Top Stories this week: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 Blasting in the new year The BeachHouse Restaurant blasted and boomed in the new year with its traditional fireworks show over the Gulf of Mexico at midnight Jan. 1. The celebration presented by Bell's Fireworks of Tampa brought hundreds to the shoreline in Bradenton Beach. A smaller crowd enjoyed closeup seats at The BeachHouse, part of the restaurant's annual New Year's Eve Extravaganza featuring dining, dancing and toasting. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff 2006 Islander of the Year: Pete Lannon By Diana Bogan. Islander Reporter Manatee County School District Director of Elementary Schools Tim Kolbe announced today that Tom Levengood will be the new principal at Anna Maria Elementary School and will begin the new job on Feb. 1. Full Story... New AME principal named By Bonner Joy If there is one person who has touched the fabric of life that brings out the best in the Anna Maria Island community - it has to be Pete Lannon. He is more than our Holmes Beach community resource officer, he is a mentor for our children, a confidant for those in need and a friendly face that even Island visitors look for as they pass Anna Maria Elementary School, where Lannon has been a fixture as the school's crossing guard for more than five years. Full Story... 2006: The year in review, part 2 A review of last twelve months of 2006. Full Story... Man faces multiple charges in holiday holdup By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter John Lightner II wrote his 3-year-old son a letter to help him remember Christmas 2006, the holiday they witnessed a gunman try to escape after robbing a Holmes Beach store. Full Story... Whew! We've got 2 more weeks With still some dollars to go before the total hits $50,000, Chuck and Joey Lester have given the Island until Jan. 15 to raise more money for the Anna Maria Island Community Center building fund. Full Story... Cortez in final round for award By Jim Hanson. Islander Reporter The achievements of the historic fishing village of Cortez may be recognized by first lady Laura Bush if the village makes the final step for the Presidential Preserve America Award. Full Story... Mullet run overloads fish house, market, prices By Jim Hanson. Islander Reporter The mullet run may be over, fisherfolk suspect, but while it lasted it was so much of a good thing that it shut down the biggest fish processor in the area. Full Story... Court approves sale of GSR's Villa Rosa lot By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Court in Tampa last week approved the sale of financially troubled GSR Development's Lot No. 14 and accompanying model home at its Villa Rosa housing project in Anna Maria. Full Story... Insurance: Cat fund. Cherry picking. Mitigation. Wind boundaries. The pups. By Molly McCartney. Islander Reporter Get used to the headline terms because they are among the big issues that lawmakers are expected to discuss, argue about and fight over when the Florida Legislature meets Jan. 16 in Tallahassee for a special session on the property insurance crisis. Full Story... Top Notch: First weekly winner also 2006 grand prize winner The grand prize winner from among six weekly award-winning photos in the 2006 "Top Notch" Islander photo contest is 'Hermit' by Kim Klement of Bradenton. Her shot was the first winner on June 28 and was taken at Andros Island in the Bahamas in May. She can claim her grand prize, including $100 from The Islander, a dining certificate from Ooh La La! Bistro, a bottle of champagne from Anna Maria Island Liquor and Wine, dinner for two at a Chiles Group Restaurant and framing of the winning photo by Decor and More. Congratulations to all the winners - and be watching next week for our featured runnersup.