Fest fee forgiven

ANNA MARIA – Commissioners agreed to forgive the fee for the AMI Chamber to use the six lots at the corner of North Bay Boulevard and Pine Avenue for Bayfest.

In February, commissioners agreed on fees for the use of the lots – $500 if alcohol is not served and $1,000 if it is served. In April, Chamber representatives asked the city to waive the fee for its annual October festival on Pine Avenue and said it costs $6,500 to hold the festival in the city. Commissioners, in turn, said they wanted to see profit and expense figures from the Chamber. More...

Decision prompts resignations

BRADENTON BEACH – Several members of the city's planning and zoning board have resigned after drawing a line in the sand over the city commission's approval of a dune and parking lot project just south of the BeachHouse restaurant.

Chairman Rick Bisio tendered his resignation following the city commission meeting May 4 where the commission approved the joint project over the P&Z's recommendation to reject it. In his letter, he said, "Unfortunately, it is quite clear that my value to the city has reached its end." More...

Mayor won't run for second term

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Mike Selby said Friday he will not seek a second term for the office of mayor, citing personal reasons.

"I think I've done what I came here to do – to get people talking again and find solutions to problems," he said.

Selby was elected in 2010. His lone opponent was Sandy Mattick. More...

Aubry presents new parking plan

ANNA MARIA – Architect Gene Aubry unveiled a new parking plan for the six lots the city purchased at the corner of North Bay Boulevard and Pine Avenue.

"Anna Maria is a tourist island, whether we like it or not, and as tourists come, unfortunately so do automobiles," Aubry told commissioners at Thursday's work session. "We have to deal with it." More...

Perico to be wildlife preserve

Perico Preserve, the newest jewel in Manatee County's necklace of restored coastal properties, is on its way to becoming a preserve more focused on wildlife than people.

While nearby Robinson Preserve hosted 47,000 runners, walkers, bikers and kayakers and 22,000 dogs in February alone with its trail systems and staff-led activities, Perico will have a single trail and will not be staffed, Manatee County Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker told the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Committee last week. More...

Officials reply to Center on cell tower

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Mike Selby and Commission Chair Chuck Webb said they felt compelled to respond to statements made by a Community Center official over their lack of response regarding a cell tower.

Randy Langley, treasurer of the Community Center said he received no response from Webb after making phone calls and sending faxes about changing the Center's lease to allow a cell tower. In February, Center officials entered into a lease with a cell tower provider. More...

Commission wrestles with rental problems

HOLMES BEACH – The Holmes Beach commission waded part way through an eight-page memo last week from its city attorney, who made recommendations on fixing vacation rental problems in the city.

Another session on the memo, by Patricia Petruff, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 22 at 7 p.m.

Petruff addressed residents' concerns voiced over several months that tourists are causing noise, parking and trash problems in residential neighborhoods that are transitioning to vacation rentals. More...

Thrashers celebrate green designations

ANNA MARIA – Lizzie Vann and Mike Thrasher celebrated the platinum LEED certification for the Sears and Rosedale cottages and net zero energy designation at the Green Village on Pine Avenue last week with a host of friends and well wishers.

"This is a big deal," Jenn McAlister, president of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), stressed. "There are less than 100 buildings in the world that have achieved both designations." More...

Celebrate Endangered Species Day

Friday is Endangered Species Day, a great time to go on a scavenger hunt to find as many imperiled species as you can on Anna Maria Island.

No fair feeding them, hugging them or taking them home – just paint pictures of them, photograph or watch them – and enjoy! More...

Sister Keys clean up largest to date

Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) held its annual Sister Keys Clean Up Saturday May 12, at the Mar Vista Dockside restaurant in the Longboat Key Village. One hundred and ten volunteers showed up to lend a hand, get a free one year membership to Sarasota Bay Watch and a lunch on the bay courtesy of Ed Chiles and the Chiles Group.

It was a perfect day with low humidity, a brisk wind to keep the bugs at bay and sunny skies. At the end of the day a large dump truck was filled with debris ranging from tires to toilet seats. The town of Longboat Key Public Works Department, led by James Linkogle, helped transport people, provided trash bags and hauled the trash away. More...

Home inspection can be a deal killer

He rides in with a black hat a clip board and guns blazing or so it appears to home sellers. But to home buyers the home inspector is nothing short of angelic from the tip of his white hat to the bottom of his steel tip shoes.

Last week I spoke about getting your house ready for sale, mostly in general common sense and cosmetic ways. I also recommended to home sellers to make the investment in a pre-inspection that will reveal issues and give you the opportunity to remedy them. As stated, it's a great marketing tool and can frequently give potential buyers that warm fuzzy feeling about you and your home before they get down to the nitty-gritty of negotiating. More...

Chill at Swordfish Grill

There's not too much old Florida left in old Florida, but you can still find pockets of authenticity that will remind you of the way it once was. Tucked away along the quiet waters of Sarasota Bay in the iconic fishing village of Cortez you'll find a new restaurant that will restore your faith in old Florida.

The Swordfish Grill is smack dab in the middle of a working fishing village, boat yard and fish houses, surrounded by the bay waters that are home to practically all of Florida's water birds. The location is colorful enough for the most jaded Floridian, even before you step inside. More...

Austerity vs. growth

Elections in Greece and France a couple weekends ago caused financial markets to gasp for air for a few days, with fears of unknown policies the new administrations might implement. In general, voters in these countries used the "throw the bums out" method, replacing officials who were using austerity measures of cutting spending and raising taxes to try to solve severe deficit imbalances and control the growth of national debts.

Austerity measures make a lot of sense on the surface. Stop spending money you don't have and tax those who can pay more to close the budget gap. The problem is that when an economy is struggling to avoid recession or to crawl back into a pattern of growth, spending cuts and higher taxes work against the goal of accelerating growth and job creation. More...

And they're off! First turtle nest appears

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria won the lottery for the first loggerhead sea turtle nest of the 2012 season on Anna Maria Island, with a nest laid the night of Thursday, May 3, at Bean Point.

The nest came a day after the first false crawl of the season in Bradenton Beach, where, judging by its tracks, a mother sea turtle came up on the beach, changed her mind for some reason – perhaps lights or obstacles on the beach – and returned to the sea without laying her eggs. More...

Read Suzi Fox's Blog - Flipper's and Feathers >>

Florida Discount Signs primed and ready

The Sun sports game of the week was an AMICC adult co-ed soccer match between the Don Meilner & Son Construction team and Florida Discount Signs. Each team has been playing very good soccer lately and was primed to see how good they really were.

Both teams showcased their skills early by playing together well. A combination of good solid defense and goal tending, matched with controlled passing and shooting on offense, was fun to watch. For 10 minutes, this back and forth soccer went on until, finally, Florida Discount Signs struck first with a goal by Matt Kretzmann. Five minutes later, B.J Grant fed a nice pass to Daniel Anderson, who scored, and Discount Signs was up 2-0. More...

Where do you get your protein?

The most common question vegetarians or vegans get about eating a plant-based diet is, "Where do you get your protein?" I got it long before I wrote my book, especially as an athlete. For reasons that have more to do with marketing more than science, some athletes believe that meat and dairy are the only good sources. This is not true.

Most of us are aware that protein has an important role in our bodies, but you may not know why. Made up of amino acids (oxygen, nitrogren, carbon, and hydrogen), protein is the nutrient responsible for growing new cells and building and repairing tissue. However, contrary to popular belief, we don't need to consume that much of it to be healthy. More...

Note: Events are free unless indicated.

Friday May 18

Anna Maria Island Senior Adventures Group, Annie Silver Community Center, 102 23rd St., Bradenton Beach. Call Pat at 941-962-8835 for a schedule.

Over 50 Club, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Drum circle, Manatee County Public Beach,7 p.m. Bring drums and instruments to bang on.

Starry night walk, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Reserve to 941-742-5757, ext. 8.

Saturday May 19

Naturalist-led 60-minute wagon tours, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, $3 per adult and $2 per child, 9 a.m. Call 941-742-5757, ext. 1, to reserve.

Sunday May 20

Master Gardener tour, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, 9 to 11 a.m. Call 941-722-4524 to reserve.

Bridge Street Market, Bradenton Beach,10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Geraldson's Community Farm Market 1401 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday May 23

Wrack line hike, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street

Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Reserve to 748-4501, ext. 4616.

Friday May 25

Anna Maria Island Senior Adventures Group, Annie Silver Community Center, 102 23rd St., Bradenton Beach. Call Pat at 941-962-8835 for a schedule.

Over 50 Club, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Drum circle, Manatee County Public Beach,7 p.m. Bring drums and instruments to bang on.

Starry night walk, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Reserve to 941-742-5757, ext. 8.

Saturday May 26

Sneak peak volunteer work day, Ungarelli preserve, east coast of Palma Sola Bay off Palma Sola Boulevard, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Reserve to 748-4501, ext. 4613.

Music on the porch, Bratton Store behind Florida Maritime Museum, Cortez Road and 119th Street West, Cortez, 1 to 4 p.m.