Business
June 25, 2024
Home sales and hurricanes
This is one of those times when I just want to put my head in the sand or at least lay on top of it and totally zone out. The weather is hot, hot, hot, the real estate market is cold, cold, cold and…
June 25, 2024
Vacation rental bill transmitted to DeSantis
TALLAHASSEE – The fate of the Florida Legislature’s latest attempt to reserve the regulation of vacation rentals to the state lies in the hands of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
On June 17, DeSantis received th…
June 19, 2024
Roofs: Need I say more?
It’s Florida, it’s hurricane season and your insurer is taking a good look at the most important thing over your head, and it’s not your favorite baseball cap.
It used to be that a roof needed to be…
June 19, 2024
Sarasota brunch restaurant to take place of local favorite
HOLMES BEACH – The community said goodbye last week to Peach’s Restaurant, a long-time Anna Maria Island staple for breakfast and lunch on East Bay Drive.
The restaurant’s doors officially closed at…
June 19, 2024
Tourist tax increase one step closer to ballot
ANNA MARIA – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) again discussed raising the tourist tax at its June 10 meeting at The Center of Anna Maria Island.
A revised Manatee County ordinanc…
June 19, 2024
Data shows tourism drop after spring break
ANNA MARIA – Tampa-based Research Data Services (RDS) consultant Ann Wittine presented her state of tourism update to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on June 10, pointing out the…
June 11, 2024
Reinsurance causing rate hikes
I know, not more talk about insurance, especially a week after the beginning of hurricane season. But if the Wall Street Journal can put it on their front page, I can report it.
Reinsurance is appar…
June 3, 2024
Reverse mortgage loans explained
Anyone who considers themselves a senior, which I certainly do, at some point will probably have considered a reverse mortgage. It’s not a conventional mortgage designed for the majority of home purc…
May 28, 2024
Everyone’s talking about home prices
I challenge you to enter a room with at least four adult homeowners and not hear the conversation eventually gravitating to the price of homes.
Some of the conversation centers on fear that what the…
May 28, 2024
Local restaurant to close its doors
HOLMES BEACH – A local favorite for more than two decades, Peach’s Restaurant in the Anna Maria Island Shopping Center will close its doors for good on Sunday, June 16.
The Father’s Day closure was…







