- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 23 No. 33
April 12, 2023
An Easter Eggstravaganza!
ANNE YARBROUGH | SUN
Eggs-citement was in the air just before the mad rush for eggs at the 35th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Sandbar Seafood & Spirits in Anna Maria. An Easter bonnet contest, and much snacking, followed. Page 19.
April brings big crowds, heavy traffic Although official numbers are not in yet, it appears that the first week of April was the busiest of the year. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Local observation and tourism statistics have long pointed to mid-March as the height of tourist season, but last week, April 3-9, brought what could be the largest crowds, longest restaurant wait times, heaviest traffic and most crowded beaches of the season. While most college spring breaks wrap up by the end of March, many elementary, middle and high schools take spring
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break during the first two weeks of April, bringing families from around the country to the warm, sunny shores of AMI. “We came down from Wisconsin for a week at our time-share in Holmes Beach, the kids are loving getting to play in the sun since it’s still freezing back home,” said Nate Chambers, who is visiting with his wife and three elementary school-age children. “We love it here, and know we are coming during a very busy time of year, but we honestly don’t care. This is still the most relaxing time we will have this year. We’d love to come in November when it’s quiet and much slower paced, but the kids are in school and it’s just not possible; it’s now or never.” SEE APRIL, PAGE 31
City attorney: No reserved spaces for water taxi The Bradenton Beach Pier is one of three proposed water taxi stops on Anna Maria Island. It’s first-come, first-served. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – City Attorney Ricinda Perry told commissioners last week that they cannot promise to designate a reserved space for the proposed water taxi on the floating day dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier. Manatee County’s long-planned water taxi service includes proposed stops in downtown Bradenton, the City Pier in Anna Maria, the Braden-
ton Beach Pier and the county-owned South Coquina Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach. The county has not yet announced an anticipated start date for its initial Friday, Saturday and Sunday water taxi operations. Perry said she made a few changes to a proposed interlocal agreement recently received from the county. One significant change notes that the water taxi operations must comply with the state-issued sovereign submerged land lease for the existing floating dock and the nine additional perpendicular finger piers that will be connected to the south side of the floating dock later this month, or soon thereafter. SEE WATER TAXI, PAGE 14
A GOOD Samaritan
EASTER service, egg hunts and
rescues a bird snagged by a fishhook at the pier. 11
bonnet contest photos. 17-19
Anna Maria Island, Florida
AMOB makes headway with
changes on the pier. 4
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