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Joe Hendricks

Joe Hendricks

February 11, 2017
Joe Hendricks is the editor of the Anna Maria Island Sun. As a Sun reporter, Joe primarily covers the cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach, including those two city governments. He also covers Island-related matters at the county and state levels, breaking Island news, events and entertainment and more.
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December 2, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
‘Captain Anthony’ hopes to land paid parking lot

‘Captain Anthony’ hopes to land paid parking lot

ANNA MARIA – Pending city com­mission approval, Anthony and Joann Manali plan to operate a 26-space paid parking lot on their commercially-zoned property at 105 Spring Ave. The couple owns and opera…
December 2, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Enjoy Lester Family Fun Day on Saturday

Enjoy Lester Family Fun Day on Saturday

ANNA MARIA – The Center of Anna Maria Island’s annual Lester Family Fun Day is happening on Saturday, Dec. 6. Admission is free for the family-friendly event that starts at 10:30 a.m. and concludes…
December 2, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
City baseball field being restored

City baseball field being restored

HOLMES BEACH – The city-owned Birdie Tebbetts Field has been re-sodded and is being restored and enhanced. Once a regulation-size field, the new field is built to Little League dimen­sions, has new…
December 2, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Augello departing as Holmes Beach city attorney

Augello departing as Holmes Beach city attorney

HOLMES BEACH – Erica Augello’s tenure as the Holmes Beach city attorney is coming to an end and a familiar face, Randy Mora, is expected to succeed her. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, Mayor Judy Titsworth wil…
December 2, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach celebrates 75 years

Holmes Beach celebrates 75 years

HOLMES BEACH – The city will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Friday, Dec. 5 with music, food, shopping and more. Hosted by the city and co-sponsored by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors B…
November 25, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Newly reconfigured Holmes Beach commission elects Whitmore as chair

Reconfigured Holmes Beach commission elects Whitmore as chair

HOLMES BEACH – Steve Oelfke, Jessica Patel and Terry Schaefer were sworn in to their two-year city commission terms on Nov. 18, followed by the newly-reconfigured commission’s organizational meeting…
November 25, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Rotary, Chamber present annual business awards

Rotary, Chamber present annual business awards

HOLMES BEACH – This year’s Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island and Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce annual business awards ceremony was a celebration of com­munity and resiliency in the wake of las…
November 25, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
The Rod & Reel restaurant sets sail

The Rod & Reel restaurant sets sail

HOLMES BEACH – The Rod & Reel restaurant is now open as a landlocked affiliate of the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria that awaits replacement after its destruction by Hurricane Milton last year…
November 25, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
65th Street sidewalk plans discarded

65th Street sidewalk plans discarded

HOLMES BEACH – Due to public opposition, the city of Holmes Beach’s multi-use path enhancement project along Marina Drive will not include a brick paver sidewalk along 65th Street. According to the…
November 22, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
White Sands Beach Resort receives bomb threats

Male makes bomb, mass shooting threats on Anna Maria Island

HOLMES BEACH – Police responded to two separate bomb threats and a mass shooting threat at the White Sands Beach Resort, 6504 Gulf Drive, on Nov. 21. “We’re doing everything we can to identify the s…
November 18, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
New Rod & Reel expected to open this week

New Rod & Reel expected to open this week

HOLMES BEACH – If all goes accord­ing to plan, Oliver “Oli” Lemke will open The Rod & Reel restaurant in Holmes Beach on Friday, Nov. 21 at 8 a.m. The Rod & Reel is located at 3246 East Bay…
November 18, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria honors veterans with parade, recognition ceremony

Anna Maria honors veterans on Veterans Day

ANNA MARIA – Colder than usual weather didn’t chill the appreciation, attendance and enthusiasm for the city of Anna Maria’s Old Soldiers & Sailors Veterans Day parade and the post-parade veteran…
November 18, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Island Players celebrate ‘A Doublewide, Texas Christmas’

Island Players celebrate ‘A Doublewide, Texas Christmas’

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players’ hurricane-delayed production of “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas” opened on Nov. 13, and it was worth the wait. The performances will continue through Sunday, Nov. 23…
November 11, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach election: candidate comments, campaign finances

Newly-elected commissioners reflect on election

HOLMES BEACH – Incum­bent Commissioner Steve Oelfke, first-time candidate Jessica Patel and incumbent Commissioner Terry Schaefer won the three city commission seats decided in the city election that…
November 11, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
City declines to take over maintenance of SR 64 rights of way

City declines to take over maintenance of SR 64 rights of way

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners recently voted 4-0 against entering into a maintenance agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) pertaining to the roadside rights of way at the…