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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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May 2, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
FDEP inspects Aqua’s mangrove trimming, results remain unknown

FDEP inspects Aqua’s mangrove trimming

MANATEE COUNTY – State environmental authorities have conducted their initial inspection of the mangrove trimming that recently occurred along the shoreline of the Aqua property being developed adjac…
May 2, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Commission formally extends Mote Marine deadlines

Commission formally extends Mote Marine deadlines

ANNA MARIA – The city and Mote Marine Laboratory have agreed to a lease addendum formally establishing the deadlines for Mote to begin and complete the installation of its Anna Maria City Pier Marine…
May 2, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach celebrates Arbor Day park improvements

Bradenton Beach celebrates Arbor Day park improvements

BRADENTON BEACH – The city and its partners went all out for this year’s National Arbor Day celebration. Prior to Friday morning’s Arbor Day ceremony, seven sabal palm trees, three green buttonwoo…
April 25, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
FDEP investigating Aqua’s mangrove trimming

FDEP investigating Aqua’s mangrove trimming

MANATEE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is investigating complaints about mangrove trimming along the Aqua development’s shoreline. Formerly known as Long Bar Po…
April 24, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Mote given 2023 deadline to complete City Pier facility

Mote Marine off the hook – for now

ANNA MARIA – Mote Marine Laboratory now has until March 1, 2023, to complete its installation of the Anna Maria City Pier Marine Education Outreach Center. While the project will be a year late, i…
April 18, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
City asks governor to veto proposed legislation

City asks governor to veto proposed legislation

ANNA MARIA – The mayor and city commission are asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto Senate Bill 620, also referred to as the Local Business Protection Act. The commission took this action when adoptin…
April 18, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Speed bumps being added to humpback bridges

Speed bumps to be added at humpback bridges

ANNA MARIA – Speed bumps will soon be installed at the humpback bridges on Crescent Drive and North Bay Boulevard. The speed bumps will be placed at both ends of each bridge and be accompanied by…
April 18, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria requiring pool alarms at rental properties

Anna Maria to require pool alarms at rental properties

ANNA MARIA – The city is in the process of adopting a new pool safety ordinance that will require pool alarms at all residential rental properties. “We’ve had some near tragedies with regard to po…
April 17, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Jack Dietrich reflects on a life well-lived

Jack Dietrich reflects on a well-lived life

ANNA MARIA – Former Anna Maria Elementary Principal Jack Dietrich, 92, is living out his golden years surrounded by family members and friends at his Anna Maria home. These days, Jack can be found…
April 17, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Murphy to Mote: Fish or cut bait

Murphy to Mote: Fish or cut bait

ANNA MARIA – Dr. Michael Crosby and his Mote Marine Laboratory associates have until Friday to present the final conceptual plans for an educational outreach center on the City Pier. Mote’s latest…
April 13, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Tram operator asked to focus on beach parking spaces

Tram operator asked to focus on beach parking spaces

BRADENTON BEACH – The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) members want the CRA-funded Old Town Trams to serve more people who park in the Manatee County-owned parking spaces at Cortez Beach and Coqu…
April 11, 2022
By Joe Hendricks

New charter review committee forms

BRADENTON BEACH – The City Commission has appointed a new charter review committee and term limits for elected officials could be one topic for discussion. Commissioners approved the committee app…
April 10, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Moose kids enjoy Easter egg hunt

Moose kids enjoy Easter egg hunt

BRADENTON BEACH – Kids swarmed onto the beach at the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge Saturday for the annual Easter egg hunt searching for 1,000 brightly colored plastic eggs. Upon arrival at Moose…
April 3, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Mystery tour raises money for Ukrainians

Mystery tour raises money for Ukrainians

LONGBOAT KEY – Women from the Cedars Tennis Resort & Club embarked on a mystery tour aboard the Anna Maria Island Privateer’s parade vessel, the Skullywag, on April Fools’ Day, but they had a ser…
March 31, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Proposed water taxi service produces no formal proposals

Proposed water taxi service attracts no formal proposals

ANNA MARIA – Water taxi operators aren’t expressing interest in operating a water taxi service between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Wednesday, March 30 was the deadline to submit a pr…