Skip to main content
Joe Hendricks

Joe Hendricks

February 11, 2017
Joe Hendricks 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 goverments. He also covers Island-related matters at the county and state levels.
Email Joe Hendricks
July 15, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
AMI community ‘rises up’ for River

AMI community ‘rises up’ for River

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Island commu­nity is coming out in sup­port of Mackenzie Morgan, Jonathan Anasis, their 3 1/2-month-old son, River Anasis, and their young daughter, Vayda Anasis. On Ju…
July 15, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach ferry stop discussed

Holmes Beach ferry stop discussed

HOLMES BEACH – City elected officials are discussing with Manatee County tourism officials whether to add a Gulf Island Ferry stop in Holmes Beach. Currently, Manatee County’s contracted ferry ser…
July 8, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Candidates Farrington, Satcher answer voter questions

Candidates Farrington, Satcher answer voter questions

MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County Supervisor of Elections candidates Scott Farrington and James Satcher squared off in a June 19 debate hosted by the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club. After the debate, b…
July 8, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Mike LaPensee leaves a lasting legacy

Mike LaPensee leaves a lasting legacy

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air co-founder, LaPensee family patriarch and beloved community member Mike LaPensee passed away on June 22. He was 79. A celebration of life will…
July 1, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Second Pine Avenue RFP authorized

Second Pine Avenue RFP authorized

ANNA MARIA – As part of a block-by-block implementation strategy, the city of Anna Maria is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for phase 1-B of the Reimagining Pine Avenue brick paver sidewalk ins…
July 1, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor proposes reduced millage rate

Mayor proposes reduced millage rate

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy proposes lowering Anna Maria’s current 2.05 millage rate to the 1.8245 rollback rate, or lower. The rollback rate is the rate needed to generate the same ad valorem p…
June 28, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill

DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed proposed state legislation that would have significantly hindered city and county governments’ ability to regulate short-term vacation rentals locally. The F…
June 25, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor vetoes proposed charter amendment

Mayor vetoes proposed charter amendment

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy has vetoed an ordinance containing a proposed charter amendment that will now not be placed on the fall ballot unless the city commission overrides the veto by a 4-1 sup…
June 25, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Vacation rental bill transmitted to DeSantis

Vacation rental bill transmitted to DeSantis

TALLAHASSEE – The fate of the Florida Legislature’s latest attempt to reserve the regulation of vacation rentals to the state lies in the hands of Gov. Ron DeSantis. On June 17, DeSantis received th…
June 17, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
County Commission approves third ferry

Commission approves third Gulf Island Ferry boat

MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners have approved a $3 million budget amendment to fund the purchase of a third Gulf Island Ferry boat. On June 11, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Ex…
June 17, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Judge suspends Form 6 disclosure requirements

Judge suspends Form 6 disclosure requirements

FLORIDA – U.S. District Court Judge Melissa Damian has issued a temporary injunction that suspends the Form 6 financial disclosure requirements imposed on Florida mayors and city commission members e…
June 10, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
District 3 primary pits Siddique against Culbreath

District 3 primary pits Siddique against Culbreath

MANATEE COUNTY – The District 3 Manatee County Commission race reshaped by incumbent Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s switch to the District 7 at-large race sets up a Republican primary race betw…
June 10, 2024
By Joe Hendricks

Four candidates qualify in Anna Maria

ANNA MARIA – The first week of Anna Maria’s two-week candidate qualifying period saw city commission chair Mark Short and former city commissioner Brian Seymour qualify to face each other in the race…
June 3, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor optimistic about vacation rental bill’s fate

Mayor optimistic about vacation rental bill’s fate

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is growing increasingly confident that the Florida Legislature’s latest attempt to preempt vacation rental regulation to the state will once again fail. Proposed and su…
June 3, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Reimagining Pine Avenue one step at a time

Reimagining Pine Avenue one step at a time

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy has proposed a block-by-block approach to installing permeable brick paver sidewalks along Pine Avenue where meandering unpaved paths currently exist. New crosswalks wo…