Top Stories this week: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Directly from the source For up-to-the-minute advisories from the National Hurricane Center, go to www.nhc.noaa.gov/index-at.xml. For local updates, please check www.islander.org regularly through the week. Manatee, Anna Maria Island dodge Fay As of 5 a.m. Tuesday, all hurricane warnings are discontinued. Full Story... Election forum offers candidate views by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter John Lasson sat apart from a crowd of citizens sporting T-shirts promoting their chosen candidates. Full Story... First bell: AME's new school year begins Full Story... Olesens claim city sign 'infringes' on their property by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Issues with the property at 504 S. Bay Blvd. owned by Terry and Patricia Olesen continue to plague the city. Full Story... Stormy waters for Anna Maria utility fee by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The complaints have begun to flood city hall regarding the proposed amount property owners will pay for the stormwater utility fee recently enacted by the city commission. Full Story... County nixes renourishment of some Anna Maria beaches by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Manatee County commissioners voted last week to proceed with a “long-range beach erosion-control plan” for renourishing Anna Maria Island beaches, but very little of the sand will land on city of Anna Maria shores. Full Story... AMI Bridge lane closures Thursday, Friday The Florida Department of Transportation said contractor Quinn Construction Co. of Palmetto will close one lane of traffic on the Anna Maria Island Bridge between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, as part of its $9.2 million rehabilitation of the bridge. Full Story... Bradenton Beach group questions Coquina plans by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter A Bradenton Beach advisory committee is questioning Manatee County’s plans to add a playground and two picnic shelters at Coquina Beach over other improvements. Full Story... Cortez 127th Street bridge on schedule for reopening by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Cortez motorists who have had to detour around 127th Street because of construction on the humpback bridge should be celebrating in a few weeks. Full Story... Improvements planned for Manatee Public Beach by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Manatee County commissioners approved a draft interlocal agreement with Holmes Beach for the placement of a new bus/trolley shelter at Manatee Public Beach. Full Story... County acts to protect Bean Point swimmers by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Bean Point swimmers will find waters safer if an ordinance approved Aug. 12 by the Manatee County commission passes a state review. Full Story... Blown-kiss case continued by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter A judge granted a continuance in the trial of a teenager arrested in connection with an alleged scuffle with a police officer on Coquina Beach. Full Story... Commission to revisit rental rule by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Multiple proposed amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan prompted no debate, but a previous land-use issue sent the Holmes Beach commission’s Aug. 12 meeting into overtime. Full Story... Commission revises outdoor dining ordinance by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Critics offered no rave reviews and some panned a new outdoor dining ordinance adopted by Holmes Beach commissioners Aug. 11. Full Story... Owners hope lucky seven for Tidemark Marina Resort by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter This month marks the seventh anniversary of the Holmes Beach City Commission’s controversial approval of the Tidemark Marina Resort at the site of the former Pete Reynard’s restaurant adjacent to Wachovia Bank. Yet, the start of vertical construction has not yet begun. Full Story... Tidemark found some rocks in its tide When original Tidemark developer Nick Easterling first obtained site-plan approval from the city commission in August 2001, following a number of contentious and stormy public meetings, he then said he expected to begin construction within six months and units would sell for about $250,000. Full Story...