The Islander marks an anniversary — this issue, Vol. 29, No. 1, begins a new year.
And we’re marking the anniversary with a quiz about the earliest days of the newspaper launched in November 1992.
What was going on in November 1992?
Democrat Bill Clinton defeated Republican George H.W. Bush in a race for the White House.
Monica Seles defeated Martina Navratilova in the WTA Tour Championship.
Moviegoers went to the theater to see “Malcolm X,” “Aladdin” and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.”
Whitney Houston released the single “I Will Always Love You,” written years earlier by Dolly Parton.
“The Contest,” a racy, controversial — but Emmy-winning — episode of “Seinfeld” aired on NBC.
And Anne Rice’s novel “The Tale of the Body Thief” was a New York Times Bestseller.
None of the above was covered in The Islander because the newspaper always has been dedicated to and focused on Anna Maria Island.
The paper’s slogan then was “The Free Voice of Anna Maria Island” but it could have been, “What happens on Anna Maria Island gets reported in The Islander.”
Test your memory or research skills or make your best guesses in our anniversary quiz about the first issue of The Islander, which can be perused at islander.org.
The Islander’s anniversary trivia quiz
1. Page one of the first issue contained a story about allegations of election-related shenanigans in Anna Maria in violation of state law. Florida’s open government statute is known as:
A. Sunshine Law.
B. Government-in-the-Daylight Law
C. Transparency Law.
2. In a letter to the editor published in the first issue, Holmes Beach Mayor Pat Geyer wrote, “It will be nice to have a real newspaper on Anna Maria Island.
True or false?
3. In an ad for Head Quarters salon in Holmes Beach, what was described as “the look that lasts”?
A. “Full, teased and fringed.”
B. “Feathered, frosted and full.”
C. “Bouncy, springy, resilient curls.”
4. The first weekly edition contained a story about a city meeting on the island that drew a standing-room only crowd that was about:
A. A proposed property tax increase in Bradenton Beach.
B. A proposal to build a high fixed-span bridge on Manatee Avenue.
C. A plan for a pier in the Gulf in Holmes Beach.
5. In an ad in 1992, the Beach Bistro in Holmes Beach was promoting its breakfast service?
True or false?
6. The first “Streetlife,” included police reports of larceny, with items stolen from two Mercedes. What was taken?
A. The hood ornaments.
B. Beach gear.
C. Car phones.
7. The paper announced the Anna Maria Island Art League was preparing to host a Christmas carnival in Holmes Beach.
True or false?
8. The earliest issues included a recipe column from Dee Becker called “What’s Cookin’ in Dee’s Kitchen.” The ingredients for the “Better than Sex Cake” included German chocolate cake mix, sweetened condensed milk, caramel, Cool Whip and…
A. Three 3 Musketeers bars
B. Two Heath bars
C. Cup of strawberries
9. A report of recent property sales included a multifamily home in Bradenton Beach that sold for $118,000.
True or false?
10. The first issue’s masthead included a quote: “Great spirits have always found opposition from mediocrities.” Who said that?
A. Ernie Cagnina
B. Albert Einstein
C. Birdie Tebbetts