HOLMES BEACH – With the support of Holmes Beach city leaders, the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Fourth of July Processional is officially coming back in 2021.
Commissioners voted unanimously during a May 25 meeting to approve the temporary event permit for the parade, giving their stamp of approval for the return of one of the Island’s premier events. This year’s event is scheduled for Sunday, July 4, setting sail at 10 a.m. from Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and continuing down Gulf Drive, East Bay Drive, Manatee Avenue, Marina Drive, Palm Drive and Pine Avenue to Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. The event is free to participants in the parade who are asked to sign up in advance at www.amiprivateers.org and to the public.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, Privateers President Kim Boyd said that the group is asking all participants with 10 or more people on a float to wear masks and do a temperature check before boarding the float. Also, anyone participating in the parade who gets within 6 feet of parade viewers will need to wear a mask and gloves.
No candy will be allowed to be thrown from floats this year. Participants and parade spectators also are asked to not throw water balloons during the parade.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to promote this as a COVID-safe event,” Boyd said.
She added that city leaders in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach had already approved the event.
Commissioner Carol Soustek said that she feels that it’s OK to have “a little celebration here and there” to help people forget about COVID-19 and have a good time in an outdoor environment.
Commissioner Jim Kihm said that he feels people should be able to use common sense when celebrating the holiday.
“I am looking forward to this,” he said. “Thank you for doing this for the community.”
BRADENTON BEACH – The Anna Maria Island Privateers staged a friendly fundraising invasion of Bradenton Beach City Hall Friday evening.
The invading Privateers captured City Commissioner Jake Spooner inside city hall and shackled him to the mast of the Skullywag – the Privateer’s 65-foot pirate ship-themed vehicle that dropped anchor in the City Hall parking lot.
Privateer John “Lil’ John” Rutherford tracked down Commissioner Jake Spooner inside City Hall. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
For good measure, the ransom-seeking Privateers also snatched City Attorney Ricinda Perry and Commissioner Jan Vosburgh.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh proclaimed Friday to be Privateers’ Day in Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In her quest for freedom, Vosburgh was forced to turn over a ceremonial key to the city and proclaim Friday, Jan. 8 as Privateers’ Day in Bradenton Beach.
Mayor John Chappie and the city commissioners were given advance notice of the pending invasion during Thursday night’s commission meeting. Armed with a plastic sword, Chappie put up a valiant but short-lived fight to prevent the Privateers from storming city hall Friday evening in search of Spooner.
Mayor John Chappie tried in vain to defend City Hall from the friendly invaders. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In response to the ransom demands that Privateer Liaison Officer Tim “Hammer” Thompson announced from the foredeck of the Skullywag, Spooner, Perry, Chappie and the assembled citizens ponied up $650 in donations to free the captured city officials. The money raised during the ceremonial invasion will assist the Privateers’ ongoing efforts to provide scholarship assistance to local college students.
Standing aboard the Skullywag, and joined by additional chamber representatives for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce President Terri Kinder presented the Privateers with a proclamation that provides the Island-based non-profit organization with the authority to pillage and plunder their way about the Island during their year-long 50th anniversary celebrations.
Members of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce joined the Privateers aboard the Skullywag for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Friday’s festivities concluded with the Privateers inviting those present to join them in the celebratory sharing of snacks, grog and champagne. The Privateers then boarded the Skullywag and sailed over to the Drift In to continue their marauding ways.
The Privateers arrived at Bradenton Beach City Hall aboard their flagship, Skullywag. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Conducted entirely in the spirit of fun, fundraising and celebration, the theatrical invasion of City Hall was planned well in advance of the real-life events that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. earlier in the week. Similar fundraising invasions are being planned on the government fortresses in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach.
Thieves Market returns
Taking place in a new location this year, the Privateers’ seasonal Thieves Market will kick off at the G.T. Bray Recreational Center, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive W. in Bradenton, on Saturday, Jan. 16 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The Privateers’ Thieves Market returns on Saturday, Jan. 16. – AMI Privateers | Submitted
The Thieves Market’s traditional Coquina Beach location is not available this season due to drainage, stormwater and landscaping improvements taking place there.
Thieves Market offerings will include pre-owned treasures, handmade jewelry, apparel, sporting goods, antiques, food trucks, baked goods, fresh vegetables, a kids’ zone, live music and much more.
The monthly pirate-style flea markets will continue on Saturday, Feb. 20, Saturday, March 20 and Saturday, April 17. Market admission is free for shoppers. Market vendors pay $50 per market date to secure a 12×25-foot vending space. Larger spaces also are available.
If you’d like to hawk your wares at the Thieves Market, please contact Kim “Syren” Boyd at 931-639-0986 or reserve your space online at the Privateer’s website, www.amiprivateers.org.
The proceeds raised at the Thieves Markets will assist the Privateers’ ongoing mission of “Pirates for kids and community.”
Scholarship fundraising party
Replacing the Privateers’ Christmas party that was postponed in December, the Privateers will host a scholarship fundraising party at the Drift In in Bradenton Beach at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30. The fundraising efforts will include the infamous ‘Lotto Board’ raffle that earns the winner a $100 bill and $300 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets that could be worth a pirate’s fortune.
HOLMES BEACH – It’s beginning to look a lot more like Christmas, with the holiday decorations up and the Christmas tree of lights shimmering at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
Despite a rainy night, dozens of people gathered in front of the Chamber in Holmes Beach on Dec. 4 to take part in the annual tree lighting, which featured music and a visit from Santa Claus courtesy of his pirate elves, the Anna Maria Island Privateers. Hot apple cider and individually-wrapped sweet treats were provided by the members of CrossPointe Fellowship Church. The tree, sponsored by Anthony’s Cooling, Heating and Electrical, lit up the night sky right on time at 6 p.m., drawing cheers from the masked crowd in attendance.
In addition to the festivities at the Chamber, local businesses also were welcoming visitors with treats of their own.
At Sun and Surf Beach Shop, visitors were greeted by the shop’s birds and a table full of individually-wrapped treats. A little further down at the Artists’ Guild Gallery, shoppers were invited to shop right from the gallery’s Christmas trees, choosing from a selection of handmade ornaments. At RE/MAX, the ladies of the realty company greeted passersby with sweet treats. Both Irene’s clothing boutique and The Original Sand Dollar were open for business, with children able to make their own Christmas ornaments at the Sand Dollar while parents were serenaded by violinist Danae Tran.
And while this year’s festivities were somewhat more subdued than in years past, it didn’t stop anyone in attendance from enjoying a festive start to the holiday season.
Delighted by the lights, a little child enjoys playing in the Christmas tree. - Kristin Swain | Sun
A game of chase breaks out in the Chamber parking lot before the Dec. 4 tree lighting. - Kristin Swain | Sun
While kids couldn’t climb in the sleigh with Santa this year, they were able to tell him what they wanted and take a socially distanced photo with the big guy. - Kristin Swain | Sun
In lieu of elves, Santa brought along some of his favorite pirates from the Anna Maria Island Privateers. - Kristin Swain | Sun
The ladies of RE/MAX greet passersby with a smile and a selection of sweet treats. - Kristin Swain
Children wanting to add a little sparkle to their family’s tree were invited to make their own ornaments using seashells at The Sand Dollar. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Violinist Danae Tran enchants visitors to The Sand Dollar with a selection of holiday tunes. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Santa greets a bashful little Santa in training. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Volunteers from the Chamber and CrossPointe Fellowship Church hand out cups of hot apple cider and individually-wrapped treats to attendees at the tree lighting ceremony. - Kristin Swain | Sun
BRADENTON BEACH – Kids on Bridge Street got a surprise Saturday night, a visit from Santa Claus at the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Christmas in July on Bridge Street at the Drift In. The Privateers and Drift In raised $2,500 for next year’s scholarships by holding raffles and serving a potluck dinner inside the bar. In the parking lot, people enjoyed cool refreshments while listening to live music from Dos Max.
Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar employees Dana Coty and Carlee Griffin paired up and purchased the winning ticket for the liquor basket. Bridge Tender employee Denise Hendricks purchased the winning ticket for the Lotto Board that contained $320 in lottery tickets and two $50 bills.
Drift In manager Doreen Flynn said she was happy that some local employees won those raffle prizes. She also noted that Santa Claus took a break from his summer vacation and made an appearance at the annual fundraiser. She also thanked Privateer Shelly “Fireball” Hill and Pines Trailer Park resident Ellen Scott for making this year’s Lotto Board and assisting with the fundraising efforts.
Privateer Tim “Hammer” Thompson said the first $1,000 raised Saturday night will go toward the purchase of Christmas gifts for this year’s adopted Christmas family or families. The remaining $1,500 will be placed in the Privateer’s scholarship fund.
“It all ends up going to kids one way or another,” Thompson said, noting that a similar fundraiser will take place in December.
The Anna Maria Island Privateers celebrated Snooks Adams Kid’s Day as usual on the first Saturday after the school summer break in a new location, Anna Maria City Pier Park.
These twins were having twice the fun. – Tom Vaught | Sun
The shade from the sails gave ample protection from the sun and the Privateers’ ship, the Skullywag, served as a stage for the pirate costume contest. There were hot dogs, chips and cookies, and games including the rat toss with rubber rats, a treasure hunt and water gun fights.
The kids enjoyed hot dogs, chips, soda and cookies courtesy of the Anna Maria Island Privateers during the Snooks Adams Kids Day festivities. Tom Vaught | Sun
The event began in 1954 when Anna Maria Island’s first police chief, Snooks Adams, helped students celebrate the first day of summer vacation with a cookout on Coquina Beach. Over time, the celebration evolved into an annual event that was assisted by the local Lion’s Club and local residents as the event grew in size.
In 1980, Snooks turned over hosting duties for the annual Kids Day start to summer celebration to the Anna Maria Island Privateers. The Island’s pirates continue the tradition every year on the first Saturday after school ends for the summer. Adams died on April 27, 2010, at the age of 92.
When it came to fundraising, the Anna Maria Island Privateers shot a hole in one when they scheduled a Putt-Putt Pub Crawl last Saturday that went from Bradenton Beach to the city of Anna Maria and back.
Fifty-two golfers tried their luck at the nine stops, where each pub owner built a customized hole for putting.
Privateer Tim “Hammer” Thompson reported Nathan Talucci took first place with a score of 17. Nancy Ksiazek and Kevin Sims tied for second with scores of 18. He said Dr. Scott Kosfeld made the most holes in one with two, Lisa Nelson had the most strokes on a single hole with seven and Pamela Lazaroff had the most mulligans, though that number was not supplied.
Privateers President Jamie “One-eye” Van Deusen said the participating pubs showed imagination in crafting their putt-putt holes.
On this hole at The Anchor, golfers had to sit on a toilet while putting toward the hole. This fellow also took time to catch up on his reading. – Darla Tingler | Submitted
The competitors rode the Privateers’ parade ship, the Skullywag, to each stop. They began at the Fish Hole on Bridge Street, where they tried a difficult hole from the golf course. From there, they went to the Anchor Inn and the Waterline resort in Holmes Beach, Slim’s and Harry’s in Anna Maria, and then back south to the Ugly Grouper, D Coy Duck’s and the Freckled Fin in Holmes Beach, ending at the Drift In in Bradenton Beach.
Fish Hole owner Jake Spooner had a difficult time with this unique hole at Harry’s Grill in Anna Maria. – Tom Vaught | Sun
Perhaps the most unusual hole was at the Anchor, where contestants had to sit on a toilet to shoot. The toilet was full of golf balls and there was a sign welcoming all to “The Anchor Country Club” with a “World famous mini toilet golf course.” Golfer Dennis Goehler posed for pictures on the toilet reading a copy of The Sun before he took his shot.
The stop at Waterline took them to some green space near the inlet. Thankfully for pub crawlers, there were no dead fish in those waters. Golfers had to shoot into a plastic seashell after going around obstacles and the holes at many of the remaining stops proved difficult.
It was a fun way to spend a hot afternoon and several Privateers said they would likely host the event again next year.
Congratulations to The Anna Maria Island Privateers for staging another great Fourth of July parade, bringing together neighbors and visitors for a wonderful day and chance to celebrate our great country.
It was a fun, well-produced parade that attracted good-sized crowds of people lining the route from Coquina to the Anna Maria City Pier.
There were even groups of empty chairs placed out early along the road to stake out the shady spots, similar to the De Soto Grand Parade in Bradenton.
And it was nice to see everyone pulling together and recognizing we are all on the same team here, despite our differences.
Also deserving plenty of recognition was the city of Anna Maria for its Party in the Park. How many public festivals are there anymore where the food and drinks are free?
What a nice, pleasant gathering in City Pier Park, full of good company and small-town flavor.
As usual, the nighttime drew the fireworks crowd to the beaches and, fortunately, there were no reported injuries from all the pyrotechnics. And there were lots of pyrotechnics.
All in all, a grand old holiday worth savoring and remembering.
ANNA MARIA – It was a great beach day last Saturday with blue skies and gentle breezes, but a group of kids and their parents decided to spend some time with a band of pirates at a park across the street from the city pier.
Privateer Roque Pastorius made colorful pirate discs. – Tom Vaught | Sun
The late Willis Howard “Snooks” Adams began Snooks Adams Kid’s Day in 1954 when he took some Island boys to the beach in his Jeep to the south end of the Island for swimming and a cookout. Over time, girls were included and after a few years, the party was moved to Manatee Beach. The Lions Club and local residents helped out as the size increased and in 1980, Snooks turned the event over to the Privateers, but he still helped out as his health allowed. The Privateers moved it to Bayfront Park in Anna Maria.
This year, Manatee County rented out Bayfront Park so they got permission to move it to City Pier Park, and they utilized the sail shades to their advantage. There were games to play, bubbles to chase, buried booty to unearth and a pirate’s lunch of hot dogs, chips, pizza and soda to enjoy. Some of the kids wore pirate outfits, and a few of them got prizes for best effort.
The Holmes Beach Police Department was well represented with Chief Bill Tokajer, Anna Maria Elementary School Resource Officer Josh Fleischer, Sgt. Vern McGowan and Det. Brian Hall manning a tent and passing out brochures and goodies.
The Privateers were pleased with their new location and said they would try to get it again, according to one member.
“The county charged us a lot of money to use Bayfront Park, and we’re a non-profit group,” said Privateer Roque Pastorius. “The money we saved will go toward scholarships.”
