Thank you for visiting The islander Newspaper Online.

We are currently updating our website to provide you better service and function.
If you would like to access the new site, please, click here: The islander Newspaper

Sorry for any inconvenience. Our new site and service will resume shortly.

Web Master

The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992

"The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992"

Tuesday, Mar, 19, 2024
Florida Press Assn. Award-Winning Web Site
Home Latest News Weather Sports Real Estate Classifieds Island Guide islander Store

 SECTIONS

 • 

Main News

 • 

Classifieds

 • 

Opinions

 • 

Streetlife

 • 

Calendar

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Sports

 • 

Real Estate

 • 

Obituaries

 • 

Weather

 Features

 • 

Cortez Cook Off: The Results

 • 

Anna Maria Island Bridge FDOT replacement bridge

 • 

National Hurricane Center (Atlantic)

 • 

Advanced Search

 • 

I love AMI

 • 

Mystery Story

 • 

Fishing Laws

 Classifieds

 • 

Classifieds Page

 • 

Place An AD

 • 

Items for Sale

 • 

Garage Sale

 • 

Estate Sale

 • 

Announcments

 • 

Lost & Found

 • 

Pets

 • 

Transportation

 • 

Boats & Boating

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Kids 4 Hire

 • 

Help Wanted

 • 

Health Care

 • 

Services

 • 

Lawn & Garden

 • 

Landscaping

 • 

Home Improvement

 • 

Business Opportunities

 • 

Rentals

 • 

Real Estate

 Weather

 • 

Today's Forecast

 • 

10 Day Forecast

 • 

Today's Tides

 • 

Emergency e-mail

 • 

Storm Watch

 Archive

 • 

News Archive

 • 

2009 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2008 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2007 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2006 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2005 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2004 Top Notch Gallery

 Useful Links

 • 

Island Links

 • 

i.wed

 • 

islander Store

 • 

About this Site

 Contact Us

 • 

islander Store

 • 

Subscribe

 • 

About Us

 • 

e-mail us

Story Tools

Bright future for Bridget memorial scholars

Bridget Miller of Anna Maria will not have died in vain. Her young life will be immortalized by donations in her memory to a special scholarship fund established by the Anna Maria Island Privateers.

Bridget was killed in a car accident Tuesday, Aug. 3, in the early morning hours, just shortly after she arrived at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport on a flight from Colorado and a visit with her mother.

Bridget was a passenger, and the only seriously injured party in the car driven by friend Lillie Marnie, also of Anna Maria. The other vehicle in the crash made impact with Marnie’s car precisely where Bridget was seated in the rear seat. Her injuries were numerous and life-saving efforts at the scene of the crash were futile. Her aorta had been "nicked" and she was pronounced dead.

Friends of the family, devastated by the news, gathered later that day at the Millers Anna Maria home with dad Dennis and stepmom Diana, and their blended family, including older brother Dennis, 22, who flew home from New York City, Brendan 17, Carissa, 16, and Max, 9. Mother Sandy King flew in from Colorado where Bridget has three half-sisters, Catherine, Rebecca and Rachel. Many more family members and friends began arriving for support.

Everyone sought to make sense of a senseless tragedy. Bridget’s friends "migrated" to us, Diana said. They just kept showing up at the door until there were about 12 of her friends gathered at the Miller house Tuesday night. "Some of the them weren’t even friends, but they left our house with their love for Bridget as their bond," she said.

Others came. "Dennis’ cub scout troop, all of them, came to the door," Diana said. "Kids Dennis has coached at the Center, kids in the neighborhood, their parents - they all reached out to us."

Diana and Dennis came to Anna Maria Island just four years ago, but they quickly learned that in the face of tragedy, Islanders offer support from the heart.

With those offers came an idea to create a scholarship to help other young folks in Bridget’s name. "She dreamed of going to Manatee Community College to pursue nursing. She somehow knew her creative nature would help others through art therapy. She and her friends were enrolling together at MCC," said Diana.

"She had so many dreams."

While those dreams may not be realized, Bridget will help others to realize their dreams of a bright future and a college education with a scholarship fund in her name.

Liz Christie-Cline of the Privateers, who oversees the Privateers annual scholarship awards, will also oversee a special fund created by memorials to Bridget. It will be awarded in July 2006 along with the other scholarships distributed by the Privateers. The recipients are honored by the community in the annual Privateer July 4 parade and receive their funding at a party in their honor following the parade.

Bridget will reside in the hearts of many, her memory will live on with them far beyond her 18 years. And Bridget’s spirit will be celebrated anew on July 4, and hopefully, for many years to come through donations to the Bridget Miller Memorial Privateer Scholarship Fund. Send donations to the AMI Privateers Bridget Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1238, Holmes Beach FL 34218.

Get breaking news

Follow the islander on TwitterBecome a fan of The islander on Facebook

Sign up to receive breaking news alerts via e-mail. We'll send you a notice when the news and classifieds appear online every week, before the print edition hits the streets.

Click here for Gulf oil spill updates related to Anna Maria Island.

Historic Anna Maria City Pier Plank Walk

Put your name, your message, your memorial on the Historic Anna Maria City Pier prior to the Pier Centennial Celebration! And join the fun!

CLICK HERE for Stoltzfus e-mails and related court documents.


FREE Island
Vacation Guide:
get it here

Cortez Cookoff

Click here for 2010 Cortez Cookoff Winner and recipes

To advertise here, please
visit our rates page
or contact us at:
sales@islander.org
Phone: (941) 778-7978
Fax: (941) 778-9392

Back to top of Page

Home | Weather | Real Estate | Classifieds | Archives | Contact | Island Links
islander Store | Subscribe About this site | Classifieds Page | Place an Ad
For Sale | Garage Sales | Announcements | Lost & Found | Pets | Transportation
Boats & Boating | Fishing | Kids for Hire | Help Wanted | Health Care | Services
Lawn & Garden | Landscaping | Home Improvement | Business Opportunities | Rentals | Real Estate

Our Privacy and Copyright Statements © 1992 - 2009, The islander