The campaign season for Island candidates seeking to fill city commission seats in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria up for election Nov. 8 got under way Sept. 17 with the Manatee County League of Women Voters and The Islander forum at the Island Branch Library. Candidates from both Holmes Beach and ...

The concessionaire at Manatee Public Beach and the county arts council recently issued a call to artists in local high schools. The Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, and the Manatee County Cultural Alliance/Arts Council of Manatee County are holding a contest to paint murals on the ...

Holmes Beach city commissioners decided at their Sept. 13 meeting they’d rather talk to their neighbors to the south than fight them in court, at least for the time being. Commissioners agreed to postpone initiating conflict resolution and subsequent legal action against Bradenton Beach for the private construction of a fence ...

While Holmes Beach Police Chief Jay Romine told city attorney Patricia Petruff he’s not considering the addition of any more streets to the current list of roads that golf carts can drive on, Commissioner David Zaccagnino wants to discuss the problem with the chief. The “problem,” said Zaccagnino, is that none ...

The Holmes Beach Police Department responded late Sept. 2 to a fight in the 5300 block of Gulf Drive, just outside Martiniville. At least five people were involved in the incident. The police report states that HBPD officers were called to Martiniville at about 11:35 p.m. and found a 26-year-old woman, her ...

Unanimous approval of the West Manatee Fire Rescue District’s annual budget apparently is no longer routine among the five district commissioners. In a 3-2 vote, commissioners at their Sept. 15 budget hearing approved WMFR Chief Andy Price’s proposed $5.4 million budget for 2011-12, but dissenting Commissioners Jesse Davis and Scott Ricci, ...

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Fishers benefit from migratory species invasion   Inshore waters just off the beaches of Anna Maria Island have been invaded by schools of migratory species — Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, bonito, blue runners and jack crevalle. If you’re an experienced fisher, you can tell from a distance what type of school you’re looking at ...

Wednesday, Sept. 21         7 p.m. — International Peace Day celebration at Anna Maria Elementary School, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-708-5525.   Saturday, Sept. 24         Noon to 4 p.m. — Corn Hole Tournament at the Anna Maria Island Community Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-1908. Fee applies.   Monday, Sept. 26         ...

        113 Gull Drive, Anna Maria, a 2,447 sfla / 3,165 sfur 3bed/2bath/1car canalfront home built in 1969 on a 91x100 lot was sold 08/30/11, Fitz to Mason for $610,000; list $675,000. 4501 Second Ave., Holmes Beach, a 1,500 sfla / 2,116 sfur 3bed/3bath/1car duplex built in 1974 on a 50x100 ...