Skip to main content

Tag: Annie Silver Community Center

City commission approves Bridge Street parties

City commission approves Bridge Street parties

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners approved Australian pine tree removals, monthly street parties on Bridge Street, a new member of the Scenic Highway Committee and donations to local community centers at their June 20 meeting.

SUNDOWN GET DOWN APPROVED

City commissioners heard details about the planned Bridge Street Merchants Association’s Sundown Get Down monthly street party events on Bridge Street. The events will be held at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month beginning on July 18 with a retro beach party theme.

“There will be additional trolleys, a kid-zone and family-friendly themes,” Leah Brown of Big Idea Events said. “The goal is to drive business to Bridge Street’s established businesses.”

The monthly events received an open container waiver from the city. Bradenton Beach Police Department Lt. Lenard Diaz said the department will be fully staffed for the events.

Bridge Street will be closed to vehicular traffic during the events and commissioners expressed concerns about parking.

Sam Negrin of Beach to Bay Investments said the Shawn Kaleta-owned parking lot at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive will be available at either zero or reduced fees during the street parties.

“Yes, parking fees will either be waived or greatly reduced for the events,” Negrin said.

Merchants will allow for the use of public restrooms during the events.

Commissioners unanimously approved a motion for the monthly event to run from July through December.

AUSTRALIAN PINES REMOVAL APPROVED

Commissioners unanimously approved a $7,500 bid from Sarasota-based Harley’s Tree Service to remove two Australian pine trees on city property around 1102 Gulf Drive N. with funds to come from the city-wide tree trimming budget line item.

A second bid for $7,600 from Harley’s Tree Service to remove nine Australian pines from Children’s Park and Herb Dolan Park was also unanimously approved by the commission with funds to come from the half-cent sales tax fund.

NEW MEMBER ON SCENIC HIGHWAY COMMITTEE

Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Bradenton Beach resident Brie Bender to the Scenic Highway Committee.

“I’ve been a resident in Bradenton Beach since 2019 and I’m interested in seeing how I can give back to the community,” Bender said to commissioners. “I’ve been very involved in the community in South Carolina.”

The committee serves as an advocacy group for the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway corridor.

Bender listed her occupation as director of brokerage operations at INNOVATE Real Estate.

“We appreciate you being here,” Mayor John Chappie said.

CITY DONATION SPLIT

With an available city budget of $4,750 for donations to Island community centers, commissioners voted to donate two-thirds of that amount to the Bradenton Beach-based Annie Silver Community Center and one-third to The Center of Anna Maria Island in Anna Maria.

City commissioners unanimously approved a donation of $3,182 to Annie Silver for its programs and $1,568 to The Center of Anna Maria Island for programs to help with the organization’s senior program collaborations with the Annie Silver Community Center.

Commissioner Ralph Cole is the liaison to The Center of Anna Maria Island and Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce is the liaison to the Annie Silver Community Center.

Annie Silver elects 2023 officers

Annie Silver elects 2023 officers

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – For decades, the Annie Silver Community Center has served the community, providing a meeting place for Island organizations such as the Anna Maria Island Privateers, condo associations, civic events and even wedding receptions.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, they provide the center free of charge, asking for donations to help with operating costs. They also serve the community by hosting dinners, bingo and other activities such as Senior Adventures, which offers outings for area seniors in cooperation with The Center of Anna Maria Island.

Center members elected board members and officers last week to oversee the operation of the community center. The officers are: President – Jim Hassett; Vice-President – Donna Kirkpatrick; Treasurer – Dianne Coates; Secretary – Judy Pruitt. The board members are: Kaye Bell, Linda Yarger, Wally Sinn and Bruce Butler. The center needs one more board member to make up the necessary five required by its charter.

“Several of our officers and some of the board members have been in these positions for quite awhile,”  Pruitt said. “We really need to find some new members that would be willing to help. They do not have to live here all year. Mainly during January through April or May.”

The Annie Silver Community Center will hold its next dinner, open to anyone in the community, on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 5-7 p.m. at the center, 103 23rd St. N. They will serve BBQ chicken, pulled pork, potatoes, mac and cheese, baked beans and rolls. Soft drinks and coffee will also be available.

The center’s next book sale will be on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a potluck lunch also will be served and everyone is welcome. Bingo is every Thursday at 6 p.m. with pizza and soft drinks available for purchase during the games. Money raised from these activities helps with operating costs.

Annie Silver looking at busy spring

Annie Silver Center looking at busy spring

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Annie Silver Community Center has been a fixture in this community for more than 70 years, and 2022 is off to a great start, continuing the tradition of offering events for members of the community to enjoy at a reasonable price.

The Annie Silver board of directors met for their monthly meeting on March 14 and announced upcoming events, as well as the center’s immediate needs.

The next book sale will be Friday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A potluck lunch also will be served. Anyone in the community is welcome to bring a dish – you do not need to be a member to participate. Come out and meet your neighbors, even if you are just visiting the Island. Have a bite to eat and browse some great books available for purchase at reasonable prices. The group is also looking for volunteers to help with the book sale, and to help organize the books at the center on a regular basis. 

Bingo has been held every Thursday at 6 p.m., but this Thursday, March 31, will be the final bingo of the season, so if you want to have a great time while helping out the center, make plans to attend.

The board members of Annie Silver Community Center thank Moose Lodge #2188 in Bradenton Beach and Administrator Byron Dalton for their generous donation of pizzas for the center’s Feb. 25 dinner event. They are also looking for the unidentified woman who made the delicious little Italian cookies. Everybody loved them, but nobody was able to identify the mystery woman who stole the show. 

The next board meeting will take place on Monday, April 11 at 4 p.m. at the Center. You do not need to be a member to attend, just show up and make yourself at home. If you have a knack for trimming trees and bushes, you will have a chance to volunteer. The center is currently in need of some help doing some light trimming. 

Annie Silver Community Center elects officers

Annie Silver Community Center elects officers

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Annie Silver Community Center has new officers, elected Jan. 10 after many meetings were suspended due to COVID-19.

The board has been without a president since former President Linda Yarger announced she was resigning as of Sept. 30. The office of vice president was also open, but electing new officers was delayed by a lack of candidates and low attendance at meetings.

On Jan. 10, board members unanimously elected Jim Hassett as president, Donna Kirkpatrick as vice president, Judy Pruitt as secretary and Dianne Coates as treasurer.

The board also discussed its first dinner of 2022, set for Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 5-7 p.m. Big Dogg Bar B Que will be serving up meals for only $10 to eat at the center or take home. The center will be hosting dinners at least once a month, and anyone in the community is invited to come and have a great meal and mingle with neighbors. 

Bingo is also back at Annie Silver, with games every Thursday at 6 p.m. Cake, coffee, soda and water will be available. Everyone is invited; membership is not required.

Annie Silver remains without a president

Annie Silver Center closer to electing permanent board

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Annie Silver Community Center board met on Dec. 6 to address several issues, including replacing retiring president Linda Yarger, whose last official day was Sept. 30. 

Jim Hassett has been unofficially filling the role as president of the board since Yarger’s departure, and because of an insufficient turnout at the Nov. 15 meeting, there were not enough members present to make nominations for a new president and vice president.

This was not an issue at the December meeting, as not only all current board members were in attendance, but former members and members of the community showed up to voice their concerns for the future of the community center.

“This is the first time I’ve really stepped in. I’m a community member and I’m concerned after reading the article last week about Annie Silver surviving,” said Bob Wallace, longtime Bradenton Beach resident. “I’d like it to be here always for everyone.”

Wallace wasn’t the only member of the community who came out to show support for the center and its future. Now that the board is working to get new members elected, the public attention is bringing many local residents inside to show support for this decades-old Island institution.

“I just would like to get involved. I saw bingo here after seeing the article in the paper and I want to just help out,” said Maggie VanWormer, a resident of Bradenton Beach and a first-grade teacher at Anna Maria Elementary School.

Hassett was nominated to fill the vacant president position and Donna Kirkpatrick was nominated to fill the vice-president role that would be left vacant by Hassett if elected president. With the nominations solidified, the election will take place at the Jan. 10, 2022 meeting.

Annie Silver remains without a president

Annie Silver remains without a president

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Annie Silver Community Center members were unable to elect a president at their board meeting on Nov. 15 due to a lack of attendance.

During its first post-COVID-19 meeting on Sept. 27 after a break of more than a year, the board addressed issues including replacing retiring president Linda Yarger, whose last official day was Sept. 30.

Annie Silver, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community center, is overseen by a board consisting of a president (currently vacant), Vice President Jim Hassett, Treasurer Dianne Coates and Secretary Judy Pruitt. Hassett expressed willingness to take over the role of president, which would require some reshuffling to fill the vice president position, but any changes require a vote by members. The vote will have to wait until at least Dec. 6 when the board has its next scheduled meeting.

Although a vote did not take place, members discussed business, including a change in the zoning status of the center. Previously, Annie Silver was designated as residential property. According to Hassett, that is being changed to city commercial status by the Bradenton Beach Building and Planning Department.

“The city commercial status basically means if someone would ever want to buy it and turn it back into residential, it would be up to them to appeal to the city,” said Hassett, who also said this change did not cost the center any money.

Annie Silver Community Center has served the Bradenton Beach community for more than 65 years. It was named for its founder, Annie Silver, whose life and accomplishments adorn the walls of the center in honor of her many contributions to the Island and its residents. The center can be rented out for just about any event free of charge, although a charitable donation is requested to offset operating costs. Wedding receptions, youth activities and meetings of the AMI Privateers are common at the center.

Island residents will also be happy to hear that bingo will be returning to the center in mid-January. Bingo is not only a favorite pastime in Bradenton Beach, but it is the primary source of income for Annie Silver. Due to COVID-19, there hasn’t been any bingo for more than a year. More details on exact dates and times will be determined at future meetings.

The next event will be the center’s bi-annual book sale and potluck which will be held Nov. 26-27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will benefit Senior Adventures.

- Jason Schaffer | Sun

Annie Silver Community Center seeks new president

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Annie Silver Community Center board met last week for the first time since Oct. 19, 2020, when COVID-19 put a stop to board meetings.

The Sept. 27 meeting would be the last with Linda Yarger as president. Yarger decided to step down, making her official last day Sept. 30. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss who may want to take over as president of the center, a 501(c)3 non-profit overseen by a board consisting of a president (currently vacant), vice-president (Jim Hassett), treasurer (Dianne Coates) and secretary (Judy Pruitt). Although the center is in need of a new president as soon as possible, since no willing candidate was in attendance, a vote was delayed until at least the next board meeting, which will take place Monday, Nov. 15. 

Kaye Bell, Peg Miller and members of Senior Adventures were also on hand to discuss upcoming outings for the group. Annie Silver Community Center works directly with The Center of Anna Maria Island, which provides vans and drivers to assist in getting Senior Adventures members to and from activities. The relationship between the two centers is made possible in large part due to the work of Christopher Culhane, executive director of The Center. 

“They’ve gone on trips up to Tampa, Sarasota and Siesta Key; they do a lot of really great stuff,” said Culhane, speaking of Senior Adventures. “Whatever we can do to help facilitate senior programming, we’re here.”

Annie Silver Community Center has served the Bradenton Beach community for more than 65 years and is named for its founder, Annie Silver, whose life and accomplishments adorn the walls of the center in honor of her many contributions to the Island and its residents.

The center can be rented out for just about any event free of charge, although a charitable donation is requested to offset operating costs. Wedding receptions, youth activities and a meeting spot for the AMI Privateers are common at the center.

Island residents will also be happy to hear that bingo will be returning to the center in mid-January. Bingo is not only a favorite pastime in Bradenton Beach, but it is the primary source of income for Annie Silver Community Center. Due to COVID-19, there hasn’t been any bingo for more than a year. More details on exact dates and times will be determined at future meetings.