Holiday of Treasures coming to town

ANNA MARIA – All week, business owners have been as busy as Santa's elves getting ready for the city's holiday open house, Holiday of Treasures, set for Friday, Dec. 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. along Gulf Drive, Pine Avenue and South Bay Boulevard. More...

Privateers parade this Saturday

Do you want to show everyone your Island Christmas spirit this year? If so, you'll want to join the Anna Maria Island Privateers in their Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. More...

Sign up for holiday boat parade

The Eighth Annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade will twinkle its way up the Intracoastal Waterway on Saturday, Dec. 17, and you can be part of it.

All boats are welcome and no entry fee is required, just a toy donation for Toys for Tots. More...

Make someone's holiday special

Paradise Cafe Giving Tree

Paradise Café's Giving tree is once again adorned with tags to fulfill the Christmas dreams of Island children in need. Owner Jacke Estes began the Giving Tree tradition14 years ago. More...

Bridge Street is ready for snow

There will be snow on Bridge Street on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 3 to 7 p.m., but that's not all that will be falling. The merchants on Bridge Street will feature special holiday pricing on unique merchandise for the home or under the Christmas tree. More...

Cities to meet over border dispute

HOLMES BEACH – In an attempt to avoid litigation over a border dispute between Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, city officials will engage in a dispute resolution proceeding on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

The dispute was prompted by someone driving a golf cart through Sandpiper Resort earlier this year. More...

Center board refines child protection policy

ANNA MARIA – Island Community Center board members last week refined the language regarding abuse, sexual abuse and sexual harassment included in their child protection policy.

The board authorized revisions to the policy after allegations of sexual misconduct by a staff member surfaced in the spring of this year. That staff member resigned in April. More...

Enjoy fine art, music and food at Winterfest

HOLMES BEACH – Final preparations are underway for the opening of the Island's premier winter art festival, Winterfest: Fine Arts And Crafts Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Holmes Beach City Hall field. More...

Don't forget the lyrics

It's that most wonderful time of the year again, when we turn up the radio and sing along with our favorite Christmas carols.

But there's a carol or two that makes just about everyone want to switch stations, like the Bolero-esque "Little Drummer Boy" (with the possible exception of the David Bowie/Bing Crosby version), or, my anti-favorite, the recurringly repetitive "Twelve Days of Christmas," with its obscure lyrics and needle-stuck-in-the-groove melody line. More...

The bike angle

I love to bike, and I like to fish. It occurred to me long ago that I might be able to access some great fishing spots by bike. However over the years, my boat and those of my fishing friends kept taking preference. Recently, I've been made aware by other anglers of the great opportunities that exist locally for accessing fishing locations by bike. Obviously, we're not suggesting that you take it into the water, but you can reach some places that only boaters used to fish. A good example is Robinson Preserve in Manatee County. The 487-acre park is a treasure for walkers, bikers, kayakers and anyone who enjoys the outdoors and a walk in authentic Florida. More...

Review: The Hell's Bay Biscayne

I have to start this boat review with a disclosure. I've owned a Hell's Bay boat for close to eleven years and I count it among one of my prized possessions. When I got a call from Captain Todd Fuller with an offer to try out the Biscayne, Hell's Bay's newest boat, I jumped at the chance. Not only was there the opportunity to drive and fish the new model, but  I would also have the chance to meet and fish with Captain C.A. Richardson, host of "Flat's Class" a popular TV show that airs on Sun Sports, The Sportsman's Channel and The World Fishing Network. More...

New credit reports coming

Between the IRS, Facebook and electronic medical records, your life with all of its flaws is pretty much available at the stroke of a couple of `keys. Well now what little may be left unreported regarding your financial life will be no more; pretty soon it's all going to hang out. More...

Design 2000 – a salon by the sea

Does your hair salon have a water view? It's true you can't drive along Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key without seeing the water, but chances are you won't find too many hair salons on the water. Well, guess what, there is one and you can even show up for your appointment by boat, at least a small one. More...

New recession unlikely, at least for now

Investment Corner By Tom Brieter

There always seems to be some sort of distraction for investors to deal with. The distraction may be either fear inducing or greed inducing, depending on its form, but both usually cause investors to make mistakes when viewed with the benefit of hindsight. At present, we have a lot of fear-inducing factors to digest, so many, in fact, that they seem to be covering up a few kernels of good news. More...

Back-to-back champions

The Sun Sports game of the week was the Center Cup Soccer Tournament finals in the Adult Co-Ed division. The number one ranked team, Ross Built Construction, battled the number two seeded team, Sato Real Estate, for the coveted title. More...

So you wanted the glamorous life of an author?

Feasting on Fitness By ellen Jaffe Jones

I am still reeling that Eat Vegan on $4 a Day is listed at # 6 on Amazon's "The Best Vegan Books of 2011." It is one of only two on that list that was published this year, and it was only in print half the year. If my book at been in print since last January, it would have been #1. In this top 10 list, it was competing with classic books that have been in my library forever, such as "The Moosewood Restaurant Cookbook," published in 1994! Really?! And this is just Amazon. It doesn't include books sold by other vendors, including directly from my publisher. More...