Business
November 5, 2024
Island business owners rebuild, collaborate, rebound
Hurricanes Helene and Milton took a toll on Anna Maria Island businesses, which are showing their resilience in working together to rebuild and reopen to serve their clientele.
AMI Outfitters and An…
November 5, 2024
One month and we’re still standing
It’s been a month since Milton disturbed our idyllic lifestyle. The hurricane came in as a strong Category 3 storm, fortunately weakening before making landfall due to an increasing wind shear as it…
October 31, 2024
Star Fish reopens following hurricanes
CORTEZ – With weeks of hard work behind them of cleaning up flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Star Fish Company Dockside Restaurant and Seafood Market reopened on Oct. 31.
“Mother Nature al…
October 30, 2024
Title insurance and storms
Hopefully, Debby with her rain, Helene with her surge and Milton with his wind are in our rearview mirrors by now, not forgotten, but we survived. Next, we can look forward to more mundane real estat…
October 24, 2024
Hurricane Hank’s, Operation BBQ Relief provide free meals
HOLMES BEACH – On Friday, Hurricane Hank’s provided free lunches for city employees, members of the Holmes Beach Police Department and other first responders.
Across the street, in the Anna Maria…
October 24, 2024
City Pier Grill operator discusses pier damage
ANNA MARIA – A few days after Hurricane Milton struck Anna Maria Island, City Pier Grill operator and pier tenant Brian Seymour and his sister, Rebecca, dropped by to view the damage.
During that…
October 23, 2024
Sheetrock rocks
There are a lot of things about Hurricane Milton and its aftermath that are new to me and, unfortunately, so many people. I never thought much about sheetrock except what color to paint it, but I’ve…
October 18, 2024
Rod and Reel Pier owner hopes to rebuild
ANNA MARIA – Rod & Reel Pier owner Oliver “Oli” Lemke hopes to rebuild the iconic pier and restaurant building that was badly damaged by Hurricane Helene and then destroyed by Hurricane Milton…
October 13, 2024
Fuel distribution to southwest Florida resumes
PALMETTO – With gasoline shortages at local stations following Hurricane Milton, welcome news came from SeaPort Manatee as the port resumed fuel distributions to southwest and central Florida on Sund…
October 7, 2024
The epic storm that crept up on us
Hurricane Helene was the second deadliest storm in 55 years, Katrina being the first. Did we expect it? I didn’t, and I think most Florida coastal residents did not fully understand the danger of suc…











