Top Stories this week: Wednesday, July. 6, 2005 Top Notch Weekly Contest Winner 'We're FREE' Second photo winner Brenda Twiss has captured the second of eight weekly prizes in The Islander's summer photo contest, "Top Notch." Twiss said the dogs broke free during a holiday photo shoot and the camera was, of course, handy. 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, a premium bottle of champagne from Time Saver and framing of their winning entry from Decor Gallery and Framing. Click image to enlarge Rockets glare at Sandbar The surf was up and the heat was on, the air was thick with smoke from personal fireworks, the crowd was huge, and then the fireworks spectacular at the Sandbar restaurant in Anna Maria began to a backdrop of blaring patriotic music. Sandbar owner Ed Chiles was pleased with the weather and the low red tide impact - about two on a scale of 10, he said. The evening ranked a high No. 10 for nearly everyone in attendance on July 4. Islander Photo: Jack Elka Click image to enlarge Sandbar preliminary site plan approved - with conditions By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter After wading through more than three hours of testimony, the Anna Maria City Commission by a 4-1 vote June 29 approved the preliminary site plan of the Sandbar restaurant, but attached seven stipulations that owner Ed Chiles must meet before final approval. Full Story... Beach renourishment starts in Holmes Beach - Anna Maria last By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The emergency beach renourishment project scheduled to begin this week on Anna Maria Island will start in Holmes Beach, not Anna Maria, according to Rick Spadoni of Coastal Planning and Engineering, the company overseeing the project. Full Story... Coquina boat ramps to get facelift By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The north and south boat ramps at Coquina Beach will get some much-needed repairs and improvements in the very near future, according to Doug Means of the Manatee County Planning Department. Full Story... Privateers, July 4 take over Anna Maria Island The Anna Maria Island Privateers boat/float led the way for their annual July 4 parade and celebration. More than 80 entries made this years parade one of the best ever. $10,000 in scholarships were awarded following the parade. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy Pre-parade muscle Representatives of the "super team" from the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce warm up for the July 4 Privateers Island-long parade from Coquina Beach to Bradenton Beach. From left to right, Nancy Ambrose, chamber volunteer of the year and Islander newspaper sales representative; Don Schroeder, chamber president; Mary Ann Brockman, executive director; and Chuck Kraus of Island Garden Villas, who drove the truck. Island consolidation: Let the people speak first Holmes Beach city commissioners gave consensus at their June 28 meeting to have the three Island mayors draft language for a non-binding referendum on the November elections ballot on Island consolidation. Full Story... Court upholds Davis variance, construction proceeds A circuit court judge has ruled that the Holmes Beach Board of Adjustment correctly granted Frank Davis a variance that allowed him to build a four-unit condominium at 5622 Gulf Drive. Full Story... Planning commission recommends grandfathering short-term rentals By Diana Bogan. Islander Reporter The Holmes Beach Planning Commission voted to recommend that the city commission grandfather existing, legally licensed, short-term rental properties in the R-1 (single-family) and R-2 (medium-density) residential districts and limit future rentals in those neighborhoods to a minimum monthly stay. Full Story...