Top Stories this week on Anna Maria Island: Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A truck hauling a 1900s Sears kit-home pulls out of a lot in the 300 block of Pine Avenue June 8 to begin a slow drive to the cottage’s new home in the 500 block of Pine Avenue. Dozens of onlookers turned out on moving day. Islander Photos: Lisa Neff
Anna Maria’s Pine Avenue early June 8 had all the flavor and atmosphere of a July 4th parade.
Crowds began gathering at 308 Pine Ave. with digital cameras and video recorders as early as 7 a.m. to watch as the historic kit-house was moved to its new location at 503 Pine Ave., site of the planned Anna Maria Historic Green Village. It was the first house-moving in Anna Maria since the Belle Haven cottage was moved in 2002 to the city-owned historical park.
The Recall Commissioner Stoltzfus committee in Anna Maria reported June 13 that it had 117 signatures on its recall petition.
The committee has until July 3 to obtain 204 signatures (15 percent) of the registered, qualified voters in Anna Maria to submit its petition for a recall vote on Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus.
The Florida Commission on Ethics last week dismissed an ethics complaint against Anna Maria Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus after the nine-member board found no basis for a violation of state ethics laws.
The FCE said the commission found the charges brought by Holmes Beach businessman John Cagnina were “legally insufficient,” and did not reflect “the accuracy of the allegations in the complaint.”
Bradenton Beach officials plan an intensive month of budgetary meetings as they prepare to consider a 2010-11 budget.
Commissioners and Mayor Bob Bartelt met June 8 at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., for a preliminary discussion on the commission budget, as well as an hour-long talk about whether contracting for recycling services would save the city money.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission suspended their search for 20-year-old Cortez resident Michael Taylor June 11.
Taylor reportedly went overboard around 7:30 p.m. June 10, about 11 miles west of Longboat Key.
A memorial service for Taylor has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday on the bay side of Longboat Pass. The family is requesting attendees wear board shorts and flip-flops in Taylor’s honor.
Candidates for nonpartisan municipal races in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach will file qualifying papers this week, as will candidates for county offices.
When the Manatee Public Beach pier was demolished earlier this year, Manatee county commissioners said it would be replaced.
But economic hardships and a lack of storms since the pier was removed led county natural resource department director Charlie Hunsicker to postpone the pier in the county’s five-year capital improvements plan released at a June 6 budget meeting.
Robots working for Mote Marine Laboratory are patrolling the Gulf of Mexico.
“Like sentries,” Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, a scientist with the Sarasota lab, said of the drones swimming — 24/7 — north and south and east and west in the Gulf searching for oily water.
Meanwhile, officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida National Guard and the Florida Civil Air Patrol conducted reconnaissance missions by land, air and sea.
It wasn’t until the Bradenton Beach Police Department officers tried pepper spray, a Taser and handcuffs that Kellie Baker, 39, of Bradenton, was controlled and arrested June 5.
The Bradenton Beach Police Department tracked down a woman fleeing from an altercation June 9, and in doing so arrested a second man for violating a pre-trial, no-contact order.
Chris Pate of Holmes Beach won the grand prize in The Islander's annual Top Notch contest with his photograph of a wave-skater at White Avenue beach. Pate won $100 from the newspaper, plus gifts from Islander advertisers, including a $50 gift certificate from the Chiles Restaurants Group, a $50 certificate for Hair's to You Salon, a $25 certificate from Mister Roberts Resortwear, a $10 certificate for Minnie's Beach Cafe and the framing of the winning photo by Karly Carlson Custom Framing. The weekly winners received Islander "more-than-a-mullet wrapper" T-shirts and front-page placement of their photos. Next week, The Islander's honorable mentions in the popular contest.
