Turtle trap

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth met with Rep. Will Robinson Jr. recently to discuss the potential for consolidation or elimination of the three Anna Maria Island cities. She said that after the meeting, she feels he’s listening to city leaders’ concerns. Robinson is one of the five-member...

MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners were set to vote on whether to increase the county’s tourist tax, also known as the bed tax, from 5% to 6% at their April 23 meeting, but the item was removed from the agenda due to a recent change in state...

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - Twice a year the area is invaded by a tiny flying pest known as plecia nearctica, better known to Floridians as the lovebug, and once again, they are back. Car washes love them, but most everyone else finds them to be a nuisance. Often called...

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - Volunteers with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring have found and marked the first loggerhead sea turtle nest of the season on the Island. “We are excited to start the nesting season on Anna Maria Island and look forward to a productive...

ANNA MARIA – Building Depart­ment General Manager Dean Jones is leading the city’s efforts to join Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key in adopting and self-enforcing local mangrove regulations. The multi-municipality regulatory efforts were first discussed during the April 17 Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials (CBIEO)...

ANNA MARIA – City com­missioners are still considering six charter amendments recently proposed by the charter review committee. On April 25, the commission engaged in its second informal discussion on the proposed charter amendments presented on April 11. No decisions have been made regarding any of the proposed...

ANNA MARIA – The city is one step closer to adopting a new ordinance that will grant grandfathering status for businesses that already sold CBD and/or hemp products as of April 1. On April 25, a previously discussed city ordinance, Ordinance 24-923, was presented to the city commission...

MANATEE COUNTY – Interim Manatee County Supervisor of Elections James Satcher has filed his preliminary paperwork to run for election to that position on a long-term basis. On April 12, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Satcher, a first-term county commissioner, to serve as the interim supervisor of elections despite...

ANNA MARIA – A large kapok tree now graces a residential construction site along the 700 block of North Shore Drive. The new beachfront home is being built by Ross Built Custom Homes with Max Gazzo serving as project manager, Jake Ross serving as superintendent and Michael Gilkey...

Anna Maria 10005 Gulf Drive For information, call 941-708-6130 Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information. May 9, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting   Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N. For information, call 941-778-1005 Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information. May 1, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning Board...