Top Stories this week: Wednesday, June. 29, 2005 Top Notch Weekly Contest Winner 'Daddy left the hose on' first photo winner Piroska Planck has captured the first weekly prize in The Islander's summer photo contest, "Top Notch," with this "Kodak moment" of Alex Planck, who is almost 2. Piroska said "our grandson decided that after the flowers had enough to drink, it was his turn." She will receive a "More Than a Mullet Wrapper" Islander T-shirt, a bottle of wine from Anna Maria Island Liquor & Wine and a lunch certificate from Minnie's Beach Cafe. The photo will go into a pool with other weekly winners eligible for the contest grand-prize package, including $100 from The Islander, a $50 gift certificate from Mister Robert's Resortwear and a premium bottle of champagne from Time Saver. Click image to enlarge Record meeting in Anna Maria For one of the few times in the history of Anna Maria City Commission meetings, commissioners had little to say at their June 23 meeting and wrapped all agenda items well before 9 p.m., an unofficial record in a city noted for loquaciousness. Full Story... Rising construction costs, values outpacing insurance coverage By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter When Linda Ratcliff's home at 208 Sycamore St. in Anna Maria caught fire a few weeks ago, firefighters were able to save at least the ground floor of the 80-year-old building. Full Story... Community Center clears first hurdle for expansion By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Owners of rental units in Holmes Beach are up in arms about a proposal by the city's planning commission to revise the city's new comprehensive plan to limit rentals in the residential single-family and medium-density duplex zones to a minimum 30-day stay. Full Story... Reefballs deployed in nearshore waters Reefballs - those round, hollow concrete structures that marine critters love to call home - are being placed in the waters close to shore in Manatee and Sarasota counties, with the staging area at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. The reefballs will be added to artificial reefs at the Bulkhead, Bayshore in Sarasota, Southeastern Tampa Bay and near the Silvertooth Reef in the Gulf of Mexico. The reefballs were funded in part by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, the Sarasota Sportsman Association and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Islander Photo: J.L. Robertson Anna Maria beach renourishment expected next week By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The dredge that Goodloe Marine of Apollo Beach will use for the upcoming Anna Maria Island beach renourishment project should be off the north end of the Island later this week, said company president Ben Goodloe. Full Story...