Tag: Privateers

Privateers award annual scholarships

Written by Jason Schaffer on June 25, 2024. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

BRADENTON – The Anna Maria Island Privateers awarded 14 scholarships at LECOM Park before the June 21 Bradenton Marauders baseball game against the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

The Privateers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping kids in the community, hold fundraising events throughout the year with the two primary goals of funding Christmas gifts for underprivileged children and scholarships for students.

Scholarship recipients for 2024 are:

FIRST YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS ($1,500)

– Jake Burdette of Manatee High – $500 – AMI Privateers Scholarship

– Ella Evans of Palmetto High – $500 – AMI Privateers Scholarship

– Jack Love of Manatee High – $500 – AMI Privateers Scholarship

SECOND YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS ($2,750)

– Jessica Burdette of University of Florida – $750 – AMI Privateers Scholarship and Dean’s List Bonus – $500 – Davey Jones Locker Memorial Scholarship, in honor and memory of beloved Privateers who are now at rest.

– Laila Singer of University of North Florida – $750 – AMI Privateers Scholarship

– Isabella Pasquale of University of Florida – $750 – AMI Privateers Scholarship

THIRD YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS ($3,000)

– Carissa Bailey of University of Florida – $1,000 – Theresa Kunze, Sandpiper Resort Memorial Scholarship

– Gabe French of University of Central Florida – $1,000 – Theresa Kunze, Sandpiper Resort Memorial Scholarship

– Keile O’Dell of Southeastern University – $1,000 – Theresa Kunze, Sandpiper Resort Memorial Scholarship

FIRST RESPONDERS ($1,500)

– Medical: Courtney Bauer of University of South Florida – $500 – AMI Privateers First Responder Scholarship

– Fire & Rescue Academy – Accepting on behalf of Manatee Technical College, Jay Bush, Director of the MTC’s Fire Academy – $500 – AMI Privateers First Responder Scholarship

– Police Academy – MTC Police Academy – $500 – Drift In AMI Scholarship

COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS ($1,500)

– Early Learning Coalition: Accepting on behalf of ELC, Rachel Spivey, Director of Grant Management – $1,000 – Theresa Kunze, Sandpiper Resort Memorial Scholarship

– Veteran’s Continuing Education: Accepting on behalf of MTC Veterans Financial Aid, Brittany Burton, Financial Aid Specialist – $500 – Drift In AMI Scholarship.

Privateers join Christmas on Bridge Street

Privateers, Christmas on Bridge Street deliver festive time

Written by Jason Schaffer on December 20, 2022. Posted in Entertainment, Events.

BRADENTON BEACH – Holiday merrymakers enjoyed shopping, dining, a movie and a party for a great cause as the Anna Maria Island Privateers and the city’s Christmas on Bridge Street events coincided on Saturday.

Christmas on Bridge Street featured stores staying open later to allow for holiday shopping, live music ringing out from bars and restaurants and a visit from Santa to hear Christmas wishes from anyone who wanted to meet him.

This year, the event coincided with the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ annual Christmas at the Drift In fundraiser, also on Bridge Street. Although the “partnership” was not planned in any official way, everyone enjoyed the fact that the Privateers’ close connection to Santa allowed for him to park his sleigh by the nearly 40- foot tall tree in the post office parking lot for some incredibly festive photo opportunities.

Privateers, Christmas on Bridge Street deliver festive time — From left, Anna Maria Island Privateers Cookie, Santa Claus, Squeegee and Dallas enjoy a beautiful night on Bridge Street. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“The Privateers are a great organization. They spend so much time and put so much effort into their charity fundraising,” said Amanda Walker, of Lansing Michigan, who spends the holidays on the Island every year with her family. “They are all smiles and happy to take your picture free of charge, so we always make a monetary donation to them every time we are here. They give scholarships to kids; if that’s not a worthy cause I have no idea what is.”

In addition to having Santa by the tree, children and parents gathered to watch a movie on the other side of the parking lot while they sipped hot chocolate, an annual highlight of the Christmas on Bridge Street event.

Unlike the boat parade earlier this month, police did not close the street for this party, but there were plenty of officers on hand to make sure everyone was safe. Bradenton Beach Police officers reported no incidents during the official celebration and said everyone seemed to be happy and having fun safely.

When The Sun spoke to Privateers President Kim Boyd, she did not have the total amount of money raised, but was enthusiastic about how the event had gone.

“Before we even got here tonight, the Drift In bartend- ers had raised over $1,400 just for the lotto board,” said Boyd, speaking of the grand prize consisting of a $100 bill and $200 in scratch off tickets. “All this money goes back for kids and community, and a large part goes to our scholarships and Christmas family adoptions and the other programs we fund.”

The Privateers are a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that works to help children through scholarship programs and other initiatives.

Privateers mourn the loss of ‘Big John’ Swager

Written by Jason Schaffer on October 17, 2021. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Beloved Anna Maria Island Privateer John ‘Big John’ Swager, 58, died on Oct. 6 at Blake Medical Center after a month-long battle with COVID-19 and pneumonia.

Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Big John knew he loved life, but was particularly passionate about three things: His wife, Cindy ‘Bubbles’ and family, Texas barbecue and serving his community through his extended family, the AMI Privateers. On just about any given weekend, John could be found in full pirate regalia reminding children of all ages that not only are pirates real, but they are here to help others, and this tiny Island is full of them.

One of the longest-serving Privateers, John Swager joined the 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the early 1990s and, over the years, served in almost every capacity, most recently as treasurer. His work, along with that of the other Privateers, raised thousands of dollars over the years for the Privateers scholarship fund, a source of pride for all the Privateers.

“He knew more about the history of the Privateers than any of us,” said Mary “Xena” Lehrman, the current Privateers treasurer. “There are things he remembered that are now lost. We would have an idea to do something we hadn’t done in 15 years and the only person we could turn to who remembered how we did it was John. A lot of our history is gone with his passing.”

Although John was born in Pennsylvania, he always identified as a Texan, having moved there as a child. As he grew up, he developed a love for barbecue and competition cooking, winning awards and traveling across the country in pursuit of his passion. After moving to Anna Maria Island more than three decades ago, John worked as a professional plumber and eventually started his own barbecue business here. If you’ve attended an outdoor event on the Island, you’ve probably tried at least a taste of Big John’s Texas BBQ.

“He was a Privateer to the core – everything he felt, everything he did was for the Privateers,” said Privateer Terry ‘Cookie’ Rapert. “He knew names and events from 30 years ago. He was a walking encyclopedia.”

There will be a memorial service and celebration of John’s life on Monday, Oct. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Field Park in Holmes Beach. There will be music, food and beverages available, and plenty of friends and neighbors to share their fond memories of this larger-than-life pirate.

Privateers hold ‘Christmas in July’ for a good cause

Written by Jason Schaffer on July 26, 2021. Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – After not being able to hold the event last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Anna Maria Island Privateers were excited to resume their annual “Christmas in July” event at The Drift In on Bridge Street.

The event featured live music, a buffet of Island food, raffle prizes and more. While the event was a great party and everybody attending appeared to be indulging in lots of food and a little bit of rum, it was all for a great cause that the Privateers are passionate about.

“This is to help with the many things we do throughout the year. This is mostly to help with our Christmas families that we help in December,” said Dallas of the Privateers, explaining that proceeds will help families with children who may be having difficulties financially around the holidays.

A large food buffet was open to anyone attending for a cost of $10 and featured dozens of dishes and desserts provided by Privateers as well as local restaurants including the Bridge Tender Inn, Seafood Shack, Pizza Social, The Moose Lodge, Smoqe House and The Cheesecake Cutie and Cafe. A lotto board and “booze basket” valued at $500 were also up for grabs with all the proceeds going to help Island children.

Even Santa Claus was in on the action, taking a break from toy-making and bringing his sleigh to The Drift In parking lot for pictures with anyone who just couldn’t wait until December. It was also a rare chance to see Santa in board shorts, sandals and a straw beach hat. He certainly appeared to be enjoying his Anna Maria Island vacation.

Kids get good start to summer vacations

Written by Tom Vaught on May 29, 2019. Posted in Archives.

ANNA MARIA – When school lets out, kids will celebrate with the Anna Maria Island Privateers at the annual Snooks Adams Kids Day on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Pier Park on Pine Avenue.

There will be free hot dogs, pizza and drinks plus fun games and a little pirate costume contest. Dig for treasure and have some wet and wild fun.

Snooks Adams Day was named for Anna Maria Island’s first police chief who started the outing by taking some boys to the beach in the 1950s. in time, girls joined them and it became a tradition. As Adams aged, the Privateers took over the event.

Everything is free; donations are welcome.

Skullywag now a diesel beast

Written by Tom Vaught on October 18, 2018. Posted in Community News.

HOLMES BEACH – If you’ve been around the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ ship, Skullywag, lately, you might have heard a deeper sounding engine. The venerable symbol of Anna Maria Island’s “pirate’s life” has gotten an engine transplant.

The Privateers found a used International DT466 inline six-cylinder diesel engine that came with an Allison transmission. According to Privateers Capt. Jamie Van Deusen, the engine had led an easy life before they got it.

“This engine came out of a water truck that was being retired by the place of employment of one of our members,” Van Deusen said in an email. “It has very low hours on it and should last for the foreseeable future.”

Van Deusen said it took just over three weeks to remove the old engine and transmission and install the new ones.

“The work was done by one of our members, John Gates,” Van Deusen said. “He is a diesel mechanic and donated his time to making the switch.”

After raising money for the drive train transplant, they got lucky, Van Deusen said.

“We did a couple fundraisers but most of the money we raised for it was in two grants from the Chamber’s trolley grant program,” he said. “That said, the engine, transmission, and labor to replace them all cost us nothing.”

The engine and transmission were donated by the company that was retiring the water truck, which wants to remain anonymous for now.

“The money that was granted to us by the Chamber is now being used to make other repairs on the Skullywag, such as a new fore deck, new sound system, and soon a new generator,” he said. “That money will also be used to replace some of the broken and worn wood around the ship making her both prettier, and, most importantly, safer for riders and spectators alike.”

The Skullywag was finished in mid-January, 2000 to replace their trailer ship, which had to be towed.

“She took her maiden voyage to Gasparilla as “The Mystic Lady,” Van Deusen said. “She was never properly commissioned so in July of 2007 she was officially commissioned the Skullywag honoring the late Jim Hungerford, whose pirate name was Skully. Jim was instrumental in getting the Skullywag built.

Parade goes off with a bang

Written by Sun staff on July 4, 2018. Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Holiday.

The Fourth of July parade went off with a bang on Anna Maria Island this morning, courtesy of the Privateers good ship, Skullywag.

In the true spirit of Independence Day, participants on the floats who were asked to limit their water guns to small-caliber weapons brought cannons instead, soaking spectators on the hot July day.

Gulf Drive and Marina Drive were lined with spectators applauding the participants, which included a large turnout by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers, law enforcement, firefighters and elected officials.

After the parade, some of the crowd drifted toward the beach to enjoy the rest of the holiday, while others drifted towards local establishments for refreshment.