Traffic team thinks outside the box

HOLMES BEACH – In their first meeting, members of the city’s Committee on Traffic Congestion and Parking discussed a myriad of ideas from a bridge toll to a parking garage to address the problem created by increased traffic to the Island.

“I have gotten ideas from different people, and I thought we’d discuss those,” Chair Dick Motzer told the group. More...

Split decision on Long Bar

The Aug. 6 Manatee County Commission decision to unanimously deny text amendment changes to the county comprehensive plan sat well with Long Bar Pointe opponents. But many still expressed concern about the commission’s approval of a mixed-use designation for the coastal property along El Conquistador Parkway.

As the special land use meeting came to an end, former county commissioner Joe McClash was among the first to share his views on the decision, saying, “It’s encouraging that the board voted down the text amendments, which would have destroyed the environmental policies we’ve worked so hard as a community to protect. I still have concerns with the change to mixed-use because it intensifies the use of land adjacent to Sarasota Bay. It would have been better not to change it to mixed-use.” More...

Board deadlocks on Pine Avenue parking

ANNA MARIA – As soon shoppers hit Pine Avenue, they start searching for shops and parking spaces, and sometimes the shops outnumber the spaces.

In an effort to bring some order to the fray, the city commission wants to define parking and walking spaces but when the city’s planning an zoning board (P&Z) heard proposed changes to an ordinance to help make those areas safer last week, they could not reach agreement on whether to endorse them. More...

Murder trial set for next year

A docket sounding has been set for April 1, 2014 with a trial period reserved for April 14 through 21, 2014, in the second degree murder trial of William Cumber, who is accused of causing the death of Haley’s Motel co-owner Sabine Musil-Buehler.

That means certain deadlines have been set in the trial, including April 11, 2014, for scheduling the trial and an April 4, 2014, deadline for a negotiated plea. A docket sounding is a date when both sides come together to see if there is going to be a trial during the announced trial date. More...

Bring your socks to 2013 bowling tourney

We’ve already checked. You can’t bowl in flip-flops, and you’ll have to wear socks.

But if you want to party with the rest of the Island while raising money for the Anna Maria Island Community Center, you’ll have to wear bowling shoes and socks with them, and shoe rental comes with the $25 entry fee. More...

Vacations rentals damaged

Property damage at four Anna Maria Island vacation rentals was reported from Sunday, Aug. 4, through Tuesday, Aug. 6, according to police.

No injuries were reported, police said. More...

Government cuts back hurricane prediction

More than two months into this year’s hurricane season and it has been a sleeper so far, but the U.S. is not out of the woods yet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Although there have been four named storms so far, damage has been minimal because they haven’t hit the area, but the NOAA August prediction update says the peak of the season, from now to the end of October, has yet to come. More...

Water notices in two areas

The Manatee County Utilities Department has issued a precautionary boil water notice for customers on the north end of Anna Maria from Newton Lane to Crescent Drive from North Shore Drive to North Bay Boulevard on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Valve replacement is scheduled for that day and the water will be off from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Customers are advised that once service is restored, all water used for drinking or cooking should be boiled as a precaution. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient or you can stock up on bottled water. More...

A new school year begins

HOLMES BEACH – Teachers are coming in to get their classrooms ready for the new school year at Anna Maria Elementary, and it all begins with a back to school open house on Thursday, Aug. 15, for students and their parents to meet their teachers and get acquainted with their new classrooms.

As before, the open house is divided into two gatherings – from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. for kindergarten through second grade and from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for third- through fifth-grade students. More...

Sixth Annual Scallop Search this weekend

Sarasota Bay Watch is hosting its signature event, the Sixth Annual Sarasota Bay Scallop Search, Aug. 17 at the Mar Vista Dockside restaurant on Longboat Key.

The search follows on the heels of their annual Scallopalooza fund raiser at the Sarasota Yacht Club that this year broke all records, amassing over $30,000 to fund scallop restoration in Sarasota Bay. The search accomplishes two important goals of the group by helping scientists to monitor the abundance of scallops in bay waters and by raising public awareness of the importance of water quality and habitat. More...

Interest grows with international buyers

Do you speak more than one language? If you’re in the real estate business or just selling your home or investment property, knowing a second language could prove to be very helpful. The problem is the language you might need to know is Chinese.

According to the National Association of Realtors, interest in U.S. properties continues to grow in the international community. Wealthy Asian buyers from mainland China, Singapore and South Korea are buying up both big ticket commercial real estate as well as residential properties with a motivation and savvy not seen before. They are, in fact, the world’s fastest growing property buyer demographic with one third of Chinese millionaires having overseas assets. More...

Petition seeks to prevent restrooms at new park

ANNA MARIA – A resident has started a petition campaign asking city commissioners to not approve public restrooms for the six lots at North Bay Boulevard and Pine Avenue.

Marsha Lindsey, who lives in Bayou condos, wrote to commissioners saying she and others would petition the city to eliminate the restrooms from the plan, which City Commissioner Gene Aubry drew up. More...

Why bond investors should be concerned

In my last column in the Sun, I pointed out that gold may be at risk of further price decline as a higher level of certainty returns as the economic recovery continues. Of course, I don’t know how the future will unfold, and if the right events (mostly bad) occur, then the price of gold could rise. But, with the information we have today, that seems like the less likely scenario in my opinion.

Another scenario also seems to be a logical outcome based on the information in hand today. While we can’t be sure, since the future is uncertain and unpredictable, if history can be a useful general guide, which it usually is, then I believe that investors need to acknowledge the risk of investing in higher quality bonds at the present time. More...

Leave it to the pros

When the police call in the middle of the night, it’s usually not good news.

But this time, it was, according to Suzi Fox, director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.

Sarasota Police Officer Derek Conley was on patrol in Lido Beach in Sarasota earlier this month, armed with the authority of a law enforcement officer, sea turtle training and Fox’s phone number, when he saw sea turtle hatchlings wandering around the parking lot and the street. More...

Broncos and Browns light it up

The Sun sports game of the week was the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s adult co-ed flag football matchup between the Sato Real Estate Browns team and the Slim’s Place Broncos team.

Entering this contest, both teams were tied for second place with a 4-2 record. Each team needed this victory to stay close to the first place Seahawks team with a 4-1-1 record. More...

Making friends at the Senior Games

I could write volumes on the fascinating people I met at the recent National Senior Games in Cleveland. I placed 7th in the 60-64 women’s 1500 meters. I did well in three other sprint events, too.

To compete in Nationals, I had to qualify in the top three in each event in Manatee County, then place in the top four at state, which meant toughing it out against those full-time amazing athletes at the Village, otherwise known as Disney for seniors. I’ve been there. It’s true. As fun as it looked, I’m not trading in running on our beaches. Ever! More...