ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria hosted a community block party at City Pier Park on May 24.
Mayor Mark Short and City Commissioner Charlie Salem suggested the event as a way to bring the community together as the post-hurricane recovery process continues for many Anna Maria residents.
The late afternoon, early evening gathering featured live music by The Stockton Brothers, featuring Cam Stockton on guitar and vocals, Tyler Dunn on keyboards and Paul Kunkemoeller on drums. Cam’s brother, Tony, had to sit the gig out as he recovers from a recent surgery.
The BYOB, pot-luck-style gathering featured several tables filled with food, snacks and desserts community members brought to share with others. The offerings included brownies baked by Mayor Mark Short’s wife, Pat, and a few dozen hot dogs City Commissioner Gary McMullen cooked on his propane griddle that was delivered to the park for the occasion.
“I’m very happy,” Mark Short said. “The turnout is great, there’s probably a hundred or so people that showed up. Like I said in our commission meeting, this was a ‘science experiment’ for us. It tells me this is something we need to do in the fall, when the weather cools down; and we need to promote the community getting together for events like this. People are seeing people they haven’t seen in a while – chatting, sharing a meal and enjoying some nice music; and we’re utilizing a park that needs to be utilized more.”
“It was great to see so many islanders out enjoying the music and reconnecting with each other,” Salem said. “The fact that this was started by residents looking to keep up their tradition of meeting at the City Pier just shows how resilient our resident community is.”
“I like it,” McMullen said. “I hope it continues when we have cooler weather in the fall. This is a perfect get-together. The Stockton Brothers are good, the crowd is good and it’s good to see everybody that’s here. I hope to be cooking hamburgers at the next one.”
Anna Maria resident and Cool Beans AMI coffee shop owner Morgan Bryant said, “It’s awesome. I love that the community’s coming together and that the city threw a little get-together for the community. It’s a nice thing to do and it’s nice to see everybody. Music, food and drinks bring people together.”
Leslie Vandenberg has lived in Anna Maria since 1991. During the block party, she and her friend, Donna Kamp, sat on a park bench enjoying the food, music, scenery and each other’s company.
“I think it’s lovely, and luckily it’s not too hot,” Vandenberg said. “It’s nice seeing people you don’t see very often – unless you come to the post office. I was just talking to a lady that I hadn’t seen for a while and we of course were talking hurricanes.”
Kamp bought an investment home in Anna Maria in 1981 and became an Anna Maria resident in 2006.
“I think this is really great,” she said. “It’s an excellent idea. People need to get together like this more often to meet their neighbors.”
Holmes Beach resident and Planning Commissioner Richard Brown made his way to Anna Maria to enjoy the block party and he spent some conversing with Anna Maria Planning and Zoning Board member Jeff Rodencal.
“I enjoy this. It’s a great together with friends and family. We get to commiserate and celebrate,” Brown said.
