2011: Familiar, unforgettable

As 2012 dawns and 2011 becomes history, we look back on the events that made the last 12 months another memorable year on the Island. There were some familiar topics from parking on Pine to Australian pines and new ones like a green village and green turtles. Here are a few month-by-month highlights: More...

Vital need served by Food Pantry

ANNA MARIA — It's called the Roser Food Pantry. It's the vehicle through which Island residents are feeding their neighbors who have fallen on tough economic times.

It's a community-wide effort involving school children, seniors, Boy Scouts, the churched and the unchurched and a wide array of Island people just quietly giving each other a hand. More...

Island loses Jackie Webb

HOLMES BEACH – Jacqueline Lovett Webb touched many lives on Anna Maria Island and beyond until her death last week at age 86.

Webb, born Feb. 3, 1925, in Wrightsville, Ga., passed peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. She is survived by her three children, Paulette, Joseph and Benjamin, and five grandchildren, Erica, J.D., Joey III, Nicole and Ben Jr. More...

Discarded mullet washing ashore

CORTEZ – This winter's mullet season has been so good that the fish are overflowing – literally.

Dead mullet are washing up on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key shorelines from both Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. More...

State bill could cut city revenue

HOLMES BEACH - Holmes Beach could lose revenue if twin bills proposed in the Florida Legislature pass in the 2012 session, which opens on Jan. 10.

House Bill 4025 and Senate Bill 760 would eliminate Florida Statute Chapter 205, the "Local Business Tax Act," which allows cities to collect local business taxes called business tax receipts. If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1. More...

New book includes Rotten Ralph

BRADENTON BEACH – Seven years after his death, "Rotten" Ralph Russell is still the talk of the town and his heroism has been documented in a new book recently released.

Lyn Clarke, of Bradenton Beach, recently published his fifth book, "Echoes in My Mind," and in it he talks about when Russell saved the life of a young man in a fiery car accident in 1999, while vacationing in Ireland. More...

Local consultant turns author

BRADENTON BEACH – He's a best-selling author, although he's nowhere near Stephen King's numbers. His readers are more likely to learn how to make money from his book than get terrified.

Rick Bisio wrote the book, "The Educated Franchisee," because he felt it would make his job easier. He also wrote "A Glossary of Franchise Terms" and "The Franchisee Workbook" as study guides for his customers. Bisio is a franchise consultant who puts couples wanting to operate their own business with franchise opportunities. More...

Moerk publishes first book in second series

ANNA MARIA – It started with an opera and ended as the first novel in her historical Pastimes series, Island author Alice Moerk said of her new book, "Ain's Song," which was recently published by Pineapple Press. More...

For the birds

Eight teams of 36 birders completed the Audubon Gulf Circle Christmas Bird Count on Tuesday, Dec. 27, which includes Anna Maria Island, Perico Island, Cortez and the north end of Longboat Key. Uncommon species seen in this area included nine buffleheads, two American widgeons (both are duck species) and 202 ring-necked ducks near Perico Bay Club. Unique species seen during the count week, but not on the day of the count, were the great black-backed gull and American robin. Only 16 common peafowl (peacocks) were spotted on Longboat Key, down from 24 last year. More...

New year's resolution idea: Have a garage sale

On the eve of 2012, the first thing that comes to mind as I sit down to write this column is the New Year's resolution, that heartfelt promise I make to myself every year and somehow seem to put off to next year. This year, I got a head start when I decided to go through every drawer and shelf in my tackle room and see what I actually had. 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...

The light at the end of the tunnel

Last week, I questioned whether or not 2012 will be a better year for real estate in light of potential higher fees on mortgages and Florida insurance issues. This week, after receiving some encouraging news relative to population growth and an analysis of expected growth over the next five years, we may be looking at the long awaited light at the end of the tunnel. More...

Investors wish list for 2012

Investment Corner By Tom Brieter

As I write this about one week in advance of printing for the last issue of the Anna Maria Island Sun in 2011, it may be worthwhile to put this year of emotionally trying times in some historical perspective. Then consider some things to wish for in 2012 that might help cheer us up with some improved financial markets. More...

Record-breaking season begins

Thirty-eight teams begin a record breaking flag football season for the Anna Maria Island Community Center. This is the most teams ever formed for one league. With the NFL football playoffs starting this weekend, the long road to the Center's Super Bowl begins Wednesday with the kick-off season dinner and uniform handout. The dinner begins at 6:30. More...

Resolving to resolve in the New Year

Feasting on Fitness By ellen Jaffe Jones

Over the past seven months I have been interviewed hundreds of times while out promoting my new book. What's changed the most since my 18 years in broadcasting ended, or so I thought in 1998, is radio. You could argue it's all changed – print and television as well. The TV station I spent many years at as an investigative reporter and then as a morning anchor in St. Louis, like many stations, no longer does news. More...