Sundown party heats up Bridge Street
Sisters Kay Davenport, left, and Shelby toast Daiquiri Deck drinks Sept. 12 during the Sundown Getdown party. The pair went to Bridge Street to celebrate Kay’s birthday and Shelby’s recent marriage proposal. Islander Photos: Robert Anderson
AM parking plan: more Qs than As
There is no shortage of questions regarding potential parking changes in Anna Maria. Mayor Mark Short and city clerk Amber […]
State investigates watercraft-related death off Anna Maria’s Bean Point
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was investigating the death of a California man in a personal watercraft incident […]
Nesting notes: Recording disorientations
Fifteen weeks into sea turtle nesting season, AMITW had reported at least 1,534 hatchlings — and possibly as many as […]
Top Notch Week 6: Snowbirds on the bay
Jen Hampshire of Debary captured this photo in December in the Cortez fishing village while visiting with family on the bayfront at the Swordfish Grill. Hampshire is the final weekly winner in The Islander’s 2026 Top Notch photo contest. The grand-prize winner will be announced Aug. 26. Islander
Courtesy Photo
Top Notch Week 5: A spell at sunset
Lorri Webb of Oldsmar captured this photo Aug. 4 of a wizard — Luke Webb — on the shore near 64th Street in Holmes Beach. “Not every day you see a wizard on the beach,” the photographer wrote. She is the fifth weekly winner in The Islander’s 2026 Top Notch photo contest. There will be one more weekly winner on Page 1 in the Aug. 19 issue. All the weekly winners will be entered into the grand prize round, which offers $100 from The Islander and gift certificates from Islander advertisers. The Islander also is hosting a pet photo contest, with the winner announced Aug. 26.
Top Notch Week 4: Fishing for breakfast
Terry Martsolf of Seminole captured this photo in March at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. He wrote, “An old friend is waiting on breakfast!” Martsolf is the fourth weekly winner in The Islander’s 2026 Top Notch photo contest. There will be two more weekly winners to claim Page 1 placement in the newspaper. All the weekly winners will be entered into the grand prize round, which offers $100 from The Islander and gift certificates from Islander advertisers. Islander Courtesy Photo
Top Notch Week 3: Turning and turning
Erica Johnson of Bradenton captured this September 2025 photo of a waterspout in Tampa Bay near the Anna Maria City Pier, 100 S. Bay Blvd. Johnson, who has worked on AMI for 12 years, said, “This is my favorite photo spot.” She is the third weekly winner in The Islander’s 2026 Top Notch photo contest. There will be three more winners taking Page 1 placement in the newspaper. All the weekly winners will be entered into the grand prize round, which offers $100 from The Islander and gift certificates from Islander advertisers.
Top Notch Week 2: An aggregation of manatees
Sharon Laird of Holmes Beach captured this May 31 photo of manatees in the Gulf of Mexico near 58th Street in Holmes Beach. Laird is the second weekly winner in The Islander’s 2026 Top Notch photo contest. There will be four more weekly winners of Page 1 placement in the newspaper. All the weekly winners will be entered into the grand prize round, which offers $100 from The Islander and gift certificates from Islander advertisers. For contest details, go to page 8 in this issue or islander.org. Islander Courtesy Photo
Top Notch Week 1: Ghost-ly image
Alexa Wilson of Bradenton captured this June 6 photo of her son, Sawyer, 8, coming across a ghost crab at the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Wilson is the first weekly winner in The Islander’s 2026 Top Notch photo contest. There will be five more weekly winners taking Page 1 placement in the newspaper. All the weekly winners will be entered into the grand prize round, which offers $100 from The Islander and gift certificates from Islander advertisers. Islander Photo: Alexa Wilson