ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Island was packed and traffic stretched for more than a mile to get onto the Island most of the weekend as everyone from international visitors to local Floridians flocked to AMI beaches to soak up the sun for the Fourth of July holiday.
Major holidays are always a big draw as visitors look to beat the summer heat.
“We came from Orlando. The traffic was insane, but it’s worth it to be on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world,” said Carlos Ramirez, who was visiting Coquina Beach with his wife and four children. “It took forever to get a parking spot, and now that we have one, we’re not leaving. We brought food to grill and we’re here until the sun sets.”
Ramirez was fortunate to get a parking spot. On Monday, July 4, cars were lined up bumper to bumper, with drivers hoping a parking space would become available at the beaches.
After the sun set on Saturday night, visitors continued to flock to the Island for the return of the Sandbar Restaurant’s annual fireworks display after a sabbatical due to COVID-19.
And the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Fourth of July parade both delighted beachgoers and further slowed traffic on the Island’s two main roads on Monday.
“The beaches are incredibly crowded. We barely have room to drive our ATVs because there are so many people out there,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said.
Tokajer also addressed the use of Anna Maria Elementary’s parking lot for overflow parking. The lot was free to use July 2, 3 and 4, but not without controversy.
“The school was open for parking Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but in reality it shouldn’t have been,” Tokajer said. “County Administrator Scott Hopes told Superintendent Cynthia Saunders that he would have the flashing beacon for the crosswalk installed before the July Fourth weekend and it was not. It was a dangerous situation with people crossing the road with their families carrying beach gear in an area without a proper crosswalk.”
This letter is about the action the city commissioners on Anna Maria Island took over the changing of the date of the Fourth of July celebration procession.
Let me start by saying that yes, I am a Privateer, but this letter to the editor is being penned by Specialist 4th Class Timothy Thompson U.S. Army Security Agency 1964-1968. Veteran. It is not about the day of the week. It is not about traffic. It is not about vacation rental check-in/check-out. It’s not about costs. It’s about the Fourth of July to celebrate our country’s Day of Independence – not the Third or the Fifth. We become independent of British rule on the Fourth of July.
This change was all brought up because the celebration procession interfered with church services. If it were not for Independence Day, nobody would be free to congregate, including worship.
The Fourth only falls on a Sunday once in every seven years. That gives the church 44 of 45 Sundays. They should rejoice and praise God for their freedoms given to them of the sacrifice Americans gave them, including the freedom to worship. If Christmas were to fall on a Sunday, would they ask for it to be celebrated on Saturday the 24th?
The town officials made their decision to rescind and re-date the special event permit based on Rev. Moss’s letter to the cities stating, “… so to protect our country’s long-standing tradition of worship, discipleship, and church fellowship on Sunday mornings and do nothing to distract from it.” But it went beyond just mornings, to having to change the date – there seemed to be no compromise on maybe changing the time. So, it seems that the commissioners have now set the precedent of not issuing any special event permits on Sundays, and rescinding any prior approved permits. If they want to cease and desist the Fourth of July celebration procession, then maybe they should cease and desist everything in their townships: the bars, restaurants, retail. Everything, so as to “do nothing to distract from it.”
So, in closing, let’s call it what it is: The Third of July Parade hosted by the AMI Privateers.
Just a heads up commissioners, Juneteenth falls on Sunday next year. I say this as a proud American and veteran: “Let Freedom Ring.”
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Fourth of July Parade originally scheduled for Sunday, July 4 will now take place Saturday, July 3 instead.
The schedule change was requested by Pastor Ed Moss and other leaders from the CrossPointe Fellowship church in Anna Maria.
The July 3 parade will begin at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach at 10 a.m., proceed through Holmes Beach and end near City Pier Park in Anna Maria.
On Thursday, June 10, the Anna Maria City Commission approved an amended special event that reflects the date change. The Holmes Beach Commission recently took similar action and the Bradenton Beach Commission is expected to do so on Thursday, June 17.
Church letter
Thursday’s discussion was prompted by a letter Moss sent Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and all five Anna Maria commissioners on Monday, June 7. The letter was sent on behalf of Moss and other CrossPointe Fellowship church leaders.
“Because the Privateers celebrate and honor our country’s freedoms and independence for all Americans, we have elected to change the July 4th Parade to July 3rd to allow Island church parishioners and followers of Christ to attend Sunday morning services without any disruption. We apologize if this change causes any further inconvenience but we believe in freedom for everyone in this Island community that we love so much.” – Privateers’ statement
“We assume the issuing of a parade permit for a Sunday morning was an oversight. Please rectify this action by changing the permit to Saturday morning, July 3rd, or Sunday afternoon, July 4th. We have asked the Privateers to request this change. We have a good relationship with the Privateers and appreciate their community involvement,” the letter said.
The Privateers store their “Skullywag” parade and event vessel in the CrossPointe Fellowship parking lot.
The Privateer’s store their “Skullywag” parade vessel at CrossPointe Fellowship. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“As leaders, we should encourage and protect our country’s long-standing tradition of worship, discipleship and church fellowship on Sunday mornings and do nothing to distract from it. A Sunday morning parade would be viewed by some as highly disrespectful. In and around 10 a.m. Sunday, citizens need the roads to access their churches,” Moss’s letter said.
Commission discussion
When addressing the commission, Privateers’ president and parade chairperson Kim Boyd said this was the first Fourth of July to fall on Sunday since she became a Privateer four years ago.
Privateers President Kim Boyd asked the Anna Maria Commission to amend the special event permit to allow for a Saturday parade. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I can assure you this parade was not scheduled on July Fourth to show disrespect or be malicious in any way to anyone in this community. The Fourth of July means a lot to me, to the Privateers, as well as many Island residents and lovers of this Island – as well as Americans everywhere for the simple yet profound reason of celebrating our freedom and independence,” Boyd said.
“Another freedom we, as Americans, enjoy is the right to worship. It was brought to my attention that our parade on July Fourth would interfere with that freedom and the Island church services and possibly keep parishioners from being able to get to their church because of traffic disruptions. I besiege you to grant the Privateers the permit change and allow us to celebrate our freedom and independence with this community we love so much on Saturday, July 3rd,” Boyd said.
“This is good with all three cities. I think it’s good with you all. I think it’s good with everybody,” Moss told the commission.
The CrossPointe Fellowship church in Anna Maria is located along the Gulf Drive parade route. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Boyd noted the date change could lead to higher law enforcement costs for the Privateers. Boyd said the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies who agreed to escort the July 4 parade on an off-duty basis are not available on July 3. She said Florida Highway Patrol troopers are available that day, but their services would cost approximately $720, which is about double what the sheriff’s deputies would cost.
Boyd said Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer volunteered to escort the parade through all three cities. Murphy noted that unlike sheriff’s deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers, Tokajer doesn’t have law enforcement jurisdiction in Anna Maria. Murphy said he would check on that with the city attorney. He recommended commission approval of a modified special event permit, with the caveat that some type of bona fide professional law enforcement personnel accompany the parade.
On Friday, Murphy said the law enforcement will have to be provided by the Sheriff’s Office or the Florida Highway Patrol.
Commissioner Jon Crane said the next time the Fourth of July falls on a Sunday he would like the parade held later that day: “I’d like to see it at a different time of day so people can pray and then salute the flag on July Fourth.”
Commissioner Joe Muscatello asked if the parade could be held on Monday, July 5. Boyd said it could not because she and several other Privateers have to work that day.
Commissioner Mark Short noted Saturday is check-in and check-out day for most of the Island’s vacation rentals – which may also impact some businesses’ ability to participate in the parade.
Matthew Grunfeld, Rector of the Church of The Annunciation in Holmes Beach, said, “I wish to express my thanks to the city officials here in Anna Maria, the city officials in the other cities and the Privateers for making this amendment to the parade time.”
Commission Chair Carol Carter said she didn’t realize the Fourth of July was on a Sunday when the commission initially approved the Privateers’ special event permit. The commission unanimously supported the requested date change.
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.”
