Top Stories this week: Wednesday, Mar. 5, 2008 Bright spot The Seafood Shack is a bright spot in a real estate market that is gloomy in most of the United States and Florida. Islander Photo: Jack Elka. Islander Passion National Pastime of Baseball and Beaches: Venues fraw springtme crowds by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Marcia and Bruce Pippen began making the March trip to Anna Maria Island seven years ago for different reasons. Click here to download the full illustrated story (6.1Mb)... Landmark restaurant bucks gloomy tide by Jim Hanson. Islander Reporter Florida’s depressed real estate market doesn’t seem to have an affect on the Seafood Shack in Cortez, says owner Ham Jones - “I’ve got a whole stack of prospective buyers, I’m in negotiations every day.” Full Story... Anna Maria building official lobbies for full-time job by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter While Anna Maria is saving about $50,000 a year by outsourcing its building official position and paying for just part-time help, it’s not really getting the maximum level of service, current building official Steve Gilbert told city commissioners at their Feb. 28 meeting. Full Story... Commissioners vocal on potential Anna Maria charter changes by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Ten members of the public showed up at the Anna Maria Charter Review Committee’s town hall forum Feb. 25 to provide the committee with public input for possible changes to the city’s charter. And of those 10, half were city elected officials. Full Story... Grant committee favors funding pier trolley shelter by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Anna Maria’s transportation enhancement grant committee agreed at its Feb. 27 meeting that its first priority for allocating the $358,000 federal enhancement grant will be construction of a new trolley shelter at the Historic Anna Maria City Pier at the Pine Avenue-Bay Boulevard intersection. Full Story... Former pier restaurant operators mediate with Bradenton Beach by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter If Bradenton Beach city commissioners thought it had seen the last of Karen and Jake Gallo when they gave them the boot in September 2004 as operators of the city pier restaurant, they were mistaken. Full Story... Bridge work continues Work crews for Quinn Construction Company Inc. of Palmetto continued last week with installing hydraulic equipment that will be used to raise and lower the Anna Maria Island drawbridge for boat traffic when the bridge closes Sept. 29 for 45 days as part of the $9.1 million Florida Department of Transportation rehabilitation project. The north sidewalk of the bridge has been closed to pedestrians, but not fisherman, during the current stage of the project. Islander Photo: Rick Catlin Uncommonly welcome The new national president of Common Cause Bob Edgar, left, was honored Feb. 27 with a reception at the Beach Bistro in Holmes Beach. About 50 people attended the event, hosted by Florida Common Cause and Beach Bistro owner Sean Murphy. Pictured with Edgar are, from left, Holmes Beach resident Molly McCartney, vice president of Florida Common Cause; Ben Wilcox, executive director of Florida office of Common Cause, Tallahassee; and Walter Dartland, president of Florida Common Cause, also from Tallahassee. Edgar was here as part of a statewide tour to help energize Common Cause, a nonpartisan, non-profit citizens lobby established in 1970 to promote government accountability. Edgar is a former six-term congressman and former general secretary of the National Council for the Churches of Christ USA. Other stops on his week-long Florida tour included a presentation to Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet in Tallahassee. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy Police seek 'customer' for counterfeit checks Island business owners are being put on the lookout for a wanted customer — a man who has passed fake checks at Manatee and Sarasota county restaurants. Full Story... Fireworks task force to use stuffers, announcements The Island fireworks task force headed by Anna Maria Mayor Fran Barford plans to educate the public about local ordinances prohibiting the unauthorized use of fireworks, particularly during public holidays such as July 4. Full Story... GSR objects to more claims by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Fresh with victory in the successful objection in January to 24 unsecured claims, lawyers for bankrupt GSR Development LLC last week filed 17 more objections to unsecured claims totaling more than $4 million. Full Story... Holmes Beach man arrested The Holmes Beach Police Department arrested a local man in connection with a burglary and grand theft in mid-January. Full Story... Planning commission reviews housing policies By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The Holmes Beach Planning Commission tackled the subject of affordable housing Feb. 28 as it resumed its review of proposed amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan. Full Story... Judge orders city to pay $5,755 in records case by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter A Manatee County judge last week ordered the city of Bradenton Beach to pay The Islander newspaper $5,755 in legal fees in connection with a public records lawsuit. Full Story... Accusations thrown in Olesen-Anna Maria-Gee dispute by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The legal difficulties involving Anna Maria and its dispute with the Olesen family of 504 S. Bay Blvd. - accompanied by a dispute between Laura Gee of 502 S. Bay Blvd. and the city are far from over. Full Story... Boat ramp, mural approved for causeway by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The Bradenton City Council cleared the way last week for the construction of a new boat ramp along the Palma Sola Causeway. Full Story...