Categories
Community Health

How to Age Well on Anna Maria Island

To some people, ageing well seems to mean withdrawing into a retirement community where there is almost no chance of being disturbed by laughing children or barking dogs. But for those who prefer to remain in contact with the entire demographic spectrum, Anna Maria Island offers the perfect place in which to retire without feeling shut off from the real world. Staying in touch with younger people who are active is certainly a good way to stay as young as possible, even as one ages.

Christmas Day picnic

The fact that there is an elementary school right on the island is a good sign. School children live in many of the neighborhoods of Anna Maria Island , and it’s always heartwarming to see them toting their packs as they go to and from school. Sure, traffic can sometimes back up around Anna Maria Island Elementary School, as students arrive and depart. But sitting for a few minutes or slowing down in the school zone can be seen as just one more reminder that island life is supposed to be relaxed. Every delay is just one more chance to smell the jasmine or watch the swaying palm fronds sparkle in the sunlight.

Categories
Community

Publix Serves Anna Maria Island

We moved to Anna Maria Island in 1999, soon after Publix opened a small grocery store on the island, just off of Manatee Avenue on East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach. In fact, as we arrived in town, after a three-day car trip to get here, we stopped at the island Publix to pick up a few essentials before walking into our new home and starting to unpack boxes. It was amazing that we ran into the only three people we already knew here, in the bakery section of the new store. It made us feel at home.Anna Maria Publix Supermarket

Since then, we have enjoyed having such a good market on the island. It is a lot smaller than the Publix, or Albertson’s, or Sweet Bay markets in Bradenton. But whoever does the buying and stocking of the Holmes Beach Publix does an amazing job. Rarely do we feel the need to go to a larger store to get something that’s not available in the island Publix. At the moment, the only such item I can think of is a particular boxed Chardonnay wine from Australia, which used to be carried on the island, but is no more.

Categories
Community Real Estate

The Bridge to Old Florida is Open Again

Anna Maria Island seems to have survived the closure of one of its three bridges for 37 days. The maintenance and repair job was done faster than the projected 45-day project that had been planned. As islanders heave a sigh of relief, it is interesting to look back at the whole issue of bridges and how this is linked to life and business on an island.

Anna Maria sound bridge

The people who have chosen to retire on beautiful Anna Maria Island have chosen Old Florida over the more common new development that lines most of Florida’s coast. For Old Florida to exist there has to be something “missing,” in terms of accessibility and convenience. People who want to live fast and have instant gratification are not looking for Old Florida. Such people are accommodated very well by municipalities and developers who want to grow by catering to the latest trends, and catering to the crowds. An island with small bridges that are not always open is an island that is more likely to retain the charm of Old Florida. But what about those times the Florida retiree needs to get to the hospital fast?

Categories
Community News

Anna Maria Bridge Closes

Anna Maria Island bridge will close from early morning, Monday, September 29th, to allow planned repairs.

The closure is for 45 days, but may be shorter if the work progresses ahead of schedule, or longer if there are delays.

Anna Maria Island bridge

Traffic to and from the island will be detoured to the Cortez bridge to the south. Increased traffic flows at the Bradenton Beach end of Cortez Bridge will be accommodated by a lengthened turn lane.

Categories
Community Environment Sports

Mullet Invitational Fishing Contest

The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, F.I.S.H., will hold the first ever “Mullet Invitational Fishing Contest” in Cortez, Florida.

Star Fish Co and restaurant

The event will be held Friday and Saturday September 5-6, 2008. The contest will be a tribute to Ben Gullett of “Gullett’s Smoked Mullet” fame and proceeds will be to the benefit of F.I.S.H.