Top Stories this week on Anna Maria Island: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Pierrette Kelly, left, and Trudy Moon beam over the generosity of donations at the Affaire to Remember with the help of Lee Greenwood, as the Anna Maria Island Community Center went a little bit country, a little bit rock ’n’ roll. Greenwood performed, and a $15,000 donation earned the audience a performance of his hit, “God Bless the USA.” Affaire organizers said an early estimate of proceeds from the event was $200,000. Islander Photo: Nancy Ambrose
Anna Maria Commission Chair John Quam may have kept the city out of trouble — and helped avoid a lawsuit and an unnecessary moratorium.
When discussion of a proposed moratorium on building permits and site plans in the retail-office-residential district came up at the commission’s April 22 meeting, Quam acted quickly to introduce a counter-proposal.
Both sides could claim victory in an emergency hearing in Manatee Circuit Court April 21 requested by attorney Valerie Fernandez in a public records request against Anna Maria Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus and planning and zoning board member Jim Conoly.
Conoly was excused from the case. Stoltzfus did not have to surrender his computer. Fernandez obtained a court order against Stoltzfus.
Tourism on Anna Maria Island showed a 5 percent gain in March compared with the same month last year, according to figures just released by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Occupancy of surveyed Island accommodation units was 86.9 percent in March 2010 compared with 82.7 percent for March 2009.
Holmes Beach Commissioner Al Robinson called the project “asinine.”
But Robinson, speaking at the April 19 Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting at Holmes Beach City Hall, was not concerned with the 209 foxtail trees planned for the intersection of East Bay Drive and Manatee Avenue. He was concerned with the $697,000 price tag.
Sgt. Dave Turner of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria substation wrote Mayor Fran Barford a memo last week indicating that the fishing tournament at Galati Marine planned May 27-30 will “have a significant impact” on city roads and on residents’ “way of life.”
Turner made his comments to the mayor outlining his plans and suggestions if the city commission approves a permit for the event.
Chris Pate of Holmes Beach won the grand prize in The Islander's annual Top Notch contest with his photograph of a wave-skater at White Avenue beach. Pate won $100 from the newspaper, plus gifts from Islander advertisers, including a $50 gift certificate from the Chiles Restaurants Group, a $50 certificate for Hair's to You Salon, a $25 certificate from Mister Roberts Resortwear, a $10 certificate for Minnie's Beach Cafe and the framing of the winning photo by Karly Carlson Custom Framing. The weekly winners received Islander "more-than-a-mullet wrapper" T-shirts and front-page placement of their photos. Next week, The Islander's honorable mentions in the popular contest.
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