Vol. 11 No. 38 - July 6, 2011

news

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryPirates, parade, pyrotechnics mark Fourth

An estimated 132 vehicles snaked their way from Coquina Beach to Bayfront Park to celebrate the Fourth of July Monday, despite a couple of mechanical breakdowns that left holes in the procession.

The Anna Maria Island Privateers initiated Internet parade signups this year, resulting in 79 applications with more people signing up before the parade Monday morning, according to Privateer Tim "Hammer" Thompson. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryIsland's first turtle nest of season hatches

BRADENTON BEACH — A crowd of about 200 turtle fans gathered Sunday evening in front of Club Bamboo to watch volunteers excavate the first turtle nest that hatched on the Island this year.

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch volunteers excavate every nest after it hatches to collect data that is forwarded to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. More...

Cortez coyotes eastbound

CORTEZ – Coyotes are still being sighted in Cortez after a rash of pet killings in the historic fishing village last fall, but with most of the easy prey gone, some of the canines may be moving into nearby neighborhoods, residents say.

Melody Sweetman-Carpenter's Maltese dog, Ari, was killed in June by a coyote in Bay Lake Estates near 86th Street West and Cortez Road, about 30 blocks east of Cortez Village, a few days after a coyote killed a cat on 24th Avenue West in Bradenton. More...

Perico building progresses

BRADENTON – Harbour Isles, Minto Communities' development on Perico Island, is moving ahead with four new buildings under construction since its grand opening in March.

The development's first phase, named Mangrove Walk, features two- and three-bedroom homes in the Southern coastal resort style. Square footage ranges from 1,600 to 3,000 and prices range from $326,000 to $468,000. Every unit has its own two-car garage and buildings are LEED certified and fire sprinkled. All second floor units come with a dumbwaiter with the option for an elevator. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Birds flocking to Anna Maria

ANNA MARIA – This time of year, the north end of Anna Maria Island becomes a bird nursery for three bird species that are imperiled in Florida.

Snowy plovers and least terns, both threatened species, and black skimmers, a species of special concern under consideration for threatened status, are regular spring and summer residents of Bean Point. More...

Tourist dies in parasailing accident

LONGBOAT KEY – A tourist from South Carolina died when his parasail chute fell into the Gulf of Mexico off Longboat Key late Monday afternoon.

David Sieradzki, 31, of Fountain Inn, S.C., was floating face up in the water with his life jacket on when the 28-foot Fun & Sun Parasail boat Almost Heaven reached him, said Louis Mandel, manager of the Bradenton Beach business. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Summer surf camp rolls in

Learn to ride the waves at summer surf camp July 11-15 and July 18-22 from 9 a.m. to noon each day in Holmes Beach. Other activities will include paddleboarding, skimboarding, yoga, fun fitness and jewelry making. Space is limited, so pre-registration and pre-payment of $175 per person is required at the West Coast Surf Shop, 3902 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach. For more information, call Brandi Brady at 561-267-0847. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryTree dedicated to Olson

HOLMES BEACH – The Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria memorialized longtime member Russell Olson (1924-2010), on Saturday, July 2 at the new Holmes Beach park on 52nd Street.

Mayor Rich Bohnenberger presented a proclamation praising the former cattle rancher and golfer for a life of public and community service, including his military service as a U.S. Marine, especially during the battle of Okinawa in World War II. Olson also was elected as a Wisconsin legislator and lieutenant governor and worked on Holmes Beach committees and boards, as well as actively working and recruiting for Kiwanis. More...



features

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Chocolate, Uncle George, and a tasty bunny

It was a tragic feature of my Uncle George's generation that he could not become a casual Catholic like his nephews.

In Uncle George's day you had to go to church every Sunday or be guilty of a mortal sin. If he died with a mortal sin on his soul, he couldn't be buried in the family plot. Those were the rules. More...



OUTDOORS

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryDOA event lures writers, guides

Being an outdoor writer will not make you a lot of money, but it does put you in touch with some of nature's finest places and people. The fishing can be exciting, exposing you to new species and techniques while providing insights that improve your craft. The travel opens up new vistas, and often expands your understanding of the natural world. Of course the camaraderie that develops between the people you meet and share your experiences with can make it especially rewarding. Combining all of these into a three day adventure is of course, priceless! More...



real estate

Lack of sales creates appraisal problems

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but real estate value is in the opinion of the real estate appraiser, and forming those opinions have become the linchpin of the real estate market.

The practice of developing an opinion of value of real property is called real estate appraisal, and the real estate appraiser is the person who performs this task. Real estate appraisers are licensed by the state of Florida and managed by the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board, which is within the Division of Real Estate of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Summer stock market rally – truth or tall tale

Investment Corner

The idea of a "summer rally" for stock price has been around for a long time. Perhaps too long as it turns out. Best as we can tell, the origin of the idea that stocks rally during the summer comes from an unusual period way back in the Great Depression. In the Summer of 1932, the Dow Jones Industrial Average almost tripled in price over the summer season. Of course, that tripling came after the drubbing of a lifetime which saw the index down about 80 percent during the previous three years.

I'll leverage some research from Mark Hulbert, editor of the Hulbert Financial Digest and a writer for MarketWatch, an online investment information service, to share some perspective on the fable of the summer rally. As it turns out, a better label for this concept would be "a rally for all seasons." Let's take a look. More...



SPORTS

Tyler's Ice Cream Steelers win in dramatic overtime

Adult Co-Ed League game summaries:

Tyler's Ice Cream Steelers - 25
Beach to Bay Construction Buccaneers 19 in overtime
For the Steelers, Paul Kurtz threw for 193 yards and three TDs, Jason Garden had 47 yards receiving and a TD plus an extra point and had five pulls and an interception, Alan Conley had 86 yards receiving for two TDs, Hampton Harrison had three pulls and an interception for a TD. For the Buccaneers Larry Berkery threw for 112 yards and two TDs, Shawn Kaleta had 58 yards receiving and a TD an extra point and an interception, Don Purvis had 40 yards receiving and a TD and a sack and an interception for a TD. More...

Hydrating, exercising in Florida summers

Feasting on Fitness

I'll never forget the first time I went to a 5K in Florida as a spectator and during a decades-long hiatus from my running passion. I asked a friendly spirit, "How can you possibly run in Florida summers?" She quipped, "Run as close to sunrise as you can." Mission accomplished.

Next question: "How do stay hydrated and not pass out from heat exhaustion?" Answer, "Drink a lot, but not too much." More...

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