Ditch the drive, take the ferry. The Manatee Belle pulled away from the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier on April 22, its engines building. The boat eased forward into the Manatee River and then picked up ...

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State forester Richard Larsen, left, and Anna Maria Island Garden Club president Reni Bertoluzzi plant a seagrape tree April 24 at Katie Pierola Sunset Park in Bradenton Beach, as Chris Burnett of New ...

Last week’s question What’s your trash to recycling ratio? About 50% trash, 50% recycling. 30% About 25% trash, 75% recycling. 26% ...

A former tenant could return to the Anna Maria City Pier, but this time in a different space. City commissioners unanimously voted April 23 to authorize Mayor Mark Short to negotiate with GSM Partners ...

Richard ‘Boston’ J. Burnes Jr. Richard “Boston” J. Burnes Jr., 66, of Anna Maria, died April 7. He grew up in Massachusetts, where he attended Quincy High School and played football. Over the years, ...

Bradenton Beach’s Wildlife Inc. has seen a spring surge in wildlife rescues. The nonprofit, Manatee County’s primary wildlife rehabilitation center, was founded in 1987 by Ed and Gail Straight at ...

The city of Holmes Beach is throwing the dogs a bone — or at least some new grass. Public works director Herb Raybourn told The Islander April 23 that a second stage of sod had been laid at the dog ...

A unionization effort initiated by Bradenton Beach police officers will proceed while commissioners seek a proposal for citywide law enforcement from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. During a ...

The Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach hosted a hearty “goodbye” April 17 for the part-time winter-spring golfers with a Farewell Scramble. The team of Charlie Porter, Chas Smith and Don Tilden combined ...

As we approach May, Anna Maria Island anglers are flocking to the shallow inshore waters to target spotted seatrout. With the lack of rain, most waters remain clear, providing good visibility and ...