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Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island, Inc. (IRE) has acquired Betsy Hills Real Estate (BHRE), including both the brokerage and the office site, effective 9 December, 2011.
The former BHRE office, located in the City of Anna Maria at 419 Pine Avenue, is now a second IRE office.
IRE’s Broker, Larry Chatt, said, "Betsy Hills Real Estate has been a fixture on Anna Maria Island for more than 30 years. We are both excited and pleased to have acquired this outstanding company. "
Chatt continued, "All office staff and sales personnel will be retained. The combination of our teams will afford us the opportunity to serve our customers even better than before."
Betsy Hills said, "I am elated to be part of the Island Real Estate team. I know the Pine Avenue-Anna Maria City location will compliment Island Real Estate's services well. I know my legacy is in fantastic hands with Island Real Estate."
On Monday, December 5th, 2011 the Anna Maria Oyster Bars closed their doors early to host dinners for the faculty and staff of three local schools. The Cortez location hosted Palma Sola Elementary faculty and staff, the Ellenton location hosted Annie Lucy Williams Elementary faculty and staff and the third location, Landside, hosted Bayshore Elementary faculty and staff. This is the ninth year the Anna Maria Oyster Bars have hosted a Christmas Party/Teacher Appreciation Dinner for the school’s faculty and staff. Over the years the Anna Maria Oyster Bar has hosted 23 elementary and middle schools for this special occasion in appreciation for all that they do.
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Dave Samler has been named Administrative and Operations Consultant with Rebecca Samler, PA, Realtor, of Re/Max Alliance Group. Dave, a longtime Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School Athletic Director, Baseball Coach, Physical Education and Math Teacher brings with him a wealth of administrative skills and is proficient in systems building and analysis. Dave recently retired from Saint Stephen’s after 33 years of service. Rebecca is a consistent multi-million dollar producer and a 6-year Five-Star Best in Client Satisfaction Real Estate Agent.
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Each Christmas, Manatee County Citizen Review, Inc., under the administration of Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court, R.B. ”Chips“ Shore, has partnered with the community to collect Christmas presents for Manatee County’s children in foster care. This year, in partnership with the Safe Children Coalition, the Manatee County Citizen Review staff reached out to Clerk’s employees, ”Cream of the Crop 4H,“ ”Second Bayshore Ladies“ and the program’s own 23 volunteers to collect over 150 gifts for 35 children who otherwise might not be able to feel any spirit of Christmas.
”Each year, I am so humbled by the generosity of everyone who gives so willingly to the ”Be an Angel for an Angel“ program,“ says R.B. ”Chips“ Shore, ”This year has been particularly poignant for me as the Manatee County Citizen Review program will end in January 2012 after 16 years of outstanding service to our community’s most vulnerable members–our children in out-of-home care. While other members in our community will, no doubt, make up for the gifts we will no longer provide, no other program will protect our children the way Citizen Review did.“
Service Club of Manatee County will host The 47th Annual Antiques and Collectibles Show and Sale on February 17, 18, and 19 at the Manatee Convention Center in Palmetto. Fifty outstanding vendors will showcase silver, fine china, jewelry, porcelains, glassware, textiles, paintings, furniture, decorative accessories, and more.
The show kicks off on Friday, February 17, with a Gala Preview Evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Guests at the festive opening reception will have the opportunity to preview the show, purchase merchandise, and enjoy an elegant buffet of gourmet hors d'oeuvres and desserts prepared by Service Club members. Gala tickets can be purchased from Service Club members for $10 in advance or $20 at the door and are good for the entire weekend.
Saturday and Sunday show tickets are $6 at the door. Show hours on Saturday, February 18, are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, February 19, are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Antique appraisals by Kennedy Brothers Appraisals will be available on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. New this year will be onsite jewelry repair. Crystal repair and a gold buyer will be available throughout the weekend.
For information or tickets, call 941-812-8226 or visit www.ManateeServiceClub.com. Manatee Convention Center is located at One Haben Boulevard in Palmetto.
The South Florida Museum is pleased to announce that more than 100 individuals have contributed to the ”Ripple Effect for Manatees“ resulting in the achievement of a $40,000 fundraising goal. The campaign was initiated in July 2011 by two anonymous donors who each pledged $10,000 to the Museum’s Manatee Care Program and challenged the community to join them in support of Florida’s endangered gentle giants. During the past five months, almost $21,000 has been donated through online gifts directly to the Museum and visitors contributing at the front desk, as well as donations mailed to the Museum, processed via phone and $500 collected through a Gulf Coast Gives project on the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s online giving program.
The Museum is not eligible for funding from the state or federal government directly for manatee care, so this program requires significant private support and the organization’s leadership and staff members are grateful for these recent contributions.
”Thanks to the two generous donors who appealed to the community with the challenge match, the two original $10,000 gifts grew to just over $40,000 for these amazing animals in our care,“ said Brynne Anne Besio, the South Florida Museum’s executive director. ”The Ripple Effect has garnered increased awareness about the care we provide recovering manatees and generated about half of the funds necessary to cover this year’s food bill.“
The Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium accounts for approximately 15% of the organization’s budget, or $260,000 annually. Expenses include providing highly-specialized veterinary care and transportation costs for release, while a large percentage of the funds go towards maintaining healthy diets–primarily romaine lettuce supplemented by kale, carrots and potatoes–for the manatees. Manatees eat 10% to 20% of their body weight each day, depending on their size and age, resulting in annual food costs which can reach $75,000 each year.
While manatees are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are no federal or state funds available for the type of care second stage rehabilitation facilities such as the South Florida Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium provide. City of Bradenton and Manatee County contributions cover less than 10% of expenses.
As a second stage rehabilitation facility, manatees are transferred to the Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium from a critical care hospital once their condition is stable. The Aquarium’s staff works 365 days a year to feed, monitor their condition and care for them until their release. Typically a ”visiting“ manatee stays for many months while recovering from cold stress (similar to frostbite), illness, injury or having been orphaned. Since joining the manatee rehabilitation network in 1998, the Museum has cared for 23 manatees. Brandee and Charlie are Snooty’s current companions. Brandee arrived at the Museum in August 2010 and is expected to be released in early 2012. Charlie, a young orphaned male manatee, arrived at the Museum in May 2011. Once a combination of size, weight and behavior requirements are met, his release is expected in early 2013.
To make a contribution to the Museum’s Manatee Care Program or other programs, call 941-746-4131, ext. 35, visit the secure donation link available through www.southfloridamuseum.org or mail a check payable to ”South Florida Museum“ to P.O. Box 9265, Bradenton, FL 34306 with any special designation noted.
Michael R. Pender Jr., Partner and Certified Public Accountant of Cavanaugh & CO, LLP, was elected to serve as the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The new Chairman commented: ”Pines of Sarasota is known for superior senior care in our community. I am privileged to chair its fundraising arm, the Pines Foundation. Our foundation is successfully funding enhanced resident care and upgraded facilities. My late partner and friend, Gerry Cavanaugh, served on the Pines board for years. I and my company are committed to following in Gerry’s footsteps.“
Sean McHale, Financial Advisor with SunTrust Bank, was elected as Secretary, and Shawn Byrd, Senior Relationship Manager at Wells Fargo Bank, was reelected as Treasurer
Karin Grablin, COO / Wealth Advisor at SRQ Wealth Management, and L. Thomas Baker, Executive Vice President and Sarasota Area Executive of Synovous Bank, joined the Board of Trustees for a one year term through 2012.
Outgoing Chair John Lopez, Esq., will become the Nominating Committee Chair.
Remaining Board of Directors members are:
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