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Tom Vaught

Tom Vaught

February 23, 2016
Sun contributor Tom Vaught covers obituaries. Email
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October 13, 2017
By Tom Vaught

Cortez Road improvements to begin

CORTEZ – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will construct interim intersection improvements at State Road 684/Cortez Road and 119th Street West this month. This project was chosen ea…
October 13, 2017
By Tom Vaught
Cortez bridge looking east

No answer yet on Cortez Bridge

CORTEZ – Residents of this historic fishing village will have to wait a bit longer to find out what the future holds for the replacement of the Cortez Bridge. One thing certain is the drawbridge that…
October 10, 2017
By Tom Vaught
Bayfest

It’s Bayfest time again

ANNA MARIA – It’s an indication that hurricane season is waning and tourist season is just around the corner. The 17th Annual Bayfest celebration is coming to the Island once again. Hosted by the…
October 4, 2017
By Tom Vaught
AME Teacher of the Year

AME educator in running for Teacher of the Year

HOLMES BEACH – Fifth-grade teacher Michele Costanzo is crossing her fingers that she might represent more than Anna Maria Elementary School in district and state competition for the 2017-18 Manatee C…
October 2, 2017
By Tom Vaught

FEMA returns to library this week

HOLMES BEACH – Representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will return to Anna Maria Island on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from noon to 7 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. a…
October 1, 2017
By Tom Vaught

Celebrating a decade at The Studio

ANNA MARIA – The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10101 Gulf Drive, is calling all artists for “10byTEN at the Studio,” a community exhibit, sale and fundraising event to be held Nov. 1 through Dec. 23. T…
September 29, 2017
By Tom Vaught

Hurricane makeup days set

The Manatee County School Board has approved a new schedule to make up for school days lost because of Hurricane Irma. According to the new schedule, 10 minutes will be added to the end of the sch…
September 29, 2017
By Tom Vaught
Dads dine

Dads dine

Anna Maria Elementary School participated in “Dads Have Breakfast with Their Kids Day” on Wednesday. More than 30 dads signed up, including West Manatee Fire Rescue firefighter Alex Flores, who enjoy…
September 26, 2017
By Tom Vaught
Island Players Happy Birthday

‘Happy Birthday’ full of delusion, laughs

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players almost didn’t perform the first show of the season because of Hurricane Irma, but once the storm passed, they reassembled in the spirit that the show must go on. Di…
September 26, 2017
By Tom Vaught
Flag parade

Peace prevails at Island school

HOLMES BEACH – As conflicts continue in the Middle East and North Korea tries to incite the United States, peace was the subject on the minds of parents, teachers, staff and students at Anna Maria El…
September 19, 2017
By Tom Vaught
Wedding post-Irma

Forget it Irma – the wedding is on!

ANNA MARIA – Hurricane Irma almost played spoiler for one Indiana couple who had been planning their Monday evening wedding at the Sandbar restaurant for a year. But with a lot of prayer and a boo…
September 6, 2017
By Tom Vaught
Island Players

Sequel kicks off Island Players season

ANNA MARIA – The curtain opens on the Island Players’ 69th season with “Happy Birthday,” a sequel to “Boeing Boeing,” both by Marc Camoletti. The Island Players performed “Boeing Boeing” two seaso…
September 6, 2017
By Tom Vaught
New library cardholder

New library cardholder

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore poses with 7-year-old Maia Forman, who got her first library card on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the Island Branch Library Open House. Whitmore read a book to th…
September 6, 2017
By Tom Vaught
Deputies honored

Anna Maria deputies honored

ANNA MARIA – It was a bittersweet honor for the two Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were first to respond to a drowning at a vacation rental. Sheriff Rick Wells named Patrick Manning…
September 6, 2017
By Tom Vaught
Cortez bridge public input

Crowd tells FDOT what kind of Cortez Bridge it wants

BRADENTON – The meeting hall at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church was packed with approximately 170 people Thursday night as the public got its final say on the future of the Cortez Bridge. The current…