early August, there appeared to be at least one sign that better days for investors might not be too far off. Corporate insiders voted with their wallets in a big way by purchasing shares of their own company's stock at record rates. More...



SPORTS

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Unique Mobile Detailing knocks off unbeaten Agnelli Pools

Adult co-ed soccer results:

Sato Real Estate - 5
Florida Discount Signs - 1

Euphemia Haye - 3
Wash Family Construction - 4 More...

The real cost of disease

Feasting on Fitness

I felt that this story is so important, I thought I'd "retweet" it from USA Today and others. It illustrates why I am spending the rest of my life trying to reduce this problem with relatively easy (compared to heart surgery, stomach stapling, losing limbs to diabetes) solutions such as simple diet and lifestyle changes. More...


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