Vol. 12 No. 28 - April 25, 2012

news

Renovation 1, demolition 0

HOLMES BEACH – In Ybor City or St. Augustine, where an old building means one that's between 100 and 400 years old, preservationists would laugh at the idea that a 1970s building is historic.

But in Holmes Beach, saving seven duplexes from the 1970s is almost an historic act in itself.Ben and Keren ten Haaf have purchased Sunset Beach apartments on Gulf Drive between 75th and 77th streets and plan to renovate them with Greg Ross, of Ross Built Construction, and architect Emily Ann Smith, Ben ten Haaf said. More...

Center director steps down

ANNA MARIA – Island Community Center Executive Director Pierrette Kelly stunned her board members Monday morning by resigning effective at the end of the fiscal year in July.

"As we enter the last quarter of this year, I wanted to let you know that I am planning the next chapter of my life," she read from a letter to board members. "After 22 years as executive director, working with the board of directors and an amazing staff and groups of wonderful volunteers, we have accomplished all the goals that led me through the doors of the old Community Center in 1989 and so much more. It is my intention to leave my position in 12 weeks, at the end of the fiscal year, July 2012." More...

Attorney questions ordinance approval delay

ANNA MARIA – Questions from attorneys and a planner prompted city commissioners to continue to April 26 an ordinance to bring the land development regulations in line with a comprehensive plan amendment.

The comprehensive plan amendment fixed a glitch that would have prohibited development along the Gulf. The glitch was discovered when owners wanted to develop property along Park Avenue and Beach Street. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryLibrary prepares for shutdown

HOLMES BEACH – The staff of the Island Branch Library will be having a most unusual summer. They'll still be at work, but the library will not be open.

The Island Branch Library's last day before a $200,000 refurbishment is Saturday, April 28. After that, the books, tapes and other material will be stored in air conditioned facilities while workers rehab the electrical system, repair walls, make some layout changes and bring the facility into shape. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Mangrove trimmers fined

HOLMES BEACH – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has penalized a property owner and his tree service for trimming mangroves without a permit at the end of 28th Street.

DEP made a settlement offer to Roderick Parsons, of Ripley, W. Va., for trimming 6,600 square feet of mangroves across the street from his house at 417 28th St. without a permit, charging $2,000 for the violation plus $250 in costs. Parsons accepted the offer on April 18 and agreed to pay the penalty. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Earth Day celebrated Sunday

The first Earth Day celebration at Dogs For the Earth on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria was a success despite intermittent rainfall. Tables were set up in the parking lot offering a recycling game for children, collage making with recycled materials and coloring, as well as green items from Waste Management and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. As visitors walked inside, they were asked to add their thumbprints to an interactive painting of the ocean, so "together we can make an ocean of difference." Inside, children's entries for the art contest were set up around the room and hung from the walls and ceiling. Kids and adults played with wooden puzzles, and adults learned about organic wines. More...

City finds contractor in violation

HOLMES BEACH – The city's code enforcement board found Frank Agnelli, of Agnelli Pools and Construction, in violation of city code last week for beginning work on a pool before a permit was issued.

The board did not accept his defense that contractors have been able to apply for permits and begin work on a project with verbal approval from the city's building official before a permit is issued. More...

Dispute arises over procedure

BRADENTON BEACH – A member of the Scenic WAVES Committee and Mayor John Shaughnessy had words recently about procedures.

The Scenic WAVES Committee has lost some of its luster since the economy went downhill. Once a busy clearing house for new ideas and grants to improve public locations and a group that did a lot of the legwork needed to get a project before the city commission for its approval, its budget has been cut and its agenda is small. More...



features

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryManatees help scientists do research

Manatees are no dumb bunnies.

Hugh Manatee and Buffett, both Mote Marine Laboratory residents, are actually trained.

You won't see them doing flips or singing "Margaritaville," but they can touch a paddle with a flipper to answer a question, which is pretty amazing.

Even more remarkable is that by doing so, they are teaching their trainers more about their endangered species. More...



OUTDOORS

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryIt's prime time to target trout

At the end of the 2005 season, after the worst red tide in recorded history, I would have bet good money that local trout populations wouldn't recover in less than five years. Just three years later in 2008, trout populations in Sarasota Bay were near an all-time high. Four years later, I realize that the population dynamics are far more complex than we'll ever know. More...



real estate

Hot spots for global homebuyers

It's been a long time since the Florida real estate market has been called hot, at least by Floridians. But if you ask buyers from out of the country they may have a totally different answer.

Foreign buyers are not new to Florida. There has been a long history of buyers from other countries buying investment and second homes here. A lot of that market fell victim to the national and global financial downturns, but a recent analysis has determined that foreign investors with a lot of cash are jumping on the opportunity to pickup homes in the United States before the prices start to move up. More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryFind your treasures at Time Zone

What inspires you? Some people are inspired by beautiful sunsets, beautiful words or beautiful art. But if you're inspiration comes from owning beautiful things, I know exactly where you can go.

Marianne and Tom Ferrara have been selling designer inspired purses, luggage, wallets, jewelry and a host of other apparel for over 20 years. They were formerly at The Red Barn, but in October of last year they moved into their own shop, Time Zone & Silver Touch, in the Jennings Arcade on Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Seasonal patterns for investors

Investment Corner

The passage of time allows us to make observations about seasonal or calendar-based tendencies of price movements in the stock market and other asset classes. Many of these appear to be solid patterns to be followed at first glance, but none are perfect, and all are subject to modification when they become too popular.

One well-known pattern we are approaching is the "Sell in May and go Away" theory. This historical observation correctly observes that the bulk of the stock market's gains are achieved in November through April, and that being invested in May through October yields little gains for the risk assumed. The trouble is that it doesn't work that way each year. More...



turtles

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryWhat turtles and birds wish you knew

Nesting season is here, and the imperiled sea turtles and birds that nest on Anna Maria Island's beaches need your help.

df Five types of sea turtles nest on local beaches. The three most common are the loggerhead, which is threatened, and the green and leatherback, which are endangered. Kemp's ridley and hawksbill turtles, also endangered, nest here less frequently. More...

Read Suzi Fox's Blog - Flipper's and Feathers >>



SPORTS

Center basketball action heats up

Adult Co-Ed Basketball Results:

Bowes Imaging Center 38
The Island Sun Newspaper  52
Matt Dwyer had a double-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 1 assist; Jonathan Schneider had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist; Matt Plummer had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist; Nate Coleman had 6 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist; Scott Dell had 2 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist; Lisa Worthy had 2 points and 3 rebounds; and Jason Sato had 9 rebounds in the win for the Island Sun. For Bowes Imaging Center, Jason Mickan had 20 points and 14 rebounds; Tyler Bekkerus had 12 points and 7 rebounds; Mike Hanes had 6 points and 15 rebounds. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryEarth Day is every day

Feasting on Fitness

Eating healthfully doesn't have to break the bank. I've eaten this way pretty much I can't let another Earth Day go by living in one of the most pristine places in the US without another plea to remember what Earth Day is supposed to be about – taking care of the earth.

Pictures say a thousand words, so I hope the pictures I took this week will make it here. More...


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