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VOL 24 No. 32
April 3, 2024
Easter, Island-style TOM ROCHE SR. | SUBMITTED
Easter morning dawned at Manatee Beach during the interdenominational worship service presented by Anna Maria Island churches, who shared a message of hope, joy and peace.
Commission promises to preserve parking spaces Parking spaces will not be sacrificed to extend the multi-use path along Gulf Drive, officials say. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – City leaders have pledged not to eliminate parking places to accommodate the potential extension of the existing multi-use path along Gulf Drive. On March 28, the Anna Maria City Commission reached a 4-1 consensus to preserve the existing parallel parking spaces along Gulf Drive if and when the multi-use path is extended from Willow Avenue to Magnolia Avenue. Commissioner Gary McMullen opposed the consensus and supports the elimination of those parking spaces if needed.
Mayor Dan Murphy initiated Thursday’s discussion after learning that a group of potentially impacted business owners recently sent a petition to Gov. Ron DeSantis asking him to veto the city’s $250,000 funding request for the path extension project. The petition was also sent to Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Manatee) and Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, accompanied by a letter written by petition initiator and Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café owner Paul Foster. Foster’s letter expressed concern that 13 parallel parking spaces in the vicinity of Palm, Magnolia and Spring avenues would be eliminated if the multi-use path is extended along the same side of the street as the existing path. Accommodating pedestrians,
SEE PARKING, PAGE 24
Hurricane season predicted to be far above average
AccuWeather is calling for an above-average 2024 hurricane season, with 20-25 named storms predicted. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Island dodged direct hits from major hurricanes in 2022 (Ian) and 2023 (Idalia), but this year may be different, according to AccuWeather, whose prediction for 2024 is far above average. AccuWeather’s team of expert meteorologists is warning people and businesses to start preparing for a frenzy of tropical activity that could have major impacts on the U.S. this hurricane season, which begins on June 1.
SCRAMBLING FOR EGGS at the Sandbar Easter Egg Hunt. 11 Page 23 Anna Maria Island, Florida
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The AccuWeather 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast calls for 20 to 25 named storms, with eight to 12 of those storms forecast to strengthen into hurricanes and four to six directly impacting the U.S. “The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to feature well above the historical average number of tropical storms, hurricanes, major hurricanes and direct U.S. impacts,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva said. “All indications are pointing toward a very active and potentially explosive Atlantic hurricane season in 2024.” AccuWeather’s forecast calls for a dramatic shift from the 2023 hurricane season. Nineteen storms were named in the Atlantic basin, but only four had direct impacts in
SEE HURRICANE, PAGE 23
ISLAND CITIES closely watching
consolidation efforts. 4
ANNA MARIA officials debate CBD, hemp
regulations. 8
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