Skip to main content
SUN contributor

SUN contributor

March 17, 2017
Call The Sun with your story ideas at 941-778-3986, or Email
Email SUN contributor
April 8, 2024
By SUN contributor
Property owners seek stop to kayak tours

Property owners seek stop to kayak tours

HOLMES BEACH – Residents Roger and Irene Alvarez are hoping for help from the legal system to prevent kayaking clients from Fun Florida Tours from trespassing on their property and causing what they…
April 1, 2024
By SUN contributor
OPPAGA visit concerns city leaders

OPPAGA visit concerns city leaders

HOLMES BEACH – The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study being conducted on the three Anna Maria Island cities is starting to rattle local city leaders. During a Ma…
March 26, 2024
By SUN contributor

Fire department sued over rental regulations

BRADENTON – Almost a year after passing a resolution changing the district’s approach to taxing and inspecting vacation rental properties in residential areas, West Manatee Fire Rescue is receiving p…
March 25, 2024
By SUN contributor
Kruse talks beach parking, Island consolidation

Kruse talks beach parking, Island consolidation

HOLMES BEACH – About two dozen people came out on March 20 to meet with Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, bringing their questions for the candidate, who is seeking re-election in November…
March 20, 2024
By SUN contributor
Police chief says beach parking plentiful in Holmes Beach

Police chief says beach parking plentiful in Holmes Beach

HOLMES BEACH – Spring break is in full swing on Anna Maria Island but despite long traffic delays, the Island’s biggest city still has plenty of parking for beachgoers, according to officials. Durin…
March 4, 2024
By SUN contributor
City settles Kaleta lawsuits

City settles Kaleta lawsuits

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders may not be completely happy with the terms, but a settlement agreement has been reached between them and developer Shawn Kaleta concerning the Bali Hai Beach Resort, Islan…
March 1, 2024
By SUN contributor
Judge orders demolition of treehouse

Judge orders demolition of treehouse

HOLMES BEACH – The battle over the fate of the treehouse is finished with 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas dealing the final blow in court. In the final hearing of the last court…
February 20, 2024
By SUN contributor
Holmes Beach logo

Mayor responds to OPPAGA study changes

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth is reacting to the state’s decision to include a fourth option in the ongoing Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study – eliminating t…
February 19, 2024
By SUN contributor

Letter to the Editor: Parking lot raises question

Reading about the idea of having 90 parking spaces (for 12 months at least) instead of building a hotel might sound weird – but if you can charge $15 per hour for each space – it multiplies! It ra…
February 14, 2024
By SUN contributor

Crime shrinking in Holmes Beach

HOLMES BEACH – There’s good news for residents and visitors to Anna Maria Island’s largest city. Police Chief Bill Tokajer says serious crime has been dramatically reduced over the past decade. In a…
February 5, 2024
By SUN contributor
Library Advisory Board awaits commission decision

Library Advisory Board awaits commission decision

MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners left the county’s eight libraries without an advisory board when they voted 6-1 to table seven appointments to the nine-seat board in January, despite having 13…
January 29, 2024
By SUN contributor

Letter to the Editor: Commissioners stall library board appointments

On Jan. 23, I listened to the Manatee County Commission meeting. It has been about a year of discussion to expand the current “volunteer” Library Citizen’s Advisory Board. After the ordinance passed…
January 29, 2024
By SUN contributor

Letter to the Editor: Climate Champions awards

I am writing to express my appreciation for this year’s Climate Champions Award nominees. On Feb. 15, The Climate Adaptation Center (CAC) will honor five amazing individuals who have made contributi…
January 29, 2024
By SUN contributor
Holmes Beach logo

Commissioners reach out for community support

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners are fighting to maintain home rule and they’re seeking community support to make that happen. During a Jan. 23 meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that he hop…
January 29, 2024
By SUN contributor

County commissioners reject library board applicants

MANATEE COUNTY – Despite having candidates to fill seven vacancies on the nine-seat county Library Advisory Board, county commissioners declined to make any appointments or reappoint two candidates t…