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August 12, 2026 | Joe Hendricks | Featured, rental business

Major revisions to Anna Maria cabana rental regulations to be discussed Thursday

Major revisions to Anna Maria’s cabana rental regulations will be discussed Thursday morning.

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August 11, 2026 | Joe Hendricks

Mail voting, early voting underway in primary elections

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Manatee County Assistant Supervisor of Elections Sharon Stief provided an update on the number of vote-by-mail ballots sent to Anna Maria Island voters for the primary election that concludes with in-person voting on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Stief said 478 ballots were sent to Holmes Beach voters, 136 ballots were sent to Anna Maria voters and 88 ballots were sent to Bradenton Beach voters, as of Friday, Aug. 7. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot was Aug. 6. The de…
    August 3, 2026 | Joe Hendricks

    Young woman dies after fall on Egmont Key 

    Twenty-year-old Victoria Zardoya later died after sustaining serious injuries when she fell from the ruins of old Fort Dade on Egmont Key on Friday…
    August 3, 2026 | Leslie Lake

    Pines Trailer Park owners to reveal new concept 

    The Pines Trailer Park ownership will present its redevelopment concept the city commmission on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 6 p.m.
    August 3, 2026 | Leslie Lake

    Bradenton officials to review causeway regulations

    BRADENTON – The city of Bradenton plans to review its existing regulations pertaining to vendors operating along the Palma Sola Causeway. The Palm…
    August 3, 2026 | Ernie Vanderwalt

    2024 hurricanes still impacting Egmont Key

    Egmont Key was damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, but the state park remains open to the public.
    August 3, 2026 | Leslie Lake

    Bradenton Beach plans to maintain current millage rate

    BRADENTON BEACH – In what Mayor John Chappie characterized as a “lean working budget proposal,” with a focus toward rebuilding the city’s reserve fun…
    August 3, 2026 | Joe Hendricks

    Anna Maria budget discussions continue

    The budget discussions continue in Anna Maria as the September budget adoption deadline draws closer.

      Entertainment

      Beach Nutz | Clubs | Events | Festivals | Food | Markets | Museums | Music | Parades | Theater

      Fourth of July parade returns to AMI 

      The Anna Maria Island Privateers hosted the Fourth of July parade. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

      Swordfish Grill hosts Fourth of July hot dog eating contest

      These were three of the eight hot dog eating contest participants. – Ernie Vanderwalt | Sun

      Island Players bid farewell to beloved director and actor

      In 2025, Valerie Lipscomb and Jim Thaggard starred in “Death by Design.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun

        Outdoors

        Birds | Coast Lines | Environment | Fishing | Parks | Reel Time

        Shorebird nesting season coming to a close

        Two young least terns rested on Anna Maria Island. – Kathy Doddrigdge | Submitted

        Monitoring Anna Maria Sound’s seagrass loss

        Bill Romberger (center) sampled seagrass as Abbey Tyrna and Pia Ronquillo-See (right) assisted and recorded the findings, while Kerry Flaherty Walia set a transect in the background. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

        Mangroves: Critical habitats under threat

        Drone footage reveals the damage done to old-growth mangroves along the Long Bar Pointe/Aqua Development in 2022. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

          Business

          Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce | Castles in the Sand | Retail | Restaurants | Bars | Real estate | Development | Tourism

          The storm before the law

          Real estate market optimism

          Public comment sought for Aqua’s proposed gabion wall

          The proposed gabion wall would be built along the Sarasota Bay shoreline. – Apple Maps | Submitted

            Sports

            Football | Soccer

            Center’s summer campers learn skimboarding

            Parker, 7, and Cooper, 9, about to jump onto their skimboards. – Leslie Lake | Sun

            Skim competition returns to Anna Maria

            The One Love AMI Skim Competition took place in Anna Maria. – The Center | Submitted

            Team Cablish & Gentile wins chamber golf tournament

            LaPensee Plumbing, Pools & Air owner Karen LaPensee tossed the bright green golf balls out of the hovering helicopter and one landed in the cup. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

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