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SUN contributor

March 17, 2017
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August 23, 2023
By SUN contributor
WMFR moves forward with vacation rental inspections

WMFR moves forward with vacation rental inspections

BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue’s board and staff are moving forward with beginning an annual inspection program for vacation rentals in the district that will reclassify the properties as comme…
August 23, 2023
By SUN contributor
Beach parking garage fight continues

Beach parking garage fight continues

MANATEE COUNTY – In the aftermath of a Manatee County Commission work session discussing the building of a parking garage at Manatee Beach, city and county officials continue to make their thoughts k…
August 21, 2023
By SUN contributor
August 21, 2023
By SUN contributor
August 15, 2023
By SUN contributor
County moves forward with beach garage design

County moves forward with beach garage design

MANATEE COUNTY – Parking garage plans for Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach are moving forward despite pushback from Anna Maria Island residents and one commissioner. During an Aug. 14 work session, cou…
July 31, 2023
By SUN contributor
Pool, yard rentals prohibited

Pool, yard rentals prohibited

HOLMES BEACH – A new website invites owners to place portions of their property for rent at an hourly rate, but city officials say that’s not an allowable use for residential properties in Anna Maria…
July 25, 2023
By SUN contributor

Fire department changing rules for vacation rentals

MANATEE COUNTY – Property owners located in West Manatee Fire Rescue’s district recently received some mail they likely weren’t expecting from the fire department. District leaders sent out a letter…
July 25, 2023
By SUN contributor
Testing shows drinking water free of toxins

Testing shows drinking water free of toxins

MANATEE COUNTY – County officials say that new tests confirm the drinking water coming from Lake Manatee is safe. In a July 18 press release, more than a week after attention was first drawn to the…
July 24, 2023
By SUN contributor

Letter to the Editor: Add beaches, not garages

My wife and I have been homeowners in Manatee County for 30 years and permanent residents for about half that time. We now reside full-time on Anna Maria Island, where we built a new home in 2014. It…
July 17, 2023
By SUN contributor

Group disputes county claim that drinking water remains safe

MANATEE COUNTY – A blue-green algae outbreak reported last week at Lake Manatee, the county’s primary drinking water reservoir, has prompted a local water quality watchdog group to question Manatee C…
July 17, 2023
By SUN contributor
Holmes Beach City Hall

Mayor seeks millage rate reduction

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth has tasked department heads to “sharpen their pencils” to reduce budget requests in order to try to lower the millage rate, giving a break to taxpayers. During a…
July 11, 2023
By SUN contributor
Island population drops in all three cities

Island population drops in all three cities

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – It may not come as a surprise to some long-time residents, but the population of this seven-mile stretch of paradise is dwindling. While the U.S. Census Bureau conducts 10-year…
July 10, 2023
By SUN contributor
Sundown town label struck down

Sundown town label struck down

HOLMES BEACH – According to a college website dedicated to social justice, Anna Maria Island’s largest city is open to all visitors, but only during the day. The History and Social Justice website j…
July 3, 2023
By SUN contributor
City leaders continue to fight parking garage

City leaders continue to fight parking garage

HOLMES BEACH – Gov. Ron DeSantis may have signed off on a beachfront parking garage, but that doesn’t mean that city leaders are giving up the fight to stop the garage from being built just yet. “…
June 26, 2023
By SUN contributor
Continued water disruptions expected on AMI

Continued water disruptions expected on AMI

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Customers can expect periodic continued disruptions to water services as contractors continue to work to replace a part of a water main after the aging pipe fell off the Anna Mari…