Skip to main content
Tom Vaught

Tom Vaught

February 23, 2016
Sun contributor Tom Vaught covers obituaries. Email
Email Tom Vaught
July 30, 2019
By Tom Vaught
A merry Christmas in July

A merry Christmas in July

BRADENTON BEACH – Kids on Bridge Street got a surprise Saturday night, a visit from Santa Claus at the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Christmas in July on Bridge Street at the Drift In. The Privateers…
July 16, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Art lives on in the heat of summer

Art lives on in the heat of summer

On the heels of the Fourth of July’s fireworks, Holmes Beach’s art community proved Friday that they could draw a crowd with an out-of-season Art Walk. With Hurricane Barry bearing down on Louisia…
July 7, 2019
By Tom Vaught
An AMI Fourth of July

Century old Ford still parading

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – It was 1919 and the world was recovering from its first world war and planting the seeds for a second. In Pittsburgh, radio station KDKA was the first to receive a limited commerc…
July 2, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Island Fourth of July 101

Island Independence Day 101

Independence Day comes when things are slow on Anna Maria Island. Those who have not experienced this holiday on the Island would be wise to plan ahead because it’s going to be packed, it’s going to…
June 4, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Pirates celebrate summer vacation

Pirates celebrate summer vacation

The Anna Maria Island Privateers celebrated Snooks Adams Kid’s Day as usual on the first Saturday after the school summer break in a new location, Anna Maria City Pier Park. The shade from the…
May 29, 2019
By Tom Vaught

Kids get good start to summer vacations

ANNA MARIA – When school lets out, kids will celebrate with the Anna Maria Island Privateers at the annual Snooks Adams Kids Day on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Pier Park on Pine A…
May 29, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Honors presented at Island Players banquet

Honors presented at Island Players banquet

ANNA MARIA – The oldest theater group in Manatee County held its annual banquet at the Bradenton Country Club recently with awards and recognition for those serving onstage and behind the scenes…
May 28, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Hurricane Irma Damage

Storm forecasts call for near normal activity

The 2019 hurricane season should be an average year, with nine to 15 named storms occurring, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The prediction is in line with…
May 25, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Albert Few, the last of 67

Albert Few, the last of 67

The fact that he’s the sole survivor of Cortez’s 67 World War II veterans is a mystery to Albert Few. “I don’t know why that is,” he said. “I take good care of myself and the only things that are…
May 21, 2019
By Tom Vaught
School turns back the clock

School turns back the clock

HOLMES BEACH – Part of the past was unearthed last week, although it was almost lost forever. A time capsule, buried in 1994, was unearthed near the school’s auditorium after its location was blur…
May 14, 2019
By Tom Vaught
AMI Paddlers Make Splash at Dragon Boat Championship

AMI Paddlers make splash at Dragon Boat championship

The Anna Maria Island Dragon Boat Paddlers from Paradise competed in the Southeast Regional Dragon Boat Championships at Sarasota’s Nathan Benderson Park on Saturday, May 11. There were 35 of the bes…
May 7, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Vickers sentencing set

Vickers sentencing set

BRADENTON – David Vickers’ future will be announced on May 20 after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and neglect of a child with great bodily harm in the death of 17-month-old Luca Sho…
May 7, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Youngster raises money for turtles and shorebirds

Youngster raises money for turtles and shorebirds

Spencer Quinlivan is a 9 1/2-year-old animal lover from Pinellas County with a soft spot for sea turtles and shorebirds. He visits the Island regularly, staying in a house owned by his grandparents…
May 7, 2019
By Tom Vaught
An even start to turtle season

An even start to turtle season

At the start of turtle season, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Director Suzi Fox reported three turtle nests as of Sunday – one on each city’s beach. The first nest was dis…
May 7, 2019
By Tom Vaught
‘Present Laughter’ leaves ‘em laughing

‘Present Laughter’ leaves ‘em laughing

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players production of Noel Coward’s “Present Laughter” was brilliantly played with good timing and a beautiful art deco look to the set. Coward wrote the play in 1939 but d…

Upcoming Events

View Calendar