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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.
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December 28, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
New financial disclosure law impacting AMI governments

New financial disclosure law impacting AMI governments

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Jake Spooner has resigned because of the state’s expanded Form 6 financial disclosure requirements that now apply to all Florida mayors and city…
December 22, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria: The Year in Review

Anna Maria: The Year in Review

ANNA MARIA – Vacation rental legislation, consolidation, the Gulf Island Ferry service, the Mote Marine outreach center, the Reimagining Pine Avenue planning process and the city’s 100th anniversary…
December 22, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Bright Holiday Lights winners announced

Bright Holiday Lights winners announced

ANNA MARIA – The city’s Bright Holiday Lights decorating contest produced a repeat winner and a first-time winner. For the second year in a row, Andrea and Jim Stepan won the residential category…
December 18, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party

AMI Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party

BRADENTON BEACH – Santa Claus paid a Saturday morning visit to the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge. Joined by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer during his Dec. 16 visit, Santa posed for photos and hand…
December 18, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria resident provides Christmas bikes

Anna Maria resident provides Christmas bikes

ANNA MARIA – During each Christmas season, Anna Maria resident Carl Augostini, 85, provides bikes for underprivileged children and adults in need. “This year, I did a total of 36 bikes – a new rec…
December 18, 2023
By Joe Hendricks

Kingan departs Anna Maria commission

ANNA MARIA – City Commis­sioner Robert Kingan has vacated his city commission seat. On Dec. 7, Kingan participated in his final Anna Maria City Commission meeting, ending the two-year term he was…
December 18, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria responds to OPPAGA request

Anna Maria responds to OPPAGA request

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria submitted a 19-page response to the consolidation study-related request for information letter received from the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Gove…
December 18, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Storm, high tides flood AMI

Storm, high tides flood AMI

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Heavy rains, high tides and storm surge produced localized flooding throughout Anna Maria Island Saturday night and Sunday morning. Shortly after 11 p.m., ABC 7 Chief Meteorolo…
December 13, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Six applicants seek two commission seats

Six applicants seek two commission seats

ANNA MARIA – With six applicants already seeking to fill two vacant city commission seats, the application period remains open until Friday, Dec. 15. John Kolojeski recently became the sixth applica…
December 11, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Gulf Island Ferry service delayed

Gulf Island Ferry service delayed

MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County hoped to launch its Gulf Island Ferry service on Dec. 8, but the anticipated launch date has been pushed back. When speaking to The Sun on Dec. 6, Bradenton Area Co…
December 10, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
German brewer buys Rod & Reel Pier

German brewer buys Rod & Reel Pier

ANNA MARIA – German brewer and restaurateur Oliver “Oli” Lemke is the new owner of the iconic Rod & Reel Pier and restaurant in Anna Maria. German businessman Mario Schoenfelder bought the Rod…
December 5, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Home mail delivery not an option in Anna Maria

Home mail delivery not an option in Anna Maria

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria is the only city on Anna Maria Island that doesn’t have home and business mail delivery and folks in Anna Maria’s 34216 zip code seem to like it that way. Anna Maria re…
November 28, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Paving and pavement marking contracts approved

Paving, street marking contracts approved

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners recently approved a contract with Superior Asphalt to mill and resurface various streets and roads throughout the city. The total cost of the work approved on Nov…
November 28, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Aquatic harvester purchase still pending

Aquatic harvester purchase pending

HOLMES BEACH – The city commission has delayed the previously authorized purchase of an aquatic harvester that would remove floating algae, seagrass and dead marine life from residential canals and S…
November 28, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor proposes Reimagining Pine Avenue test corridor

Mayor proposes Reimagining Pine Avenue test corridor

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy proposes creating a one-block Reimagining Pine Avenue test corridor along Pine Avenue, between Gulf Drive and North Shore Drive. Murphy presented his one-block prototyp…