- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 24 No. 35
April 24, 2024
Three crashes damage two businesses, one crosswalk signal Two vehicles crashed into two Holmes Beach businesses a day apart, causing multiple injuries, with a third crash causing property damage. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
TANYA LICATA | SUBMITTED
JASON SCHAFFER | SUN
A Jeep (left inset) crashed into Gypsea Tides in Holmes Beach on April 18, injuring three people. Another car crashed into Raders Reef in Holmes Beach on April 20, two days after a similar incident happened just a few hundred feet away. A crash on April 21 (right inset) damaged a pedestrian barrier at the intersection of Marina and Gulf drives.
Farrington resigns, seeks supervisor of elections job Scott Farrington is running for the position of Manatee County’s supervisor of elections. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – County voters will ultimately determine whether former Chief of Staff Scott Farrington or recent gubernatorial appointee James Satcher serves as Manatee County’s next Farrington supervisor of elections. Farrington and Satcher are expected to square off in the Republican primary election that concludes on Aug. 20. If no Democrat or non-partyaffiliated candidate joins the race,
the primary will determine the race winner. On April 12, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Satcher, then a Manatee County commissioner, to serve the remaining months of the four-year term that longtime supervisor Mike Bennett vacated on March 1 after announcing his retirement in January. Satcher has no previous experience conducting an election or managing an elections office and his appointed term expires after the November election. As Bennett’s longtime chief of staff, Farrington oversaw the elections office operations from March 1 until April 12. He resigned the day DeSantis appointed Satcher. He was in his 12th year with the Manatee elections office, preceded by 10 years with the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office.
SEE FARRINGTON, PAGE 11
SEE CRASHES, PAGE 23
Anna Maria Island community remembers philanthropist Chuck Lester, founder of Lester Family Fun Day, is fondly remembered by the community. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Charles “Chuck” Lester’s legacy of philanthropy and friendship is being remembered on Anna Maria Island following his passing on April 19 at the age of 92. “I have nothing but great feelings for Chuck. I have such admiration and respect for a life well-lived,” Island businessman Ed Chiles said. “It’s a life and legacy that needs to be celebrated, not mourned.” Lester passed away at HCA Florida Blake Hospital. Holmes Beach resident Chuck and
GULF ISLANDS FERRY could expand to three boats. 3 Page 21 Anna Maria Island, Florida
HOLMES BEACH – Two cars drove into two neighboring businesses on two separate days last week, followed by a crash into a crosswalk signal and pedestrian barrier at the nearby intersection of Marina and Gulf drives. Six people were injured in the accidents, none reported as critical. The first crash happened on April 18 around noon when a Jeep driven by Susan Reedy of Ohio crashed into Gypsea Tides Boutique, 5602 Marina Drive. Three people were injured and taken to HCA Florida Blake Hospital and later
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
his wife, Joann “Joey” Lester, led philanthropic efforts, particularly for The Center of Anna Maria Island. “He was half of the most wonderful couple in my history of being in business on Anna Maria Island,” Chiles said. “Joey was the love of his life; you never saw one without the other.” Christopher Culhane, executive director of The Center, wrote in an email to The Sun: “For almost 50 years, Chuck Lester touched the lives of many Anna Maria Island residents. The Center of Anna Maria Island will greatly miss Chuck Lester's jovial and smiling face at this year's upcoming 22nd Annual Lester Family Fun Day,” he wrote. “The Center and the Island community will be forever grateful for the lifetime support of Chuck and Joey Lester.”
SEE LESTER, PAGE 17
LONGBOAT PASS BRIDGE
replacement in works. 8
AMI, LBK MAYORS INVESTIGATE
taking over local mangrove regulation. 5
www.amisun.com