Author: Porter

Great Holiday Shopping, Food and Music at Winterfest

Post author By Porter
Post date December 11, 2011
No Comments on Great Holiday Shopping, Food and Music at Winterfest

The Anna Maria Island Art League held its twenty-fourth Winterfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts on Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11, 2011, at City Hall Park in Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island. The quality of this show had been raised to very high levels in recent years by Art League director Joyce Karp, who stepped down this year. Still, many of the same excellent artists from all around the country were glad to return. Applicants were juried into the show, and then juried for awards by Dr. Barbara Grazul Hubbard, and artist, arts educator and university professor.

One hundred and five artists displayed work in media including ceramics, fiber and paper, glass, pastels, jewelry, metal, mixed media, oils and acrylics, photography, sculpture, watercolors and wood. Prices were extremely reasonable, and some excellent Christmas shopping opportunities were taken advantage of by hundreds of visitors.

Meanwhile, live music entertained those taking a break to relax or enjoy the food court. On Saturday, the Anna Maria String Band was followed by State Road 64 and then the Gumbo Boogie Band. The music line-up for Sunday started with the Bontrager Sisters, followed by the Anderson Brothers and The Two Howards, Koko Ray, and the Gumbo Boogie Band.

Tags Anna Maria Arts, Anna Maria Island Art League, Art League, Arts and Crafts Gulf Coast, Cultural Coast, Florida Festivals, Springfest, Winterfest

Environment

2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season Review

Post author By Porter
Post date December 7, 2011
No Comments on 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season Review

Highlights:

No effects on Anna Maria Island
No Florida landfalls
Slightly above long-term average named storms
3 US landfalls, 2 in Gulf (Don, Lee, Irene)
Hurricane Irene caused extensive damage to east coasts states from NC to NY.

Tags 2011 hurricane tracks, Anna Maria Island hurricanes, Anna Maria storms, Atlantic hurricanes, Atlantic hurricanes 2011, Florida hurricanes

Real Estate Sports

Boatlifts and Jetdocks

One of the disadvantages of an electric boatlift can be that the height at which it is raised blocks your view of the water and beyond. There is also the lost convenience of just stepping or climbing aboard your boat when it is kept in the water.

But considering how often recreational boat owners use their craft the lowering of the boatlift into the water is a small effort, while the peace of mind of having it out of the water the rest of the time is worth the trade-off.

A boatlift gets your boat off the water and eliminates the problem of chafing wear to dock lines and fairleads. It also prevents constant bumping into a dock from wind, waves and boat wake.

By not leaving your precious boat in the water, a boatlift allows you to forego anti-fouling – an expensive and recurring job.

Tags boat storage, Boating, boatlift, docks, jetdock, jetski, own a boat, PWC

Community

Anna Maria Island Beach Regulations

Post author By Porter
Post date July 21, 2011
36 Comments on Anna Maria Island Beach Regulations

Rules and regulations for the beaches of Anna Maria Island are governed by Florida State Law, the code of ordinances of Manatee County plus the additions and modifications within the 3 cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach, that comprise the municipalities of the island.

The beach is considered a ‘park’ for the purposes of applicable codes and enforcement of rules. Alleys and paths to the beach are included as ‘entryways’. Some special rules apply at the county public beach parks Anna Maria Bayfront Park, Coquina Bayside Park, Coquina Gulfside Park, and Manatee Beach Park where there are facilities and areas zoned for specific uses, and lifeguards.

The main regulations include:

No consumption or possession of alcohol
No assembly without permit
No pets except service animals
No vehicles or bicycles except wheelchairs
No disturbing or feeding wildlife
No removal of natural resources
No littering
No fires
No fireworks
No launching watercraft except surfboards, sailboats, catamarans, kayaks
No throwing games or propelled objects
No lights, unattended chairs and cabanas, screens, umbrellas, between sunset and sunrise during turtle nesting season May 1 to October 31.

Tags Anna Maria, beach furniture, beach parks, beach regulations, beach restrictions, beach rules, Bradenton Beach, Florida beach regs, Holmes Beach, manatee county parks, turtle season lights

Environment

2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast

Post author By Porter
Post date June 1, 2011
No Comments on 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast

The forecast for the Atlantic basin hurricane season of 2011 has been released by the Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science from Dr. Philip J. Klotzbach and Dr. William Gray.

They continue to foresee above-average activity for 2011, and above-average probability of a major hurricane landfall.

“We have decreased our seasonal forecast slightly from early December, due to anomalous warming in the eastern and central tropical Pacific and cooling in the tropical Atlantic.

Tags 2011 Atlantic Hurricane season, Atlantic hurricanes, Global cooling warming, Hurricanes