June 1, 2024
Holmes Beach prepares residents for hurricane season
HOLMES BEACH – City leaders did not hold back in this year’s hurricane preparedness town hall meeting. In addition to offering resources to prepare for the best possible outcome, Police Chief Bill To…
May 28, 2024
Local restaurant to close its doors
HOLMES BEACH – A local favorite for more than two decades, Peach’s Restaurant in the Anna Maria Island Shopping Center will close its doors for good on Sunday, June 16.
The Father’s Day closure was…
May 20, 2024
Man drowns off Holmes Beach
HOLMES BEACH – A day at the beach ended in tragedy on May 18 when an unidentified 75-year-old man drowned in the Gulf of Mexico near the 77th Street beach access.
West Manatee Fire Rescue Fire Marsh…
May 20, 2024
Beach parking garage gets design funding
MANATEE COUNTY – Whether residents want it or not, the wheels are in motion for county taxpayers to foot the bill for a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.
County commission…
May 7, 2024
County pushes for fire district mergers
MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners asked the county’s seven fire chiefs to consider merging their districts at an April 23 meeting.
Commissioners said they would support doing a study to look int…
May 6, 2024
Hundreds rally against consolidation, garage
HOLMES BEACH – The Florida heat didn’t stop a crowd from gathering at City Field on Saturday to express their opposition to the Manatee County Commission and Florida Legislature consolidating or elim…
April 30, 2024
Residents consider initiating consolidation referendum
HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Island residents are working to find ways to fight back against a loss of home rule and the potential consolidation or elimination of the three Island cities, and are consid…
April 30, 2024
City leaders talk mangrove regulations
HOLMES BEACH – City leaders are considering taking on the responsibility for local mangrove regulation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
Development Services Director C…
April 29, 2024
Mayor, state legislator discuss consolidation
HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth met with Rep. Will Robinson Jr. recently to discuss the potential for consolidation or elimination of the three Anna Maria Island cities. She said that after the m…
April 22, 2024
Fire district plans rate hike
MANATEE COUNTY – Property owners in West Manatee Fire Rescue’s district will notice a change on their tax bills this fall if commissioners vote to pass a proposed rate increase.
At an April 16 budge…
April 15, 2024
Locals join hands to fight big government
HOLMES BEACH – A grassroots movement to bring awareness to Florida legislators’ efforts to consolidate or eliminate the three Anna Maria Island cities drew about 300 people to its first event, a peac…
April 15, 2024
Commissioners address consolidation
HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners again discussed their concern about a move by the state Legislature to eliminate the three Anna Maria Island cities, consolidating them into one city, into the city of Br…
April 8, 2024
Property owners seek stop to kayak tours
HOLMES BEACH – Residents Roger and Irene Alvarez are hoping for help from the legal system to prevent kayaking clients from Fun Florida Tours from trespassing on their property and causing what they…
April 1, 2024
OPPAGA visit concerns city leaders
HOLMES BEACH – The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study being conducted on the three Anna Maria Island cities is starting to rattle local city leaders.
During a Ma…
March 26, 2024
Fire department sued over rental regulations
BRADENTON – Almost a year after passing a resolution changing the district’s approach to taxing and inspecting vacation rental properties in residential areas, West Manatee Fire Rescue is receiving p…

















