Top Stories this week: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005 Kids put 'spark' in soccer season opening Jasmin Rivera of Sparks Steel Art and Courtney Wash from Rotten Ralph's eye the soccer ball as it squirts free from the pack of instructional league players. More photos can be found in the Sport page Anna Maria budget impasse By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter It looks like the 2005-06 Anna Maria budget won't be agreed upon until the city commission's final budget hearing on Sept. 21. Full Story... Parking plan coming for a vote By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Is it possible that Anna Maria may finally solve the parkings woes that have plagued the city since the first Model-T Ford full of visitors drove across the old wooden Anna Maria Island Bridge in 1925 and made a right turn to Anna Maria? Full Story... Anna Maria defeats consolidation referendum By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter If the Civil War were fought again, would the South still lose the war? Full Story... Pine Avenue project, Waterfront Restaurant OK'd By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The nearly two-year ordeal of Robert and Nicki Hunt of Anna Maria is over, at least in the "preliminary" sense. Full Story... Island candidates begin qualifying for November elections By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Four people have picked up election qualifying packets in Anna Maria in the race for the three city commission seats up for election in November. Full Story... Qualifying next week for Bradenton Beach commission, mayor Qualifying begins noon Monday for two ward positions and the mayor's seat in Bradenton Beach. Full Story... Bradenton Beach budget passes first-reading muster By Paul Roat With nary a comment and in a record-setting 20 minutes, Bradenton Beach city commissioners adopted a tentative budget and tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year. Full Story... Holmes Beach budget passes first hearing, millage OK'd By Diana Bogan Holmes Beach held its first public hearing for the 2005-06 fiscal budget, which includes a reduction in millage from 2 to 1.9 mills. The reduced rate will generate an additional $359,100 in tax dollars for the upcoming year. This represents a 14 percent increase in property tax income. Full Story... Holmes Beach moving forward with referendum By Diana Bogan The Holmes Beach City Commission is committed to moving forward with the nonbinding referendum allowing residents to vote on whether the city should undertake a study on consolidating the three Island cities. Full Story... Bank looks for street vacation By Diana Bogan A representative from Kirk Pinkerton law firm brought an informal request for the vacation of the right of way of Fifth Avenue between Manatee Avenue West and 39th Street, adjacent to the Loggerhead Junction business complex. That portion of Fifth Avenue is unimproved. Full Story...