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Community

Cortez Florida 2012 Commercial Fishing Festival

The 30th annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival will be held Saturday February 18 and Sunday February 19 10am to 6pm.

On display are demonstrations, museum and historical records of Florida’s oldest working fishing village. Seafood, arts and crafts and live music will also be part of the increasingly popular festival that is held every year.

Admission is $3 for adults and free for kids under 12. All proceeds are to the benefit of the F.I.S.H Preserve, the non-profit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage.

To get to the festival head for 4600 124th Street West, Cortez, Florida 32415, but because of the popularity and small streets of Cortez Village, free parking is available east of the village off Cortez Road. Go early or late to get a parking spot. Anna Maria Islanders can take the free trolley from Coquina Beach to the parking site. More remote parking is available at G.T. Bray Park at 5502 33rd Ave W, Bradenton where a shuttle service connects to the festival for $2 round-trip.
2012 Cortez Fishing Festival

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Categories
Arts News

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.

Winterfest Anna Maria Island 2011Meanwhile, 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.

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Categories
Environment

2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season Review

2011 Atlantic Hurricane Tracks

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.
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Categories
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.

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Categories
Community

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:

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