Robert Swearingen, of Bradenton, left, a sarcoma survivor, watches the opening ceremonies at Relay for Life at Coquina Beach May 19 with co-workers from the Crab Trap in Palmetto, including caregivers Zanna Sammartino of St. Petersburg and Ann Sommer and her children, Lizzie and Aiden, of Ellenton. Islander Photos: Kathy ...

The Anna Maria Island Art League closed its doors May 15 without warning. Signs on the doors at the league’s gallery and facilities at 5312 Holmes Blvd. states, “Closed Until Further Notice.” Art League president Laura McGeary said May 18, “We have no plans to close the art league,” but made no ...

At a public hearing May 17, West Manatee Fire District commissioners increased the district’s assessment roughly $4 per household. WMFR Chief Andy Price recommended the 2012 rate hike to meet rising operational costs and put away funds for expected increases in insurance costs. The rates are being set for fiscal 2012-2013 ...

For 12 consecutive months, resort tax collections by the Manatee County Tax Collector’s office have set a new monthly record when compared with the same month the previous year. March 2012 collections were no exception. Sue Sinquefield of the resort tax collections office reported March collections — funds taken in by ...

A vacationing commissioner may have no choice but to sit out the November election. Anna Maria’s qualifying period to run for either city commission or mayor starts May 29 and ends June 8. Three-term commissioner Jo Ann Mattick apparently does not plan to return from Ohio until sometime after the qualifying ...

Cancer survivors take the first lap May 19 at Relay For Life while a young man, with a young man wearing a Blake Medical Center T-shirt looks on. Blake and Miller Electric were two of the relay’s major sponsors. The event benefits the American Cancer Society. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell

Florida Highway Patrol Cpl. Darrel Carroll patrols the roads of Manatee County with devotion and fairness, according to fellow law enforcement officers. For his dedication to duty, Carroll was named the 2012 Officer of the Year May 17 by the Manatee Hundred Club at the Bradenton Country Club. On hand for the ...

Jasper Curry will soon be embarking on what may yet be the most challenging journey of his life. He’s trained hard and he’s no newcomer to competition. He’s raced sailboats since he was a fourth-grader at Anna Maria Elementary School — an Optimist, Laser and 420. He has also taught sailing, ...

Following a plea to several felonies, the state dropped charges against Charles H. Leonard last week in 15 of 20 or more burglary cases opened following a chase and search through Cortez in December by several law enforcement agencies. Notices that “criminal charges will not be filed” were entered in the ...

West Manatee Fire District commissioners May 17 selected Ross Built Construction Co. of Holmes Beach and Manuel Synalovski Associates of Fort Lauderdale as the design-build team for a $900,000 remodel project at Station 2. With a unanimous vote among the three-member quorum, WMFR will look to Ross Built and Synalovski to ...