Yes, we have news.
There are triumphs, challenges, tragedies, tales that swell our hearts, and we’ve also shared devastation and losses within our community.
Yes, it’s a roller coaster.
And in my 33 years of publishing The Islander newspaper, the community news for and about Anna Maria Island, I’ve made great friends.
I encouraged people to be a part of the newspaper, to help make it better. Among them, I found partners and friends — dear friends — along the way.
It won’t surprise you to learn that one of my staunch supporters and friends is Sean Murphy.
He has a great sense of loyalty, among many attributes, including a love for red wine, good food, politics and conversation. He’s a great storyteller.
He’s a strong, positive community force.
We had good times at the Beach Bistro and more recently at the Doctor’s Office.
His parting from our community — when that time comes — will be a great loss, but he so deserves “his time.”
But now, as I wish him well, I’ll let him speak for himself. He’s far better at it than me.
Cheers to you, my friend. Cheers.
Au revoir. — Bonner Joy
Passages
A truly great restaurant is a wonder to behold. I know — I have started a couple of them.
In the last year, I have used all of my connections and talent for recruitment to build another great restaurant on the ashes of the Beach Bistro. The Bistro was as much a school, a way of constantly training people in the discipline of food preparation and service, as it was a restaurant. When the Bistro was treating guests, it was not just creating great dishes; it was creating great memories.
The Bistro and then the Doctor’s Office had the power to create those great memories because of the talents and powers of the people working on the team. It’s been an honor to be a member of that team, to sit on the bench with them and be part of their game.
To carry that tradition onward does not require a great chef or a sommelier; it needs a coach, a father and a mother.
Wife Susan and I have reached a stage in our lives where we are very aware that time is precious. We are looking forward to being able to spend more time with our children and grandchildren.
We are fortunate that I had already met the couple with the resources and the character I sought to take my place.
Chris Mann is the “Man” I needed, and wife Olivia provides balance.
Chris and Olivia are in awe of the Doctor’s Office as it is, and the heritage it carries with it. They do not want to change it, they want to support it and help the team that is the Doctor’s Office carry on.
I won’t describe Chris or Olivia in depth or detail. I believe they are the best thing for the Doctor’s Office team — and the team has already accepted them. You will now have the opportunity to get to know them.
I wish them well.
Have fun and thanks for the memories.
— Sean and Susan Murphy