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Tom Vaught

Tom Vaught

February 23, 2016
Sun contributor Tom Vaught covers obituaries. Email
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January 3, 2024
By Tom Vaught
April 4, 2021
By Tom Vaught
Worshippers brave cold sunrise service

Worshippers brave cold Easter sunrise service

HOLMES BEACH – More than a thousand people braved chilly temperatures at Manatee Beach to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ at the 56th Annual Easter Sunrise Service. The annual event was…
August 16, 2020
By Tom Vaught

AMICCO postpones Symphony on the Sand 

The Board of Directors of the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra (AMICCO) has decided to postpone its Symphony on the Sand for this year after meeting regularly to examine its options c…
April 27, 2020
By Tom Vaught
Manatee County Library Sunshine For Your Mind

Online fun at the libraries

Manatee County Libraries presents its Creative Writing Workshop Series on Mondays, May 4, 11 and 18, from 10 to 11 a.m. The schedule is: How to Read a Short Story on May 4; Introduction to Flash F…
April 12, 2020
By Tom Vaught

More storms predicted

If storm forecasters are accurate, 2020 might not be remembered fondly. As the world deals with a deadly virus raging around our planet, storm forecasters are predicting the likelihood of more tha…
April 6, 2020
By Tom Vaught

Students making the grade at home

HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Elementary students and their parents are getting an education on how to learn online at home. The new system, called Schoology, is making learning possible while stu…
December 18, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Kids see Santa at Sandbar

Kids see Santa at Sandbar

ANNA MARIA – It was a winter wonderland for around 70 children and their parents at the Sandbar restaurant on Wednesday at the Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party. Sandbar owner Ed Chiles, son…
November 12, 2019
By Tom Vaught
‘Relatively Speaking’ is a blast

‘Relatively Speaking’ is a blast

If you’re looking for a good laugh, the Island Players Theater is a great place to find one during the run of “Relatively Speaking.” Like a PBS weekend evening comedy, “Relatively Speaking,” by Al…
October 22, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Bayfest 2.0 carries on despite Nestor

Bayfest 2.0 carries on despite Nestor

ANNA MARIA – As the wind whipped across the Island Friday, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce President Terry Kinder knew that Bayfest, the Chamber’s signature fundraiser, was in jeopardy of missi…
October 3, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Fall Festival promises spooky fun

Fall Festival promises spooky fun

HOLMES BEACH – The Anna Maria Elementary School Fall Festival will feature a costume contest, haunted house and a parade on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students will gather in costume…
September 24, 2019
By Tom Vaught
‘Steel Magnolias’ bleeds Southern charm

‘Steel Magnolias’ bleeds Southern charm

ANNA MARIA – After a champagne party to celebrate the start of the Island Players’ 71st season, the show began for “Steel Magnolias,” a play written by Robert Harling in memory of his sister, who die…
September 17, 2019
By Tom Vaught
All-ladies cast performs ‘Steel Magnolias’

All-female cast performs ‘Steel Magnolias’

The Island Players version of “Steel Magnolias,” by Robert Harling, has an all-female cast, unlike the 1989 movie where Tom Skerrit tried to shoo birds from a tree in his yard with a shotgun. The cas…
September 10, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Bowlers escape the heat as they support The Center

Bowlers escape the heat as they support The Center

This year’s LaPensee Plumbing, Pools & Air bowling tournament at Bowlero was the most successful to date, according to The Center’s Director Chris Culhane. Culhane estimated they would gross a…
August 13, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Anna Maria Elementary open for learning

Anna Maria Elementary open for learning

HOLMES BEACH – The new school year got off to a relatively calm start Monday morning with a break in the rainy weather and a concerted effort by staff to keep track of how the students would be going…
August 13, 2019
By Tom Vaught
‘Miracle Baby’ needs help

‘Miracle Baby’ needs help

ANNA MARIA – A child born three months premature on April 19, 2016, to Roser Community Church Facilities Administrator Charles Wade and his wife, Brenda, still faces a rocky future. Her parents and R…

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