Results of the Anna Maria Garden Club’s Penny Flower Show

Theme: Melodies in the Garden 10 categories.

“In the garden” Gail Faglioni Maureen McCormick Priscilla Seewald	“Ramblin’ Rose” Gail Faglioni Priscilla Seewald Peggy Sawe
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Ginger Huhn	“Waltz of the Flowers” Gail Faglioni Priscilla Seewald Ginger Wyss	“Strawberry Fields Forever” Clare Faner Ginny Garland
“Yellow rose of Texas” Clare Faner Kitty Kole Esther Callahan	“Edelweiss” Ginger Wyss Jean Taylor Rene Pollock	“Build me up buttercup” Jean Taylor Georgia Simon Rene Pollock
“All around the mulberry bush” Ginger Huhn Peggy Sawe Anne Ricci	Horticulture Anne Ricci Jean Taylor

For the birds

Snowbirds of the tourist variety are excited about snowbirds of the feathery variety, and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring has paired them up in a new program.

Bird stewardship is more than birdwatching, with participants monitoring and protecting nesting areas, according to program creator Suzi Fox.

More...

DEP probes huts, mangroves, tree house

HOLMES BEACH – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is investigating three potential violations of state environmental law in Holmes Beach, including mangrove trimming and the construction of chickee huts and a tree house on the Gulf beaches. More...

Concession stand rehab almost done

BRADENTON BEACH – Workers have finished the half-million-dollar refurbishment of the Coquina Beach Concession Stand and it's now down to final inspections and heading for a reopening about April 1, according to Mike Whelan, of the Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department.

"The equipment is in and the wastewater system has been certified," Whelan said. "The health department is expected to make its inspection Wednesday (March 28)."

Whelan said they have a temporary certificate of occupancy, but the health department inspection is vital to the reopening. More...

Island Library to close for rehab

HOLMES BEACH – The Island Branch Library will be closed May 1 for renovations, but the county still doesn't know where the contents are going.

According to Cheri Coryea, Director of Manatee County Neighborhood Services, officials are planning on shutting down and hoping to be able to have the contents safely stored while they make repairs and changes. More...

District change progresses to second hearing

ANNA MARIA – Commissioners last week discussed an ordinance changing the preservation district to conservation.

Planner Alan Garrett said the ordinance would bring the land development regulations in line with a comprehensive plan amendment that commissioners approved last year. The amendment fixed a glitch that would have prohibited development along the Gulf. More...

Island Florist asks city for help

HOLMES BEACH – Business at the former Martini Bistro has affected Birgit Sesterhenn's ability to get in and out of her business, The Island Florist, she told the Holmes Beach Commission on Tuesday, March 13.

"I think we all need to work together," she told commissioners, describing several times when delivery trucks, customers and employees of the restaurant at 5337 Gulf Drive have blocked the door in back of her store, which she uses when delivering flowers. More...

Easter events at Sandbar and on Pine Avenue

The 26th Annual Sandbar Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, April 7, at the Sandbar restaurant, 100 Spring Avenue, Anna Maria, beginning at 9 a.m. Refreshments will be served starting at 8:30 am. All children must bring their own basket.

After the Easter Egg Hunt the Easter Bunny will lead a parade down Pine Avenue where the Sandbar and Pine Avenue Restoration will host the Third Annual Easter Egg Roll and the Second Annual Easter Bonnet Contest from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. More...

Fight among 12 leads to arrests

Holmes Beach made three arrests on unrelated charges after they responded to a fight at the Citgo station, 3015 Gulf Drive on Saturday, March 24, that appeared to be between spring break students.

According to a police report, there were approximately 12 people fighting in two groups when the officer arrived. He told everyone to get on the ground and all but two males complied. Other officers arrived from Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach and they put everyone in handcuffs. More...

Tour of Homes a huge success

HOLMES BEACH – The day dawned bright and beautiful, as people lined up to board two shuttle buses and a van for the Community Center's 19th annual Tour of Homes.

"It's our fifth tour," Mary Reese said of she and her sister-in-law Susan as they waited for the shuttle. "It's what we plan to do every year. We love it. You get to see some beautiful homes." More...

Take the challenge – make a donation

I really appreciate the opportunity I've had to spend a significant portion of my life on an island, enjoying the bounties of our local waters. When I first arrived here over 30 years ago, I was sure the environment was going downhill fast. The depletion of fish stocks, rampant building and the loss of natural habitat seemed insurmountable.

As I got to know the area better, I was surprised at the resilience of the natural world. Watching the cycles with a perspective of two, then three decades, really changed my perception. Actions by municipalities to eliminate sewage discharge, to purchase and protect sensitive lands and to address storm water run-off and excess fertilizer use have had a positive effect on local waters. More...

Giant mortgages, giant foreclosures

No one ever said life was fair, and when it comes to home ownership, in spite of decades trying to even the playing field, there are still plenty of players left on the benches. When it comes to bank foreclosures, if you own a property with a $1 million mortgage about to go into foreclosure, chances are you'll have more time before the bank pushes you out. More...

Giving thought to starting Social Security benefits

The idea of choosing to delay the receipt of Social Security benefits often brings confused looks to many faces. After all, it just seems so nice to take the money and run, collecting for the maximum number of months possible. Of course there is a financial incentive to delay, with waiting bringing a sizable increase in the monthly benefit.

More sophisticated strategies become possible and potentially profitable when considering a husband and wife's situation. I've written on this topic before, but with new folks reaching the planning phase each year, I think it's a good idea to address the topic again. More...

Forty-niners are flag football Super Bowl champs

The Florida Discount Signs 49ers used a solid running game and some spectacular touchdown catches to defeat the Coastal Orthopedics Raiders 35-14 in the Adult League Flag Football Super Bowl championship at the Island Community Center. Both teams had worked their way through the playoffs as number two seeds and both teams were six and two in the regular season. More...

The largest convention ever

Yeah, that's what my publisher said I'd be going to last week in Los Angeles I wasn't sure I wanted to believe this whopper. But there it was – Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center. Legendary for decades, even some of my personal training clients at the gym where I work had heard of it. My publisher was right. He estimated that 20,000 people plus attended the three-day convention each day this year. More...