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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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November 5, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Music festival assists Wildlife Inc.

Music festival assists Wildlife Inc.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Drift In, its patrons, the local business community and some local musicians raised $4,665 for Wildlife Inc. during Saturday’s Drift In Rock & Blues Festival. The money r…
November 5, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Petitioners challenge Cortez Bridge decision

Petitioners challenge Cortez Bridge decision

CORTEZ – Opponents of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) plans for the replacement of the Cortez Bridge have filed a petition for a formal administrative hearing before the State of Fl…
November 5, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Pier design conflict being addressed

Pier design conflict being addressed

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is working to resolve the design conflicts recently discovered between the architect, Barron Schimberg, who designed the new pier buildings and the engineering firm, Ayr…
October 30, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Pier issues present additional challenges

Pier issues present additional challenges

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy will seek city commission authorization to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) for the potential lease of the city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings being built…
October 26, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Lay-By resort sold to LLC with Nashville ties

Lay-By resort sold to LLC with Nashville ties

HOLMES BEACH – The Lay-By resort has been sold to Nashville-based Coasting LLC and there is much speculation as to whether two married country music stars are behind the recent purchase. The prope…
October 22, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

ANNA MARIA – City Pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder has rejected Mayor Dan Murphy’s proposed rental rates for the new pier-based restaurant and bait shop currently under construction. On Sept. 30, Mu…
October 22, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Cortez Bridge design moving forward

Cortez Bridge design moving forward

CORTEZ – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recently issued a written announcement regarding its ongoing plans to replace the Cortez Bridge drawbridge with a 65-foot, high-level fixed sp…
October 21, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria farmers’ market returns

Anna Maria farmers market returns

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria’s weekly farmers market is back. The seasonal market opened its third year of operations at City Pier Park on Tuesday, Oct. 15. From now until mid-May, the farm…
October 19, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor affecting Anna Maria Island

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor affects Anna Maria Island

Updated Oct. 19, 2019 at 8:35 p.m. – ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor caused high surf, rip currents, wind gusts and flooding today on Anna Maria Island as it churned in the Gulf of M…
October 15, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Music festival will benefit Wildlife Inc.

Music festival to benefit Wildlife Inc.

The Drift In’s Rock & Blues Festival on Saturday, Nov. 2 will also serve as a fundraiser for Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation, the Bradenton Beach-based bird and animal education and re…
October 15, 2019
By Joe Hendricks

Vacation rental advertising ordinance adopted

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has a new ordinance on misleading advertising as part of its ongoing enforcement of vacation rental occupancy limits. Adopted on second and final reading on Oct…
October 11, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Construction begins on pier buildings

Construction begins on pier buildings

ANNA MARIA – The construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier bait shop began this week with Mason Martin Builders erecting the first bait shop wall on Tuesday, Oct. 8. On Thursday, Oct. 10, Mayor…
October 10, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
White PVC railings discussed for Bridge Street Pier

White PVC railings discussed for Bridge Street Pier

BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is exploring the possibility of replacing the unpainted Bridge Street Pier railings with white plastic PVC railings. On Wednesday…
October 8, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Cortez Road roundabout proposed

Cortez Road roundabout proposed

BRADENTON BEACH – Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) plans to build a roundabout at Cortez Road and Gulf Drive will remain on hold until officials decide where the span of the new Cortez Bri…
October 7, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Post office parking agreement reached

Post office parking agreement reached

BRADENTON BEACH – After-hours and weekend parking will soon be allowed in the post office parking lot. The general parking allowance will not take effect until signs are posted that state the hour…