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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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January 23, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Fundraiser started for helpful mechanic

Fundraiser started for helpful mechanic

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Mobile automobile mechanic and handyman Keith Alvarez is known around Anna Maria Island for his mechanical expertise and his willingness to help others. Alvarez, 54, a Bradento…
January 17, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Street paving begins this week

Street paving begins this week

ANNA MARIA – Several Anna Maria streets will be repaved during the next two weeks. On Thursday, Jan. 13, Mayor Dan Murphy provided city commissioners with an update on the paving project. He said…
January 17, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
State legislation threatens ability to adopt local ordinances

State legislation threatens ability to adopt local ordinances

ANNA MARIA – City officials remain concerned about the potential ramifications of two proposed state laws pertaining to the adoption of city ordinances and the related recovery of attorneys’ fees…
January 16, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Commission considering clam and seagrass restoration request

Commission considering clam, seagrass restoration request

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria City Commission has deferred for two weeks a decision on a $50,000 funding request for proposed clam and seagrass restoration projects. The previously discussed request…
January 16, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Raccoon rescued from engine compartment

Raccoon rescued from engine compartment

BRADENTON BEACH – Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center Inc. and local veterinarian Dr. Bill Bystrom helped rescue a raccoon that became trapped in an automobile’s engine compartment. Accor…
January 15, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
AMI Historical Society hosting An Evening of the Arts

AMI Historical Society to showcase local art

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Island Historical Society will host An Evening of the Arts on Friday, Jan. 21. Open to the public, the free event will take place at the Anna Maria Island Historical Mu…
January 10, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
FDOT sidewalk still concerns city officials

FDOT sidewalk still concerns city officials

UPDATED JAN. 14, 2022 – BRADENTON BEACH – City officials are not yet willing to accept the maintenance responsibilities for the brick paver sidewalk the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in…
January 10, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Engineering underway for potential shoreline resiliency project

Engineering underway for potential shoreline resiliency project

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials do not support a barrier wall being included in the plans for a potential living shoreline/shoreline resiliency project along Bay Drive South. On Thursday, Jan. 6…
January 9, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Wing foil rider bitten by shark offshore of Anna Maria

Shark bites wing foil rider off Anna Maria

ANNA MARIA – Erika Lane was bitten by a shark on Dec. 22 while wing-foiling in the waters near the Anna Maria City Pier. On Dec. 30, Lane shared a video recap of the incident on her YouTube ch…
January 4, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria: The Year in Review

Anna Maria: The Year in Review

ANNA MARIA – The pending Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvements and the pending Mote Educational Outreach Center were among the projects initiated in Anna Maria in 2021. The year was also mar…
January 4, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach: The Year in Review

Bradenton Beach: The Year in Review

BRADENTON BEACH – The city of Bradenton Beach embarked on some important public projects in 2021 and also welcomed a familiar face as the city’s new police chief. January In January, the mayor and…
January 2, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria alternating parking switches soon

Anna Maria alternating parking switches soon

ANNA MARIA – The side of the street where street-side parking is allowed will soon change on several beach access streets. The alternating street-side parking changes will go into effect beginning…
January 2, 2022
By Joe Hendricks
Bridge Street revelers usher in the new year

Bridge Street revelers usher in the new year

Bridge Street was the epicenter of the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Bradenton Beach. On a foggy Friday evening, the festivities extended all along the street as residents, locals and visitors welco…
December 27, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
Retired firefighter to perform Citrus Bowl coin toss

Retired firefighter to perform Citrus Bowl coin toss

HOLMES BEACH – Vrbo (Vacation rental by owner) has selected Holmes Beach vacation rental owner Mike Wilcox to perform the coin toss at the Vrbo Citrus Bowl game in Orlando. The Vrbo Citrus Bowl ga…
December 22, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
City addressing Pine Avenue streetlight complaint

City addressing Pine Avenue streetlight complaint

ANNA MARIA – Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and Anna Maria resident Janis Ian waxed poetic when recently sharing her concerns about the glare coming off a new streetlight near her home on Pine Aven…