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Anna Maria

Happiest city
Anna Maria, Community News, Featured

City sitting out ‘happiest town’ vote

Jan 30, 2018 – Joe Hendricks
January 12, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Grand Tree Anna Maria

Local tree regulations under attack

Updated Jan. 13, 2018 ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Florida Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) has filed a bill that seeks to prevent local governments from regulating tree removal and trimming and reserve that…
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January 6, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria Pier Plank International

Pier planks to become memorial walls

ANNA MARIA – The engraved wooden planks on the soon-to-be-replaced Anna Maria City Pier will be removed and used to build outdoor memorial walls at City Pier Park and at the Anna Maria Island Histori…
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January 2, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Doug Copeland

Commission seeks sign relief for business owners

ANNA MARIA – City Commissioners are proposing lifting the ban on A-frame sandwich board signs due to the impact the closure of the Anna Maria City Pier is having on local businesses. Amended in 20…
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December 30, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria Pier Damage

Pier closure tops Anna Maria stories in 2017

ANNA MARIA – The pending replacement of the Anna Maria City Pier was a big story that became a bigger story when Hurricane Irma damaged the pier in September, leading to its closure. The pier will no…
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December 22, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
John Chappie

Mayor seeks equal distribution of beach concession funds

BRADENTON BEACH – Mayor John Chappie supports the city of Anna Maria’s request to use $333,000 of surplus beach concession revenues for the replacement of the City Pier, but he wants a fair share of…
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December 19, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Copeland Citizen of Year

Copeland named Citizen of the Year

ANNA MARIA – Longtime city resident and retired Anna Maria Island reporter Pat Copeland is the city of Anna Maria’s 2017 Citizen of the Year. Copeland was presented with the award and honored with…
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December 12, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Building official

Anna Maria hires new building official

ANNA MARIA – Less than a week after terminating Building Official Jimmy Strickland, Mayor Dan Murphy and the City Commission had his replacement on deck. Effective Jan. 1, David Greenbaum will bec…
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December 5, 2017
By Cindy Lane
Anna Maria City Pier

Pier may get $1.5M in tourist tax funds

ANNA MARIA – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) voted unanimously on Monday, Dec. 4 to recommend that the county reimburse the city up to $1.5 million of the $3.2 million cost of th…
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December 2, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Strickland fired

Flood insurance discounts jeopardized

ANNA MARIA – Building Official Jimmy Strickland has been terminated for inactions that could result in higher flood insurance premiums for property owners in the city of Anna Maria. City officials…
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November 29, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Pier reunion

Pier closing leaves lasting impact

ANNA MARIA – The former employees of the restaurant and adjoining bait shop on the Anna Maria City Pier gathered Thanksgiving morning at the nearby Bayfront Park. The group of about 40 people also…
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April 9, 2025
11:45 am

The Off-Stage Ladies of the Island Players, April luncheon meeting