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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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November 7, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor rescinds employment offer to pending public works director

Mayor rescinds employment offer to pending public works director

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth has rescinded her offer to Addie Javed to serve as the city’s next public works director and city engineer. Titsworth did so after the city received a phone call…
November 4, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach election results

Oelfke, Patel, Schaefer win Holmes Beach commission seats

HOLMES BEACH – Steve Oelfke, Jessica Patel and Terry Schaefer won city commission seats in the city election that concluded this evening. According to the unofficial election results posted at the M…
November 4, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
TDC supports Holmes Beach funding requests

TDC supports Holmes Beach funding requests

HOLMES BEACH – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommends county commission approval of the city of Holmes Beach’s request to use $395,011 in tourist development tax revenues to…
November 4, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Key Royale Drive speed tables installed

Key Royale Drive speed tables installed

HOLMES BEACH – Two speed tables are now in place in the 500 block of Key Royale Drive between Marina Drive and the Key Royale Bridge. Key Royale Drive is the only road that leads from Marina Drive t…
November 4, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Kwiatkowski named Florida Fire Marshal of the Year

Kwiatkowski named Florida Fire Marshal of the Year

BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue District (WMFR) Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski is the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association’s 2025 Florida Fire Marshal of the Year. The award was pr…
October 27, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Neighborhood meeting addresses resiliency project impacts, concerns

Neighborhood meeting addresses resiliency project impacts, concerns

HOLMES BEACH – About 30 residents attended a neighborhood meeting held at the corner of Holmes Boulevard and 56th Street on Oct. 24. The meeting pertained to a $1.73 million sea level rise resilienc…
October 27, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach commission seats to be decided Nov. 4

Holmes Beach commission seats to be decided Nov. 4

HOLMES BEACH – The three winners in the four-candidate Holmes Beach City Commission race will be known after in-person voting concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Carol Soustek, Terry Schae­fer, Steve Oelf…
October 27, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
City Block Party celebrates the community’s continued recovery

City Block Party celebrates the community’s continued recovery

ANNA MARIA – An estimated 150 people, and maybe more, attended the City Block Party at City Pier Park on Oct. 24. Hosted by the city of Anna Maria from 5-8 p.m. and blessed with beautiful weather, t…
October 27, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
City Pier buildings emptied

City Pier buildings emptied

ANNA MARIA – The hurricane-damaged contents of the city-owned buildings at the T-end of the City Pier have been removed. The content removal is the first step of cleaning, remedi­ating and repairing…
October 27, 2025
By Joe Hendricks

Center Scoreboard: Basketball, Soccer

ADULT BASKETBALL WEEK 4 MI-Box 20, 17, 21 (1-2-1) Slim’s Place 20, 21, 19 (1-2-1) Salty Printing Win by Forfeit (1-3-0) Solid Rock Construction Forfeit (2-2-0) Island Lumber 22, 21, 22 (3-1-0) Brad…
October 22, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Police chief addresses campaign sign thefts

Police chief addresses campaign sign thefts

HOLMES BEACH – Police Chief Bill Tokajer reminds everyone that it’s illegal to remove a political campaign sign from someone else’s property. According to Tokajer, all four Holmes Beach City Commiss…
October 21, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Kids’ Halloween party returns to AMI Moose Lodge

Kids’ Halloween party returns to AMI Moose Lodge

BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188 was filled with the sights and sounds of Halloween during the annual kids’ Halloween party on Saturday. This year’s party took on greater signifi…
October 21, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Duncan Real Estate celebrates return to Pine Avenue

Duncan Real Estate celebrates return to Pine Avenue

ANNA MARIA – Duncan Real Estate celebrated the recent reopening of its hurricane-damaged Anna Maria office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a champagne toast, Chick-fil-A appetizers and the 7 Better D…
October 21, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Crowds welcome back Bayfest

Crowds welcome back Bayfest

ANNA MARIA – Beautiful weather, classic cars, live music, a wide array of vendors and great attendance made for a successful Bayfest celebration after last year’s festival was canceled due to the dam…
October 21, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
The Feast approved for additional outdoor seating

The Feast approved for additional outdoor seating

HOLMES BEACH – City commis­sioners unanimously approved a request from The Feast restaurant owners to expand their outdoor seat­ing capacity from eight to 28 seats. City commissioners approved the r…